The Daily Egyptian

EDITORIAL: WTH is happening with Halloween?

In an attempt to revitalize the Carbondale spirit that once bewitched over 20,000 students to SIU, the city, the university and alumni have come together to collaborate on creating a consolidated Halloween atmosphere — kind of.

Over the summer, the SIU Alumni Association announced that — for the rst time since 1996 — Carbondale will be

shutting down the Strip during Halloween. is “shutdown” of the Strip is being done in conjunction with SIU Homecoming, and has been marketed by the city and the university as “familyfriendly, downtown fun” that includes a candywalk, carnival games, food trucks, live music and more. However, it would be credulous to ignore the subliminal messaging and the nuance that

surrounds the raucous history that has de ned both Carbondale’s Halloween and Homecoming.

It is no secret why Carbondale and SIU began to distance themselves from the “party school” label that magazines had placed upon it during the 1980s, and it’s no secret that many blame that very disassociation for the decline of both the Carbondale and SIU populations.

But times have changed, and so has the city — hats o to those involved with organizing these upcoming events for recognizing that — but like all organizing e orts, especially ones that set out to shake things up, with mass comes confusion.

With all that’s going on throughout the rest of the month, people on social media this week have been expressing their concerns about when to celebrate,

‘No Kings’ protests sweep the state

Deangelo Handley | @_deevisuals4

Illinois residents, ranging from the cityscape of Chicago’s downtown all the way south to rural Carbondale, joined 7 million demonstrators around the world in a largescale protest against President Donald Trump and his administration’s policies. e No Kings movement mobilized millions to take to the streets in all 50 states of the nation over the summer on June 14 in an attempt to drown out the military parade that coincided with Trump’s 79th birthday, according to NPR. It returned on Oct. 18, and Illinois residents united for the same purpose in places like Carbondale, Spring eld and Chicago. A diverse crowd came together to stand in solidarity against the current administration at the No Kings protest in Turley Park. Indivisible Shawnee and Positive Action Committee Carbondale facilitated the protest. Upon entering Turley Park,

demonstrators were met with the sounds of chants, honking cars and the tunes of brass instruments and percussion.

Several protesters wore creative costumes — one person dressed as President Trump himself, their costume a little worn. e protester provided “Zombie Trump” as their name to the DE while being interviewed.

“I’ve had this for years. I’ve used it for Halloween over and over again. I made it years ago. e suit doesn’t t anymore,” Zombie Trump said.

While their out t might be wearing down, their attitude was not.

“We have to be here to counteract all the bulls---: the horrible trend toward fascism. e courts won’t do it.

Congress isn’t doing s---. It’s up to us, the people, to make a stand,” Zombie Trump said. “ ey call us antifa, which means antifascism, and if you’re not anti-fascist in this country, then you are not an American.”

Others were dressed in in%atable costumes in the spirit of the protesters in Portland, Oregon. Fran Ja e was donning a similar out t to the comedian and musician Robby Potylo, also known as Robby Roadsteamer. Roadsteamer has been growing in popularity for singing comedically critical songs at protests against increased ICE enforcement in cities and Trump.

Jaffe said she came to the protest for multiple reasons.

“I’m on food stamps, I’m on some help, and we’re gonna lose it,” Ja e said. “ e other end is ghting for our democracy.”

Ja e talked about the importance and capacity for change that protests carry.

“And you know what they say, 3.5% of the population is enough to topple a regime.”

She was referring to Harvard research that claims no governments, with one exception of the 2011 Bahrain Uprising, have withstood 3.5% of its population mobilizing against it. e

where to celebrate and who to celebrate Halloween with.

e short answer? As of today, Wednesday, Oct. 22, you can put on your party pants, a Saluki hat and your favorite Halloween mask and you can keep them on until November.

What originally seemed to be an e ort to concentrate Halloween

SIU student Collin Rice dies in motorcycle crash

ORION WOLF OWOLF@DAILYEGYPTIAN COM

Collin Rice, a student in SIU’s Aviation Management program, died Oct. 11 in a motorcycle crash in Carbondale.

On Saturday, Oct. 11 at 2:49 a.m., Rice came into contact with another motorcyclist, Tyler Hill, on Dowell Road, according to a news release from the Jackson County Sheri ’s O ce. As Rice attempted to pass Hill, the vehicles came into contact with one another, causing the accident, according to the release. Hill was able to recover with minor injuries at a nearby hospital, but Rice was thrown from the motorcycle and sustained multiple injuries, which led him to be pronounced dead at the scene, according to the sheri ’s o ce. e Sheri ’s O ce cited alcohol as a contributing factor in the crash and said neither Rice nor Hill were wearing helmets.

Rice was a resident of Oak Park, Illinois and active in the SIU community as a part of the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals and as an Academic Peer Advocate.

research also claims that nonviolent mobilization is twice as likely to succeed as violent mobilization. Both the BBC and NPR have reported on the research.

Jaffe remarked on the reasoning for fun and goofy costumes and humor during protests.

“If you don’t infuse joy and fun into your demonstrations and protests, you’re gonna lose,” Jafee said. “Don’t let them steal your fun.”

While Ja e was explaining the role of humor in protest, a man walked past on the sidewalk and asked her if she was a dinosaur, she then told him she was an alligator. e man then held up the megaphone he was carrying and said, “Even the alligators don’t like ‘em.”

“It raises our spirits up, so we can keep ghting because with all the crap coming at us, it can become demoralizing,” Ja e said.

He was known better as C Rice to his loved ones.

He loved to go out with his friends. Liam Dunn, a friend of Rice, said that he was “the life of the party.”

“He was a fun person to be around; always cracking jokes, telling stories,” Dunn said.

In an email sent to SIU faculty and students on Tuesday, Oct. 14, Chancellor Austin Lane wrote, “We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew him.”

“As we mourn this loss together, please keep Collin’s family and friends in your thoughts and prayers,” Lane wrote.

SIU Counseling and Psychological Services can be reached at 618-4535371, Lane wrote.

ere will be a celebration of Rice’s life on Tuesday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. behind

Maranda and her husband Juan Hernandez hold the American ag and poster while protesting at the No Kings protest Oct 18, 2025 in Carbondale, Illinois. “They want us separated, they want us ghting race wars, gender wars, culture wars, religious wars, so we don’t ght a class war,” Maranda said.

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into a one-time, weeklong ensemble with Homecoming has turned into three full weeks of festivities in Carbondale — and I’m not complaining.

As expected, SIU fraternities have announced that they will not be throwing any Unofficial Halloween parties this year, which one may think is the death of Unofficial in Carbondale — a defining product of those alcohol and business bans from back in the day — but that’s not exactly the case.

Carbondale bar owners have seized the opportunity to reclaim Unofficial for themselves, and will be hosting a slew of events downtown this upcoming weekend. The following week is when the Saluki Spooktacular Halloween Homecoming Music Street Festival ensues — say that 10 times fast — and the frats will be throwing their parties the weekend after — on the actual day of Halloween — marking the official return of Official at SIU.

SO, amid all the confusion and concern, I have taken the liberty of compiling what I believe to be the most comprehensive guide to any and all things Halloween, homecoming, tricks, treats, spooks, spirits, or any other pumpkin-smashing hot-dog-having events for the next month in Carbondale.

You’re welcome.

Wednesday, Oct. 22

2025 Homecoming Concert

Mariah the Scientist is headlining and bringing her eclectic soulful rhythm and blues sound to the Shryock Auditorium stage.

CPKD Presents: Halloween Movie Night

!e Carbondale Park District is hosting a screening of “Practical Magic” at Parrish Park at 6:30 p.m.

Bring blankets, lawn chairs and your favorite fall snacks to watch this classic lm on a giant outdoor movie screen.

Togas at Hangar 9

The Hangar is hosting a Greek night where people are encouraged to wear togas and traditional Greek attire. The sorority or fraternity that brings the most members to the event will win a cash prize.

The party starts at 9 p.m. and the cover is $5.

Country Night at Traxx

If someone does some sort of gothic cowboy, headless horseman type of costume, that would be sick — other than that it’s just another Country Night at Traxx.

Trivia at PK’s

Come see host Alee Quick — our Faculty Managing Editor at the Daily Egyptian!

Thursday, Oct. 23

The Saluki Block Party

This party is not on a block, rather at Shyrock, and it starts at 5 p.m.

This free festival is open to people of all ages who will come together for outdoor games, rock wall climbing, in atables, caricature artists and assorted “spooky” activities. Food vendors will be on site o$ering refreshments.

and 3 p.m. is when the fun begins. Bring your little ghost, goblin, gremlin or ghoul to get some candy from businesses on the Strip from 3-6 p.m. for the Candy Walk.

During the walk, Carbondale’s very own Modern Day Saints, Tawl Paul and others will be jamming on the Parking Lot Stage from 3:50-4:50 p.m.

From 5:20-6:20 p.m., Chicago funkrockers Hot Like Mars will take over the Parking Lot Stage and then the music acts will shift to the Main Stage — yes, there are two di$erent stages.

From 6:30-8 p.m. on the Main Stage will be DeadPettyKellerGrass, a genrebending project that reworks Grateful Dead and Tom Petty classics with bluegrass instrumentation.

!en comes the headliner, St. Louisbased ska-punk-alt-rock group !e Urge, known for their 1990s hits like “Jump Right In.”

Now I know these groups may not be that appealing to most of us college-aged folks, but we must remember that this was put on by the Alumni Association, and they were the ones doing all that partying way back when, so I’m sure these guys will be great.

Lining the streets of the Strip will be food trucks, vendors and carnival games. Bars will be open all throughout the evening and will begin o$ering entertainment toward the end of the festival.

PK’s Performance

King Juba will play music inside PK’s at 9 p.m. Notice how I said “inside” PK’s, because they can’t play music outside anymore and there’s nowhere to sit.

Homecoming Afterparty at Hangar 9

!e Hangar will be hosting the o cial homecoming afterparty right after !e Urge stops their set on the Main Stage.

!e Number 9 Blacktops will perform their rockabilly and Americana music on the Hangar’s indoor platform stage starting around 11 p.m. !e cover is $5.

Bands at Booby’s

Dr. Orphylis Project, Spillway and glass cutter will perform for no cover starting at 10 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 25

SIU Homecoming Parade

The annual trot through Carbondale will feature marching bands, floats, marchers and much more. It begins at East Mill Street at 10 a.m. and travels down Illinois Avenue onto campus.

Parade entries are being accepted until 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 22. High school and junior high bands as well as small and large floats, cars/trucks and walking equestrian units are welcome to compete for prizes as they entertain the crowd.

SIU Football takes on Northern Iowa

Following the parade, tailgating fun will be happening on Saluki Row from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Afterward, the Salukis will pummel the Panthers.

basics of creating mosaics. !ey will supply you with everything you need, and will be there every step of the way to help you create a personalized work of art from 1 to 4 p.m. House Show at Lost Cross

If you haven’t been, you’ve gotta go. Lost Cross is known nationwide as one of if not THE longest standing punk-house in America.

!ey’ll have bands Norcos y Horchata, Spillway, Burgers Gone Wild and Enchanters playing starting at 10 p.m. !e cover is $5.

Halloween Drag Show at Hangar 9 Modern Day Saints will play once again, this time at Hangar after the game, followed by a Halloween Drag Show and another costume contest.

!e cover is $7 and doors open at 8 p.m. Tawl Paul at PK’s PK’s will be open all day long during game day, and will cap o$ the night with a performance from the legendary Tawl Paul and Slappin Henry Blue at 8 p.m. I have no idea how I’m going to make it to all of these places at the same time.

Sunday, Oct. 26

Wyly Bigger at PK’s !ey’ll be playing Memphis-style rock ‘n; roll blues from 5-8 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 27

Nothing. !ank the lords. Go recover.

Tuesday, Oct. 28

RSO Karaoke Cup at Hangar 9 Plz come.

Wednesday, Oct. 29

Country Night at Traxx Halloween-themed Trivia at PK’s ursday, Oct. 30

Special Film Screening at e Varsity !e Varsity will be hosting myriad Halloween movies throughout the month of October and this time they are showing “The Exorcist.” Do not bring your child. The doors open at 6 p.m., but most importantly, so does the bar. General admission tickets are $8, $6 for students and $3 for any child younger than 10, but I’m sure they won’t ask for a birth certificate. The show starts at 7 p.m. Country Night at Hangar 9 Friday, Oct. 31

OK, so this is actually Halloween. The frats will be throwing OFFICIAL Halloween parties and children dressed up as Sabrina Carpenter WILL be knocking on your door. Per a press release from the City of Carbondale, official trick-or-treat hours are from 4–8 p.m. If any of those kids knock at 8:01, you are not obligated to give them candy.

Residents who wish to hand out candy should leave their porch or driveway lights on. Volunteers are welcome for the Pumpkin Patrol, which helps ensure a safe Halloween night. To volunteer, contact Randy Mathis at the Carbondale Police Department at 618457-3200 ext. 402 or via email at rmathis@ carbondaleil.gov.

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To ensure the public’s safety and enjoyment for all, a few rules will be in place: pets, solicitation, smoking, glass bottles, underage drinking and multiple-serve containers are prohibited.

Country Night at Hangar 9

Yes, they do that now, too.

Hosted by DJ Twangbro — lol — this is free to enter with a best-dressed cowboy contest and a “loudest yeehaw competition” (@Will Elliott).

!ey have $2 house shots and $8 rail pitchers. !e party starts at 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24

e Strip Shuts down OK folks, this is the big day.

!e Strip will be shut down at 11 a.m.

Tickets for the game can be purchased at the Banterra Center ticket o ce, on the Saluki Athletics website or at the gate. Crowning of the Homecoming royalty, chosen by the students through online voting during the week, will happen at halftime along with the announcement of the parade winners and an honoring of the grand marshal. Go Dawgs.

Arts n Crap’s Carnival

!e !rift Shop at 215 N. Illinois

Ave. will host a free community event showcasing local artisans, vendors, music, entertainment, food trucks and activities held in an outdoors-carnival style starting at 10 a.m.

Pumpkin Mosaics

Project Human X at 715 S. University

Ave. will host a class that teaches you the

Special Film Screening at The Varsity Center

“Halloween” the movie will be shown at 7 p.m. Afterward they are showing the “Rocky Horror Picture Show” at midnight. All ticket information remains the same. Emo Night at Hangar 9

A classic event in Carbondale. !ey’ll play all the punk-rock emo songs, encourage dark, edgy getups and host — another — costume contest.

Bands at PK’s Local bands Creeper Bud, Ultrasex and Pet Mosquito will take the stage — inside — for a Halloween jam session.

Saturday, Nov. 1 !e frats will probably throw more parties, and all the bars will be open, but if at this point your liver tells you to stay home, I won’t blame you.

Tree-planting ceremony honors memory of SIU student Joey Ermel

Friends, family and faculty gathered at the Southern Illinois Airport in Murphysboro on Thursday, Oct. 16 to honor the life of Joseph Aaron “Joey” Ermel with the planting of a Butterfly Magnolia tree — a living memorial to a young man remembered for his kindness, creativity, and lasting impact on those around him.

Ermel, a Southern Illinois University student, died in a motorcycle accident in 2021 at the age of 19. The newly planted tree now stands as a tribute to his life and spirit, blooming with soft yellow flowers each spring. The color was chosen to represent the plane his grandfather once flew — a personal symbol of connection, remembrance and flight. Joey was known for his exuberant personality and his high engagement with his academics.

“Joey was one of those rare students who was always engaged — the kind you could count on for a thoughtful answer when the room was quiet,” Mark Hebel, a professor at SIU, said. “He was a pleasure to have in class, always smiling and eager to learn.”

The memorial tree was made

possible through community generosity. Planter and SIU alumnus John Schroeder, owner of Schroeder Landscape, donated the labor to install the tree after seeing how deeply Ermel was loved by those who knew him. The tree itself was donated by Plant Scape Nursery, reflecting a collective effort to create a lasting memorial in Joey’s honor.

“ is tree means so much,” Ermel’s mother Aymee Zimmerman said. “I’ve wanted to do it for years, and to see it here — and to see how many people still love and remember Joey — it’s overwhelming in the best way.”

For those who knew Ermel, the tree serves not just as a reminder of loss, but as a celebration of a life that continues to inspire.

As it takes root and blossoms year after year, it will stand as a symbol of growth, hope and the enduring connections that Ermel left behind.

“I met Joey my first week at SIU in fall 2020, when everything was shut down from COVID,” Matteus Thompson, one of his roommates, said. “He was the first smiling face I saw, and he made me feel like I belonged here. He was passionate about aviation

and always willing to help with anything — school, flying or life.”

Another one of Ermel’s roommates, Dale Miller, said Ermel loved what he did.

“He’d spend mornings, evenings and weekends working to get

RICE

CONTINUED FROM 1

Bowyer Hall at SIU’s Campus Lake.

Those who knew him are encouraged to attend, the flyer for the event says. The flyer also encourages them to bring candles to light in his memory and fishing equipment.

The flyer said, “If C Rice was there, he’d be fishing and having us fish too.”

Staff Reporter Orion Wolf can be reached at owolf@dailyegyptian. wcom or orionwolf6 on Instagram

better at aviation, and he never stopped encouraging the people around him,” Miller said.

Zimmerman said she wanted her son to be remembered as someone who always did his best and made good choices.

“He worked hard, cared deeply, and always found a way to lift people up,” she said.

Staff reporter Yahri Edmond can be reached at yedmond@ dailyegyptian.com

Aymee Zimmerman, mother of the late aviation student Joey Ermel, looks at the tag of the butter y magnolia tree before its is planted in his memory Oct. 17 at the Southern Illinois Airport in Murphysboro, Illinois. The tree, which blooms bright yellow owers. symbolizes the yellow plane once own by Ermel and his grandfather.

John Schroeder, an SIU alumnus and owner of Schroeder Landscape, helps plant a memorial tree honoring aviation student Joey Ermel Oct. 17, 2025 at the Southern Illinois Airport in Murphysboro, Illinois. Plantscape Nursery donated the tree, and Schroeder Landscape provided the the labor after Schroeder saw how much the campus community valued what Ermel represented. Amilia I. Estrada | aestrada@dailyegyptian.com

Illinois soybean farmers likely to lose millions as China trade war halts exports

TREVOR JOHN TJOHN@DAILYEGYPTIAN COM

Ryan Frieders spent months planting, fertilizing and controlling weeds on his north-central Illinois soybean farm. Despite doing everything right, he is projected to lose money on his harvest as a result of the trade policies that have halted Chinese purchases of U.S. soybeans.

“We’re putting soybeans in storage and just hoping for a better price,” Frieders told Reuters in October 2025.

“But it’s not clear the rebound will come.”

Illinois produced 663 million bushels of soybeans in 2025 across 10.2 million harvested acres, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

In southern Illinois, where Carbondale is a regional hub, soybeans account for more than 1.1 million of the region’s 2 million row crop acres.

China historically purchased 40% of Illinois soybeans but has not made a single shipment purchase in 2025, according to Illinois Soybean Association o cials. e state’s $1.4 billion market with China has disappeared.

University of Illinois economists estimate southern Illinois farmers are facing average losses of up to $64 per acre. For the region, that translates to an estimated $128 million in direct pro ts lost from this harvest.

e U.S. government imposed tari$s in 2025, prompting Chinese retaliation targeting American soybean exports.

According to Wanki Moon, a professor specializing in the political economy of agriculture at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, China’s choice to target soybeans was predictable.

“From a political economy standpoint, China retaliates by targeting a high-volume commodity like soybeans because it is an e$ective

assistant professor of agribusiness economics at SIUC with experience in commodity brokerage.

“When a major buyer like China halts purchases, the global news translates, step-by-step, into the lower cash price a farmer in Jackson County is o$ered at their local grain elevator,” Kishore said.

e timing has left many farmers

“This is a unique kind of risk that is nearly impossible to manage.”

- Wanki Moon

SIUC Agricultural economics professor

and predictable form of economic retaliation against the United States,” Moon said.

e American agricultural market has become deeply dependent on China, which has created a vulnerability. Competitors like Brazil and Argentina are moving to capture the business Illinois farmers are losing.

“ ere is a serious risk that this market share could be permanently lost,” Moon said.

Disruptions in global markets translate directly to local prices, according to Joseph Kishore, an

unable to protect themselves with standard market strategies.

“Farmers usually have an idea of what they need to do early in the planting season — March, May,” Kishore said.

“But with these tari$s, by the time they are implemented, it may be too late to lock in good prices.”

According to Kishore, high input costs combined with low prices may mean many operations face signi cant losses.

“When the entire market is fundamentally distorted by a political policy, traditional hedging strategies

may no longer be enough to protect a farmer,” Kishore said. “ is is a unique kind of risk that is nearly impossible to manage.”

According to Scott omsen, a fourth-generation farmer from Kennard, Nebraska, farmers are selling below production costs.

“Right now, we’re below the cost of production. We’re losing money,” omsen told ABC News.

John Hansen, president of the Nebraska Farmers Union, said in an interview with ABC News that the current situation is unprecedented in his experience.

“We’re in the middle of the worst economic downturn that I’ve seen in my 50 years,” Hansen said.

Some farmers who supported the Trump administration feel harmed by the trade approach.

“We voted because Trump was going to help the farmers, and now it’s just hurting us like crazy,” a Nebraska farmer told ABC News.

Farmer frustration is high, according to Caleb Ragland, president of the American Soybean Association.

e association sent a letter to the administration in August 2025 stating the impact on farmers.

“U.S. soy farmers cannot endure a prolonged trade con%ict with our primary customer,” the letter stated.

U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, who represents the Carbondale area, has publicly supported the administration’s trade policies as necessary for long-term

agricultural sustainability. Bost’s o cial congressional website states the policies are vital for America’s economic security and agricultural sustainability. He argues the approach is necessary to restore fair trade conditions.

In May 2025, Bost joined House Republican colleagues in a letter urging the president to negotiate new trade deals to open markets for farmers. Additionally, Bost has supported e$orts to extend targeted federal aid to farmers a$ected by trade disruptions.

“We need a strong farm safety net and forward-looking policy that o$ers producers real certainty,” Bost said in public budget hearing testimony.

Young people continue to enter agriculture despite market challenges, according to a 2025 survey by the Maryland Department of Agriculture. However, the Maryland Young Farmers Survey found that more than 70% of young farmers rely on o$-farm income to sustain their operations.

“We’re passionate about agriculture, but it’s hard to forget that without o$-farm income, many of us couldn’t sustain this as our full-time career,” a young farmer said in the Maryland survey.

Studies show that market volatility and political uncertainty a$ect decisions by young people considering taking over family farms.

News Reporter Trevor John can be reached at tjohn@dailyegyptian.com

Government shutdown enters Week 3: SIU students, federal workers affected

Federal employees at the Marion Veteran Affairs Medical Center will miss their first paycheck in days. They are just a few of the thousands of essential federal workers and active-duty military personnel in southern Illinois who are required to work without guaranteed payment.

By Oct. 17, the government shutdown had entered its third week, disrupting federal services and creating uncertainty for workers, students and families across the region.

In press release statements, U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth of Illinois said the shutdown resulted from a failure in negotiating a solution for expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies. U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, who represents Illinois’ 12th District, said in a statement that the funding extension was blocked by the Democrats.

Federal workers and residents across southern Illinois are a $ ected by the impasse.

Southern Illinois University

Carbondale students receiving federal nancial aid have experienced the rst disruptions from the current shutdown.

Kim Rendfeld, the university director of communications, emailed a statement about how the shutdown is impacting students on Oct. 17.

“We have received a few queries about FAFSA and Pell (grants), and a few students have reported disruptions because the GI Hotline is unavailable,” the statement said.

According to the statement, most nancial aid for the fall semester was awarded before the shutdown began. e closure of the GI Bill Hotline means student veterans cannot call to resolve delayed payments or verify enrollment status.

“Regardless of what is going on in Washington, D.C., we are committed to providing our students with access to a college education,” the statement said. “We understand students have concerns, and we appreciate their patience as we all await a resolution to this issue.”

e o cials directed students with concerns to contact the Financial Aid or Veterans Services o ces.

Federal workers in the region

include employees of the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Forest Service.

E $ orts to reach the Marion o ce of the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents federal workers at the VA and other agencies, were unsuccessful. e phone line was disconnected. Emails sent to AFGE District 7 headquarters were not returned by press time.

According to federal guidelines, the rst missed paychecks were scheduled for Oct. 15 for military personnel and Oct. 24 for civilian employees.

The Illinois Department of Human Services said October benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children are not affected by the shutdown. However, funding beyond October remains uncertain.

“As we head into a partial federal government shutdown, NWA anticipates that WIC has enough funding on hand to remain open

for the short term — likely one to two weeks… Even temporary disruptions to the program could have long-term negative consequences for the health and development of our nation’s families,” Georgia Machell, president of the National WIC Association, said in a National WIC Association press release on Oct. 6.

At Shawnee National Forest and Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge, visitor centers are closed and most staff have been furloughed. Trails may be accessible but are unmaintained and unstaffed.

Former park superintendents have said in national statements that unmaintained parks create danger to the public and put natural resources at risk from accidents, vandalism or poaching.

The closure of local U.S. Department of Agriculture offices affects farmers seeking assistance with crop insurance, conservation programs or disaster loans. Calls and a voice message left for the Jackson County Farm Bureau were not returned by

press time.

Government shutdown: What’s open, what’s closed in Illinois:

Social Security and VA bene ts: Payments will continue. Customer service functions, including card replacement, career counselling and processing new applications, are stopped or delayed.

Mail service:

e U.S. Postal Service is not a$ected. Mail will be delivered.

Food assistance: SNAP and WIC bene ts are funded through October, according to state o cials.

National parks and refuges: Visitor centers and o ces at Crab Orchard and Shawnee National Forest are closed. Trails and boat ramps may be accessible, but no sta$ are on duty. Air travel and Amtrak: Both are expected to operate on normal schedules. Sta ng shortages at the TSA could cause delays at larger airports.

News Reporter Trevor John and News Editor Jackson Brandhorst can be reached at tjohn@dailyegyptian.com and jbrandhorst@dailyegyptian.com

Detail Dawgs back in action for SIU aviation programs

ORION WOLFE OWOLFE@DAILYEGYPTIAN COM

Detail Dawgs, SIU’s own aviation maintenance team, has been a life-changing experience for many people involved.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the RSO, as many things did, came to a screeching halt. However, they’re back and they’re busy.

James Barker, the faculty manager, remembers a time when they excelled.

“When I was a student in the program, the Detail Dawgs were around… It was a really cool program,” Barker said.

“We’re a competitive maintenance team. We’re meeting twice a week, but we train for the maintenance competition that happens once a year,” Liam Dunn, a member and o cer of Detail Dawgs, said,

“What that looks like for us can be really di erent depending on what we’re training for.”

Barker was not the only one who thought highly of the group, and certainly not the only one who dreamed of bringing it back.

“I noticed some students that were going above and beyond and I thought this might be a good chance to get that program back up and running,” Barker said. “Sure enough, they had the motivation to see it through.”

Ian Campbell, the president of the RSO, sought to create a maintenance team that could keep up with an already successful ight team.

“My brother is on the ight team… so,

seeing how they can make these amazing connections through their alumni and through the companies that they work with, that was a really, really cool thing,” he said.

e SIU School of Aviation is well known for its ight team.

“If we can make the Detail Dawgs into something as outstanding and credible, that would be an amazing opportunity for all of the people involved,” Campbell said.

Dunn said he knew he wanted to be a pilot by the time he was in fourth or fth grade.

“I loved airplanes,” Dunn said. “I remember playing on the playground and looking up at them and being like, ‘Wow, I wanna be the person that ies those.’”

“While I was in the maintenance training here, early on, I had heard about a club that used to exist called the Detail Dawgs,” he said. “Hearing that there was a competitive maintenance team at one time, I’m like ‘Wow, that’s super cool. I wish we still had it,’ … And there were a lot of other people that shared my same feelings … and we were like ‘Well, let’s bring it back.’”

Bruce Brown, a member of the SIU advisory board for Aviation, an SIU graduate and developmental test engineer for GE Aerospace, decided to sponsor the Detail Dawgs after speaking with the students when he was a guest lecturer at the Veterans Airport.

“I could just see the passion in their eyes when they were talking about a

maintenance competition,” Brown said.

With the help of Brown, his family and GE Aerospace, the Detail Dawgs were able to attend their rst competitive event in Atlanta last spring.

As a member of the SIU advisory board for the School of Aviation, Brown says, “We have our charter which is to support the university maybe once or twice a year. But, my passion for aviation spills over into wanting to help the kids directly.”

Dunn described this annual event, hosted by the Aerospace Maintenance Council, as the “Olympics for aircraft mechanics.”

Before this competition, Brown welcomed the team into his home and took them to the Customer Technical Education Center for GE Aerospace based in Cincinnati and their test facility in Peebles, Ohio.

Brown said he values the time spent with these students. He set up a text chat with all of the students he welcomed into his home, and still keeps contact with them.

“Like I said, ‘Hello from Peebles.’ today, showing them a picture of an engine that they would recognize or a test site that they got to visit and talk about where we are and what we’re doing,” Brown said.

He also said he urges his fellow board members to nd an RSO to support like he has.

“ ere’s more than 20 aviation groups. I always say, ‘Open up your wallet, work with them to help them nancially,’ but in

my case, it’s more of a one-on-one personal relationship,” Brown said.

ey’ve learned a lot from last year, but they’re working hard to progress.

“Flight gets all the glory ,but the mechanics are the ones that keep the plane in the air and safe for the pilot and the passengers.” Barker said, “I like to try to make the connection that mechanics are kind of like doctors in the sense that what we do is really precise down to torquing something correctly, making sure everything is put where it should be, that we don’t miss any cracks or details like that because if we do mess up, it is people’s lives on the line.”

Practice is so important for the mechanics to maintain their skills, and know what they have to do to perform at their best, both in competition and in the eld.

“We are trying to build as many training aids as we can based o of last year’s competition so that we can show up as prepared as possible,” Dunn said.

ese training aids cannot always be built for practice, unfortunately.

“Some events are impossible to replicate, you have to have hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of equipment,” Campbell said.“We have to mime out how we’d do each procedure: what we’re going to say, how we’re going to act.”

e Detail Dawgs will be in Orlando from April 20 to 23 for their next competition, showing their skills to their peers, their mentors, and

potential future employers.

Networking, side by side with experience is the most important part of this competition, Barker said.

“It’s given them an edge above other students in the program because they get to add this to their resume,” he said.“ ey get to better their mechanical skills and they get to meet people and make contacts that they wouldn’t normally.”

Brown’s own experience with GE Aerospace only came about on the recommendation of Richard Cannon, a former instructor at SIU.

“I, admittedly, didn’t know that much about it,” Brown said. “ at’s what drove me to submit a resume and interview in 1978 with GE and I was o ered a job. So, as I said, almost 47 years later, I still have that passion.”

As the Detail Dawgs continue to hone their craft, the competition gets closer and closer. While it may be a source of anxiety, it’s also a source of pride for Brown.

“ ey’re here as a group of students representing the university in an international competition. I told them, ‘I honestly don’t care what your scores are. I just really just see the passion, the learning, the networking that you guys are doing that I’m really proud of,’” Brown said.

Sta Reporter Orion Wolf can be reached at owolf@dailyegyptian.com or on Instagram @orionwolf6

* Bring your valid student ID

Instead of costumes, a lot of demonstrators were wearing their uniforms. Juan and Miranda Hernandez were both demonstrators who had served in the military. Juan Hernandez served from 2008 to 2015 in the U.S Army. Miranda Hernandez was an active-duty military police o cer for six years.

“I’ve heard, I have not seen personally, but I have read articles where veterans are getting snatched because they are brown, and that’s why I am out here because I am a brown Hispanic veteran,” Juan Hernandez said. “My dad is brown, he is scared to leave his house in Chicago to go do what any normal citizen has the right to do, which is just go out, live your life, go grocery shopping, go see a movie, but he’s not doing that because he is afraid he is going to get illegally deported by ICE.”

Hernandez was also concerned about the current state of the government and how it would a ect veterans.

“With this government shutdown, what are we gonna do if they don’t pay us (veterans)?” Hernandez said.

e government shutdown has caused many to feel uncertain about federal compensation. e shutdown will not impact the processing and delivery of VA bene ts such as pension, compensation, housing and education bene ts. It is estimated that 97% of VA employees will work during the shutdown, according to the U.S Department of Veteran A “America was never great, but

it had potential,” Miranda Hernandez said. She talked about the country’s history of slavery, white supremacy and how she felt America was regressing. She talked about the division felt within the country and the obligation she had to the constitution.

“ e people at the top are to blame,”

Hernandez said. “ ey want us separated. ey want us ghting race wars, gender wars, culture wars, religious wars, so we don’t ght a class war.

“I love my country, I have always loved my country. I gave my rst six years of adulthood to being an active duty military police o cer. I made an oath. I fought for it then, and I’ll ght for it now.”

Some protesters took a march to the street against the wishes of the organizers. Adam Ashby, the student president of the SIU chapter of the Young Democratic Socialists of America, joined the march.

“ ere was a march that took the streets, led by a fairly large section of the rally.

As we were coming back, some of the protest marshals gave us some crap about it,” Ashby said. “We were still able to have an informative and good conversation with them afterwards about di erences in tactics and the necessity of having multiple.”

Demonstrators had di erent signs, pressing issues and ideas of moving forward. Some seasoned demonstrators had been protesting since the Vietnam War, and some had never been to a ere were di erent ideas even on tactics, but all of them were united to stand against the current administration by voicing their frustrations, singing and laughing

the dystopian novel and TV show “ e Handmaid’s Tale,” the character Towelie from “South Park” and chickens, among other costumes.

Some protesters brought their kids and grandkids. Barb Vincent, who had her grandson Owen asleep in her arms, mentioned that this was his fourth protest.

e protest remained peaceful with one altercation that was separated quickly when a protester was yelling into a truck of a counterprotester, and then was pulled away from the vehicle and sent home. Passing cars honked in support of the protest, and a few cars gave negative reactions in which protesters would stand in front of the vehicle and hold signs while the stoplight was red.

Community members and speakers from both parties spoke such as comptroller candidate Holly Kim, family physician Dr. Julia Rozier, e

liberties,” Berchneider said. “We just believe love is action, and so we don’t stop moving.”

is is not the only time Undivided and Focused will be marching at the state capital. ey plan to march again for All Souls Day on Nov. 5, 2025. e group will start in our state capital in Spring eld, but will move straight to our nation’s capital in Washington, D.C.

“We are then carpooling out to Washington, D.C., for refusing fascism, and it is a worldwide event, and everybody is going to be there at the White House,” Berchneider said.

Over 300 miles away from Carbondale, a sea of people stood outside of Grant Park on Jackson Boulevard in Chicago, the starting point of the No Kings protest for tens of thousands of attendees who marched, held signs and chanted through megaphones — the start of the march led by Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker

“The people at the top are to blame. They want us separated. They want us fghting race wars, gender wars, culture wars, religious wars, so we don’t fght a class war.”

- Miranda Hernandez Protester

Rev. Martin Woulfe and others.

“We are in the midst of a falling empire, but you know what? We are the safety net.” Rozier said.

Just up north from Carbondale, thousands gathered at the Illinois State Capitol building eld to protest, which turned into a halfmile march to the old State Capitol building with signs and chants. Most participants held up signs and some used symbolism to share their opinions such as dressing up as handmaids from

Many of the protesters echoed similar sentiments about topics like the “Big Beautiful Bill,” a tax and spending law signed in July, restrictions on freedom of speech and ICE raids.

“I want my children and grandchildren to be proud of our country,” Attendee Catherine Brower said. “I can’t just sit at home and do nothing. We love our country and what’s happening is not normal.”

e event was organized by the group Undivided and Focused, which is led by Tara Berchneider.

“My mission (is) that we’re undivided by our di erences and we’re focused on resisting the authoritarian regime and protecting all human rights, civil

and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton. e protest spanned over 2 miles, snaking through the downtown streets of Chicago, passing the Trump International Hotel and Tower. Protesters booed, chanted and %icked o the building while waving their signs in the air en masse.

Before the protest began, the crowd gathered in Butler Field at Grant Park, where music played and leaders such as Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Gov. Pritzker spoke.

“We are here to stand rm, to stand committed that we will not bend, we will not bow, we will not cower, we will not submit to the authority–authoritarianism that is coming down,” Mayor Johnson said to the large crowd who cheered in response.

In the back of the eld, a giant replica of the U.S. Constitution was rolled out

along the grass, scribbled with thousands of signatures and messages, intended for people to sign.

Gale Ahrens, a Chicago resident and St. Louis native, kneeled down and signed her name shortly after her arrival. is wasn’t her rst protest — she’s been to nearly every No Kings event so far.

“I’m really against Trump and his socalled policies,” Ahrens said. “We’re old hippies from the ‘60s, and we know the power of protests.”

Many attendees drove 30 minutes out of the city to Broadview, Illinois to protest outside of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility. A smaller crowd, a little over 100, danced to music and yelled at the Illinois State Police and a couple of fully masked ICE o cers who looked to be taking video and photos of the crowd.

Once the sun went down, the Broadview police urged the protesters to leave at the 6 p.m. protest curfew set by the Broadview mayor. With no give from the protesters, the Illinois State Police lined up, fully suited and began to push the crowd toward the intersection of Lexington Street and 25th Avenue by small groups of kettling. ere was a short stando between the State Police and the protesters before the police retreated to the Facility to leave the protesters to continue on before they all began to make their way home.

A protester who asked to be referred to as Max had nished her third protest of the day as she sat at the intersection after the Illinois State Police dispersed and the crowd of protesters began to leave.

“ ey’ve been aggressive with the pushing, with an incredibly peaceful crowd of people who are really just standing in costumes, attempting to, like, kettle us, push us into the street and then yell at us to get out of the street,” Max said. She had been to the facility a few times and said it was relatively calmer than times before, with most of the protesters being incredibly peaceful and, at times, joyous, she said.

“It’s been hopeful for sure, I’ve been lled with a lot of despair lately for the state of everything,” Max said. “Seeing people here, seeing people at every other spot, seeing people mobilize everywhere is optimistic, just in the sense of solidarity.”

Daily Egyptian sta can be reached at editor@dailyegyptian.com

Jonathan Martez chants with a sea of protesters as he marches in the No Kings Protest Oct. 18, 2025 in downtown Chicago, Illinois. Lylee Gibbs | @lyleegibbsphoto

A child protester waves a sign that says “No FauxKing Way” during the No Kings Protest Oct. 18, 2025 in downtown Chicago, Illinois. The child is one of many that decided to dress up in costumes for the protests around the country.

Dominique Martinez-Powell @d.martinezphoto

Deangelo Handley @_deevisuals4

A group of women dress up as handmaids from “The Handmaid’s Tale” at the No Kings protest Oct. 18, 2025 in front of the Illinois State Capitol in Spring eld, Illinois. Peyton Cook | @cookmeavisual

RIGHT:

William Beaty carries his American ag around during the No Kings protest Oct 18, 2025 in Carbondale, Illinois.

Illinois State Police stand o with protesters in the intersection of Lexington Street and 25th Avenue outside of the US Immigration and Customs facility following the No Kings Protest Oct. 18, 2025 in Broadview, Illinois. Lylee Gibbs | @lyleegibbsphoto

A protester dressed like Kermit the Frog stands on the side walk among other protester and signs as the No Kings Protest passes by Oct. 18, 2025 in downtown Chicago, Illinois. Dominique Martinez-powell | @d.martinezphoto

The cat fies the coop

Hangar 9 hosts “Garfeld Jailbreak” concert

Hangar 9 hosts the return of the local infamous hiss-terical show series Garf and Friends, with its traditional twist. is time Garf and Friends sport striped jumpsuits and shackles for the debut of Garf Goes to Jail. Garf, played by Cyrian Mills, vocalizes what it really means to be a cat in the pound, along with his crew, Jim Davis, Odie and another prisoner. Garf and Friends sing, play and dance their way to freedom from prison, but not before a tussle with Warden P. Wooly. e atmosphere was hair-raising, and the crowd was moving along with Garf and Friends’ cat-themed music.

Authentic Mexican food and drink truck brings a taste of Mexican culture to Carbondale

In the parking lot of Rendleman Orchards on a Sunday afternoon, music plays from a bright teal wooden trailer owned by Laura Chairez and Rodrigo Ramirez, which is selling authentic Mexican food and drink. Their goal — through the truck — is to connect Mexican culture to the Midwest.

Cielito Azul Aguas Frescas by La Galeria opened last September and has brought unique flavor to Carbondale through original Mexican drinks and food. The couple has been inspired by the vast amount of drink flavors available in Mexico and decided they wanted to bring that to southern Illinois.

Chairez, originally from Mexico, owned a Mexican restaurant in Marion called La Galeria Mexican Cuisine and Creamery. That spot opened in October of 2019, when Chairez first had the idea of bringing authentic Mexican ice cream and paletas to the region.

Through her restaurant, she met her now husband, Rodrigo Ramirez. La Galeria closed in February of 2023 during the tail end of the COVID pandemic, but their vision of bringing Mexican culture to the Midwest didn’t dim.

Inspired by a mix of personal experiences and a documentary covering efforts of protecting monarchs, the couple pursued a new way to bring Mexican culture to the Midwest, through drink and mini pancakes. They frequently travel to Mexico and while they’re there, they notice Mexico has many more flavors of drinks compared to what’s here in the United States.

“We realized, like, when you go

to Mexico, there’s like an in nite amount of the ( avors) and here you get three choices,” Ramirez said. ey wanted to bring those authentic Mexican tastes to the people here so they wouldn’t have to travel south to enjoy these unique avors.

With a mobile truck, they’re able to travel to events and have the convenience of being where people are instead of relying on people to come to them. ey often post where they’ll be set up during the week on Instagram at @cielitoazulaguasfrescas.

Chairez creates all the drinks from scratch and doesn’t use a recipe book. Some of the avors are ones she grew up drinking and some are created by experimenting. Ingredients include local produce from orchards, and she’s learned to integrate seasonal avors to the menu.

According to Chairez, the mango drink often runs out and is a crowd favorite. Mini pancakes made with marzipan are also on the menu, and churros are also a popular choice.

“I just let my heart kind of decipher what I want to make,” Chairez said.

eir logo consists of monarch butter ies, tying in Mexican culture through the Day of the Dead, when butter ies migrate from Canada and the U.S. to central Mexico. e inspiration for the logo came from a documentary titled “ e Guardian of the Monarchs.” e documentary follows Homero Gómez, an activist advocating for the protection of monarch butter ies in Mexico. He went missing and was later found dead.

“And of course we watch movies and it’s funny because we watch movies and I’m like, you almost

Co-owner of Cielito Azul Aguas Frescas by La Galeria Rodrigo Ramirez holds out a drink to a customer Sept. 28, 2025 at Rendleman Orchards in Alto Pass, Illinois. Riley Sembler | @riley_sembler

never cry, but she was just crying,” Ramirez said.

Chairez was moved by this documentary and decided to try to make a difference in protecting monarch butterflies by planting milkweed seeds and educating people about their significance to Mexican culture and for the wellbeing of the monarch. According to the National Wildlife Federation, milkweed is a monarch caterpillar’s food source and it can’t survive without it. Chairez has made it her mission to plant milkweed to protect future generations of monarch butterflies.

“Seeing the process of when they’re very tiny to when they become butter ies, like everything from their chrysalis and stu … I fell in love with that and I wanted to do something to make a little

di erence,” Chairez said.

To encourage the community to help protect monarch butter

Chairez hosted an event on Oct. 18 in the parking lot of the Carbondale Kroger, where she gave away free milkweed seeds for customers to plant. She gave away over 10 packets of seeds. Next year she plans on releasing double the amount of butterflies.

Sta Photographer Riley Sembler can be reached at rsembler@dailyegyptian.com or on Instagram @riley_sembler

Cyrian Mills interacts with the crowd at Garf goes to Jail show Oct. 18, 2025 at Hangar 9 in Carbondale, Illinois. Daylin Williams | @photosbydaylin

Illustration

James Jameson @XTOMIC_COMIC

Jameson

North Dakota gash Dawgs on the ground, soar past Salukis 38-19

NICK PFANNKUCHE

COM

A week removed from a beatdown by the hands of North Dakota State, Saluki football returned to Carbondale for another ranked matchup with the other MFVC team from the Peace Garden State, the North Dakota Fighting Hawks, on Saturday.

e Salukis got the ball to open the game and were held scoreless on their rst possession, the rst time that has happened this season, being forced to punt before they were able to move the chains.

UND was the rst team to get on the board, rushing for 52 of their 64 yards on the drive, with Sawyer Seidl breaking o a 28-yard run into the endzone.

e Salukis struggled to stop the ball on the ground again on Saturday, allowing North Dakota as a team to rush for 307 yards and nd the endzone four times in that manner, the third straight week allowing over 300 yards on the ground.

“It’s gonna be hard to win in this league if a team rushes for 300 yards,” coach Nick Hill said “ eir quarterback didn’t have to do anything.”

SIU was unable to get past the sticks on their second possession of the afternoon, punting the ball away again, but the Hawks responded with a three-and-out of their own to give the ball back to DJ Williams and the Dawgs.

e Salukis found some o ense in drive No. 3, with short gains getting them into UND territory for the rst time.

Facing a fourth and long, the Dawgs went for it, but a UND rusher was able to wrap up Williams deep in the back eld to set the Fighting Hawks o ense on the SIU half of the eld. With the short eld, Seidl was able to nd the endzone for a second time and double the North Dakota lead.

Chasing two scores, the Dawgs got the

passing game going, picking up 51 yards on two passing plays to get deep into UND territory, but they still weren’t able to come away with points as the ball was coughed up inside the 10 and recovered by a white jersey.

“ e turnovers, we got to gure it out. We have to value the football, we got to nd a game where we don’t turn it over,” Hill said.

A 45-yard gain on the rst play following the takeaway helped the Hawks on their 94-yard trek across the eld to stretch their lead even further with UND quarterback Jerry Kaminski breaking the plane on a QB keeper.

e teams traded punts to give SIU the ball at its own one under two minutes in

the half and a UND interception inside of the 30-second mark set up Seidl to complete the hat trick, giving the Fighting Hawks a 28-0 lead going into halftime.

“ e rst half was inexcusable. It starts with me, my job as the head coach, I’m in charge of the whole thing here,” Hill said.

Out of the locker room, the Salukis forced a quick punt and the o ense gave the home crowd something to cheer about with Williams hitting Fabian McCray deep down eld for a gain of 43, leading to the rst points of the game for the Dawgs with Chandler Chapman nding the endzone from four yards out.

Dashing much of the hope of a miraculous comeback, the UND o ense chewed through nearly seven and a half

minutes of clock and got the ball to Seidl for his fourth touchdown of the day, this one his rst receiving score of the game. Not ready to quit, the Dawgs pushed the ball down eld for Williams to punch in his rst touchdown of the game and an unsuccessful two-point conversion attempt left the score at 3513. A surprise onside kick on the ensuing kicko was recovered by the Saluki kicker, Paul Geelen, keeping the ball in SIU’s possession, but the Dawgs weren’t able to do much with it and turned the ball over on downs.

e Hawks drained more clock and kicked a eld goal and the Salukis put up a touchdown with the game already well out of reach for North Dakota to nish

on top, 38-19. “ is loss was frustrating. Any loss can be frustrating, but it seemed like we kind of just beat ourselves,” SIU linebacker Colin Bohanek said. “It didn’t feel like we got completely outplayed by North Dakota. It felt like we didn’t play a full collective team football game.” e Salukis drop to 4-3 on the season and 1-2 in conference play with the loss. ey will look to end the two-game skid next Saturday, Oct. 25, at home against the Panthers of Northern Iowa for SIU’s Homecoming game.

Sports Reporter Nick Pfannkuche can be reached at npfankuche@dailyegyptian.com

Catch a peek of the SIU Greeks’ Homecoming foats

CARMEN J. TAPLEY CTAPLEY@DAILYEGYPTIAN COM

With Homecoming festivities in full swing at Southern Illinois University, headlining Saturday’s events will be the Homecoming parade at 10 a.m. in downtown Carbondale.

e Daily Egyptian got a sneak Greek peek at what some of the fraternities and sororities have to display for their oats. e Homecoming theme this year being Spooktacular inspired these chapters to rush with similar ideas.

e professional agricultural chapters Alpha Gamma Rho and Sigma Alpha have partnered as rho mates once again in hopes to take the crown for the 14th year in a row. ey are going sweet and simple this year by following the general theme of Halloween. A recurring detail they have every year is Grey Dawg

performing an activity atop the oat.

As rho mates, it is tting that the men and women of agriculture partner for the Homecoming parade. Alpha Gamma Rho shared that they think highly of the ladies as hard workers, and recounted the fun they have had when building the oat each year. e chapters had no plans to split the work, but rather collaborated on all aspects of construction, painting and decoration.

Phi Kappa Tau, FarmHouse and Alpha Gamma Delta have formed a trifecta to seek victory, with one team and triple the members. With no design nalized as of last ursday, they were brainstorming a plethora of ideas. A few of the members from Phi Tau had the idea of incorporating a graveyard. e ladies of Alpha Gamma Delta wanted to incorporate a movie theme. ey brainstormed during an interview with the DE about doing a “Hocus Pocus” oat.

Alpha Gamma Delta chose to partner with Phi Kappa Tau and FarmHouse because of their connections to the ladies. FarmHouse was a top choice for AGD, but Phi Tau made a convincing proposal to the ladies by o ering them breakfast at the house and to watch the parade from the porch. e ladies of AGD said they see this as a new opportunity to create connections for future projects and events. ey came to the conclusion of working as a triorunner instead of a duo.

Tau Kappa Epsilon pledged to Delta Zeta in hopes of dethroning AGR and Sig Alph, another team with an un nalized design. Vice President, Phillip Hartke, shared a few suggestions they hope to incorporate. “Some ideas include building a haunted mansion, graveyard, zombie or skeleton football players, etc.,” he said.

Tau Kappa Epsilon chose Delta

Zeta for particular reasons.

“ ey have consistently been an exceptional chapter academically, programmatically and socially,” Hartke said.

As for their workload, this set of chapters was strategic with construction planning. ey divided the work between ve crews — design, construction, nishing (painting and detailing), procurement (materials) and support (fun and encouragement).

Sigma Pi put a bid on winning with Sigma Kappa. ey are ahead of the game compared to other chapters when it comes to planning. One of the members of Sig Pi, omas Dickman, suggested the idea of ‘Sigma Pi-rates of the Caribbean and Sigma Kappa Hook.’ Another member of Sig Pi, Sam Moore, had jumpstarted the planning process by making a digital blueprint of their oat. A pirate ship will be sailing in this parade.

Sigma Pi wanted to partner with Sigma Kappa for last year’s Homecoming oat, but a di erence of interest made that di cult. ey are ecstatic to be paired this year for a few reasons. ey have admired the philanthropy based drive that those ladies hold and feel genuine respect and appreciation for them. Jay Reed of Sig Pi shared his hopes that building the oat together will be a great bonding experience to foster a deeper connection through hard work, in hopes of partnering for future events. ese men took the hard work o of the ladies hands by splitting the construction of the oat 50/50. Sig Pi had taken on the responsibility of constructing the base for the oat and leaving the creativity and decorating to Sig Kap.

Chandler Chapman celebrates his touchdown putting SIU on the scoreboard against North Dakota Oct. 18, 2025 at Saluki Stadium in Carbondale, Illinois. Claire Stroh | @cstrohphoto

Salukis men’s basketball powers past Governors in exhibition opener

At 6:01 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 17, the ball was tipped inside the Banterra Center, and Saluki basketball (un) o cially began for the 2025-2026 season in Carbondale.

Resiliency was the word of the game for the Salukis. Despite being down double digits for much of the second half, SIU was able to escape with an 84-79 victory against the Austin Peay Governors.

e home squad immediately took control of the contest, jumping out to a 7-1 lead three minutes in. Senior forward Prince Aligbe in particular was impressive on o ense in the early going, scoring seven straight Saluki points after sophomore guard Quel’Ron House opened the scoring.

After that, the Governors settled in, as guard Tyler Wagner hit backto-back threes to give the visiting squad a 17-14 lead with 12:50 left in the half.

For the next six minutes it became a game of tug-of-war, with the lead changing hands four times in that time frame. Austin Peay came out on top, taking a 32-29 lead with

6:24 to go in the rst frame.

e Governors’ defense was on re the rest of the half, not allowing a single Saluki eld goal the rest of the half. at combined with a proli c o ense gave them a 45-35 halftime cushion.

e Salukis came out of the locker room hot, with House and senior guard Damien Mayo Jr. scoring backto-back buckets to open the half to brie y cut the lead back down to six.

However, Austin Peay was able to keep SIU at arms length, extending their lead out to 55-43 with 15:59 left to go in the contest.

e Saluki o ense then came back to life thanks to a supercharge from senior Isaiah Sta ord and went on a 10-2 run to close the gap to 57-53 with 12 minutes remaining.

SIU kept the pressure on, and a Drew Ste e three-pointer got them within 68-66 with 7:30 to go, the closest it had been since seven minutes left in the opening half.

e Saluki defense and House continuing to pour in points on o ense nally got SIU over the hump, as they took a 72-68 lead into the nal media timeout, their rst since 20-19 halfway through the rst.

e Salukis took a 77-72 lead into the nal 90 seconds, and that forced Austin Peay into a full-court press defense to try and create turnovers and speed up the Saluki o ense.

Free throws ended up sealing it for the Salukis in the closing seconds, making the nal score 84-79.

Quel’Ron House impressed in his Saluki debut, scoring a gamehigh 29 points to go along with five rebounds and two assists. When asked postgame what the most important thing to take away from the matchup, House replied “When adversity hits, we gotta stand together.”

Sophomore forward Rolyns Aligbe added 16 points and a team-high eight rebounds.

The Salukis have one more exhibition against the Lindenwood Lions in St. Charles, Missouri on Oct. 29 at 6 p.m. before the season officially starts Monday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. at home against Division II foe McKendree.

Sports reporter Eli Hoover can be reached at ehoover@dailyegyptian.com or on Instagram @hoovermakesart

Mariah the Scientist to headline SIU’s 2025 Homecoming Concert

Southern Illinois University’s Homecoming celebration will take center stage on Wednesday, Oct. 22, when R&B sensation Mariah the Scientist headlines this year’s Homecoming concert from 7–9 p.m.

Mariah the Scientist — born Mariah Amani Buckles — is best known for her emotive songwriting and smooth, atmospheric sound. e Atlanta native rst gained attention with her 2018 EP “To Die For,” followed by acclaimed albums “Master” in 2019, “Ry Ry World” in 2021, and her latest release, “Hearts Sold Separately” in 2025. e new record, featuring hits like “Burning Blue” and “Sacri ce,” positions her as a prominent gure in contemporary R&B due to her chart performances. Behind the scenes of the Homecoming excitement is Joshua Jones, director of Homecoming concerts for the Student Programming Council, which is organizing the event. Jones said he was proud to lead the selection and planning process for this year’s lineup.

While Jones had support from the SPC team, he explained that choosing the artist was ultimately his responsibility.

“I picked her because I knew how impactful she was to people around me and the students at my school,” he said.

“She had recently dropped an album a couple months ago, so the timing was perfect. I felt like capitalizing on that momentum would be great — and honestly, we might not be able to a ord her at this price point next year.”

Jones said he hopes Mariah will bring the same heartfelt energy to SIU that she pours into her music.

“She sings with a lot of passion and emotion,” he said. “That’s why people resonate with her songs — they’re able to relate to that in their own daily lives. I really want her to bring that same passion to the stage.”

In addition to Mariah’s headline performance, Jones revealed that an up-and-coming Chicago-based rapper named BabyChiefDoIt will open the show. Jones said that he hopes that the artist will bring a more upbeat, highenergy experience to the show that will

complement Mariah’s soulful R&B style. e announcement of Mariah’s performance has already sent waves of excitement across campus according to Jones, and he said students have been ecstatic.

Jones said this concert marks a new standard for what SPC hopes to deliver in the future. Ultimately, Jones said his goal is to create a lasting memory for students and the Carbondale community.

“I want students to take away an experience they’ll never forget,” he said. “I want them to be able to look back and say, ‘Remember that time we saw Mariah the Scientist live at Homecoming?’ at’s what this is all about — creating something memorable for everyone.”

The Homecoming concert featuring Mariah the Scientist and BabyChiefDoIt will take place, Oct. 22, from 7–9 p.m. at Shryock Auditorium.

Purchase your tickets now on eventbrite.

Sta reporter Yahri Edmond can be reached at yedmond@dailyegyptian.com

This week’s puzzle answers:

Rolyns Aligbe (0) misses a dunk at the SIU Men’s Basketball exhibition against Austin Peay Oct. 18, 2025 at the Banterra Center in Carbondale, Illinois. Daylin Williams | @photosbydaylin

Greetings from Falsettoland, where the family is eccentric, the love vibrant

If you’re unfamiliar with “Falsettos,” the SIU School of eater and Dance doesn’t hesitate to integrate you into William Finn and James Lapine’s story of faith, love and family, set at the beginning of the AIDS epidemic. Performed in the intimate black box Christian H. Moe eater, the opening number is no once-upona-time-esque feat. Instead, audiences are immediately greeted by “Four Jews in a Room B----ing.”

SIU’s hilarious yet heartbreaking season opener, which ran from Oct. 15-19, follows the chaos of an unconventional Jewish-American family living in New York City between 1979-81. Marvin (senior Van Leonard) is a neurotic father who leaves his wife, Trina (senior Edie Balester), for his lover, Whizzer (junior Nick Steinberger). While tensions build between Marvin and his son, Jason (sixthgrader Harrison Zimmermann), Trina falls in love with Marvin’s psychiatrist, Mendel (junior Demaurion Clark).

Over time, Whizzer leaves Marvin, but they reunite two years later, on the brink of Jason’s bar mitzvah, just as AIDS is beginning to spread. With the addition of their neighbors, Charlotte (junior Ameriah Lockett) and Cordelia (senior Bizi Cutherell), a loving extended family begins to form, and the characters learn to face their futures with love and dignity.

It’s a sung-through musical — meaning no spoken dialogue — that fuses two separate one-act shows by Finn. Each act has its own main resolution, which can be a blessing and a curse. e stories are emotionally complex, but the pacing can be confusing at times, especially as the show transitions from Act 1 to Act 2. And yet, at performances where technical kinks are still evident, the cast — who had just four weeks to prepare — shined through.

Balester and Demaurion Clark were phenomenal as Trina and Mendel, and their vocals blended nicely to create some

of the show’s more memorable moments. Lockett proved her range as Charlotte — a role on an entirely di erent wavelength than last year’s Grover in “ e Lightning ief” — and Cutherell earnestly played the one non-Jewish character in an endearing fashion. Leonard and Steinberger provided comedic relief while remaining the heart and soul of the show. Even freshman Eden Kaszubski, who had a quick quip as one of Mendel’s patients, stood out during her short stage time.

But the glue of the family is Jason — Marvin and Trina’s 10-going-on-12year-old son. Jason is precocious, and his journey with his parents’ divorce is a central focus in the show, as well as his developing relationships with his other parental gures. An unlikely highlight of the show is his bond with Mendel. Despite Mendel violating nearly every ethic in the psychiatry book, he becomes a steady presence in Jason’s life. Clark and Harrison were an extremely fun duo to watch.

But perhaps the biggest highlight of the show was the set. Audiences became one with it. e exible theater holds space for just about 100 spectators, which director Darryl Clark said was the plan all along. e intimacy of the show required a smaller setting to bring audiences into the home life of the characters.

“I wanted the audience to be right there in the thick of things with everybody else on the stage,” Clark said. “I didn’t want them to be with the orchestra pit between them and all those seats around them — I wanted them to be very intimately involved with these characters.”

Many lines were delivered with erce eye contact. e actors’ choice to address the audience paid o , earning roaring laughter and applause.

Leonard, who plays the lead, said adjusting to the setup, which featured audience members sitting at three di erent angles, was challenging as an actor but tting for the musical.

“It’s an intimate show about intimate lives,” he said. “When you boil it down, it’s

just about the chaos that relationships have. And so that’s a very intimate concept and thing, so it deserves an intimate space.”

Finn’s score is unique in its own charming way. Under the direction of Angela Schultz, the upbeat songs kept your foot tapping, while the slower numbers tugged at your heartstrings. e cast put a smile on your face during “ e Baseball Game” and cut to the core during “Unlikely Lovers.” A standout number was Act 1’s “I’m Breaking Down,” performed cathartically by Balester as Trina. e tone of “Falsettos” signi cantly alters in Act 2, however, when Whizzer comes down with a mysterious illness. It’s 1981 and the AIDS epidemic is just beginning. Dr. Charlotte sings about young bachelors coming in sick and leaving with more questions than answers.

“It was like the early days of COVID where they just said, ‘Go home and stay home,’ and you didn’t know why, and what you didn’t have (was) like, this electronic information going through the air, spreading what could help you or what couldn’t help you,” director Clark said. “It just was a whole big mystery. It was a huge city grabbed in this mystery, and then you

had the leader of this country turning his back on it. So it was almost identical to COVID.”

Clark said he wanted to highlight these parallels, but also their di erences.

“ at was one thing that I wanted to try to identify because it’s (‘Falsettos’) not in a place where now you have all these things that can keep people safer when they’re having sex and you have practices that keep people safe and all this other stu that wasn’t there,” he said.

e musical also pays homage to lesbian solidarity during the AIDS epidemic. When doctors and scientists refused to care for HIV/AIDS patients, lesbians volunteered to provide medical care. Patients were often anemic and needed blood transfusions, but in 1983, men who had sex with men were banned from donating blood, leading to a shortage. In response, lesbians held blood drives and collaborated with blood banks to ensure the donations went directly to HIV/AIDS patients.

Lockett, who plays Dr. Charlotte, pointed out that the script never mentions the lesbians by name.

“I think that they’re just kind of there

as kind of an image of the allies that lesbians were during the time of the AIDS crisis,” she said. “Like they’re not named, but they’re still there. ey’re still on the frontlines with gay men and everybody going through this … It’s not directly a ecting their community, but they’re still here feeling it with everybody.”

Clark said he hopes that this performance inspires audiences to live authentically.

“We had the idea of this man (Marvin) who turned his back on everything that was supposed to be right in his life and tried to live his truth, and living his truth was like being like a moth to the ame and kind of scorched him, as we see. And it makes his family fall into this horrible state of disrepair and it doesn’t do anything for its relationship either, but at least he tries.

“So I think that’s the thing. It’s like, dare yourself to live your truth, no matter how painful it may be, because once you’ve done that, it’s like you come out on the other side of it, probably a much stronger, much better person.”

SIU’s mainstage theater has three performances left: “Ajax in Iraq,” which runs Nov. 6-9 in the McLeod eater; “Metamorphoses,” which runs Feb. 25 - March 1 in the Moe eater; and “Anything Goes,” which runs March 26-29 in Shyrock Auditorium. Tickets can be purchased online, by phone at 618-453-5741 or in person at the night of the performance. e McLeod eater Box O ce will also be open ten days before each show opens from 12:30-4:30 p.m., and an hour before each performance. For a more in depth version, visit dailyeyptian.com.

Deputy editor Carly Gist can be reached at cgist@dailyegyptian.com, or on Instagram at @gistofthestory.

Photo editor Dominique MartinezPowell can be reached at dmartinezpowell@ dailyegyptian.com, or on Instagram at @d.martinezphoto

Edie Balester, performing as Trina, sings “I’m Breaking Down” during a dress rehearsal of “Falsettos” Oct. 13, 2025 at the Moe Theater in Carbondale, Illinois. Carly Gist | @gistofthestory

Joyful Noise choir sing at the Karaoke Cup hosted by The Daily Egyptian on Oct. 14, at Hanger 9 in Carbondale, Illinois. Joyful Noise scored a perfect 50 out of 50 that night – the rst RSO to do so. Next week, Joyful Noise face-o against the Pagans, Occultists, and Witches of SIUC. The RSO Karaoke Cup is double-elimination and takes place every Tuesday at 10 p.m.