2008 Woodie Awards
Funding bill heads to General Assembly again
Sydney Elliot
Issue date: 7/9/08 Section: News
A bill that will provide state funding for the new science building at SIUE will be considered again Wednesday and Thursday in a special session of the General Assembly called for by Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
According to Marisa Kollias, Illinois Works Coalition spokeswoman, the proposed Illinois Works bill is designed to provide about 700,000 jobs across the state.
"(The purpose of this bill) is to provide funding for the state to reinvest in the infrastructure of (the state)," Kollias said. "(It) will literally affect communities across the state."
Should the bill be passed, some of the $34 billion will be spent on schools throughout the state. Some of that money will go towards a new science building at SIUE.
Wednesday and Thursday, Blagojevich and the General Assembly will look over the projected expenses for the Illinois Works bill. If the bill is passed, $75 million will be given to SIUE for the new science building, according to Dave Gross, executive director for the office of the president at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. SIUE will receive another $23 million over a course of three years to help with deferred maintenance projects, such as roof repairs and heating and cooling repairs.
Biology professor Elizabeth Esselman said it is time for a new science building, mostly because of how cramped the current building is.
"We are all really looking forward to it," Esselman said. "If we don't get a new building, we may have to start teaching on Saturdays and Sundays because of a lack of space."
With the new science building, it is expected that each discipline will receive their own room to house slides, samples and other items needed for lecture, Esselman said.
Esselman said introductory biology classes are already full, and with enrollment continuing to increase each year, it is difficult for students to get extra time outside of class to prepare for exams. If a student needs to look at micro slides or samples, it is nearly impossible because there is no place for professors to leave materials for students to view outside of class, Esselman said.
If passed, the Illinois Works bill will provide money not only for schools but also for other state issues as well.
"(The money) is usually divided up," Kollias said. "Some will go towards roads and some towards jobs."
Esselman said she is looking forward to the possibility of the new building but doesn't want to get too excited about it because this is the second time the possibility of a new building has been in the works.
"I would really like this to happen, everyone would," Esselman said. "But it isn't the best of times to make the plans for very expensive (projects)."
According to Marisa Kollias, Illinois Works Coalition spokeswoman, the proposed Illinois Works bill is designed to provide about 700,000 jobs across the state.
"(The purpose of this bill) is to provide funding for the state to reinvest in the infrastructure of (the state)," Kollias said. "(It) will literally affect communities across the state."
Should the bill be passed, some of the $34 billion will be spent on schools throughout the state. Some of that money will go towards a new science building at SIUE.
Wednesday and Thursday, Blagojevich and the General Assembly will look over the projected expenses for the Illinois Works bill. If the bill is passed, $75 million will be given to SIUE for the new science building, according to Dave Gross, executive director for the office of the president at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. SIUE will receive another $23 million over a course of three years to help with deferred maintenance projects, such as roof repairs and heating and cooling repairs.
Biology professor Elizabeth Esselman said it is time for a new science building, mostly because of how cramped the current building is.
"We are all really looking forward to it," Esselman said. "If we don't get a new building, we may have to start teaching on Saturdays and Sundays because of a lack of space."
With the new science building, it is expected that each discipline will receive their own room to house slides, samples and other items needed for lecture, Esselman said.
Esselman said introductory biology classes are already full, and with enrollment continuing to increase each year, it is difficult for students to get extra time outside of class to prepare for exams. If a student needs to look at micro slides or samples, it is nearly impossible because there is no place for professors to leave materials for students to view outside of class, Esselman said.
If passed, the Illinois Works bill will provide money not only for schools but also for other state issues as well.
"(The money) is usually divided up," Kollias said. "Some will go towards roads and some towards jobs."
Esselman said she is looking forward to the possibility of the new building but doesn't want to get too excited about it because this is the second time the possibility of a new building has been in the works.
"I would really like this to happen, everyone would," Esselman said. "But it isn't the best of times to make the plans for very expensive (projects)."
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