Southern Illinois University Museum officially closes - K. JANIS ESCH, The Southern

Southern Illinois University students, faculty and community members stopped by the University Museum on Friday to pay their respects to the 143-year-old institution, a recent victim of the state budget crisis. Museum staff invited members of the public to leave flowers outside the building throughout the day Friday as a show of support prior to the facility’s closure. Earlier this month, Interim Chancellor Brad Colwell announced that the museum would close temporarily effective July 1 due to the budget impasse, which has now extended into a third year. http://thesouthern.com/news/local/siu/southern-illinois-university-museum-officially-closes/article_52034123-3e1e-5561-9eb7-30f8b5b23e0a.html