Serbian tennis player makes How to beat the Mercury Retrograde difference at Bradley. this year. Page A11 Page B2 Vol. 124 | No. 16 | February 21, 2020 The Scout @bradley_scout Senate delays voting on program eliminations BY TONY XU Editor-in-Chief On Thursday, the University Senate postponed the voting on three recommendations that would eliminate some degree programs in family and consumer sciences, and programs in the physics and theater departments to March 26. The delay resulted from a realization that an operational MURRAY BAKER BRIDGE procedure in the Faculty Handbook was not followed by the University Strategic Planning Committee. TO CLOSE IN MARCH The handbook, a binding document for the Senate, states that the committee shall provide a written notice to the Senate body before The Murray Baker Bridge is scheduled to undergo construction beginning on March 29 through Oct. 31. The university has suggested a specific a recommendation for program route to campus. photo by Haley Johnson elimination can be considered. The handbook also states that the BY HALEY JOHNSON (IDOT). Charles met with IDOT to create a university advises drivers to instead affected department shall have a News Editor Approximately 67,000 vehicles specific route for those coming to take a left at Romeo B. Garrett cross the bridge each day, according Bradley that will avoid interstate Avenue after the bridge to get to chance to provide a written reaction Peoria drivers, beginning to IDOT. With the closure, that traffic. Bradley more efficiently. to accompany the committee’s on March 29, will be affected by traffic will now have to be entirely “For events like commencement, “We’ve chosen this route partly recommendation. construction that may increase their rerouted. The Public Information visit days, [and] Ollie events, people because there’s already signage The recommendation to eliminate commutes by up to an hour. Officer for the IDOT, Paul Wappel, are going to need to know this there directing you to Bradley,” all theater majors was introduced by The Murray Baker Bridge, the said he doesn’t anticipate any information,” Charles said. Charles said. “It’s easier for traffic to President Gary Roberts as a senator, main route between East Peoria and decrease in travel to East Peoria. According to IDOT, a general just follow the signs.” after the committee rejected the Peoria, will close for renovation until While IDOT has suggested an GPS will route traffic from the Bob recommendation, with 7 to 6 votes, late October, according to the Illinois alternative route for general traffic, Michel Bridge through Perry Street see BRIDGE last Friday. Department of Transportation University Spokesperson Renee back to the interstate. However, the The two recommendations to Page A3 eliminate all physics degree programs and half of the family and consumer sciences degree programs were brought up by the committee. Williams Dining Hall renovation put on hold “I decided that it is important that the Senate consider all of these happening in Williams Hall over the planned construction project has are implemented, others are not,” BY ANGELINE SCHMELZER recommendations, and not just the summer 2020 and it’s going to be the been put on hold. Thomas said. “When reviewing any Assistant News Editor ones that the strategic planning premier spot on campus for dining – “That project was way down proposed changes weighing the committee got voted to send Although it was never yes, even better than Geisert.” the road and we had designs and associated costs, potential impact forward,” Roberts said at Thursday’s announced to all students, many Gayle Hanson, former general everything drawn up, but at the and the timing of the changes are Senate meeting, before the voting were anticipating a renovation for manager of dining services at Bradley, moment we suspended that project taken into consideration.” was postponed. the dining facilities in Williams Hall. confirmed the plan at Student Senate because we can’t get it under budget,” According to Roberts, the project Roberts explained that the As of this week, the project has been meeting on Sept. 16, 2019. According Roberts said. was going to be paid with a long- decisions were difficult, but need to put on hold. to Hanson, there would be a remodel According to Nathan Thomas, term, no-interest loan from Aramark. go forward. The project was first announced to of Williams dining facilities next vice president for student affairs, “The cost of the project is just “We have to make, sometimes, Student Admission Representatives summer. This would have included the university has been considering more than we’re able to finance, painful and gut-wrenching decisions (STARS) in August and to the changing the appearance of both a renovation and expansion of so that’s on hold at the moment,” ... Saying ‘no’ to a four-year phase Student Senate in September. the dining hall and Center Court to Williams dining for the past six Roberts said. “But hopefully out to only two percent of chronically According to an email sent to make it one facility. months. sometime in the fairly near future, STARS on Aug. 30 and obtained by This Thursday, University “In a given year there are we’ll be able to move forward with SENATE The Scout, tour guides were told President Gary Roberts announced many proposed changes across the that kind of project.” see to say “major renovations will be at the University Senate meeting that university that get reviewed; some Page A3 A2 THE SCOUT February 21, 2020 NEWS BRIEFS POLICE REPORTS Starting a business in Illinois • At approximately 12:05 a.m. Feb. 14, BUPD received a For those looking to start a business, a workshop will take place on Monday, Feb. 24 from 3 to 5 report that an unknown person had spray-painted words p.m. at Fondulac Bank, 201 Clock Tower Drive in East Peoria. The informal workshop, presented and symbols on the wall of the Duryea Parking Deck. A by Bradley University’s Illinois Small Business Development Center, is free and will review how work order has been placed to remove the paint. to get a tax ID number, getting a business name registered and more. For more information, email [email protected] or call 309-677-2992. • A male unaffiliated with Bradley was arrested by BUPD during a traffic stop for an outstanding warrant Black history trivia brunch at the corner of Western Avenue and Moss Avenue at The Multicultural Association of Pre-Health Students (MAPS) and the National Society of Black approximately 8 p.m. Feb. 14. He was released later by the county after it was discovered that another person had Engineers are hosting a black history trivia brunch tomorrow at 11 a.m. in the Garrett Center. They been using his name as an alias. are providing free food from Cracker Barrel and the winning trivia team will receive Amazon gift cards. No RSVP is needed. • Police were called to the Delta Upsilon fraternity house at approximately 10 a.m. on Feb. 15 when an unknown Paint Night at Uncle Buck’s Fishbowl suspect partially entered through a window before Uncle Buck’s Fishbowl will host a night of cocktails and art in East Peoria at 7 p.m. Tickets are $37 fleeing. The suspect apparently had two accomplices. per person and art supplies are provided. Contact Uncle Buck’s Fishbowl at 309- 427-3300 for more Nothing was taken. information. • A student received an email on Feb. 6, apparently Mountain Dulcimer Folk music concert forwarded from her mother, suggesting that she become a Heirloom Folk Art School is hosting the Mountain Dulcimer Folk music concert tomorrow at Shore “secret shopper” for a given company. She was instructed Acres Park located at 100 Park Boulevard in Chillicothe. The concert starts at 7 p.m. and includes a to buy gift cards and mail them to an unknown suspect. variety of different artists. The event is open to the public and tickets are $10. For more information, She reported to the police on Feb. 18 that she thought she had been defrauded. call 309-676-2787. February 21, 2020 THE SCOUT A3 NEWS BRIDGE The Bradley Speech Team continued from page A1 In order to communicate the Senior health science major Sierra puts on Black History Showcase alternative route, the university Hedin is from Bloomington and created a page, bradley.edu/ travels to East Peoria at least once directions, that contains a a week either to go home or to get downloadable map with the new groceries. directions. Charles has also set up “If I can avoid traffic and go meetings with administration to somewhere else, even if it’s far away, spread communication to the campus I would prefer that than sitting in community. traffic,” Hedin said. “The bridge was “Keep in mind it’s going to take closed a couple of times this summer a lot longer to get there, and I’d say and I took alternate routes.” avoid peak travel times,” Charles said. For more information about the For students who frequently bridge project and traffic updates, travel to East Peoria, this closure will visit gettingaroundpeoria.com. be more of an inconvenience. The speech team performed at Dingledine Music Center Saturday night in honor of Black History Month. photo by Ellie Hawkins BY ELLIE HAWKINS students an experience they may tournament, a student must place in Contributor not otherwise get on campus. the top three at three tournaments Saturday night’s program earlier in the season, which Edlund Bradley’s nationally ranked ranged from educational to comedic has already achieved for the year speech team put on its seventh to moving.