Wednessday, May 4, 2016
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Vol. 100 Issue 88
Students comment Where the pink flowers grow on chancellor’s diversity measures BILL LUKITSCH | @Bill_LukitschDE
Interim Chancellor Brad Colwell issued a campus-wide announcement via email Tuesday detailing a plan of action to address recent grievances aired by members of the student body and surrounding community. “Clearly, we have much work to do to build understanding and respect, and it will take the entire community — administrators, students, faculty and staff — to move forward,” Colwell wrote in the email. “We have all heard the calls for change, and we must respond in partnership.” The announcement comes the day after a protest on campus against a host of issues, including racism, student debt and administrative pay scales. Colwell’s plan calls for the establishment of a “diversity council” comprised of students and “other constituencies” by fall 2016 to promote the university’s overall goal of inclusivity and diversity, according to the email. He said new resources may be needed to help students acclimate to campus and he will improve current resources and programs. Michael Smith, president of the Black Male Roundtable registered student organization, said Tuesday he was pleased to see the chancellor address issues that were introduced during the protest, but added there is much more that must be done to improve the social climate on campus. The only way that will happen, Smith said, is if the majority of nonmarginalized groups rally to help end racism and discrimination on campus. “The administration can only do
so much toward the social climate considering that the social climate exists mostly between students and somewhat between the community,” said Smith, a junior from Chicago studying political science. Students and community members will have a chance to comment on the issues in the fall via surveys to gauge race relations on campus, Colwell said. The university will also begin integrating cultural diversity into the curriculum, according to the email, and the provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs have been scheduled to begin conversations before the beginning of the next academic year. Smith said cultural diversity should be required to help educate students who do not have a first-hand experience of dealing with people of different ethnic backgrounds. The chancellor’s plan also calls for policy reforms that focus on increasing diversity among the university faculty to ensure the university “better reflect[s] the diversity of our community.” President of the Graduate and Professional Student Council Brandon Woudenberg said the email from the chancellor was a “good first step” toward addressing the concerns of SIU students. He added student leaders must follow up to ensure a university council does start in the fall, and it “actually creates a long-term diversity plan” for the university. The measures are “first steps in a larger conversation and effort,” Colwell said. Bill Lukitsch can be reached at blukitsch@dailyegyptian.com
Aviation chair resigns LUKE NOZICKA | @LukeNozicka
The interim chairman of SIU’s aviation management and flight department is stepping down at midnight Wednesday, according to an email obtained by the Daily Egyptian. José R. Ruiz — who has been at the university since 1995, according to his online biography — sent an email to aviation students and staff about 9:10 p.m. Tuesday saying he was resigning earlier than he originally planned. “My contract as interim chair was due to expire on June 30th,” he wrote in the email. “However, circumstances have forced me to accelerate that
timeline. ... It has been an honor to represent this department, but some of the actions I have been asked to engage in are contrary to what I believe in. As such, I felt that I had no option, but to step down.” Ruiz could not be reached for comment as of Tuesday night. In his email, Ruiz said he will continue to serve as a faculty member. Andy Ju An Wang, dean of College of Applied Sciences and Arts, “or his designee will assume the responsibilities of acting department chair,” Ruiz wrote. Luke Nozicka can be reached at 618-536-3325
Autumn Suyko | @AutumnSuyko_DE Christina Blakeney, of Carbondale, mulches flower beds Tuesday at the Carbondale Town Square. “I’m volunteering with Carbondale Main Street,” Blakeney said. “Every year for Mother’s Day I used to work in my mom’s garden, so I was excited when they told me about this project.” Meghan Cole, executive director of Carbondale Main Street, said the organization is a nonprofit that works to develop and promote the downtown area. “I do all types of things [as a volunteer],” Blakeney said. “On Friday, we have the Brew Fest, I work the Friday Night Fairs, things like that.”
Optimistic Rauner mum on what it will take to end budget impasse MONIQUE GARCIA AND CELESTE BOTT Chicago Tribune
As Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner continues to talk up the possibility that he could strike a sweeping agreement with lawmakers to resolve the budget stalemate by the end of the month, he’s refusing to say which portions of his agenda he needs to get the deal done. It’s nothing new, as Rauner has long been wary of giving away his negotiating position. Instead, he’s issued broad calls to freeze property taxes, cut costs related to workers hurt on the job, curb benefits that could be negotiated during collective bargaining and rein in pricey civil lawsuits. Democrats largely have rebuffed those efforts, saying they would harm the middle class and are unrelated to the state budget, which is billions of dollars out of whack after a temporary income tax hike began to expire in January 2015. On Monday, Rauner offered the latest reason for his opacity on the 10-month stalemate, saying he was keeping quiet so he wouldn’t derail negotiations among rank-and-file lawmakers who are scrambling to
come up with something they can present to legislative leaders. “I don’t want to get ahead of the legislature in their negotiations. I don’t want to comment on specifics,” Rauner said during an event commemorating small businesses at his favorite Springfield microbrewery. “But I think the good news is they are talking about very significant reforms, I am told, and they are talking about a balanced budget that includes cuts as well as some tax revenue reform, and I think that’s the right answer.” Rank-and-file members, frustrated by months of inaction, hope there’s an opening before lawmakers head home at the end of May. None want to spend a summer on the campaign trail with little to show. But cutting a deal in the next four weeks is far from an easy task, particularly in an election year when few want to be on the record voting for a tax increase. That political reality is made even more difficult by the likelihood that a budget agreement also is likely to include major spending cuts, meaning taxpayers will be asked to pony up more but get less in return.
It’s a tricky situation Rauner acknowledges while still trying to strike an optimistic tone. “There are many legislators who, they won’t vote for a tax raise no matter what, end of story. I’ve talked to them. We are going to have to find those folks who are willing to compromise. I’m willing to compromise. But in order to do it, we need structural reform to protect taxpayers in the future,” Rauner said. “And frankly, there are many members on both sides of the aisle who have their own pet programs or pet spending that they won’t consider cutting in any scenario. Well, you know what? We have got to have some cuts. “This is why it’s taken over a year,” Rauner said. “I hope we can get it done in the next four weeks.” Others are less hopeful, saying Rauner will continue to stand in the way by demanding his agenda items. “The governor doesn’t understand what stirs the economy. If he did we would have had a budget long ago,” said Rep. Lou Lang, D-Skokie. To read more, please see dailyegyptian.com