T H E
STAFF SHARES THEIR OSCARS PICS page 4 thursday, 01.23.20
ALESTLE
COUGARS BREAK IN NEW GOLF FACILITY page 7 vol. LXXIII no. XVII
The Student Voice Since 1960
Loan program aims to correct racial injustice
JORDYN NIMMER lifestyles editor
A new state program is intended to fight what it terms “targeted injustice” created by the criminalization of marijuana with investment in local marijuana businesses. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity recently introduced the Social Equity Cannabis Business Development Fund Loan, created in order to uplift communities that have been historically and disproportionately impacted by the criminalization of marijuana. Criminal justice professor Tricia Oberweis said this loan is important when given the context of injustices faced by people of color due to marijuana criminalization. “The reason it’s so important is because, since 1937 when we first criminalized pot, it always had a strong racial overtone,” Oberweis said. “In 1937, the ethnicity of target was mostly Mexicans, but also the initial director of the drug police force had a particular issue with jazz-loving black men. His approach to drug control was always overtly, plainly, clearly racist in nature.” Although the demographics of marijuana smokers have changed drastically since 1937, the targeted racial prejudice in the criminal justice system has seemingly not. Despite the fact that smoking rates are approximately equal among races, with 17% of black people, 14% of white people and 13% of Latinos ages 18 and older reporting to have used marijuana in LOAN on page 3
Remembering MLK:
SIUE hosts celebration
The “Stone of Hope” at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial stands tall in Washington, D.C. JOHN MCGOWAN reporter Students attended a Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Luncheon this Wednesday where Denise Taliaferro Baszile delivered a speech and scholarships and awards were rewarded. This is SIUE’s 37th year hosting the event on campus, with this year’s theme being “The time is always right to do right,” a line lifted from a commencement speech King gave. Miriam Roccia, Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, said it’s important students have access to an event like this. “Our challenge by the election of this year’s theme is that reminder to our stu-
dents, our faculty and staff, that speaking up for what’s right and taking action for what’s right- not just doing what’s right- but doing right by other people is what we’re here to do,” Roccia said. Roccia also compared King’s message to SIUE’s goal to help students develop skills to help change the world. The special guest this year is Denise Taliaferro Baszile, the Associate Dean for Student Services and Diversity at Miami University. According to Roccia, she’s qualified to speak because of her role in promoting diversity and fighting racial injustice in higher education. Student reactions toward the luncheon and MLK weekend in general have been positive. “We need to recognize and keep moving
Photo by Brian Kraus on Unsplash
forward with his beliefs and everything. I just think we need to be reminded each year of what he did for the country,” Junior exercise science major Taylor Vaughan, of Dupo, Illinois, said. Some said King’s fight for race equality has gone beyond race. “MLK day is important because I think he was really one of those people who pressed on for equality, and not just race equality, because it’s been kind of a ripple effect. We’ve got more race equality, we’ve got more gender equality and more sexuality equality,” Freshman computer science major Rebecca Maine of O’Fallon, Missouri, said. Students can check out other events held by the Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion on their website.
Starbucks opening in Lovejoy Library despite previous plans for Dunkin’ JOHN MCGOWAN reporter
Late-night study sessions are soon going to become easier for students when they can visit SIUE’s second Starbucks on the first floor of Lovejoy. The new location is expected to open in March. Before Starbucks began development, SIUE had plans to open a Dunkin’ Donuts in the library instead. As previously reported by The Alestle, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Jeffrey Waple had announced the store in October 2018, but due to cost issues, these plans were abandoned. “We were approaching a million dollars or so, where this whole project for Starbucks is under $200,000,” Waple said. He also said it was an easier process due to the university already having a license with Starbucks from establishing a franchise in the MUC. According to Waple, research has shown the top three places a student visits on a college campus are the university center, the library and the recreational center.
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University officials are hoping to finish SIUE’s second Starbucks location around March, however, this is a mere estimation. Photo courtesy of Student Affairs
While there is food at the Student Fitness Center and the MUC, there are currently no available options at the Lovejoy. The new location is going to be smaller than the original in the MUC. It will feature the same drinks and pastries, but it
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won’t have the larger menu that includes sandwiches and wraps. According to Waple, the hours will also be shorter. “The hours will be different,” Waple said. “We’re playing with them right now, but it will probably be more noon
The Alestle
to eight-ish … There’s not a huge library flow at eight in the morning.” Waple also said there are plans to extend the daily hours the week before finals for students who are studying late. Because the location is smaller and the hours are shorter, the Lovejoy location will be used as a training site, where new hires will start then move up to working at the MUC. Freshman musical theater major Ellie Landes of Bloomington, Illinois, an employee at the original location, explained why she thinks this plan will be helpful. “I think that’s a good idea because there’s a place where you can learn and it’s small and it’s not as stressful, and then you can go to the bigger one,” Landes said. “Yesterday [while] I was working ... I was the only one there for awhile who knew how to make drinks [and] it was really stressful.” Student reactions to the new Starbucks have been varied, with some voicing appreciation for the addition while others have said it’s not needed. STARBUCKS on page 3
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