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vol. 73 no. 34
The Student Voice Since 1960
Our Cougar Commitment plan, simplified: The news surrounding the pandemic is never ending, making it hard to keep up with the precautionary measures one’s own campus is taking. Here’s what you can expect fall to look like, according to Our Cougar Commitment plan:
academics • • •
Courses held on-campus will be those that rely on campus facilities. Social distancing and face coverings are required. The academic calendar will be changing: Spring Break is off the table.
Housing • • 33 noise complaints were filed this holiday weekend as the pandemic caused many Edwardsville residents to take firework celebrations into their own hands. I Mackenzie Smith / The Alestle
• •
Students share how they really feel about returning to campus MARK ALBRECHT reporter
After the Office for Accessible Campus Community and Equitable Student Support released a survey asking students their concern level for returning to campus in the fall, students reached out to The Alestle to voice a mix of concern and excitement at the prospect. On Tuesday, June 23, ACCESS asked students to complete a survey, which aimed to gauge their comfort level returning to campus this fall. The survey, meant for ACCESS students, is titled “Return to Campus Readiness Survey.” It asked students a series of questions to help ACCESS prepare to accommodate students this fall. The questions covered topics such as concerns students may have in regard to
on-ground activities, their feelings about hybrid courses that would take place partially on-campus and partially online and how they felt about rooming with another person in campus housing. Mass communications major Marcus Key, of Edwardsville, Illinois, is going into his senior year and said he is hoping to make the most of the upcoming semester. Key voiced his trust in SIUE’s judgment going forward in regards to health and safety. However, Key did raise one concern about the rooming situation for on-campus housing. “I am concerned about the two person per room situation, at least in Cougar Village Apartments, which is where I will be living. Living in such tight quarters and within close proximity of someone [in the same room] makes it so difficult to practice
social distancing and adhere to the guidelines to stay healthy,” Key said. “My biggest concern is that because of this alone, there will be a lot of students getting ill and potentially spreading the virus to many other students. I can only think that will be disastrous, and I do not know if the school has really considered, at least for housing concern, how two people in a room might not be the answer.” Other SIUE students, like freshman business major Allie Niebrugge, of Teutopolis, Illinois, and junior biology major Sarah Craig, of Vandalia, Illinois, expressed excitement in regards to returning to campus. Though both were eager to come back this fall, they each had different reservations when it came to the plans SIUE has see RETURN on page 2
Students can still live on campus. No more than two residents will be assigned to each bedroom. Guests are not allowed to visit on-campus housing. If a student tests positive for COVID-19, they will be provided with a special isolation room.
Dining • •
Pre-packaged meal options will be provided. Students must wear face masks at all times, except when eating.
student employment • •
Students should discuss remote work schedules with supervisors. The number of workers on campus at a time will be limited.
student involvement • •
Gatherings must be limited to the number of people permitted under state guidelines. The MUC, SSC and Student Fitness Center will be open with limitations.
Filling big shoes and then some: SIU system vice president role to change NICOLE BOYD copy editor
The role of the SIU system vice president is expanding as System President Dan Mahony voices his recommendation for the new vice president for academic innovation, planning and partnerships. The Board of Trustees will vote on his recommendation July 9. Mahony said the vice president will be a big part of developing a system-wide strategic plan. The Board of Trustees has been trying to approve a funding reallocation plan over the course of a year. The fairness of the current allocation has been fiercely debated, much of the SIUE community has been pushing for evenly split funding, while SIUC fears losing funding will be detrimental to the Carbondale location. “We’ve started that process a little bit already, but he’ll step in and really take a lead role in helping us move from where we
are today to having a system-wide strategic plan done by the end of the fall semester,” Mahony said. Mahony also said in addition to internal affairs, such as program development, the vice president will now be asked to find new opportunities for the system, something former SIU system vice presidents have not been challenged with. “We’re also asking the vice president to do more to find new opportunities for the system, including outreach to potential system partners, and that still involves working with the campuses, so he’ll have to be collaborative,” Mahony said. Jim Allen, acting vice president of the SIU system, said the job’s emphasis will be less on academic affairs and more on finding other ways of supporting the campuses, since the campuses are equipped to make their own decisions about academic affairs. “Much of the work that this office is doing could actually be
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assumed a bit more by the campuses, freeing up someone to do other work like planning and partnerships,” Allen said. According to Allen, the decision to expand the duties of the vice president was based on discussions that took place as the SIU Board of Trustees was searching for a new president. “We need someone to make the system, the campuses, more substantial. This is very important,” Allen said. “The system has to seem more than the sum of its parts. It has to be more visible, and it has to be more active in ways that the campuses can benefit from, as well as the larger community in southern Illinois.” Mahony has recommended Gireesh Gupchup, pharmacy professor and director of University-Community Initiatives at SIUE, as the new vice president. The Board of Trustees will vote to confirm him at their upcoming meeting on July 9. Allen, who led the search committee,
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said Gupchup stood out because he had experience in academic affairs, development of new programs, planning and community partnerships as the former dean of the School of Pharmacy and in his current role as director. “We thought, ‘Wow, this guy’s got all three skills that we’re looking for, and he might not be as strong in each of those three as others, but he’s got all three,’” Allen said. “And so we have to say that in light of his background and skill set, he really rose very quickly to the top, and he also interviewed really well.” Mark Luer, dean of the School of Pharmacy, said Gupchup’s background in the School of Pharmacy makes him well-suited for the role of vice president, as he led the school in new programs and partnerships. “Many of the things that he was able to implement [were] essentially cost-neutral, but they were beneficial for our program to continue going forward as a
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/ Photo courtesy of SIUE Marketing and Communications
school,” Luer said. “Really, many of the things that the School of Pharmacy has done [have] been in collaboration with outside partners. We partner with hospitals and pharmacies and clinics. It’s the nature of our program in general.” To view the Board of Trustees meeting, visit their YouTube channel.
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ACCESS’s Return to Campus Readiness Survey The survey recently distributed by ACCESS asks students who currently use their services to rank their level of comfort regarding the following possibilities for the Fall 2020 semester: Doing another semester entirely online Having hybrid courses, which would be partially online and partially on-ground Socially distanced campus events Socially distanced campus dining Wearing a mask during all on-campus activities, including classroom instruction Returning to campus housing with a roommate
The survey also asks students to select whether they have specific concerns about the following areas: Adherence to CDC guidelines by fellow campus community members (i.e. wearing masks, washing hands, maintaining maximum social distance, etc.) Inability to wear a mask for long periods of time Anxiousness about the sanitation of contact areas across campus Accessibility in a socially distanced setting De-contamination of classrooms between uses Reliability of internet resources Accessibility of online courses, events and programming Lack of community and social interaction with peers and campus community members Difficulty with time management and organization associated with lack of face-to-face interaction
Those who qualify can complete the survey, which was sent to them via their SIUE emails.
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set forth. Craig said she is looking forward to returning, but the campus’s policy mandating face masks to be worn while on the grounds disappointed her. “Kinda bummed about the masks, I’m getting sick and tired of those!” Craig said. “But, I get it, and it’s better than having to do another semester online!” Niebrugge said SIUE’s policy limiting guests for on-campus housing was disappointing, but she understood the logistics behind the decision. “I’m excited that campus will be opening, however, I am a little disheartened about the no visitors rule for on-campus housing. I understand the logic behind it, and I appreciate the university’s efforts to keep us all safe,” Niebrugge said. “I just wish there was another way that would still pay respect to the importance to the health and well-being of the students that allowed for parents and other SIUE students to be able to visit the individuals in personal rooms.” SIUE, in the Our Cougar Commitment plan, listed the guidelines they intend to move forward with in the fall, provided Illinois remains in Phase Four of the state’s COVID-19 strategy. “While this is our plan as determined this summer, know that we remain transparent, flexible and responsive,” SIUE said in their guidelines. “As conditions change, so will we, by incorporating the latest scientific and medical information available. We look forward to greeting you on campus in August.” Within SIUE’s instructions, student residency was addressed, as Craig and Key pointed out, and a ban on guests was established, as discussed by Niebrugge. According to the guidelines, there will also be a maximum limit of two students per bedroom and isolation rooms put aside for any student who tests positive for COVID-19. Additionally, the plans include the details
for updated sanitation procedures. Senior psychology major Lexee Camp, of Princeton, Illinois, voiced concerns for those with disabilities as SIUE formulates their plans of opening in the fall. Camp said she believes SIUE’s vague mentions in their guidelines of ACCESS working to accommodate students during the next semester could have a negative impact on her upcoming senior year. “I don’t think that SIUE included those with disabilities into their conversation when discussing how to go about Fall semester with COVID-19. As a student with a disability, it’s really disheartening that time and time again we, those with disabilities, are constantly left out of the important conversations in regard to succeeding,” Camp said. “My greatest concern is that because of this new plan, I won’t have the means necessary to be successful in my senior year.” Camp said she was stressed at first when SIUE hadn’t mentioned plans for students who are hard of hearing since the university has made wearing masks in class mandatory, which would affect her ability to read lips. Camp also said because lip reading is a vital part of her ability to learn, she had debated taking time off from school until masks were no longer needed. Neither SIUE’s email about the Fall 2020 semester, nor the attached guidelines, specifically mention current plans for students with disabilities, and the only mention of ACCESS’s involvement asks students who cannot wear a mask covering due to medical conditions to contact them. Camp said her questions about this were eventually answered by SIUE and ACCESS, with their response telling her that face shields and online options would be available upon request. Students who qualify can fill out the survey, which was sent to them via their SIUE email, and express their concerns regarding the university’s plans to open the campus this fall.
SIU Diversity Advisory Council discusses how to counteract systemic racism in higher education
MARK ALBRECHT reporter
The SIU Diversity Advisory Council recently hosted a meeting to propose new mandates in an effort to subvert institutionalized racism, citing ideas that included system-wide racial awareness training and minimizing the importance of standardized testing when considering incoming freshmen. The council held the first in a series of conferences, titled Conversations of Understanding, last Monday, June 29. The aim of the conversation was to discuss solutions in eradicating systemic racism throughout the SIU system. Before the meeting, they sent out a statement as to the intent of these discussions: “Conversations of Understanding will become an ongoing fixture across the SIU System and on our individual campuses,” the statement read. “We want to be a model for others in higher education and be recognized as a leader in our region and beyond for our work in fostering understanding of relevant contemporary issues.” Todd Bryson, Southern Illinois University Carbondale associate chancellor for diversity, acted as moderator and put forth the first question, and asked each person participating in the call for examples of systemic racism they had experienced or witnessed. Dan Mahony, SIU system president, was the first person to answer. Mahony brought up the ineffectiveness of standardized testing scores when determining the success of a student. “Research has long indicated that they are biased, and they particularly have a disproportionate negative impact on students of
color, and also not great predictors of college success,” Mahony said. Mahony said that while he was president of Winthrop University, he received pushback from members of their Board of Trustees on abolishing this way of thinking. According to Mahony, one member remarked that the school needed to reach out to more male caucasians who were upper middle class, a sentiment that shocked Mahony. Later, SIUE Chancellor Randy Pembrook brought up the low retention rate of Black students at SIUE. According to Pembrook, though the school has raised retention rates by five points since he has taken over as chancellor, their graduation rates of Black students are still 14 percent lower than the national average. One program Pembrook proposed implementing is the Rise Program, a plan of action Pembrook said he believed would help address these deficiencies. “So we’re considering additional programs such as The Rise Program, which specifically is for Black male students at SIUE. It’s a cohort model so students can go through together, take classes together and build relationships that hopefully will help students be retained,” Pembrook said. Maddy McKenzie, a graduate student and diversity officer for Student Government, was called upon by Bryson to give a prepared address and talk about her experiences as a student pertaining to the topics at hand. McKenzie, a biracial woman, recounted how she has been on the receiving end of systemic racism and simultaneously benefits from her lighter complexion. She explained the commonality of her situation, adding a layer of historical context. “So historically, it was common for
schools to have references for the admission of light-skinned African American students over dark tones African Americans regardless of their academic abilities,” McKenzie said. “And colorism was, and arguably is still today, used as a tool of oppression by denying equal educational access and career opportunities based on skin tone within a community of people of the same racial background.” McKenzie brought up one idea that would borrow from the Not Anymore program, which is the obligatory sexual harassment and assualt training all students most complete each fall semester in order to take classes. McKenzie suggested the system could create a similar sort of training for racial awareness. Howard Rambsy, professor in the Department of English Language and Literature and sub-committee member of the Anti-Racism Task Force, said in previous meetings with students, this subject has come up frequently. According to Rambsy, though he respects McKenzie’s idea, he is uncertain if students give the Not Anymore training sufficient attention as is and is concerned students would treat any mandatory racial awareness training with the same amount of apathy. “Rayshard Brooks, the guy who was killed in Atlanta … the police officer who did that had actually had diversity training,” Rambsy said. “So, I’m not sure that’s the route.” Rambsy also raised concern for the sustainability of the current talks for reform, saying the school had the same talks as far back as 2016 with no substantial change to date. Future Conversations of Understanding are planned to take place on the SIU Board of Trustees YouTube page.
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Update: Debate continues around fate of Ninian Edwards statue GABRIEL BRADY reporter A statue of Ninian Edwards, the namesake of Edwardsville, has come under scrutiny due to Edwards’s stance on slavery, as well as his opinions on Native Americans. Recently, community members have been rising up demanding that the statue be removed and the Ninian Edwards Plaza be renamed. Although an initial Facebook group advocating for relocation gained over 500 members in less than 24 hours, a new group has since been created. Asher Denkyirah is an administrator of the new group, and she said there were a number of reasons that a new group was needed. “We made the new group because we noticed we were getting some people in the public a bit upset. Originally, [the Facebook group] was public, which can be a problem for some admins because there is little privacy,” Denkyirah said. “This new group is private, so that way everybody on Facebook can’t just see everyone in the group. The new group is the same movement, but we are also slowing it down a bit. The original group got so much attention so fast that we needed to slow down in order to organize and mobilize.” Another administrator of the new group is Assistant Professor of Sociology Ezra Temko. Temko was not an administrator of the initial group, but he was offered the position in the new group. Temko said part of the group’s mobilization has been to contact city leaders. “I was actively involved in the first group. I was posting and commenting a lot, and I’d had a conversation with my alderperson, in order to reach out for some kind of feedback. I also volunteered to make a petition, which we have now,” Temko said. “When they made the new group, one of the admins asked if I wanted to help them and become an admin as well. There’s a lot of quick, ramped-up interest, so we have been encouraging folks to reach out to their alderpersons and the mayor.” As for contacting local government officials about the statue, according to Denkyirah, responses have been lukewarm. “Most recently, in the original group, we updated people on where we were at at that point, trying to counteract pushback because the city council basically said no,” Denkyirah said. “It was never publicly stated, but based on meetings, there wasn’t going to be a good drive from the government to move the statue. So, we have to kind of come together again to continue to have our voices heard. We need to continue to email them, go to meetings, sign the petitions, all of that.” Some of the aldermen of Edwardsville have released statements on the matter, such as Alderman S.J. Morrison, whose ward includes the SIUE campus. Morrison said he feels Edwards’ history is terrible, and a change is necessary. “I’ve learned in the last few weeks about the atrocities committed by Ninian Edwards against human beings throughout his life,” Morrison said. “I know this is a divisive issue, but Edwardsville needs to do something to acknowledge the truth about his past. At a minimum, I would support renaming the plaza and finding a way to tell his story.” Alderman Will Krause also released a statement, in which he said he feels the statue should remain as is. “Allowing people to debate in the public square was one of the reasons public squares exist. Ninian Edwards should remain because it stirs debate, which can be the starting point to creating substantive change,” Krause said. “Remove the statue, the conversation stops. Period.” For more information, visit the group’s new Facebook page. To contact Edwardsville’s aldermen, visit the city of Edwardsville’s website.
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“The fierce urgency of now”: Anti-Racism Task Force begins meeting GABRIEL BRADY reporter SIUE’s Anti-Racism Task Force has been around for just under a month, but they plan to make SIUE a more inclusive and accepting campus. The specifics of their plans are not yet set, but meetings have begun as the task force aims to act with a “Fierce Urgency of Now,” as stated in messages from the group. Chief Diversity Officer Venessa Brown, a member of the task force’s core council, said the task force was created by Chancellor Randy Pembrook because he wanted SIUE to respond to recent national events. “The Anti-Racism Task Force came from a conversation with the chancellor ... In a meeting he said that we should have a task force for this, and it was developed out of that. The George Floyd situation leads to a need for an institutional position as an anti-racist campus,” Brown said. “My job is to make sure we live up to those values, and all of those things have a critical part in us being an institution that does that. We need to do more than just say we are against racism; we need to act.” Director of the Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion Lindy Wagner is also a core member of the task force. She said her position as the director of the center made it essential for her to have a seat on the task force. “As the director of the Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion, it is important I have a seat at this table because that position is about educating people about race and diversity, and that’s what much of the task force’s work revolves around,” Wagner said. “I’ve only been director since March 2, but when I got the job, I understood that the center is a location on campus that is very much about learning cultural identity, and becoming aware of others, and being purposeful in that pursuit, so it was definitely important for me to be on the task force.” Brown said the Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion has had some events that she believes are great examples of how to promote anti-racism. She said she believes SIUE
has the attention of many people in the area, so any changes made here will definitely have an impact. “The Center for [Student] Diversity and Inclusion has been having some great listening sessions for students and staff to talk about what‘s happening in this country and how it impacts us as a higher education institute. As difficult as the conversations are, it’s important to have those conversations,” Brown said. “I feel SIUE is the model of the region, so this is one of the reasons we should embrace change and be that example and model for southern Illinois.” The actual structure of the Anti-Racism Task Force is based around four subcommittees, all of which have two cochairs. There is also the core council of members. The subcommittees create official plans of action, and the core council makes sure those changes go into effect. Associate Dean of Students for Diversity and Inclusion Courtney Boddie said although there are not specific changes that the task force plans to enact currently, there should be a list ready by the start of the next semester. “Our goals are to have two action items to implement by fall from each subcommittee. Some will be about training, some about curriculum, some about faculty,” Boddie said. “I acknowledge people’s skepticism to any type of institutional change, but we are trying to make structural change to be anti-racist.” Boddie said he has been ready for something like the Anti-Racism Task Force for a long time, and he is happy to be a member of it. “I think that this type of work is a long, long time coming. There have been people with great intentions behind making higher ed more accessible. But, what we’re finally seeing is a reckoning. We are going to get to a place where everything is illuminated,” Boddie said. “More people need to understand that racism is more than just a man in white cloth, burning a cross and shouting racial epithets.” Action items from each subcommittee are to be submitted by the end of August. For more information on the Anti-Racism Task Force, read their press release or their initial June 12 announcement.
Anti-Racism Task Force Membership Core Council: • Scott Belobrajdic, associate vice chancellor for enrollment management • Courtney Boddie, associate dean of students for diversity and inclusion/director of Counseling Services • Venessa Brown, associate chancellor for institutional diversity and inclusion • Lakesha Butler, clinical professor and diversity and inclusion coordinator for the School of Pharmacy • Denise Cobb, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs • Kim Durr, chief of staff in the Office of the Chancellor • Tim Hall, director of athletics • Jessica Harris, interim assistant provost • Elza Ibroscheva, associate provost • Doug McIlhagga, executive director of University Marketing and Communications • Randy Pembrook, chancellor • Kevin Schmoll, chief of University Police • J.T. Snipes, assistant professor of educational leadership • Rachel Stack, vice chancellor for university advancement • Tim Staples, director of the East St. Louis Center • Cornell Thomas, assistant dean for admissions and student services at the School of Dental Medicine • Bob Thumith, director of Human Resources • Lindy Wagner, director of the Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion • Jeffrey Waple, vice chancellor for student affairs
Subcommittee Co-Chairs: • Effective and Sustained Communication: Jennifer Hernandez, assistant professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning, and Megan Wieser, marketing and media relations specialist for University Marketing and Communications • Access and Success: Todd Burrell, director of undergraduate admissions, and Earleen Patterson director of Student Opportunities for Academic Results • Curriculum: Matthew Schunke, associate professor of philosophy, and Sandra Weissinger, associate professor of sociology • Retention and Promotion: Jamie Ball, director for Equal Opportunity, Access and Title IX Coordination, and Gertrude Pannirselvam, associate professor of management and marketing in the School of Business
WIRE: COVID-19 deaths dip to lowest daily number since March 06.26.20 Near the East St. Louis Center, an employee reported seeing someone who had possibly stolen SIUE property. The individual returned the property to the employee, but as they were speaking, the individual exposed his genitals. SIUE Police received a report that someone was trying to steal money from the university.
06.30.20 A large party was reported in Cougar Village. SIUE Police assisted University Housing in dispersing the party and informing attendees of the no guest policy.
07.03.20 SIUE PD followed up with a report of an order of protection being violated.
07.04.20 A small fire caused by sparklers was reported in SIUE Gardens. An officer responded and was able to extinguish the fire.
07.05.20 An officer conducted a vehicle check on a vehicle parked in the Korte Stadium parking lot and found drug paraphernalia. The officer escorted the driver of the vehicle to where he was staying for the evening.
The graph shows the rolling, 7-day positivity rate for tests completed starting on June 1. Illinois Department of Public Health data was used to calculate the averages. | Jerry Nowicki / Capitol News Illinois JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD – Hospitalizations for COVID-19 in Illinois declined significantly over the holiday weekend and into Monday, touching their lows since the state began reporting the figures daily in April. There were 1,395 COVID-19 patients hospitalized as of 11:59 p.m. Sunday as the number remained below 1,400 for three days after spiking to 1,651 on Thursday. Of those hospitalized at the end of Sunday, 321 were in intensive care unit beds, the second-lowest number reported by the Illinois Department of Public Health during the pandemic’s presence in Illinois. The 304 reported at the end of July 4 marked the lowest in one day. Ventilators in use by COVID-19 pa-
tients at the end of Sunday fell to 151 – the lowest IDPH has reported thus far. The state also reported just six new COVID-19-related deaths each on Sunday and Monday, marking a low since March 25. That’s after death counts of 10 on Saturday and 17 on Friday. Sundays and Mondays, historically, have had lower casualties reported by IDPH than the rest of the week throughout the pandemic, however, and IDPH warns in its daily releases that all data “are provisional and will change.” A disclaimer reported daily reads: “In order to rapidly report COVID-19 information to the public, data are being reported in real-time. Information is constantly being entered into an electronic system and the number of cases and deaths can change as additional information is gathered.” The seven-day rolling positivity rate re-
mained at 2.6 percent Monday for the seventh straight day after ticking downward from 2.7 percent. Monday’s one-day rate was 2.9 percent, however, as the state reported 614 new cases among 21,134 test results reported, a lower-than-normal number coming out of the holiday weekend. From Friday through Sunday, the state reported 868, 862 and 639 new cases each day with one-day positivity rates ranging from 2.3 to 2.5. Average daily test output for the three-day span was more than 31,000. Thus far, there have been 7,026 COVID-19-related deaths reported by the state among 147,865 total confirmed cases. There have been 1.78 million tests results reported. The recovery rate for those 42 days removed from a positive test is 94 percent, according to IDPH.
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LIFESTYLES alestlelive.com
contact the editor: lifestyles@alestlelive.com 650-3527 wednesday, 07.08.20
A look at systemic oppression throughout American history JORDYN NIMMER lifestyles editor As debates rage over the targets of oppression in America, a comprehensive review of disproportionately affected groups is due. Native Americans The first marginalized group to endure the brunt of xenophobic expansion were Native Americans. The foundations for oppression were established even on Christopher Columbus’s first voyage in 1492 during a seemingly short three-month period. As the international slave trade began to grow, Columbus and his men enslaved indigenous people of the West Indies. He ordered six of these people to be seized, as he believed they would be adequate servants. In Columbus’s “New World,” he expanded this once small group of six and established the first form of systemic oppression in America. He enacted policies regarding forced labor in exchange for profit. Once the system was in place, Columbus began his slavery empire. He sent thousands of Taino Native Americans to Spain to be sold into the booming international slave market. The fate of this group was sealed: either die en route to Spain, suffer the torment that awaited them there or remain in America as a slave to the whims of Columbus. Only 60 years after Columbus’s voyage, the West Indies’s population of 250,000 Taino had been reduced to a mere few hundred. When unrest began to rise among the population of Native American slaves, Columbus demanded the Native Americans be killed and their bodies dismembered and paraded through the streets. The Taino slave order was only the first of the many tactics used to diminish the size and territory of Native American populations.
As if their people being slaughtered and kept as slaves wasn’t unjust enough, President Andrew Jackson’s Indian Removal Act spearheaded the Trail of Tears in the 1830s, in which Native Americans were forced off their land and many died en route, predominantly in the southeast. African Americans Prior to the Indian Removal Act, another people group met their own brand of injustice
in America. The African slave trade is thought to have first begun in 1619 when The White Lion brought 20 African slaves — seized from the slave ship Sao Jao Bautista — to Jamestown, Virginia. At this time, indentured servitude was the cheapest and most plentiful form of slave labor. The first group of indentured servants arrived at Jamestown in 1607. While indentured servants were enticed into servitude, they were not slaves. Many were afforded room, board, lodging
and freedom dues in exchange for four to seven years of service. Some laws existed at the time to protect their rights, but these were limited. Once the African slave trade began in America, indentured servitude became obsolete. It is estimated that 6 to 7 million enslaved Africans were imported to the New World in the 18th century. When the American Revolution began in 1775, approximately 5,000 Black soldiers fought on the American side.
Despite their allegiance to the cause, the newly drafted U.S. Constitution only acknowledged slaves as three-fifths of a person in regard to taxation and representation. Further, The Constitution guaranteed the right of repossession of slaves after the war concluded in 1783. While owning slaves was not unheard of in the North, its presence in the South was abysmal. Although the African slave trade was outlawed by Congress in 1808, the domestic market for slaves continued to flourish. In fact, the slave population tripled over the course of 50 years, making the total population of African slaves over 4 million at this time. The value of Black lives were called into question repeatedly during this time. The Civil War began in 1861 and lasted until 1865. At this time, state militias outlawed African Americans from fighting alongside white soldiers — despite their previous “unofficial” role in the American Revolution and the War of 1812. Approximately 200,000 Black men enlisted in the Union Army and 20,000 in the Union Navy during the Civil War. Of these men, 16 earned the Congressional Medal of Honor for their service during the Civil War. The Emancipation Proclamation was subsequently passed in January 1863 after the third year of the war. However, most enslaved Africans Americans did not hear of their emancipation until June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas. This day is now referred to as Juneteenth and is celebrated among the Black community, although it is still not recognized by the federal government. Long after these institutions were put in place, racial unrest and injustice permeated through American society. Destroying the institution seemed to be the perfect solution, but the effects were catastrophic. To read more about the unjust treatment of other marginalized groups, visit alestlelive.com.
Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, this painting represents the intrinsic value of Black lives — often unjustly denied by our society and foundations of this country. | Jordyn Nimmer / The Alestle
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REVIEW: Disney Plus’s ‘Hamilton’ reminds us of the true cost of freedom this Independence Day weekend
A year prior to the filming of the adaptation, Obama meets the cast of Hamilton. | Pete Souza via Behind the Lens
JORDYN NIMMER lifestyles editor “Hamilton’s” debut on Disney Plus does more than conceive the perfect theatrical-cinematic hybrid.
The film revives the ageold trope of freedom and its disagreement with the foundation of American society. Airing on the platform on July 3, the “Hamilton” film was captured with the original cast
Lesbian:
performing in June 2016 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on Broadway. Masterminded by playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda and director Thomas Kail, the film was released a day shy of Inde-
pendence Day. This is either a subtle reminder of the true value of freedom in our nation or a well-timed coincidence. As outrage surrounding racial injustice permeates throughout American society, minority contributions to the infrastructure of this country are acknowledged not by our government, but by “Hamilton’s” film adaptation instead. Those discarded throughout American history are uplifted in both reverence and admiration, as they are implored by the film to “rise up.” Most compelling of these encouragements were the visions of minority freedom by the leads. General Lafayette envisioned a world in which the first all-Black batallion would fight for both the country’s liberation and the liberation of Black people from the confines of slavery. Before his death, Lafayette executed his plan and lead the Black Regiment, which served from the seige of Boston until the Continental Army was disbanded in 1783. Hamilton spoke out about the attrocities of slavery, but was
met with contention at every turn. After Hamilton’s death, his wife Eliza carried on his vision and spoke out against slavery. Though she didn’t garner the same respect as a man of her time, she refused to be silenced on this matter and others. Perhaps if either of these men hadn’t died prematurely, America would be profoundly different. While nothing can replace the thrill of a live performance, the preservation of the live show in this adaptation surely invokes a thrill of its own kind. Perhaps outdoing its onstage counterpart, the film grants viewers a sense of intimacy not afforded by the theater through close-up camera angles and an abbreviated intermission for the audience’s binging pleasure. The adaptation is nothing short of a masterpiece and defies a cynical review. The film’s direction brings the acclaimed rap dialogue and cadence of the original musical to the home theater. To watch the film, sign up for Disney Plus at https://www. disneyplus.com/sign-up.
A woman who is primarily attracted to women
Gay: Bisexual:
A man who is primarily attracted to men; sometimes used as a broad term for an individual primarily attracted to the same sex An individual attracted to people of their own and opposite gender
Transgender: Transexual:
An outdated term that originated in the medical and psychological communites for people who have permentantly changed their gender identity through surgery and hormones
Queer: Questioning:
A person whose gender identity differs from their assigned sex at birth
An umbrella term to be more inclusive of the many identities and variations that make up the LGBTQ+ community
The process of exploring and discovering one’s own sexual orientation, gender identity and/or gender
Multiple flags represent questioning. This one is the most commonly used.
Due to the cancellation of Pride Parades across the nation, there is a consequental absence of exposure for the LGBTQ community. Here are some key terms to be familiar with. | Summer Bradley / The Alestle
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‘Protect your property’ when it’s actually in danger THE ALESTLE STAFF editorial board
Peaceful protests are protected by the First Amendment, and we at The Alestle believe such demonstrations are an important part of demanding equality and respect for all. Those practicing this right should not be threatened for doing so. Protesters walked the streets of St. Louis on Sunday, June 28, to express their anger towards St. Louis City Mayor Lyda Krewson after she publicly announced the names and addresses of individuals who wrote to her about defunding the police. The protesters peacefully marched to her house in hopes of convincing her to resign as mayor. While protesters marched through a historic district in St.
Louis, Mark and Patricia McCloskey walked outside their mansion with guns and began yelling at those who were walking by. There is an argument that the protesters were trespassing on a private street within a gated community; however, even in a situation like this, gun use is not justified. Videos show the couple carelessly waving guns around and aiming them at the protesters. Patricia shows a clear lack of gun safety training, as she mishandles the gun by leaving her finger on the trigger. At that moment, the McCloskeys used their right to bear arms to step on the people’s freedom to assemble. The McCloskeys claim to have been protecting their property, but that alone does not warrant the use of lethal weapons when there was no true
threat to their house or belongings. This is just one of countless examples of the misuse of guns and weapons in our country. Fortunately, no shots were fired in this instance, but bringing the guns out and aiming them at protesters in the first place was both unsafe and unnecessary. According to social psychology, the presence of weapons often causes tense situations to escalate. This is explained by the weapons effect, which says that violence and aggression can be solicited by the mere presence of a weapon. This is even more true for those who are already aroused, like a group of protesters. Bringing out weapons often does not protect anyone – or anything – but instead creates uneasiness that leads to violence
when there is no danger. As we have seen throughout the past few weeks of protests, it is possible for even the most peaceful of protests to turn violent due to the actions of one individual. We believe in protecting constitutional rights, but we believe that gun responsibility and safety is also important, and requires being cognizant of the implications that openly carrying a weapon brings. Without any real justification, innocent people were at risk of being injured because the poorly educated gun handlers wanted to “protect” their property. Human lives are worth more than property. “Defending” your property is not an excuse to put protesters in your crosshairs, because your Second Amendment right does not come before their First Amendment right.
White people: Change starts at home NICOLE BOYD copy editor
As George Floyd’s death has sparked international protests, social justice issues seem to be on the forefront of many people’s minds. As a result, some of us may be hearing parents or older relatives expressing outdated or problematic thoughts. For example, the Black Lives Matter movement has received quite a bit of media attention lately, and many people of an older generation are responding by saying, “Well, all lives matter!” While it can be frustrating to continually hear this, this is actually a good opportunity to educate a demographic that doesn’t necessarily keep up with recent social movements. You can reply by explaining
that yes, all lives do matter, but it seems that the criminal justice system needs constant reminding that Black lives matter, too. You could also use the analogy that it would be inappropriate to be angry at a breast cancer rally and insist that all cancers matter. An article by Vox outlines nine reasons why saying “all lives matter” is problematic, including a comic strip of someone hosing down all the houses in a neighborhood instead of just the one that is on fire. Depending on which social media platforms these relatives pay attention to and who they’re following, they might not be seeing videos of police brutality like younger people are. If these videos are not too upsetting, it may be worth showing your relatives so they can better understand the reasoning behind the protests. If that is too triggering, try sending
them articles about statistics or firsthand accounts from people of color. Of course, it can get exhausting to take on this responsibility. Some people simply refuse to listen to anything that doesn’t align with their own beliefs, and arguing with them seems like a waste of breath. If you have tried educating them and they are unwilling to even listen to you, or are only focused on being right, don’t be too hard on yourself. More than likely, the problem is within themselves. If you have done what you can to hold them accountable, it’s OK to take a step back for a while. The most important thing is to speak up for what is right, and if you’ve done that, you’ve done the right thing. You can always shift to other forms of support, such as signing petitions or attending protests.
After a difficult conversation, don’t spend too much time worrying if you explained your point well enough or if you could have said something better. This type of thinking is often paralyzing and leads to future inaction. It is better to speak out against racism and be misunderstood or dismissed than to say nothing at all. While navigating conversations on topics such as these with loved ones may be uncomfortable, we must use this opportunity to promote social justice for all. It’s easy to get discouraged when people you love aren’t as open-minded as you wish they were. But people can learn and change, and it is the responsibility of a white ally to be a part of the process. So when an uncomfortable situation arises, don’t just stand by without speaking up. Use your privilege, and your voice, for good.
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NEXT WEEK ONLINE: HOW COVID-19 IS IMPACTING STUDENT-ATHLETES, AS TOLD BY ONE page 7
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A new leg in the race:
Athletics introduces new partnership VERNON SMITH JR. reporter
JENNIFER GOECKNER managing editor
a lot of administrative work you have to do, there’s a lot of rules you have to follow … All those things with the experience I’ve had helped me to be a better coach, and also being able to have a little bit of success having student-athletes go to prelims, having student-athletes qualify for nationals, has shown me that it can be done at a small school.” Senior distance runner Liam O’Connell, who competes on both the Track and Field and Cross Country teams, said Evans
Last week, Athlete Network announced a new partnership with SIUE, aiming to help current student athletes forge essential networking connections. Athlete Network is an engaging platform where current student athletes and alumni can connect. Brett Fuller, vice president of partnership at Athlete Network, used the statement announcing the new relationship with SIUE to explain how the process of this partnership will work. “SIUE values keeping their current and former student-athletes involved and engaged with the program, and they are committed to advancing support for their athletes during the transition to the workforce,” Fuller said. “Through our Unite software, their team will not only increase visibility and engagement with available resources, such as career advancement opportunities, but also use data analytics to track utilization ensuring effective communication and engagement is maintained with their athletes for life.” Deputy Athletic Director Jason Coomer said the services provided by Athlete Network are something SIUE Athletics have known about for some time. “Athlete Network is something in our line of work [that is] fairly popular,” Coomer said. “We were pretty familiar with them.” Director of Athletics Tim Hall explained why it was such a great partnership for the university: “I like the work they do, to not only enhance opportunities for current student athletes but also for alumni as well, the partnership really made sense,” Hall said. SIUE is the first team in the Ohio Valley Conference to partner with Athlete Network. When asked if this will set a trend for other teams in the conference, Hall said he could see it doing just that.
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Former SIUE track star returns as coach
After a decade-long hiatus from SIUE while coaching at other schools, former Cougars track athlete Marcus Evans will now return to campus as the new Track and Field and Cross Country head coach. Evans ran for the Cougars from 2007 to 2010, competing as a sprinter, hurdler and relay team member. He said he has a lot of good memories looking back at his time at SIUE, even meeting his now-wife — who also competed on the Track and Field team — there. Evans also said he is looking forward to coming back as a coach and supporting the current student-athletes. “I just have really fond experiences of SIUE. It’s such a different school in terms of just such a family atmosphere,” Evans said. “Everybody’s there for the student-athletes’ benefit, for the students’ benefit, and that was something that was really important to me coming back knowing that our student-athletes are going to have that support on all levels.” Evans said there are a number of highlights from his time competing at SIUE, including watching the women’s team place fourth at the 2008 NCAA Division II Indoor Champion-
ships and having a top-5 time in the 400-meter hurdles for SIUE Men’s Track and Field. While Evans was competing on the Track and Field team, SIUE Athletics made the transition from Division II to Division I, which Evans said allowed him to witness the team’s success at the D-2 level. “I started as a walk-on on the D-2 team, and [there were] lots of really good runners, sprinters, hurdlers and throwers on those teams,” Evans said. “Almost the whole roster was really successful athletes. We rode that storm and got to compete with those teams, and I got a chance to go to the national championships as an alternate for the 4x400 relay that year [in 2007].” Evans said following the transition, the team faced tougher competition, which led some to leave the program and compete elsewhere. “Then we made the transition to Division I, which meant we couldn’t go to any championships, but it was really important to the student-athletes that were still on campus that we kind of continue that success and try to drive forward. We had some people leave and go do some other options because they would be able to run at championships … but I felt like SIUE had given me so much, so I wanted to finish my career there.”
Despite the high level of competition, Evans still found success at the Division I level as a two-time NCAA Division I Regional Qualifier. Evans said he hopes to use his experiences as a student-athlete to support his teams both in the sport and in their lives away from the game. “Having been on both sides of grades, achieving highly at grades but also not doing so well my freshman and sophomore years, I think I can kind of relate with students and make sure they know like, ‘Hey, you do have enough time to do this stuff. Here’s what we need to focus on. Do we need to take time away from practice for a couple weeks so you can study more and focus more on those types of things?’” Evans said. In addition to his experience as an athlete, Evans has also been coaching at the Division I level for the past nine years at Lipscomb University in Nashville. Before Lipscomb, Evans coached for a year at Adrian College in Adrian, Michigan, which is a Division III school. Evans said his time at both institutions allowed him to grow as a coach. “I think a lot of people get into coaching and think it’s just the x’s and o’s, and ‘Hey, go do this workout,’” Evans said. “For us track and field coaches, it seems pretty simple, but there’s
Top: Freshman Roland Prenzler outruns Eastern Illinois University’s Adam Swanson in the OVC Championships last fall. I Emma Davis / The Alestle. Bottom: Evans poses for a headshot for Lipscomb, where he formally coached before returning to SIUE. I Photo courtesy of SIUE Athletics.
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has been meeting with the athletes over Zoom. O’Connell also said he thinks Evans’s past experience as an SIUE athlete will be an advantage for the team. “I’m really excited to have him coming. We did a Zoom interview with him, and he seems like he really wants to connect with all the athletes,” O’Connell said. “Plus, as an SIUE Track [alumnus], he’s familiar with the facilities and the system.” Emily Ellis, a junior distance runner who also competes for both the Track and Field and Cross Country teams, agreed with O’Connell. She said she thinks Evans will bring a lot of experience with him. She said this is important now more than
ever with the uncertainty about the upcoming seasons due to COVID-19. “I think amidst all the things going on he has been a blessing and something to look forward to for the growth of the Track and Cross Country teams,” Ellis said. “He is experienced, motivated and has sturdy plans to get our teams where they should and need to be to be successful.” Part of these plans is to continue developing the current talent to work toward better individual and team performances in the Ohio Valley Conference and at the nationals level, according to Evans. “I think we are very talented, and I would like to see that talent work to our favor in getting better and better in the OVC,”
Evans said. “I know it’s not going to be an overnight thing to win an OVC title, but that’s what we’re working towards — to win OVC titles, to get as many student-athletes to the prelims and then the NCAA finals as we can — and I think we have a lot of student-athletes on campus that can step into those roles.” Evans said his more immediate goal is to build relationships with the athletes and provide them with as much support as possible. “That was one of the most important things on the list, is getting to know them and letting them know that I’m here for them — they can call me, they can text me, they can email me — so we can start these relationships off right,” Evans said. “That’s
wednesday, 07.08.20
part of my coaching philosophy, to get to know the individual before I get to know the individual athlete.” Evans’s return to SIUE follows the resignation of former head coach Scott Block, who also competed as a student-athlete at SIUE. To learn more about Evans and his return to SIUE, watch him on the June 16 episode of Isolation Conversation with Joe Pott. The latest information about the upcoming Cross Country and Track and Field seasons can be found on the Cougars Athletics website. JENNIFER GOECKNER 650-3527 @jgoeck_Alestle jgoeckner@alestlelive.com
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“It will provide some exposure to Athlete Network and what they do for the other members of our league,” Hall said. Coomer said in order for the partnership to reach its full potential, alumni need to be involved. “The critical piece of this whole process is to have that engagement. We need our alumni to be aware of the opportunity, and secondly we need them to understand what [Athlete Network] is all about.” Hall talked about the many advantages this partnership brings for SIUE athletes. “It will open new doors, whether it be professional opportunities in terms of employment, vice and consul from each other and other individuals,” Hall said. He also explained how the network provides more opportunities for SIUE Athletics to maintain relationships with their athletes and help them succeed. “It’s a tool for the institution and athletic department to keep connected with all of our alumni as well as our student athletes, to help give them opportunities to better themselves, whether it be a job, or mentor,” Hall said. A lot of the university’s former athletes have gone on to do great things in their area after graduation, which Coomer said provides good examples for SIUE’s current athletes. “We have a number of athletic alumni that are leaders in their communities [and] leaders in their industry,” Coomer said. “They’re not only making us proud, but the institution proud by the things they are doing. This is an area where we need to do a better job in … because they have a lot to offer, and current student athletes could be beneficiaries of learning from the path they took.” Hall said the role Athletics plays in a student athlete’s life is also an educational one. “Our biggest responsibility at the athletic department is that we are educators. work we follow the alestleThe on twitter do in Athletics compliments the formal education that our students receive in the classroom,” Hall said. For the more information follow alestle on twitteron the partnership, visit Athlete Network’s website.
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