The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of SIU at Carbondale. Except during vacations and exam weeks,
The Daily Egyptian is published Monday through Friday during the fall and
spring semesters and TWThF during the summer semester."
Since Kevin Bame put SIUC license plates on his car, he has become a
spokesman-of-sorts for the University and the Secretary of State's
Office.
"I have a lot of people ask me about them and the process of getting the
plates," said Bame, SIUC's executive director of finance.
Bame and his wife, Lyn, are among the 121 Illinoisans who have SIUC
license plates on their cars, according to the Secretary of State Jesse
White's office. The University receives $25 from each sale, which will
be used to fund undergraduate scholarships. So far, $3,025 has been
raised through the program, which will be donated to the University on
an annual basis.
Although there hasn't been an outcry for SIUC plates, Randy Nehrt,
deputy press secretary for White, said SIUC isn't alone.
The collegiate license plate initiative started in 1996 and during the
first five years of operation, only 7,000 were sold, Nehrt said.
The University opted out of the program at its initiation but decided
recently to get involved. The SIUC plate became available this year,
after the University collected the 850 signatures required to join the
program.
Sue Davis, University spokeswoman, said she expects the number of SIUC
plates on the road to increase dramatically with time.
"Most people will wait until their current plates need to be renewed to
do it, so you expect at least a year for people to really get acquainted
with it," Davis said. "It is a way that alumni, donors and friends can
support the University."
Greg Scott, director of alumni public relations, said the Alumni
Association is working to get the word out to its members that the plate
is available.
"I certainly think it is a positive for the University in terms of
visibility and awareness," Scott said.
Scott said the athletic department's success goes hand in hand with the
success of the license plates.
"When they are successful, it is a source of pride," Scott said. "People
want to show, 'Hey, that is my university.'"
SIUC Athletic Director Paul Kowalczyk said that when the athletics
department is doing well, merchandise sales goes up. He said he expects
the same from license plate sales.
"Anytime you have successful athletics, people are more willing to show
their pride and have a closer affiliation with the university,"
Kowalczyk said. "It lets people know that SIU is an important
institution in the state.
"And we sure don't want any other school showing their pride more than
we do."
The collegiate license plates are up to $40 more than regular plates and
cost an additional $27 to renew, but Bame said it is a good investment.
"I am really proud of what the institution has achieved and I am proud
to be apart of it," Bame said. "They look great and are a very good
representative of the quality of the institution."
Daily Egyptian 
