SIU cheerleaders who began protesting during the national anthem during the football season say that the administration is now trying to hide them at other sporting events. From the Daily Egyptian: The incident took place three weeks after Hunt and sophomore cheerleaders Czarina Tinker and Alaysia Brandy knelt in protest during the national anthem before a football game against Northern…
Read MoreYear: 2017
Students plan to launch social media campaign for Africana Studies
Excerpts from the Daily Egyptian and check out the broadcast interview from WSIL TV: To try to save the Africana studies program from being cut, students are putting together a video campaign to raise awareness and support of the department. … The possibility it could still be eliminated is concerning to students like Kelechi Agwuncha, one of the campaign’s organizers.…
Read MoreVideo: National expert gives first SIU diversity lecture
This fall, SIU held its Inaugural Board of Trustees Diversity Excellence Lecture, featuring Tim Wise, a nationally renowned anti-racism activist and writer. A video of the speech was sent to all alumni along with a message from SIU system President Randy Dunn. Check out the full video below to hear Wise’s powerful message!
Read MoreSIU hires Africana philosophy specialist
From the Daily Egyptian: The newest hire to the philosophy department comes as the first ever at SIU in his area of expertise; professor Alfred Frankowski is the university’s only Africana philosophy specialist. Frankowski focuses on a range of areas within that specialty, including critical philosophy of race, African American and Africana philosophy, aesthetics, post-colonialism and critical genocide studies, according…
Read MoreSIU Diversity Council creating cultural competency curriculum
From the Daily Egyptian: Members of the Diversity Council say they are working on a proposal to add cultural competency into the curriculum that they will present to the chancellor by the end of the semester. In the first draft of Chancellor Carlo Montemagno’s academic reorganization, he said he tasked the Diversity Council with incorporating cultural competency in the core…
Read MoreSIU alumna to play professional basketball in Serbia
From The Southern Illinoisan: Recent SIU graduate Rishonda Napier became the eighth Saluki women’s basketball player to sign a professional contract Tuesday, inking a deal with ZKK Kraljevo of Kraljevo, Serbia. The ZKK Kraljevo play in both the First Women’s Basketball League of Serbia (ZLS) and the WABA League. The First Women’s Basketball League of Serbia is a 12-team league…
Read MoreBusiness college honors ‘Emerging Saluki Leader’ awards
From the SIU press office: Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s College of Business has chosen as its 2017 Emerging Saluki Leader Award winners. The award honors alumni who have graduated from the college within the past 15 years for their outstanding work within business, academia or government sectors, nonprofit organizations, and their community service. This year, the college is honoring three…
Read MoreNew book: Dick Gregory still commenting on hard truths
From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: When comedian and social activist Dick Gregory died in August at age 84, he left behind a widow, 10 offspring — and the manuscript of “Defining Moments in Black History: Reading Between the Lies.” Gregory’s life, if not his story, began in St. Louis, where he grew up the son of a housemaid. He graduated…
Read MoreSaluki, longtime radio announcer Bill Wilkerson dies
From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Bill Wilkerson, whose animated baritone voice highlighted St. Louis radio for more than 35 years, died on Nov. 2, 2017, after collapsing at his home in Florissant. He was 72. Mr. Wilkerson first gained popularity when he joined KMOX-AM 1120 in 1969. He would go on to become a morning-drive host. But he became a…
Read MoreAfricana Studies elimination delayed; taskforce created
As the SIUC community continues to grapple with the potential impacts of the proposed university re-organization, Chancellor Carlo Montemagno announced that the decision to eliminate the Africana Studies degree program will be deferred for a year. In July, university officials proposed eliminating the Africana Studies bachelor’s degree as part of the Financial Sustainability Plan that was presented to the SIU…
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