IllinoisIllinois StateState alumni magazine UMMER 2007 S • 1 ER NUMB • 8 UME VOL
Making music and memories with the Big Red Marching Machine.
page 24
Marching through time
It takes hard work practicing in the heat, followed by pain as performances are played in freezing temperatures. And yet members of The Big Red Marching Machine will attest that there is no sweeter experience than the years spent making music in the University’s marching band. Cover: Illinois State band members have played with 11 pride for decades. Contents
2 UNIVERSITY NEWS
8 DELAYED BUT NOT DEFEATED Lisa Daniels ’99, M.S. ’00, watched her classmates head off to college after high school. As a teenage mom, she wasn’t able to follow the traditional academic path. Daniels was 29 when she arrived at Illinois State. Now part of an international firm, she empowers struggling students with her success story. 8 16 I STHE EARTH WARMING? Geography-Geology Professor Emeritus James Carter answers the 16 question debated by so many experts that the general public is left to ponder the need for panic. Carter’s examination of inevitable climate change provides insights into what’s happening across the planet.
20 TACKLING THE NATION’S ILLS Chris Wiant ’72 is immersed in two of the country’s toughest problems—health care woes and environmental safety concerns. Now the CEO of a $170 million foundation dedicated to improving Colorado’s health care, Wiant is lauded nationally as the man who negotiated the Rocky Mountain Arsenal clean-up.
24 DAYS LESS GLORIOUS While most remember their collegiate years as carefree and grand, wars, civil unrest, and economic downturns left their mark on the campus community. Each season of struggle proved the 20 resolve and dedication of past generations.
28 SESQUICENTENNIAL CALENDAR
30 ALUMNI SERVICES
33 HOMECOMING CALENDAR
24 36 CLASS NOTES
Illinois State alumni magazine Volume 8, Number 1, Summer 2007
EDITORIAL ADVISORY GROUP Deb Gentry, Ed.D. ’90; Pete Guither; Amy Humphreys; Joy Hutchcraft; Lynn Kennell; Katy Killian ’92; Todd Kober ’97, M.S. ’99; Claire Lieberman; Marilee (Zielinski) Rapp ’63; Jim Thompson ’80, M.S. ’89; Mark Troester ’74, M.S. ’79; Toni Tucker
PUBLISHER, Stephanie Epp EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, Susan Marquardt Blystone ’84, M.S. ’03 ALUMNI EDITOR, Annette States Levitt ’96, M.S. ’02 DIRECTOR, University Marketing and Communications, Bob Aaron
CLASS NOTES EDITOR, Leisa Barbour, M.S. ’06 COPY EDITORS, Bob Aaron, Susan Marquardt Blystone ’84, M.S. ’03, Elaine Graybill The First LEAD DESIGNER, Dave Jorgensen, M.S. ’03 DESIGNERS, Laura DiMascio, Teresa Henry, Michael Mahle Word PRODUCTION COORDINATOR, Mary (Mulhall) Cowdery ’80 WRITERS, Bob Aaron, Kate Arthur, Elaine Graybill, Jennie King, Tom Nugent Illinois State (USPS 019606) is published quarterly for members of the Illinois State University Alumni Association at Bone Student Center 146, August is always 100 North University Street, Normal, Illinois 61790-3100. Periodicals an exciting time at Illinois State, as students return to campus and once postage paid at Normal, Illinois, and at additional mailing offices. again settle into a semester’s routine. At the same time members of the Magazine editorial offices are located at Bone Student Center 146, 100 North University Street, Normal, Illinois 61790-3100; telephone (309) incoming class are welcomed to the University and begin their collegiate 438-2586; facsimile (309) 438-8057; e-mail [email protected]; journey, often with a mix of trepidation and enthusiasm. Web site www.IllinoisState.edu/alumni. Postmaster: Send address changes to Illinois State, Illinois State University, Campus Box 8000, The excitement felt by new students is contagious. These young adults Normal, IL 61790-8000. anticipate more independence and eagerly await the opportunities they Voluntary subscriptions of $25 per year to help defray the mounting know exist on a campus the size of Illinois State. expenses associated with publishing Illinois State are greatly appreciated. Checks payable to the Illinois State Foundation can be sent to Alumni The anxiety is inevitable, as these same new students must acclimate Relations, Campus Box 3100, Normal, IL 61790-3100. Call Alumni to a more intense academic experience while adjusting to a roommate and Relations at (309) 438-2586 with any questions. dealing with mundane tasks such as laundry. Some may initially feel as if Material may be reprinted with prior approval, provided no commercial endorsement is implied and credit is given to the author, to Illinois State they have landed in a world that feels like anything but home. University, and to Illinois State. It is impossible for incoming students to grasp how an environment Web site: www.IllinoisState.edu that seems so foreign will quickly become a place where relationships blos- An equal opportunity/affirmative action university encouraging diversity som and confidence soars. They cannot fully comprehend how their years 08-0005 at Illinois State will positively change their lives. They are unable to predict ALUMNIASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS Don Shafer ’76, President which courses and professors will make a lasting mark, just as they cannot Greg Ayers ’90 begin to calculate how many of their peers will become lifelong friends. Derek Beckman ’97 Richard Clemmons ’72 Such unknowns intrigue me because they are universal, and yet Linda Meints Cooper, M.S.N. ’99 unique. All the graduates I meet have at least one moment of astonishment Bob Freitag ’84 Bill Johnston ’43 that surfaced during their days at Illinois State. Some chose a career path Dan Kelley ’70 never before contemplated. Others gained life skills through social organi- Ann Kenyeri ’93 Emily Miller Kimmey ’99, M.S. ’01 zations or academic clubs they did not even know existed when their first Tom Lamont ’69 semester started. Still others found a spouse. Lynda Lane ’66 Mary Ann Louderback ’74, M.S. ’80, Ph.D. ’84 I have no doubt that connections will be made and another generation Rob McLear ’06 of students surprised as this semester unfolds, just as has happened dur- Lois (Rademacher) Mills ’62, M.S. ’69 Kathy Coyle Murdoch ’86 ing every academic term since the University first opened its doors 150 Bob Navarro ’91, M.S. ’93, Ph.D. ’02 years ago. As the cycle begins again this fall, take a moment to reflect on Marilee (Zielinski) Rapp ’63 Joe Rives, M.S. ’90, Ph.D. ’94 what transpired during your days at Illinois State. Contemplate how the Gary Schnurrpusch ’69 events you never anticipated shaped you into the person and professional Kristen Emmert Shaner ’86 Terrence Sykes ’93 you are today. Gary Tiffany ’74 And if you happen to have the opportunity to speak with incoming Illi- Jana Whitman ’90 Janessa Williams ’89 nois State students, give them the comfort of knowing that there is indeed Mike Willis ’82 great pleasure and reward in expecting the unexpected. Jerry Wright ’62 Carl Kasten ’66, Board of Trustees Alumni Liaison ALUMNI RELATIONS Al Bowman Stephanie Epp, Executive Director Gina Bianchi, M.S. ’99, Assistant Director President, Illinois State University Sheila Hawk ’06, Program Coordinator Shanay Huerta ’03, M.S. ’05, Assistant Director Annette States Levitt ’96, M.S. ’02, Assistant Director Jamie (Kelly) Sennett ’99, Assistant Director UniversityNews
Tim will be a great fit for Redbird basketball.
Tim Jankovich became head coach of the men’s basketball team in March. He left an assistant coaching position at the University of Kansas to become Illinois State’s 18th head coach. He replaced Porter Moser, whose contract was terminated at the end of last season. “We are excited to be hiring a coach with the experience and expertise of Tim Jankovich,” Athletics Director Sheahon Zenger said. “His coaching pedigree is unmatched and he has a basketball mind of the highest level. He is a man of great intellect and I believe Tim will be a great fit for Redbird basketball and the Redbird family.” ” Jankovich completed four seasons at Kansas under coach Bill Self, helping the ‘‘ Jayhawks reach the Elite Eight in this year’s National Collegiate Athletic Associ- ation championship tournament. He coached with Self for one season at the University of Illinois. “I’m pleased and honored to be selected as the next head basketball coach at Illinois State, a prestigious university with a tradition-rich basketball pro- gram,” said Jankovich, who has built a reputation as a top recruiter. “This is such a tremendous time in Missouri Valley Conference history,” Jankovich said. “Not since the days of Wes Unseld and Oscar Robertson has the conference been playing at such a high national level. There are a lot of great coaches in this league and I’m friends with a number of them. It is easily one of the best coaching conferences in the country.” Jankovich has served as an assistant coach at Texas, Oklahoma State, and Colorado State. He was also at Vanderbilt, where he worked under for- aph gr mer Illinois State head coach Kevin Stallings. Jankovich was head anta
e P coach for four years at North Texas and two seasons at Hutchinson Th Community College. He took over a North Texas squad that had posted a 5-22 mark and recorded the second-biggest turnaround in the nation that Tim Jankovich was introduced as year, advancing his team to the Southland Conference Tournament the new men’s basketball coach in March. championship game. He guided Hutchinson Community College to 20-win seasons. A dual graduate of Kansas State University, Jankovich completed an undergraduate degree in business finance and a master’s degree in radio/television. While at the university he was one of the winningest players in that school’s history. He holds records in assists per game, free throw percentage, and career field goal percentage. His record for single-game assists in the Big Eight Tournament still stands at 14. As a student-athlete Jankovich was a three-time Academic all-American.
2 ILLINOISSTATE SUMMER / 2007 ASHBY NAMED UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT VICE PRESIDENT Milner Library captures Dianne Ashby was named vice president of University Advancement in May follow- national public relations award ing a national search. She had served two Milner Library is one of only seven libraries nationwide to be awarded the 2007 John years as interim vice president for the divi- Cotton Dana Library Public Relations Award. The award recognizes the work of Milner’s sion, which includes Donor and Informa- staff in raising campus and community awareness about the life and professional tion Services, Alumni Relations, Develop- ment, Internal Campaigns, and University contributions of Angeline Milner, the University’s first librarian. Marketing and Communications. She is The prestigious award has been also the executive director of the Illinois given annually since 1946 to recognize State University Foundation. and honor outstanding achievement in Ashby received her Ph.D. in educa- library public relations. Milner was the tional administration from Southern Illi- only academic library in 2007 to receive nois University, her master’s degree in the honor, which includes a $3,000 educational administration from the Uni- development grant from the H.W. Wil- versity of Illinois at Springfield, and her son Foundation to support future public bachelor’s degree in speech and theater relations initiatives at the library. arts from MacMurray College. She came to the University in 1991 as The campaign coincided with the the Illinois Postsecondary HIV Prevention 150th anniversary of Milner’s birth. It Education Project coordinator. Ashby lat- featured a public presentation about er served as University High School prin- Milner’s life and career, as well as a birth- A headstone now marks the grave of Illinois State’s first cipal, chair of the Department of Educa- day ceremony complete with cake. The librarian, Angeline Milner. tional Administration and Foundations, highlight was the dedication of a head- and dean of the College of Education. stone on Milner’s previously unmarked grave in a Bloomington cemetery. During her tenure as interim vice Toni Tucker, assistant to the dean, organized that campaign with Beth Schobernd, president, Ashby established a precedent- associate dean; JoAnn Rayfield, university archivist; and Angela Bonnell, an associate setting relationship between the Universi- professor at Milner. ty and the Foundation to purchase and manage property that will become an alumni center and parking lot. She worked toward the creation of Green Gar- dens at Ewing, energized the Student insurance law, ethics, and regulation. magazine’s rankings, which were Foundation, and spearheaded the 150th He was instrumental in establishing released in March, put the college in a celebration with a fund-raising focus on the college’s Katie School of Insurance league with many of the nation’s top student scholarships. She also redesigned and Financial Services, and the Institute business schools. alumni outreach and development infra- for Insurance Ethics. McGuire also The rankings were based on numer- structure, including an ongoing process of played a key role in planning the College ous factors, including the overall acade- adopting a new database. of Business Building. mic quality of schools and feedback from McGuire was chosen as interim after current students and employers. Current INTERIM DEAN NAMED FOR a search for a dean was halted. The students were surveyed on the quality of COLLEGE OF BUSINESS search will be renewed in January, after teaching, facilities, and services offered Assistant Provost Charles McGuire has the appointment of a new provost and at the schools. Companies that recruit been named the interim dean of the Col- vice president for Academic Affairs. nationwide were also asked which pro- lege of Business. He replaces Dixie Mills, grams turn out the best graduates, and who retired in July after serving as dean COLLEGEOF BUSINESS RANKED which schools have the most innovative for the past decade. A member of the AMONG NATION’S BEST curricula and most effective career faculty for 27 years, Mills was honored at services. BusinessWeek magazine has listed Illinois a reception in June. Student feedback reflected a high State’s College of Business as one of the McGuire became assistant provost in level of satisfaction with the dedication best undergraduate business schools in July of 2005. Prior to that he was chair of of faculty members, academic programs, the nation. The College of Business was the Department of Finance, Insurance and employment services, and the College of 41st among public universities and 75th Law for 17 years. As a faculty member in Business Building. Students described overall in the publication’s nationwide the department, McGuire’s teaching, their educational experiences as “satisfy- ranking of undergraduate programs. The research, and publications focused on
ILLINOIS STATE SUMMER / 2007 3 UniversityNews
from the U.S. Department of Education Because the need is prevalent in the to create a graduate level early interven- Chicago area, the program will be ing and rewarding” and an excellent prepa- tion training program for teachers and delivered through on-site and video con- ration for careers in business. related personnel who serve deaf/hard ferencing instruction that will connect The rankings place the college in good of hearing children. Chicago-based educators in Des Plaines company with some of the nation’s best Lartz’s program will help teachers, with Illinois State educators. undergraduate business schools, including speech pathologists, and audiologists The medical director of Illinois’ the University of Alabama, University of acquire the graduate specialization cer- largest pediatric cochlear implant pro- Oregon, North Carolina State, Howard Uni- tificate in early intervention auditory- gram has offered support for the grant. versity, University of Iowa, Tulane Universi- oral education. She hopes the program Dr. Nancy Young will allow students to ty, Florida State University, University of will attract 70 Illinois professionals who observe cochlear implant surgeries, Pittsburgh, and Louisiana State University. will be trained to provide early interven- cochlear implant mapping by audiolo- tion services to families with children gists, and hearing therapy by Children’s FEDERAL GRANT SUPPORTS who are from birth to three years of age Memorial Hospital speech pathologists in DEAF EDUCATION PROGRAM and have hearing loss. The program will Chicago. Dr. Michael Novak, chief lead to certification as a Developmental implant surgeon for the Carle Clinic Illinois State will address the need to help Therapist-Hearing for deaf babies and Cochlear Implant Center in Champaign, children with hearing loss use spoken lan- families. will provide downstate students with sim- guage in addition to, or instead of, sign lan- “Many veteran educators never ilar surgery and therapy observation guage. Special Education Professor Mari- received professional preparation in the opportunities. beth Lartz has received a $778,941 grant area of cochlear implants,” Lartz said. PROFESSOR CHOSEN AS FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR Chemistry professor Marketing Department Associate Profes- receives prestigious award sor Gary Hunter has been chosen to be a visiting Fulbright Scholar this fall Assistant Professor of Chemistry Craig McLauchlan has received a Faculty Early Career at Paderborn University in Paderborn, Development (CAREER) award from the National Science Foundation. The award is one Germany. While there he will teach about of the most prestigious awards in support of early career development activities of retail systems, focusing on strategy, finan- teachers and scholars who most effectively inte- cial analysis, and issues of consumer behavior in a retail environment. He will grate research and education within the context of also conduct research on German retail the mission of their organization. markets and consumer empowerment. McLauchlan will receive approximately Hunter visited Paderborn University $500,000 over a five-year period. He will use the in May of 2006 as part of a faculty grant to research vanadium coordination complex- exchange, which was the start of an es and create educational programs to present the academic collaboration. He returned this research. The educational program will include use summer by invitation to teach a course on of smart room technologies and student response retail systems prior to the start of his systems. work as a Fulbright. Illinois State welcomes many transfer stu- “The Fulbright Scholar visit will give me an expanded opportunity to teach dents, so McLauchlan devised a plan to incorporate about American retail business practices, community colleges in his educational programs. while learning a great deal about retail His “Clicker System in a Bag” contains 30 student markets in Germany,” Hunter said. “That clickers, a laptop computer, receiver, and software type of cross-cultural business study will Assistant Professor of Chemistry Craig and will be loaned to community colleges to McLauchlan appreciates NSF support. help to enrich my teaching when I return help persuade them to invest in smart room to Illinois State in the spring of 2008.” technologies. Hunter is one of approximately 800 McLauchlan is the third chemistry faculty member to receive the CAREER award. U.S. faculty and professionals traveling Associate Professors Lisa Szczepura and Gregory Ferrence are past recipients, as well as abroad through the Fulbright Scholar Program. It is America’s flagship interna- Biological Sciences Associate Professor Craig Gatto. tional education exchange program and is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
4 ILLINOISSTATE SUMMER / 2007 on February 14, which will be the culmi- Alumni nation of Illinois State’s sesquicentennial celebration. ALUMNI SESQUICENTENNIAL Questions about the Alumni Awards DIRECTORY PLANNED program may be directed to Alumni Rela- tions staff at [email protected] or In honor of the University’s sesquicen- call (309) 438-2586. tennial celebration, the Alumni Associa- tion and Alumni Relations office have ANNUAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION partnered with Harris Connect, Inc., to MEETING SET produce a special alumni directory called Illinois State University 150th Anniversary All alumni are invited to attend the Alum- Alumni Edition. ni Association annual meeting at 10 a.m. Scheduled for release in January, on Saturday, September 15, in the Bone this directory will be an up-to-date and Student Center Old Main Room. Agenda Students learn to use technology in the CAT-IML. complete reference of the more than items include the election of members to 167,000 Illinois State graduates. This the Alumni Association board of directors Much of the CAT-IML equipment comprehensive edition will include con- and board officers. was paid for with money from the Cater- tact and employment information for Alumni with active membership sta- pillar gift, but that equipment needed to our alumni. Alumni will have the tus in the Alumni Association are eligible be specially adapted for use in the lab. opportunity to submit a personal note to vote at the annual meeting. To be active Students and faculty members designed for inclusion in the directory, as well as alumni must have made a gift to the and built the individual workstations for photos. University through the Illinois State the integrated manufacturing systems, as E-mail and printed questionnaires University Foundation in the current or well as specialized parts for the program- for information verification were sent in preceding fiscal year. mable robots. early March. Please respond quickly to For more information contact “Illinois State is able to provide the notices so that the production of this Alumni Relations at (309) 438-2589 or students with a state-of-the-art learning landmark publication can be completed (800) 366-4478 or by e-mail at environment thanks to the generosity of on schedule. Call the Harris customer [email protected]. Caterpillar,” President Al Bowman said. service department at (800) 230-9492 “In return companies such as Caterpillar with any questions. will benefit by being able to hire highly- qualified graduates who will be the NOMINATIONS SOUGHT Development industry leaders of tomorrow.” FOR ALUMNI AWARDS AGRICULTURE SCHOLARSHIP Do you know of an alumnus who CATERPILLAR GIFT FUNDS INTEGRATED ESTABLISHED TO HONOR GRADUATE deserves to be recognized? Alumni MANUFACTURING LABORATORY Relations staff members want to hear A $1.2 million gift from Caterpillar Cor- Alumna Jill Walker ’88 has been remem- from you! poration has allowed the Department of bered through an agriculture scholarship Nominations are being sought for Technology to create a state-of-the-art established in her memory.Walker, who future recipients of the Alumni Associa- learning facility featuring robotic technol- died last summer, was the wife of Illinois tion Awards program, which recognizes ogy. The Caterpillar Integrated Manufac- State Agriculture Professor Paul Walker the professional and service accomplish- turing Laboratory (CAT-IML) in and mother of Samantha and Leslie. ments of alumni as they progress in their Turner Hall gives students hands-on The Jill Walker Agriculture Memori- careers. Members of the University com- experience using the same types of manu- al Scholarship was created and endowed munity, alumni, colleagues, or friends of facturing equipment found in high-tech by contributions from Paul Walker, fami- the University may make a nomination. industrial settings. ly members, and friends. The scholar- Forms are available online at Ten integrated workstations include ship will award $1,000 each year to an www.alumni.ilstu.edu/about_us/awards industrial quality ABB robots, program- incoming freshman majoring in agricul- and can be completed within minutes. In mable logic controllers, a conveyor belt, ture and specializing in animal science, addition to the required form, the Web machine vision systems, a computer net- agronomy, or agriculture education. The site details award categories. Nomina- work, and pneumatic materials handling first recipient will be named during this tions for the 2008 awards must be devices. An adjoining smart classroom fall semester. received by September 17. Recipients will can be used in conjunction with the Jill Walker was a committed sup- be honored during Founders Day events laboratory workstations. porter of young people and a recognized
ILLINOIS STATE SUMMER / 2007 5 UniversityNews
Fischer gained the title by surpass- ing the late B.H. “Duffy” Bass, who won leader in her community of Danvers. 713 games as a Redbird baseball coach. She was a blood drive coordinator for She credited each person that has been the Red Cross, honorary member of the associated with the Redbird softball pro- Olympia FFA, and Illinois Simmental gram for her success. Association 2002 Member of the Year. “This isn’t about me at all. This is about each and every person who has DOLLARS FOR SCHOLARS TIED done so much for Illinois State softball. TO 150TH CELEBRATION It all goes back to me coming back here 22 years ago, to a place that I love, to a A fund-raising initiative tied to the Uni- place that is my life, and being given the versity’s special sesquicentennial cele- opportunity to do something great. It’s bration year was launched on Founders been a great experience,” Fischer said. Day to support four student scholarship B.H. “Duffy” Bass ’50, M.S. ’51 She is particularly appreciative of funds. Dollars for Scholars seeks gifts of Bass, noting she has fond memories of $150 in celebration of the University’s A resident of Normal, Bass was a her mentor. “I had him as a professor in 150th year—just $1 for each year since member of the McLean County Board undergrad and then again in graduate the University was founded as the first and served since 1979. His wife, Helen school, and I also had the pleasure of public university in Illinois. (Matone) ’48, died on June 11. He is sur- coaching with him in my first years at Each donation will help grow the vived by three children, three grandchil- Illinois State. He was a tremendous per- endowments of four scholarship funds, dren, and two siblings. son and did a lot of great things for Illi- including the Bowman Fellows, Bone nois State and for our community. It Scholars, Presidential Scholars, and the THREE REDBIRDS NAMED TO means a lot to me to be associated with Olamide E. Adeyooye Memorial Scholar- CONFERENCE CENTENNIAL TEAM him,” Fischer said. ship Fund. A $150 gift will help ensure Former Illinois State women’s basketball financial assistance is available through LEGENDARY BASEBALL players Cathy Boswell ’83, Cindy Kauf- these funds, each of which is explained COACH MOURNED man ’91, and Jenny Schmidt ’99 have in detail online at www.universityad- been named to the Missouri Valley Con- Illinois State’s legendary coach, B.H. vancement.ilstu.edu/about/Dollars- ference (MVC) All-Centennial Team. The “Duffy” Bass, died on March 14 at the forScholars.shtml. Online giving is avail- honorary team commemorates the age of 81. Bass was an alumnus who led able through the Web site. MVC’s century anniversary. the University’s baseball team from Dollars for Scholars will conclude Boswell led the Redbirds to 90 wins 1964 to 1988, compiling a 713-457-18 on Founders Day in February of 2008. in her career, along with a National Col- record. For more information or to make your legiate Athletic Association (NCAA) bid His campus connection began as a donation over the phone, contact Inter- in 1983. The all-time leading scorer in student and athlete. Bass was a catcher nal Campaigns Executive Director Bar- Illinois State history, she scored 2,005 at Illinois State from 1946 to 1950. He bara Todd ’79, M.S. ’84, at (309) 438- career points. Boswell was a member of graduated in 1950 and completed a mas- 2592 or by e-mail at [email protected]. the 1984 women’s Olympic gold medal- ter’s in 1951. Prior to accepting the ist basketball team. She is in the Univer- coaching position he taught at Universi- sity’s Athletics Hall of Fame. Her retired ty High School, which is part of the Lab- Athletics jersey hangs in Redbird Arena. oratory Schools. Kaufman is the second-highest scor- As Illinois State’s coach, Bass took FISCHER SETS RECORD er, with 1,684 points during her four six teams to National Collegiate Athletic FORCOACHING WINS years. She led the Redbirds to three Association tournament play and came postseason appearances, including the Softball coach Melinda Fischer ’72, M.S., home with the national title in 1969. He 1988-1989 NCAA tournament. Schmidt ’75, became the winningest coach in was named national Coach of the Year in is fourth in all-time scoring with 1,558 university history this spring when the 1970. points total, and is third overall for Redbirds were victorious over Drake. Bass was general manager of the steals with a total of 249. She also The April 14 game gave Fischer her Twin City Stars, which is a Central Illi- compiled a second-best program record 714th coaching victory at Illinois State, nois Collegiate League team he founded with a free throw percentage of .823 at which is the most wins of all coaches in in 1982. He also traveled to Japan and Illinois State. any sport at the University. Cuba on trips related to youth baseball.
6 ILLINOISSTATE SUMMER / 2007 ATHLETICS COMPLETES EFFORT by was the choice of Kansas City Chiefs TO UPGRADE MARQUEE two years ago, and Brent Hawkins went After years of patching the electronic to Jacksonville Jaguars last year. Former marquee adjacent to the primary Han- Redbird Aveion Cason also plays in the cock Stadium parking lot off of Main NFL as a member of the Detroit Lions. Street, administrators within the Athlet- Robinson was the first player ics Department took steps to replace the chosen from the Gateway Football tired sign. Conference, the second player selected This spring a bigger, better, 21st- from the Football Championship Subdi- century light-emitting diode (LED) vision (FCS), and the 11th receiver marquee was installed. Complete with picked in the draft. He leaves Illinois color and animation capabilities, the State with nearly every school receiving sign promotes campus and community record, despite battling a nagging ankle injury during the majority of his senior activities, as well as athletic events. As A new marquee sign stands adjacent to Hancock Stadium. part of the improved signage effort, Ath- season. He ended his career with 3,007 letics also replaced the Redbird Arena NFL DRAFT ADDS ANOTHER receiving yards and 29 touchdowns on scoreboard in the spring. The Hancock REDBIRD TO THE PROS 192 catches, while being named the Stadium scoreboard was replaced this Gateway's Offensive Player of the Year in Laurént Robinson ’07 was selected by summer. 2005. the Atlanta Falcons in the third round of During the 2005 season, Robinson the 2007 National Football League racked up 1,465 receiving yards, 12 FOOTBALL TEAM READY TO TACKLE (NFL) Draft in April, becoming the 12th TOUGH OPPONENTS touchdowns, and 86 catches. He was a Redbird selected to play professionally finalist for the Walter Payton Award, With the departure of Western Kentucky since wide receiver Clarence Collins in which is presented to the top offensive from the Gateway Football Conference, 1984. football player in the FCS. An All-Gate- nonconference scheduling proved to be Robinson’s success creates for the way first team selection in 2005 and a challenging for Illinois State. But head first time in more than two decades second team honoree in 2006, Robinson football coach Denver Johnson complet- three consecutive years where a member was a consensus all-American following ed the 2007 slate by turning to future of the Redbird football team has been his junior season. He ended his career Gateway opponent North Dakota State. chosen in the NFL Draft. Boomer Grigs- by playing in the 2007 Hula Bowl. North Dakota State, along with South Dakota State, will officially join the conference starting with the 2008 season. The Redbirds will get a preview Letters of their future Gateway foe when they face the Bison in November. “We are excited about the schedule and readily accept the challenge,” John- Editor’s Note: Letters on issues discussed in Illinois State or relating to university son said. “Our ambitions are to play for news or policies are welcome. All letters should be limited to 250 words or less a national championship and if you are and are subject to editing. Send e-mail to [email protected]; fax to going to do that, you are going to have to (309) 438-8411; or mail to Illinois State, Illinois State University, Campus play tough teams like North Dakota Box 3420, Normal, IL 61790-3420. State along the way.” To the Editor, The season, which begins with a home game against Drake on August 30, Imagine my surprise when I received my latest alumni magazine and read includes the Big 12 Missouri Tigers for the story about the legacy family (Winter 2006-2007 issue). Phillip and Ken Baylor are my first cousins. I too am a graduate of Illinois State. I met my the first time. For a complete schedule, husband, Roger Cohn, M.S. ’76, at Illinois State. My father, Leland Bear, got go online to www.GoRedbirds.com. his associate’s degree there back when it was still Illinois State Normal Uni- Ticket information is available on the versity. My uncle, Earl Page, who is also an uncle to the Baylors, is also a Web site or by calling (309) 438-8000. graduate. It certainly is a small world.
Ruth (Bear) Cohn ’76
ILLINOIS STATE SUMMER / 2007 7 Ove
Lisa Daniels ’99, M.S. ’00, came to Illinois State more than a decade after graduating from high school. She enrolled as a mom determined to change her future by completing a degree.Today Daniels is a communications manager in an international firm. She’s also an adjunct faculty member who knows how to motivate struggling students. sy ano y Mimi J s b to ho P rcoming obstacles One nontraditional student’s inspiring saga
BY KATE ARTHUR
Pushing a stroller at 17, it never occurred to Lisa Daniels that 20 years later she’d be pushing time zones. A month after Daniels ’99, M.S. ’00, walked across her high school stage to accept her diploma, her son, DeMarco, was born. College never crossed her mind. She hated high school, partly because she thought her parents were too strict and they wouldn’t let her join a lot of activities. Years later she realizes that with seven children, they simply didn’t have the time to run her around. After graduation Daniels went to work in a nursing home for six years. “All I wanted to do was work and take care of myself and be the type of grown-up we all thought we wanted to be,” she said. “It didn’t register that I would have the struggles I had ahead of me.” At 19 she married her son’s father, but the marriage didn’t last. For the first time she was on her own, supplementing her income with government aid. She became a flight attendant for American Airlines, relying on family support for her son. That job ended during a lay-off. She was hired as a secretary with a Rockford school district and someone took notice. An adminis- trator, Albert Harold, said she had potential and should go to college. “My response was, ‘Yeah and how will I support my family?’ I didn’t think it was possible.” She learned there were scholarships for nontraditional students and single parents. At night she sat at the kitchen table, filling out all the lines and boxes. At 29, when her son was in the midst of junior high, she stepped onto Illinois State’s campus. It was the perfect choice. She was within driving distance of her family, but far enough to break away from her childhood experiences. The transition was smoother than expected for her son, who made both the football and basketball teams and joined student council at his new school. “I told him, ‘Mom has to get through college. I really need you to be a good boy and stay out of trouble and this will pay off for us both,’ and he kept his end of the bargain,” Daniels said. Sometimes dinner was a burger at a residence hall food court. He had to sit through lectures when she had no place else to take him. Sometimes she took him along to her job in the Financial Aid Office, where he made copies and coffee runs. At night she started the mom shift, doing the dishes that had collected in the sink, sliding a pizza
ILLINOIS STATE SUMMER / 2007 9 into the oven, pulling a pile of laundry out of the dryer. When the impression it was making on him until he graduated. He her son slept, she went back to a little desk that was given to knew what was expected of him.” He is now a senior at Mary- her and started her homework. She had to be up at 4:30 a.m. land’s Towson University to get DeMarco to basketball practice by 5 a.m. Daniels looked About a year ago, Daniels felt the need for another forward to Saturday nights as a chance to sleep herself. change. Discouraged by the bottom-line focus of the corpo- The routine was draining but Daniels didn’t give up her rate world, she began applying for doctoral programs. Then dream. On Mother’s Day of 1999, she walked across the she noticed a blind ad for a communications manager. She Illinois State commencement stage. Her family applauded as explored the possibility and accepted a position with SCA she celebrated the completion of a bachelor’s degree in pub- Americas. lic relations and English writing. She continued her educa- Based in Sweden, SCA is a $14 billion global paper com- tion immediately, completing a master’s degree in communi- pany. It employs approximately 51,000 in 50 countries, with cations in just one year. “I thought I needed an advanced more than 8,000 employees in the Americas. Daniels is degree because I was older and because I wanted to be as responsible for the development of all corporate internal and competitive as possible,” she said. external communications activities for all the Americas. Daniels was eager to start a new career path, but sad to “I travel internationally now, which I could not have leave the nurturing campus environment. “I was a nontradi- imagined at 17. I can influence people in decision-making tional and first-generation college student. My college career roles in a global company. That’s pretty fascinating when opened doors for me to improve my lifestyle and it provided I didn’t even think I’d get past 12th grade.” a great opportunity to do so many things. I owe much of my The journey has been remarkable and rewarding for success to Illinois State,” Daniels said. She still keeps in touch Daniels, who left campus with the goal of doubling the with former professor Pat Grogg, and her Senior Professionals $20,000 annual income that was her salary for a decade. She mentor, Joe Jackson. Both attended her graduation. has far surpassed that mark, and yet the financial rewards are “The college community was small enough you didn’t not the most significant outcome to her success at Illinois feel overwhelmed, but you also didn’t feel smothered. It was State and beyond. What she really values are the investments the best time of my life, it really was. You hear people say that of time and effort others made on her behalf. She treasures because they partied and hung out. As a mature college the crystal paperweight in the shape of a globe on her desk— student it was amazing in a different way, in the hope it a gift from a Rockford school administrator, Joyce Harring- brought to me.” ton, who thought she had potential. Daniels focused her job search on the East coast, not Now she is the one instilling hope in students as they only for the opportunities but because she wanted her son to strive for a bright future. She motivates and mentors in her have a broader experience. DeMarco had just finished his role as an adjunct communications faculty member at Burling- freshman year in high school and initially shared her excite- ton County Community College and Temple University. ment when she took a communications job in New Jersey. Daniels knows the struggles many of her students are The day before they were supposed to leave, with the facing. She shares with them her own difficult days when she U-Haul parked in the driveway, she found him on his bed was a single mom juggling classroom assignments and her crying. The 15-year-old didn’t want to leave his friends. He son’s activities. She never gave up on her belief that life was didn’t want to start over. good, which is still her mantra today. “It was tough because we were changing regions and “When the sun comes up, there’s always this new sense everything that was trendy and in style in Illinois wasn’t of hope,” she said. “It’s almost like my battery gets here,” said Daniels, who now works in Philadelphia. “He had recharged every day. You just hang the wrong shoes and the wrong clothes and even the wrong onto that hope that deep hair. It was tough.” inside you know life is DeMarco not only adjusted, he thrived and headed supposed to be great.” straight to college after graduation. “I think it’s because I immersed him in the Illinois State community. I didn’t realize
“I can influence people in decision-making roles in a global company. That’s pretty fascinating when I didn’t even think I’d get past 12th grade.”
10 ILLINOIS STATE SUMMER / 2007 ONEONE BIGBIG,, REDRED MACHINE MACHINE Marching band members exemplify Redbird pride
BY SUSAN MARQUARDT One of the first was Varsity Band, gram, which includes wind symphony, BLYSTONE which played at athletic rallies and symphonic winds, symphonic band, games. “This was a student organized university band, pep band, and jazz othing stirs Redbird pride like the and operated group that preceded any ensemble. The most noticeable of them N sight and sound of the Big Red official marching band, pep band, or all is the marching band. Marching Machine parading through concert group,” Allan said. “The only That was especially true under the the heart of campus while playing the concert band was a very sometimes leadership of George Foeller, who led University’s fight song. Alumni of all thing, apparently determined by avail- the marching band through significant ages applaud the rendition and appreci- able students to play in the group. change. Once a trombonist with the Air ate the musical tradition that is an Some years there would be a small band Force Band, Foeller earned a bachelor’s ingrained part of Illinois State’s history. of 20 or so players, and some years and master’s degree in music. He left Although not the first priority there would be none.” his home state of Connecticut to teach when the University opened in 1857, Frank Westhoff was in charge of at a Texas high school. He was hired in music became a key part of campus life the earliest bands. He was the only 1960 as an instructor and to serve as by the early 1900s. Since that time there music teacher at the University for the director of Illinois State Normal has been a consistent presence of vocal many years. By the early 1930s indus- University’s All-Girls’ Marching Band. ensembles and orchestras. Bands have trial arts faculty member Kenyon “During WWII the male popula- been traced back to the same era by Fletcher took over as director. Each of tion was depleted, so Wayne Sherrard Robert Allan, ’50, M.S. ’66, who is a past his successors has worked to nurture formed an all-girl marching band,” director. and advance the legacy of the band pro- Foeller said. The men returned and two
ILLINOIS STATE SUMMER / 2007 11 distinct bands were formed, which He is equally remembered for band for- “We never practiced on the real frustrated Foeller when he came to mations that acknowledged the name football field. When I first came the Illinois State. change from Illinois State Normal marching band practice field was “The girls’ band was enormous University. where Turner Hall is now,” Foeller said. and mostly woodwind. The men’s band “We were famous for the big ISNU. With that land lost to construction, he was small and mostly brass. I put the It took some maneuvering to get four had to scramble for a space close to women on both sides of the field and letters out of 100 people. That’s not campus and large enough for the 120- the men in the middle. Eventually I easy,” Foeller said. “At the last perfor- by-55-yard grid. It was then the band meshed them together and it became mance a band member was carrying ‘N’ moved to an elementary school just one band,” Foeller said. on a stick and marched off the field as west of campus, which worked much Under Foeller’s direction the ISNU the ‘U’ moved over.” better than an administrator’s sugges- Marching Band was initially held to Foeller had to adjust to other tion that the band rehearse on the 100. The number worked well for the changes as well during his 18 years as Quad. Despite such frustrations, Foeller developed a devotion to the University and his students. He gave up the band director position in 1978, but stayed in the School of Music until his retirement in 1990. “I have been proud to be associat- ed with the people in band at Illinois State. I learned from them and I still hear from them,” Foeller said. Many have visited his home near Blooming-
The women marched in skirts and without men during WWII, above. Band members changed their routine when the University’s name changed, right. shows that Foeller insisted change every week so that Redbird fans would not see the same performance twice. It took nearly five hours for the band to learn a new show. Basic marching band protocol learned in orientation drill sessions made the task easier. Foeller charted productions that were memorable, if not controversial. He literally played off the times when he wrote a parody of the popular band director. The women marched in ton, where he arranges scores for Euro- Wendy’s commercial that asked skirts when he arrived. While he man- pean bands. He also organizes and con- “Where’s the beef?” Band members aged a uniform transition, he never did ducts Foeller’s Illinois State Alumni formed a bun, with the dance line win a fight to earn physical education and Friends, which is a group of 40 members dressed in red to serve as the credit for band members. Travel was who gather annually to create a record- meat. limited by a measly budget, and prac- ing as part of a Heritage of the March “We built the burger, and boy did tice was often complicated because of series. that hit the papers,”Foeller recalled. the expanding campus.
12 ILLINOISSTATE SUMMER / 2007 Band bonds remain unbroken It’s that unique role of musician and ambas- Every graduate of the marching band has countless memories, sador that creates such a but Scott Woodford ’92 undoubtedly has one of the most unique. tight bond among band He’ll never forget the day he left the field and proceeded to shed alumni. Woodford knows his hot uniform. He’ll also never forget the shocked band mem- how strong the connec- bers who, unlike Woodford’s former drum corps peers, waited to tion is from his role as disrobe in private. president of the Universi- “I was used to the Phantom Regiment,” Woodford explained, ty’s Alumni Band Club. noting wardrobe etiquette wasn’t the only difference between The club, which the competitive drum corps and Illinois State’s Big Red Marching formed in 1996 through Machine. the efforts of Vince Aut- Now employed by Walgreens and living in Schaumburg, en ’85 and Terry Kosnick Woodford joined the Phantom as a horn player at age 10. He ’86, is open to all music graduates. Alumni play at a men’s basket- came to Illinois State planning to study accounting and take a ball game and gather for a Drum Corps International event held break from band. By his second year he was a parks and recre- on campus. Then there is the opportunity to play at Homecom- ation major and a member of the Big Red Marching Machine. ing. Club leaders are hoping 150 alumni musicians will come back “It was the best decision I ever made,” Woodford said of the for this year’s parade on October 13. day he joined the marching band. He was under the direction of Woodford knows that even if that 150 goal is reached, the Dan Farris, who gave Woodford a pass on the basic camp numbers will dwindle as the parade reaches a certain nostalgic required of incoming members. Still Woodford remembers the landmark. hours spent memorizing charts that detailed each step. “Once we get past the grandstand we lose about half our “We learned by falling over each other,” he said. The effort members,” Woodford said. “They stop at the Pub II.” was rewarded with every performance, be it on the Redbird field or before Bears’ fans at halftime in Chicago. Applause offset Editor’s note: Learn more about the Illinois State University Alumni Band moments of misery, such as marching in subzero temperatures. Club online at www.alumni.ilstu.edu/involved/clubs_chapters/club/ “There were times my instrument was solid ice,” Woodford marching_band.shtml or e-mail Scott Woodford at [email protected]. said. “But you warm up and you get over it. Once you put the uni- form on and get out and perform, it’s the best. You look good for the University and for yourself.”
“There would be a monster void in “Teaching is a noble profession. I in front of 450 kids and have them lay my life without music,” said Foeller, wanted to turn kids into lovers of it on you. It was the greatest sound I who is convinced that bands are “50 music,” Livingston said. He had the ever heard, unbelievable,” Livingston percent music and 50 percent social.” chance at Illinois State, where he served said. “It gave us a certain boost in repu- Ed Livingston, Foeller’s successor, as director of bands from 1977 to 1983. tation.” is in complete agreement. It was under his leadership that the The attention led to unique perfor- Livingston came to Illinois State in name Big Red Marching Machine was mance opportunities, such as the 1967 when made aware by Foeller that introduced, as well as a band that chance to play at a Cleveland Browns the department was adding a tuba swelled to more than 400. football game on Thanksgiving Day. instructor position. A past member of “I told kids we had the greatest That televised performance resulted in the U.S. Army Band, Livingston is a band in the world,” Livingston said, 11 invitations the next year and more dual graduate of Western Michigan reflecting on how he managed to enlist pro game shows in Cincinnati and University. He completed a bachelor’s 250 members in 1977 when the band Chicago. in music education and a master’s in had totaled 192 the prior year. The Closer to home Livingston was performance music. He also earned a numbers continued to climb to 454, known for the flaming tuba routine, doctorate from the Royal College of which led to the world’s largest march- which was always performed to Horse. Music in London and had made a living ing band title. “I gave them the horrible idea,” Liv- playing his tuba for commercials, “We didn’t march real well at first ingston confessed, noting he had done Ringling Brothers Circus, and at Radio but boy were we loud. It was an the same with his tuba while marching City Music Hall. But teaching was his absolute thrill to stand on the podium passion.
ILLINOIS STATE SUMMER / 2007 13 including mooning a lobby of hotel Blood and sweat, but no tears guests from a glass elevator while on a road trip. He also recalls being Marching band has been a part of Ruth Sowers’s life since she picked up her dad’s trum- wakened in the middle of the night pet in fifth grade. She played through high school before enrolling at Illinois State. Initially after students turned a fountain into a a music education major, she came to campus eager for her band days to continue. While her major shifted to geography education, her commitment to the band never bubble bath. wavered. After 22 years as a theatre tech for Walt Disney World, Sowers ’79 now lives “I knew the mentality because I in Tennessee and works in live nursery maintenance at Lowe’s. She remains active with had been one of them,” Livingston the Illinois State University Alumni Band Club. She serves as vice president, director of said. That meant he also had an appre- geographical diversity, and Homecoming cochair. ciation for the physical and mental It’s a labor of love for Sowers, who was in the band’s original flag corps. She also work required of every member, played trumpet and remembers auditioning for her beginning with the introduction of new place among the 100 members. She started under music on Monday. Marching charts the direction of George Foeller, who didn’t believe in followed. repeating a performance. “The music was marked according “We never memorized anything because we did to where the routine would take them. a different show every week. That was part of the music education.” Sowers said. “We made a square. Forward eight steps was two measures It’s a quintessential thing in marching, and there is of music,” Livingston explained. nothing like it today.” Such basics were taught in mandatory The band became the Big Red Marching Machine band camp that was held prior to the under Ed Livingston, who arranged more road trips. academic year, which made for a long Sowers remembers buses breaking down, as well as semester. marching in the mud during a Cleveland Browns’ “They would go from band camp football game. where it’s 100 degrees and 10 hours a Weather was a constant variable that made day in the sun until the end of Novem- marching band a serious effort. ber. It was a long haul and hard work “Performance days were either freezing or hot. We’d pour rubbing alcohol on our those kids put in,” he said. valves so they didn’t freeze. We had earmuffs inside our hats, and you can just imagine what the tuba players had in their bells,” Sowers said. And yet there is no greater loyalty “It was hard work, especially during August rehearsals when you’re sunburned. than that found among band members, People passed out. Some actually shed blood,” Sowers said. “If you’re playing a piccolo who form such a tight team that the trumpet and a mellophone hits you as it passes by, it’s like a Mack truck taking out a bonds remain strong years after gradu- motorcycle.” ation. Now operating a tour company And yet Sowers declares the moments spent marching were priceless. “We loved on Washington Island, Wisconsin, it, even though it was grueling,” she said, adding that the friendships were especially Livingston still hears from graduates cherished. scattered across the country. Camaraderie still exists today, which is why Sowers is hopeful 150 alumni will “They are why I stayed all those participate in this year’s Homecoming parade. Past members of pep, marching, and years,” Livingston said. “Illinois State concert bands are welcome. Practice is limited to the morning of the parade. The students were wonderful kids who University provides instruments and music. And as Sowers is quick to note, marching is not required because a truck is available. wanted to be taught.” Those who don’t ride “stroll in step.” The pace is perfect for Sowers, who admits she is Steve Steele and Dan Belongia can “an old band geek.” attest that the same is still true today. Both men marvel at the commitment Editor’s note: Are you an alumnus from the School of Music interested in participating in this year’s from students who work long hours, Homecoming parade? Contact Ruth Sowers by e-mail at [email protected] for more information. endure the elements, give up their weekends to perform in a crazy uni- as a student at the University of Michi- second fuse and we had a lighter. I was form, and have to pay for the privilege. gan. “Now there are sophisticated elec- able to tell everybody for years that “The most common question I get tronics. In my day in the 1950s we used tuba players are hot guys.” is how much are the students paid,” gunpowder in an envelope with a three- Such humor was key to Liv- said Belongia, who directs the Big Red ingston’s success, as he anticipated the Marching Machine. As director of wild stunts band members attempted— bands, Steele gets the same inquiry and
14 ILLINOISSTATE SUMMER / 2007 witnesses surprise every time he well as a doctorate in musical arts from reports that students are not paid one Michigan State. He was a public school A salute to the directors penny. band director prior to joining the Many individuals have dedicated years of “Many universities scholarship School of Music faculty two years ago. hard work to create the University’s band their athletic bands. Here students have Among his teaching and directing legacy. The following list identifies those who to pay because it’s one credit hour. If duties is responsibility for the marching have served as director of bands throughout they thought about the workload per band, which will have 280 members the years. credit hour they wouldn’t participate,” this fall. Members do not audition, with Frank Westhoff 1912 to the early 1930s Steele said. the exception of dancers and percus- Kenyon Fletcher Early 1930s to 1937 Marching band students commit a sionists. The majority are not music minimum of six hours each week dur- majors, although most who join have Leo Dvorak 1938 ing three regular class sessions, with as participated in high school marching Wayne Sherrard 1938 to 1954 many as 16 hours required when there bands. Arden Vance 1954 to 1965 are performances. Practices are held at “Music is something everyone a middle school adjacent to campus. should have the opportunity to enjoy,” George Foeller 1965 to 1977 Band members play at football, volley- Steele said, explaining why the march- Ed Livingston 1977 to 1983 ball, and men’s and women’s basketball ing band is open to all majors. “The Robert Allan 1984 to 1987 games. Some weekends in the late fall only requirement is that students be in Stephen K. Steele 1987 to present are double booked, as football season good academic standing in their depart- has not yet ended. ment. Beyond that they must learn the Assistant directors, who are also integral to show, play the show, and entertain the band program, are as follows. well.” Don Peterson 1964 to 1967
These mandates reflect the fact that Roger Faulman 1967 to 1980 marching band members come together Russell Vroman 1974 to 1985 to create the largest spirit organization on campus. In addition to all home foot- Lawrence Frank 1979 to 1988 ball games, they perform at high Dan Farris 1988 to 2001 schools across the state and community Rene Rosas 2001 to 2003 events. Performances at professional games ended long ago because, as Matt Luttrell 2003 to 2005 Steele explained, the money to trans- Dan Belongia 2005 to present port to entertain at such events just isn’t Special thanks to Robert Allan for his in the budget. assistance in compiling and providing Belongia is, however, working to this historical information. increase travel. He took 107 members to Ireland this year after receiving an Friendships are what make marching band memorable, as invitation to perform in a St. Patrick’s Jessica Pruemer ’06, left, and senior Tricia Jones can attest. have a positive experience that will ulti- Day parade in Dublin. Participants paid mately enrich their collegiate years. “They pay a high price but they do their own travel expenses. That is, after all, the Big Red Marching it with a smile on their face,” said Belon- Belongia hopes to arrange similar Machine tradition. gia, who speaks with complete convic- opportunities as he looks to the future. tion and affection when he declares that Finding scholarship funds is a top pri- Editor’s note: To learn more about the Big Red band kids are “slightly weird and ority as well. He is also determined to Marching Machine, go to www.isubands.org/ warped.” He knows this from personal bolster membership, with 300 targeted brmm.shtml on the Web. E-mail Dan Belongia at experience, having performed himself as the ideal number. Retention is criti- [email protected] or Steve Steele at ssteele@ in The Cavaliers and The Star of Indi- cal to reach the goal, which is one rea- ilstu.edu. George Foeller and Ed Livingston would ana drum and bugle corps. son Belongia involves students in select- love to hear from past students. Foeller’s e-mail Belongia earned a bachelor’s and ing music and provides opportunities address is [email protected] and Livingston can master’s degree in music education and for members to help chart routines. be reached at cherrytraintours@ itol.com. performance at University of Miami, as More than anything Belongia wants the students he works with to
ILLINOIS STATE SUMMER / 2007 15
Professor answers global warming questions crisis BY JENNIE R. KING Retreating glaciers and dying coral reefs. Intense storms, flooding, drought, and famine. Shrinking polar ice, and disappearing species of flora and fauna.
The list is ominous and seems to get longer every America roughly around 1400 and year. Every item on it may be evidence that signif- stuck around until about 1850. icant changes are occurring in the world’s climate. But along with many of his colleagues in the Is there a crisis looming in our planetary field of climate science, Carter thinks we can defi- future? Are there more natural disasters on a cata- nitely say that the earth is getting warmer—and clysmic scale ahead? How far ahead? Is there a that human activity is a factor in the change. sound scientific basis for concern? And if so, is In January of this year the National Oceanic there anything we can or should do to avoid cata- and Atmospheric? Administration released a strophe? report declaring that 2006 had been the warmest These are questions tackled by Geography- year in the 48 contiguous states since 1895, when Geology Professor Emeritus James Carter, who regular temperature recording began. In another retired from Illinois State in 2005 after 15 years of report also issued earlier this year the Intergov- teaching weather and climate courses. ernmental Panel on Climate Change said that “Climate change is real,” Carter said, but it’s human activity was “very likely” contributing to nothing new. The climate has been changing since increases in global temperature. before the days when there were people around to And yet there are still lingering doubts notice it. Take glaciation, for example. “Eighteen among the general public about the data, how it thousand years ago Central Illinois was covered can be interpreted, and especially about the with a continental glacier,” Carter noted. “Obvi- extent of our human role in climate change. ously there’s been warming since then.” Carter has taken it upon himself to promote That general warming trend has been inter- greater awareness of the issues and strengthen rupted from time to time. Carter cites the “Little the public’s understanding of the scientific prin- Ice Age” that descended on Europe and North ciples involved.
ILLINOIS STATE SUMMER / 2007 17 It’s a large and complex task because, as he greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide,” stated, “There are many dimensions to the con- Carter said. sideration of climate change.” It’s one example of the “Law of Unintended Regardless of the causes, Consequences,” a concept Carter invokes to illus- Carter is convinced that the trate how good intentions can go awry, or how effects of global warming could developments that seem like progress are now be far-reaching. “Most people playing havoc in the world we live in. “The use of do not want to see a change in fossil fuels such as coal and petroleum permitted climate,” he said. “We want us to develop a great life, but in the process we things to remain as they are.” have modified the chemistry of the atmosphere But climate change is and the oceans,” Carter said. inevitable, in part because of There are fundamentals that underlie global greenhouse gases (GHGs), which climate patterns and affect weather from one loca- become a central part of any tion to another, he explained. Latitude, elevation, global warming discussion or and proximity to water determine temperature debate. “The greenhouse effect is and temperature ranges. Precipitation is generated real and we should be thankful by the uplift of warm, moist air. Warm tropics and that our atmosphere works this cold poles drive continuously circulating currents way,” Carter explained. of air and water. There is consequently a con- Short-wave radiation from stantly moving system of interrelated forces the hot sun passes through the always seeking a balance. Professor Emeritus earth’s atmospheric gases and warms the earth’s One index of changing weather is tempera- James Carter continues surface. Being much cooler, the earth radiates in ture. Using data collected from a variety of to research global climate change. the long wave spectrum. Some atmospheric gases sources, scientists have been able to compile an (the GHGs) absorb those long waves and are estimate of temperature changes stretching back a warmed by them. Without them, nighttime on thousand years, Carter said. He is convinced that Planet Earth would be a lot colder than it is. the record is essentially correct. In balance greenhouse gases are fine, but like A graph of these temperatures takes the form many good things they can be dangerous in excess. of a relatively straight line with a sharp upward “With the growth of our industrial society we gen- bend beginning about 1850, coincident with the erated a continuous increase in the concentration of dawn of the industrial age. It’s the “hockey-stick curve” featured in Al Gore’s documentary, An Inconvenient Truth. Using data collected from a variety of sources, scientists have been able to compile
18 ILLINOIS STATE SUMMER / 2007 “Is the warming caused by human enhance- plants and animals will probably disappear and ment of the greenhouse effect? I certainly believe we are likely to see shifts in patterns of precipita- much of it is, but we still don’t know all we need to tion,” he said. know about what’s happening,” Carter said. He’s His list of potentially vulnerable spots spans thankful that there’s a lot of good climate science a variety of disciplines. “You do not want to have being done, in part by his Illinois State colleagues. to fight invasions of new diseases that move into Global climate models, for example, are being an area because it’s now warmer. You don’t want developed to interpret and extrapolate the data. to have more intense droughts when you already The results of such research stir everything have problems getting fresh water for a growing from controversy and panic to practical recom- population. If you’re an insurer, you want to be mendations. Various experts have offered myriad able to predict the risks for your policyholders.” suggestions about how to curb global warming, or Carter is careful to note that such shifts are Scientists have charted at least how to address some of the indicative inevitable, whether or not they can be directly past temperatures and symptoms. attributed to climate change. He is also quick to estimates of average tem- There’s a lot more to learn, according to articulate the ethical implications of a human role peratures for the Northern Hempishere, below, to Carter, who notes irony in the fact that some pol- in climate change. He’s equally clear in explaining show a dramatic rise in lutants may be countering the greenhouse effects. that there are costs attached to whatever we do, temperatures during “It appears that the sulfates we add to the atmos- and whatever we don’t do. Where economics are the 20th century. Go to www.cru.uea.ac.uk/cru/ phere may be contributing to some cooling,” involved, so are politics. info/milltemp for a full Carter said. Most of what we know comes from And yet Carter focuses his concern on the explanation of the findings. the land, but 70 percent of the earth’s surface is impact that climate change might have on the covered by ocean. “We need to learn more about structure of society throughout the world. how oceans store and move heat,” he said. “Far too many people, particularly young peo- Despite the conclusions he has drawn from ple, do not have an opportunity to get an educa- the scientific evidence, Carter is not a prophet of tion or a job and cannot hope to compete in our doom. “I am not very optimistic that we will global world,” Carter said. “The consequences of reduce the concentration of GHGs significantly,” any dramatic climate change would only exacer- he said. “Neither am I convinced that the world bate this human concern.” will soon come to an end.” Carter is certain, however, that warmer tem- Editor’s note: To learn more about Professor Carter’s peratures will cause sea levels to rise, challenging research on issues of climate change, as well as his populations in low-lying areas. “Many species of unique interest in ice flowers, go online to www.ilstu.edu/~jrcarter. an estimate of temperature changes stretching back a thousand years.
ILLINOIS STATE SUMMER / 2007 19
Chris Wiant ’72 labored for many months to help convert a toxic Colorado site into a wildlife refuge. Today the Rocky Mountain Arsenal is an inviting place where residents relax and stu- dents learn. An elementary class was complet- ing a field study on one of Wiant’s recent visits.
Crisis management
Alumnus works BY SUSAN MARQUARDT BLYSTONE to cure health care, Environmental safety and quality health care consistently capture headlines. Like environmental woes so many other working Americans, Chris Wiant ’72 is painfully aware of the polit- ical and economic gridlock that makes progress on either front appear impossible. What sets Wiant apart from the average concerned citizen is a career best described as a quest for solutions to the complex issues of how to protect precious resources and meet the mounting need for medical services. From his first job after earning a chemistry degree at Illinois State to his cur- rent position as president and CEO of the Caring for Colorado Foundation, Wiant has been involved in public health and environmental policy. He’s tackled every- thing from disaster readiness and toxic substance control at the Illinois Depart- ment of Public Health to protecting the health and welfare of 1.5 million citizens as the executive director at Colorado’s Tri-County Health Department. He now oversees a nonprofit entity that manages a $170 million fund established to bolster health care across Colorado. Each career move has created unique opportunities for Wiant to serve on local, state, and national boards, including the Environmental Protection Agency’s
20 ILLINOIS STATE SUMMER / 2007 National Drinking Water Advisory Council. He served as “I was quietly observing as my dad chairman of the NSF International Council of Public Health negotiated with the unions and earned Consultants, and he is past president of the National Envi- ronmental Health Association (NEHA). the trust of people. I found the human Known for his uncanny ability to move divided parties dynamics fascinating.” beyond debate to action, Wiant is a master at facilitating agreements between communities and federal, state, or local governmental agencies. It was through his negotiation of Public Health that he established himself as an expert in efforts, for example, that a pact was reached to clean up the emergency preparedness and response. By the time he left Rocky Mountain Arsenal (see sidebar). Illinois Wiant had been promoted to chief of the environmen- The NEHA showed appreciation for Wiant’s work by tal chemistry section within the Office of Health Regulation bestowing upon him its most prestigious honor—the Walter and was responsible for programs that addressed human Mangold Award. Wiant was nominated by his peers from the health effects of exposure to toxic substances. Colorado Environmental Health Association and received the Wiant’s knowledge grew through the completion of award this summer. He is also the recipient of the Walter F. graduate courses as well. He earned a master’s in health ser- Snyder Award for Achievement in Attaining Environmental vices administration from the University of Illinois at Spring- Quality, which was presented by the NEHA and National San- field, and a second master’s degree in public health from the itation Foundation International. The University has also University of Illinois Medical Center. He was consequently acknowledged Wiant’s accomplishments. In addition to more than ready for the challenges that awaited him as direc- receiving an Alumni Achievement Award, he is a member of tor of environmental health services at Tri-County Health the University High School and College of Arts and Sciences Department. He and his wife, Cindy (Ferrell) ’75, moved to Hall of Fame. Colorado in 1984 with their children, Jenn and Jeff. Despite many personal achievements and professional In his new role Wiant served counties surrounding Den- accolades, Wiant is a humble man who considers himself for- ver by addressing public health issues that ranged from pre- tunate to have grown up on the Illinois State campus under ventive medical care and immunizations to managing public the wing of a dad who served as a university administrator. health emergencies. He expanded from the fundamentals, David Wiant moved his family to Normal in the 1950s, such as restaurant compliance, to tackle industrial hygiene, when Chris was in second grade. David came at the request air and water quality control, and protection programs. of President Robert Bone, who enlisted the elder Wiant to run Always the student himself, Wiant completed a Ph.D. in pub- the University’s personnel office. lic administration from the University of Colorado while on “The Wiant boys had to behave because around every the job that he found gratifying. corner was somebody who knew my dad,” Chris said in only “I thought I would be there the rest of my life,” said partial jest. He graduated from U-High in 1968 and enrolled Wiant, who rose to the level of executive director at Tri-Coun- at Illinois State to pursue his love of science. ty. He turned down an opportunity to join the Centers for As he matured Wiant had a close view of several univer- Disease Control and Prevention in Georgia, noting he has sity presidents, from Bone to Samuel Braden, David Berlo, always chosen to work where he can make the greatest impact. and Francis Geigle. Wiant worked on a food service team and When Wiant did leave Tri-County in 2000 it was through for University Photographer Nelson Smith. It was Smith who the persuasion of colleagues who convinced him his talents put Wiant atop Cook Hall with a camera to watch for vandal- were needed to launch a health care conversion foundation. ism during the era of Vietnam campus protests. Caring for Colorado Foundation formed in 1999 when the Such work experiences are as memorable to Wiant as nonprofit corporation Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Colorado any textbook assignment. It was outside the classroom that was sold to Anthem Insurance, which was a for-profit corpo- he learned valuable life lessons, such as the art of negotia- ration. The sale generated $155 million, which by Colorado tion. He appreciates insights gained from his dad’s campus law had to be used to benefit the people of the state. Caring responsibilities. for Colorado, which is located in Denver, fulfills the mandate “I was quietly observing as my dad negotiated with the by providing grants that improve access to basic health care unions and earned the trust of people,” Wiant said. “I found services in underserved areas across the state. the human dynamics fascinating.” “I was the first employee. For the first 30 days I was the The intrigue remains for Wiant, who has excelled in jobs only guy in the office,” Wiant said. He relished the opportu- most would shun for the potential controversy and public nity to “put his fingerprint” on the initiative as he wrote the mis- scrutiny. It was on his first job with the Illinois Department
ILLINOIS STATE SUMMER / 2007 21 sion statement, drafted personnel and financial policies, ham- Completion of the Mineral County mered out grant guidelines, and developed a strategic plan. Health Clinic in Creede, Caring for Colorado now distributes an average of Colorado, is just one $7 million annually. Proposals number about 200 each year, example of how the Caring for Colorado with one-third typically funded. Each request is evaluated Foundation provides based on the foundation’s mission to “ensure that the people medical care to fill of Colorado are the healthiest in the nation.” voids. Wiant is CEO of the foundation, over- “We go out to communities, assess what the needs are, seeing $170 million. and find possible solutions. It’s incredibly rewarding because we’ve got the checkbook,” Wiant said. “I love sending the only one-third of those needing treatment receive it, in part checks.” because the mental health care system is fragmented. The Wiant reaps great satisfaction with the completion of solution is a five-year, $4 million cooperative initiative titled projects such as one in Creede, Colorado, which is a commu- Advancing Colorado’s Mental Health Care. Six communities nity of about 800. “It sits in the middle of no-man’s land. are integrating mental health systems to improve access and There are two or three mountain passes just to get to medical effectiveness in treating mentally ill patients. care,” Wiant said. That changed with a $200,000 capital cam- Such projects are a two-edged sword for Wiant, who paign contribution from the foundation. Mineral County finds satisfaction in filling medical voids across Colorado Health Clinic in Creede is now open, providing residents and yet is reminded with each proposal of the larger health emergency care and a rotation of physician specialists. care concerns looming across the country. Wiant is equally proud of an ongoing oral health pro- “Our health care system is in big trouble. It’s ultimately gram that ensures children in low-income families receive going to fall in on itself if we’re not careful. There are so many dental care. With the foundation’s assistance, the Northwest things that aren’t right about the system that it is a simplistic Colorado Dental Clinic in Craig, Colorado, cares for children notion to think if we just give everyone health insurance all with decay as great as what is found in Third World coun- will be well. Universal insurance is not a panacea,” Wiant tries. Many never had an oral exam before the clinic opened. said, noting that insurance doesn’t eliminate the obstacle of Caring for Colorado is also working to improve the getting quality care. state’s mental health care. A foundation study found that
Wiant negotiated arsenal clean-up
Before Chris Wiant’s name became linked to health care in Colorado, he was known as the man who found a way to clean up the Rocky Mountain Arsenal. He received the Commander’s Medal for Public Service from the assistant secretary of the U.S. Army for leading a two-year effort to find a plan that would revitalize a community plagued by toxic waste.
The arsenal is located approximately 10 miles north- The Rocky Mountain Arsenal, as shown in this photo east of downtown Denver, near Commerce City. Roughly from the 1960s, became an environmental nightmare. The task of clearing the site has been a rewarding chal- the size of Manhattan Island, the arsenal was built in 1942 lenge for Wiant, shown at left with Charlie Scharmann, and is where chemical weapons were manufactured dur- who is the program manager responsible for imple- menting the clean-up for the U.S. Army. ing World War II. After the war a pesticide company used the land, followed by Shell Chemical Company, which pro- anybody realized the amount of toxins dumped at the site duced agricultural chemicals there from 1952 to 1982. and the problems that would surface in later years. By the “Everybody knew about it and supported it during mid 1950s contaminated groundwater caused crop dam- the war time,” Wiant said of the arsenal. That was before age near the arsenal. Chemicals in the water supply sparked an increasing level of fear and outrage in the
22 ILLINOIS STATE SUMMER / 2007 “One of the things I find most discouraging is the num- “One of the things I find most discouraging is ber of people who can’t get access to the basics, whether for the number of people who can’t get access to transportation or cost or an availability of quality care.” He is equally troubled by the pattern of excluding patients as deci- the basics, whether for transportation or cost sions are made by providers and insurers. Cost and quality or an availability of quality care.” are too often negotiated between the latter two, leaving the consumer in the lurch. He advocates tackling tough policy issues that so often experiences that have convinced him complex problems can determine who receives care and at what cost. One example be resolved by applying good science and assessing risk. is undocumented immigrant health needs. “The fact is we’ve “You have to protect the present and the future,” said allowed these individuals to come to our country. As a dis- Wiant, who understands the need to negotiate in increments. ease control mechanism, as well as humanitarian care, I don’t It’s also helpful if the negotiator doesn’t mind being in the know how we can turn them away,” Wiant said. hot seat, which is true of Wiant. Wiant also points to the need to alter the mindset of “I’m actually pretty comfortable being on the firing line. patient and doctor. “So often we treat an illness but don’t pro- I see it as a challenge,” he said. “I like to be standing on the mote health,” he said. Prescribing insulin for a diabetic solves beach at the nexus between the calm views of the beach and only one problem, as the patient must help manage the dis- the trauma of the waves.” ease or risk life-threatening complications. He points to the It is consequently no surprise that Wiant is appreciated increasing rate of obesity as another example of how inter- by so many in Colorado. As the citizens of that state can vention today can eliminate health problems tomorrow. attest, there is no better advocate to have at the center of the “It’s easier to build a healthy child than repair an adult,” health care storm. Wiant said. Such a proactive stance is characteristic of Wiant, who Editor’s note: To learn about Chris Wiant’s work at Caring for maintains an optimistic attitude despite his proximity to Colorado, go online to www.caringforcolorado.org. intense political battles over the years. He gladly remains at the frontlines of the fight for better health care, wiser from
community as years passed. that had no new houses constructed for more than a By the time Wiant was an administrator at Tri-County decade is now one of the fastest growing regions in the Health Department, the U.S. Army and Shell were charged Denver metropolitan area. with cleaning up the land. As Wiant recalls, there was no It took an intervention by Wiant with the Colorado progress because lawyers on all sides were embroiled in a Congressional delegation to lobby for funding to keep the legal fight. work on track, but the clean-up is now just four years from “I was appointed to be the liaison and lead the effort completion. As land is restored it is transferred to the U.S. to get the community together,” Wiant said, noting it was Fish and Wildlife Service for use as a national wildlife unprecedented for a local health department to become refuge. There are already more than 330 species at the involved in such a case. “I led the effort to get the commu- site, as well as 10 miles of trails. nity together. I became a broker.” The transformation is especially rewarding for Wiant, After studying the situation for nearly a year, Wiant who knows from his work on national and local water helped the community craft a plan. A judge called a halt to boards that such fights are essential. “We have to balance negotiations and the community’s blueprint to restore the today’s issues with quality in later years,” Wiant said. land was put on the table. Those recommendations led to “What legacy are we leaving for the next generation an agreement that was sealed in 1995. when there is uncontrolled abuse of the environment “Part of the negotiation was a new water supply for taking place?” Commerce City,” Wiant said. As a result the community
ILLINOIS STATE SUMMER / 2007 23
vision phs Di a ogr t ho ts and P in , Pr ess ongr y of C ar Libr Te st s of time THIS FEATURE University persevered through national adversities IS PART OF A YEARLONG HISTORICAL SERIES CELEBRATING BY BOB AARON ILLINOIS STATE’S HERITAGE attorney Abraham Lincoln and U.S. Senator A bitter civil war, two bloody world wars, and Stephen A. Douglas—vied for the White House in a grim economic depression are just some of the 1860. crises that have buffeted Illinois State throughout “Looking back at those days,” Burnham its 150-year history. recalled, “I wonder our political interest was so The University endured and prospered small. We discussed the slavery question with an General William T. Sher- despite calamities, growing from 43 students and almost purely academic interest. We little realized man, leaning on breach of gun above, led Union a fledgling teacher’s college in 1857 to a compre- how deeply the country was soon to be convulsed troops during the Civil hensive university with more than 20,000 stu- with the great question of war or peace.” War. While these soldiers dents. And yet the affects of national and global When the war came in 1861, Burnham fought on in 1864, the Illinois State campus was calamities have been felt across campus repeated- observed, “we could scarcely keep our minds on strained as well. The male ly over time, beginning in the 1860s. our studies. The regular studies partially population was depleted John H. Burnham, class of 1861, wrote of engrossed our attention, while the excitement of as men volunteered to join the fight. “great political excitement” as two Illinoisans—
24 ILLINOIS STATE SUMMER / 2007 the outside world distracted our thoughts to a “A shortage of coal, a flu epidemic that closed greater or less extent.” As the war ground on, “everyone not physi- the school for three weeks, and a smallpox scare cally disabled volunteered for the army,” Burnham were among other worries of the war years.” wrote in a reminiscence published in 1907. As the men went off to war, the teaching profession was class numbers only a little more than a hundred. thrown “almost entirely into the hands of the We shal not have students enuf properly to care women.” for classes in the Soldiers and Orphans home, in In the aftermath of the Union Army’s disaster Normal University High School and Elementary at Bull Run, “President [Charles] Hovey [the Uni- Training School…Our faculty is needlessly large versity’s first president] was (seventy-two)…all our teachers but three or four ar Colonel Hovey,” Burnham underworkt.” wrote, “with authority to raise The “underworkt” teachers were free to start a regiment of troops for the correspondence courses while the University rebellion.” dealt with secondary struggles. “A shortage of The student-training unit coal, a flu epidemic that closed the school for called the Normal Rifles three weeks, and a smallpox scare were among became Company A, Thirty- other worries of the war years,” Marshall third Regiment of the Illinois Infantry Volunteers. observed. The Schoolmaster’s Regiment, a moniker chosen As the men fled campus for military service by Hovey, initially included 46 university stu- and other wartime endeavors, the University dents. The unit saw action in several battles, became a “women’s world” and beehive of including Vicksburg, where it lost 30 officers and wartime activity. A Red Cross auxiliary was men, with nearly 100 wounded. formed in April of 1917. Home economics courses Sadness darkened the campus in February of were modified to meet wartime needs by, for 1862, when Lt. Joseph G. Howell, a member of the example, teaching food conservation. Female stu- class of 1860 and principal of the Model School, dents brought their sewing to Lillian Barton’s fell in battle. He was the University’s first war rhetoric class. Knitting needles were at work as fatality. Noting his death, Burnham wrote that President Charles Hovey, Professor Frank Westhoff led the singing of popu- left, became a colonel “Normal’s heart was almost broken with grief, lar war tunes. Wartime gardens were planted and during the Civil War. He shared by the whole community.” led the Schoolmaster’s the University joined groups like the Student World War I likewise had a tremendous Regiment, which included Friendship Fund, YMCA War Emergency Fund, Illinois State students. impact on Illinois State. When the United States Fatherless Children of France Campaign, and var- entered the conflict in 1917, a movement was One campus response to ious loan drives. WWI was the creation of launched to introduce military training on campus. University librarian Ange. Milner created a a victory garden, below. University historian Helen Marshall wrote of Women worked the soil, catalog of several hundred former students who the training in Grandest of Enterprises. “Two hours as male students were served in the military during World War I. She once again few in number. of daily drill was offered to all men who cared to take it, but there was no equipment, and enthusi- asm for broom-stick parades soon waned. Many men left school, some to enlist, some to join units of the Students Army Training Corps on other campuses, and others to return to the farm.” Wartime enrollment declined from 834 for fall term of 1916 to 350 in the winter of 1918-1919. Commenting on the sagging enrollment, Presi- dent David Felmley wrote—using his beloved sim- plified spelling—“It is evident the normal schools ar going to hav hard sledding this fall. Our senior
ILLINOIS STATE SUMMER / 2007 25 maintained a correspondence with them and for a celebration of the University’s 75th anniver- their relatives, keeping separate files on each sary. By 1935 an improved economic situation individual—files containing a photo, news arti- permitted a Diamond Jubilee celebration of the cles, information about battles in which a soldier University’s first graduating class. was wounded, letters home, and autobiographi- The Great Depression was ever-present in the cal synopses. minds of Illinois State students of the era, even as By the time the guns fell silent in November President Raymond Fairchild used Depression- of 1918, Illinois State’s service flag counted 626 fighting federal funds to improve campus with the stars—including 14 gold stars to honor the Uni- construction of walkways, drives, tennis courts, versity’s fallen heroes. and playing fields. The Depression was yet another challenging Graduating seniors commented on the diffi- season on campus, as the 1929 stock market crash cult times in the 1933 Index: “Ah, yes—one other jolted the U.S. economy into a tailspin. Fifteen chap who figures prominently all through our percent of Illinois’ population was on relief by four years at Old Normal—Old Man Depression. 1933. Despite the hard times, enrollment in teach- We hope he graduates too.” ers colleges increased, according to Marshall. Low Economic woes eased but hard times hit yet tuition and the lack of employment opportunities again after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. War elsewhere fueled the trend. Most students worked resulted in the campus population plummeting to put themselves through school. from 1,820 during the first semester of the 1940- “Some brought food from home and lived in 1941 school year to about 729 students during the the cheapest of furnished rooms, cooking their spring semester of 1944—including only 56 civil- meals on gas burners in basements or on single ian males. electric plates in their rooms,” Marshall wrote. “As classes became smaller and the ratio of “Clothing was often shabby and worn. Patched teachers per student became disproportionate, blue jeans were not uncommon and sox were many of the faculty were troubled lest they find The nation suffered an saved for special occasions. Haircuts were luxu- themselves without employment,” Marshall wrote. economic jolt during the Depression years, which ries and often a boy had to borrow money for a “President Fairchild remained ever hopeful and forced students to become suit to wear on an interview for a position. The Fac- encouraging. No new teachers would be even more frugal. ulty Women’s Club gave benefits to provide schol- employed, but he would keep a place for all who arships and loans to needy students. There were wished to remain on the staff and find construc- more requests for loans than could be granted.” tive work for them to do. There would be an As the economy plunged, Marshall noted that upsurge in enrollment after the war, and it would “demands for retrenchment were incessant. There not be easy to build up a strong faculty. Extension were rumors that the faculty might have to be courses were offered in as many centers as public transportation and the restrictions on gasoline and tires permitted.” “Clothing was often shabby and worn. Patched blue Several war-related organizations were active jeans were not uncommon and sox were saved for on campus. They did everything from supervising fund drives and collecting information about uni- special occasions…haircuts were luxuries” versity personnel serving in the military to send- ing the Vidette to former students in the armed employed on a month-to-month basis, and forces and Red Cross canteens. salaries be subjected to cuts as finances of the In the spring of 1943 word came from Wash- state dictated.” ington, D.C., that Illinois State would receive a The Home Study Department, which had unit of up to 300 men from the Navy V-12 pro- enrolled 333 persons in 1930, was dropped. Sup- gram. Three 16-week terms a year were set up for plies were doled out carefully and in 1933, all uni- the men to study physics, English, advanced versity salaries of more than $100 a month were math, chemistry, engineering, history, U.S. naval slashed by 10 percent. Plans were scuttled in 1932
26 ILLINOIS STATE SUMMER / 2007 Members of the U.S. Navy’s V-12 training program were welcomed to Illinois State in 1943. The arrival of 252 apprentice seamen invigorated campus social life, and created additional funding for acade- mic programs and buildings.
history, economics, and foreign languages. After need a marching band. Let’s add pep to this year’s completing their college work, students with good football season with an All-Girls’ Marching Band.” records went on to midshipmen schools, and sub- Such a response to tough times is evidence of sequently were commissioned as ensigns in the the keen insights and courage demonstrated by U.S. Navy. Those who failed went to boot camp or members of the Illinois State community through- the fleet. out the University’s history. Unrest that rocked “On the whole the V-12 boys were a superior the nation during Civil Rights protests and the lot,” Marshall wrote. “When their full schedules permitted, they participated in university “It is the patriotic duty of every college student extracurricular activities, music, sports, and dra- matics. In their trim uniforms of winter blue and to do his best to keep up the morale on the summer white they added color and life to a cam- homefront.” pus that deplored complete feminization.” Six hundred and four seamen were trained at Illinois State before the V-12 unit was disbanded Vietnam War era created tensions across campus. in June 1945. That month the Vidette observed The ongoing war in the Middle East is likewise that “in every field sailors have been outstanding. impacting the University today, as members of the If they had not been interested in the welfare of University family have been called to service. Four this school many of the traditions of the Univer- graduates made the ultimate sacrifice, losing their sity would have fallen by the wayside during this lives while on active duty in Iraq. period of world turmoil and strife.” Legions of students, faculty, staff, and alumni An editorial from the Sept. 29, 1943, Vidette across the generations have grown stronger every offers a glimpse into life on campus during the time adversity strikes, including events as recent war, noting that textbooks, meat, pie, and cake as September 11. Their legacy of leadership and were in short supply. “It is the patriotic duty of perseverance is perhaps best described by Profes- every college student to do his best to keep up the sor Manfred J. Holmes, who honored the Sons of morale on the homefront,” the Vidette stated. “One Normal in a 1918 letter at the end of World War I. of the best ways to do this would be for everyone His sentiment applies to others in the Illinois to start an ‘anti-gripe’ campaign of his own.” State family across the generations consumed by Despite the rigors of war, some vestiges of foreign or domestic crises, but never defeated. peacetime campus life continued. The Homecom- It’s under the Banner of Nations, ing football game in 1944 attracted a crowd of You’ve rallied in Freedom’s name now; 3,500. George Hamilton and his orchestra pre- And Man will rejoice that Humanity’s voice, sented their “rich, rhythmic and right for dancing Above all Nations, called for your choice music” at the Homecoming dance. A new all-girl To make Peace and Good Will the world’s marching band was formed. Jane Caviezel, stu- high goal, dent council president, told the Vidette in Septem- And banish the rule of all tyrants’ control. ber of 1944: “To have genuine school spirit we
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