Carbondale Calendars and Events
Edwardsville Calendars and Events
East St. Louis Calendars and Events

A ceremony at SIUC's Morris Library on Aug. 31 celebrated the dedication of the John C. Guyon Auditorium and honored its namesake.  The new auditorium in the renovated and expanded Morris Library now bears the name of the longtime SIUC administrator, praised by colleagues for his leadership and contributions to the University. Guyon, a native of Washington, Pa., arrived at SIUC in 1974.  He was the first permanent dean of the College of Science, a post established through restructuring of academic units. He became associate vice president for research and dean of the graduate school in 1976 followed by posts as acting vice president and then vice president for academic affairs and research.  Guyon’s term as president began July 9, 1987, seven months after being named acting president. At that time, the president was the top administrator for the SIUC campus and the chancellor led the entire SIU system. Later, administrative restructuring changed duties and titles. In keeping with those revisions, Guyon, who led the University until 1996, is chancellor emeritus.

Robert H. Rasche, executive vice president and senior policy adviser at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, comes to Southern Illinois University Carbondale to deliver the annual Vandeveer Chair Lecture in Economics.  Rasche’s lecture, “The Report of the Death of the Economy was an Exaggeration,” begins at 6 p.m. on Sept. 30 in the Student Center Auditorium. The lecture is free and open to the public.  Rasche, who is part of the research division of the Federal Reserve Bank, has an article forthcoming in the “International Journal of Central Banking.” He also has articles in the “Journal of Macroeconomics” and “Journal of Financial Services Research,” among others. He earned his doctoral degree from the University of Michigan in 1966. Rasche was professor of economics at Michigan State University for 24 years before joining the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank.  The Vandeveer chair was endowed in 1960 through a gift from W. W. Vandeveer, a University alumnus.

An award-winning college alcohol awareness program, One Night, was offered early this month in SIUE’s Morris University Center. Several University departments joined to host the program that was initiated by Missouri State University in 1999. Co-sponsors included SIUE University Housing, Counseling Services, Health Service, the Office of Admissions, Campus Recreation, Kimmel Leadership Center, University Police, the School of Nursing and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. A variety of local organizations donated time and resources to the program. The awareness program puts students in regular situations they might encounter when consuming alcohol and then presents an extreme change of events to show how easy it can be for a fun evening to have a tragic ending.

SIUC welcomes organist Paul Jacobs to Shryock Auditorium for the 17th concert in the Marianne Webb and David N. Bateman Distinguished Organ Recital Series.  The free performance begins at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 18.  Jacobs is a faculty member and the chairman of the organ department at The Juilliard School, famous worldwide for producing some of the finest performance musicians.  The organ concert series for which he visits SIUC began in 1990, when Webb, a professor in the School of Music and the namesake of the Marianne Webb Pipe Organ in Shryock Auditorium, and Bateman, professor emeritus from the College of Business, established it as a way to bring renowned organists to the Southern Illinois area. The series is possible thanks to an endowment Webb and Bateman provided in perpetuity.

If you’ve ever considered starting your very own business, this might be the time to take the next step.  The Illinois Small Business Development Center at SIUC is offering several sessions this fall of the two-hour informational seminar, “Starting a Business in Illinois.” The workshop gives all the basic information you’ll need to start a business, including legal structure, start-up requirements, business planning and finding financing.  A $10 materials fee covers the cost of materials including the business start-up kit.  You must pre-register to attend any of the workshop sessions. To register or learn more about the workshops, call (618)536-2424 or e-mail ilsbdc@siu.edu. You can also sign up online at www.southernillinois.biz.

SIUE has been cited by its peers and reported in U.S.News & World Report as a school “firmly focused on improving the job they’re doing today.” The listing in the magazine’s Best Colleges of 2010 issue recently hit newsstands. In addition, for the fifth consecutive year, SIUE is in the senior capstone experience category, among 17 universities — including Yale, Harvard, MIT and Princeton — for its comprehensive program measuring the competency of graduating seniors. At SIUE, the program is called Senior Assignment and is required curriculum for all seniors to demonstrate their degree of general education knowledge, as well as knowledge within their disciplines prior to graduation. Also, according to the publication, SIUE is among the top 15 public universities in the Midwest-Master’s category for the third consecutive year and also in the top one-third of all public and private Midwestern universities. Overall scores are based on academic preparedness of students, graduation rates, faculty characteristics and the reputation of SIUE in higher education. 

Gregory J. Brewer, professor of medical microbiology, immunology and cell biology, has been named recipient of the Kenneth Stark Endowed Chair in Alzheimer’s Research at the SIU School of Medicine in Springfield.  The endowment is funded with a $1.8 million gift from the estate of Kenneth A. Stark, a Pike County native who had a long career as a farmland appraiser for the Federal Land Bank in St. Louis.  Interest from the endowment will be used to support a doctoral student and several studies related to Alzheimer’s disease.  Brewer has been selected as the first to hold the chair because of his nearly 30-year career in Springfield and his numerous contributions to Alzheimer’s disease research.

Good personal trainers don’t just happen. Helping people improve their health and fitness is a big responsibility and Recreational Sports and Services at SIUC is offering people of the region a chance to learn how to be a professional personal trainer.  The Professional Personal Trainer program kicks off 9 a.m. to noon, Oct. 3. It meets the same time each Saturday (except around the Thanksgiving holiday) for nine weeks, wrapping up Dec. 12. Participants will also log an additional 18 hours or so throughout the course practicing techniques and concepts at the Student Recreation Center.  Those interested in finding out more about the class will want to stop by the open house set for 10 a.m.-noon on Sept. 19 in the recreation center’s Alumni Lounge. Linda Hill, class instructor, will be on hand to answer questions.

Bill Retzlaff, chair of the Department of Biological Sciences at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, recently co-hosted a discussion group about sustainability initiatives to reduce oils, metals and pollutants in storm water systems. Green Roofs and Permeable Pavement was the topic of the group discussion at the Sustainable University Symposium in Palos Hills. The event was sponsored by the Illinois Green Governments Coordinating Council through the state of Illinois. Retzlaff talked about the 16,000-square-foot green roof on the new Student Success Center on campus and the results of research projects and the educational programs that have developed out of SIUE research programs. As a University, SIUE has taken important steps to introduce sustainability measures on campus, as well as ways to monitor the success of such initiatives. A partner of ENERGY STAR® through the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the University has committed itself to measuring and tracking the energy performance of its facilities whenever possible by using ENERGY STAR® tools; developing and implementing a plan to achieve energy savings, in line with the ENERGY STAR® Energy Management Guidelines; spreading the word among the SIUE community about the importance of energy efficiency; supporting the national call-to-action through the ENERGY STAR® Challenge by improving the energy efficiency of the campus' commercial and industrial buildings by 10 percent or more and highlighting the University's achievements through ENERGY STAR® recognition.

The Sept. 19 Saluki football home opener against Southwest Baptist marks the sixth-annual Saluki Football Hawgs & Dawgs event at McAndrew Stadium. Kickoff is at 6 p.m.  For $20, a cycle rider will receive a game ticket, food coupon, commemorative t-shirt and the opportunity to form the Harley tunnel for the team before the game and to ride their bike around the field at halftime.  This season marks the "final ride" at McAndrew Stadium, which is in its last year of service. In 2010, Southern Illinois University will open a new football stadium.  SIUC opens the 2009 campaign on the road at Marshall on Sept. 5.  Kickoff is at 3:30 CDT.