Candidate Forum Held at Prairie State College

On April 4, a Candidate Forum, co-sponsored by the Leagues of Women Voters of the Homewood-Flossmoor Area and Park Forest Area and the Student Government Association of Prairie State College, was held at PSC for candidates running to fill the two vacant seats on the PSC Board of Trustees.  Members of a 60+ audience  submitted a variety of written questions to candidates Charles "Chuck" Dieringer, Margaret "Peg' Donohue, Joelle Mulhearn and Linda Uzureau. Due to a prior commitment, candidates Jacqueline Agee and Mary Madden-Cifelli were unable to participate in this Forum.

Mr. Dieringer believes that technology needs to be upgraded in the classrooms and that Board meetings could be held via web, videotaped, and played for viewing by members of the community. He is concerned with the integrity of the infrastructure of the buildings on campus.  He also feels that adjunct faculty are often better connected with local job providers and therefore they can provide easier transitions for students from college to work.

Ms. Donohue, a former instructor and trustee at PSC, believes that the college has good policies that are not being implemented.  She expressed a concern that the present Board is rushing to hire a new President before a new Board is seated.  She stated that mutual respect and integrity must be restored to the Board. 

Ms. Uzureau spent her entire career at either Prairie State or Governors State University. She believes the members of the PSC Board should live in more of the 20 communities which comprise the PSC area, not simply Chicago Heights.  Because funding from the state has declined from 30% to 10%, this makes raising tuition in the future most probably a necessity. She, too, is concerned that the presidential search is proceeding too rapidly and that there is a need to restore civility and integrity on the Board.

Ms. Mulhearn currently teaches elementary students in the district. She believes that taking advantage of governent grants can be an important part of solving financial shortages.

Syvia Tillman, a member of the Voter Services Committee for the H-F LWV was the coordinator of this event. Helen Manley, Coordinator of Student Life/Student Review Advisor at PSC assisted Ms. Tillman. Greeters were members of the PSC Student Government, timers were HF LWV members Maureen McSherry and Erin Roeper, and Peg Boivin and Joyce Grant served as question screeners.  Moderator was Cynthia Schilsky, president of the Cook County League of Women Voters, and a member of the LaGrange LWV.

Voting for this election takes place on Tuesday, April 9, 2013.