An early-intervention program has been revised to better assist first-year students, which could ultimately increase retention.

University officials will distribute self-assessment surveys and monitor grades

of first-year students through learning tools as students adjust to fall classes.

Lisa Peden, director of Learning Support Services, said the program that helps acclimate first-year students to university life was developed through Learning Support Services and has been implemented in some of

the first-year experience courses, but it will be implemented for all incoming students fall 2012.

Assembled with members from other academic advisers and support programs such as Saluki Cares, the program will use surveys and a retention-management system to ask students their semester

expectations and track their courses.

Julie Payne-Kirchmeier, associate provost for University College, said the intervention program is currently restricted for first-year students, and it is one component of the university’s overall approach to create a culture which supports students.

She said the university will see positive results in other areas as long as students have support.

“A positive bi-product of focusing our attention on students success is that ultimately enrollment and retention will increase,” Payne-Kirchmeier said.

University shi! s e" orts in academic early-intervention program

CITY

Please see INTERVENTION | 5

JACQUELINE MUHAMMADDaily Egyptian

Jacinto Huaroco, left, of Makanda, and Juan Campos, right, of Cape Girardeau, hang the Mexican and American flags Saturday before the Purépecha Festival in Cobden. The festival celebrated the indigenous Purépecha culture from the

state of Michoacán, Mexico and featured traditional food, music and dancing. Southern Illinois has a large Purépecha population due to migrant patterns dating back to the 1950s.

BROOKE GRACE | DAILY EGYPTIAN

Mexican city with local ties ! ghts drug cartel, government

While many Cobden residents celebrated the Mexican people’s culture at its Purépecha Festival Saturday, others were focused on events nearly 2,000 miles away.

Many Cobden and Alto Pass residents have ties to Cheran, Mexico, where townspeople are locked in a violent struggle with loggers they believe are backed by a drug cartel.

Fed up with violent drug cartels,

loggers illegally deforesting their land and a government that failed to help them, the people of Cheran barricaded the roads to town.

Townspeople said the loggers were clearing nearby pine tree lands, which are important to their Purépecha culture, and they accused drug cartels

of helping and providing loggers with weapons.

Details are hard to pin down because communication between relatives and family in Cheran has been limited. Someone sabotaged communications towers, which cut o" phone and Internet service for several weeks to the town of an estimated 18,000 people about 200 miles west of Mexico City.

But people with family and friends in Cheran said residents are trapped behind their own barricades.

“# ey don’t have any justice ,and they cannot buy food,” Adelina Fabian, of Alto Pass, said of her family in Cheran. “# e food they had is gone.”

Fabian has worked at Rendelman Orchards in Alto Pass for 11 years. With one of her six children translating, Fabian said family members believe they will have to guard the town for at least another year.

Please see CHERAN | 5

BROOKE GRACEDaily Egyptian

CAMPUS

C heran has developed a community governing system in which all the decisions are made by members of the

community. Other towns in Mexico who are facing similar issues are watching Cheran closely.

— Pedro Tomasleader of DeMigrates Cheran

THE GRIND

HoroscopesBy Nancy Black and Stephanie Clement

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.

PEURP

UBGNE

GEAJDG

NICTEJ

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

Find

us

on F

aceb

ook

http

://w

ww.

face

book

.com

/jum

ble

Print your answer here:(Answers tomorrow)

MORON CEASE MASCOT PHOTONSaturday’s Jumbles:Answer: The young chefs had not mastered —

COMMON “SCENTS”

Aries — Today is an 8 — Work through an intermediary, for greater impact. Let a partner negotiate. Discover hidden treasure by spending time at home.

Taurus — Today is an 8 — Reason and emotion argue to a standstill. Get quiet, and meditate on it. Study. Take on more responsibility without compensation, and you’ll be amply rewarded later.

Gemini — Today is a 9 — Anticipate resistance, and, if there isn’t any, fly ahead faster. A prepared response gives confidence. Communications from a distance provide clarity. Consider the bottom dollar.

Cancer — Today is a 9 — Travel’s not advised today. Don’t confront authority directly, but be prepared to defend your position. Budget for future plans, and then reach for them. You’ve got the power.

Leo — Today is a 7 —Leave your money in the bank. Le t your partner know the score. Get out of the house and around town, preferably in good company. Don’t focus on stressful situations.

Virgo — Today is a 7 — You may find yourself in a maze of confrontations, contradictions and disparities. In the end, it’s your imagination that carries you in the right direction.

Libra — Today is an 8 — Today is an 8 -- There’s plenty of room for misunderstandings now, but nothing you can’t handle with your sense of humor. You can easily diffuse the situation.

Scorpio — Today is an 8 — Avoid confusion in interactions by creating the necessary structure. Sometimes the best strategy is to keep quiet. You’d rather play than work now. Spending time

Sagittarius — Today is a 6 — Don’t try out a new idea yet. Even though a loved one is anxious for home improvements, don’t take out any loans. Learning is tons of fun, and cheap. Business heats up.

Capricorn — Today is an 8 — Think of a new service to provide. Focus on work now and be wonderfully productive. Don’t get distracted by other people’s anxieties. Offer food and comfort.

Aquarius — Today is an 8 —You’re lucky in love now, and you like it. Enjoy some good social time while you can, as things are going to get very busy soon.

Pisces — Today is an 8 — A child holds the knowledge that you need to complete your next mission. Be playful in your labors and work hard when playing. Romance blossoms.

Brought to you by:

1 2 3 4

D!"#$ E%$&'"!(S!"#$ B%&'(Tuesday, September 20, 2011 7D!"#$ E%$&'"!( N!"# Tuesday, September 20, 20112

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.

) e Carbondale City Council will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Carbondale Civic Center to discuss the Refuse and Recycling Program.

Other issues to be considered involve the legality of chickens in the city, a special-use permit in agricultural zones for microdistilleries and microbreweries, and the possibility of cutting funds for the Carbondale Elementary School District 95 summer reading and math program.

) ere is a possibility of a candidate reduction in Carbondale primary elections as well as a reform of Carbondale's housing code because of Campus Habitat's recent breeze with the city for not upholding housing standards.

) e council may also raise the

Refuse and Recycling Program’s pickup rates and decide to limit residents to two bags of garbage per household.

) e chicken proposal would allow six laying hens per household in Carbondale, which council member Jane Adams said in her blog would be great for the local economy.

Councilman Chris Wissmann said he thinks the ordinance could be a good idea, but it needs revisions such as possibly making a special use-permit for the owners.

) e council will also discuss whether to fund the District 95 summer program. While many minority students struggle in school and could use the program, it also takes taxes from other city functions. While Adams said in her blog she plans to vote against the funding so taxes could be used elsewhere, Wissman said he thinks the program

should continue to be funded by the city.

") e results are remarkable the school has shown, and I'm not sure they can do it without our help," he said.

For the Carbondale primary elections, city code states there can be four nominees for each open position on the council. ) e group will talk about possibly downsizing to two candidates per position to avoid confusion with a large number of candidates. Wissmann said he thinks the downsize might encourage more participation in the elections.

) e council will also consider a change in the Carbondale housing code following the absence of a Campus Habitat repesentative at a Building Board of Appeals. ) e meeting was scheduled to discuss housing violations at 820 W. Freeman.

Council to discuss fundsfor District 95 programTARA KULASHDaily Egyptian

Today Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

72°48°

10% chance of precipitation

10% chance of precipitation

30% chance of precipitation

10% chance of precipitation

30% chance of precipitation

The Weather Channel® 5 day weather forecast for Carbondale, IL:

80°58°

81°52°

69°46°

72°49°

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

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

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.

D!"#$ E%$&'"!(N!"#Tuesday, September 20, 2011 3Community raises donations for military personnelFundraiser bene) ts injured veterans and families of killed special operations personnel

* e Fight Gone Bad fundraiser began Saturday to raise money for special operations personnel and will continue through Friday.

* e Recreation Center hosted the workout fundraiser, Fight Gone Bad 6, sponsored by the CrossFit strength and conditioning program, which has a+ liates all over the country. * e program is used by police academies, martial artists, gyms and athletes, according to the programs website.

The program workout required participants to move from one of five workout stations to the next in one-minute increments for five minutes, according to the center’s workout description. Participants repeated this routine for three rounds with a minute break in between.

About 3,000 CrossFit affiliates participated in the event around the country, said Randy Greer, co-owner of CrossFit Carbondale in Makanda.

One of the charities, the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, provides a full college scholarship to children who lose a parent to military operational missions or training accidents. * e foundation also provides ) nancial assistance to members of the special operations community who are injured while deployed overseas so families can be at their bedside as they recover,

according to the event website.Greer said the August

helicopter crash in Afghanistan, that killed over 20 Navy Seals, is an example of families who have lost loved ones during service and will receive donations from the warrior foundation.

Donations for the event will be given to the Sportsgrants foundation, an organization that

helps coordinate fundraising e, orts and distributes funds to speci) c charities such as SOWF and Camp Patriot, Greer said.

Once the donations are given to Sportsgrant, the organization will then decide when to distribute the money between each of the charities, Greer said.

Rebecca Kimball, ) tness coordinator for the Recreation Center, said the center hosted the event because it was a way to raise money for a good cause and they had available space.

* e event has been held annually for four years, but this is the ) rst year the Recreation Center has been involved with Fight Gone Bad, she said.

Greer said he saw more students involved this year than the previous three and estimated about 50 participants in this year’s event.

He said the program was started by CrossFit founder Greg Glassman because he wanted a way for people to try out the program and raise money for charities.

Program a+ liates compete between each other to see how much money each can raise for the event, said Greer.

His own gym’s goal was $5,000 and had reached half that as of Saturday. Greer said donations could still be made through CrossFit’s website until the deadline on Friday.

Stephen Putbrese, a senior

from Xenia studying finance, said he has been involved with the program for more than a year and this is his second time participating in the event.

“We’ve done the Fight Gone Bad (workout) outside of just today. Part of it is you want to test yourself and see how well you’re progressing,” he said.

Putbrese said he raised about $50 for the event and plans to attend future events to test his progress with CrossFit.

SOWF provides ) nancial assistance to the U.S. Armed Forces special operations community and their families, according to the Fight Gone Bad website.

Camp Patriot is a non-pro) t corporation that takes some of the 2.3 million disabled veterans in the U.S. on outdoor excursions, according to the event website.

Putbrese said Fight Gone Bad was named a- er UFC ) ghter BJ Penn, and the workout itself is designed to simulate a mixed martial arts ) ght.

Kimball said people do not o- en get a chance to raise money through an activity they enjoy, such as working out.

“When an event like this comes along, people like to donate for something they love to do,” Kimball said.

Sean Meredith can be reached at smeredith@dailyegyptian.com

or 536-3311 ext. 259.

SEAN MEREDITHDaily Egyptian

Kevin Skratulia, left, a junior from Morris studying pre-foreign language and international trade, works out Saturday at the Recreation Center as certified CrossFit trainer Curtis Himstedt, a self-employed engineer from Simpson, counts the repetitions. CrossFit affiliates across the world, hosted the Fight Gone Bad fundraising event created by Sportsgrants Foundation. Randy Greer, owner of CrossFit Carbondale, said his affiliate raised approximately $1,200 halfway through the single-day event and expected to bring in around $2,000 by the end. According to the Fight Gone Bad website, the global total in donations for Saturday was $2.2 million.

STEVE MATZKER | DAILY EGYPTIAN

Posing nude for art is one of the oldest and purest forms of modeling. It is a trademark of portraiture, a tradition rooted in artistic history and a position that students still have.

Kelsey Durako, a junior from Normal studying human nutrition and dietetics, has worked as a nude model in the School of Art and Design for the past two years. She said the job has made her feel more liberated and rewarded than any other.

“Its not one of those jobs where you just stand there and look pretty, it’s a lot of self-motivation,” Durako said.

Durako is one of many students who have held the on-campus position. Erin Palmer, an associate professor in the school of art and design, heads the hiring process for models. She said SIU is unique because most universities hire professional models, while SIU has always exclusively extended the opportunity to students.

“It’s never really been hard for me to sit there and display myself. I don’t really have a lot of shame in showing my body,” Durako said. “It’s all for the better sake of art.”

Palmer said learning to draw a figure from direct observation is extremely difficult but equally rewarding. It is a privilege, she said, that cannot be replicated and something every art studio should familiarize itself with.

It’s a key point of Palmer’s position to establish a strong comfort level for models. She meets with each model individually and speaks with them at length in regards to the stigma attached to nude modeling and what to expect their first day of work.

Alex Wallis, a junior from St. Louis studying music business, worked as a model for two semesters. He said despite being nervous initially, he thoroughly enjoyed his time as a model.

“I’ve had friends who model, and they’re really uncomfortable about it. I’m the total opposite,” Wallis said. “I’m really straight forward about the job. I thought I was going to start working out and be self-conscious. I didn’t care. You just go with it.”

Durako said she shares Wallis’ optimistic outlook on the position. She said she has never felt uncomfortable with herself or with others knowing her work, and she is proud of what she does.

“I did have a friend who took the same class I was modeling in, and that was one of the few moments in the time I’ve been working here that I felt unnerved and awkward,” Wallis said. “I knew the guy fairly well and it was a little strange having him sitting across from me.”

Both Durako and Wallis said one of the greatest rewards about the job was seeing the work students had done of them. Wallis said he would walk around a! er class, and see all of the extremely varied pieces. He said students used an array of charcoals, pastels, pencils and markers to produce their vision of the student. On her breaks, Durako said she would also walk around the room to see the work others had done.

“It’s interesting to say the least,” Durkao said. “Sometimes it will be funny, like ‘do people really see me that way?’ But it’s more of ‘this is how they interpret life, so I can’t judge them or their work.’”

The creativity of the position is something that both Durako and Wallis said they valued the most.

Durako said the flexibility of the job and welcoming attitude is shared by models, students and professors.

Palmer said above all, respect and acceptance in particular are of the utmost importance when it comes to hiring and coordinating models.

“We encourage all genders, age ranges and body types,w” Palmer said. “We work hard to foster an attitude of mutual respect and positive energy.”

Durako said the efforts are visible and there’s a certain level of privacy and respect between models and students. She said even freshman and first-year students were mature and unfazed by the nudity.

“Honestly, it’s one of the best jobs I’ve ever had,” Durako said. “" e pay is nice; the instructors are very considerate; there’s a lot of creativity that goes into it; it’s interesting to see how people interpret you.”

Brendan Smith can be reached at bsmith@dailyegyptian.com

or 536-3311 ext 258.

D#$%& E'&()$#* Tuesday, September 20, 20114

BRENDAN SMITHDaily Egyptian

Nude models open up about work

It’s not one of those jobs where you just stand there and look pretty, it’s a

lot of self-motivation.

— Kelsey Durakonude model and student

D!"#$ E%$&'"!(N!"#Tuesday, September 20, 2011 5CHERANCONTINUED FROM 1

INTERVENTIONCONTINUED FROM 1

“Cheran has basically been a prisoner of itself,” said Pedro Tomas, a leader of DeMigrates Cheran, a support group for immigrants from the town.

Tomas, of Murphysboro, said the drug cartel will not allow shipments of food and other supplies to reach Cheran. He said schools and businesses have closed as a result.

Tomas said Cheran residents took ) ve loggers hostage a* er bullets + ew between the townspeople and loggers. He said the loggers kidnapped several residents of the town in retaliation.

Two Cheran residents, Pedro Juarez Urbina and Armando Hernandez Estrada, were killed while guarding the town, reported Cambio de Michoacan, a regional newspaper for the state of Michoacán.

Investigators believe the loggers are backed by La Familia, the drug and crime cartel U.S. authorities have said is the top methamphetamines provider to the Midwest and is responsible for countless murders and kidnappings.

“, ey provided heavy weaponry to the loggers who came into town,” Tomas said. “, ey came in any time, day or night. Whoever tried to stop them would get killed, kidnapped or disappear.”

Southern Illinois’ ties to Cheran and the Purépecha people date back to the 1950s, when scores of people moved north to work as farm laborers in the Alto Pass and Cobden orchards.

Warren Anderson, an anthropology professor at Southeast Missouri State University, began studying people’s migration from Cheran to southern Illinois in 1979. He estimated about 2,500 migrants worked in Union and Jackson counties during the mid-1990s at the height of harvest season. Anderson said 85 to 90 percent of Union County’s migrant workers at the time were from Cheran.

He said many Cherans would return home for La Fiesta de San Francisco, a festival so popular among migrants and immigrants that some will leave at the height of southern Illinois’ apple picking season to attend.

Jacinto Huaroco, of Makanda, said he made trips to Cheran several times a year, but he will not go home for La Fiesta de San Francisco this fall.

Anderson said it is getting increasingly hard for migrants and immigrants of southern Illinois to travel to Cheran because of the ongoing con+ ict.

Estanislao Tomas, owner of La Mexicana Grocery in Cobden said fear for family safety in Cheran is

the Purépecha community’s largest concern. He said Cheran residents must be constantly vigilant, which is causing strain on the Cheran community.

“Sometimes they don’t have the money to hire someone else to guard the neighborhoods, so they have to do it for days at a time without any sleep,” he said.

Cheran residents have formed their own government system and have told political parties they are not welcome in town.

“Cheran has developed a community governing system in which all the decisions are made by members of the community,” Tomas said. “Other

towns in Mexico who are facing similar issues are watching Cheran closely.”

Tomas said a good thing about the con+ ict in Cheran is that the town is being viewed as a model community, not just in Mexico but around the world.

With support from Germany, Spain, France, England and the United States’ immigrant community, Tomas is hopeful.

“It wasn’t easy,” he said. “It hasn’t been easy, but the people have come together. We believe Cheran can succeed a* er more than ) ve months under siege.”

, is is not the ) rst time the Purépecha people have fought to

preserve their land. In the 1400s, the Purépecha fought the Aztecs over land in what is now the state of Michoacán.

Historians say the Purépecha empire was strong enough to rebu- both the Aztecs and ) erce tribes from the north in several ) erce battles.

Anderson said today’s Cheran residents are, in some ways, not that di- erent from their ancestors.

“Cheran has over the decades, regardless of its size, maintained this very indigenous quality to it like very small towns,” Anderson said.

Brooke Grace can be reached bgrace@dailyegyptian.com

or 536-3311 ext. 251.

Dancers at the second annual Purépecha Festival perform “The Dance of the Little Old Men,” Saturday in Cobden. The dance is a tradition

throughout the state of Michoacán, Mexico and is meant to pay tribute to the elderly. It is usually performed by youth in the community.

BROOKE GRACE | DAILY EGYPTIAN

She said the university had a similar early-warning system, but a* er a result assessment it found there needed to be some restructuring.

With faculty and resources within the university, SIU created University College, a collection of resources for ) rst-year students, Payne-Kirchmeier said.

“When you look at retention of students and the issues that impact a student’s ability to be retained, it always takes a multi-faceted approach,” Payne-Kirchmeier said.

Making Achievement Possible surveys will be given to all students in University 100, 101 and Saluki First Year courses during the fall 2012 semester. , e surveys will ask their expectations and assess their academic performance at the end of semester so students can re+ ect on their performance and eventually gauge their needs.

“, e surveys and grade tracking will help professors monitor students’ work and allow them to intervene before students are in jeopardy of failing a course,” Peden said.

Peden said whether their high school prepared them properly or not, if students do not understand a university’s proceedings there could be many reasons why they won’t succeed in college.

“It’s an early-intervention program because ... before the students have a GPA we are trying to prevent them from digging a hole for themselves,” she said.

Leodis Scott, a sophomore from Chicago studying visual communications, said he was ) rst introduced to MAP works in a fall 2010

University 101 class. He said the surveys asked him questions about his transition to the university and study habits. Scott said he and his professor went over the completed surveys and discussed what changes he could make as a student and what resources he could use to help.

“I didn’t expect to be asked those types of questions, but it helped me correct my mistakes and ) gure out what I was doing wrong,” Scott said.

, e Center for Academic Success provides

a select group of freshmen an extended academic transition between high school and college. , e pre-major program is designed to assist students who are exploring majors and career options. , e sta- from the two programs, along with Learning Support Services, will work together in the early-intervention program.

Kimberly Little, an academic adviser for the pre-major program, said the management system Grades First will use e-mails to notify students of their attendance and class progress.

According to its website, Grades First delivers tools that encompass advising, retention and data analysis. , e tool is for instructors to document not only how students perform in class but also keep track of their attendance and important behavioral changes.

“, is program isn’t just about sending students to an o. ce,” Little said. “We want to make a personal connection in order to ) t their needs.”

, e student success courses will help shape several learning competencies for ) rst-year students, Peden said.

, e learning competencies focus on student comprehension of higher education, communication skills, relationships with others, critical thinking, problem solving skills and professional responsibility.

Peden said the university has a very clear vision of what students should master by the end of these courses.

Little said she hopes students will understand the university core curriculum’s purpose and value a* er they have completed their ) rst year at the university.

“We want them to understand the purpose of thinking creatively, analytically and how to write and speak well,” she said.

Little said she believes students who become successful are students who are knowledgeable about university life and the resources o- ered.

“Successful students are, ultimately, students who are retained at the university,” Little said.

Jacqueline Muhammad can be reached at jmuhammad@dailytegyptian.com

or 536-3311 ext. 259.

Average Fall Term GPA Retention Fall Transition Risk Indicator

Impact of MAP Works Surveys

3.353.283.243.043.002.912.702.602.55

Fall 2010 - Spring 2011

99% No Change in GPA – Low Risk99% Positive Change in GPA –Low Risk97% Very Positive Change in GPA – Low Risk97% Positive Change in GPA –Low Risk96% No Change in GPA – Low Risk96% Negative Change in GPA – At Risk87% No Change in GPA – At Risk83% Negative Change in GPA – High Risk76% Very Negative Change in GPA – High Risk

SABRINA IMMUNDO | DAILY EGYPTIANINFORMATION PROVIDED BY UNIVERSITY HOUSING

Freshmen Enrollment Over Past Years

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2,358 2,609 2,660 2,410 2,267

SABRINA IMMUNDO | DAILY EGYPTIANINFORMATION PROVIDED BY SIUC INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH

D!"#$ E%$&'"!(N!"#Tuesday, September 20, 2011 5CHERANCONTINUED FROM 1

INTERVENTIONCONTINUED FROM 1

“Cheran has basically been a prisoner of itself,” said Pedro Tomas, a leader of DeMigrates Cheran, a support group for immigrants from the town.

Tomas, of Murphysboro, said the drug cartel will not allow shipments of food and other supplies to reach Cheran. He said schools and businesses have closed as a result.

Tomas said Cheran residents took ) ve loggers hostage a* er bullets + ew between the townspeople and loggers. He said the loggers kidnapped several residents of the town in retaliation.

Two Cheran residents, Pedro Juarez Urbina and Armando Hernandez Estrada, were killed while guarding the town, reported Cambio de Michoacan, a regional newspaper for the state of Michoacán.

Investigators believe the loggers are backed by La Familia, the drug and crime cartel U.S. authorities have said is the top methamphetamines provider to the Midwest and is responsible for countless murders and kidnappings.

“, ey provided heavy weaponry to the loggers who came into town,” Tomas said. “, ey came in any time, day or night. Whoever tried to stop them would get killed, kidnapped or disappear.”

Southern Illinois’ ties to Cheran and the Purépecha people date back to the 1950s, when scores of people moved north to work as farm laborers in the Alto Pass and Cobden orchards.

Warren Anderson, an anthropology professor at Southeast Missouri State University, began studying people’s migration from Cheran to southern Illinois in 1979. He estimated about 2,500 migrants worked in Union and Jackson counties during the mid-1990s at the height of harvest season. Anderson said 85 to 90 percent of Union County’s migrant workers at the time were from Cheran.

He said many Cherans would return home for La Fiesta de San Francisco, a festival so popular among migrants and immigrants that some will leave at the height of southern Illinois’ apple picking season to attend.

Jacinto Huaroco, of Makanda, said he made trips to Cheran several times a year, but he will not go home for La Fiesta de San Francisco this fall.

Anderson said it is getting increasingly hard for migrants and immigrants of southern Illinois to travel to Cheran because of the ongoing con+ ict.

Estanislao Tomas, owner of La Mexicana Grocery in Cobden said fear for family safety in Cheran is

the Purépecha community’s largest concern. He said Cheran residents must be constantly vigilant, which is causing strain on the Cheran community.

“Sometimes they don’t have the money to hire someone else to guard the neighborhoods, so they have to do it for days at a time without any sleep,” he said.

Cheran residents have formed their own government system and have told political parties they are not welcome in town.

“Cheran has developed a community governing system in which all the decisions are made by members of the community,” Tomas said. “Other

towns in Mexico who are facing similar issues are watching Cheran closely.”

Tomas said a good thing about the con+ ict in Cheran is that the town is being viewed as a model community, not just in Mexico but around the world.

With support from Germany, Spain, France, England and the United States’ immigrant community, Tomas is hopeful.

“It wasn’t easy,” he said. “It hasn’t been easy, but the people have come together. We believe Cheran can succeed a* er more than ) ve months under siege.”

, is is not the ) rst time the Purépecha people have fought to

preserve their land. In the 1400s, the Purépecha fought the Aztecs over land in what is now the state of Michoacán.

Historians say the Purépecha empire was strong enough to rebu- both the Aztecs and ) erce tribes from the north in several ) erce battles.

Anderson said today’s Cheran residents are, in some ways, not that di- erent from their ancestors.

“Cheran has over the decades, regardless of its size, maintained this very indigenous quality to it like very small towns,” Anderson said.

Brooke Grace can be reached bgrace@dailyegyptian.com

or 536-3311 ext. 251.

Dancers at the second annual Purépecha Festival perform “The Dance of the Little Old Men,” Saturday in Cobden. The dance is a tradition

throughout the state of Michoacán, Mexico and is meant to pay tribute to the elderly. It is usually performed by youth in the community.

BROOKE GRACE | DAILY EGYPTIAN

She said the university had a similar early-warning system, but a* er a result assessment it found there needed to be some restructuring.

With faculty and resources within the university, SIU created University College, a collection of resources for ) rst-year students, Payne-Kirchmeier said.

“When you look at retention of students and the issues that impact a student’s ability to be retained, it always takes a multi-faceted approach,” Payne-Kirchmeier said.

Making Achievement Possible surveys will be given to all students in University 100, 101 and Saluki First Year courses during the fall 2012 semester. , e surveys will ask their expectations and assess their academic performance at the end of semester so students can re+ ect on their performance and eventually gauge their needs.

“, e surveys and grade tracking will help professors monitor students’ work and allow them to intervene before students are in jeopardy of failing a course,” Peden said.

Peden said whether their high school prepared them properly or not, if students do not understand a university’s proceedings there could be many reasons why they won’t succeed in college.

“It’s an early-intervention program because ... before the students have a GPA we are trying to prevent them from digging a hole for themselves,” she said.

Leodis Scott, a sophomore from Chicago studying visual communications, said he was ) rst introduced to MAP works in a fall 2010

University 101 class. He said the surveys asked him questions about his transition to the university and study habits. Scott said he and his professor went over the completed surveys and discussed what changes he could make as a student and what resources he could use to help.

“I didn’t expect to be asked those types of questions, but it helped me correct my mistakes and ) gure out what I was doing wrong,” Scott said.

, e Center for Academic Success provides

a select group of freshmen an extended academic transition between high school and college. , e pre-major program is designed to assist students who are exploring majors and career options. , e sta- from the two programs, along with Learning Support Services, will work together in the early-intervention program.

Kimberly Little, an academic adviser for the pre-major program, said the management system Grades First will use e-mails to notify students of their attendance and class progress.

According to its website, Grades First delivers tools that encompass advising, retention and data analysis. , e tool is for instructors to document not only how students perform in class but also keep track of their attendance and important behavioral changes.

“, is program isn’t just about sending students to an o. ce,” Little said. “We want to make a personal connection in order to ) t their needs.”

, e student success courses will help shape several learning competencies for ) rst-year students, Peden said.

, e learning competencies focus on student comprehension of higher education, communication skills, relationships with others, critical thinking, problem solving skills and professional responsibility.

Peden said the university has a very clear vision of what students should master by the end of these courses.

Little said she hopes students will understand the university core curriculum’s purpose and value a* er they have completed their ) rst year at the university.

“We want them to understand the purpose of thinking creatively, analytically and how to write and speak well,” she said.

Little said she believes students who become successful are students who are knowledgeable about university life and the resources o- ered.

“Successful students are, ultimately, students who are retained at the university,” Little said.

Jacqueline Muhammad can be reached at jmuhammad@dailytegyptian.com

or 536-3311 ext. 259.

Average Fall Term GPA Retention Fall Transition Risk Indicator

Impact of MAP Works Surveys

3.353.283.243.043.002.912.702.602.55

Fall 2010 - Spring 2011

99% No Change in GPA – Low Risk99% Positive Change in GPA –Low Risk97% Very Positive Change in GPA – Low Risk97% Positive Change in GPA –Low Risk96% No Change in GPA – Low Risk96% Negative Change in GPA – At Risk87% No Change in GPA – At Risk83% Negative Change in GPA – High Risk76% Very Negative Change in GPA – High Risk

SABRINA IMMUNDO | DAILY EGYPTIANINFORMATION PROVIDED BY UNIVERSITY HOUSING

Freshmen Enrollment Over Past Years

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2,358 2,609 2,660 2,410 2,267

SABRINA IMMUNDO | DAILY EGYPTIANINFORMATION PROVIDED BY SIUC INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH

D!"#$ E%$&'"!( Tuesday, September 20, 20116 C!"##$%$&'# D!"#$ E%$&'"!(N!"#Tuesday, September 20, 2011 3Community raises donations for military personnelFundraiser bene) ts injured veterans and families of killed special operations personnel

* e Fight Gone Bad fundraiser began Saturday to raise money for special operations personnel and will continue through Friday.

* e Recreation Center hosted the workout fundraiser, Fight Gone Bad 6, sponsored by the CrossFit strength and conditioning program, which has a+ liates all over the country. * e program is used by police academies, martial artists, gyms and athletes, according to the programs website.

The program workout required participants to move from one of five workout stations to the next in one-minute increments for five minutes, according to the center’s workout description. Participants repeated this routine for three rounds with a minute break in between.

About 3,000 CrossFit affiliates participated in the event around the country, said Randy Greer, co-owner of CrossFit Carbondale in Makanda.

One of the charities, the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, provides a full college scholarship to children who lose a parent to military operational missions or training accidents. * e foundation also provides ) nancial assistance to members of the special operations community who are injured while deployed overseas so families can be at their bedside as they recover,

according to the event website.Greer said the August

helicopter crash in Afghanistan, that killed over 20 Navy Seals, is an example of families who have lost loved ones during service and will receive donations from the warrior foundation.

Donations for the event will be given to the Sportsgrants foundation, an organization that

helps coordinate fundraising e, orts and distributes funds to speci) c charities such as SOWF and Camp Patriot, Greer said.

Once the donations are given to Sportsgrant, the organization will then decide when to distribute the money between each of the charities, Greer said.

Rebecca Kimball, ) tness coordinator for the Recreation Center, said the center hosted the event because it was a way to raise money for a good cause and they had available space.

* e event has been held annually for four years, but this is the ) rst year the Recreation Center has been involved with Fight Gone Bad, she said.

Greer said he saw more students involved this year than the previous three and estimated about 50 participants in this year’s event.

He said the program was started by CrossFit founder Greg Glassman because he wanted a way for people to try out the program and raise money for charities.

Program a+ liates compete between each other to see how much money each can raise for the event, said Greer.

His own gym’s goal was $5,000 and had reached half that as of Saturday. Greer said donations could still be made through CrossFit’s website until the deadline on Friday.

Stephen Putbrese, a senior

from Xenia studying finance, said he has been involved with the program for more than a year and this is his second time participating in the event.

“We’ve done the Fight Gone Bad (workout) outside of just today. Part of it is you want to test yourself and see how well you’re progressing,” he said.

Putbrese said he raised about $50 for the event and plans to attend future events to test his progress with CrossFit.

SOWF provides ) nancial assistance to the U.S. Armed Forces special operations community and their families, according to the Fight Gone Bad website.

Camp Patriot is a non-pro) t corporation that takes some of the 2.3 million disabled veterans in the U.S. on outdoor excursions, according to the event website.

Putbrese said Fight Gone Bad was named a- er UFC ) ghter BJ Penn, and the workout itself is designed to simulate a mixed martial arts ) ght.

Kimball said people do not o- en get a chance to raise money through an activity they enjoy, such as working out.

“When an event like this comes along, people like to donate for something they love to do,” Kimball said.

Sean Meredith can be reached at smeredith@dailyegyptian.com

or 536-3311 ext. 259.

SEAN MEREDITHDaily Egyptian

Kevin Skratulia, left, a junior from Morris studying pre-foreign language and international trade, works out Saturday at the Recreation Center as certified CrossFit trainer Curtis Himstedt, a self-employed engineer from Simpson, counts the repetitions. CrossFit affiliates across the world, hosted the Fight Gone Bad fundraising event created by Sportsgrants Foundation. Randy Greer, owner of CrossFit Carbondale, said his affiliate raised approximately $1,200 halfway through the single-day event and expected to bring in around $2,000 by the end. According to the Fight Gone Bad website, the global total in donations for Saturday was $2.2 million.

STEVE MATZKER | DAILY EGYPTIAN

HoroscopesBy Nancy Black and Stephanie Clement

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.

PEURP

UBGNE

GEAJDG

NICTEJ

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

Find

us

on F

aceb

ook

http

://w

ww.

face

book

.com

/jum

ble

Print your answer here:(Answers tomorrow)

MORON CEASE MASCOT PHOTONSaturday’s Jumbles:Answer: The young chefs had not mastered —

COMMON “SCENTS”

Aries — Today is an 8 — Work through an intermediary, for greater impact. Let a partner negotiate. Discover hidden treasure by spending time at home.

Taurus — Today is an 8 — Reason and emotion argue to a standstill. Get quiet, and meditate on it. Study. Take on more responsibility without compensation, and you’ll be amply rewarded later.

Gemini — Today is a 9 — Anticipate resistance, and, if there isn’t any, fly ahead faster. A prepared response gives confidence. Communications from a distance provide clarity. Consider the bottom dollar.

Cancer — Today is a 9 — Travel’s not advised today. Don’t confront authority directly, but be prepared to defend your position. Budget for future plans, and then reach for them. You’ve got the power.

Leo — Today is a 7 —Leave your money in the bank. Le t your partner know the score. Get out of the house and around town, preferably in good company. Don’t focus on stressful situations.

Virgo — Today is a 7 — You may find yourself in a maze of confrontations, contradictions and disparities. In the end, it’s your imagination that carries you in the right direction.

Libra — Today is an 8 — Today is an 8 -- There’s plenty of room for misunderstandings now, but nothing you can’t handle with your sense of humor. You can easily diffuse the situation.

Scorpio — Today is an 8 — Avoid confusion in interactions by creating the necessary structure. Sometimes the best strategy is to keep quiet. You’d rather play than work now. Spending time

Sagittarius — Today is a 6 — Don’t try out a new idea yet. Even though a loved one is anxious for home improvements, don’t take out any loans. Learning is tons of fun, and cheap. Business heats up.

Capricorn — Today is an 8 — Think of a new service to provide. Focus on work now and be wonderfully productive. Don’t get distracted by other people’s anxieties. Offer food and comfort.

Aquarius — Today is an 8 —You’re lucky in love now, and you like it. Enjoy some good social time while you can, as things are going to get very busy soon.

Pisces — Today is an 8 — A child holds the knowledge that you need to complete your next mission. Be playful in your labors and work hard when playing. Romance blossoms.

Brought to you by:

1 2 3 4

D!"#$ E%$&'"!(S!"#$ B%&'(Tuesday, September 20, 2011 7

An early-intervention program has been revised to better assist first-year students, which could ultimately increase retention.

University officials will distribute self-assessment surveys and monitor grades

of first-year students through learning tools as students adjust to fall classes.

Lisa Peden, director of Learning Support Services, said the program that helps acclimate first-year students to university life was developed through Learning Support Services and has been implemented in some of

the first-year experience courses, but it will be implemented for all incoming students fall 2012.

Assembled with members from other academic advisers and support programs such as Saluki Cares, the program will use surveys and a retention-management system to ask students their semester

expectations and track their courses.

Julie Payne-Kirchmeier, associate provost for University College, said the intervention program is currently restricted for first-year students, and it is one component of the university’s overall approach to create a culture which supports students.

She said the university will see positive results in other areas as long as students have support.

“A positive bi-product of focusing our attention on students success is that ultimately enrollment and retention will increase,” Payne-Kirchmeier said.

University shi! s e" orts in academic early-intervention program

CITY

Please see INTERVENTION | 5

JACQUELINE MUHAMMADDaily Egyptian

Jacinto Huaroco, left, of Makanda, and Juan Campos, right, of Cape Girardeau, hang the Mexican and American flags Saturday before the Purépecha Festival in Cobden. The festival celebrated the indigenous Purépecha culture from the

state of Michoacán, Mexico and featured traditional food, music and dancing. Southern Illinois has a large Purépecha population due to migrant patterns dating back to the 1950s.

BROOKE GRACE | DAILY EGYPTIAN

Mexican city with local ties ! ghts drug cartel, government

While many Cobden residents celebrated the Mexican people’s culture at its Purépecha Festival Saturday, others were focused on events nearly 2,000 miles away.

Many Cobden and Alto Pass residents have ties to Cheran, Mexico, where townspeople are locked in a violent struggle with loggers they believe are backed by a drug cartel.

Fed up with violent drug cartels,

loggers illegally deforesting their land and a government that failed to help them, the people of Cheran barricaded the roads to town.

Townspeople said the loggers were clearing nearby pine tree lands, which are important to their Purépecha culture, and they accused drug cartels

of helping and providing loggers with weapons.

Details are hard to pin down because communication between relatives and family in Cheran has been limited. Someone sabotaged communications towers, which cut o" phone and Internet service for several weeks to the town of an estimated 18,000 people about 200 miles west of Mexico City.

But people with family and friends in Cheran said residents are trapped behind their own barricades.

“# ey don’t have any justice ,and they cannot buy food,” Adelina Fabian, of Alto Pass, said of her family in Cheran. “# e food they had is gone.”

Fabian has worked at Rendelman Orchards in Alto Pass for 11 years. With one of her six children translating, Fabian said family members believe they will have to guard the town for at least another year.

Please see CHERAN | 5

BROOKE GRACEDaily Egyptian

CAMPUS

C heran has developed a community governing system in which all the decisions are made by members of the

community. Other towns in Mexico who are facing similar issues are watching Cheran closely.

— Pedro Tomasleader of DeMigrates Cheran

THE GRIND

SIU was just six minutes away from upsetting SEC school Ole Miss.

It just so happened to be the ! rst six minutes of the Sept. 10 game that Ole Miss used to build a three-touchdown lead on running back Je" Scott’s shoulders.

SIU lost that game 42-24 but still outgained the Ole Miss o" ense 420 yards to 315. With a 38-10 Southeast Missouri rout to kicko" the season, there’s reason to be optimistic while heading into SIU’s conference opener Saturday against Missouri State.

“# e mistakes that we made early on, they were very correctable. But they were, basically, mental mistakes or just not being quite in tune with what was happening, and therefore we gave up big plays,” head coach Dale Lennon said.

Junior quarterback Paul McIntosh threw four interceptions against Ole Miss, but he also ranks among the top of the Missouri Valley Football Conference with an average of 221.5 yards passing per game. McIntosh has silenced those early-season questions about whether he should be starting quarterback rather than sophomores A.J. Hill and Kory Faulkner.

“A lot of times the quarterback is thrown under the bus with everyone saying ‘it’s his fault,’ but in reality, he’s doing exactly what he’s taught to do,” Lennon said about the nature of McIntosh’s interceptions. # ere was either a blocking breakdown or an athletic play made on the ball for at least two of McIntosh’s turnovers against Ole Miss, Lennon added.

# e running game has been as good as expected, which really opened things up for McIntosh and company in the passing game. Junior running back Steve Strother is averaging 10.4 yards per carry and fellow junior running back Jewel Hampton leads the MVFC in scoring with an average of two touchdowns per game. Including McIntosh, SIU features three of the MFVC’s top ten rushers.

“Our running game de! nitely sets up the play action,” McIntosh said a$ er the win over SEMO. “Whenever we’re getting four or ! ve yards a (carry), it makes the defense respect the run and it opens up a lot of the passing game for us.”

# e running game is only as e" ective as the guys they have blocking in front of them, and SIU had a scare when All-American lineman Bryan Boemer went down with an injury against Ole Miss. In Lennon’s Monday press conference, he said Boemer, along with junior nose tackle Kayon Swanson, who su" ered an ankle injury, will be healed and ready to go Saturday a$ er the o" week.

“We have to prepare to be game-ready,” Lennon said. “It’s nice to have a week o" , but with that I think there’s always that danger that you lose a few things. We have to be prepared for game speed. Just watching our practice yesterday, we struggled with that.”

Swanson hasn’t struggled much

with the game’s speed at nose tackle for the Salukis a$ er he garnered two di" erent national Player of the Week honors for his eight-tackle and two-sack performance against Ole Miss. # e defense, as a whole, has allowed their opponents to gain only 288 yards per game, which is good for second in the MFVC.

“I think we have a pretty athletic defensive front, again with the pressure that we bring, we better have sacks,” Lennon said.

SIU faces a Missouri State team that has struggled to a 0-3 record this year, but a tough schedule that included losses to Arkansas and Oregon makes them a hard team to scout. Missouri State has a quarterback in Trevor Wooden who started as the team’s wide receiver last year, but Lennon said he will be the focus of the Saluki defense Saturday.

“He’s shown good accuracy, so you have to respect the pass,” Lennon said. “I think he’s a good enough quarterback where you just can’t try to stop him from passing and hurting you but he’s a good enough athlete that if he decides to run, he can get his yards, too.”

Even though SIU will have its hands full with Wooden, the entire team is ready for its ! rst conference match. # e real season starts now, so even though there was much promise in those ! rst two games for the Salukis, it won’t mean anything if they can’t take care of business Saturday.

“It’s one game at a time. You ask the guys what the biggest game of the year is and this is it,” Lennon said. “You want to get o" to a good start in the conference, and last year we didn’t. I think it is important to get that ! rst win because that can make all the di" erence in the world with what kind of season you have.”

!!!."#$%&'(&)*$#+.,-.

BANTER

New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera recorded save No. 602, claiming the title of the all-time saves leader. With more than 250 saves

than any active player, how long do you think this record will stand?

Sophomore runner Brian Dixon ties his shoes during a break in cross-country practice Monday. Despite his rigorous cross-country schedule, Dixon has a 4.0

grade point average. He was named MVC Scholar Athlete of the week Wednesday and said he hopes to contend for a conference title this semester.

ISAAC SMITH | DAILY EGYPTIAN

Football outlook brightergoing into conference opener

JOE RAGUSADaily Egyptian

COLUMN

A$ er a year of success, sophomore runner Brian Dixon has been recognized for the work he has put in — on and o" the course.

Dixon was a newly recruited freshman walk-on for the SIUC cross-country team in fall 2010 when he turned the corner athletically and struggled academically throughout high school.

A$ er placing second in the Eastern Illinois University Walt Crawford Open Sept. 9, Dixon was announced the Missouri Valley Conference scholar-athlete of the Week Wednesday.

“It’s great to have athletic success (and) get awards for that,” Dixon said. “It’s even greater to get the academic standard because you’re achieving in both levels of college.”

Head coach Matt Sparks said this hasn’t always been the case for Dixon. Sparks said he had worries about Dixon's academic performance at the collegiate level during the recruiting process.

“Academically, he wasn’t the best high school student,” Sparks said. “He was barely eligible for Division One athletics by the NCAA.”

A$ er two semesters in college, Dixon holds a 4.0 grade point average as an accounting major. Dixon said being in athletics gives him a reason to stay on top of his studies.

“It gives you more motivation to study,” he said. “You want to stay eligible. You want to get your study table hours in, and being in cross-country you can’t go out and drink every night so you’re kind of forced to stay inside your apartment.”

Sparks said academics and athletics seem to go hand-in-hand as the Saluki men were ranked No. 2 last year academically and went on to ! nish in second place in conference. He said Dixon has done a great job of concentrating on both areas.

“It’s the same type of commitment and focus as what it takes to be a good distance runner, and I would say a good athlete in general,” Sparks said. “I think now, at college, he’s got two things he’s focused on: his school and his running, and he’s doing very well in both.”

Sophomore runner Cole Allison, who also has been Dixon’s

roommate for two years, said it typically boosts his performance when he races with Dixon because he is able to set a good pace for their runs.

“Whenever I race with Brian, I usually do better,” Allison said. “I usually just follow his lead because he’s pretty good. I’d say he’d be a good team leader.”

Dixon said his interest in cross-country began in middle school when his attempts at playing baseball and soccer made him realize he should try something di" erent. His older brother ran cross-country, so he gave it a chance, he said.

Dixon said he wasn’t as committed to the sport in his freshman and sophomore years of high school as he was during the two latter years.

“I really didn’t care for the sport that much. I just did it to have something to do,” Dixon said. “Once I started running better times I started to like it more and that made me want to continue my cross-country career into college.”

A graduate of Glenwood High School in Spring! eld, Dixon said his interest in SIU stemmed from his relationship with senior runner Neal Anderson, and fellow Glenwood High School alum.

“I knew he liked it down here and he was getting better,” Dixon said. “I wanted to go somewhere where I would get better and be the best I could be, and I knew at SIU I could do that.”

Sparks said Dixon has led the team with his actions rather than his words. He said he couldn’t be more pleased with how he’s progressed.

“I couldn’t be prouder of him,” Sparks said. “I just hope some of the freshmen (and) sophomore guys on the team, with the very young team that we have right now, see the things that Brian does and the way that Brian does them and carry them over to their life.”

Nareg Kurtjian can be reached at nkurtjian@dailyegyptian.com

or 536-3311 ext. 282.

Runner driven to academic, athletic successNAREG KURTJIANDaily Egyptian

TRACK AND FIELD

I t gives you more motivation to study.

You want to stay eligible.

— Brian Dixonsophomore runner