Daily Egyptian

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Daily Egyptian THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2015

DAILYEGYPTIAN.COM

SINCE 1916

VOL. 99 ISSUE 63

Testing the waters for nationals MVC and ESPN 3 working on contract aaron graff | @Aarongraff_DE

A subsection of the largest sports network in the world could be coming to campus. ESPN 3 and the Missouri Valley Conference have been working on a contract that would require all court sports — men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball — to be televised on the website. Baseball and softball would follow the next year. The home team of all conference games would be responsible for producing a stream. Saluki Athletics Director of Video Services Shane Gibbons said he hopes the contract is finalized within the upcoming weeks. “It’s hard to put into words how excited I am,” Gibbons said. ESPN 3 broadcasts would essentially replace Saluki All-Access, which gives customers audio and video coverage of non-televised games. Saluki AllAccess audio streams would continue. SIU broadcaster Mike Reis said ESPN does not want simulcasts, meaning his audio over their video, opening up opportunities for on-air talent. Saluki All-Access, which costs $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year, does not require a cable package, but ESPN 3 would. Gibbons said it would differ from Saluki All-Access slightly. He said the video team has to be more neutral than it is with Saluki All-Access. However, it can still run university commercials and Saluki Spotlights — features of SIU athletes and coaches — during halftime. Reis said there are several hundred Saluki All-Access customers and ESPN 3 would be a good thing. “There are so many more positives than negatives,” Reis said. “Really the only negative is a significant equipment investment. That means money at a time where it’s not really available. But it’s an investment and big things cost money.” Gibbons said he is unsure of the total cost, but knows SIU would have to purchase and assemble a truck to act as a mobile control room and house the production equipment. Reis said if ESPN 3 came to SIU, it would be a good recruiting tool for the Department of Radio, Television and Digital Media. Joe Frye, a junior from Grand Ridge studying radio and television said he is interested in being on-air talent. “I think it’d be worth something investing in,” Frye said. “I know we’re not the biggest power house in any sport, but I think it would give us more exposure.” Gibbons, who graduated from SIU in 2014, said he wants to stress how good of an opportunity it is for students, especially because they can be noticed by higher ups at ESPN. “I had mentors that taught me things, but they only did that because they saw the want to in me,” he said. “That’s what I’m looking for out of the students.” MVC Associate Commissioner Jack Watkins said he is confident a contract will be signed, but he was not in a position to comment on the new contract, as it has not yet been finalized.

@dailyegyptian

C arrington S pireS | @CSpires77 Mike Esker, right, a senior from Teutopolis studying civil engineering and the captain of the Concrete Canoe Design Team, sends off a four-person team into Campus Lake on Wednesday to practice for the national championship in South Carolina this summer. Each year, the team is tasked with building and testing concrete canoes throughout the school year before competing in the regional conference in April. “We’ve been canoeing since 1986,” Esker said. “This is the first time we’re able to go to nationals.”

Turn your back on Rauner at graduation our Word As Saturday’s commencement ceremonies draw nearer, it is clear the student-led petition to get Gov. Bruce Rauner replaced as a commencement speaker will not produce its desired effect. Students opposed the decision because of Rauner’s proposed budget cuts, which would slash $62 million from the SIU system’s budget. The more than 2,700 online signees — students, alumni and others have signed the petition without considering two vital pieces of information: Rauner was asked in January to speak at commencement, one month before he proposed his fiscal year 2016 budget. Also, the governor is not being paid to speak at graduation, as some concerned students have claimed. The furor behind this petition is legitimate. Students have the right to appeal to the university about anything they disagree with. Without this vital tool, democracy could not function. The university will not reject the governor. It would be a bad political move and disrespectful to an elected

official the university works so closely with every year. Dislike his platforms or not, he is still the leader of this state. Petition supporters should be educated on both sides and tolerant to the conservative voice, which is often muted in most university discourse. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and no one should automatically be shunned for it. We as students need to step back and look at the big picture surrounding the governor’s decision to decrease funding for state universities. He is not the first person in Springfield to cut higher education; cuts have been made seven of the last 10 years. The state’s budget has been in disarray for longer than many students have been alive. Every spring, patchwork fixes are put in place to make it to the next year. Unfortunately current college students are just some of those who must deal with it. This petition is a great way to let the administration and Springfield know students do not agree with Rauner’s tactics. But a petition is as far as it should go. Rumors of unruly protests, possible

violence and detrimental activity that would distract from the actual graduation ceremony are concerning. Salukis should not use this opportunity to embarrass the university, graduates or families this ceremony is meant to celebrate. Loud, raucous protests have no place at such an event. Protesting could and should occur, but with respect to everyone involved. Simply turning your back while the governor speaks, or silence following his speech would reach volumes screaming protesters could not match. Those methods would show the state what students believe in — higher education and the survival of SIU as it operates. The newsroom’s initial reaction to hearing Rauner is a commencement speaker was shock and anger. We shared the sentiments of the petitioners. However, in reality, administration is not to blame. President Randy Dunn and his staff are accommodating the proposed cuts as best they can. If there was no plan in place, SIU would be in shambles when the actual cuts are made. Please see RAUNER | 3

Alan Weston, the engineering professor arrested for battery April 23, will appear in court Friday. Follow us on Twitter for live updates.


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