Daily Egyptian

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Daily Egyptian WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2015

Voters do not approve of Rauner’s performance, poll shows

DAILYEGYPTIAN.COM

SINCE 1916

VOL. 99 ISSUE 107

Do not smash these pumpkins

SHANNON ALLEN | @ShannonAllen_DE

Southern Illinois voters overwhelmingly disapprove of Gov. Bruce Rauner’s choices and the nation’s direction, according to a recent Paul Simon Public Policy Institute poll. The over-the-phone poll was completed by 401 voters from the 18 southernmost counties in Illinois. Almost 80 percent of registered voters in the region feel the state and nation are misguided, and fewer than 15 percent think that Illinois and the U.S. are making progress, according to the poll. “These results probably reflect some of Illinois’ current conflicts,” said John Jackson, a visiting professor, in the institute’s press release. “Most polls show that more people feel their state is doing better than the nation, but not here.” Although approximately 35 percent of voters strongly disapprove of Gov. Rauner’s performance, about 36 percent somewhat approve Sen. Dick Durbin and 43 percent do not know enough about Sen. Mark Kirk to have an opinion on his policies. “Kirk has a lot of health problems that keep him from getting around,” said Paul Simon Public Policy Institute Director David Yepsen. “This could be why so many people feel that they don’t know anything about him.” Kirk suffered an ischemic stroke in January 2012, according to Kirk’s site. An ischemic stroke occurs when an obstruction prevents blood from reaching the brain, according to the American Stroke Association. Yepsen said he thinks because southern Illinois is heavily dependent on government funding for universities, prisons and health care for the poor, voters do not agree with the state and how the Governor chooses to spend money. Illinois did not pass a state budget by its July 1 deadline because of disagreements among Republican and Democratic lawmakers. In addition to other cuts, Gov. Rauner’s administration has proposed stricter eligibility guidelines for social services like child care and programs for the elderly or disabled. Travis Washington, a junior from Flossmoor studying communications, is one of the many voters who does not support Rauner’s policies. Washington is also an undergraduate student government senator who represents 21 black student organizations on campus. “I respect Rauner, but I did not support him cutting $400 million from Illinois universities,” Washington said. “This was very devastating to public universities.” Yepsen said he thinks voters here are, and will continue to be, in a bad mood. “All you have to do is look at the disapproval rates to see that voters are not happy,” Yepsen said. “People in general are not content with the way this country is being run.”

ABOVE: Su-yeon Kim, left, a thirdyear graduate student in art with a glass specialization from Seoul, South Korea, and Clint Wilkie, a senior from Marion studying art with a glass specialization, work on a glass-blown pumpkins Saturday for the Great Glass Pumpkin Patch, an annual art sale that benefits the glass program. Kim decided to come to SIUC to pursue her master’s degree in glass after completing her bachelor’s degree in Korea. Kim one day hopes to be a full-time glass artist. LEFT: A student in the School of Art and Design’s glass program puts the finishing touches on a glass pumpkin Saturday for the upcoming Great Glass Pumpkin Patch, an annual art sale that benefits the program. The Great Glass Pumpkin Patch will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 24 at the Town Square City Pavilion in Carbondale. J ACOB W IEGAND @J ACOB W IEGAND _DE

Drinking events bring increased risks, hospital visits CORY RAY | @CoryRay_DE

Pumpkin-spiced beer may have found its niche. For four straight weekends, Carbondale will have some of the year’s most notorious events: Unofficial Halloween on Oct. 16 and 17; homecoming celebrations the week leading up to the game on Oct. 24; Halloween; and Tour De Carbondale, scheduled for Nov. 7. Dubbed “Drunktober” on social media, the celebrations bring multiple opportunities to drink alcohol. With the exception of homecoming — a university-supported occasion, which includes a tailgate — the events are historically oriented around bingedrinking. “As a culture, we drink to celebrate things,” said Jane Nichols, professor at the SIU Rehabilitation Institute. “It’s a norm when there’s an event to

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have alcohol associated with it.” Nichols said many people who attend these events will celebrate with alcohol and relates it to coming of age. But, she says, partaking in the binge-drinking celebrations comes with risks, like people who have not drank before drinking too much, too quickly. College students tend to become drunk faster than other age groups, Nichols said. Nichols said people should be aware of what they drink, as partygoers may not know what is in beverages being served or what types of alcohol are being mixed together. Consuming excessive amounts of alcohol increases the risk of losing consciousness or experiencing drug-induced amnesia, which are both indicators of alcohol poisoning. Nichols advises to never leave an unconscious person alone, as they could choke on vomit or have respiratory arrest.

Other signs of alcohol poisoning include slow or irregular breathing, seizures or hypothermia because alcohol — a central nervous system depressant — causes reduced brain and organ function, according to Mayo Clinic. Alcohol use by college students has remained relatively the same with time, but the use of other drugs is increasing, according to Nichols. Mixing alcohol and medications can cause increased side effects or abnormal and potentially fatal, physiological responses, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. “Every time you got out and drink more than you need to, the chances of you getting in some kind of trouble go up,” Nichols said. “It’s just a matter of odds. That’s the biggest danger I see.” Please see DRINKING | 2


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