LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Posted January 15, 2025

Dear Editor:

Every year, hundreds of students enroll at Lake Land College to take the first steps toward rewarding futures. No matter a student’s age or background, the college journey is almost certainly a time of exciting new experiences, opportunities and challenges. But there’s a certain group of students that, in addition to meeting new friends and studying for the next test, must learn the ins and outs of a foreign culture. This might sound like an unbelievable task, but it’s a remarkable reality for more than one million college students across the United States: international students. 
 
International students come from all across the globe, seeking educational opportunities that may be limited in their home countries. We at Lake Land College are pleased to welcome international students to campus and contribute to Illinois’ incredible international student enrollment numbers, which rank fifth in the nation.

At Lake Land College, international students can choose from roughly 150 academic majors, which will prepare them to either transfer to a university to complete a bachelor’s degree or immediately enter the workforce with industry-recognized credentials. With universities such as Eastern Illinois University and the University of Illinois nearby, as well as major cities such as Chicago, Indianapolis and St. Louis only a short travel away, Lake Land is conveniently located to help international students maximize their transfer and career opportunities.  
 
Beyond college and career trajectory, Lake Land’s International Studies Program aims to provide wholistic support and help students acclimate to an unfamiliar culture. The College’s Intensive English Language Program (IELP) helps non-native English speakers rapidly advance their English skills to prepare them for their college programs. All Lake Land College international students also enroll in a free course to learn about U.S. culture and government and ensure they are up to speed with American academic expectations, such as citing and formatting. Lake Land also assists international students with housing options and even transportation to and from campus. 
 
Of course, the International Studies Program also offers tremendous benefits to our domestic students and to our community as a whole. For local students attending Lake Land, sharing a class or maybe even an apartment with an international student is an incredible way to broaden horizons. When we surround our students with people of different cultures, backgrounds, beliefs and values, we create a more well-rounded educational experience and better imitate the diversity found throughout our country’s workforce. 
 
At Lake Land, international students enjoy boundless opportunities to integrate into campus and the surrounding communities. It is likely that you’ve seen several of our international students playing on our athletic teams, participating in student clubs, serving in leadership roles and volunteering in the community. Many also secure part-time campus jobs through the new Laker Works Student Service Internship program, which connects them with a wide range of work opportunities across campus and helps them gain relevant career experience. 
 
We are thrilled to report that our own International Studies Program has recently experienced remarkable growth. When Denver Daniels, Coordinator of the International Studies Program, began at Lake Land in 2021, we had 14 international students enrolled at the College. Since then, we’ve seen the program rapidly expand under Denver’s leadership. In fact, in Fall 2024, we saw a record-high 36 international students enrolled, an increase of more than 50% compared to the previous year! 
 
We also recognize that it is vital to celebrate our international students and help them feel at home here at Lake Land. In November, we partnered with the Mattoon Rotary to celebrate international education week with the dedication of two Peace Poles in Podesta Park. Each pole contains inscriptions of the phrase “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in all the languages spoken by past and present international Lake Land students. We hope these poles contribute to a welcoming campus environment to all international students and inspire unity across all backgrounds and cultures. 
 
With the Spring 2025 semester underway, I am excited to see our wonderful international student population again, and I look forward to discussing with you the immeasurable value these students bring to our campus community and beyond.

For more of my thoughts about a range of innovative topics that impact higher education, our communities and our future, be sure to check out the Laker Advantage Podcast: Insights and Sidebars with Dr. B on Spotify.

Sincerely,

Dr. Josh Bullock, President

Lake Land College

Mattoon, IL

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Posted January 9, 2025

Dear Editor:

Local street departments are going above and beyond to keep our towns safe and moving smoothly during the recent snowfall. However, some community members have been expressing frustration over the snow-clearing process, leading to confusion, miscommunication, and a breakdown of community connections.

One common complaint is the perceived lack of salt on side roads, with residents questioning the prioritization of main roads. It’s important to note that road treatments like salt and salt brining can be costly for the taxpayers in the short and long run.

While rock salt can be costly, the corrosive damage that it causes to roads, bridges, vehicles, and sidewalks can create an additional tax burden. If salt were to be used on every street, it would damage landscapes by causing nutrient imbalances and deficiencies.

Many large cities have also had to limit the amount of salt used for snow and ice treatment because it infiltrates groundwater, contaminating reservoirs and wells and negatively impacting community members, fish, bugs, and animals. While it may be frustrating to deal with snowy roads, something that we don’t often have to deal with, our local officials are making decisions that prioritize environmental damage mitigation, traffic volume and community safety considerations. 

Residents have expressed concern about snow being pushed into driveways during street plowing efforts. While this may be inconvenient, street departments do not have the means or equipment to clear the edge of every driveway. If they did, the tax burden on community members would be astronomical. While a snowstorm can be inconvenient, it is important to remember that patience and understanding during snow removal efforts are key.

Additionally, residents must take responsibility when planning for snow/ice storms and removal. Residents can take some simple steps to ensure they are prepared for the next snowstorm. First, make sure you are tracking local weather predictions. In Illinois, weather can change quickly, so checking outlooks several times a day before a storm can allow individuals to plan for any condition properly. 

If it looks like snow will be accumulating locally, residents should be thinking about their personal ability to remove snow from home sidewalks and/or driveways.  Residents may want to contact local snow removal companies early to inquire about price and availability. Everyone has different needs, and it can be important to let a snow removal company know about work schedules or medical issues that may require your property to be at the top of their service list. 

Area residents who use social media should follow local community pages. These pages will have weather and safety-related updates, information about businesses available for snow removal, road and business closures, and more. 

Not everyone is fortunate enough to have the means and ability to remove snow. The elderly and those with health problems often need to be checked on and assisted. Make sure to check on your neighbors to see if they need assistance finding someone to help with snow removal. The sooner the snow can be removed, the better. As snow continues to sit, it becomes compacted and the sun will start to melt the snow, which will then freeze and delay removal.

To better understand the decisions made by local authorities, residents are encouraged to stay informed about their town's snow removal plan, be patient during winter weather events, and take proactive measures to help alleviate the burden on street departments.

Lastly, getting angry about snow and taking it out on community workers and leaders over social media does not alleviate the snow problem. Don’t worsen a snowstorm with a bad attitude, instead, work together to ensure safety for all residents this winter season.

Written by:

Valerie Belusko, Community and Economic Development Educator
Serving Christian, Jersey, Macoupin & Montgomery Counties
 

STATION EDITORIAL

Posted January 6, 2025

This is a station editorial, I’m Randal J. Miller, station president.

This editorial is all about spending YOU and I’s tax dollars in Springfield and Washington.

In Springfield, Governor J-B Pritzker got re-elected in 2022 claiming that the state was flush with cash, had a rainy-day fund, and that Happy Times were here again.  This is despite pausing until AFTER the election, another motor fuel tax hike making this tax the SECOND highest in the country after California.

Well, Happy Times are NO longer here again.  The state was using federal COVID money to make its budget look flush with cash, knowing that money would be gone.  But, it got him re-elected.

Today, while Pritzker continues to pass out money for things like municipal parks and the like, he’s warned state agencies cuts are coming as the state is 3-billion (with a b) dollars in the red.

This winter’s state budget address should be a good one.

And, in Washington, President-elect Trump is trying to defy the long-entrenched government establishment with his so-called “Department of Government Efficiency”.   President Eisenhower warned as he was leaving office in 1961 of what he called the “military industrial complex” controlling the government.  64 years later, it’s as though the federal government is so big that it’s pretty much controlling things no matter who is president.   Let’s hope the “DOGE” agency as it’s called, can get federal government spending under control as 43 cents of every dollar they spend, is BORROWED.

When it comes down to it, it’s ALWAYS about the money because it helps them get re-elected, whether they’re in Springfield or Washington.

That’s our opinion.   We welcome yours.  Our e-mail address is editorial@randyradio.com.