Collinsville, Ill. has become the first Metro-East town to ban baggy pants.

The ordinance, which passed July 11 on a 3-2 vote, states pants must be secured at the waist to prevent them from falling more than three inches below the hips, and the law applies only on public property. On a first offense, violators will be fined $100 and be required to complete community service. On a second offense, he or she will be fined $300 and given more community service to fulfill.

Collinsville city council member Liz Dalton proposed the ordinance because she said multiple citizens complained to her about seeing undergarments.

“We are elected by the people, and we are supposed to represent the people,” Dalton said. “If there is a problem out there that they want us to address, then it is our duty as an elected official to address that.”

Mayor John Miller said he heavily protested the idea at the meeting.

“It might be offensive to a person that’s viewing it, but it doesn’t give that person the right to criticize and make laws prohibiting it in a community,” he said.

Miller said he thinks the law will be challenged in court and will be costly

for taxpayers.Council member Michael

Tognarelli said he voted for the ordinance because he said he thinks there’s a direct connection between saggy pants and gang activity.

“This is not speech we’re talking about. This is appearance,” Dalton said. “There are signs in restaurants that say ‘no shoes, no shirt, no service’. Why should someone be able to come in with their underwear hanging out and still be served?”

Those opposing the ordinance

said it is a violation of the First Amendment.

Senior Michael Velazquez from Chicago said he doesn’t think baggy pants should be criteria for judging a person.

“I think the prohibition of baggy pants is not only senseless, but it can be linked to stereotyping,” the sport administration major said. He said baggy pants are just a style and way for people to express themselves.

! e United States Postal Service announced Tuesday that it is considering closing 3,643 of its 32,000 post of-" ces across the U.S. — and Illinois may lose more than 200 local post o# ces, said Valerie Welsch, communications manager of the Gateway District of the US Postal Service.

Welsch said she wasn’t shocked by USPS’s announcement.

“Customers have changed the way they do business with the postal service,” Welsch said. “Many of them use a post o# ce online. ... Some use mobile applications, some use party providers like local grocery stores.”

She said 35 percent of all transactions made within the Gateway District are now made online.

“! at number is growing,” Welsch said. “More and more of our customers are " nding other ways to do busi-ness with us rather than walking into a brick and mortar post o# ce.”

Walk-ins have declined by 200 million, and the number of retail transactions made within a post o# ce building it-self has declined by $2 billion in the last " ve years, she said.

In reaction to the decline in revenue and walk-in trans-actions, Welsch said the USPS is conducting a nationwide study with nearly 3,700 locations to determine which ones would be shut down. Carbondale is not included in this list, but Welsch said the post o# ce in Colp is being con-sidered.

! e study would look at a number of variables includ-ing the number of walk-ins and transactions throughout the day, the revenue of each transaction, how a closure would a$ ect postal employees and potential economic savings.

USPS is considering closing 153 o# ces, or 16 percent, of the 932 post o# ces in southern Illinois, northeastern Missouri and portions of central Illinois, also known as the Gateway District, Welsch said. Fourteen o# ces in the Chicago area are under review.

Welsch said she doesn’t expect to see any closings until December.

“I suppose there could be an oddball one here and there, but the studies are just starting, and it’s going to take a while for those to be completed,” she said.

Postal employees may be assigned to another location and some may decide to retire. Welsch said she doesn’t know the likelihood of employees being laid o$ .

! e American Red Cross faces critical blood shortages as donations remain low, Laurie Nehring said.

“Blood inventory is low,” said Nehring, communications manager of the American Red Cross. “Turnouts are so low that we haven’t added any more

(donation) schedules.”Morris Library will host a Red Cross

blood drive today from from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to help alleviate the national blood shortage. Trained specialists will set up booths where students can give donations.

Heather D. Willis, assistant dean of Morris Library, said the blood drive will be held to increase donations and curb

shortages. Due to the shortage, the Red Cross has issued an appeal for all blood types. Willis said all students, faculty and community members are encouraged to come.

“! e summer months are typically when donations begin to slow down,” she said.

Please see POST OFFICE | 3

Red Cross sees blood shortage; blood drive at Morris LibraryWHITNEY WAYDaily Egyptian

Please see BLOOD | 3

Kathryn Ross, a recent SIU law graduate from Mundelein, twirls a technicolored hula hoop during the July 21 Sunset Concert at Turley Park. Ross, along with the rest of those in attendance, braved the extreme heat and humidity to enjoy The Black Lillies, an americana-

bluegrass band from Knoxville, Tenn. The summer’s final Sunset Concert will take place Thursday at 7 p.m. with a performance by the alternative rock-pop group Fools for Rowan. Turn to page 6 for a complete preview of the band.

ERIC GINNARD | DAILY EGYPTIAN

Post o! ces in jeopardyLAUREN LEONEDaily Egyptian

Collinsville bans baggy pantsTARA KULASHDaily Egyptian

An ordinance passed July 11 in Collinsville states pants cannot be worn more then 3 inches below the hips. The ordinance applies to people on public property.

Violators will be fined $100 and ordered to do community service on the first offense and $300 plus additional community service on the second offense.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY LYNNETTE OOSTMEYER | DAILY EGYPTIAN

Please see PANTS | 3

The United States Postal Service announced Tuesday the possible closing of 3,643 post offices nationwide, with Illinois seeing as many as 200 closings. Alternative means of communication, such as e-mail, are contributing to the decline of business for post offices.

LYNNETTE OOSTMEYER | DAILY EGYPTIAN

HoroscopesBy Nancy Black and Stephanie Clement

(Answers tomorrow)BATTY MINTS HAGGLE ANNUALYesterday’s Jumbles:

Answer: When Mr. and Mrs. Albacore had a baby,they played this — NAME THAT “TUNA”

Now arrange the circled letters to form the surprise answer, assuggested by the above cartoon.

THAT SCRAMBLED WORD GAMEby David L. Hoyt and Jeff Knurek

Unscramble these four Jumbles,one letter to each square,to form four ordinary words.

RERBY

ENSSE

FAFEWL

TNEJKU

©2011 Tribune Media Services, Inc.All Rights Reserved.

Sign

Up

for t

he IA

FLO

FCI (

OFF

ICIA

L) J

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Answer here:

Today’s Birthday —You’re in the spotlight, and it actually feels good. You know what you want, so don’t be afraid to let your network know. They can keep that light shining. Everyone wants to contribute. Share generously, and let it all in.

Aries (March 21-April 19) — Today is an 8— Get into a household project, and make your crib the coziest. Keep it simple and inexpensive. A thorough cleaning might do the trick. Then hang with friends.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is a 9— Review and test what you’ve recently learned. Consider the next level, and think over what you want. Schedule action. Then spend a luxurious evening at home.

Gemini (May 21-June 21) — Today is a 7— Put your nose to the grindstone, and new sources of revenue open up. You could be tempted to spend it all in one place, but consider what you really want first.

Cancer (June 22-July 22) — Today is a 9— You’re dealing the cards on a hot game. Others are inspired and want to play. Hold off on travel, romance or spending. Consider the options, and make your move.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is an 8— A secret possibility beckons. Take the time to really consider the details and possible impacts. Don’t put any money down yet. Discover new love, creativity and abundance.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is a 7— In your search for fairness, you run the risk of sacrificing your own needs today. Go ahead and contribute to your community, but make sure you’re taken care of too.Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is a 7— It’s easy to get confused now, but you have nobody to blame but yourself. Get your ducks in a row and choose. You can always change your mind later.Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is a 9— Plan a romantic adventure of discovery. Take time for deep questions and to notice hidden beauty. A partner may need reassurance. Paint them an enticing picture.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is a 6—You may get distracted thinking about love and risk being surprised by a problem at work. Take one step at a time to clear things up. Apologize when appropriate.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is a 7 — Even if you don’t know where you’re going, stay focused on what really matters. It’s better to dream and go for it than to sleep and avoid the risk. Be audacious.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is a 7—Time to put aside fantasy and get to work. Roll up your sleeves and start digging for gold. Don’t gamble what you don’t have yet. Stockpile those nuggets.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is an 8—With both Venus and the moon in Cancer, your fifth house, your creativity reaches new heights. Plus it’s easier now to communicate. Express it with lyrical color.

Wednesday’sAnswers

Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold boarders) contains every digit 1 to 9. For

strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visitwww.sudoku.org.uk.

WEDNESDAY’S ANSWERS

Level: 1 2 3 4

D!"#$ E%$&'"!(S!"#$ B%&'() ursday, July 28, 2011 11D!"#$ E%$&'"!( N!"# ) ursday, July 28, 20112

The Weather Channel® 5 day weather forecast for Carbondale:

Today

0% chance of precipitation

Friday Satuday Sunday

40% chance of precipitation

Monday

0% chance of precipitation

97°74°

92°74°

90°73°

90°72°

93°73°

30% chance of precipitation

40% chance of precipitation

Gus Bode says:

“Need a job that will provide you with great experience?”The DE is looking for: Arts & Entertainment, campus, city,

multimedia and sports reporters and copy editors. The DE also needs a web administrator with basic web programming skills.

Come to Room 1247 of the Communications Building for an application.

About Us) e D!"#$ E%$&'"!( is published by the students of Southern Illinois University Carbondale 50 weeks

per year, with an average daily circulation of 20,000. Fall and spring semester editions run Monday through Friday. Summer editions run Tuesday through ) ursday. All intersession editions will run on Wednesdays. Spring break and ) anksgiving editions are distributed on Mondays of the pertaining weeks. Free copies are distributed in the Carbondale, Murphysboro and Carterville communities. ) e D!"#$ E%$&'"!( online publication can be found at www.dailyegyptian.com.

Copyright Information© 2011 D!"#$ E%$&'"!(. All rights reserved. All content is property of the D!"#$ E%$&'"!( and may not

be reproduced or transmitted without consent. ) e D!"#$ E%$&'"!( is a member of the Illinois College Press Association, Associated Collegiate Press and College Media Advisers Inc.

Mission Statement) e D!"#$ E%$&'"!(, the student-run newspaper of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, is com-

mitted to being a trusted source of news, information, commentary and public discourse, while helping readers understand the issues a* ecting their lives.

Publishing Information) e D!"#$ E%$&'"!( is published by the students of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. O+ ces are

in the Communications Building, Room 1259, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, IL 62901. Bill Freivogel, , scal o+ cer.

A new program within SIUC's School of Social Work will give students the opportunity to study abroad while gaining their human rights certi! cation.

" e Council of Social Work Education, the accrediting agency for social work programs in the U.S., mandated the International Human Rights Certi! cate program to be incorporated into the social work curriculum, said Dr. Elisabeth Reichert, social work professor and program coordinator.

“Human rights must now be

included in the social work curriculum,” Reichert said. “" e certi! cate is meant to signify an advanced learning within the area of social work and human rights.”

" rough the U.S. Department of Education, the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education awarded SIUC's School of Social Work a grant of $180,000 to be used to send three social work students to Austria and Germany, where they will study social work and human rights. During this time, the students will work toward achieving the International Human Rights Certi! cate.

Reichert said the International

Human Rights Certi! cate is the ! rst program in the U.S. and Europe that incorporates human rights and social work into an extensive learning program.

She said the certi! cate would provide students with an advanced, integrated education of social work and human rights which can be used within any international social work agency a# er graduation.

“Human rights principles closely mirror social work, ethical and policy statements,” Reichert said.

Steve Halloway, director of the accreditation department within the Council of Social Work Education, said CSWE does not mandate speci! c

content material of social work programs, but describes human rights concepts that must be included and developed in the social work education.

"" e purpose of the social work profession is to promote community and human well-being,” Halloway said. “Respect for human diversity is a primary goal.”

Halloway said social work promotes social change, problem solving in human relationships and the empowerment and liberation of people to enhance well being.

" e principles of human rights and social justice are fundamental to social work education, according to documents provided by Amy Bess,

senior practice associate of the National Association of Social Workers.

Chancellor Rita Cheng said the incorporation of human rights into social work education will make the curriculum more dynamic.

“Dr. Reichert is a leader in international studies," Cheng said. "Her initiative will bene! t the school social work signi! cantly."

Reichert said applicants for the program are currently under review.

She said award certi! cation will be determined by studies completed at SIUC and abroad.

“" e result of the project is to enhance the learning of human rights and social work,” Reichert said.

Willis and Nehring said summer travelers and excessive heat waves have contributed to low donations during the summer. Spring storms in southern Illinois have also added to the low summer donations,

Nehring said.“Spring brought about lots of

natural disasters, and the summer heat waves make it uncomfortable for people to (donate).”

Nehring said the demand for blood supplies remains constant throughout the year and, according to documents she provided, many

patients are forced to postpone or cancel lifesaving medical procedures.

One blood donation can save three lives, according to the Red Cross website. " e website said donations can bene! t cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, burn victims and patients with chronic diseases.

Jessica Lopez, a sophomore from Chicago studying education, said she would be willing to donate blood to help other people.

“I think if you are able to help out, then you should,” Lopez said. “I would de! nitely be open to donating.”

Lopez said a blood drive in the

library will make it easier for her and other students to donate.

Willis said donors must be 17 or older, meet weight and height requirements, and have good health.

“We want to help in any way we can,” Willis said. “We encourage students to donate.”

“" e postal service takes pride in taking care of its employees, so generally we help them,” she said. “" e postal service just normally doesn’t lay people o$ .”

Dawn Boyd, of Carbondale, said her main concern is for the postal worker employees and the impact closures could make on a small town.

“(A post o% ce) is a vital part of the community, especially with

older people who don’t use Inter-net to pay bills online,” Boyd said.

Boyd said she uses the post of-! ce about three times per month to send packages to family mem-bers and although she sends out bill payments from home, she be-lieves the Carbondale post o% ce needs to remain open.

“I think (the post o% ce) needs to stay open for the town,” she said. “I also think it needs to stay open for the people who work here.”

Former SIUC student Myron

Whitney-Suggs, 28, said he has noticed the decline in people who visit post o% ce locations.

“It is dying out slowly,” he said. “I’ve seen that there isn’t a lot of younger people using it. There are some, of course, but (I don’t see) as many people in the post office as when I was in college."

Despite the decline in walk-ins across the nation, Whitney-Suggs said he has been using the post office regularly for the last five years and makes at least eight trips each month.

He said he doesn’t make bill payments or other money orders through online transaction and would rather visit the post office to do so. He also uses the post of-fice to send letters to family mem-bers, he said.

Although Carbondale’s post office is not under review for clo-sure, Whitney-Suggs said he isn’t sure what he would do if that were the case in the future.

“I’ll have to do something I hate and actually use my address for everything,” he said. “I really

like this place.”Welsch said the news was ex-

pected because ! rst-class mail vol-ume, such as letters written to family members, is an accurate re& ection of the state of the U.S. economy.

The reduction in first-class mail volume has declined by 43.1 billion pieces over the past five years, Welsch said.

“Even our major mailers, the big companies that mail credit card offers, are mailing less be-cause the economy’s hurting them too,” she said.

POST OFFICECONTINUED FROM 1

BLOODCONTINUED FROM 1

D'()* E+*,-('.N!"#" ursday, July 28, 2011 3

Miriam Mastache, a senior from Chicago studying anthropology and criminal justice, said she thinks it’s a

violation of the freedom of speech.“Believe me, I hate seeing

someone else’s underwear just as much as the next person,” Mastache said. “But that doesn’t mean I want to call the fashion police on them.

If Carbondale were to propose an ordinance like that, I would be one of the ! rst to protest it.”

Carbondale City Council member Jane Adams said she agrees.

“" e last thing the city needs is to be fashion police,” she said. “City sta$ have their hands full making sure that renters have safe housing, that people who live here are safe on the streets and in their

homes, and that other services are e% ciently provided.”

Tara Kulash can be reached at tkulash@dailyegyptian.com

or 536-3311 ext. 271.

PANTSCONTINUED FROM 1

Human rights now required in social work curriculumWHITNEY WAYDaily Egyptian

D!"#$ E%$&'"!() ursday, July 28, 2011 9C!"##$%$&'#D!"#$ E%$&'"!( W!"#$ % N&'(!) ) ursday, July 28, 20114

Five days a* er an attacker incensed by Norway’s culture of tolerance horri+ ed the world, Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday issued a quiet call of de+ ance to his countrymen: Make Norway even more open and accepting.

His promise in the face of twin attacks that killed 76 people signaled a contrast to the U.S. response a* er the 9/11 attacks, when Washington gave more leeway to perform wiretaps and to search records.

It re, ects the di- erence between the two countries’ approaches to terrorism: ) e U.S. has been frustrated by what it considers Scandinavia’s lack of aggressive investigation and arrests.

“I think what we have seen is that there is going to be one

Norway before and one Norway a* er July 22,” the day an anti-immigration extremist bombed Oslo’s government quarter and slaughtered dozens at the le* -leaning Labor Party's youth camp, Stoltenberg said.

Stoltenberg strongly defended the right to speak freely — even if it includes extremist views such as those held by Anders Behring Breivik, the 32-year-old Norwegian who has confessed to the attacks and claimed they were necessary to + ght what he called Muslim colonization and multiculturalism.

Since the attacks, Stoltenberg and Norwegian family members have underlined the country’s openness by making public appearances with little visible security guarding them.

) e prime minister, perhaps mindful of many Norwegians’ reserved ways, urged the country

to fully grieve: “I have cried, and I have told many people that they should not hesitate to cry.”

) e national sense of heartbreak is being renewed daily as police slowly release names of the dead; the identities of only 17 of the 68 known to have been killed have been o. cially con+ rmed.

An employee of Stoltenberg’s o. ce, 51-year-old Anne Lise Holter, was con+ rmed Wednesday as one of the eight dead in the bomb blast. A stepbrother of Crown Princess Mette-Matrit, police o. cer Trond Berntsen, was con+ rmed as one of those killed on the island, where the 51-year-old was providing security.

Stoltenberg said an independent commission will be formed to investigate the attacks and determine what lessons can be learned from the response. ) e commission also is to help

survivors and relatives cope with the a* ermath. Parliament said it is willing to help pay for funerals, and there will be a monument built to commemorate the victims.

Police earlier gave an eerie account of the end of the siege, where the man who had committed slaughter for more than an hour obediently gave up the moment police approached him, holding his hands over his head.

Earlier, the leader of Norway’s Delta Force anti-terror police unit defended the special operations team, saying the breakdown of a boat didn’t cause a signi+ cant delay in e- orts to reach the island.

Police have come under close scrutiny over how long it took them to reach the island a* er + rst reports of shots being + red at the island youth camp Friday. Although the island is only about 25 miles (40 kilometers) from the

Norwegian capital, police needed 90 minutes to get to the scene.

Police were already grappling with the wide damage in, icted in the downtown government quarter. When word of the shooting came, police drove rather than take a helicopter because the crew of the sole chopper available to them was on vacation. ) en the + rst boat they tried to take to the lake island broke down. ) e team jumped into other boats and got to Utoya without much delay, police o. cials said.

Dag Andre Johansen, Scandinavian CEO of Avis car rental company, told the AP that Breivik had rented two vehicles, including a Volkswagen Cra* er van. He said police contacted the company a* er the bombing and got Breivik’s identity con+ rmed. But he declined to say whether that contact came before Breivik was arrested on the island.

Norway: After attacks, make country more open

Walls of mud barreling down a hill buried 10 college students sleeping in a resort cabin and , ash , oods submerged the streets and subway stations in Seoul, killing at least 36 people Wednesday in South Korea’s heaviest rains this year.

) e students were engulfed by a landslide in Chuncheon, about 68 miles (110 kilometers) northeast of Seoul, said + re marshal Byun In-soo. A married couple and a convenience store owner also died.

Witnesses interviewed on television said the landslide sounded like a massive explosion or a freight train. ) ey described people screaming as buildings were carried away by rivers of mud.

About 670 + re+ ghters, soldiers, police and others rushed to rescue those trapped and extract the dead from the mud and wreckage in Chuncheon, where 24 others were injured and several buildings destroyed.

Yonhap news agency reported the 10 students attended Inha University in Incheon, but did not con+ rm they all were South Korean. ) e group was volunteering at a local elementary school.

In southern Seoul, 16 people died when mud crashed through homes at the foot of a mountain. ) e National Emergency Management Agency reported seven deaths due to , ooding in a stream just south of the capital and said the toll was expected to rise as dozens of people were missing.

Fast-moving mudwaters + lled

the streets in Seoul on Wednesday, sending residents scrambling to the roofs of their partially submerged cars.

Water + lled some subway stations and spewed from sewers. TV images showed people in one , ooded subway station using shovels, brooms and a wooden board in an e- ort to keep more rain from coming in. Yonhap reported Internet and wireless connections failed in southern Seoul due to power failures.

Footage showed o. cials rescuing hikers stranded on mountainsides. People plodded down streets covered with knee-deep water, many barefoot, their pants rolled up. In Seoul’s center, cars were restricted from entering the lower part of a submerged two-level bridge.

The heavy rain since Tuesday left about 620 people homeless and flooded 720 houses and about 100 vehicles throughout South Korea, the emergency management agency said.

About 17 inches (440 millimeters) of rain fell on Seoul and more than 13 inches (340 millimeters) on Chuncheon in the last two days, about 15 times more than the average two-day rainfall at this time of year, according to the state-run Korea Meteorological Administration.

Weather o. cials said another 10 inches (254 millimeters) could fall in northern South Korea, including Seoul, through Friday.

) e Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency issued a tra. c emergency, mobilizing more o. cers to deal with

the inclement weather.Seoul, a bustling capital of 10

million, shut down portions of two major highways stretching along each side of the main Han River because of high water, said disaster o. cial Kim Ji-hwan.

A dam located just east of Seoul was discharging 16,400 tons of water per second, said Cha Jun-ho from the Han River Flood Control O. ce. ) e dam already discharged about 1,000 tons per second days before the recent downpours.

People in Seoul, where smartphones are ubiquitous, posted dozens of photos on Twitter and Facebook showing inundated streets and mud-covered cars. Many complained online that Seoul had neglected to prepare for the downpours.

Rains, mudslides submerge S. Korean capital, kill 36HYUNG!JIN KIMAssociated Press

JIM HEINTZAssociated Press

Gus Bode says: Send us more letters! If you can write coherently and would like to share your perspective with the world, please consider lending your voices to our pages. To submit a letter, please go to www.dailyegyptian.com and click “Submit a Letter” or send it to voices@dailyegyptian.com. Please make your submissions between 300 to 400 words. If you have questions, give us a call at 536-3311 ext. 253.

SubmissionsLetters and guest columns must be submitted with author’s contact information, preferably via e-

mail. Phone numbers are required to verify authorship but will not be published. Letters are limited to 400 words and columns to 500 words. Students must include year and major. Faculty must include rank and department. Others include hometown. Submissions should be sent to voices@dailyegyptian.com.

Notice! e D"#$% E&%'(#") is a “designated public forum.” Student editors have the

authority to make all content decisions without censorship or advance approval. We reserve the right to not publish any letter or guest column.

Leah StoverEditor-in-Chief

Kathleen HectorManaging Editor

Caleb WestDesign Chief

THEIR WORD

EDITORIAL CARTOONS

Editorial PolicyOur Word is the consensus of the D"#$% E&%'(#") Editorial

Board on local, national and global issues a* ecting the Southern Illinois University community. Viewpoints expressed in columns and letters to the editor do not necessarily re+ ect those of the D"#$% E&%'(#").

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Congress should stop ! irting with disasterThe following editorial

appeared in the Los Angeles Times on July 27:

With as little as a week remaining until the federal government runs out of money to cover all its bills, it's time for Republicans and Democrats to scale down their partisan ambitions and get a deal done to raise the debt ceiling. But the House GOP, which picked this fight, doesn't seem willing to end it. Instead, Speaker John A. Boehner, R-Ohio, wants Congress to manufacture another potential crisis early next year, presumably so Republicans can again demand

concessions that Democrats simply will not make. That's just nuts.

The Boehner plan would allow President Obama to raise the debt ceiling now and early next year in exchange, respectively, for discretionary spending cuts and additional deficit reductions to be determined by a bipartisan congressional commission. The measure would all but guarantee another prolonged battle over whether to raise the debt ceiling early in 2012, with the presidential campaign in full swing.

! at's a frightening prospect. But Boehner is having trouble lining

up support for his proposal among his fellow House Republicans, who want to extract deeper spending cuts before raising the debt ceiling. Never mind that the House approved a spending bill just four months ago for the rest of , scal year 2011 that pushed borrowing beyond the current debt ceiling. Or that the House passed a GOP-penned budget three months ago for , scal year 2012 that called for almost $9 trillion in additional borrowing over the coming decade.

At the same time, Senate Republicans are blasting the alternative o* ered by Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., which

would raise the debt ceiling enough to last through next year's election while reducing projected de, cits by $2.7 trillion. Even though Reid's plan involves no tax increases, Republicans are complaining that the spending cuts aren't real because they rely heavily on the military drawdowns in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Obama and Boehner didn't help matters with their nationally televised speeches Monday evening. Obama quixotically championed a much larger deficit-reduction deal that includes tax increases and entitlement cuts, a laudable goal but not an achievable one at this stage. And

Boehner beat the drum for a rigid "tea party" approach that Senate Democrats have already rejected.

Meanwhile, chances are increasing that the United States' pristine credit rating will be downgraded by at least one of the three major ratings firms, raising interest rates and hurting the economy. Enough is enough. There's a clear compromise available that blends Reid's proposed cuts and debt-ceiling increase with Boehner's proposed mechanism for enforcing those cuts. Lawmakers should embrace it and stop flirting with fiscal disaster.

Universities should be promoted as universities, not corporations

D-". E/#(0.:With an article in the Southern

July 17 revelaing athletic spending is on the rise, it appears that SIUC has become a university where the tail wags the dog!

Too many alumni (and administrators and board members) have a distorted view of the university’s purpose. In recent years, universities seem to have become

diploma mills, run like corporations with attention only to “bottom lines,” with watered-down grading standards, students expecting to be entertained and a big-time emphasis on success in competitive semi-pro athletics. And administrators lamely justify emphasis on success in athletics as "good advertising” for their institution — foolishness, when in any game, for every winner, there

is a loser. Consider the University of Chicago’s history!

Further, we o1 en hear the complaint from students that “there’s nothing to do in Carbondale.” Why are they here? If it’s to have a good time, they don’t belong here. ! ey could learn some study habits from Asian students among them!

For most young people, the

college and university experience is their , rst experience away from the limited environment of their family, farm, town or city. In classes, dorms and the town away from home, they meet new people from across the U.S. and nations and cultures around the world. ! ey encounter ideas that were not in contest in their homes or home towns. College and university years are

for developing talents and interests as students grow up to be unique persons, not mirrors of the ideas where they came from.

A scary idea to some parents and politicos, that is what colleges and universities are supposed to do!

David E. Christensenemeritus professor

of geography

Eric GinnardVoices Editor

She seemed out of it.

Janis Winehousemother of Amy Winehouse, on talking to her

daughter the day before the 27-year-old singer was found dead in her London apartment

It was this idea of having a dress with a presence and of

historical importance, yet being modern at the same time.

Sarah Burtondesigner of Kate Middleton’s wedding dress. discussing its design for

the first time as it’s set to go on display at Buckingham Palace from July 23 to Oct. 3 during its annual summer opening

Fools for Rowan will close this summer’s Sunset Concert Series Thursday on the Shryock steps with a blast of their high-charged Nashville rock and roll.

The band released its debut album, “Twisted. Tied Up. Tangled,” in 2010. It’s a collection of loud, catchy rock songs driven by singer Erin Mullins’ powerful vocals and Rachel Brandsness’ alternately crunchy and slick guitar work. Ryan Nanney, Aaron Elliott and Jordan Cullen round out the band on rhythm guitar, bass and drums, respectively.

The band’s lead single, “Dead,” weaves together dark acoustic guitar strumming, big electric chords and portentous bass with Mullins’ wailing vocals. Despite the song’s gothic tendencies (on full display in the official video), which call Evanescence to mind, the wistful chorus subtly hints at the band’s Nashville roots.

Mullins said the band came together while she was working on a solo project. She said she’d been in a band before and realized while working alone she wanted a band again. The band members came together because they knew each other, except Brandsness, who auditioned.

From there, Mullins said things went really fast. They had their first show two months after coming together.

Mullins said the band is focused on delivering fun and intense shows.

“The secret to our success lies in our live shows,” she said. “That’s the goal, to leave everybody worn out when they leave the show.”

She said they’ve developed a devoted fan base not only with their shows, but also by giving devotion back to the fans.

“We’re trying to make friends, not fans,” she said.

She said they connect with fans through social networking websites, but also meet them in person and have gone to dinner

with them and thrown parties with them. Mullins said the Internet has made music so accessible that a band’s success is actually about what they do out on the road on a personal level with fans.

“We’ll give away free CDs because it’s important they have it, not pay for it,” she said.

Mullins said the band is already working on a second album. She said they’re trying to translate the energy of their live shows into an album.

That energy has already bled into the recording process, which she said they’re doing while on the road.

“That’s kind of chaotic and really fun at the same time,” she said.

Hopefully the recording doesn’t slow down their tour, which Mullins said they’re playing by ear. In any case, Carbondale will get its first taste of these fools Thursday. Let’s just hope the old Shryock can handle their rock.

Fools for Rowan to go crazy at ShryockELI MILEURDaily Egyptian

PROVIDED PHOTO

D!"#$ E%$&'"!(F!"#$%!) ursday, July 28, 2011 7

Abram, 9, and Reiyana Deschene, 14, of Makanda, decorate masks Wednesday during the Kids End of Summer Party at Marion Carnegie Library. The party was to celebrate the end of the summer reading program

and was themed around the children’s book “Skippyjon Jones.” The kids broke open a piñata, ate cake and read stories among other activities. Approximately 165 kids and adults attended the party.

BROOKE GRACE | DAILY EGYPTIAN

Marion Carnegie Library hosts end of summer party

She seemed out of it.

Janis Winehousemother of Amy Winehouse, on talking to her

daughter the day before the 27-year-old singer was found dead in her London apartment

It was this idea of having a dress with a presence and of

historical importance, yet being modern at the same time.

Sarah Burtondesigner of Kate Middleton’s wedding dress. discussing its design for

the first time as it’s set to go on display at Buckingham Palace from July 23 to Oct. 3 during its annual summer opening

Fools for Rowan will close this summer’s Sunset Concert Series Thursday on the Shryock steps with a blast of their high-charged Nashville rock and roll.

The band released its debut album, “Twisted. Tied Up. Tangled,” in 2010. It’s a collection of loud, catchy rock songs driven by singer Erin Mullins’ powerful vocals and Rachel Brandsness’ alternately crunchy and slick guitar work. Ryan Nanney, Aaron Elliott and Jordan Cullen round out the band on rhythm guitar, bass and drums, respectively.

The band’s lead single, “Dead,” weaves together dark acoustic guitar strumming, big electric chords and portentous bass with Mullins’ wailing vocals. Despite the song’s gothic tendencies (on full display in the official video), which call Evanescence to mind, the wistful chorus subtly hints at the band’s Nashville roots.

Mullins said the band came together while she was working on a solo project. She said she’d been in a band before and realized while working alone she wanted a band again. The band members came together because they knew each other, except Brandsness, who auditioned.

From there, Mullins said things went really fast. They had their first show two months after coming together.

Mullins said the band is focused on delivering fun and intense shows.

“The secret to our success lies in our live shows,” she said. “That’s the goal, to leave everybody worn out when they leave the show.”

She said they’ve developed a devoted fan base not only with their shows, but also by giving devotion back to the fans.

“We’re trying to make friends, not fans,” she said.

She said they connect with fans through social networking websites, but also meet them in person and have gone to dinner

with them and thrown parties with them. Mullins said the Internet has made music so accessible that a band’s success is actually about what they do out on the road on a personal level with fans.

“We’ll give away free CDs because it’s important they have it, not pay for it,” she said.

Mullins said the band is already working on a second album. She said they’re trying to translate the energy of their live shows into an album.

That energy has already bled into the recording process, which she said they’re doing while on the road.

“That’s kind of chaotic and really fun at the same time,” she said.

Hopefully the recording doesn’t slow down their tour, which Mullins said they’re playing by ear. In any case, Carbondale will get its first taste of these fools Thursday. Let’s just hope the old Shryock can handle their rock.

Fools for Rowan to go crazy at ShryockELI MILEURDaily Egyptian

PROVIDED PHOTO

D!"#$ E%$&'"!(F!"#$%!) ursday, July 28, 2011 7

Abram, 9, and Reiyana Deschene, 14, of Makanda, decorate masks Wednesday during the Kids End of Summer Party at Marion Carnegie Library. The party was to celebrate the end of the summer reading program

and was themed around the children’s book “Skippyjon Jones.” The kids broke open a piñata, ate cake and read stories among other activities. Approximately 165 kids and adults attended the party.

BROOKE GRACE | DAILY EGYPTIAN

Marion Carnegie Library hosts end of summer party

D!"#$ E%$&'"!( S!"#$% ) ursday, July 28, 20118

The jerseys themselves will be the regular Miners home jersey, but in maroon instead of the traditional white. Since they aren’t sold through SIUC, the school has nothing to worry about if the NCAA calls, Moccia said.

“With the football game, we had to request a special waiver from the NCAA to auction off those jerseys,” Sowers said. “We were surprised they gave it to us, but it was a one-time only thing with all the proceeds going to charity.”

Moccia said the promotion will help bolster Saluki Athletics popularity in southern Illinois, which is vital to the success of the program.

“This Friday we’ll be leaving for our big annual golf tournament in Chicago.

We make frequent trips to St. Louis as well,” Moccia said. “It’s important that we continue to realize that southern Illinois is our biggest base of support, especially with the lull during the summer.”

Sowers said when the Salukis have tried promoting in the region before, they usually stuck to just Carbondale.

“Some people have a misconception that southern Illinois is just Carbondale, and it’s not,” Sowers said. “It’s important that we go out to communities like Marion, Herrin and Carterville to spread the SIU brand.”

Current and former SIUC students can receive a $2 discount on all tickets for SIU Day. In addition to the jersey auction, ticket sales and a 50/50 cash raffle will go to the Coaches vs. Cancer charity.

MINERSCONTINUED FROM 12

PROVIDED PHOTO

Gus Bode says: Send us more letters! If you can write coherently and would like to share your perspective with the world, please consider lending your voices to our pages. To submit a letter, please go to www.dailyegyptian.com and click “Submit a Letter” or send it to voices@dailyegyptian.com. Please make your submissions between 300 to 400 words. If you have questions, give us a call at 536-3311 ext. 253.

SubmissionsLetters and guest columns must be submitted with author’s contact information, preferably via e-

mail. Phone numbers are required to verify authorship but will not be published. Letters are limited to 400 words and columns to 500 words. Students must include year and major. Faculty must include rank and department. Others include hometown. Submissions should be sent to voices@dailyegyptian.com.

Notice! e D"#$% E&%'(#") is a “designated public forum.” Student editors have the

authority to make all content decisions without censorship or advance approval. We reserve the right to not publish any letter or guest column.

Leah StoverEditor-in-Chief

Kathleen HectorManaging Editor

Caleb WestDesign Chief

THEIR WORD

EDITORIAL CARTOONS

Editorial PolicyOur Word is the consensus of the D"#$% E&%'(#") Editorial

Board on local, national and global issues a* ecting the Southern Illinois University community. Viewpoints expressed in columns and letters to the editor do not necessarily re+ ect those of the D"#$% E&%'(#").

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Congress should stop ! irting with disasterThe following editorial

appeared in the Los Angeles Times on July 27:

With as little as a week remaining until the federal government runs out of money to cover all its bills, it's time for Republicans and Democrats to scale down their partisan ambitions and get a deal done to raise the debt ceiling. But the House GOP, which picked this fight, doesn't seem willing to end it. Instead, Speaker John A. Boehner, R-Ohio, wants Congress to manufacture another potential crisis early next year, presumably so Republicans can again demand

concessions that Democrats simply will not make. That's just nuts.

The Boehner plan would allow President Obama to raise the debt ceiling now and early next year in exchange, respectively, for discretionary spending cuts and additional deficit reductions to be determined by a bipartisan congressional commission. The measure would all but guarantee another prolonged battle over whether to raise the debt ceiling early in 2012, with the presidential campaign in full swing.

! at's a frightening prospect. But Boehner is having trouble lining

up support for his proposal among his fellow House Republicans, who want to extract deeper spending cuts before raising the debt ceiling. Never mind that the House approved a spending bill just four months ago for the rest of , scal year 2011 that pushed borrowing beyond the current debt ceiling. Or that the House passed a GOP-penned budget three months ago for , scal year 2012 that called for almost $9 trillion in additional borrowing over the coming decade.

At the same time, Senate Republicans are blasting the alternative o* ered by Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., which

would raise the debt ceiling enough to last through next year's election while reducing projected de, cits by $2.7 trillion. Even though Reid's plan involves no tax increases, Republicans are complaining that the spending cuts aren't real because they rely heavily on the military drawdowns in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Obama and Boehner didn't help matters with their nationally televised speeches Monday evening. Obama quixotically championed a much larger deficit-reduction deal that includes tax increases and entitlement cuts, a laudable goal but not an achievable one at this stage. And

Boehner beat the drum for a rigid "tea party" approach that Senate Democrats have already rejected.

Meanwhile, chances are increasing that the United States' pristine credit rating will be downgraded by at least one of the three major ratings firms, raising interest rates and hurting the economy. Enough is enough. There's a clear compromise available that blends Reid's proposed cuts and debt-ceiling increase with Boehner's proposed mechanism for enforcing those cuts. Lawmakers should embrace it and stop flirting with fiscal disaster.

Universities should be promoted as universities, not corporations

D-". E/#(0.:With an article in the Southern

July 17 revelaing athletic spending is on the rise, it appears that SIUC has become a university where the tail wags the dog!

Too many alumni (and administrators and board members) have a distorted view of the university’s purpose. In recent years, universities seem to have become

diploma mills, run like corporations with attention only to “bottom lines,” with watered-down grading standards, students expecting to be entertained and a big-time emphasis on success in competitive semi-pro athletics. And administrators lamely justify emphasis on success in athletics as "good advertising” for their institution — foolishness, when in any game, for every winner, there

is a loser. Consider the University of Chicago’s history!

Further, we o1 en hear the complaint from students that “there’s nothing to do in Carbondale.” Why are they here? If it’s to have a good time, they don’t belong here. ! ey could learn some study habits from Asian students among them!

For most young people, the

college and university experience is their , rst experience away from the limited environment of their family, farm, town or city. In classes, dorms and the town away from home, they meet new people from across the U.S. and nations and cultures around the world. ! ey encounter ideas that were not in contest in their homes or home towns. College and university years are

for developing talents and interests as students grow up to be unique persons, not mirrors of the ideas where they came from.

A scary idea to some parents and politicos, that is what colleges and universities are supposed to do!

David E. Christensenemeritus professor

of geography

Eric GinnardVoices Editor

D!"#$ E%$&'"!() ursday, July 28, 2011 9C!"##$%$&'#

D!"#$ E%$&'"!( C!"#$% ) ursday, July 28, 201110

A new program within SIUC's School of Social Work will give students the opportunity to study abroad while gaining their human rights certi! cation.

" e Council of Social Work Education, the accrediting agency for social work programs in the U.S., mandated the International Human Rights Certi! cate program to be incorporated into the social work curriculum, said Dr. Elisabeth Reichert, social work professor and program coordinator.

“Human rights must now be

included in the social work curriculum,” Reichert said. “" e certi! cate is meant to signify an advanced learning within the area of social work and human rights.”

" rough the U.S. Department of Education, the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education awarded SIUC's School of Social Work a grant of $180,000 to be used to send three social work students to Austria and Germany, where they will study social work and human rights. During this time, the students will work toward achieving the International Human Rights Certi! cate.

Reichert said the International

Human Rights Certi! cate is the ! rst program in the U.S. and Europe that incorporates human rights and social work into an extensive learning program.

She said the certi! cate would provide students with an advanced, integrated education of social work and human rights which can be used within any international social work agency a# er graduation.

“Human rights principles closely mirror social work, ethical and policy statements,” Reichert said.

Steve Halloway, director of the accreditation department within the Council of Social Work Education, said CSWE does not mandate speci! c

content material of social work programs, but describes human rights concepts that must be included and developed in the social work education.

"" e purpose of the social work profession is to promote community and human well-being,” Halloway said. “Respect for human diversity is a primary goal.”

Halloway said social work promotes social change, problem solving in human relationships and the empowerment and liberation of people to enhance well being.

" e principles of human rights and social justice are fundamental to social work education, according to documents provided by Amy Bess,

senior practice associate of the National Association of Social Workers.

Chancellor Rita Cheng said the incorporation of human rights into social work education will make the curriculum more dynamic.

“Dr. Reichert is a leader in international studies," Cheng said. "Her initiative will bene! t the school social work signi! cantly."

Reichert said applicants for the program are currently under review.

She said award certi! cation will be determined by studies completed at SIUC and abroad.

“" e result of the project is to enhance the learning of human rights and social work,” Reichert said.

Willis and Nehring said summer travelers and excessive heat waves have contributed to low donations during the summer. Spring storms in southern Illinois have also added to the low summer donations,

Nehring said.“Spring brought about lots of

natural disasters, and the summer heat waves make it uncomfortable for people to (donate).”

Nehring said the demand for blood supplies remains constant throughout the year and, according to documents she provided, many

patients are forced to postpone or cancel lifesaving medical procedures.

One blood donation can save three lives, according to the Red Cross website. " e website said donations can bene! t cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, burn victims and patients with chronic diseases.

Jessica Lopez, a sophomore from Chicago studying education, said she would be willing to donate blood to help other people.

“I think if you are able to help out, then you should,” Lopez said. “I would de! nitely be open to donating.”

Lopez said a blood drive in the

library will make it easier for her and other students to donate.

Willis said donors must be 17 or older, meet weight and height requirements, and have good health.

“We want to help in any way we can,” Willis said. “We encourage students to donate.”

“" e postal service takes pride in taking care of its employees, so generally we help them,” she said. “" e postal service just normally doesn’t lay people o$ .”

Dawn Boyd, of Carbondale, said her main concern is for the postal worker employees and the impact closures could make on a small town.

“(A post o% ce) is a vital part of the community, especially with

older people who don’t use Inter-net to pay bills online,” Boyd said.

Boyd said she uses the post of-! ce about three times per month to send packages to family mem-bers and although she sends out bill payments from home, she be-lieves the Carbondale post o% ce needs to remain open.

“I think (the post o% ce) needs to stay open for the town,” she said. “I also think it needs to stay open for the people who work here.”

Former SIUC student Myron

Whitney-Suggs, 28, said he has noticed the decline in people who visit post o% ce locations.

“It is dying out slowly,” he said. “I’ve seen that there isn’t a lot of younger people using it. There are some, of course, but (I don’t see) as many people in the post office as when I was in college."

Despite the decline in walk-ins across the nation, Whitney-Suggs said he has been using the post office regularly for the last five years and makes at least eight trips each month.

He said he doesn’t make bill payments or other money orders through online transaction and would rather visit the post office to do so. He also uses the post of-fice to send letters to family mem-bers, he said.

Although Carbondale’s post office is not under review for clo-sure, Whitney-Suggs said he isn’t sure what he would do if that were the case in the future.

“I’ll have to do something I hate and actually use my address for everything,” he said. “I really

like this place.”Welsch said the news was ex-

pected because ! rst-class mail vol-ume, such as letters written to family members, is an accurate re& ection of the state of the U.S. economy.

The reduction in first-class mail volume has declined by 43.1 billion pieces over the past five years, Welsch said.

“Even our major mailers, the big companies that mail credit card offers, are mailing less be-cause the economy’s hurting them too,” she said.

POST OFFICECONTINUED FROM 1

BLOODCONTINUED FROM 1

D'()* E+*,-('.N!"#" ursday, July 28, 2011 3

Miriam Mastache, a senior from Chicago studying anthropology and criminal justice, said she thinks it’s a

violation of the freedom of speech.“Believe me, I hate seeing

someone else’s underwear just as much as the next person,” Mastache said. “But that doesn’t mean I want to call the fashion police on them.

If Carbondale were to propose an ordinance like that, I would be one of the ! rst to protest it.”

Carbondale City Council member Jane Adams said she agrees.

“" e last thing the city needs is to be fashion police,” she said. “City sta$ have their hands full making sure that renters have safe housing, that people who live here are safe on the streets and in their

homes, and that other services are e% ciently provided.”

Tara Kulash can be reached at tkulash@dailyegyptian.com

or 536-3311 ext. 271.

PANTSCONTINUED FROM 1

Human rights now required in social work curriculumWHITNEY WAYDaily Egyptian

HoroscopesBy Nancy Black and Stephanie Clement

(Answers tomorrow)BATTY MINTS HAGGLE ANNUALYesterday’s Jumbles:

Answer: When Mr. and Mrs. Albacore had a baby,they played this — NAME THAT “TUNA”

Now arrange the circled letters to form the surprise answer, assuggested by the above cartoon.

THAT SCRAMBLED WORD GAMEby David L. Hoyt and Jeff Knurek

Unscramble these four Jumbles,one letter to each square,to form four ordinary words.

RERBY

ENSSE

FAFEWL

TNEJKU

©2011 Tribune Media Services, Inc.All Rights Reserved.

Sign

Up

for t

he IA

FLO

FCI (

OFF

ICIA

L) J

umbl

e Fa

cebo

ok fa

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ub

Answer here:

Today’s Birthday —You’re in the spotlight, and it actually feels good. You know what you want, so don’t be afraid to let your network know. They can keep that light shining. Everyone wants to contribute. Share generously, and let it all in.

Aries (March 21-April 19) — Today is an 8— Get into a household project, and make your crib the coziest. Keep it simple and inexpensive. A thorough cleaning might do the trick. Then hang with friends.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is a 9— Review and test what you’ve recently learned. Consider the next level, and think over what you want. Schedule action. Then spend a luxurious evening at home.

Gemini (May 21-June 21) — Today is a 7— Put your nose to the grindstone, and new sources of revenue open up. You could be tempted to spend it all in one place, but consider what you really want first.

Cancer (June 22-July 22) — Today is a 9— You’re dealing the cards on a hot game. Others are inspired and want to play. Hold off on travel, romance or spending. Consider the options, and make your move.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is an 8— A secret possibility beckons. Take the time to really consider the details and possible impacts. Don’t put any money down yet. Discover new love, creativity and abundance.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is a 7— In your search for fairness, you run the risk of sacrificing your own needs today. Go ahead and contribute to your community, but make sure you’re taken care of too.Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is a 7— It’s easy to get confused now, but you have nobody to blame but yourself. Get your ducks in a row and choose. You can always change your mind later.Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is a 9— Plan a romantic adventure of discovery. Take time for deep questions and to notice hidden beauty. A partner may need reassurance. Paint them an enticing picture.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is a 6—You may get distracted thinking about love and risk being surprised by a problem at work. Take one step at a time to clear things up. Apologize when appropriate.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is a 7 — Even if you don’t know where you’re going, stay focused on what really matters. It’s better to dream and go for it than to sleep and avoid the risk. Be audacious.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is a 7—Time to put aside fantasy and get to work. Roll up your sleeves and start digging for gold. Don’t gamble what you don’t have yet. Stockpile those nuggets.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is an 8—With both Venus and the moon in Cancer, your fifth house, your creativity reaches new heights. Plus it’s easier now to communicate. Express it with lyrical color.

Wednesday’sAnswers

Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold boarders) contains every digit 1 to 9. For

strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visitwww.sudoku.org.uk.

WEDNESDAY’S ANSWERS

Level: 1 2 3 4

D!"#$ E%$&'"!(S!"#$ B%&'() ursday, July 28, 2011 11

SIUC, Miners promotion bene! ts charity

Since the Southern Illinois Miners came to Marion in 2007, they’ve always had a camaraderie with SIUC.

“We’ve always had season tickets to SIU’s basketball games. A few of them have season tickets here,” said Erik Haag, executive vice

president of the Southern Illinois Miners. “We got to talking, one conversation led to another, and we decided we should combine the two largest sports entities in the southern Illinois region.”

! e result was SIU Day at Rent One Park Aug. 12 when the Miners will wear special Maroon jerseys to be auctioned o" a# er the game.

! e money raised by the

auction will be donated to Coaches vs. Cancer, a charity run by the American Cancer Society.

“Nobody can really say they don’t know anyone a" ected by cancer,” said Steve Sowers, SIU Athletics director of marketing. “We just recently had a coach killed by cancer, coach Dan Callahan, so we feel this is very important to us.”

! e cross-promotion was in the works for the last few months, Haag said. He said both sides were eager to help the other out.

“! eir season is largely when we’re dormant and vice versa,” SIU Athletic Director Mario Moccia said. “It’s a win-win situation. ! ey bring people that would still be interested in seeing some of our coaches, some of our student athletes, so we get the extra exposure.”

This comes on the heels of the announcement of the Nov. 12 Coaches vs. Cancer Black Out football game between SIU and Eastern Illinois. SIU Day is going through the Miners

organization, so the athletic department didn’t need to seek approval from the NCAA for a charity auction.

“Obviously there are parallels between the two events since they both bene$ t Coaches vs. Cancer, and we’re very happy to help them as much as possible,” Sowers said. “And while they’re in the same ballpark, they’re not the same event.”

JOE RAGUSADaily Egyptian

Please see MINERS | 8

Collinsville, Ill. has become the first Metro-East town to ban baggy pants.

The ordinance, which passed July 11 on a 3-2 vote, states pants must be secured at the waist to prevent them from falling more than three inches below the hips, and the law applies only on public property. On a first offense, violators will be fined $100 and be required to complete community service. On a second offense, he or she will be fined $300 and given more community service to fulfill.

Collinsville city council member Liz Dalton proposed the ordinance because she said multiple citizens complained to her about seeing undergarments.

“We are elected by the people, and we are supposed to represent the people,” Dalton said. “If there is a problem out there that they want us to address, then it is our duty as an elected official to address that.”

Mayor John Miller said he heavily protested the idea at the meeting.

“It might be offensive to a person that’s viewing it, but it doesn’t give that person the right to criticize and make laws prohibiting it in a community,” he said.

Miller said he thinks the law will be challenged in court and will be costly

for taxpayers.Council member Michael

Tognarelli said he voted for the ordinance because he said he thinks there’s a direct connection between saggy pants and gang activity.

“This is not speech we’re talking about. This is appearance,” Dalton said. “There are signs in restaurants that say ‘no shoes, no shirt, no service’. Why should someone be able to come in with their underwear hanging out and still be served?”

Those opposing the ordinance

said it is a violation of the First Amendment.

Senior Michael Velazquez from Chicago said he doesn’t think baggy pants should be criteria for judging a person.

“I think the prohibition of baggy pants is not only senseless, but it can be linked to stereotyping,” the sport administration major said. He said baggy pants are just a style and way for people to express themselves.

! e United States Postal Service announced Tuesday that it is considering closing 3,643 of its 32,000 post of-" ces across the U.S. — and Illinois may lose more than 200 local post o# ces, said Valerie Welsch, communications manager of the Gateway District of the US Postal Service.

Welsch said she wasn’t shocked by USPS’s announcement.

“Customers have changed the way they do business with the postal service,” Welsch said. “Many of them use a post o# ce online. ... Some use mobile applications, some use party providers like local grocery stores.”

She said 35 percent of all transactions made within the Gateway District are now made online.

“! at number is growing,” Welsch said. “More and more of our customers are " nding other ways to do busi-ness with us rather than walking into a brick and mortar post o# ce.”

Walk-ins have declined by 200 million, and the number of retail transactions made within a post o# ce building it-self has declined by $2 billion in the last " ve years, she said.

In reaction to the decline in revenue and walk-in trans-actions, Welsch said the USPS is conducting a nationwide study with nearly 3,700 locations to determine which ones would be shut down. Carbondale is not included in this list, but Welsch said the post o# ce in Colp is being con-sidered.

! e study would look at a number of variables includ-ing the number of walk-ins and transactions throughout the day, the revenue of each transaction, how a closure would a$ ect postal employees and potential economic savings.

USPS is considering closing 153 o# ces, or 16 percent, of the 932 post o# ces in southern Illinois, northeastern Missouri and portions of central Illinois, also known as the Gateway District, Welsch said. Fourteen o# ces in the Chicago area are under review.

Welsch said she doesn’t expect to see any closings until December.

“I suppose there could be an oddball one here and there, but the studies are just starting, and it’s going to take a while for those to be completed,” she said.

Postal employees may be assigned to another location and some may decide to retire. Welsch said she doesn’t know the likelihood of employees being laid o$ .

! e American Red Cross faces critical blood shortages as donations remain low, Laurie Nehring said.

“Blood inventory is low,” said Nehring, communications manager of the American Red Cross. “Turnouts are so low that we haven’t added any more

(donation) schedules.”Morris Library will host a Red Cross

blood drive today from from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to help alleviate the national blood shortage. Trained specialists will set up booths where students can give donations.

Heather D. Willis, assistant dean of Morris Library, said the blood drive will be held to increase donations and curb

shortages. Due to the shortage, the Red Cross has issued an appeal for all blood types. Willis said all students, faculty and community members are encouraged to come.

“! e summer months are typically when donations begin to slow down,” she said.

Please see POST OFFICE | 3

Red Cross sees blood shortage; blood drive at Morris LibraryWHITNEY WAYDaily Egyptian

Please see BLOOD | 3

Kathryn Ross, a recent SIU law graduate from Mundelein, twirls a technicolored hula hoop during the July 21 Sunset Concert at Turley Park. Ross, along with the rest of those in attendance, braved the extreme heat and humidity to enjoy The Black Lillies, an americana-

bluegrass band from Knoxville, Tenn. The summer’s final Sunset Concert will take place Thursday at 7 p.m. with a performance by the alternative rock-pop group Fools for Rowan. Turn to page 6 for a complete preview of the band.

ERIC GINNARD | DAILY EGYPTIAN

Post o! ces in jeopardyLAUREN LEONEDaily Egyptian

Collinsville bans baggy pantsTARA KULASHDaily Egyptian

An ordinance passed July 11 in Collinsville states pants cannot be worn more then 3 inches below the hips. The ordinance applies to people on public property.

Violators will be fined $100 and ordered to do community service on the first offense and $300 plus additional community service on the second offense.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY LYNNETTE OOSTMEYER | DAILY EGYPTIAN

Please see PANTS | 3

The United States Postal Service announced Tuesday the possible closing of 3,643 post offices nationwide, with Illinois seeing as many as 200 closings. Alternative means of communication, such as e-mail, are contributing to the decline of business for post offices.

LYNNETTE OOSTMEYER | DAILY EGYPTIAN