This past year the Prairie Stars proved not only to be successful in sports but also in the classroom. Last fall, 98 student athletes made the honor roll and the academic success rate was at 76 percent for student athletes alone, four points higher than the NCAA Division II average.

UIS Athletic Director Kim Pate, said in a past interview with The Journal, “graduating student athletes is our highest priority and I am pleased that we are consistently performing year to year at the top of the GLVC as well as NCAA Division II in this critical area. I am very proud of the hard work of our coaches and appreciative of the dedicated and supportive faculty at UIS to ensure our student athletes experience a successful path to graduation.”

The women’s soccer team earned the National Soccer Coaches Association of America NSCAA Team Academic Award, as well. UIS athletics was recognized as one of only six GLVC schools to rank among the nation’s top NCAA Division II institutions, in terms of academic and athletic success.

Another part of the legacy in which the class of 2013 leaves behind, is their community service efforts. With the athletic program’s motto for this year being “Out Town, Your Team”, it has collectively contributed to over 2,000 community service hours and raising $5,000 for various charities. Baseball alone contributed over 1,000 hours of community service.

According to senior Basketball Player Kyle Gupton the legacy in which his team leaves behind is, “athletically we have achieved a lot by taking a team that hasn’t won very many games, to a team that starts to win a lot of games, and starts to earn a lot of student support, and brings a lot of fans to the games.”

Pate said, “I think overall we’ve made some progress this past year.  It’s obviously not where we want to be but we’re making strides.  Most of our programs have experienced improvement while much of this year has been about laying the foundation for the future.”

The class of 2013 will not only be missed for their athletic abilities, but also for their impact and way in which they represented UIS.

They proudly carried the title of Prairie Star, and will be missed.

Pate had this to say to all the graduating student athletes, “I’m extremely proud of our seniors for the work they’ve put in both in the classroom and on the court or field of play.  As they gear up for the next chapter in their lives, I would remind them that their experiences as a student-athlete have prepared them in a very unique and special way.  They have gained some invaluable skills that many who they’ll encounter have not had this same opportunity to experience (team building, leadership, conflict management, discipline, work ethic, an appreciation for giving back to your community, humility, time management, etc.).”

She continued, “I would tell them that their UIS experience will open many doors and will hold some special memories.  I’d also tell them that they are always welcome back and we wish them the very best!”

“The two critical hires I made this year, with the help of some excellent search committees, were hiring the Vice Chancellor for Development Jeff Lorber.” According to Koch, Lorber will be charged with leading fundraising efforts for the university the next few years.

She added that the second new member team is Director of Human Resources Laura Alexander. Koch says Alexander is “another great hire who has brought a lot of talent and experience to the campus.”

“These [new hires] are things that might not be really visible to students every day but are very, very important when we work to deliver on the promises we make to our students,” Koch said.

Chancellor Koch added that another key to success of this academic year rests with the strong relationships she has developed. “We operate in an environment where opinions of all members of our community are very important as we guide the university forward,” she said. “I can’t do this job alone so I need to have input and points of view from faculty, students and staff, and members of the community. I feel as if we’re together and we’ve got very good communication.”

Koch added that events like ‘Cheesecake with the Chancellor’ and ‘Chimichangas with the Chancellor’ have allowed her to stay in touch with the student experience.  Additionally, Koch looks for feedback from the professors at UIS.

“Our faculty [members] are deeply committed to this institution and they create the reputation for the university,” she said. She adds that the ‘Chancellor’s Blog’ and monthly column in the State Journal-Register are other ways she has been able to connect with the community. According to Koch, the monthly SJ-R column is very well-received in the Springfield community.

Branding of the institution has also helped UIS stand out and make this academic year memorable, Koch said. “One of the things I’m pleased with is that we are becoming more and more visible and we’re making a deliberate effort to do that,” she said.  “You have probably seen this – Leadership Lived. We used a consultant last year to help us get there. The consultants did a lot of research for us with students and alums and faculty and staff and what emerged from that is kind of a way for us to talk about our institution, that communicates more clearly who we are and what is distinctive about our institution.”

Koch said this year has been not without its obstacles. “The biggest challenge facing us, really, continues to be budgetary. This State of Illinois, as everyone knows has a pension crisis going on, a budget crisis going on,” she said. “We’re working to be part of the solution for the state because we know the more educated the people we have in the State of Illinois, the better the economy will be – the better off our communities will be. That having been said, the decline in state support for the University of Illinois and the other eight public universities has been on a steady downward trajectory for several years and that has resulted in the stead increases in tuition so I’m very concerned about our continued ability to make this wonderful experience of being a UIS student possible to all qualified students, regardless of their financial needs.”

The most exciting part of the year, according to Koch, are plans for the new Student Union. Twenty-eight firms put forth proposals and with the help of a committee of students, faculty and staff, Dewberry Architects of Peoria, Ill. and Workshop Architects of Milwaukee, Wisc. were selected for this project. Workshop Architects owner Jan van den Kieboom has been to campus more than once to solicit feedback from the campus.

“Jan, along with the Dewberry team and his team [at Workshop], are going to build a landmark building, not just for the campus but for the city of Springfield,” Koch said. “It’s going to be something very, very special and the minute the doors open, it will be the heart of this campus. It’s going to be the destination for all students – undergraduate, graduate, commuters, residential and where faculty and staff are going to want to be.”

Koch added the architecture firms that have been selected have completed student unions at prestigious universities like Northwestern University and University of Wisconsin-Madison. Koch says the designers have begun their work and drawings will available by the fall. If all goes well, the doors of the student union will open the spring of 2016. “We’re in a great place with the student union project and it is the most important building for this campus right now,” she said.

Chancellor Susan Koch credited Best during her introduction as being one of the first alums to be inducted into the UIS Public Affairs Reporting Hall of Fame.

Best found her passion for journalism at a young age. Inspired and influenced by her parents, who bought a weekly newspaper in Sullivan, Ill., she explained that she grew up with conversations around the dinner table that were always interesting to her – current affairs, public affairs, government and politics. She said, “When I realized that other people didn’t get that, it was one of the things that made me want to be a journalist.”

After graduating in 1979 from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Best acquired an interest in government reporting, and soon after found the Public Affairs Reporting (PAR) program at UIS. “I thought, ‘wow this is great, I get a degree, I get to learn more, and I get a full-time internship’…” The UIS alumna received her master’s in Public Affairs Reporting in 1990, where she says she found everything she was looking for at the time, during an all too familiar job recession.

“The other influence, who continues to be an influence, who taught me what it meant to be, not just a good journalist but also a good boss, was Mike Lawrence. Mike was the Bureau Chief at the Lee Enterprises Bureau and I was his intern when I was in the PAR program. He helped me channel my inner outrage when public officials wouldn’t answers questions, and I was entitled to the answers,” said Best.

Through long hours and hard work, Best has become an influence in her own way. “Kathy is one of the finest journalists I’ve known in three decades of working in the newspaper business, and one of the finest human beings,” said David Boardman, Executive Editor and Senior Vice President of The Seattle Times. “Kathy is whip-smart and steel-tough, unafraid to take on powerful people and institutions. Yet she has a gentle, tender nature that ensures we’re always sensitive to story subjects and readers, and that we do no unnecessary harm.” He went on to say that although Best has grown to be a “web-footed Northwesterner,” she is, and always will be a proud Illinoisan, and that she was thrilled and humbled to have the opportunity to address UIS.

Best stressed that yes, for some, it is a breeze getting to where they want to be, but for others it isn’t, and that’s okay.  “It took me a while. I floundered around for a couple of years trying to figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up,” said Best. In her address she added, “What you’re getting today is a college degree, not a life sentence to do only what that diploma says. This should be the beginning of your quest, not the end.”

She went on to explain that although some barriers will come and will get in the way of where you want to be, often times, individuals themselves are their own barriers. She said that she had to look hard at what she already had done, and look harder at what she wanted to do and “gave [herself] permission to do it.”

Best closed her address to the graduating class saying, “Know that this is it, your one shot [at life]. Give it everything you’ve got. Make sure when the curtain comes down, that you’re exhausted. That you’ve rung every last drop of joy, and wonder, and pain, and awe from life. Find your passion and live it.”

One of my favorite songs lyrically is Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror” and, as I entered UIS, I wanted to be great and I wanted to be change, but who was I? A 17-year-old who wanted to take on the challenges of the world. Well, as the lyrics in the song state, I started with the person in the mirror. We want to not only reflect on the outside but also within our soul. After four years of reflection and application, UIS has helped shaped me into the woman I stand to be today.

Attending UIS has been one of my greatest opportunities. UIS allowed me to enhance my confidence, leadership, and character. This institution has been more than a stepping stone into the next chapter of my life but a place for personal and academic growth. I enjoyed the college experience of attending athletic events, being a Resident Assistant for Necessary Steps, and being a part of the Capital Scholars Honors Program. At UIS, we come together from different regions, cultures, and generations to share one classroom. In the case of UIS, that can be an online classroom, too. I was surrounded by peers with outstanding work ethic and drive. I love my institution. My most intricate role I served in while attending UIS was being the student rep to the UIAA Board of Directors Alumni Association. For three years, I was able to bridge the gap between alumni and current students, establish the service program Uhelp, Ihelp, Springfield, and positively influence my peers.

Most importantly, I was able to see first-hand the love and pride alumni have for this institution. I was exposed to the outstanding individuals who once took the same steps I did and excelled. Not only do we belong to a world-class institution, we have alumni who value it. I am inspired when I see UIS alumni who continue to pour into this university. They made it possible for some of us to be where we are today. The giving back of alumni provides infinite opportunities for students whether financially or exposure to a future career. What we as a class need to take away is that giving back starts today. But don’t get excited; I’m not talking about your check book—well, at least not yet! Because Sallie Mae has already called me! I’m talking about something more precious than money and that’s time. Time is valuable because you cannot get it back. Invest time into our university just like this university invested in us. As we prepare to be phenomenal assets to society in various fields and careers, please remember the opportunities and exceptional education you attained at UIS. I ask that you reflect on the commitment that alumni and community members have for you and this institution and ponder how they have helped shape you into the individual you are today. I want the class of 2013 to hold this near and dear to our hearts and to stay connected to the community who nurtured us. Recall the significance of the history of our institution and our value to the future Prairie Stars. We must continue to build on this legacy to produce brilliant futures of those to come. I take pride in going forth as an alumni and knowing that I am a life-long member of the UIS family. I look forward to the positive progression the university will make in years to come. During our time here, we celebrated 40 years of excellence, but I predict 40 more years of brilliance because we have the resources, student passion, and leadership to take on anything. And, most importantly, UIS is Leadership lived and that does not stop today.

Metal has been routinely blamed for depression, drug use, murder and suicide amongst teens. It’s no coincidence that metal was the main subject of Penelope Spheeris’s documentary “The Decline of Western Civilization, Part 2.” But as Spheeris herself acknowledged, metal is “a way of life” for most fans.

True, metalheads shun fame, fortune, and respectability to follow their own creative paths and do what they love. This attitude has inspired metal bands to record some of the most interesting and anti-commercial music of the past 30 years.

The sense of community and identity that metal gives is powerful. Entirely different from the rock music norm, the genre comes with its own style, sound and symbols.

You can recognize a metalhead by the uniform: a black tee with spiky red lettering, skulls, and maybe a pentagram or two. Some grow out of this phase once they get a job or a girlfriend; others learn to express themselves in more subtle ways.

Metal was the first style of music I ever connected with; it gave me fashion, freedom and friends. Sure, I like chaos and evil; but I also like kittens, sunshine and rainbows. It didn’t distract me from my schoolwork or limit my opportunities; in fact, I once shook hands with Senator Dick Durbin while wearing a Megadeth hoodie.

Young metalheads aren’t exactly open-minded, usually hating all the music their parents love and vice-versa. But more experienced fans and bands are willing to take pretty major risks. The grunted, guttural “cookie monster” vocals heard in death metal will always restrict it to a cult audience.

It also requires the music to be appropriately dark and over-the-top; it’s hard to imagine lyrics like, “A canvas to paint, to denigrate/Dark reflections, of dark foul light” (from “Heartwork,” by Carcass) sung sweetly and softly.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, bands like Opeth and Alcest have turned metal’s most extreme sounds into something soothing, even beautiful. Albums like “Ghost Reveries” and “Ecailles de Lune” have earned attention outside of metal’s notoriously small inner circle, even getting rave reviews from snobbish indie critics like Pitchfork. These bands stake out a strange space between light and dark, something which hasn’t been seen in music before.

Metal’s very existence has been threatened more than once. It’s been repeatedly subject to censorship and boycotts by parent groups and media watchdogs. Some bands have even been taken to court. Judas Priest’s “Better By You, Better Than Me” allegedly inspired a teen suicide pact, which earned the band a civil suit; this was quickly dismissed.

Metal’s most demoralizing moment came in 1999, when Marilyn Manson was blamed for inspiring the Columbine massacre. But for all his crudeness and controversy-baiting, Manson chose to stay out of the media circus, intelligently defending himself and his music while calling attention to the real tragedy:

“When it comes down to who’s to blame for the high school murders in Littleton, Colo., throw a rock and you’ll hit someone who’s guilty. We’re the people who sit back and tolerate children owning guns, and we’re the ones who tune in and watch the up-to-the-minute details of what they do with them. Responsible journalists have reported with less publicity that Harris and Klebold were not Marilyn Manson fans – that they even disliked my music. Even if they were fans, that gives them no excuse, nor does it mean that music is to blame.”

Metalheads agree: their music is some of the most violent, dark and antisocial to ever be made. But it’s unhealthy to ignore or repress these parts of our human nature. The metal scene is chaotic, creative, and incredibly rewarding. It gives geeks and misfits a voice, and a loud one, at that.

It is very hard for me to write this letter bidding you all farewell because I have thoroughly enjoyed being here as a Nurse Practitioner to help care for your health for 12.5 years.

I am torn about leaving UIS. I have laughed, cried and had lots of fun in this position.  College Health never has a dull moment!   I have to say, I have met many intelligent and compassionate students who will make the workforce a more enriched place to be.

You all have bright futures before you, and I thank many of you for trusting me over the years to care for you in times of illness and in health.  I learn just as much from you, as you do from myself, about your conditions or health in general.

I wish you all the best in the years to come and please promise me to make your health a priority in your lives!

Staff and faculty, I will miss many of your smiling faces as well! I always appreciate your trust in my judgment on health related issues.  And I never minded the “curb-side” consult!

I have always been humbled by those who have asked me for ideas on how we can make UIS a healthier place to be.   I hope you all can take ownership in your own health and jump on board when the Wellness Committee asks for your involvement.  Be a change agent in your own office or building to improve our culture of health on campus.

I am leaving UIS for many reasons, and some of those reasons are beyond my control.  I will be caring for patients in the Springfield community in the near future.  Best wishes to you all!

Yours in health,

Jill Stoops APN/FNP-BC

The Bible is not only a part of many a religious person’s life; it is also a part of everyday life for many nonreligious people. There are actions taken each year to bring the holy book to a wider audience, and this year is no different in that aspect.

One way that 2013 differs from years past, however, is the fervor with which this year’s interpretation has been met. The History Channel’s mini-series, “The Bible,” was a huge hit, garnering more than 100 million viewers.

For weeks, all I heard about was how great “The Bible” was and how people couldn’t wait for the next episode. I kept saying to myself, “Oh, it’s just another Passion of the Christ,” and refrained from watching it.

However, I’m a sucker for a good book. Over the years, I’ve read thousands of them including the Bible several times. I attended Catholic school for the first five years of my education where we not only attended Mass daily, but also had designated time to learn the stories in the Bible.

After starting public school, I continued my religious education through night classes devoted to the Bible and even studied the Bible in high school for its literary importance.

Long story short, I was very interested in the idea of the Bible novelized. Roma Downey and Mark Burnett made that a reality when they published A Story of God and All of Us.

According to the author’s note, while working on the script for The Bible miniseries, Downey and Burnett heard many people comment on the scripts’ ability to help them visualize the holy book in a whole new way.

“We are not retelling the story of the Bible, it has already been told in the richest, fullest possible way, from the mouth of God and through His chosen prophets, students, and apostles,” Burnett and Downey wrote. “Instead, we are dramatizing some of these beautiful stories from our scripts.”

They have done a good job doing just that. Reading “A Story of God and All of Us” has opened my eyes to a different way of seeing stories that can be difficult to get through. For many people, reading the Bible is like reading Shakespeare or even a different language. This novelized version makes it a little more manageable for readers.

While the book is a very condensed version of the Bible, it is great for those who would like a basic understanding of what is contained within those hallowed pages. It may also be a good catalyst for people wishing to reconnect with their faith without reading a massive collection of tales.

There is even a young readers edition of the book and The Bible’s television success continues to grow through its DVD sales. Next, Burnett and Downey plan to bring The Bible to the big screen and are currently in the process of cutting the mini series into a feature length film.

Most recently, the U.S. Senate took up the concealed carry debate with a piece of legislation that would expand universal background checks on individuals purchasing firearms as well as ban some semi-automatic assault weapons. That legislation was defeated in a Republican filibuster.

In response to the legislation’s defeat, former Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords wrote a scathing New York Times op-ed piece, shaming the senators who turned their backs on the American people. As readers may recall, Giffords is a survivor of gun violence, having been shot at a Tuscon rally in 2011.

As members of The Journal Editorial Board, we are disappointed with the outcome of last week’s vote. As constituents of the United States and the state of Illinois, it is surprising that 46 senators voted down the bill, a very important step in passing protective measures.

Walking the halls at a public university, we see the need for protecting students, staff and faculty from a threat resulting from gun violence. It is a basic expectation that a learning environment should a be safe and habitable venue. It should not take something like Columbine or Newtown to occur in our own state to act in the greater public interest.

We acknowledge that gun ownership for the purposes of protection and hunting are legitimate. In many parts of the country, hunting is a sport and should not be penalized so long as the laws and regulations are being followed. Additionally, the Second Amendment right to bear arms should also not be trampled on.  In both instances, responsible gun owners who register their firearms properly should not be treated like criminals.

However, we agree there is a fine line between owning a pistol locked away for self-defense than owning a heavy ammunition assault rifle that can easily be manipulated. There is simply no reason for civilians to carry assault weapons freely, as witnessed in the case of Newtown shooter Adam Lanza.

This rings especially important in places where young people frequent. According to 2010 data from the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, 134 children and teens ages 0-19 were killed in an unintentional shooting. It is imperative we – as a nation – craft, pass and enforce legislation to take assault weapons out of the hands of civilians.

A federal court has given Illinois until June 9 to enact the concealed carry law. State lawmakers are in session for one more month and are in a great position to pass landmark legislation that protects the public from gun violence.

We urge the Illinois General Assembly to pass a bill that will require stricter laws requiring universal background checks and weapons purchases as well as harsher penalties for gun owners who don’t properly register their firearms. Additionally, we urge the GA to exempt schools if any concealed carry legislation like HB 997 does end up moving to a vote.

We remember the 500 innocent lives in Chicago that were lost in 2012 from gun violence. We remember the families in Newtown who dropped their children off, only to find later that some them would not return home. We pray for the families who lost loved ones in Colorado from Columbine, to Aurora, to Oak Creek and in the several hundred other tragedies – some that were covered by media and others that were not highlighted.

This is for them. Let’s not let their precious lives and legacies go in vain. Let’s pass commonsense gun safety laws now.

Range graduated from Highland High School and majors in criminal justice. Range is the son of Michael and Jennifer Range. He began his baseball career at the age of 4 and played all four years throughout high school.

Range said, “I fell in love with baseball when I could first pitch, probably second grade. I just loved being on the mound and having the ball in my hand. It came [naturally to] me.”

Range was a three-sport athlete in high school and was all conference for both baseball and football, however Range continued his career in baseball.

One of Range’s most memorable moments was when he was a senior in high school and he threw a no-hitter. “I was pitching at the local minor league field in front of the largest crowd of the year. I was just in the zone and I’ve never had a better feeling on a baseball diamond than after I got that final out,” said Range.

Range continued his baseball career at Southwestern Illinois College, then after two years, transferred to UIS.

Range transferred to UIS, excited to help a new program grow and prosper. “I saw UIS as an opportunity, an opportunity to come help start a program and an opportunity to get a great education,” said Range.

For Range, there was disappointment this spring. “This season, statistically speaking, was a personal and team disappointment. I did not perform the way I wanted to, just like our team; however, we have begun to grow as a team and I believe my team and I have learned a lot,” said Range.

Fortunately for UIS baseball, the program can only grow and get better. Range said, “For that reason I am excited for what next year has to bring. We will have a majority of seniors on the team, and I believe that the experience and knowledge of the game for this team can bring more success than this program has seen yet.”

UIS got off to a great start as sophomore Kyle Schildroth pitched four innings, allowing only one run and two hits. Schildroth pitched to 12 IC players before giving up his first hit. On the offensive side, the Stars scored first when junior Adrian Brown sent the ball flying into center field, making it a double and allowing junior Adam Unes to score.

But the play that gave UIS its dominating lead, in which IC just could not come back from, was when junior catcher Derek Shomon hit the ball over the left field fence for a home run sending two UIS players home as well.

The Prairie Stars then added two more runs late in the game, and allowed the Blueboys to score one run giving UIS a 6-1 win.

Following the game, head coach Mike Zandler said, “Any time you win, it doesn’t matter where you’re at, it’s a good thing. We pitched well and we had some big hits.”

This weekend the baseball team faces University of Missouri St. Louis, and according to Zandler, “They are doing the same thing they did last year, and going on a tear at the end of the season. They are very well coached, good program, and it will be a challenge for us.”

Zandler and the baseball team are going to focus on one game at a time and build of wins. Before they can play UMSL they will first have to play Quincy University.

“I don’t want them to be looking at the big picture. I don’t want them thinking 13 games. I want them thinking, ‘Quincy game one, then Quincy game two then UMSL,’” said Zandler.

With the record of 9-23, the Stars have 13 games left of the season. The Prairie Stars are currently in last place in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

The baseball team will be on the road this weekend, playing in Quincy against the Hawks on Thursday and then to St. Louis to face UMSL Sunday afternoon.