The Alestle Vol.73 No. 21

Page 1

WHAT YOU KNEAD TO KNOW: A LOOK INSIDE A BREAD-MAKING CLASS page 4 thursday, 02.27.20

ALESTLE

T H E

FORMER SIUE ATHLETES INDUCTED TO STL HALL OF FAME page 7 vol. 73 no. 21

The Student Voice Since 1960

FIXINS’ TO CLOSE NEXT FRIDAY DUE TO STAFFING SHORTAGES ELIZABETH DONALD copy editor

Springfield Democrat Betsy Dirksen Londrigan begins speaking to the crowd about why she decided to enter the political game at the “Knock Down the House” showing. The candidates featured in the film mirrored Londrigan’s own experiences, which Londrigan explained while addressing the crowd. | Morgan Jackson / The Alestle

Congressional candidate visits campus to promote student involvement in politics JOHN MCGOWAN reporter

Congressional candidate Betsy Dirksen Londrigan, a Democrat from Springfield, discussed the importance of student voting following a screening of the documentary “Knock Down the House” in the Meridian Ballroom Tuesday. Londrigan is running a similar campaign to some politicians featured in the documentary. Like Amy Vilela, a candidate from the film who ran for one of Nevada’s congressional seats in 2018, Londrigan was prompted to start her campaign after receiving enormous medical bills when her child was sick. Londrigan is on her second campaign now, after losing to Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Ill., by one percent in 2018. The event was co-sponsored by SIUE’s Department of Applied Health, for its message of

fighting to change the healthcare system in particular. The documentary highlights the importance of all Americans involving themselves in politics, no matter how insignificant they may feel against the establishment. Londrigan echoed the messages of the film when she came out to speak, forgoing the podium to address the crowd up close. She said people involved in politics should only be defined by their values. “If you believe that you deserve a place in that race that is your qualification,” Londrigan said. “If you are working for it, if you are doing what needs to be done, you are qualified to be there. Do not ever – anybody – let somebody look at you and look at your resume and let that define who you are.” The women featured in the documentary were all up against

well-established politicians who had held public office continuously for years. Londrigan said she faced similar issues as them by not being taken seriously when she first stepped into politics. “In the beginning, people are skeptical if you stand a chance of winning. So, making sure that you know why you’re in the race, who you’re fighting for and believing in yourself is really important,” Londrigan said. The event organizers wanted it to be nonpartisan, or politically neutral, so Londrigan spoke more about the importance of being involved in politics in general rather than focusing on her policies. Event organizer and public health professor Nicole Klein said the message was about voting regardless of which side students are on. “We don’t care how they vote,” Klein said. “We just want people to be voting, to be involved in the political process and

to be good citizens.” After Londrigan left, a representative from the League of Women Voters spoke about ways to get registered to vote in the Illinois primaries and how to be informed in politics. Senior criminal justice major Cody Cooper, of Otterville, Illinois, said he is still deciding his political opinions and who he’s going to vote for, so the event resonated with him. “I believe that it’s important … because it helps students in the college population become more informed about the importance of their vote in the political system as well as the importance of the political system in itself,” Cooper said. Students interested in learning more about politics and their choices can contact the college democrats and republicans of SIUE through their Get Involved pages.

Fixins’ will close for the rest of the semester, which university leaders say is due to a significant shortage of workers. Dining Services announced Monday the restaurant on the second floor of Morris University Center will be closing on March 6 and will not reopen this spring. Dining Services Director Dennis Wobbe said due to a combination of open positions, recent and upcoming retirements and individuals approved for family medical leave, Dining Services has a 35 percent shortage in its staffing. “While we are continually hiring to fill open positions, the competition from both food service and non-food service competitors in the area has made recruitment for open positions extremely difficult, regardless of both traditional and enhanced advertising initiatives,” Wobbe said. Wobbe said no matter how many positions they might have open, they must follow state and university hiring guidelines in filling positions, which takes time. “Closing Fixins’ will allow us to shift Fixins’ staff to our busier locations where we are experiencing shortages,” Wobbe said. The announcement was immediately met with distress from faculty and students. “Fixins’ is a great place for groups to meet in an informal setting to share a meal in an academic context,” psychology professor Jonathan Pettibone said. “I use it frequently to take my lab out at the end of semesters, and we take our job candidates there for lunches with students.” English Professor Charles Berger said Fixins’ fills an important role on the campus. “It’s a place where students, faculty, staff, administrators, guests, etc. mingle in FIXINS on page 3

Health Service website confusion leaves students without care NICOLE BOYD copy editor

Until recently, the Health Service staff were unaware their website mistakenly says there are no available appointments. Students who tried to schedule appointments online may have been unable to do so, as the website claims there are no available appointments through the end of the semester. This is incorrect, according to Health Service staff. Students are still able to schedule appointments via phone

call or by going into the Health Service office, which is located on the lower level of the Student Success Center. Freshman art major Mackenna Mortensen, from Marengo, Illinois, is one student who unsuccessfully tried to make an appointment online. “You say specifically what your problem is and what you’re trying to see, but then when you go to book the appointment, it’s full … that’s not the case,” Mortensen said. Mortensen said she prefers

@thealestle

to schedule appointments online because she doesn’t feel comfortable making phone calls. “I don’t like calling people because that makes me kind of anxious, and then I’m like ‘oh, if they don’t answer the phone I have to go in person,’ so it just makes it less likely for someone to go in and get the care they need,” Mortensen said. Mortensen believes the misinformation on the website may deter some students from seeking the healthcare they need. “If people are anxious

@thealestle

enough to where they don’t want to deal with their issues, with their health, one-on-one with a person, they would rather do it online. Then that online option is not available to them and they probably won’t get the help they need,” Mortensen said. Riane Greenwalt, director of Health Service, says that students can always call to make appointments. “[The website] tells you, if you can’t find one [appointment] in your specified range, you just call the office,” Greenwalt said.

The Alestle

When approached for comment, Greenwalt was unaware of the technical difficulties. According to Greenwalt, students had not voiced concerns about the scheduling information on the website as of the day she was approached. “We really haven’t had anyone call us to tell us that they tried online and it didn’t work. Now I don’t know, we might have taken some offline because it’s not uncommon that someone will schedule an appointment and

alestlelive.com

WEBSITE on page 2


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.