Behind a door covered with "Biohazard" and "Authorized Personnel Only" signs, graduate student Nellie Shaul spends her days homogenizing human placenta samples in a science lab. "This is really gross," Shaul said as she poured liquid nitrogen into a sample in a metal cup.… Post the First Comment

As the Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees prepares to vote whether to reclassify SIUE athletics to NCAA Division I, the SIUE community has raised questions about conferences, budgets and benefits. Chancellor Vaughn Vandegrift has recommended that the board approve the reclassification to Division I.… Post the First Comment

A Wal-Mart Supercenter may be in store for Glen Carbon. A meeting about the site plan was scheduled for Tuesday; however, the meeting was canceled because quorum was not met. According to J. Hagerty, a quorum member, the members are all citizens of Glen Carbon who have been appointed by the mayor.… Post the First Comment

Madison County Transit buses have been filling up and passing students on the 400-side of Cougar Village since the beginning of the fall semester. The problem started last fall, according to S.J. Morrison, Director of Marketing and Planning at MCT. The buses are filling up on the 500-side of Cougar Village and then passing the 400-side because they cannot add more passengers, Morrison said.… Post the First Comment

A new ethanol plant is being built in Sauget. The plant will create more jobs, and the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center on campus may be training the workers. The new facility is scheduled to open late this year, according to BioFuels Journal. Pam Keck, assistant director of workforce development and scientific projects at the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center on campus, said the new plant being built is a great idea, as it is located right on the river in a good location for grain handling.… Post the First Comment

In order to eradicate poverty and AIDS in Africa and all around the world, the ONE Campaign is taking a stand, and the next stop is SIUE. Annie Gill-Bloyer of the ONE Campaign will speak in the Morris University Center's Goshen Lounge at 5:30 p.m Thursday.… Post the First Comment

Approximately 20 faculty members gathered Tuesday evening to present and discuss the final general education reform proposal, Learning Communities. The Learning Communities proposal is one of three general education reform designs proposed by members of the Baccalaureate Reform through Integrated Design of General Education.… Post the First Comment

The Edwardsville City Council made sure that the city's fallen soldier, Private Ryan Garbs, was not forgotten before tending to business in its meeting Tuesday. Edwardsville Mayor Gary Niebur led a moment of silence for Garbs, and asked two Boy Scouts in attendance to lead the Pledge of Allegiance.… Post the First Comment