Assistant head coach Rodney Watson

forward Randal Falker can play after he was fouled attempting a lay-up against Wichita State Jan. 19 in the SIU Arena in Carbondale, Ill. Despite having to replace his contact lens, Falker made the free throw and the Salukis went on to win 63-52.

The Saluki women's basketball team saw one of its highest turnouts ever when 2,969 fans came decked in pink to support breast cancer awareness during the second annual Pink Out Feb. 8 in the SIU Arena. Many fans like senior Kyle Hogendorp decided to show their Saluki pride by painting themselves entirely pink.

Captain of the Ainad Shriners Color Guard Kevin Fernandez carries the scimitar as he leads the color guard May 30 through the streets of Belleville. The Ainad Shriners Annual Circus Parade made its way through Belleville

clowns. The parade also announced the arrival of the Ainad Shriners Circus which took place the following week-end at the Belle-Clair Fairgrounds.

"It was very apparent early that we weren't ready play and it's my fault," Coach Chris Lowery said after the

Iowa at the MVC Tournament March 7 in St. Louis. The loss marked the

round, cutting the season unusually short.

Several weeks of Mississippi River

streets of Grafton, Ill. causing much of the town to shut down. In addition to

-

Grafton's main road, Route 3, diverting

Yoshi Fujii, a graduate student in ceram-ics, pauses to contemplate how he is going to arrange his sculptures May 7 in the University Museum in Carbon-dale, Ill. Fujii spent the early hours of the day setting up his M.F.A. thesis show just hours before his depart-ment's judging of his show.

After several weeks of Mississippi River

Grafton, Ill. with a thick layer of mud,

-ters receded.

Suzan Carpenter, of Belleville, Ill., admires the replication of a 19th century pharmacy July 20 in downtown Hanni-bal, Mo. Carpenter had come to the area with her family for a wedding and decided to spend her free time learning about Mark Twain and the town's history.

SIUE thrower Derek Rensing warms up with a few practice throws during the Spring Classic held March 28-29 at McAndrew Stadium in Carbondale, Ill.

-tion.

"I've been knocked out almost every year I've competed," SIUC alumnus and professional bull rider Steve Koelm said. Koelm competed in the Southern Stampede Feb. 9 at the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds, but his performance was

round. When he is not competing, he works as the marketing director for the Professional Bull Riders.

Emotions ran high as Tyrone Green, above, Randal Falker, Dion Coopwood

game during senior night March 1 in the SIU Arena in Carbondale, Ill. Both parents, like Green's mother Natasha Searight, and a packed crowd came out to honor the seniors' yearlong performance.

Ann Moore, as they visit the graves of their

They were there to bury their most recent dog, Zeus; however, many of Zeus'

nearby. "As we get older, this place gets fuller," Frank Moore said.

An early morning shower drenched the Shawnee National Forest March 31. The forest was created in the 1930s with the intention of bringing tourism to southern Illinois and to help stop an erosion problem created by overfarm-ing. Today, the forest sees thousands

hike.

Freshman guard Torres Roundtree attempts a lay-up during the Salukis' 82-59 win against Missouri Southern Nov. 3 in the SIU Arena in Carbondale, Ill. Roundtree had seven points during the night.

After Drake's 79-49 victory over

MVC Tournament March 9 in St. Louis, freshman guard Kit Avery celebrates the win by hugging friends and random strangers. The win landed Drake a spot in the NCAA Tourna-ment but the team lost to Western

From messages remembering Alex Booth, who died suddenly in his dorm Oct. 18, 2007, to love notes to simple explanations of who "rules," the dirty windows of the campus greenhouses serve as a public message board for any student with something to proclaim.

"It's just hair," Carbondale Community High School science teacher Carrie Mueller said April 24, minutes before her head was shaved by senior Khrysta Dunkel. "I'm choosing to lose my hair; other people don't get a choice." In an

Mueller told students in the high school's Key Club that if they raised more than $1,000, she would shave her head. $1,032 later, Dunkel, the club's president, shaved Mueller's head in front of roughly 50 students and faculty members.

Students in the Saluki Rainbow Network staged a "Kiss-in" April 18 at the Student Center in Carbondale, Ill.

month saw Rainbow Network students holding hands and kissing in the halls in order to gauge reac-tions and raise awareness to other students.

KEEPING THE TRAILS - Avid hiker John O'Dell has been hiking through the Shawnee Forest his entire life. He formed the River-to-River Trail Society and has since been leading hikes and enlightening people about the forest for almost two decades. He has become good friends with many of the society members. -

John O'Dell founded the River-to-River Trail Society in 1990. An avid hiker, O'Dell wanted to see a trail straight through his beloved homeland, the Shawnee National Forest. Except during the extreme summer and winter, O'Dell hosts weekly hikes throughout the Shawnee.

O'Dell begins every hike with a description of the trail and along the way, points out unique features of the forest. One of his favorite aspects of the forest are the random "faces" that appear in rock formations. He believes only God could create such faces.

"Hikers are real independent; they like to do things on their own," O'Dell said. Despite this mentality, members of the society look out for each other. One of the driving factors in creating the trail was increasing safety for amateur hikers, O'Dell said.

Although O'Dell was one of few who created the society, the group now has more than 1,200 members.

"I intend to walk in these woods as long as I can," O'Dell said. Having recently been diagnosed with prostate cancer, O'Dell has shortened his hikes.

Stopping for a minute to enjoy the scenery, O'Dell listens as fellow society member Ernie Brasher points out the wildlife. Where O'Dell explains the history and topography of the hikes,

along the trail.

"[Hiking] produces a healing you can't get anywhere else," O'Dell said. By helping keep the trails in working order, the society allows for everyday people to enjoy the forest.

A true and faithful woodsman, O'Dell points out a cross he cut into a tree stump to mark a path behind his house.

"I think the best thing we've done is make the trail available for the people," O'Dell said. Although, O'Dell's hikes get shorter every month, the society and the trails will live on. Today, thousands travel every year to brave the hike between the rivers.