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Feature Print News Story


Tommy Tambourine
Com 161-003
Friday, Sept. 19, 2014
College Space Program
NORMAL, Ill. Starting in the fall of 2015, the Department of Agriculture is going to
be replaced by something a little more out of this world.
The Department of Agriculture at Illinois State University has been in
existence for nearly 100 years. The department has a record 1,500 students
enrolled in various majors for the 2014-2015 academic year. In 2013, the
Department of Agriculture had 472 students graduate. The 2013 graduating class
was the largest in the departments history. Students applying and accepted into
the agriculture program at Illinois State has increased every year since 2004.
However, after the 2015 agriculture senior class graduates, there will no longer be a
Department of Agriculture at Illinois State University.
This was simply a decision the board and I could not pass up. We were given
a huge donation from an anonymous benefactor and if we didnt accept, they would
have gone to another school with their idea. Dropping the Department of
Agriculture has given Illinois State University the opportunity to have a space
program, said Illinois State University President Larry Dietz.
This is a quote from the press conference President Dietz held on Oct. 4, at
Illinois State Universitys Homecoming football game. There were many cheers from
the majority of the student body. There were also a few faint boos heard from the
agriculture students, many of whom are not graduating this year and will be forced
to declare new majors.
Larry Dietz held a private Q-and-A session later that evening answering
questions about his announcement.

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I wanted to do something big for this University. I had an opportunity to put
the school I love on the map and I took it, said Dietz.
-- more -Hands shot up for questions instantly after Dietz said the university was
getting a space program. Many of the journalists in the room thought the space
program was a fantastic idea. Most journalists were trying to get Dietz to spill the
beans on where all the money was coming from to start this new space program.
Most of the parents and the students that were not currently intoxicated were
wondering why agriculture? President Dietz was quick to respond.
Dietz said, The board and I have nothing against the Department of
Agriculture, we really just needed their farm.
On Oct. 5, Illinois State University released their official press release to news
stations around the world announcing the Department of Aerospace. Beginning May
10, 2015, the day after graduation, the demolition of the University Farm in
Lexington will begin. After the farm is gone, construction on a brand new state-ofthe-art space station will begin. The new space station is scheduled to be complete
in time for the beginning of the fall 2016-2017 school year. Illinois State University
isnt just building a space station. A space training facility and a new dorm building
will be built on the grounds of the University Alumni Center. The current alumni
building will undergo an extensive renovation to be converted into the new
Aerospace Training Center. A new dorm building, currently being dubbed the
Watterson Two, is going to be built in the parking lot of the alumni center. The new
dorm and training facility will be utilized exclusively by aerospace majors. The new
dorm and training facility will be designed so that aerospace majors have the most
comfort.

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The entire aerospace facility has been designed so that aerospace majors do
not have to leave the complex for anything they need, said the future head of the
Department of Aerospace, Vladimir Popovkin.
Vladimir Popovkin is the former general director of the Russian Federal Space
Agency. Vladimir Popovkin resigned as general director six months ago.
-- more -We are absolutely thrilled to have Mr. Popovkin at Illinois State University.
Mr. Popovkin has such a tremendous reputation in Russia and around the world,
said Student Body President Connor Joyce.
Illinois State does not have any other staff for the new department. However,
many signs point to staff additions being former Russian Federal Space Agency
engineers and astronauts that resigned around the same time Vladimir Popovkin
resigned as general director.
The new Department of Aerospace has come as a real shock to many people,
especially the Department of Agriculture staff members.
I dont understand how the university could do this. My friends and I have all
lost our jobs. I am angry. I am especially distraught for all of the students in the
department who must now find a new major or transfer to a new school. What the
school has done is wrong and I want answers, said the Department of Agriculture
Secretary Mary Akers.
The question on many peoples minds, including Mrs. Akers, is who is
supplying the school with the money for a space program? Who is this anonymous
benefactor? At this time, Illinois State University is not disclosing any additional
information about the new aerospace program. The Vidette has reached out to Larry
Dietz and other university board members about this decision, but has not received

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a response. So far all signs point to the anonymous benefactor being from Russia.
The only thing that can be concluded for now is that Illinois State University plans to
launch students into space starting in 2020.
For updates on this story, please check The Vidette online. If you have
questions or more information on this topic please contact Tommy Tambourine at
111-222-3333 or tatambo@ilstu.edu.
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