Serving the Southern Illinois University community since 1916.

The Daily Egyptian
Serving the Southern Illinois University community since 1916.

The Daily Egyptian
Serving the Southern Illinois University community since 1916.

The Daily Egyptian
All content by Cory Ray
Daily Egyptian file photo

USG votes to oppose Chancellor Montemagno’s plan to eliminate all departments

By Cory Ray
November 28, 2017
Chancellor Carlo Montemagno speaks about his strawman plan for academic reorganization at the university Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017, in the Student Center Auditorium. (Dylan Nelson | @Dylan_Nelson99)

Chancellor shifts programs in second reorganization draft, firm on eliminating departments

By Cory Ray
November 28, 2017
Barbequed pork is sandwiched between layers of corn bread that is bolstered with cheddar, corn kernels and jalapeno. (James F. Quinn/Chicago Tribune/TNS)

SIU student researching the origins of barbecue

By Cory Ray
November 15, 2017
Air Force ROTC cadet Lexie Layton, left, and Army ROTC Cadet Devin Tegtman stand at a modified parade rest in front of the flagpole Friday, Nov. 10, 2017, outside of Woody Hall. “I’m out there to celebrate the veterans of America and make sure people know it’s Veterans Day," Tegtman said. (Cory Ray | @CoryRayDE)

ROTC students hold 24-hour flagpole vigil to honor veterans

By Cory Ray
November 15, 2017
Daily Egyptian file photo.

Chancellor initiates task force to boost Africana studies enrollment

By Cory Ray
November 14, 2017
Pulliam Hall. Daily Egyptian file photo.

Faculty members vote to oppose chancellor’s department elimination plan

By Cory Ray
November 14, 2017
Emma Johns, a sophomore from Champaign studying physiology, directs a participant to align under a dome of cameras in order to image his head Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017. "I wanted to go somewhere that I could be involved in research, especially at a young age," Johns said. "I didn't want to wait until I was a senior." (Cory Ray | @CoryRay_DE)

Researchers inspect brain waves to predict if people will become heavy smokers

By Cory Ray
November 1, 2017
Chancellor Carlo Montemagno listens to questions about his strawman plan for academic reorganization at the university Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017, in the Student Center Auditorium. (Dylan Nelson | @Dylan_Nelson99)

Some students say they welcome chancellor’s academic reorganization

By Cory Ray
November 1, 2017
Kennedy Byers, a senior Africana Studies and biological anthropology major, listens to answers from Carlo Montemagno regarding his strawman plan for academic reorganization at the university Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017, in the Student Center Auditorium. (Dylan Nelson | @Dylan_Nelson99)

Students say chancellor’s vision survey doesn’t take their opinions into account

By Cory Ray
October 25, 2017
Southern Illinois University Chancellor Carlo Montemagno waves to the audience after his "State of the University" speech Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2017, at Shryock Auditorium. Montemagno spoke on his vision for the university and the steps administration plans to take to increase enrollement numbers. (Brian Muñoz | @BrianMMunoz)

Campus community ‘utterly frustrated’ by the chancellor’s plan to restructure the university

By Cory Ray
October 25, 2017
Elizabeth Geerling, a senior from St. Louis studying biological sciences, studies the the reproductive system of a male mouse Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017, in Life Sciences III. "I think our model has really evolved into a mechanism that can be used to explore other reproductive issues," Geerling said. (Cory Ray| @coryray_de)

Campus scientists studying ways to combat extremely early puberty

By Cory Ray
October 19, 2017
Daily Egyptian file photo

OrgSync will not be used at SIU after Oct. 31, USG says

By Cory Ray
October 19, 2017
Newly appointed Southern Illinois University chancellor Carlo Montemagno speaks about shared governance at the university Monday, Aug. 28, 2017, in Anthony Hall. "Shared governance is power – it provides the ability for access," Montemagno said. (Brian Muñoz | @BrianMMunoz)

USG discusses chancellor’s academic shake-up

By Cory Ray
October 19, 2017
Marisa Szubryt, a senior from Mokeno studying plant biology, examines the flower of a plant known as Euthamia Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017, at her apartment in Carbondale. “Working with the data has been really interesting in a way that I hadn’t been exposed to before,” Szubryt said. “That’s all very exciting, being like, ‘Okay, so this thing groups with this other thing, and oh, they look similar because of this and that’s why.” (Cory Ray| @coryray_de)

Biologists aim to preserve history through plants

By Cory Ray
October 11, 2017
Southern Illinois University Chancellor Carlo Montemagno gives the "State of the University" speech Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2017, at Shryock Auditorium. Montemagno spoke on his vision for the university and the steps administration plans to take to increase enrollement numbers. (Brian Muñoz | @BrianMMunoz)

Reactions mixed over Montemagno’s plan to shake up academic departments

By Cory Ray
October 11, 2017
Daily Egyptian file photo

Carbondale police identify Saturdays homicide victim

By Cory Ray
October 7, 2017
Daily Egyptian file photo

USG votes to support final exam schedule change

By Cory Ray
October 4, 2017
Daily Egyptian file photo

Crime down at SIU, Clery report shows

By Cory Ray
September 29, 2017
Justin Porter, a junior from Rockford studying biological science, adjusts magnets on a laser to hyperpolarize Xenon Friday, Sept. 15, 2017, at a lab in Neckers. The element spins in two different directions and hyperpolarization involves making all the atoms spin in one direction. “If we can get to a point where we are producing the Xenon in great quantities, this can be [applied] in a hospital setting,” Porter said. “We’ll be able to help people.”

From liquid to gas: chemistry students aim to make MRI’s easier and more accurate

By Cory Ray
September 27, 2017
Daily Egyptian file photo

Exam schedule change could lighten student workload

By Cory Ray
September 27, 2017
Kate Shields, a senior microbiology student from Vandalia removes the ink sack from a baby squid Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017 at a laboratory in Lindegren Hall. (Dylan Nelson | @Dylan_Nelson99)

Microbiology students studying bioluminescent squid to understand immune system

By Cory Ray
September 25, 2017
Daily Egyptian file photo

Professors at USG meeting say final exam scheduling change could reduce stress for students

By Cory Ray
September 19, 2017
Jackson Wood, a junior from Apex studying biochemistry, places a sample on a stir plate Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017, in a science lab in Neckers. Wood inserts a fiber rod into the sample to extract data used in detailing the aroma of 40 Below Joe-brand coffee. "The technique is called solid-phase micro-extraction," Wood said. "We use the fiber to absorb volatile compounds off of the coffee and then analyze it." (Cory Ray | @coryray_DE)

From ice cream to coffee: Dippin’ Dots founder recruits SIU student for new product

By Cory Ray
September 15, 2017
Education Sec. Betsy DeVos listens as U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a strategic and policy discussion with CEOs in the State Department Library in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on April 11, 2017, in Washington, D.C. (Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/TNS)

SIU will continue current Title IX policies while DeVos overhaul remains murky

By Cory Ray
September 14, 2017
The "diamond ring effect" is pictured shortly after the Great American Eclipse's totality, Monday Aug. 21, 2017, at Saluki Stadium. Thousands of eclipse viewers fought cloud coverage to see the eclipse's totality at Saluki Stadium. (Brian Muñoz | @BrianMMunoz)

‘Spectacular data’ collected from the eclipse, SIU Citizen CATE researcher says

By Cory Ray
September 2, 2017
Senior physiology major Kara Starkweather, left, and Professor of Physiology Dr. Buck Hales pose for a photograph in a Life Sciences II lab Friday, Aug. 25, 2017, in Carbondale. The duo is using hens, which ovulate similarly to women, to research flaxseed as a dietary intervention in preventing ovarian cancer. "We understand that the major cause of ovarian cancer is the inflammation associated with ovulation," said Hales. "Our goal is to turn ovarian cancer into a disease that women can live with instead of die from."

Studying flaxseed, fowls: SIU scientists research ways to help prevent ovarian cancer in women

By Cory Ray
August 30, 2017
Newly appointed Southern Illinois University chancellor Carlo Montemagno poses for a portrait Monday, Aug. 28, 2017, in Anthony Hall. “Resources do not define your vision or define your ultimate goals – they establish a framework for the path that you have to travel. But they don’t define who we are as an institution,” Montemagno said. “My vision is that we establish SIUC as a destination institution – that people from across the country and around the world know of us and want to come here because of the quality of the educational experience the students get.” (Brian Muñoz | @BrianMMunoz)

Montemagno settles into new role as chancellor

By Cory Ray
August 30, 2017
Daily Egyptian file photo.

Power through for workout gains

By Cory Ray
August 23, 2017
Louisiana State University senior physics major Brad Landry holds a weather balloon carrying experiments from three different Louisiana colleges minutes before launch, Monday, Aug 21. 2017, at SIU Stadium. Landry released the balloon at 11:51 a.m. where it then traveled 100,000 feet into the sky with devices used to measure changes in solar power levels, UV radiation and the speed of sound. “When we started college, we never expected to work on something like this," Landry said. "It's a really cool experience." (Cory Ray | @coryray_DE)

Louisiana students visit SIU, propel weather balloons 100,000 feet

By Cory Ray
August 21, 2017
Christopher Mandrell, a graduate student from Marion studying physics, takes apart an 80mm telescope Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2017, outside Neckers after a practice run aligning the telescope in preparation for the eclipse. Mandrell will camp out at the University Farms “dark site” the night before he the eclipse so he can set up for the experimental run the following day. “This is the classic ... telescope,” Mandrell said. “It’s a refraction scope just using the lenses to focus just like your glasses.” (Cory Ray | @coryray_DE)

Students prepare to capture the sun’s corona as part of a national research project

By Cory Ray
August 15, 2017
Reagan Gavin | @RGavin_DE

What happens if it rains on eclipse day?

By Cory Ray
August 15, 2017
Daily Egyptian file photo.

Rec Center to reduce fall hours, add workout studios

By Cory Ray
July 24, 2017
Daily Egyptian file photo

Degree programs won’t change with a potential College of Science merger, administration says

By Cory Ray
July 20, 2017
Carbondale City Hall (Jacob Wiegand | @jawiegandphoto)

Hollywood Lounge to reopen after a shooting prompted liquor license suspension

By Cory Ray
July 19, 2017
Martha Osornio, a senior from Chicago studying cinema and photography, holds a “Hate has no home here.” sign Tuesday, April 11, 2017, during a city council meeting at the Carbondale Civic Center. Osornio, whose family immigrated illegally to the United States in 1992, attended the meeting with five other students from the Hispanic Student Council to support the resolution establishing Carbondale as a safe and welcoming community. Osornio said she has friends in Chicago who fear they might be deported for insignificant issues if they enrolled at SIU. "It makes them feel like they are welcomed, anyone that is undocumented," Osornio said. (Athena Chrysanthou | @Chrysant1Athena)

Jackson County Board failed to pass “safe and welcoming county” resolution for immigrants

By Cory Ray
July 18, 2017
Gaege Bethune walks into the Jackson County Courthouse before being charged on two counts of first-degree murder for the death of former SIU student Pravin Varughese, Tuesday, July 18, 2017, in Murphysboro. Bethune pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder during the arraignment. (Branda Mitchell | @branda_mitchell)

Bethune pleads not guilty to the murder of Pravin Varughese

By Cory Ray
July 18, 2017
Montemagno hopes to implement a vision for the university and achieve it by 2025

Montemagno hopes to implement a vision for the university and achieve it by 2025

By Cory Ray
July 17, 2017
From left to right: Pravin Varughese’s younger sisters Preethi and Priya kneel during a memorial ceremony Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017, in a wooded area bordering Illinois Route 13 where police say Pravin died of hypothermia, three years ago."It's always hard to come back here," Priya said. "I still miss him a lot every day. It's nice to go back to the place where he had his last moments on earth."(Athena Chrysanthou | @Chrysant1Athena)

Gaege Bethune indicted for the death of Pravin Varughese

By Cory Ray
July 13, 2017
Daily Egyptian file photo

Board votes to implement $26 million cut, Montemagno appointed chancellor

By Cory Ray
July 13, 2017
Daily Egyptian file photo

Details of Financial Stability Plan revealed, seven programs face elimination

By Cory Ray
July 12, 2017
Chancellor finalist Carlo Montemagno wants to define and implement a vision for SIU

Chancellor finalist Carlo Montemagno wants to define and implement a vision for SIU

By Cory Ray
June 15, 2017
House Minority Whip Steve Scalise

House Majority Whip shooter identified as Belleville man, dead

By Cory Ray
June 14, 2017
Daily Egyptian file photo

Chancellor finalist Rodney Hanley wants SIU to balance budget by growing

By Cory Ray
June 13, 2017
Daily Egyptian file photo.

Board of Trustees made no decision on permanent chancellor

By Cory Ray
June 13, 2017
(Jacob Wiegand | @jawiegandphoto)

University Museum to close indefinitely on July 1

By Cory Ray
June 8, 2017
A mourner holds a photograph of Pravin Varughese on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017, during a memorial ceremony in the woods bordering Illinois Route 13, where police say the SIU student died of hypothermia about three years ago. (Luke Nozicka | @lukenozicka)

Investigation Discovery examines death of SIUC student Pravin Varughese

By Cory Ray
June 3, 2017
Daily Egyptian file photo

Chancellor unveils plan to cut university budget by $19 million, includes layoffs

By Cory Ray
May 31, 2017
Daily Egyptian file photo

184 non-tenure track faculty members unsure of their contract renewals

By Cory Ray
May 26, 2017
The sun sets behind the Ferris Wheel on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016, at the Du Quoin State Fair. (Athena Chrysanthou | Chrysant1Athena)

2017 Du Quoin State Fair Grandstand lineup announced

By Cory Ray
May 25, 2017
SIU President Randy Dunn speaks to meeting attendees Wednesday, May 10, 2017, in Edwardsville during a special meeting of the SIU Board of Trustees. (Bill Lukitsch @lukitsbill)

Forums scheduled for recently announced chancellor candidates

By Cory Ray
May 25, 2017
SIU students perform "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" in July 2016. Left to Right: Nathaniel Washington, Grant Zavitkovsky, Jonathan Timpanelli, Dwight Leslie, Zoe Jensen, Ben George, Angel J. Lozada, Carlina Parker and Chad Ferriell.

McLeod Theater announces Summer Playhouse series

By Cory Ray
May 18, 2017
Benjamin Puffer, hand on candle, and Josh Schenkenfelder, a senior from Oak Forest studying journalism, work to craft a display of candles that reads "Alex K" in memory of Alex Kierstead — who died in a house fire the day before Thanksgiving — on Friday, Dec. 2, 2016, outside the burnt home in Carbondale. Puffer, a freshman from Carbondale studying physics, met Kierstead through a mutual friend. "He was a really good guy," Puffer said. "He's just really cool. He had a really good soul. It's one of the best things." Kierstead, a junior from Aurora studying political science and journalism, was remembered by a few dozen friends and mourners at the candlelight vigil held outside the burnt building at 700 W. Freeman St. where Kierstead and his three roommates resided prior to the blaze.

Friends gather to remember SIU student killed in house fire

By Cory Ray
December 3, 2016
Former Editor-in-Chief Bill Hollada and his wife, Roberta Hollada, pose Friday, Oct. 21, 2016, during a newsroom tour in celebration of the Daily Egyptian's 100-year anniversary. (Morgan Timms | @Morgan_Timms)

Decades later, former DE editor remembers his influence on Carbondale’s black community

By Cory Ray
October 26, 2016
Daily Egyptian file photo

Some worry new USG Multicultural Affairs Committee may not be the best solution

By Cory Ray
October 10, 2016
Leilani Bartlett, middle with papers, a freshman from Chicago studying business, leads a march April 12 from Brown Hall to Morris Library. Bartlett, who organized the event, posted a video to Facebook on April 4 expressing her concerns about racism she said she has experienced at SIU. Her video received over 161,000 views. (Jacob Wiegand | @jawiegandphoto)

USG creates multicultural committee after students voice need for change

By Cory Ray
September 22, 2016
Daily Egyptian file photo

SIUC ranks as top-25 college for adult learners

By Cory Ray
August 30, 2016
Daniel Marcum. (Photo provided by Matt Risley)

Recent SIU grad killed in ATV rollover remembered as a ‘good role model’

By Cory Ray
August 24, 2016
Rescuers hug in front of destroyed building destroyed by the earthquake on Aug. 24, 2016 in Amatrice, Italy. (Manuel Romano/NurPhoto/Zuma Press/TNS)

Deadly earthquake in Italy hits near SIU professor’s summer home

By Cory Ray
August 24, 2016
Associate chancellor of institutional diversity: I'm stepping down

Associate chancellor of institutional diversity: I’m stepping down

By Cory Ray, @coryray_DE
May 5, 2016
Board of Trustees address racial concerns, appoint college of education dean

Board of Trustees address racial concerns, appoint college of education dean

By Cory Ray, @coryray_DE
May 5, 2016
Faculty to host teach-in on May 2

Faculty to host teach-in on May 2

By Cory Ray, @coryray_DE
April 29, 2016
Daily Egyptian file photo

SIU to possibly see first state funding in the budget crisis

By Cory Ray, @coryray_DE
April 22, 2016

MAP grant students react to possibly paying back their grant

By Cory Ray, @coryray_DE
March 30, 2016
Daily Egyptian file photo

5 programs, services that would drastically change or close without state funding

By Cory Ray, @coryray_DE
March 11, 2016
Valentine's Day event incites care and charity

Valentine’s Day event incites care and charity

By Cory Ray, @coryray_DE
February 12, 2016

Honorary degree recipient reflects on time at SIU

By Cory Ray, @coryray_DE
February 7, 2016
Daily Egyptian file photo

Spring enrollment dips from previous year

By Cory Ray, @coryray_DE
February 2, 2016
Proposed bill could ban transgender students from some school facilities

Proposed bill could ban transgender students from some school facilities

By Cory Ray, @coryray_DE
January 26, 2016
Textbooks are placed on a table at the Bookstore Scholarship Reception on Tuesday in Ballroom D of the Student Center. The SIU Alumni Association has awarded annual scholarships for textbooks and supplies to students since 2008.

Scholarship opens pages for students

By Cory Ray, @coryray_DE
January 19, 2016
SIU student killed by train remembered as traveler, mentor

SIU student killed by train remembered as traveler, mentor

By Cory Ray, Daily Egyptian
January 7, 2016

Neckers, parking lots to get upgrades next summer

By Cory Ray, @coryray_DE
December 14, 2015

Faculty Senate questions new policy’s effect on accreditation

By Cory Ray, @coryray_DE |Daily Egyptian
December 13, 2015

Ministry fights to serve community despite budget impasse

By Cory Ray, @coryray_DE
December 8, 2015
Daily Egyptian file photo.

Group fitness classes to be free next semester

By Cory Ray, @coryray_DE
December 8, 2015

College of Engineering reduces budget through staff vacancies

By Cory Ray, @coryray_DE
December 6, 2015

Two SIU colleges collaborate for new online degree

By Cory Ray, @coryray_DE
December 1, 2015

SIUC forestry grant awarded, but no money seen

By Cory Ray, @coryray_DE
November 30, 2015

Recreation Center expands inclusive program beyond physical disabilities

By Cory Ray, @coryray_DE
November 28, 2015

School of Accountancy gets down to business with budget cuts

By Cory Ray, @coryray_DE
November 23, 2015

Creative thinking drives Agricultural Sciences amidst budget cuts

By Cory Ray, @coryray_DE
November 23, 2015

Law school admissions standards dropping the bar

By Cory Ray, @coryray_DE
November 21, 2015

Paris attacks hit home for SIUC students

By Cory Ray, @coryray_de
November 18, 2015

Medical marijuana blazes its way into southern Illinois

By Cory Ray, @coryray_DE
November 10, 2015

Universities battle it out in mock court competition

By Cory Ray, @coryray_DE
November 8, 2015

School of Law to focus on operations vital to functioning

By Cory Ray, @coryray_DE
November 8, 2015

Free online textbooks promise to save students cash

By Cory Ray, @coryray_DE
November 4, 2015

ASA reduces graduate assistantship funding, leaves staff positions vacant

By Cory Ray, @coryray_DE
November 2, 2015
Bicyclist hit at intersection of Wall and Grand

Bicyclist hit at intersection of Wall and Grand

By Cory Ray, @coryray_DE
November 2, 2015

College of Mass Communication and Media Arts thins its budget

By Cory Ray, @coryray_DE
November 1, 2015

Spring graduate assistantship contracts move forward, other positions to be cut

By Cory Ray, @coryray_DE
October 26, 2015

College of Science handling budget cuts, struggling with state grants

By Cory Ray, @coryray_DE
October 26, 2015

56 citations and 5 arrests related to Unofficial Halloween

By Cory Ray, @coryray_de
October 20, 2015
19 alcohol-related visits to ER during Unofficial Halloween

19 alcohol-related visits to ER during Unofficial Halloween

By Cory Ray, @CoryRay_DE
October 19, 2015

Largest college focuses on enrollment and retention

By Cory Ray, @coryray_DE
October 14, 2015

Digital textbook advancements may save students money

By Cory Ray, @coryray_DE| Daily Egyptian
October 8, 2015

Undergraduate research funds drop 30 percent

By Cory Ray, @coryray_DE
October 6, 2015

Semester contracts create uncertainty concerning spring graduate assistantships

By Cory Ray, @coryray_DE
October 4, 2015
Southern Illinois native returns to lead SIUC

Southern Illinois native returns to lead SIUC

By Cory Ray, @coryray_DE
October 1, 2015
Daily Egyptian file photo

Administration and Finance bridges the gap from budget cuts with student fees

By Cory Ray, @coryray_DE
September 29, 2015

Student Health Center faces some immunity in budget crisis

By Cory Ray, @coryray_DE
September 28, 2015
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