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SIU Today - June 15, 2023

McLeod Theater to transform into “The Bridges of Madison County”

Featuring faculty Susan Patrick Steinfeldt and David Dillard in the lead roles as Francesca Johnson and Robert Kincaid, a well-known story of passion and love will unfold next week on campus as the McLeod Summer Playhouse performs “The Bridges of Madison County.”

Leadership training workshops available starting next month 

The Staff Advisory Committee for the SIU System will be offering free leadership training workshops — Unleash Initiative and Enhance Decisions — in July and in September.

SIU researcher assists in study showing COVID lockdown impacted wild animal movement 

Guillaume Bastille-Rosseau, assistant professor, the Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory, is one of more than 170 co-authors on a new study published this month in the journal Science. Researchers found that human behavior during severe COVID-19 lockdowns caused wild animals to move farther than normal.

Saluki Pride: Stacy Thompson serves SIU and the region in many ways

Stacy Thompson wears many hats as professor and associate dean of undergraduate studies and curriculum for the School of Education, and does so admirably, colleagues say. She teaches, researches, leads the school’s undergraduate programs, works with parents, nurtures partnerships with local schools and regional offices of education, has served on the board of the Illinois Council on Family Relations since 2016 and handles a variety of other duties.

Faculty, staff reminded of Juneteenth observances 

The university will be closed on Monday, June 19, to observe Juneteenth. President Biden in 2021 signed legislation establishing Juneteenth as a federal holiday, commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. The holiday will not affect SIU Today’s summer deadline for submission, which is 4:30 p.m. the Tuesday before desired date of publication.

Commemorating the Trail of Tears

College and high school students with the SIU anthropology program summer field school met June 12 with Cherokee youth at the Campground Church and Cemetery near Anna during the group’s 950-mile Remember the Removal Bike Ride. The group annually bicycles from North Carolina to Oklahoma retracing the northern route of the Trail of Tears forced relocation of the Cherokee people in the 1830s. Mark Wagner, Center for Archaeological Investigations director and professor in anthropology, said he wanted to raise the students’ awareness of the Trail of Tears history and path through the region and “how much it still matters to modern day Cherokee.” (Photo by Carson VanBuskirk)

Volunteers needed to help students move in Aug. 16-18 

Openings are available for faculty, staff and units on campus to help create a positive first Saluki impression by helping new and returning students move into residence halls in August prior to the start of the fall 2023 semester.

SIU earns arboretum accreditation renewal 

The university has earned a five-year renewal of its Level II Arboretum Accreditation from the ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program and the Morton Arboretum.

Handshake software training offered to faculty, staff 

Faculty and staff are reminded that the Career Development Center is offering a series of free virtual faculty/staff Handshake training sessions starting Wednesday, June 21, to help university employees assist students in launching their careers. Because of technical issues with the initial registration link, faculty and staff who already signed up for the training need to register again.

Illinois Ethics Matters newsletter is available

The monthly Illinois Ethics Matters newsletter for June 2023 is available. The Office of Executive Inspector General publishes the newsletter to allow state employees to stay informed of current issues relating to ethics. The SIU System Ethics Office website is siusystem.edu/ethics.