Knox in the News

From LoHud.com: (Lower Hudson Valley, NY)

Like a number of well-to-do Americans, Hederer lately has been reappraising her fashion spending habits. Her feelings are sometimes conflicted.

On the one hand, Hederer said, some economists are urging those with jobs and incomes to help the economy by firing up their credit cards. On the other hand, she thinks the affluent should show some solidarity with the rest of society by cutting back in tough times…..

But a number of social scientists, behavioral experts and sustainable-living or “voluntary simplicity” advocates say holding to such resolve and self-imposed moratoriums isn’t likely to be simple. It’s an attempt to alter, in a relatively short time, attitudes and routines acquired over years, if not decades. Peer pressure, class expectations and self-perception can make it all the more daunting. And the task is likely to get even tougher once the recession lifts…..

Tim Kasser, an authority on issues related to consumption and values who teaches at Knox College in Galesburg, Ill., says although the current economic crisis could spur new ways of living, he doubts long-lasting change will result.

From WGIL radio:

A group of Galesburg residents got together Saturday to clean up what one resident says is a vastly different neighborhood than it was a year ago.

Residents from inside and out of the area around Pearl and East South Streets cleaned up and planted trees in the area, an activity put on by the Neighborhood Watch area there that’s no more than a year old…..

Also helping in the cleanup were a group of Knox College students who are being credited with coming up with the idea for the tree-planting.

From the Virginian-Pilot: (Hampton Roads, VA)

Comedy Central’s Stephen Colbert found  the perfect use for his honorary doctorate: Joke material.

At the conclusion of his enormously entertaining commencement address to Knox College in 2006 - a transcript is here - Colbert gently mocked honorary degrees in his final words of advice to the graduates:

“First, being pre-approved for a credit card does not mean you have to apply for it. And lastly, the best career advice I can give you is to get your own TV show. It pays well, the hours are good, and you are famous. And eventually some very nice people will give you a doctorate in fine arts for doing jack squat. “

By Amelia Flood ‘07
From the Madison County Record: (Edwardsville, IL)

Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor remembers when she ran for her first judgeship in her home state of Arizona. That experience - and her respect for the Founding Fathers - has made her a staunch advocate for reforming how states pick the men and women who sit as judges.

While most states, like Illinois, elect judges in increasingly heated and well-funded contests, O’Connor said she would like to see changes toward merit-based selection processes.

From the Register-Mail:

A scale model of Knox College’s Old Main constructed of thick stock paper was unveiled Wednesday as the school announced plans to have a contest that aims to increase awareness of the historical building.

The venerable building, site of one of Abraham Lincoln’s debates with Stephen Douglas in 1858, is the subject of a contest that gives residents and students a chance to replicate the model.

“It’s an important part of the history of Knox College,” president Roger Taylor said.

The “Build Your Own Old Main” contest will run through September and allows area youth and classes to download the paper sections needed for the project from the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency’s Web site.

Also available are materials for the construction of other Lincoln sites, including the old State Capitol building, which is the most elaborate model, requiring 41 sections.

From WGIL radio:

The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency has replicated one of the most historically-significant buildings in Galesburg, and it wants members of the public to do the same.

The agency has presented Knox College with a replica of “Old Main” — the oldest building on campus and the one made famous by the Lincoln-Douglas Debates, in order to help encourage people to essentially build their own model, using plans on the agency’s website — part of a program where you could do the same with a number of Lincoln sites.

IHPA Senior Preservation Architect Carol Dyson says the idea for “Build Your Own Lincoln Sites” came from someone at Knox College.

“(Seymour Library Director) Jeff Douglas called, and he had seen a program we have on the web which is ‘Build Your Own Main Street,’” Dyson said, “where you can also download model parts and put them together. And he said, ‘Would you mind if we took that idea and did it with Knox College with our Old Main building?’ I said, ‘Oh, that’s a wonderful idea. We’d love it if you did.’”