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Thursday, October 6, 2022 Vol. 76 No. 6
2022 Inductee Hall of Fame list includes author, comedian and more FRANCESCA BOSTON lifestyles editor
An Illinois state senator and a comedian were among the 10 alumni inducted into the SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame during Homecoming this year. Terry Ganey, a mass communications alumnus, graduated from SIUE in 1970. He said that SIUE was the cornerstone of his journalism career, which led to his career as a New York Times bestselling author and award-winning journalist. He said the communications program had just started and that it was exciting to see the program grow. “I took a couple of classes in TV, radio, and journalism, and enjoyed them and enjoyed the excitement of being in a newsroom or being in a TV studio,” Ganey said. Damon Harbison, who earned his
masters degree in business administration in 2004, said that he was blown away that he had been nominated for the Hall of Fame. Harbison, who currently serves as the president of St. Mary’s Hospital, said he was beyond honored to be inducted with the caliber of individuals who have and are inducted into the Hall of Fam. He said he is proud to be an alumnus of SIUE. “Location, value and reputation are the three top [reasons] I chose SIUE. The value was really, really important to me, and then the reputation, [people] would always talk about how the faculty,” Harbison said. Kathleen Madigan, a mass communication alumna who graduated in 1988, said she was honored to be indicted into the Hall of Fame. She said that as a comedian, she doesn’t always feel her work is quite as serious as other professions.
“But it’s very nice that somebody gives you a shout out, [, especially among] people who have done things I would consider it to be more helpful,” Madigan said. Diana Isaacs, a pharmacy alumna who graduated in 2009, said she was part of the first graduating class for the School of Pharmacy and the relationships she built with her classmates and faculty shaped her experience at SIUE. “It was really special in terms of being part of a brand-new program. When I started in 2005, we were the only class ever, and with only 80 of us, all the faculty knew our names, and we had a really close relationship with everyone and just really felt like a family,” Issacs said. Issacs said SIUE shaped her into the person and pharmacist she has become, giving her the skills to thrive in her posi-
tion. “SIUE helped me to [learn how] communicate that knowledge to be able to help people, and it’s been so important, so rewarding in my career,” Issaces said. The event also honored Bryce Rotter, a dental school alumnus and former dean of the school;, Franklin Boster, who earned his bachelor’s in psychology and masters in behavioral science from SIUE; and Scott Miller, an engineering graduate who currently serves on the School of Engineering Advisory Board. Two nursing alumni were also honored, Frank Grasso and Kyle Giffin, who now co-own G&G Anesthesia. Illinois State Sen. Christoper Belt, who earned his master of public administration in 2002, was also honored on Sept. 23. For more information on the alumni, read this article on the Alestle’s website.
Leaps of Love has Highland drivers race to defeat childhood cancer DYLAN HEMBROUGH reporter
The 24-hour fundraiser for Leaps of Love in Highland, Illinois, featured 25 teams of race cars, food vendors, live entertainment and bounce houses for the kids. Leaps of Love is an organization dedicated to education on brain tumors and the late effects of childhood cancer. Traci Riechmann of Highland founded Leaps of Love in 2010. Riechmann said she drew on personal experience to help bolster the project. “My mother had cancer, and then my sister at the age of 16 had cancer after my mom had passed away,” Riechmann said. “I had just seen the need to connect families together.” Riechmann had previously worked for an organization called His Kids, which focuses on all types of childhood cancer. “Kids with brain tumors have the most late effects of all of them, so that’s why I focus just on those,” Riechmann said.
The idea for Laps for Leaps itself came about 3 years ago, when Riechmann’s son, Brady, was watching a race channel with his friends. Riechmann said from there, the idea blossomed into the 24-hour fundraiser on the Highland Speedway. Linda Eilerman, also from Highland, was tasked with getting volunteers from SIUE to help out with the event. Eilerman is an SIUE worker in the facilities management department. “My son is one of the car drivers, and I’m good friends with the director,” Eilerman said. “I like to help out with her events when I can, so I’m here to support.” Eilerman and Riechmann both said that the fundraiser was a massive amount of work. “[It was] a big undertaking,” Eilerman said. “They had to get city approval [and] make sure it was O.K. with the racetrack.” Riechmann said planning really began in April of this year, using Facebook to spread the word and get volunteers, sponsors and racing teams.
“Probably about a month ago was when stuff started getting real,” Riechmann said. “Teams started really signing up for it.” Chelsea Schumacher, a Highland resident, first heard about the event from her husband. “[I heard about it] through the organization’s chairman and through my husband, who is helping with the event as well,” Schumacher said. Schumacher is also a sponsor for Laps for Leaps. Event sponsors included both individual people and larger organizations. “They just asked what you would like to donate, and you decide what you can do as a person or a business,” Schumacher said. Nick Brown of Pocahontas, Illinois, sings for the Benders & Backroads band when he is off duty as a police officer. “We were contacted by Leaps of Love asking if we would come out here and play for them,” Brown said. Brown said the Benders & Backroads, a group of four men, have only been performing together for about a year. Brown
also said this is their typical venue style, though they usually play for four hours at a time. Brown’s band was just one of four live entertainment groups who performed at the event. Jesse Vincent, the Robert Perry Band and Hideous Gentlemen took the reins throughout the day on Oct. 1. “[We’re excited about] hanging out with all the people and having a good time with them,” Brown said. Eilerman said that she had no doubts about the fundraiser’s success once planning got underway, especially given Brady Riechmann’s passion for the project. “I knew it would happen,” Eilerman said. “When they set their mind to a project, it usually comes full force.” Riechmann said she appreciated the support from the Highland community for her project. Eilerman said that she was glad to see that the event was a success and hopes that it will set the stage for future fundraisers. “They’ll take it and run with it,” Eilerman said.
For the bookworms: These are SIUE’s resources for readers and writers LIV KRAUS reporter
There are many resources at SIUE specifically designed for readers and writers on campus.
WRITING CENTER
If you’re struggling with certain parts of a paper and need some extra help, the Writing Center works with students during their composition process. Students can book a 30 minute, one-on-one appointment with a Writing Tutor in-person, online or asynchronously. The Writing Center is located in the Student Success Center. To book an appointment, students can log on to siue.mywconline.com or email wcenter@siue.edu.
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Office Hours are Monday & Wednesday 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday & Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
TUTORING RESOURCE CENTER
Students who need extra assistance with their classes can visit the Tutoring Resource Center, where students can find tutors that specialize in different subjects including math, science and psychology. The Tutoring Center is located in the Student Success Center in Room 1252. To book an appointment, students can log on to http://siue.mywconline.com.
LEARNING RESOURCE CENTER
The Learning Resource Center (LRC) is a public library geared towards helping students and community members reach their academic and professional goals. The LRC provides a variety of services including printing, career development workshops and access to materials from over 400 libraries through the Illinois Heartland Library System. The Learning Resource Center is located at 601 James R. Thompson Blvd., East St. Louis. For more information, you
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can visit the Learning Resource Center website, email siue.esl.library@siue.edu or call 618-874-8719. Hours of operation are Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
MONTHLY BOOK CLUB
Every month the Learning Resource Center hosts a book club that meets in-person and over Zoom. There is a specific book that participants can receive for free at the Learning Resource Center. Sarah Kirkpatrick, director of the Learning Resource Center, said the books are chosen in advance by the attendees at the meetings. She said the book club gives people the opportunity to broaden their perspectives and explore different genres. “We leave it up to the participants to talk about what stood out to them from the book, what they really enjoyed, what they might have struggled with, and let them take the lead on the discussion,” Kirkpatrick said. The Learning Resource Center is located at 601 James R. Thompson Blvd., East St. Louis. To receive a Zoom link for the book club, you can RSVP by email siue. esl.library@siue.edu or call 618-874-8719.
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Each meeting takes place on the last Friday of each month from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m.
RIVER BLUFF REVIEW
The River Bluff Review is SIUE’s annual student-run magazine, which features a collection of art produced by students from a variety of different majors, fully run by the students of English 494. The River Bluff Review includes short stories, poetry, creative nonfiction, artwork and more. Submissions are closed for this semester, but students can submit their creative writing work or art to their website in the future. For more information, you can email riverbluffreview@gmail.com.
SIGMA TAU DELTA
Sigma Tau Delta is an international English honor society for those majoring and minoring in English, as well as graduate students. SIUE’s Alpha Chi Alpha chapter focuses heavily on English language, literature and writing while promoting philanthropic causes and community. To be inducted into SIUE’s chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, you can visit their website to see if you meet the requirements and download a membership form.
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