Issuu

THE

HOMECOMING PREVIEW EDITION

Daily Egyptian SERVING THE SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY SINCE 1916.

DAILYEGYPTIAN.COM

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2026

VOL. 110, ISSUE 10

DECADES OF THE DAWG: 75 years of Saluki Pride

Strip shuts down for SIU turns back the clock on Homecoming Homecoming Festival CALI ROY Staff Reporter

Homecoming King Warren Carr, left, and Queen Shavelle Bell wave to the camera Nov. 2, 1990 in Carbondale, Illinois. Photo provided by SIU Alumni Association.

TAY ACREE Staff Reporter Seventy-five years ago, SIU students prepared floats, decorated houses and gathered for a freshman bonfire before a homecoming parade that stretched 1½ miles. More than three decades later, Laura Soucy experienced those same traditions while attending SIU from 1983 to 1987. She remembers chalk messages promoting homecoming court candidates, a bonfire near Bailey Hall and marching bands that seemed enormous to a freshman from a small high school. “I just remember being amazed by the sheer number of people who participated in band that were marching in the

InsiDE

parade,” Soucy said. As SIU celebrates 75 years of its Saluki identity with this year’s “Decades of the Dawg” theme, newspaper archives and alumni memories trace a celebration shaped by student traditions, community participation and friendships that last beyond graduation. The anniversary marks SIU’s adoption of the Saluki nickname in 1951. In “The Dawg Days,” an article by Caleb Hale in the fall 2026 issue of SIU Alumni Magazine, 536 students voted that spring to replace the Maroons nickname with the Salukis. In fall 1951, homecoming preparations reached across campus. The Oct. 12, 1951 edition of the Daily

Egyptian, then known as the Egyptian, described students organizing separate committees for floats and house decorations. Pi Kappa Sigma pledges were building a float, while other groups prepared decorations and alumni gatherings. The Oct. 26, 1951, edition of the Egyptian reported plans for 40 floats and more than 15 bands and 17 houses competing in a decorating contest, including fraternity and sorority houses and residence halls. The weekend also included an informal Thursday dance, a Friday bonfire and a Saturday parade, football game and dance. Freshmen took a pledge known as the Ephebic oath at the bonfire,

HISTORY | 4

Carbondale’s third annual SIU Homecoming Music Street Festival will shut down The Strip Friday, Oct. 16, creating a free street party for families, students and alumni. The event will feature artists from across the country, as well as vendors, food trucks, local businesses and interactive experiences. “It’s a lot of details (to plan), but all ones that contribute to the greater whole of the event,” Dena Haun, tourism and events coordinator for the City of Carbondale, said. “Which is just trying to drive people to celebrate SIU Homecoming, but also really celebrate Carbondale, as well, and all we have to offer.” From Friday morning through midnight, Illinois Avenue will be closed from College Street to Elm Street, turning The Strip into a family-friendly street party. The festival and musical acts will be free to the public, and those of all ages are encouraged to come out and celebrate Homecoming weekend. Two mobile stages will be brought in to feature the concerts. The main stage will be in the street outside The Varsity Center at the intersection of West Cherry Street and South Illinois Avenue, and the secondary

Betty Akamani pleads not guilty to murder, Page 9

stage will be in the First Mid Bank parking lot. Six different music acts will take place throughout the day, starting at 3 p.m. on the secondary stage with regional favorites Lucas Wayne and the Cottonmouths with City of Soul, and finishing at midnight on the main stage with top-charting rapper KYLE at the Student AfterParty. Iconic 1990s band Spin Doctors will headline the main stage event at 8 p.m. Spin Doctors are best known for their topcharting hits such as “Two Princes” and “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong.” “I’m very very excited,” Lucas Wayne said. “I hope that we can put on a good enough show that gets the people grooving early on in the day.” Other acts include: Johnny Rock-itt and the Double Wide Symphony, known for their blend of classic rock and country, will take the secondary stage at 4 p.m. Line Dancing with Cowboy Kyle at 5 p.m., who is the founder of Urban Cowboy Line Dancing in Nashville, TN. Opening act North Mississippi Allstars will perform at 6 p.m. The band has received five Grammy nominations in the Best Contemporary Blues Album category.

While there are several nationally recognized talents coming to perform, Haun says that paying tribute to regional artists remains a priority of the event. The festival aims at showcasing a diverse range of musical talents, bringing together artists from across the country and southern Illinois. “It’s a big honor to be among a lot of great people that are also worthy of playing for the Homecoming,” Wayne said. “It’s humbling to me, being that I’m a small-town guy from a little bitty crack in the world, and now this university is having me come play their homecoming. It’s cool.” The event is hosted through partnerships between the City of Carbondale, SIU Alumni Association, Hangar 9, River Radio, Coors Light and Koerner Distributor, SIU Student Programming Council, Carbondale Main Street, SIU Foundation and Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois. For event updates and more information regarding the SIU Homecoming Street Festival, visit the Carbondale IL Tourism Facebook page. (https://www.facebook.com/ CarbondaleILTourism/) Staff Reporter Cali Roy can be reached at croy@dailyegyptian.com

DeSoto man pleads guilty to murder, Page 9

Page 2 | Entertainment and Culture

Wednesday, October 14, 2026

CORRECTIONS

cgist@dailyegyptian.com

Deputy Editor: Orion Wolf

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The story titled, “‘No directive’: Chancellor denies an order was given to disable course registration module” in the Sept. 30, 2026 edition of the Daily Egyptian, identified David Johnson, professor of classics, as chair of the Faculty Senate’s budget committee. Johnson previously held the position, but no longer does. The story has been updated online.

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‘10s Across the Board’

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Photo Editor: Peyton Cook

Drag ball celebrates community, culture and self-expression in Carbondale

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Published by the students of Southern Illinois University Carbondale on a weekly basis in print, and every day on dailyegyptian.com. Fall and spring semester editions run every Wednesday. Free copies are distributed in the Carbondale, Carterville and Springfield communities.

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ZOREN ANAKO JRNL 201 Performers strutted across the stage while cheers and bellows echoed through the Varsity Center on Saturday night as the “10s Across the Board” drag ball brought together a community of people with an appreciation for drag performances and ballroom culture in downtown Carbondale. The evening concluded with a presentation of the “Guts and Glory Award,” during which audience applause determined five fan-favorite performers. House of Sirens was ultimately named the winning house of the night, while attendees continued to celebrate competitors with cheers and standing ovations. The event featured runway competitions judged by audience members and drag performances that highlight and celebrate creativity and selfexpression. Organized by the Southern Illinois Culture and Arts in Bilingual Education, known as SICABE, the event was said to not only serve as evening entertainment, but as a way to connect different communities through culture and performance. Victoria “Big Vargas” Hammond, the event’s emcee or master of ceremonies and the operations director for SICABE, said the drag ball’s title is a reference to a commonly used phrase in drag culture. “It’s a play on a gay slang from drag,” Hammond said. “When you’re grading people, they get tens, tens, tens across the board.” Hammond said organizers hoped the event would encourage appreciation for both ballroom culture and the communities represented through it. “Our Black histories, our Latino histories, our queer histories are all overlapping, and they lend themselves to each other,” Hammond said. “I wanted Carbondale to be able to appreciate that and kind of come together in a way.” For drag performer Leah Fantasy, the stage offers more

than a platform for selfexpression. It also provides a place for LBGTQ+ people to find acceptance, family and a sense of belonging. “Ballroom started as this really beautiful counterculture,” Fantasy said. “It’s a space for queer people to be able to show up and find community and to find family, chosen family and to express themselves.” Fantasy, who identifies as nonbinary and uses they/ them pronouns both in drag and out of it, said drag allows performers to showcase aspects of themselves that may not always be visible in their daily lives. They described drag not as becoming someone else, but as expressing parts of themselves that exist beyond the gender expectations they encounter in everyday life. “It’s not like I’m putting on a wig and pretending to be something I’m not,” Fantasy said. “It’s I’m putting on a wig and becoming something that I am.” Fantasy said preparation for drag can require significant investments of time and money, from constructing costumes and styling wigs to spending hours applying makeup. They emphasized the importance of drag houses, which function as chosen families within ballroom culture and often help newcomers gain access to resources, costumes and mentorship. Although the name might be misleading, drag houses aren’t physical locations but a support network in the LGBTQ+ community where experienced performers mentor younger members in the ways of ballroom culture. Fantasy said they lent one of their wigs to a fellow performer for the evening’s event, an example of the support networks that exist within the community. “That’s what it means to be community and to have a house,” Fantasy said, “To share that access that you have with other people.” The event also drew in SIUC

students, including members of the Saluki Rainbow Network. Moxy Giedeman, the organization’s president, said ballroom culture has historically provided support systems for marginalized communities. “These are things that have been happening in America for over 120 years,” Giedeman said. “They are a historical way that minority groups, both people of color and queer people, have been able to find both family and friendship with each other.” For many students, events such as the drag ball offer opportunities to experience LGBTQ+ spaces and connect with others who share similar experiences. “I grew up in a small town that was pretty conservative, so we didn’t even have any queer spaces available for us,” said Lynn Hindle, the vice president of the Saluki Rainbow Network. “So this is kind of my opportunity to understand and experience these spaces for the first time since coming to SIU.” Both students encouraged those who are curious about attending similar events to take the first step. Hindle and Giedeman said students interested in becoming involved can attend the Saluki Rainbow Network’s annual Drag Show Spectacular, scheduled for Oct. 30 in the Student Center Ballrooms. “The hardest part is just getting there for the first time,” Hindle said. Hammond echoed that message, emphasizing that events such as the drag ball are open to everyone, regardless of background or identity. “Get out and get involved in your community,” Hammond said. “We’re all awkward. Just get out and get involved.” This story was published in collaboration with JRNL 201: Writing Across Platforms. Zoren Anako can be reached at

zanako@dailyegyptian.com and on Instagram @thezorenreport

Drag Artist Leah Fantasy holds the winning prize for their house at the Drag Ball Oct. 10, 2026 at the Varsity Center in Carbondale, Illinois. Nazarene Lace | @nazarenelace

Wednesday, October 14, 2026

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Entertainment and Culture Meet the 2026 SIU Homecoming court candidates ANGELINA RAIMONDI Staff Reporter Ten passionate students who represent the 2026 Homecoming court are competing to be crowned Homecoming Royalty. Students can cast their votes through the voting link, which will be sent directly to their email. Voting starts Oct. 12 and ends Oct. 15. Two winners will be crowned during halftime of the SIU Football Game against Illinois State University on Saturday, Oct. 17. “Decades of the Dawg” is the 2026 Homecoming Week theme where students get to celebrate the history of SIU. Claire Rose is a junior majoring in physiology. She conducts research for the School of Psychological and Behavioral Sciences as well as serving as a Saluki Science Ambassador. She also serves as president of the Student Alumni Council and volunteer coordinator for the Pre-Health Professionals Association. “It is an honor to serve SIU … Homecoming court is a meaningful way for me to represent the organizations I am a part of,” Rose stated in an Oct. 7 text message. Megan Baker, who is studying forestry, said this was a great way to give back to the program. “I really want to show that it’s not just a major, it’s a career for a lot of us and the forestry program is pretty big on campus, and I just really

want to represent them to the best of my ability,” she said. Baker is a junior studying forestry with a concentration in hydrology. She has been involved with a lot of volunteering registered student organizations. Baker is an officer for Collegiate Timber Sports and the president of the Society of American Foresters. Caroline Kendall is a senior majoring in art education. She has been an officer for Movie Camera Movement, Writer’s Room and Art Education Nation. Kendall has volunteered at CAM events and served on the committee for the Chalkalypse, an annual chalk competition hosted on campus. “I ran for Homecoming Royalty because I’m very proud of my program and College of Arts and Media. I think we’re awesome and I wanted to represent CAM,” Kendall said. The Daily Egyptian’s editor-in-chief, Carly Gist, is also running for court. She is a senior majoring in journalism and minoring in English. She has served as a staff reporter, news editor, deputy editor and now editor-in-chief. She is a member of Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority and the SIU Women’s Rugby Club and executive fiction and nonfiction editor of Grassroots Literary and

Arts Magazine. “I feel like all the things that I’m involved with have just made me very passionate about connecting with and listening to students across campus,” Gist said. In an effort for fairness and transparency, Gist did not edit or contribute to this article. Kylan Green is a junior majoring in IT and cybersecurity. He is a part of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, Black Fashion Society, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, and Black Affairs Council. “I feel like Carbondale or SIUC in general is home to me. I found my community. I found a family here and I feel like the people I met here really shaped my life and made me who I am today,” Green said. Eric Wisely is a senior majoring in agricultural systems and education. He has served as an officer for the Agricultural Leadership Education and serves as the vice president of the Agricultural Student Council. Wisely has attended various conferences across the state and nation where he helped recruit for SIU. “I’m a southern Illinois native. So getting to help promote southern Illinois and this awesome university that’s in our backyard is definitely something I’ve enjoyed doing,” Wisely said. The candidates discussed what the experience has been like. Darnell Jenkins said he

ran around the entire campus when he got selected. “When somebody selects you for something as big as this, that means they see something in you that you probably didn’t see in yourself or you did see in yourself, it’s good that they see that same thing that you see,” Jenkins said. Jenkins is a senior majoring in IT and cybersecurity. He is involved in the Black Men Coalition, Joyful Noise Choir, Africana Theatre Lab, Black Art and Film, SIU Boxing Club and National Society of Black Engineers. Joshua Gardner said running for court has been competitive. “The experience has been very competitive. My best friends are running against me, so it’s a very competitive, friendly race that we were having,” Gardner said. “But it just shows that, OK, I have a commitment and a dedication to something that, I would say, is similar to running for any presidential thing.” Gardner is a senior majoring in automotive tech and is involved in the Black Men Coalition, the National Society of Black Engineers and Black Affairs Council. To Madyson Swope, being selected has been a confidence booster. “I have confidence in myself. That’s something I try to have every single day, but knowing that other people have confidence within me and see the person that I am and understand that I could

be a representation of SIU is really a confidence booster,” Swope said. Swope is a senior majoring in psychology and is involved in the National Association of Colored Women’s Club, Black Women’s Task Force, National Honor Society of Psychology, and runs on the SIU Track team. “It’s been really fun, seeing everybody else that’s on court post their stuff, seeing us all chalk. This is really just people having fun and doing something for the representation of their school,” Swope said. Sydney Carter said this was all very new. “I didn’t realize how much support I had until I started campaigning and how many people that I’ve met throughout my time here and just how much that impacts how the campaign would go,” Carter said. Carter is a general undergrad student in the Accelerated Bachelor’s and Nursing programs. She is a McNair Scholar, a part of Kappa Delta Chi Sorority and a part of the Marching Salukis Color Guard. The candidates left some advice for underclassmen considering running for Homecoming court. “I would tell them to just do it, to not be afraid,” Gist said. “I remember, my freshman or sophomore year, I was seeing so many negative posts about the candidates on Yik Yak and all that stuff, and I remember

being like, ‘Oh, I could never run. I don’t want to get made fun of on there,’ but I decided to anyway, just because it was my senior year and when else would I have that opportunity?” Green said to keep going and don’t give up. “Don’t doubt yourself, because seeing all the people you’re running up against, seeing their posters or what they’re doing sometimes makes you ask yourself, am I gonna win? Or are they doing better than me? Just keep going. Don’t give up. Don’t lose hope,” Green said. Wisely reminded students to take risks. “Just do it. And if you think you might want to, just do it,” Wisely said. “The worst thing that could happen is you decide you don’t like it or maybe you’re told no. And throughout life we find out we don’t like things, and we get told no all the time. So, what’s the harm in just giving it a try?” Rose encouraged students to get involved on campus. “Focus on the experiences and organizations that are meaningful to you. Build genuine connections and make new friends along the way. Your closest connections are going to be the people you share similar interests with. It is never too late to join or get involved on campus,” Rose said. Staff Reporter Angelina Raimondi can be reached at araimondi@dailyegyptian.com

Page 4 | Entertainment and Culture

HISTORY

CONTINUED FROM 1

promising to protect the university’s honor and uphold democracy and freedom of thought. The oath printed in the Oct. 27, 1949, edition of the Egyptian, included a promise to “leave Southern not less but greater and better, than I found it.” The Oct. 30, 1951 recap reported a parade stretching 1½ miles, with bands from communities across the region. About 200 alumni registered at a tea after the football game. The oldest graduate attending was Grace Wykes, a member of the class of 1898. By the 1980s, the parade remained a major part of Soucy’s homecoming experience. Soucy, president of the SIU Alumni Association board, attended SIU from August 1983 to May 1987 and studied food and nutrition. She celebrated with her suitemates and neighbors at Thompson Point, some of whom remain her friends. They watched the parade, wandered through the tailgate area, attended the game and returned to the dorms to celebrate. Soucy recalls local high school bands and floats created by student organizations filling the parade. At the tailgate, her group moved around rather than gathering at a designated spot. “It wasn’t anything really structured,” she said. Molly Hudgins, executive director of the SIU Alumni Association, remembers similar connections between campus and the community during her student years from 1992 to 1997. Students tailgated north of McAndrew Stadium, while community members gathered in the parking lot between the stadium and the Student Center. For Hudgins, a Carbondale native, homecoming also included her parents’ and

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family’s tailgate. “The southern Illinois region really turned out for homecoming to support all the activities,” Hudgins said. She helped build a float through student government and remembers elaborate floats and a stadium full of students and fans. Bonfires also continued during her college years, although she does not know when they ended. “They were still having a bonfire when I was in college in the ’90s,” she said. The Saluki mascot costumes also changed over the years. Hale’s article notes that they were redesigned in 2009. For Brittani Wynn, who earned her bachelor’s degree in communication design in 2010 and her master’s degree in mass communication and media arts in 2012, homecoming meant choosing what maroon to wear and coordinating plans with friends. “The tailgate was almost as much of an event as the actual football game,” Wynn said. Her friends established a gathering spot, then moved between groups, sharing food and meeting people. Businesses displayed messages supporting the team, while campus doors were decorated for homecoming. “There’s usually maroon everywhere, but an extra explosion of maroon,” she said. Wynn remembers bringing a digital camera to document the experience. Although she and her friends used phones and Facebook, she said their attention was less focused on creating content. “We weren’t experiencing everything quite through our phones just yet,” she said. For her, the weekend’s meaning extended beyond the score. “Really, the whole weekend was just about being together with your friends and enjoying time together,” Wynn said. In 2023, the Homecoming Street Music Festival added another gathering to the

Wednesday, October 14, 2026 weekend. Hudgins said the All Photos provided by SIU Alumni Association. Friday night event on Illinois Avenue brings together alumni, students and the community. “We have given Salukis a reason to come back to town and be on Illinois Avenue on Friday night,” she said. The Alumni Association organizes reunions and the music festival, while the Student Programming Council and Student Affairs organize the parade, block party, pep rally and other student events, Hudgins said. For the 2026 celebration, former student mascots will return as parade marshals, and vintage mascot logos will appear on shirts and other merchandise, Hudgins said. Hale, also the Alumni Association’s director of communications, said the mascot program’s earlier focus was more closely tied to athletics. Mascots now also appear at student celebrations, including the block party and rallies during homecoming week. For alumni, returning means reconnecting with both the university and the people they knew there. Wynn has not returned for homecoming since graduating, but said nostalgia would draw her back. “In the moment you don’t realize those are moments you’re gonna miss,” she said. Soucy, who now lives in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, said she has returned for homecoming every year since joining the Alumni Association board in 2011. She still attends the parade, tailgate and football game, reconnecting with friends and meeting new ones. “Whenever I come back to Carbondale, I walk on campus. I see Pulliam Tower, and I feel like I’m home,” Soucy said.

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Staff reporter Tay Acree can be reached at tacree@ dailyegyptian.com and on Instagram @through.tays.lens_

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Wednesday, October 14, 2026

Advertisement | Page 5

Take the strip

Friday october 16th starts atat 33 p.m., starts p.m., illinois illinois ave. ave. Friday october 16th

Headlining

student afterparty

spin doctors

Kyle

ALSO FEATURING

North Mississippi Allstars

Johnny Rock-itt and The Double-Wide Symphony

line dancing with cowboy kyle

lucas wayne and the cottonmouths with city of soul

schedule of performances

schedule of performances Egyptian Stage - First Mid Bank Parking Lot

3 p.m. - Lucas Wayne and the Cottonmouths w/ City of Soul 4 p.m. - Johnny Rock-itt and The Double-Wide Symphony 5 p.m. - Line Dancing with Cowboy Kyle

Saluki Stage - Main Stage on Illinois Avenue

6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.: North Mississippi Allstars 8 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.: Spin Doctors 10 p.m. - 11 p.m.: KYLE

Brought to you by:

Page 6 | Entertainment and Culture

Wednesday, October 14, 2026

Wednesday, Ocotber 14, 2026

Entertainment and Culture | Page 7

Your Guide to Homecoming 2026

homecoming Blood Drive Location: SIU Student center Time: 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm Community Welcome!

Saluki Retro Rewind: Silent disco and Roller Rink Location: SIU student center ballrooms Time: 5:00 p.m. Siu Students only

Homecoming Elections

Location: voting done via slate. Check email Time: All day SIU Students only

HOCO ‘93

saluki carnival block party Location: Lincoln drive, in front of pulliam hall Time: 5:00 p.m. community welcome!

Homecoming Elections

Location: voting done via slate. Check email Time: voting ends at midnight! SIU Students only

Thursday

Tuesday

homecoming music street festival Location: the strip - south illinois avenue in downtown carbondale Time: 3:00 pm community welcome!

SPC homecoming after-party Location: the strip - south illinois avenue in downtown carbondale Time: 10:00 pm community welcome!

Friday

Ferris Bueller’s Homecoming movie night Location: Student center auditorium Time: 5:00 p.m. siu students only

Homecoming Elections

Location: voting done via slate. Check email Time: all day SIU Students only

wednesday

siu homecoming parade Location: the strip - south illinois avenue in downtown carbondale Time: 10:00 am community welcome!

saluki tailgate and Football game Location: Saluki Stadium Time: 12 p.m. -3 p.m., game starts at 3:00 p.m. Community Welcome!

Homecoming royalty announcement half-time of the football game

saluki volleyball vs. Bradley Location: davies Gyms Time: 5:00 p.m. community welcome!

Saturday

Page 8 | Advertisement

Wednesday, October 14, 2026

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Wednesday, October 14, 2026

News | Page 9

The Park sports bar opens on The Strip DAYLIN WILLIAMS Staff Photographer

The Park, a new local sports bar and lounge, opened its garage bays on Saturday, Oct. 10, in Carbondale, where the old sports bar Stix once stood. Squished between Jimmy John’s and Chango’s, The Park holds bench seating, pool tables, a small corner with a single-step stage for entertainment, turf-lined floors and a centrally located bar. Attending students wore smiles on their faces and drinks in their hands. “I am very happy about Carbondale finally

having a local sports bar. Being from a college town, I have always wished us students had a better outlet to not only support your favorite professional teams but to have a place to build more of a student fan base and community around Saluki sports especially when they compete on the road,” SIU student Matthew Marsaglia said. Staff Photographer Daylin Williams can be reached at dwilliams@dailyegyptian.com or through Instagram @photosbydaylin

LED sign illuminates a dark corner at The Park Oct. 10, 2026 in Carbondale, Illinois Daylin Williams | @photosbydaylin

Wall of TVs hover above attendees of The Park during it’s grand opening Oct. 10, 2026 in Carbondale, Illinois Daylin Williams | @photosbydaylin

Betty Akamani pleads not guilty to murder of husband CARLY GIST Editor-in-Chief

A grand jury returned an indictment Oct. 6 charging the wife of SIU professor Kofi Akamani with two counts of murder in connection with his death, and one of endangering the life or health of a child, weeks after she was initially charged with the same offenses in connection to his shooting death. The Monday, Oct. 5, grand jury indictment of Betty Akamani means 14 jurors found probable cause to formally charge

Provided by Jackson County Jail her with the offenses. She pleaded not guilty on Tuesday during an arraignment hearing on the indictment in Jackson

County Circuit Court. Betty Akamani is accused of shooting and killing Kofi Akamani, an SIU professor of forestry. Jackson County State’s Attorney Marcia CascioHale said Kofi Akamani was shot at Betty Akamani’s home after returning their daughters from his visitation time. While it’s unclear what happened in the interim, there were six holes in his vehicle, and an autopsy report found five wounds in his body, Cascio-Hale told the Daily Egyptian on Sept. 28.

The state’s attorney’s office filed the original charges immediately following Akamani’s death. It is common in high-profile felony cases for a grand jury indictment to follow charges initially filed by prosecutors. She was denied release during an initial appearance on those charges on Sept. 21, and remains in custody in the Jackson County Jail. Akamani was scheduled to appear in court Oct. 6 for a preliminary hearing, but after the charges were

presented to a grand jury, the hearing became an arraignment. Akamani appeared expressionless in court Oct. 6, in her jail-issued uniform, and with her hands and feet shackled as she was read the charges a second time. Akamani was initially denied a public defender due to her income, but after she did not hire counsel, the judge reexamined her financial status and appointed one, Celeste Korando, at the arraignment. After the charges

were read, Korando said Akamani is entering not guilty to all pending counts. Three appearances have been scheduled for Akamani: a final pre-trial at 8:30 a.m. on Oct. 27, a status hearing at 1 p.m. on Nov. 9 and a jury trial at 8:15 a.m. on Nov. 16. The Daily Egyptian will continue to follow this story. Editor-in-Chief Carly Gist can be reached at cgist@dailyegyptian.com or on Instagram @gistofthestory

DeSoto man who struck boy, mother 117 times with bat pleads guilty to murder He faces a sentance of up to life in prison after his open plea BRAYDEN GUY Daily Egyptian MOLLY PARKER Capitol News Illinois

Prosecutors say the man charged with beating an 8-year-old DeSoto boy to death and trying to kill the boy’s mother struck the two at least 117 times with a softball bat. The attack on Deborah Snider and her son Leland Arnett, 8, occurred shortly after 11 p.m. on May 13, was captured on Marcus Moultrie’s cell phone. Moultrie, Snider’s onagain off-again boyfriend, pleaded guilty on Oct. 5 to murder and attempted murder charges. He had played softball that night and spent the evening out. After he came home, Snider confronted Moultrie about an affair she believed he was having, and told him she and the children planned to move out two days later. The two began arguing, prosecutors said in court on Monday. Moultrie blocked the exit of Snider’s bedroom and forced her to the ground while she was

holding their infant. Then he started striking her with the bat. Prosecutors said Leland Arnett, Snider’s 8-yearold son who died, is heard repeating Marcus’ name several times about 3 minutes into the recording. Then there are more blows and the sounds of a little boy whimpering in pain. When police arrived, they found Leland lying in a pool of blood in the kitchen, his mother critically injured in one of the bedrooms of their trailer. After police confiscated Snider’s phone, they counted what sounded like at least 117 blows with a softball bat directed at Snider and Leland. ‘Wanton cruelty’ Casey Bloodworth, sworn in as a special assistant Jackson County state’s attorney to prosecute the case, recounted these details in Jackson County court on Monday as the basis supporting Moultrie’s guilty plea, laying out the evidence prosecutors otherwise would have

presented to the judge at a bench trial scheduled to begin that day. Instead, Moultrie, 37, pleaded guilty to one count of murder with an enhancement for a killing that was “exceptionally brutal” and involved “wanton cruelty,” as well as one count of attempted murder. He faces a sentence of up to natural life in prison. The family of six, including the children ages 11, 8, 6 and 1, lived in a little trailer on Hickory Street in DeSoto and had an extensive history with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. On the night of the beating, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from the 11-year-old who ran out of his house and to a neighbor for help, Bloodworth said. The officer who responded to the scene found Arnett and Snider bleeding profusely from their heads; Snider had also suffered severe facial trauma. Both were taken

to Carbondale Memorial Hospital and then airlifted to hospitals in St. Louis. On May 17, Leland, a secondgrader at DeSoto Grade School with an infectious smile and bright spirit, died due to cerebral blunt force trauma. His skull was shattered, and his brain had significant hemorrhaging and chipping, Bloodworth told the judge. Moultrie told the judge that he’d decided to enter an open guilty plea on his own accord. He was not offered any type of plea deal — the state sought the same charges and penalties it would have had he been found guilty in the bench trial. While Bloodworth recounted the grueling details of the murder, Moultrie hung his head low, but his voice was steady and he showed no visible emotion as he told the judge that he was guilty of the acts described. But the account left most of those watching the proceedings shaken, with eyes seen welling up and sniffles audible throughout the courtroom. The

brutal murder not only shocked the small town of DeSoto, population 1,500, about six miles north of Carbondale, it left the prosecutors who had processed the damning evidence disturbed as well. Before the start of the scheduled court hearing, three of them were seen walking into the courtroom each carrying a box of tissues. Alleged murder-forhire plot Snider survived her injuries. She was present at the Oct. 1 hearing where courtroom documents alleged that Moultrie attempted to hire a fellow inmate to kill Snider for $1,500. Bloodworth had successfully argued before the judge last week to let him present evidence of the alleged murder-forhire plot at the bench trial to show intent and “consciousness of guilt.” A separate charge in that matter has not been filed to date. Snider was absent from the courtroom on Monday due to an unexpected

Photo provided by Jackson County Jail medical issue. Moultrie’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for Dec. 4. Bloodworth told the court he expects it to take a full day. News Editor Brayden Guy can be reached at bguy@dailyegyptian.com Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state government coverage to hundreds of news outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.

Page 10

Wednesday, October 14, 2026

SPORTS

SIU volleyball surrenders 2 conference matches NOAH PETSCHKE Sports Editor The Salukis took on two more Missouri Valley Conference opponents over the weekend, facing off against the Belmont Bruins on the road on Oct. 8 and the Northern Iowa Panthers at home on Oct. 10. Oct. 8: SIU 0, BU 3 The Dawgs and Bruins faced off in a Thursday evening contest in Nashville, Tennessee. The Bruins took care of business and swept the Salukis. Set 1: SIU 15, BU 25 The two conference opponents went back and forth to begin the first set, tying at 10 points apiece. A 9-1 Belmont run was more than enough to propel the Bruins to a comfortable 10-point victory. Set 2: SIU 20, BU 25 Once again, the Dawgs and Bruins battled in the early stages of the set.

Outside hitter McKenzie Moeller and opposite hitter Ida Almkvist each tallied three kills. While the second set was closer than the first, another Belmont midgame run gave the Bruins a 2-0 lead in the match. Set 3: SIU 20, BU 25 The Salukis gained an early advantage on a flurry of kills and Belmont errors. Despite being down midway through the set, the Bruins stormed back with a 9-0 run, eventually taking the third set and completing the sweep. Oct. 10: SIU 1, UNI 3 Looking to snag a victory against a tough opponent, the Salukis welcomed the Panthers of UNI on Saturday. The Dawgs dropped the match in four sets. Set 1: SIU 17, UNI 25 The Panthers got off to a hot start with a 7-0

lead immediately. Despite the Salukis finding their momentum late in the match, the Panthers’ early lead was too much for SIU to handle. Set 2: SIU 25, UNI 23 Once again, the Panthers sprinted out of the gate, quickly leading 5-1. The Salukis swiftly turned it around, tying the set at 7-7. A kill by middle blocker Chloe Anderson and a service ace by setter Ella McFarland tied the set at 18-18. A Moeller kill and an Anderson block sealed a second-set victory for the Dawgs. Set 3: SIU 13, UNI 25 This time, the Salukis jumped to an early lead, 7-2 over the MVC-leading Panthers. A 7-point run propelled the opponents ahead, and the Panthers never looked back, taking a dominant

Ella McFarland (4) served the ball against Northern Iowa at Davies Gym Oct. 10 2026, in Carbondale, Illinois. Soph Levinson | @hpos.artz

12-point win. Set 4: SIU 15, UNI 25 The high-powered UNI offense struck again, taking a commanding 8-2 lead. The Salukis got within five points but couldn’t close

the gap, and the Panthers back in action on Friday, walked away with the Oct. 16 against the Murray Saturday-evening win. State Racers. With these losses, the Dawgs fall to 9-9 on the Sports Editor Noah Petschke season and 3-3 in MVC can be reached at matches. The Salukis are npetschke@dailyegyptian.com

Salukis prepare for clash with Redbirds AARON CARNAHAN Sports Reporter The Salukis fell to 1-2 in Missouri Valley Conference play after a 31-10 loss to South Dakota in the Dakota Dome on Saturday. “Really a lot of credit to South Dakota…We just gotta grow as a team,” Head Coach Nick Hill said. This upcoming Homecoming weekend, the Salukis will host the Redbirds

on Saturday at Saluki Stadium. Illinois State enters the matchup at 4-2, while Southern Illinois comes in at 3-4; both teams are 1-2 in MVC play, and on two-game losing streaks. “We have an unbelievable opportunity this week,” Hill said. Hill and the Salukis know this will be a crucial game for both of these teams.

“It’ll be two teams that go out there and play with a sense of…they got to have it,” Hill said, emphasizing the importance of winning this Saturday for both teams. The Salukis won the last meeting in 2025 by a final score of 37-7, and lead the all-time series with a 34-22-1 record over ISU. Offensive linemen Ethan Goodin and Blaine Halley were injured on the same

Saluki football struggle in loss to Coyotes AARON CARNAHAN Sports Reporter Southern Illinois traveled 665 miles to Vermillion, South Dakota, to take on the Coyotes at home in the Dakota Dome. SIU is playing in its third Missouri Valley Conference football game. Last year these teams played in a game that went five overtimes, and the Salukis came up just short. Southern Illinois hasn’t defeated South Dakota since 2021. The Salukis won the coin toss and picked to receive the opening kick, but failed to score on the opening drive. The Coyotes drove down the field quickly, running five plays, gaining 85 yards and scoring a touchdown on a 13-yard touchdown run. END OF Q1: USD 7, SIU 0 The Coyotes got the ball back about halfway through the second quarter. South Dakota scored on their first play of the drive with a 56-yard touchdown pass. The point-after-try was successful, and the score was now 14-0 in favor of the Coyotes. Southern Illinois’ offense ran 15 plays, gaining 84 yards, and

ended with a quarter back DJ Williams 8-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Kyle Thomas for his fourth touchdown reception of the season. Southern Illinois decided to run the clock out in the first half and headed to the locker room trailing by seven to USD. HALFTIME: USD 14, SIU 7 The Coyotes received the kick to begin the second half. South Dakota opened the half with an 11-play, 61-yard drive that set up a 31-yard field goal. After a 12-play, 67-yard drive, the Salukis set up for a 26-yard field goal attempt by Schofield. Schofield’s kick was good, and the Salukis made it a sevenpoint game once again. The third quarter ended with the Coyotes facing a fourthand-2 from the SIU 49-yard line. END OF Q3: USD 17, SIU 10 South Dakota kept the offense off the field and converted on the fourth-andtwo. The next play was a 44yard touchdown run for the Coyotes. South Dakota moved the ball down the field, scoring on

a 12-yard touchdown run after a six-play, 58-yard drive. The Salukis were back on offense trailing by 21. Middleton caught a 17-yard pass and a 20-yard pass from Williams on the drive. South Dakota ran out the clock, and the Coyotes defeated the Salukis at the Dakota Dome by a final score of 31-10. FINAL: USD 31, SIU 10 The Salukis fall to 3-4 overall and 1-2 in conference games, while the Coyotes improve to 5-2, and 2-1 in MVC play. Williams finished the game 18/29, 179 yards, and one TD. Chapman rushed for 91 yards on 20 carries and was the leading rusher for the Salukis. “I feel like the offense was moving the ball well at times. And it’s just little mistakes and small things that are definitely fixable; I wouldn’t count us out,” Chapman said, reflecting on the loss post-game. “I still think we have room to improve, but you know that’s football. We just have room to improve. And there are small things we need to work on that are game changers.” Sports Reporter Aaron Carnahan can be reached at acarnahan@dailyegyptian.com

play at South Dakota last Saturday. “I would say Blaine will be out longer than Ethan,” Hill said. With Goodin and Halley hurt, Hill is fully confident in Jacob Katauskas and Ostyn Friday to step up and play well. “Katauskas has played at that position, and started at that position this season. Ostyn Friday has had to play

as well,” Hill said. Illinois State has played three different quarterbacks at times this season. “We’ll prepare for what we’ve seen on tape. And always prepare for a little bit of unknown, and our guys will be ready,” Hill said when asked about the uniqueness of playing a team with three quarterbacks. Hill is excited for an energetic homecoming

environment at Saluki Stadium for a nationally televised game. “I think it’s no secret how much I love this place and there’s a lot of pride in this place, and I’m excited to see a lot of people come back and familiar faces of the program,” Hill said. Sports Reporter Aaron Carnahan can be reached at acarnahan@dailyegyptian.com

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Wednesday, October 14, 2026

Sports | Page 11

Saluki Soccer continues historic run AARON CARNAHAN Sports Reporter Saluki Soccer hosted the Illinois State Redbirds on Saturday, Oct. 10, at Lew Hartzog Track and Field Complex. Southern Illinois comes in on an eight-match winning streak, with a 9-2 record overall and a 3-0 record in Missouri Valley Conference play. The Redbirds are 8-1-3 overall and have won their last six matches. Illinois State is also 3-0 in MVC play. The Salukis have a 1-5-1 record against Illinois State since the SIU women’s soccer team began in 2019. Illinois State knocked

Southern Illinois out of the MVC tournament in 2025. The Salukis struck first at the eight-minute mark, when forward Nao Katamoto scored with her right foot, kicking the ball into the bottom left of the net. The assist was credited to midfielder Dana Nadda, and the Salukis were in front 1-0 early in the first half. Katamoto scored her fourth goal of the season, while Nadda picked up her second assist. The Southern Illinois defense held the Redbirds scoreless, only allowing two shots from ISU in the first half. SIU got seven total shots before the end of the half.

However, the Redbirds goalie allowed just one goal on seven shots from the Salukis, making three saves. The score at halftime was 1-0 in favor of the Salukis. In the second half, SIU attempted three more shots. None of the shots found the net, and the Redbirds goalie made two more saves to hold the Salukis at one goal scored in the match. The Southern Illinois defense continued to keep Illinois State from scoring. The Redbirds attempted seven shots, and none found the net. Saluki goalie KK Miller made one save and didn’t allow a goal in 90 minutes. Miller picked up her second shutout of the season.

The Salukis defeated the Redbirds with a final score of 1-0, with no scoring after the Katamoto goal at the eight-minute mark. The Dawgs move to 4-0 in MVC play and 10-2 overall. The Salukis have a ninegame winning streak, and SIU is a perfect 6-0 at home this season. The Redbirds fall to 3-1 in conference games and 8-2-3 overall. The Salukis will be back in action on Thursday, Oct. 15, at Valparaiso to take on the Beacons. SIU soccer teammates celebrate after Nao Katamoto (9) scored the Sports Reporter Aaron Carnahan can be reached at lone goal Oct. 10, 2026 at the Lew Hartzog Track and Field Complex acarnahan@dailyegyptian.com in Carbondale, Illinois. Riley Sembler | @riley_sembler

USG considers proposed SIU mascot names, costume changes NOAH PETSCHKE Sports Editor The SIU Undergraduate Student Government is debating whether to approve or deny a proposal that would change the names and look of SIU’s longtime mascots. Since a 2009 costume rework, SIU mascots Grey Dawg and Brown Dawg have kept a consistent appearance. USG President Greyson Applebee said that in April 2026, Steve Falat, former River Radio general manager, spoke to him and proposed a name change and costume

alteration for the mascots. The proposal would change Grey Dawg’s name to King Tut, or simply “Tut,” and Brown Dawg’s to Cleopatra, or “Cleo.” Additionally, the mascots would wear Egyptianthemed garments, signifying southern Illinois’ nickname, “Little Egypt.” USG is tasked with deciding whether or not they should approve Falat’s proposal based on student feedback. Senators debated in an Oct. 6 meeting whether the name change was for better or worse. Numerous senators voiced

their opinions on the name change, but could not reach consensus that evening. Applebee said the main reasons raised against the proposal involve cultural issues and the fact that King Tut’s and Cleopatra’s lifespans are separated by roughly 1,300 years. “When they don’t want that change to happen, a lot of it is cultural appropriation,” Applebee said. “The other argument is that, with Cleopatra and King Tut, there’s a huge timeline difference between them.” Proponents of the new-

look mascots say that Grey Dawg and Brown Dawg aren’t great names and the new versions honor the “Little Egypt” identity. “Those for it say it’s really to embrace ‘Little Egypt,’” Applebee said. “Grey Dawg and Brown Dawg, they said they’re silly, and ‘who came up with that, a 4-year-old?’” In the 2026 Missouri Valley Conference Mascot Madness, Grey Dawg took first place, beating out the 10 other mascots in the conference. The winner of each round was decided by voters on social media. After nearly 20 minutes

of debate in the Oct. 6 meeting, the USG agreed to table the discussion and postpone the decision for the next meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 20. “Our public affairs committee went out, and we had a tabling event. That committee went out to Morris Library, sat right in front of the Abraham Lincoln statue and just got some feedback,” Applebee said. “The chair of that committee said she’s excited to bring that back to the Senate at our following meeting next Tuesday, where we’ll discuss it again.”

Despite a pending decision during the next USG meeting, Applebee says the proposal is still in its early stages and not fully developed. “This is one big concept of a plan. Not yet is there a lot of execution in place and ready to take place,” Applebee said. “I think that is why almost all of the senators are very hesitant to approve something, whether they are for it or against it. We haven’t seen an execution plan.” Sports Editor Noah Petschke can be reached at npetschke@dailyegyptian.com

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Page 12 | Puzzles

Wednesday, October 14, 2026

Weekly PUZZLE PAGE

"Classic Comedy" by Allen Vaughan 1

Across

1. Droplets 6. Milan's La ___ 11. Partakes of 14. Dark 15. West Indies native 16. Venomous snake 17. He starred in "The Jerk" 19. Hot springs 20. Cargo ship stopover 21. Sight-related 23. Cousin of ante24. Patio 26. Small sofa 30. Embarrassment 31. Unadulterated 32. Written works 37. Met highlights 39. Canine command 40. Reveal 41. Underground storage area, old style 44. Defense acronym 45. Transfix 46. "You said it!" 48. Computer program input 51. Air hero 52. Toes the line 53. "___ and Son," 1960s British sitcom 57. Mother Teresa, for one 58. One member of a classic comedy duo; the circled letters reveal his partner's name 62. Carbohydrate ending 63. Lawn tools 64. Roast host 65. Asian holiday 66. All in 67. Withdraws gradually

Down

1. Commuting option 2. Tolkien tree creatures 3. Sheltered, nautically

18 21

29 32 38

33 39

*To play Sudoku, fill a 9x9 grid with digits 1 through 9 so that each row, each column, and each 3x3 subgrid contains each number exactly once.

45 49

Answers on page 10

31 37

23 27

44 47

53 59

4. Opera star 5. Treeless plain 6. Frighten 7. Links transport 8. Gallery display 9. 52, in old Rome 10. Not right 11. "___ la vista, baby!" 12. Jellied garnish 13. "The final frontier" 18. Prized fungus 22. Put on a show 24. Sorority letter 25. Musical ability 26. Joust verbally 27. Continental coin 28. Peter, Paul and Mary, e.g. 29. Serving salver 30. Long-legged wader 33. Speck in the ocean 34. Bryce Canyon locale 35. ___-tiller 36. Sufficient, old-style

38. Tailor's tool 42. Time of anticipation 43. Indy entrant 47. Sister's kid 48. Words on a warning sign 49. Treat badly 50. Article of faith 51. This is only ___ . . . 53. "Frozen" reindeer 54. Domesticated 55. Boat in "Jaws" 56. Perfect place 59. Drink like a dog 60. Old White House nickname 61. "Absolutely!"

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