Salukis take over Chicago, Nashville, Florida, St. Louis
An early initiative during Chancellor Austin Lane’s tenure at SIU was his Listening & Learning Tours. During those sessions, one of the things alumni pointed out was that they wanted to interact more often with campus officials and students.
Born out of that sentiment was the Saluki Takeover Tour, which brings the campus to areas around the country and connects alumni to leadership. During FY23, the SIU Foundation hosted events in Chicago, Nashville, Florida, and St. Louis.
Chicago
The kickoff event was the Chancellor’s Reception on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022, at the Chicago Firehouse Restaurant. Chancellor Lane touted the impact of the Imagine 2030 strategic plan and encouraging enrollment trends.
“There’s a lot of history of Salukis in Chicago,” said Chancellor Lane. “Our goal is to have 15,000 students by 2030, and Chicago is going to play a major role in that plan.”
Chicago Fire Department Capt. Ronald Regan Jr. was honored with a posthumous bachelor’s degree in public safety management during a ceremony the morning of Friday, Sept. 16, at the Chicago Fire Academy.
Regan passed away Dec. 19, 2021, at the age of 58 after a bout with COVID-19. He was just one semester away from earning his degree.
“Ron was not just a firefighter or captain, he was a friend,” Fire Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt said. “He did so much for everybody else. He never thought about himself.”
Later that afternoon, a sold-out crowd filled the dining room at the Residence Inn in downtown Chicago for the Anti-racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion luncheon.
Dr. Paul Frazier, vice chancellor for anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion, honored 10 SIU alumni with Ascension Awards, which recognize alumni who have demonstrated a commitment to leadership and service at SIU.
“We’re honoring these incredible Salukis for their contributions to SIU and society,” he said.
The awardees were Eric Alvarez, Robert Beverly, Andrea Brookins, Juana Duran Charicata, Pervis Conway, Carlos Hernandez, Beth Mueller, Freddie Taylor, Jr., Everett Rand, and Timothy Rand.
Chancellor Lane, President Dan Mahony, Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management Wendell Williams, and other SIU Admissions representatives visited multiple high schools and community colleges.
The university signed agreements with Prairie State College and the College of DuPage, making it easier for students from those schools to enroll at SIU.
There were also visits to multiple high schools, which included three schools involved in the Hope Chicago program, which provides opportunities for students from underserved communities.
The SIU Alumni Association and members of the Carbondale in the ‘80s and ‘90s Facebook group hosted an event on the Chicago Riverwalk at Tiny Tapp & Café. The beer of choice, Salukitoberfest, was brewed by students in SIU’s Fermentation Science Institute through its partnership with Ravinia Brewing Co.
Later Friday evening, dozens of alumni and friends gathered at the Promontory Fieldhouse for the Dunbar Leadership Society reception. The society is hoping to reinvigorate SIU’s diverse alumni and create opportunities for current and future Salukis. Its plan is to raise scholarship funds and host events that resonate with members of a multicultural campus.
Hundreds of Salukis made the trip even farther upstate to Evanston to take part in the Alumni Association tailgate before Saluki Football’s historic win against Northwestern.
“We had such a great crowd. It was a great weekend in Chicago for the takeover tour,” said Jeff Gleim, executive director of the Alumni Association. “We couldn’t be any happier with the turnout for all of the events.”
“There’s a lot of history of Salukis in Chicago. Our goal is to have 15,000 students by 2030, and Chicago is going to play a major role in that plan.”
Chancellor Austin Lane
Nashville
On Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023, the SIU Alumni Association hosted an event at Bakersfield, a restaurant in downtown Nashville. Alumni gathered to share stories and enjoy light appetizers and drinks.
The keystone event for the Saluki Takeover Tour in Nashville was the Chancellor’s Reception at Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint on Sunday, Jan. 22. More than 60 alumni and friends enjoyed food and drinks as they celebrated Saluki spirit and prepared for the women’s basketball game that afternoon.
“We’re rolling out the red carpet for our alumni,” Chancellor Lane said. “That’s what this is all about, connecting with Salukis all over the place.”
The group was joined by many university leaders and a guest appearance by Saluki Women’s Basketball coach Kelly Bond-White. Chancellor Lane emphasized the importance SIU alumni play in the university’s goal of raising enrollment and fulfilling the goals of the Imagine 2030 strategic plan.
“We’re rolling out the red carpet for our alumni. That’s what this is all about, connecting with Salukis all over the place.”
Chancellor Austin Lane
Florida
Representatives from SIU gathered with alumni and friends down the Gulf Coast of Florida during the Saluki Takeover Tour in the Sunshine State.
“It’s so refreshing to see so many Salukis,” Chancellor Lane said. “You, the alumni, are serving as our ambassadors. Salukis are everywhere. Our goal as we connect, and sometimes reconnect, is to further ignite Saluki Nation.”
Things kicked off Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023, with dozens of Salukis coming together at the Savannah Recreation facility in The Villages. With its ever-growing population, The Villages is home to several Saluki alumni, who were excited to meet with campus leaders.
From there, the takeover tour headed south to Tampa on Thursday, Feb. 16, for a luncheon at Seasons 52 restaurant. Again, dozens of Salukis filled the room with maroon and white as they celebrated their school spirit.
The final event took place Friday, Feb. 17, at the Naples Yacht Club. More than 100 Salukis joined the fun as the takeover tour wrapped up.
“We want our students to imagine what they can become and realize they can do it if they start at SIU,” Chancellor Lane said.
“We want our students to imagine what they can become and realize they can do it if they start at SIU.”
Chancellor Austin Lane
St. Louis
Coinciding with the Missouri Valley Conference Arch Madness Tournament, Saluki maroon flooded the streets of downtown St. Louis from Wednesday, March 1, through Saturday, March 4, 2023.
More than 275 Salukis and friends gathered with university leaders at Schlafly Tap Room for the Chancellor’s Reception.
“What an incredible sight,” Chancellor Lane said. “I hope you feel the energy that’s in this room. We’re excited, we’re fired up, and we have a lot more work to do.”
The Saluki Takeover Tour in St. Louis featured two gatherings earlier in the week. One was a social for College of Business and Analytics alumni at Ballpark Village, and the SIU Alumni Association’s Young Alumni Group was hosting a similar event at Schlafly Tap Room.
“The Dawgs are in the house,” said Marc Morris, interim dean of the College of Business and Analytics. “We’re going to be in St. Louis every year.”
The SIU Foundation and its corporate division also hosted a Corporate Networking Breakfast at Mid-America Transplant – The Family House.
Chancellor Lane led the conversation, discussing how companies could best interact with SIU and produce a pipeline that connects businesses to SIU graduates.
Later, Saluki alumni and friends gathered at the Crown Room in Ballpark Village for a pre-game event before the men’s basketball team took on Missouri State at the MVC tournament.
Joined by the Saluki Spirit Teams, Marching Salukis, and Grey Dawg, revelers sent the Salukis off in style. The Dawgs defeated Missouri State, 54-51, in a heart-pounding quarterfinal game. After another send-off event on Saturday, this time at PBR St. Louis, the Salukis fell to Drake, 65-52, in the tournament’s semifinals.