Vote for Chapin Rose

On Nov. 2 I will be voting for Chapin Rose for State Representative, and I ask that you do the same. As a former president of Eastern Illinois University, I have worked with Chapin on many issues, and have seen first hand his dedication toward this district and Eastern.

Representative Rose worked diligently with Eastern to make the Doudna Fine Arts Center a reality. Chapin worked with us and numerous Illinois government agencies to make sure we received approval and funding, so that we could construct a spectacular new teaching facility, the construction of which provided hundreds of local jobs.

He has spearheaded Eastern’s Renewable Energy Center by sponsoring the legislation which permits Eastern to use the cash saved by replacing the 80-year-old, inefficient, and high cost current steam plant to pay for the construction of a new, energy efficient facility. Such an innovative funding stream prevents what would have otherwise been either a $2400 tuition increase to the students or a $76 million construction cost to the taxpayers! And, like Doudna, it will provide hundreds of construction jobs in our area. Efficiency, green jobs, taxpayer and student tuition payer savings – this is the type of thinking we need in Springfield.

Chapin has always been there for Eastern.

Growing up just one block off campus, he understands our values and is willing to continue to fight for them in Springfield. As a Charleston High School student, Chapin was a proud member of the Junior Panther Club, his mother retired from Eastern, and he is a current Panther Club member.

I support Chapin Rose because I have seen what he can do for the university and our community. I hope you will join me in voting for him for State Representative, so he can continue to ensure that district 110 and our voices are heard in Springfield.

Lou Hencken

Former Eastern president

Future teachers need to look into Illinois politics

As a future teacher enrolled here at Eastern, I am extremely upset that the politicians in Springfield went after all of us future teachers last year.

What am I talking about? I’m talking about the fact that the state changed all of the rules regarding future teachers and university faculty retirements.

Now a kindergarten teacher who starts out at 22-years-old will have to work until they are 67 to get a pension! How on earth is a 67-year-old supposed to manage a classroom of five year olds?

After recently hearing State Representative Chapin Rose speak on campus about this and the fact that he didn’t vote for it, I decided to write this letter because we students need to do something about this now! If you care about education, I would recommend that all students and education majors, in particular, pay attention to who the Illinois Education Association has endorsed for office this year.

For those of you planning to vote locally, the IEA has endorsed Rose because of his dedication to our future careers.

For those of you going to vote absentee at home, I’d encourage you to go to this website and see who else has been endorsed: www.ieanea.org.

Kate Brown

Sophomore secondary education

History Certification

Junior applied engineering and technology major Kyle Rauch lines up a shot during a game of pool in the lobby of Taylor Hall Wednesday. (Kim Foster

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