The Daily Eastern News

02/22/2025

Mattoon boys’ basketball completed the season sweep of Charleston with a 53-45 win at Mattoon High School on Friday.

Mattoon has won four straight games against Charleston since last season. This marks a shift for the Trojans who before last season had won six straight matchups against the Greenwave.

Check out the story below for more.

Mattoon boys’ basketball completed the season sweep of Charleston with a 53-45 win at Mattoon High School on Friday. Mattoon has won four straight games against Charleston since last season. This marks a shift for the Trojans who before last season had won six straight matchups against the Greenwa...

02/21/2025

Charleston High School junior guard Tyler Oakley became the second Trojan in the span of a week to score career point number 1,000, becoming the 14th Trojan all-time to score 1,000 career points in Charleston boys’ basketball program history.

Oakley scored 17 points in the team’s 58-45 loss to Paris Tuesday evening.

He along with senior guard Luke Bonnstetter, who reached the milestone in the Trojans’ 54-53 loss to Marshall on Feb. 14, became the first duo to score their 1,000th career point in the span of a week in program history, according to head coach Brian Deadmond.

Check out the story below for more.

Charleston High School junior guard Tyler Oakley became the second Trojan in the span of a week to score career point number 1,000, becoming the 14th Trojan all-time to score 1,000 career points in Charleston boys’ basketball program history. Oakley scored 17 points in the team’s 58-45 loss to P...

02/21/2025

The EIU student senate saw presentations concerning its upcoming budget for the fiscal year 2026.

The student government association receives its funding from student fees. In total, the SGA is requesting $59,606 from student fee allocation.

Check out the story below for more.

The EIU student senate saw presentations concerning its upcoming budget for the fiscal year 2026. The student government association receives its funding from student fees. In total, the SGA is requesting $59,606 from student fee allocation. Each student senate committee is allocated $500 for variou...

02/21/2025

After going on a 5-2 run to start off the game, Eastern didn’t look back for the rest of the game as the Panthers defeated Southern Indiana 63-54 Thursday evening at Liberty Arena in Evansville, Indiana.

Eastern’s first points came from a putback layup from senior guard NaKyel Shelton. After a layup by graduate guard Artese Stapleton rewarded via a goaltending violation, and a three-pointer from Shelton, the Panthers never gave up the lead to the Screaming Eagles.

“It was a good win for us,” Stapleton said. “We came together and figured it out.”

After going on a 5-2 run to start off the game, Eastern didn’t look back for the rest of the game as the Panthers defeated Southern Indiana 63-54 Thursday evening at Liberty Arena in Evansville, Indiana. Eastern’s first points came from a putback layup from senior guard NaKyel Shelton. After a l...

02/21/2025

The Panthers recorded their first loss to Southern Indiana since the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament in 2024 with the final score of 66-46 on Thursday evening in Liberty Arena in Evansville, Indiana.

After scoring only four points in the fourth quarter, the Panthers dropped their fourth Ohio Valley Conference game of the season.

Southern Indiana was dominant throughout the first quarter, limiting the Panthers to nine points.

The Panthers recorded their first loss to Southern Indiana since the OVC Tournament in 2024 with the final score of 66-46 on Thursday evening in Liberty Arena in Evansville, Indiana. After scoring only four points in the fourth quarter, the Panthers dropped their fourth Ohio Valley Conference game o...

02/20/2025

Junior guard Zion Fruster transferred into Eastern’s basketball program from University of Virginia’s College at Wise this year.

The Douglasville, Georgia, native began playing basketball when his mom put the ball in his hands at the age of 5.

“Zion [Fruster] has meant a lot to this program,” Eastern’s head coach Marty Simmons said. “He’s a terrific young man on and off the court, brings great effort to practice every day. He really wants to be good.”

Check out the story below for more.

Junior guard Zion Fruster transferred into Eastern’s basketball program from University of Virginia’s College at Wise this year. The Douglasville, Georgia, native began playing basketball when his mom put the ball in his hands at the age of 5. “Zion [Fruster] has meant a lot to this program,.....

02/20/2025

The city of Charleston approved changing electrical suppliers and approved funds to repair the wastewater treatment plant at the Charleston city council meeting on Tuesday.

When city officials toured the Charleston wastewater treatment plant, it was observed that the chlorine building was in need of repairs. There were pieces of insulation and drywall as well as fibers from the roof deck scattered on the floor, according to Mayor Brandon Combs.

“We thought that there had maybe been some wind damage,” Combs said. “There were areas along the north edge that was allowing some rainwater to enter and cause damage.”

Check out the story below for more.

The city of Charleston approved changing electrical suppliers and approved funds to repair the wastewater treatment plant at the Charleston city council meeting on Tuesday. When city officials toured the Charleston wastewater treatment plant, it was observed that the chlorine building was in need of...

02/20/2025

Senior guard Alex Rouse started playing basketball at around 6 years old with her dad and her brother.

Since then, the Little Rock, Arkansas, native made a name for herself at Joe T. Robinson High School. Rouse finished as the school's all-time leading scorer with more than 2,000 career points.

In this Q&A, Rouse discusses her transferring from her first two schools, why Michael Jordan is the G.O.A.T and what she plans to do with her major.

Senior guard Alex Rouse started playing basketball at around 6 years old with her dad and her brother. Since then, the Little Rock, Arkansas, native made a name for herself at Joe T. Robinson High School. Rouse finished as the school’s all-time leading scorer with more than 2,000 career points. Af...

02/20/2025

Luke Brewer argues that "A Different Man" is a film worth watching but hampered by time skips and jump cuts.

Actors metaphorically put on a different face when working, but “A Different Man” takes that metaphor literally. Sebastian Stan plays Edward, a man with neurofibromatosis type one, a rare genetic condition that causes non-cancerous tumors to grow on nerve tissue, who strives to be a great actor ...

02/20/2025

Eric Williams Jr. competed on Eastern’s blue track during his senior year of high school.

Little did he know, he would end up back at Eastern not just to get his degree but to also have a full-time job in athletics as a strength and conditioning coach.

“I never would’ve thought that I would be back here going to school, so it was kind of a full circle moment,” Williams Jr. said.

Check out the story below for more.

Eric Williams Jr. competed on Eastern’s blue track during his senior year of high school. Little did he know, he would end up back at Eastern not just to get his degree but to also have a full-time job in athletics as a strength and conditioning coach. “I never would’ve thought that I would be...

02/20/2025

To celebrate African American Heritage Month, the Black Student Union is holding the 52nd annual Miss Black EIU Scholarship Pageant with the theme “A Diamond of the Season.”

Seven women compete this year to hold the crown of Miss Black EIU 2025.

The seven contestants are: Alaina Collins, a junior health science major; Aaniyah Hampton, a sophomore health science major; Angie Jenkins, a junior mass communication major; Anna Jones, a freshman finance major; Jamey Kane, a junior biological sciences major; Arnezia Powers, a junior mathematics teacher education major; and Drew Williams, a senior biological sciences major.

We asked each of the contestants some questions about the pageant.

To celebrate African American Heritage Month, the Black Student Union is holding the 52nd annual Miss Black EIU Scholarship Pageant with the theme “A Diamond of the Season.” Since its commencement in 1971, the pageant serves to celebrate African American culture and accomplishments. Seven women ...

02/19/2025

EIU Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Ryan Hendrickson will be departing EIU to become the tenth president of the University of St. Francis.

Hendrickson will start June 1, 2025, succeeding ninth president of USF Arvid C. Johnson.

More coverage is to come from the Daily Eastern News.

02/19/2025

For students trying to avoid certain ingredients, the EIU dining halls might not be the place to go.

Presently, the dining halls do not offer ingredient lists in person or on the EIU dining services website, only nutrition facts and a list of common allergens.

Check out the story below for more.

For students trying to avoid certain ingredients, the EIU dining halls might not be the place to go. “Every time I go eat the food from SQ [South Quad], I wonder what ingredients were used, and wish I knew beforehand, especially after I get a reaction. For example, breaking out or getting stomacha...

02/19/2025

Over the summer, Eastern softball’s head coach Tara Archibald left for Texas Tech to coach with her father.

Eastern found its new head coach fast as a new one was hired in only 13 days. However, there was not just one but instead two hired.

Kristi and Dan Paulson were hired on July 11, 2024. They previously coached as co-head coaches at Parkland College.

Check out the story below for more.

Over the summer, Eastern softball’s head coach Tara Archibald left for Texas Tech to coach with her father. Eastern found its new head coach fast as a new one was hired in only 13 days. However, there was not just one but instead two hired. Kristi and Dan Paulson were hired on July 11, 2024....

02/19/2025

Gunnar Olson argues that logging in has become an unnecessarily difficult process.

For a long time, I’ve been holding back my thoughts on a problem that many deal with daily: logging in. I watch a lot of movies in my free time. Many of those movies are housed across many streaming platforms. It’s already hard to figure out what I want to watch next, so now imagine...

02/18/2025

For the third consecutive year, four athletes from Eastern have traveled to Philadelphia to go to the Uplifting Athletes conference.

This year, redshirt sophomore defender Elizabeth Galvin and junior forward Katiebeth May represented women’s soccer, and redshirt sophomore quarterback Blainey Dowling and senior safety Tienne Fridge represented football.

Check out the story below for more.

For the third consecutive year, four athletes from Eastern have traveled to Philadelphia to go to the Uplifting Athletes conference. This year, redshirt sophomore defender Elizabeth Galvin and junior forward Katiebeth May represented women’s soccer, and redshirt sophomore quarterback Blainey Dowli...

02/17/2025

Eastern Illinois University released its facilities reinvestment plan proposal which aims to improve facilities on campus such as residence halls, maintenance and space optimization as a part of Plan 2028.

The proposal was completed in collaboration with Cordogan Clark and Associates, an architectural, engineering, planning and construction firm based in Chicago who helped survey locations around campus to prioritize which areas require more focus than others.

Following the survey, the proposal was split into three parts: immediate actions, three-to-five-year goals and five plus year vision.

Check out the story below for the breakdown.

Eastern Illinois University released its facilities reinvestment plan proposal which aims to improve facilities on campus such as residence halls, maintenance and space optimization as a part of Plan 2028. The proposal was completed in collaboration with Cordogan Clark and Associates, an architectur...

02/17/2025

Payton Liggins argues that the Super Bowl halftime show is being judged unjustly by people who didn't understand it.

Even a week after the Super Bowl, all I’ve been hearing is, “That halftime show was garbage,” “DEI?” and “That’s what y’all call music?” OK, bird brain.  Regardless of the intended message Kendrick Lamar was trying to show us, the actual music was really good. You don’t have ...