Daily Egyptian THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016
University, Illinois leaders react to Rauner’s State of the State address BILL LUKITSCH | @BILL_LUKITSCHDE
Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner recited Wednesday his mantra of promoting a businessfriendly atmosphere in Illinois through principles listed on his so-called “Turnaround Agenda” during the State of the State address. There was talk of freezing property taxes, curbing the power of state unions, introducing term limits for state politicians and redrawing legislative maps. Little was said regarding the ongoing budget impasse, which has left public universities, like SIU, without state money for fiscal year 2016. “To me, that was the elephant in the room that went undiscussed in the governor’s speech and I think other officials were somewhat surprised by that as well,” SIU President Randy Dunn said. During his speech, Rauner acknowledged the importance of state-funded post-secondary education and proposed reforming higher education by cutting administrative costs and rerouting savings to the classrooms. But Dunn said that’s nothing new. “We’ve been in discussion on reduction of administrative costs and overall bureaucracy since last summer, given the work that was advanced by the Senate Democrats at that time,” Dunn said. Dan Montgomery, president of the Illinois Foundation of Teachers, criticized Rauner for his “so-called education reforms,” via press release just after the 40-minute speech. He also noted the governor did not address the “funding crisis in higher education.” “Try as he might to distract from it today, Governor Rauner can’t escape his failure to fulfill his primary responsibility — to negotiate and enact a state budget,” Montgomery said. Community colleges and public universities across the state have received no state money for research projects, need-based grant aid or operational costs. And as the stalemate between Rauner and the Illinois General Assembly approaches the eightmonth mark, some university officials say the damages are irreparable. Administrators at Chicago State University said it could close as early as March 1 without state funds. Eastern Illinois University and Western Illinois University officials have announced layoffs and furloughs. Dunn said in a WSIU radio interview this week that the budget delay has terrible repercussions for SIU, but the university has enough money in reserves to keep the school afloat through the semester. He indicated in that same interview that WIU and EIU do not have the level of reserve funds as SIU, Illinois State University or the University of Illinois. While there are no plans to close any of SIU’s three campuses, Dunn and interim Chancellor William Bradley Colwell have said the university depends on state appropriations to continue providing the same functions and services it has in the past. Please see RAUNER | 4
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Aspen Court, CPD prepare for Polar Bear EVAN JONES | @EvanJones_DE
Saturday is the 15th annual Polar Bear celebration, an allday drink-fest started by Pinch Penny Pub. Property damage, city ordinance violations and drinking citations have caused Carbondale police and Aspen Court Apartments to amp up efforts to curb the partying. Aspen Court staff has
fenced off the courtyards that were ruined last year in an attempt to reduce large crowds from damaging property, while Carbondale police will increase its presence throughout the city. Dozens of partygoers congregated on the complex’s courtyard between buildings Q and P during recent Solar and Polar Bear celebrations,
resulting in several arrests and pepper spray being dispersed on the crowd. Brian Marik, property manager of Aspen Court Apartments, said DJs and large sound systems are not allowed and city ordinance violations must be followed this weekend. In past years, Solar Bear attendees were seen on roofs of buildings
and hanging out of apartment windows. “Last year we had extra security because we knew what was happening,” Marik said Monday. “This year we’re going to have heavy security. We want people to have a good time — we just don’t want destroyed property.” Please see POLAR | 2
Taking a whack at boxing
Jacob Wiegand | D AILY E GYPTIAN Yovonne Williamson, a program adviser for the off-campus degree programs in the College of Engineering from Glen Ellyn, takes a whack at boxing during a demo session of Jim Crouse’s boxing class on Wednesday at the Recreation Center. “I enjoyed the cardio part and the working out,” Williamson said. “Just trying to get into a place of endurance and building my strength.” Crouse said he believes boxing is the best overall exercise a person can perform because it combines speed, power, cardiovascular conditioning and strength. Williamson said she is very interested in continuing boxing in the future.
Trump unlikely to change his mind on debate LESLEY CLARK McClatchy Washington Bureau
Donald Trump’s campaign manager said Wednesday it’s unlikely the Republican front-runner will change his mind and show up at Thursday’s Republican debate, accusing Fox News of launching personal attacks and defending Trump’s decision to skip the debate as one of a “clear leader.” In an interview with MSNBC, campaign manager Corey Lewandowski said Trump is someone who “is not going to be toyed with. “A person who understands when a bad deal is in front of him and is ready to walk away from a bad deal,” he said of Trump.
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“Something that this country should be able to do.” He accused the network of making “personal attacks” on Trump and questioned how the debate would succeed without the Republican front-runner: “Maybe Fox was going to have a 20 or 25 million-person debate,” he said. “But without Mr. Trump’s participation, I think they may have a 1 or 2 million-person debate.” Trump said Tuesday he won’t participate in Thursday night’s Republican debate, escalating a long-running fight with Fox News, which he blamed for refusing to pull Megyn Kelly as a moderator and for taunting him. Fox News accused Trump’s campaign of threatening the network if it didn’t remove
Kelly and said it would not capitulate to his demands. It called his decision “near unprecedented” and questioned “how Iowans are going to feel about him walking away from them at the last minute.” Trump, who had threatened earlier in the week to sit out the debate because of Kelly, told reporters Tuesday ahead of a town hall at a high school gymnasium here that he “probably won’t bother” to appear at the debate and instead will hold an event to raise money for veterans. His campaign later confirmed that he would indeed sit out the event, the last televised contest among the candidates before voters in Iowa cast votes on Monday. Please see TRUMP | 4