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Auction of Edwardsville greenspace sparks protest
Valentine’s Day date ideas
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Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
the student voice since 1960
Thursday, February 10, 2022 Vol. 75 No. 20
FRANCESCA BOSTON reporter
Black Excellence in Action is the theme for this year’s Black Heritage Month, with programs ranging from history to politics to theater to fashion and more.
A BRIEF HISTORY
Black Heritage Month, more commonly known as Black History Month, started as a week-long celebration called Negro History Week in 1926. Carter G. Woodson, a Harvard graduate and Black historian coined the term, wanting to educate the general public about the achievements of Black Americans. Woodson chose February as both Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln were born in February. But more importantly, since Lincoln and Douglass’ death, Black communities had celebrated both men’s birthdays. Woodson built Negro History Week around those existing traditions ensuring that he would not be creating a new tradition but rather having the population extend their knowledge for a few more days. Negro History Week was adopted by Kent State in 1970 by Black students and educators, and by 1976, it was formally recognized by the federal government, when President Gerald Ford recognized it during the United States bicentennial.
IMPORTANCE
Timothy Lewis, an assistant political science professor, said Black Heritage Month can be both a great time to showcase Black excellence, but it is also limited, people only caring for a single month rather than all of the time. “It’s kind of a double-edged sword,” Lewis said. “It’s a chance to showcase Black historical excellence. Sadly, for a lot of people, [Martin Luther King Jr.] is the only well-known Black figure.” Lewis said for a better picture, people should consider James Baldwin, Sojourner Truth, W.E.B. Du Bois, Ella Jones, Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou, Shirley Chisholm and other famous Black Americans as well. “It’s a time to celebrate, honor them and also inform society of these people’s contributions to American society,” Lewis said. However, Lewis said it also limits us, because it become performative. “There is no real investment in honoring these people beyond February, there’s no investment in learning more about them,” he said. “It’s a chance for Black people to showcase Black excellence, but then the double edge is that we’re sure our white allies are taking this beyond just a level that is performance.” While Black History Month is the more familar name, SIUE has chosen to alter the name slightly to Black Heritage Month. J.T. Snipes, president of the Black Faculty and Staff Association said he wasn’t a part of the committee who decided to name the month, but to him, the word “heritage” connects the past and the present closely. “When I talk about my family, I think
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about heritage, I don’t think about history. Sometimes history can feel distant in that way. When we talk about heritage, it evokes, for me, images of [connecting] a specific culture in a specific lineage, that it’s not just something floating out there, but it is something that we embrace,” Snipes said. Snipes said Black Heritage Month also allows for the excitement and exploration of Black futures and that is the idea that makes him more excited. “My colleague and friend, Dominic Dorsey, has been really pushing us to think about Black futures. When we talk about Black history, there are times that it can feel or be shaped as a finished project,” Snipes said. “I’m more compelled, thinking about black futures. When we think about Black futures, to me this radical act of imagining, not only the creativity and ingenuity that Black folks have explored, or embodied in the past, thinking about what Blackness looks like 1000 years from now. I’m excited and dreaming of even moments of even greater liberty.” Snipes also said he acknowledges the lack of AfroLatinos being represented by the events throughout the month. He said his colleague Angel Jones, a visiting assistant professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning, had pointed out the exclusion of Afro Latinos and Latinas. “There was a noted absence of sessions on Afro Latinos this fall, and then on the calendar this spring, during Black History Month, Afro Latinos are absent in the conversation,” Snipes said. “There’s still work for us to do inside of our community.”
ACKNOWLEDGING BLACK HISTORY MAKERS AT SIUE
Snipes said he believes it is important to honor the Black history makers on campus, as Black history is not an abstract idea,
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but something we can see within our own community. As examples, he cited Howard Rambsy, who was recently named as the first Black faculty member to be designated a Distinguished Research Professor, and James T. Minor has been hired as the first Black chancellor in SIUE history, “Having Dr. Minor as a history maker, thinking about Dr. Harris, who was our first ever Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Sheila Caldwell, who’s not on campus, but is the first ever Vice Chancellor for diversity, equity inclusion for our system,” Snipes said. “Lakesha Butler, who’s named the first Director of Diversity in the School of Pharmacy as well. Black history is being made here.”
EVENTS
SIUE is putting on 17 events throughout February, ranging from theater performances to lectures to trivia. “From Jimmy to America: An Ode to James Baldwin,” is a theater performance produced by SIUE Theater Department, Arts and Issues, and guest dance company, NU-World Contemporary Danse Theatre. Christopher Page-Sanders is one of the artist collaborators of the show as well as an artistic director of NU Contemporary Danse Theater. He said the show is an adaptation of a closing show done at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, when the university shut down their theater department. He said that show is highlighting the life of James Baldwin, whom Snipes calls the “Black Bard.” “‘From Jimmy to America’ takes a look into James Baldwin’s work and his words, his poetry, his prose, his speeches, his books and what he was writing in the ‘60s, and how relevant it still is in 2022 and how even in 2022, we are still seeking justice and empathy and love for Black people in America,” Page-Sanders said.
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The show involves music, acting, dancing and costumes as James Baldwin was a complex man and they want to showcase the diversity of his work, according to Page-Sanders. Page-Sanders said having events that center Black creativity during Black history month is just as important as lectures and difficult conversations. “We are creative people. In our legacy in America, we had to take nothing and make something out of it. Our joy is a reflection of our creativity, our sorrow is a reflection of our creativity, our anger is a reflection of our creativity,” Page-Sanders said. “It allows whoever is watching to connect on a level that is deeper than what necessarily can just be said through words. I think it’s important that we continue to have Black voices of creativity come forth and touch the world.” The Campus Activities is also putting on the “Waves, Braids n Curls Hair Show,” co-sponsored by Gamma Beta Chapter and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Senior psychology major Dana Merritt, from O’Fallon, Illinois, is president of the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority. She said that the Waves, Braids, n Curls Show is an important event because hair discrimination is still legal in parts of the United States and this show allows students to acknowledge the history and importance of Black hair. “Black people, we have to embrace our hair, because it’s something that’s not widely accepted,” Merritt said. “It’s very important that we showcase these hairstyles, and the history behind them because a lot of people don’t know some of the histories behind these hairstyles. I just think it’s very important to shine some light on that because it’s not always something that’s talked about.” Lewis is also one of the faculty working on a talk called “Black America, White American: A Conversation about Present-day American Segregation” which is the fourth Annual Political Science Black Sociopolitical Lecture Series, which is supported by the Black Heritage Committee. He said the conversation is about the larger disconnect between the white Americans and Black Americans. “We have segregated lived experiences. Black people have a certain set of experiences and white people have another set of experiences and those experiences shape how we see the world, how we behave, how we think, how we engage in politics and political institutions,” Lewis said. “So that’s what this conversation will get. It will get at those different lived experiences.” Snipes said the Black Faculty and Staff Association is putting on their third Annual Black State of the Union Address, but the date is currently undecided. Visit The Hub’s website or GetInvolved for more information on other events during Black Heritage Month.
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BY THE NUMBERS / COVID-19 AT SIUE, SPRING 2022 New confirmed positive cases (from tests conducted by SIUE and self-reporting):
Tests conducted by SIUE:
Feb. 1 - Feb. 7: 23 students, 6 faculty/staff
Feb. 1 - Feb. 7: 1,543
Jan. 25 - Jan. 31: 119 students, 26 faculty/staff
Jan. 25 - Jan. 31: 6,246
14-Day New Positive Cases: 142 students, 32 faculty/staff
14-Day New Tests Conducted: 7,789
All prior weeks positive tests: (Jan. 4 - Feb. 7): 981 students, 221 faculty/staff
All prior weeks tests conducted: Jan. 4 - Feb. 7: 22,653
Total active positive cases: 36 students 9 faculty/staff
Positive cases identified by SIUE testing: Feb. 1 - Feb. 7: 29 Jan. 25 - Jan. 31: 154
14-day new positive cases: 183
All prior weeks positive cases: Jan. 4 - Feb. 7: 1,709
MADISON COUNTY DAY BY DAY:
300
Positivity Rate (last 14 days): 2.2%
250 200 150
Percentage of isolation/quarantine space available on campus
100
(as of January 24): 89%
50
Source: Health, Reporting, and Testing page on SIUE’s COVID-19 website, as of February 8.
0 JAN 31
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Edwardsville residents protest development of greenspace NICOLE BOYD online editor
Local residents protested the auction of land along Plum Creek for development, after a 54-acre plot across the street was approved for a shopping center. Jay Myers, along with other members of the Plum Creek Greenspace group helped organize the protest, in addition to a letter writing campaign and an online petition. Myers said she hoped to raise awareness and for people to speak up before the property is sold. “We want to have a say in what goes here. We want the city and the county to know that we value greenspace and then we want to continue to help conserve greenspace within town, not just the outskirts,” Myers said. “And hopefully let potential developers know that the community is vested in this.” Myers said her frustration started when she read that the county would auction the property off to the highest bidder. “I took issue with the approach of what was happening because this is public property. This is Madison County taxpayer property that’s being auctioned off, but it’s within the city limits, so whoever ends up being the highest bidder has to work with the city,” Myers said. “By that time, what recourse [do] you actually have?” Myers said the land was appraised at $3.8 million, so it will likely be sold to a developer aiming to make money. “For me it was more about the overdevelopment, the aesthetics and just losing all of this and starting to migrate more towards a concrete palace,” Myers said. “People say, ‘Now we’re going to be the next Fairview Heights.’ Nothing against Fairview Heights, but that’s not what Edwardsville is. That’s not what we love about Edwardsville.” Katja Kopp, who is originally from Germany but has lived in the St. Louis area for 40 years, said she feels it’s her job to educate people about the consequences of losing greenspace, due to having a master’s degree in education for global sustainability. “If you know anything about Earth and science and so on, the greenspaces provide clean air, they absorb CO2, they allow water to be clean through the plant
Thursday, 02.10.22
NEWS IN BRIEF
Student who reported hate crime charged with false report
A freshman, who alleged she was the victim of racially motivated harassment has been charged with filing a false police report. After reporting racist notes written on her dorm room door and receiving threatening text messages, Kaliyeha Clark-Mabins has been charged with three counts of disorderly conduct, a class 4 felony, according to a statement from the SIUE Police Department. According to SIUE Police, the students accused of committing the hate crime, Jimmi Thull and Amanda Jerome, have been cleared of involvement. A statement from Chancellor Randy Pembrook said they are “saddened by the harm” suffered by the students who were allegedly falsely accused. “Although false reporting of racial and bias incidents is isolated and rare, this case should remind every member of our community how important it is to preserve and protect due process and fairness in our procedures and communications,” Pembrook’s statement read. “Seeking and confronting the truth and acting in accord with the facts must be at the heart of a just community.” Pembrook’s statement said that a “series of critical conversations” will continue in the coming weeks. A statement issued by the SIUE Police Department added that the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office and U.S. Secret Service assisted in the investigation.
Student Governnment swears in three new senators
Protesters gathered at the corner of Plum Street and Governor’s Parkway in response to hearing 54 acres of land will be sold to the highest bidder, putting green space at risk. | Nicole Boyd / The Alestle
and the soil systems,” Kopp said. “And then they help stop the island effect, so you don’t have to worry about places getting this hot in the summer. And it’s wildlife habitat, we live in the ecosystem and we have to leave room for the other elements of the ecosystem to thrive or our ecosystem will come crashing down and we won’t be able to survive.” Kopp said once greenspace is gone, it won’t come back, and people need places that are less developed. “They need it for psychological health, physical health, breathe cleaner. I’m from across the globe, but we know that this is the most important thing we’ll do in our lifetime,” Kopp said. “I’m a grandmother of teenagers, and how can I look at them and say I haven’t done anything to protect your environment, so you won’t get to live or your children won’t get to live?” Rachel Tompkins, a member of the Plum Creek Greenspace group, said they don’t want more traffic congestion and are concerned about water runoff since the land is a wetland. “The trail runs here, [we could] have a place where people can have picnic tables, sit around,” Tompkins said. “If there would be development, I think we would prefer to have development like maybe a little coffee shop or an ice cream place for people that were on the bike trail. Plant trees, for one thing, and also just let it be a place for the public.” Mike Reinhardt of Edwardsville,
who retired from SIUE, said he attended the protest because he thinks greenspace is important. “I’m not against all development. But how much is too much? It’s getting to the point [that] we want to ensure that they consider economic environmental concerns when they build this area here,” Reinhardt said. “They did offer some of the money or profit to the Madison County Transit, which is great.” Annabelle Watkins, from Edwardsville, is Myers’ niece, and said they came to support their family and the cause. “I think it’s a bold choice on their part, partially because I think that the greenspace in this town is one of the reasons that people like to actually move here and live here,” Watkins said. “I think this town seems to pride itself in its all the green area and all the trails and stuff and it feels like they’re just throwing that away.” Katie Michaels said the removal of the trees was heartbreaking because it feels like Edwardsville is losing what makes it special. “We moved to this community where there’s lots of parks and greenspace, but we do have the benefit of having everything close to us, and I think we’re at the point where enough is enough,” Michaels said. “We’ve got everything we could possibly need, let’s save the little greenspace that we have left. And honestly, once it’s gone, it’s gone.” To learn more about the Plum Creek Greenspace Group, visit their Facebook page.
On Monday, Feb. 7, Student Government swore in Peyton Williams as the new Senator At Large, Will Akpan was sworn in as the Senator of Business and Trent Long as the Senator of College of Arts and Sciences – People and Culture. Olivia Podraza, who was not in attendance, will be sworn in as the Senator of College of Arts and Sciences – Arts and Communication at a later date.
Mask mandate end in sight Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Wednesday that he plans to end the state mask mandate, excluding public schools, beginning Monday, Feb. 28 if COVID-19 trends continue as expected. Pritzker said people should still follow mask mandates enacted by their county, city or businesses. Specific plans for school mask mandates will be announced in the coming weeks.
02.01.22
Officer responded to a report of an assault occurring over a video being posted on social media. The officer made contact with all parties involved and all parties agreed to not contact each other. The victim declined to prosecute.
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Thursday, 02.10.22
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Bias training, defining consent and more:
New laws put into effect at the start of the year FRANCESCA BOSTON reporter
At the start of the new year, nearly 300 laws went into effect in Illinois, including occupational outlook reports for freshly declared majors, training for mandated reporters and more. Phyleccia Cole, senior system counsel at SIUE, said the university is made aware of various laws while they were still in the legislative process, due to the university’s legislative liaison in Springfield. The liaisons monitors laws that would be applicable to the university. Cole said because of the variety of laws that can affect the university, how the laws are handled and whether a policy change is needed or not must be determined case by case. “There’s not a set process to deal with all of [the laws] be-
cause some of them might be financial in nature or deal with reporting,” Cole said. “There are other laws that are implemented that don’t necessarily require us to change a policy but do require us to take some action.” There were several laws that would apply directly to SIUE. One of the laws, HB 00375, requires the governing board of a public university to notify an adjunct professor about the status of the class before the start of a term and again 14 days before the beginning of a term. Cole said the university has not been required to do so before. One of the laws may affect the Title IX office and its policies. The law is SB 02567, and it defines “unable to give knowing consent” as it relates to sexual assault offenses. Jamie Ball, director for
Equal Opportunity, Access and Title IX Coordination, said that the law takes into consideration how consent is perceived and how power can play into consent. “I think it relates a lot to things like the circumstances of someone being incarcerated or being a patient, someone is under someone’s care or under someone’s authority, so those are important,” Ball said. She said she is unsure if this is already reflected in SIUE’s Title IX policies since their documents are constantly changing and being updated as well. “We may need to think about a little bit of a tweak to our policy related to consent,” Ball said. “Our policies are always living documents, and we’re always trying to be responsive to any changes in state or federal law.” Another law that may bring changes to SIUE is SB 01638,
which requires the board of trustees of each public university in the state, to provide occupational outlook reports associated with their new major if the student changes their major or program of study. Gerald O’Brien, a social work professor, said this law came about because of the recent push for more visibility for student rights. “Making sure that students aren’t sold a bill of goods and that they know what they’re getting into. This is not only occupational outlook for specific areas but also [information on] their student loans,” O’Brien said. There was also HB 3100, which requires mandated reporters of child abuse or neglect to complete an initial mandated reporter training, including a section on implicit bias training. All university employees are man-
dated reporters, which means this law will affect mandated reporter training. O’Brien said this law would primarily increase the amount of information provided during implicit bias training as it relates to child welfare employees, such as Department of Children and Family Services employees. He said this law was one of the more contested laws that was voted on, as it discussed implicit bias training. “[Many others] were either unanimous or close to being unanimous in terms of going through. But this one, both at the House and the Senate had a number of votes in opposition. There are a number of lawmakers who are not so crazy about the implicit bias training,” O’Brien said. For more information, visit the Illinois congress website.
Faculty providing students with flexibility amid pandemic uncertainty
Forbes, Princeton Review recognize SIUE and School of Business
NICOLE BOYD online editor
NICOLE BOYD online editor
While classes are back in-person, many faculty members are allowing students to participate through Zoom under various circumstances. Elizabeth Cali, associate professor of English, said she gives students the option to attend class via Zoom even if they’re feeling unwell for reasons other than COVID-19 or have been exposed but are asymptomatic. “I want to be in person. I think our learning experience is better when we’re face to face. But I also recognize that we have serious health concerns and that we all want to be safe and careful,” Cali said. “And I certainly did not want my students to feel that I would be punitive if they did not come to class because they were sick, or they were in contact with someone or they felt concerned about our ability to distance.” Mark Poepsel, associate professor of mass communications, is also offering a Zoom option for students who don’t feel well or don’t feel comfortable while still teaching in person. He said this was easier due to teaching two sections of the same class rather than several different classes. “The number one thing was just trying to make it as accessible, trying to make my classes as accessible to students as possible, since some of them would catch COVID. In all likelihood somebody probably had it already when we were coming back,” Poepsel said. John Pendergast, professor of English, said he and most of his colleagues are using Zoom during in-person lectures. “Students are testing positive and I understand there were high numbers of students with COVID, so it seemed like it was just the least I could do was to make the class available to them,” Pendergast said. “If they’re staying home because it’s the safe thing to do, then I’m going to accommodate them and provide them with the best I can do as far as technolo-
gy, which is just to record the class.” Cali said students have expressed appreciation for having the Zoom option. She said she starts class every day by asking how students are doing and if they have any concerns. “Even to the extent that I do ask students [to] talk to one another in class, they’re small classes or seminars, and so I’ll just say, you know, are you comfortable with me asking you to turn to one another … having the Zoom option I think just relieves some of the stress and pressure of having to contend with competing concerns,” Cali said. Cali also said that she understands not everyone is able to teach in-person and on Zoom at the same time, and she wants faculty members to feel like they’re being shown grace. “This is not normal, and we have very different theories for what works best with teaching whether it’s in person or online, and so to put those two things together, it can be really difficult because those theories don’t always match up,” Cali said. “Sometimes it’s OK, and sometimes it’s a hot mess.” Poepsel said the administration took their time making decisions because they wanted to give people the best experiences possible, but he thinks realistically the best decision is what he’s doing. “The best is probably [that] people who want to be in person to get in person instruction and people who would feel safer and not have all the anxiety of maybe catching COVID to be able to attend on Zoom,” Poepsel said. “The issue is just that it adds some extra work and it’s not like anybody is getting compensated for it.” Pendergast said being back in the classroom has been remarkable. “I hadn’t taught, until just two weeks ago, in the classroom in two years. [The students] have been great. No complaints, no pushbacks,” Pendergast said.
Forbes Magazine ranked SIUE as fourth among public colleges in Illinois, and The Princeton Review listed SIUE as one of the Best Business Schools for 2022. Timothy Schoenecker, dean of the School of Business, said they are pleased to continue to be ranked by The Princeton Review. “I think this is either 15 or 16 years in a row, consecutively that we have been ranked by [The] Princeton Review as a best business school, and that’s a good recognition for the work we’re doing in the School of Business,” Schoenecker said. Schoenecker said The Princeton Review is primarily based on the results of student surveys. “They ask questions about the quality of the professors, their experience either online or in the classroom. Are faculty accessible? How well is the program managed from an advising standpoint? That sort of thing, so I don’t know that that’s the only criteria that are used, but I think that carries the greatest weight,” Schoenecker said. Janice Joplin, associate dean of the School of Business, said in addition to survey data from students, The Princeton Review uses admission denial data and grade point average. “I think it’s [the] quality of our students, quality of our faculty, facilities, IT infrastructure. All of those things go into the data that we submit to [The] Princeton Review,” Joplin said. Schoenecker said all of the credit belongs to the faculty and staff. “This is one important way that the school gets recognition, but we also get recognition through our accreditation through [Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development] and just other big things that our faculty and staff do,” Schoenecker said. Joplin said the ranking shows that
students’ degrees mean something when they receive them. “It’s something that we can point to in addition to our [Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business] accreditation that indicates to students that when they apply and attend the MBA program, they are entering a quality program,” Joplin said. Joplin said the ranking is also a point of pride for faculty to be recognized as a high-quality program. Jennifer Harbaugh, associate director of admissions, said SIUE is enthused to see the Forbes ranking because of the hard work that goes into serving students. “It’s just great to see that recognized and it takes us all, everyone on this campus from all the different offices, to admitting the students, getting them oriented, the advising office, the faculty,” Harbaugh said. “It’s just really wonderful to see any time that hard work is recognized and just [speaks] to the fact that people who work here very much are about students and helping them succeed.” Harbaugh said SIUE’s commitment to student success stands out, including the recent addition of student success coaches as another layer of support for students. “I think the quality of our academic programs is just very strong as well. It helps us to be competitive, or our students be competitive when they go out and start searching for jobs. And not only that, but the partnerships that our academic departments have with employers in the area that allow students to get really great experience while they’re in school,” Harbaugh said. “So when they’re graduating, they don’t just have the degree behind their name, but they also have that experience.” Harbaugh said Forbes’ ranking reaffirms the job they’re doing as a campus community, which is very meaningful. “It’s great to see that and have that recognition,” Harbaugh said. “It just basically confirms what we’re living out each day when we come to campus and are serving students.”
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Thursday, 02.10.22
Alumnus Arthur Towata’s art presented at Jacoby Arts Center GABRIEL BRADY managing editor Art from the late alumnus Arthur Towata is on display now at the Jacoby Arts Center in Alton after a delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Jacoby Arts Center enlisted help from interns in the SIUE anthropology department for the show. Three students were chosen to help: Emma Pritchard, a junior, and Wren Merz and Kaia Cosgriff, who are both seniors. Towata’s art was most well-known for his ceramics, but he also worked in plenty of other mediums, including collages, watercolors, masks, drawings and more. A common image in his work was that of a dragonfly, which is a motif that can be found in much of his art. The art was given to Jacoby for the show from Amy Osawa, Towata’s niece and the executor of his estate. Osawa said she was grateful to be able to showcase her uncle’s art, though she wishes it could be under better circumstances. “He’s known for the dragonflies, or the watercolors, or the ceramics,” Osawa said. “A lot of people haven’t seen it all and don’t know his full range. I think people didn’t realize that he created ash pots or figurines.” CyRhen Smith, the exhibition coordinator for the Jacoby Arts Center, also said Towata was a big part of the art scene in Alton and the Metro East. Smith said she remembered meeting Towata when she was 15, before she knew who he was. “I work with jewelry, and [while selling art at a market] this man came up and asked about my process. After talking for a few minutes, he remarked that he did art too, primarily with ceramics, and that there was more in common between our processes than he initially expected,” Smith said. “But then, quite a while later,
while I was working here, they had a picture of Arthur out and they said we would be doing an exhibition of his stuff, and my jaw dropped, and I said, ‘I met him.’” Towata’s connection to the arts in the area goes even deeper than that, according to Jacoby Arts Center’s Executive Director Rachel Lappin. She said Towata helped start the arts center itself. “Towata was very instrumental in the start of Jacoby, and he was very involved in the art community in town. He was a really big part of Jacoby during his lifetime. He had done a few shows here before,” Lappin said. Before helping found Jacoby, Osawa said Towata had a studio he lived in and used as his own gallery, which he also rented out to artists in the area to showcase their art. “He opened his own gallery in the ‘70s so other artists could have shows,” Osawa said. “The arts center in town didn’t exist yet, so that was the only place for artists, really.” There were darker parts of Towata’s life, Pritchard said. Towata was forced to live in an internment camp as a Japanese child in America. “Whenever Arthur was a child, him and his family were actually taken away,” Pritchard said. ”He never really saw his father because he was taken first and he died in that separate camp.” Pritchard also said Towata didn’t initially realize how much of his art was connected to that part of his childhood early in his career, but he became more conscious of that connection later. “He wasn’t thinking about it on purpose in his art, but he looked back later in life, and found the colors he used in some ceramics were the exact same shades and tones as the sand in Manzanar, which is the camp he was in as a child,” Pritchard said. “He didn’t do his exhibit about that part of his childhood until late 2007. He end-
This piece was created as part of Towata’s Black Wall series, which was influenced by Towata’s childhood at the Manzanar internment camp. | Gabriel Brady / The Alestle ed up doing a whole entire series just from his experiences.” With over 1,500 pieces of art at the arts center, Lappin said Towata was a very prolific artist, and the variety of art he presents is what draws many people in. “His art is so powerful. I think that’s what’s unique about the show. People have seen his work in other chunks of time, or only certain mediums. He has paintings, ceramics, collages, masks and just so much,” Lappin said. “It was brought together here in a kind of unfortunately retrospective way. The range of it is so playful and humorous and serious at the same time. It’s beautiful.” According to Osawa, the thing that makes her uncle’s art special to her is his
personality shining through it. “He was a quiet person, but very observant and very funny … You could see his humor in his artwork, and all you can do is smile. When you examine a ceramic piece of artwork, you find all these different hidden things, like hidden faces or dragonflies,” Osawa said. “You see the humor in the things he did. I can imagine him making these little hidden things, and chuckling about it, wondering who will notice it.” Towata’s art will be in the arts center until March 5. A reception for the exhibit will take place at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 11 at the Jacoby Arts Center in Alton. For more information, check the Jacoby Arts Center’s website.
The Alestle’s guide on dressing warm during Illinois winters 1st Layer:
2nd Layer:
3rd Layer:
Necessary Items:
Necessary Items:
Necessary Items:
•
• •
A base shirt, preferably long sleeve or turtleneck, but if not, a t-shirt will work in a pinch An insulating bottom layer, such as long johns or leggings Socks
Tip:
Fuzzy or thick socks over thin ones will keep you warmer underneath your layers.
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Another warm top, such as a hoodie or a sweater A warm pair of pants
Tip:
Avoid wearing jeans if you can, as they aren’t particularly good for cold, snowy weather due to a lack of insulation.
• • • • •
A winter coat Hat/hood/Balaclava Boots (snow boots if possible) Gloves Scarf
Tip:
Pull the edges of your pants over your boots to prevent snow from getting in them.
| Graphic by Emily Sterzinger
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Thursday, 02.10.22
ALEX AULTMAN editor-in-chief
Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching and it can be difficult to think of something unique to do with your partner(s). Whether you want to just spend some quality time together or experience something new, there’s something for everyone on this list.
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Connect with nature and each other
Cook a fancy dinner together
Most people at SIUE have heard about the acres of nature on campus. Going out and exploring The Gardens is one way to get some fresh air. There is also a network of bike trails that connect campus to the surrounding town. The Watershed Nature Center is also about a 10 minute drive from campus.
The pandemic has made us seriously rethink our habits when it comes to going out to eat. Now is a great time to make yourself a romantic candlelit dinner at home. Pick out a recipe to try with your significant other and make it together. Cooking is better when you do it with someone you love.
Pick up supplies for a night in
While movies are a date night staple, deciding what to watch is half the battle. If you have missed out on some movies that are considered essential parts of popular culture, crossing off movies from the IMDb top 100 movies list is a good place to start. You could even make your own rankings together if going through the list becomes a date tradition.
If you want some quality time together watching a movie or show, pick up some snacks and gifts for each other to make the night special. Go to a store and pick your significant other’s favorite snack, favorite drink, something that is their favorite color, something they need, something that reminds you of them, and something you want them to try. If you’re living together you can also add something you need for the house. Once you get home, exchange the items.
Go on a blind date with a book
Get scared
Nothing is quite like reading separate books while enjoying each other’s company. Learn your partner’s reading preferences and pick out a book you think they’ll like at your local bookstore. Once you and your partner exchange books, read them together and tell each other how you liked the book.
Haunted houses don’t have to be just for Halloween. Many put on special haunts for certain holidays like Christmas and often Valentine’s Day. They often come up with unique themes and a backstory for the haunt. Going to a haunted house is a great excuse to hold onto your partner or just to admire all the special effects.
Catch up on some pop culture
Two people walking through the Gardens. | Clair Sollenberger / The Alestle
Make playlists for each other While relationship playlists may be a little overdone, they’re more fun when you make them for each other. It’s up to you if you want to use songs that remind you of them or tailor the playlist to one’s personal taste. Once you finish the playlists take turns listening together and talk about your song choices.
REVIEW: Mitski is back with “Laurel Hell,” and it was worth the wait EMILY STERZINGER lifestyles editor After a roughly two year hiatus, indie artist Mitski is back. Her music still carries the same emotional relevance as ever, but with noticeable new influences of folk and electronic music. The album starts with “Valentine, Texas,” which begins soft and somewhat tranquil, then transcends into something greater, with light glam rock influences. Next is “Working for the Knife,” the first of the pre-release songs from October 2021, specifically the one released immediately after she ended her hiatus. The heavy, almost mechanical percussion highlights the sadness of the lyrics, that together embody a palpable sense of despair. The next song, “Stay Soft,” fits Mitski’s often-used style of fun, danceable music with oppositely dark lyrics. Comparable to her 2018 song “Nobody,” this replaces a desperate loneliness with an intense, seemingly unhealthy relationship with sexuality, both being placed over an incredibly groovy instrumental. Starting with a minimalist
instrumental and gentle crooning, “Everyone” reflects a sense of vulnerability, where Mitski seemingly likens her rise to fame in her 20s to the ignorance of a young child, comparing herself to a baby and singing, “I didn’t know that I was young, I didn’t know what it would take.” Another pre-release song, “Heat Lightning” seems to take a folk or light country influence to its sound, but in a smooth classic country way, unlike modern radio country. It even evokes Christian imagery in some ways, with lines like “I give it up to you, I surrender,” being sung in the cadence of a worship song. Overall it’s quite calm, and apparently comes from Mitski’s experiences with insomnia and the emotions that came with it. The next song, “The Only Heartbreaker” is similarly one of four pre-release songs, and her first song ever with a co-writer, musician and producer Dan Wilson. The ‘80s electronic influence on this album becomes even stronger through this song, with blasting synth and a beautiful guitar solo that would fit in perfectly with music from four
decades ago. Another of the pre-release songs, “Love Me More,” captures a similar synthy instrumentation, featuring Mitski begging for love and affection similar to some of her past songs. “There’s Nothing Left Here for You,” in contrast to the last song, starts quite sad and somber, but amps up heavily about halfway through with thundering guitar. It’s probably one of my least favorites in the album, but is still pretty good, just not a stand-out. After that, “Should’ve Been Me,” has an almost ‘80s pop sound to it, which makes it unbearably catchy despite the depressing context of a partner leaving for someone who looks identical to the singer. I really enjoyed the sad, dreamlike sound of “I Guess,” with Mitski’s gentle singing carrying this ambient track. The last song, “That’s Our Lamp,” contrasts that as another upbeat song withforlorn singing of a failing relationship. Overall, “Laurel Hell may not be my favorite Mitski al-
| Photo courtesy of Dead Oceans bum, but it’s still up there, and reflects a courage to step into new genres that I hope to hear more of soon. I had mixed feelings on how the album seems to constantly flip-flop in genre and tone, but it still pro-
vides some nice variation. After officially coming out of a twoyear hiatus in late 2021, she’s shown off her growth as an artist through this album, and I’m excited to see what the future holds for her.
NEXT WEEK: MEN WANT GIFTS AND AFFECTION ON VALENTINE’S DAY TOO
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Cougar
Controversies ALEX AULTMAN Editor-in-Chief
Is Valentine’s Day Overrated?
GABRIEL BRADY Managing Editor
EMILY STERZINGER Lifestyles Editor
BRANDON WELLS Sports Editor
JULIANNA BIRKEY ELIZABETH DONALD JANA HAMADE Copy Editors FRANCESCA BOSTON Reporter KIRSTEN O’LOUGHLIN Graphics Manager
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DAMIAN MORRIS Opinion Editor
NICOLE BOYD Online Editor
YES!
Campus Closure policy needs to be clarified
THE ALESTLE STAFF editorial board
Holding classes on Zoom is now seen as an easy alternative when in-person classes can’t be held. But it’s important to remember that the campus closure policy exists for a reason. In past years, closing the campus due to inclement weather meant that classes could not be held even virtually, because those who don’t have devices of their own may not be able to leave their house to use a computer at a library or on campus. Communication for what instructors are supposed to do during campus closures has become unclear. The university needs to clarify its existing policy and communicate what that means to students and instruc-
tors alike. Students should be informed of the policies that exist to help them, so they can communicate what’s expected of them to instructors that aren’t following those policies. This guideline could easily be included in the campus closure emails that students and faculty receive. Now, it’s not uncommon for classes to be held via Zoom during inclement weather closures. During our most recent campus closures, some professors even required students to complete exams as they normally would have, with penalties for those who couldn’t complete them on time. While this may not seem like a big deal to traditional students, especially since many have done virtual learning at some point during the pandemic, this can be
a disadvantage for others. Student parents may have to juggle childcare and schoolwork at the same time if their child’s school is closed, dealing with storm damage to their homes and those experiencing power outages or other technological difficulties may not be able to attend class. Depending on the instructor’s absence policies, this could hurt their grade. Additionally, many students miss the fun of a snow day and getting an unexpected chance to relax. While it’s great that we have alternatives to in-person learning, that doesn’t mean we can’t ever miss class. The spring semester is often said to be the most difficult semester, and spring break is the only break aside from Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, which is intended to be a day for edu-
cation of social issues rather than a break. Snow days can be great times to catch up on work or take a mental health day without missing school. It’s OK to let everyone take a breath. Instructors should think about students’ needs when navigating snow day instructions, especially those who have additional challenges, to foster an accessible learning environment. The university also needs to clarify and enforce campus closure guidelines, and communicate them so that students are aware. Students should be informed of policies that directly affect them to reduce confusion and misunderstandings. Given the time that we’ve spent doing remote learning, it’s understandable that we all need to be reminded of the campus closure policy.
about the guilt or innocence of the parties involved. The details of the evidence in the investigation aren’t publicly available and it hasn’t gone to court yet, but these commenters have largely made up their mind on who the innocent and guilty parties are. While social media posts like these don’t typically hold legal weight, they do hold weight in the court of public opinion and can potentially have influence over jurors in a case. Even the federal judiciary committee has taken concern with the influence of social media in court. In 2020, they issued a new set of model jury instructions with the addition of cautioning jurors in the ways social media can undermine the juror’s ability to remain neutral in a case. In the case of public opinion, there are even times where social media can make someone guilty in the public eye without it ever going to court. For example, in 2017 there was a spreadsheet titled “Shitty Media Men” created by columnist Moira Donegan that has since been taken down. Donegan sent this spreadsheet
to her female friends working in the media as a means to crowdsource anonymous rumors and allegations of sexual misconduct against men working in the media. Although it was only up for 12 hours, people on social media spread the list of 70 names to the public. Although the claims were made anonymously and without evidence, many of the men on the list faced repercussions in their personal and professional lives even though none of them had the opportunity to defend themselves in a court of law. Stephen Elliott and Mike Tunison are among the men on the list and have publicly spoken about their personal experiences in the matter. Elliot even went so far as to file a lawsuit against Donegan and others who edited the list. This example shows how quickly social media can spread information and bring masses to believe it, regardless of its legitimacy. None of these cases ever made it to court, yet there were consequences for many of those on the list, which completely undermines the right to a fair trial
they would have been allotted in a legal case. Instead, they were judged by the court of public opinion, which has no rules to ensure fairness, but can have a significant impact. Further, in cases where criminal accusations do come out to be false, it can leave lasting psychological effects on their life. Many will blow off the impacts of those falsely accused as just having lost material possessions they can get back, which overlooks all of the mental repercussions a harmful label forever being stuck to their name can have. Social media is ultimately a powerful tool and needs to be treated as such. When accusations against a person are made public, it’s vital to avoid spreading opinions about a person’s guilt or innocence until all the information is available as it could have lasting effects on a person’s life if incorrect and even harm a jury’s duty to deliver an impartial verdict in court. Guilty or not, everyone has the right to a fair trial, and social media must be used responsibly as to not threaten this right.
Trial by social media harms due process rights DAMIAN MORRIS opinion editor
Social media can be valuable as a means of expressing one’s right to free speech, but it can also undermine due process by way of trial by social media. A fundamental core of most judicial systems is the presumption of innocence for the defendant, placing the burden of proof on the prosecutor to prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. However, it is often the case that the public will deem one guilty through means of social media posts and threads, often before the case even reaches court. A recent example of this is an ongoing case at SIUE where a student has alleged they were the victim of racially motivated harassment. SIUE announced on its Facebook page that the two original suspects have been cleared of involvement and the complainant has been charged with making a false police report. Under this Facebook post are debates in the comments filled with many confident claims
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SIUE Tennis currently undefeated, thanks to improved scores in singles and doubles FRANCESCA BOSTON reporter SIUE Tennis has turned a tide in the past few years, thanks to a new head coach and strong recruits. SIUE Tennis has had a strong start to the season, with a 4-0 standing in their double matches. Head Coach Adam Alberston is currently coaching his fourth season at SIUE and has managed to turn the team around. The Cougars went from losing every match at 0-20 in 2017-18, to winning a majority of their games in 2020-21. The team has currently won every match since the start of their season. Alberston said this change is due to the tremendous amount of personal responsibility the athletes have, as well as coaching on a more individual level. “Everybody wants to be coached a different way. The biggest thing is building that relationship, getting to know your student athletes and what motivates them. I really want to make sure that they are as open as possible and provide that relationship where everything [is] out there. I think that ownership is something you see in this team,” Alberston said. One of the main things the team has been focusing on this year is improving their doubles. Caitlyn Sporing, a redshirt junior and one of Alberston’s original recruits, said the team has very strong singles, but that improving on doubles will take the pressure off winning the singles, which can be more difficult to win. “[As] when we came into the season, our hope is to win a conference championship and I think that being [4-0] we’ve changed a lot of things. Doubles for us is super important because it’s three matches
for one point. It’s important for us ability-wise to take that one point so as a team we don’t have to work as hard at singles,” Sporing said. Alberston said because each player on the team has also been playing for at least one season, except for a single freshman, it has allowed the team to make those adjustments to their gameplay. He also spoke about the significance of improving the doubles. “With the experience, things looked a lot cleaner, a lot sharper. When I first got here, doubles was an area that needed some growth, needed some experience, strength, talent, everything kind of infused into it. And this year, we just looked night and day different. And you can tell our team is comfortable. They’re experienced,” Alberston said. Sporing said another reason she believes the team has improved so much over the past few years is the fact that she and her teammates are close and friends not only in tennis, but off the court as well. “I would say that our team has grown because of how close we all have become with each other. I think when you become best friends with your teammates, you’re able to succeed off the court but exceed even more on the court,” Sporing said. Jill Lambrechts, a redshirt junior, was recruited with Sporing during Alberston’s first season and said she is excited for the season because the team is feeling confident. Especially because this will be the first full season back in two years. “We’re really confident. We had a really good start at [4-0], but I think we got a boost of confidence. [The whole team is] really excited to finally, hopefully, have the season that will be as long as it really should be,” Lambrechts said.
Redshirt freshman guard Ray’Sean Taylor suffered a tear in his ACL this season after missing a part last season due to a previous ACL tear. This will put him out for the remainder of the 2022 basketball season.
Throughout this season, Taylor scored a total of 370 points and an average of 17.6 points per game according to SIUE Athletics before being injured in the Jan. 22 game against Southeast Missouri. Although Taylor is out for the rest of the season, Head oach Brian Barone said that he will still have a place on the team in
week in review MEN’S BASKETBALL
Coming from one postponed game last week due to weather, the Men’s Basketball team had a match on Feb. 5 against Murray State, resulting in a heavy loss with the final score being 79-59. Earlier this week on Feb. 7, the Cougars went against Southeast Missouri, also resulting in a loss at a final score of 76-47.
SIUE STANDINGS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
OVERALL OVC
SIUE Murray State UT Martin Belmont Tennessee Tech Southeast Missouri Austin Peay Eastern Illinois Morehead State Tennessee State
9-14 16-7 7-15 14-7 14-8 5-18 15-6 13-10 1-21 11-12
MEN’S BASKETBALL
OVERALL OVC
SIUE Belmont Austin Peay Southeast Missouri Tennessee Tech UT Martin Morehead State Tennessee State Eastern Illinois Murray State
7-17 20-5 7-14 11-13 6-18 8-16 19-6 10-14 4-19 22-2
VOLLEYBALL
OVERALL OVC
Morehead State Murray State Belmont Austin Peay SIUE UT Martin Eastern Illinois Tennessee Tech Southeast Missouri Tennessee State
20-11 18-12 9-20 21-12 6-23 15-17 11-18 16-14 25-8 10-17
All stats are from the OVC
UPCOMING In a recent press release, the OVC announced its predictions for placement in women’s tennis. Being undefeated since Head Coach Adam Albertson took over, the Cougars are predicted to place fifth overall in the OVC. This brings SIUE to place in the top five this season.
| Kirsten O’Loughlin / The Alestle
Sports in brief: Taylor out for rest of the season BRANDON WELLS sports editor
Page 8
an interview with SIUE Athletics Communications. “Ray’Sean was having both an OVC Freshman of the Year and OVC All-League caliber season,” Barone said. “This injury does not change that fact. He will continue to fill an important leadership role on this team during this season, and in seasons to come.”
Jacksonville State 12:30 p.m. and vs. Louisiana Tech 3 p.m., Feb. 11 Women’s Tennis at SIUE vs. William Woods 2 p.m., Feb. 11 Track and Field at Ichabod Invitational Feb. 12 Men’s Basketball vs. Tennessee Tech 3:30 p.m., Feb. 12 Softball vs. Jacksonville State 12:30 p.m. and vs. Louisiana Tech 3 p.m., Feb. 11
Ray’sean Taylor | Photo courtesy of SIUE Athletics
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL SIUE Women’s Basketball had their first game of the week after the postponement of the Feb. 3 game, going up against Murray State in a close game, but ended at a loss with the final score being 87-73. The second game earlier this week, the Women’s team faced Southeast Missouri in a neck-and-neck game resulting in a loss at a score of 70-68.