T H E
ALESTLE
thursday, 09.19.19
vol. LXXII no. V
Graduate nursing anesthesia student, James Canny, of Iowa City, Iowa, and junior accounting major Ronald Akpan, of Edwardsville, play a practice game of pickleball. State Rep. hosts Title IX panel | page 2
Metro East Eats: meat substitutes | page 4-5 | Taylin Ritter / The Alestle
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State legislators visit campus for Title IX panel RYAN BIERI managing editor
Local political officials came to campus Tuesday night to discuss sexual assault and potential changes to Title IX with the community. State Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, and State Sen. Rachelle Crowe, D-Glen Carbon, were joined by Jamie Ball, director of Equal Opportunity and Access/Title IX, Marsha Griffin from the Attorney General’s office and Aeriel White, a confidential adviser from Call for Help, Inc. Title IX refers to Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and Ball said the fundamentals of Title IX can be summed up in one sentence. “No person in the United States shall be on the basis of sex: be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of or be subjected to discrimination under any education activities receiving federal financial assistance,” Ball said. Title IX applies to all aspects of the university, including admissions, athletics and how schools handle allegations of sexual assault. However, Ball explained that some of the provisions in state law may come into conflict with proposed changes to Title IX regulation at the federal level if Betsy Devos’s proposed changes from 2018 were to take effect. Ball said three changes proposed by Devos caused concern for herself and others associated with Title IX. The first is a change to the school’s responsibility. According to Ball, the proposed changes would only make universities responsible for incidents that happen on campus, only and narrow the definition of sexual harassment. The second change is to the standard of evidence used for Title IX incidents. Currently, the
EOA uses a preponderance of evidence standard — meaning the outcome is based on whether the incident was more likely than not to have occurred. Ball said her biggest concern with the proposed changes was the application of cross-examinations in Title IX cases. Currently, both the accuser and accused are allowed to pose questions to each other in a disputed incident, but the investigator in their case is the one who asks them — there is no direct confrontation between the two. “What the proposed regulation would require is that there would always be a hearing. So, a confrontational, adversarial type of situation where there would be questioning of each other, by attorneys potentially,” Ball said. “Being cynical here for a second, who’s got the attorney in that case? The [accused] typically. So the question becomes, ‘Could someone who is the complainant in a case need to lawyer up too?’ Maybe, because, you know, you want it to be a fair fight at that point.” Ball said the university is not trying to hold trials for these incidents. Ball also said students have the option to go to the criminal court system, but the university’s system is different. During a Q&A session after the panel, one attendee asked what would happen if the contradictory changes were put into effect. Ball said it would likely result in a lawsuit between the state and the federal government to clarify what the standard should be. During the panel, Stuart, who is a former mathematics instructor at SIUE, explained what it was like to see one of her students go through the process, and aftermath, of reporting a Title IX violation to the university. “I had an experience teaching a student who was a victim and she was forced to see that person every day as she went through
From left to right: Director of Equal Opportunity and Access Jamie Ball, Marsha Griffin from the Attorney General’s office, State Sen. Rachelle Crowe, D-Glen Carbon, State Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, and Call for Help Inc. confidential adviser Aeriel White speak at Tuesday night’s Title IX panel Tuesday. | Taylin Ritter / The Alestle
the process,” Stuart said. It’s really tough because the university makes those accommodations, but it’s her life that had to be uprooted and changed … I don’t know what the fix is for that, because there’s due process for people who are accused of things happening, and you have to make sure you follow that, but it was very difficult.” According to the SIUE Police blotter, there were two reports of sexual assaults in the last week. Stuart said the event was held to help Crowe and herself understand what the community thinks they could do to protect students on campus and to give students and community members a forum to discuss Betsy Devos’s proposed changes to Title IX enforcement. “I taught at this university for quite a long time, I also taught at the high school and
middle school for a long time. I know there’s the reported statistics and the real statistics — because so many incidents just don’t actually get reported,” Stuart said. Crowe said one of the things she learned early on as a former prosecutor was that sexual assault was a crime that could happen to anyone at any age at no fault of the victim. She also said most of the crimes she prosecuted in Madison County were not crimes perpetrated by strangers. “I think that most of you in this room already know that,” Crowe said. “When we’re talking this kind of violence, usually it’s someone that you have met socially or know on a social level, especially in the kind of circumstances that you are all in here on campus.” Crowe said one change she and Stuart could do to help college campuses have more accu-
rate data about sexual assault on campus is to push for the Illinois Department of Education to create campus climate surveys that would go directly to the state. Griffin spoke about the Preventing Sexual Violence in Higher Education Act, which passed in 2015. According to Griffin, the act requires schools to provide a trained confidential adviser to survivors of sexual violence; provide a clear written explanation of rights for survivors; define consent as freely given, something that can be revoked and is not dependent on a survivor’s dress, among other things; develop a comprehensive policy which covers sexual, domestic and dating violence; and provide an amnesty provision which allows students to report sexual violence without worrying about consequences from drug use or underage drinking.
AFSP raises funds, awareness for suicide prevention JENNIFER GOECKNER lifestyles editor
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention held its annual Out of the Darkness Walk Sunday evening at the SIUE Gardens to commemorate National Suicide Prevention Week. This year, National Suicide Prevention Week ran from Sept. 8 to Sept. 14. AFSP promotes this weeklong campaign each year to share information about suicide prevention and warning signs. The Out of the Darkness Walk consisted of the walk itself and a vigil, which allowed attendees to remember and honor loved ones they had lost. The vigil was added last year in collaboration with the Madison County Mental Health Alliance. SIUE alumnae Sara Bozarth has been coordinating the event since 2010. Bozarth lost her older brother to suicide in 2007, which is what she said first led her to get
involved with AFSP. “From 2007 to 2009, I was in deep, deep grief,” Bozarth said. “Online, [I was] reaching out, trying to figure it out, because there wasn’t anything in the community for me to go to that I knew of. But I found AFSP online, and through there, different discussion boards and learning about the walk, I decided I wanted to reach out and talk to other people who had experienced the loss that I had.” According to AFSP’s website, this year’s event raised a total of $15,447 and included 279 participants. Bozarth said the event acts as a fundraiser, and also provides resources and information on suicide prevention and loss. “AFSP itself puts money toward research, advocacy, education and resources for communities, Bozarth said. “So the walks, they generate money, but they also work on that awareness aspect and bring resources to people in the community who either
struggle with suicidal thoughts or who have lost someone to suicide.” Counseling Services provides support for the event through advertising and campus outreach, according to Lisa Gibson-Thompson, Counseling Services’ coordinator for outreach and prevention. Counseling Services also runs a booth at the walk to help promote awareness and provide information about on-campus resources. Gibson-Thompson said she believes events such as this one are important for a number of reasons. “It helps with awareness around the topic of suicide,” Gibson-Thompson said. “It helps community members connect. It helps to reduce stigma and the sense of isolation that people experience, particularly if they have lost somebody to suicide, and so being able to come together in community can help with people’s individual processes after
they’ve lost somebody.” Psychology Club was one of the student organizations that provided volunteers for the event this year. The group’s president, junior psychology and sociology major Mario Diaz, of Streator, Illinois, said the club decided to volunteer at the event to help spread awareness. “We do have student volunteers just to help run the event and make sure everything’s going well,” Diaz said. “We’re just getting more involved in the community and spreading mental health awareness, so it’s important to take care of part of that psychological factor of your well-being.” Senior psychology major Megan Bauman, of Springfield, Illinois, attended the walk for the first time this year, and learned about the walk through her internship with Counseling Services, though she has been involved with AFSP for several years.
Prior to the event, Bauman said she encouraged friends who had lost loved ones to suicide to attend the walk. “I have a few friends who I know are also survivors of suicide loss, and I’ve personally reached out to them because I even know for myself, I had my mom pass away almost five years ago, and it’s still something that’s hard,” Bauman said. “But I knew that for my friends who have kind of gone through the same thing, that maybe if somebody reached out to them, they’d know they’re not alone, and everyone there has their own struggle with it. I think that’s just a way to get people to feel encouraged to go.” For support resources or information about suicide prevention and how to take action, visit AFSP’s website at https://afsp. org/. JENNIFER GOECKNER 650-3527 @jgoeck_alestle jgoeckner@alestlelive.com
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BOT discuss leadership changes at latest meeting 09.12.19 A Campus Security Authority reported an anonymous subject reported a sexual assault occured on Sept. 6. An officer took the report at Woodland Hall.
09.13.19 An officer took a report of money allegedly being stolen from a wallet at the Art and Design Building. An officer responded to a report of potential fraud, in which a subject was sending emails pretending to be an employee. An officer responded to a report of alleged harassment, in which a mother was reported having called university offices asking for a welfare check on her daughter. The mother was told not to contact the university. The daughter did not need police assistance.
09.15.19 An officer responded to a report of criminal sexual assault at Bluff Hall. The investigation is still ongoing. An officer received a call from a woman saying she was told not to ride her bike on the bike trail from other cyclists, as there were reportedly two male subjects making lewd comments. An officer was not able to locate the subjects when checking the trail. Grace Gruhlke was given a citation for the unlawful consumption of alcohol by a minor. The officer issued the citation after a welfare check at Prairie Hall.
09.16.19 A traffic accident occurred at Stadium Drive near South University Drive. A state citation was issued to Heather Baublitz for the operation of an uninsured motor vehicle as well as failure to obey a yield sign. At approximately 10:22, an officer responded to a report of names being spray-painted in the Evergreen Hall parking lot.
09.17.19 A hit and run was reported in Parking Lot 9 at approximately 2:08 p.m. A traffic accident took place at Circle Drive, near Peck Service Road at approximately 12:37 p.m.
09.18.19 A group of subjects reportedly engaged in an argument over text messages, to which an officer responded at Prairie Hall.
MADISON LAMMERT editor-in-chief
The Board of Trustees’ search for a permanent SIUC chancellor is underway at the same time the BOT seeks a new system president. Board Chair Phil Gilbert discussed the ongoing searches at the first trustees’ meeting of the academic year last Thursday.
Search for next SIUC chancellor announced As the board hopes to name a new system president around late December or early January, Gilbert said the new president will be heavily involved in the search for Carbondale’s next chancellor. Gilbert said he hopes to have found a permanent SIUC chancellor within approximately six months. The timing of this search results from a need for stability across the system, particularly for SIUC, according to Gilbert. “Stability is critical for the SIU system, and especially on the Carbondale campus, there has not been a lot of stability in recent years,” Gilbert said. “So, the board felt, and this was a conversation with Chancellor Dunn, that this was the right time to start the search for his replacement.” Board provided presidential search updates Over 20 applicants submitted applications to be the SIU system president, and the board is in the process of getting ready to interview a select group from this pool, according to Gilbert. Gilbert said the permanent system president will have to wear many different hats, including taking on the roles of an academic leader, facilitator between all campuses and a salesperson when facing legislators. “It’s very important that we have someone who can work with the legislature over in Springfield and Washington D.C. because resources are critical to the success of the SIU system,” Gilbert said. “We need to have resources to do our job, which means we have to have a salesperson.”
While Gilbert understands there may not be a single candidate that possesses all these qualities, he said he is confident the board will be able to hire a qualified president. “There’s never going to be a perfect person to take any job, whether it’s being a federal judge or a president of a university, but I think … we’ve seen some people that can fill most of the requirements,” Gilbert said.
Board extends Pembrook’s contract SIUE Chancellor Randy Pembrook’s chancellor employment agreement was amended and extended at the September meeting. His contract now runs through June 30, 2023.
Board approved FY20 operating budget All voting trustees except trustee Amy Sholar approved the proposed Fiscal Year 2020 operating budget in a roll call vote. The budget extensively outlined both appropriated and non-appropriated funds for SIUE, SIUC, the School of Medicine and SIU system offices. The budget shows a less than 1 percent increase over FY19. The budget for tuition revenue will see a 6.6 percent decrease from FY19. This is due to a decrease of $10.7 million for Carbondale and a $3.7 million decrease for Edwardsville.
Dorsey given option to grant salary increases In a roll call vote, the board granted System Interim President Kevin Dorsey the ability to grant a 2.75 percent salary increase pool to SIUE as well as a 2 percent increase pool to the School of Medicine. Dorsey is also able to determine guidelines for salary increases for staff not represented by a bargaining agreement and for School of Medicine non-physician faculty.
Rural health, shared services committees formed Building on previous discussions, the board formed two ad hoc committees surrounding shared services and rural health. The Shared Services Study AD Hoc Committee is tasked with looking at ways the system can improve and further create shared services between SIUE and SIUC. The committee will consist of trustees Ed Curtis and Roger Tedrick, and board Vice Chair Ed Hightower will be an alternate member. Gilbert said he sees the importance in forming a shared services committee as it hopes to reduce costs throughout the system, specifically in the current climate of state funding. “We don’t get the state funding that we used to get in higher education; it’s not only the SIU system, it’s throughout the state, and the more we can share services and reduce the cost, the more money we save, the more money goes into programs and academic programs and for the students,” Gilbert said. According to the board’s press release, the committee will examine ways healthcare-related schools, offices and offices throughout the system can ensure better health throughout the university’s 66-county footprint. Curtis was named the chair of the rural health committee, and other members include Tedrick, SIUE School of Medicine Provost and Dean Jerry Kruse, SIUE Provost Denise Cobb and SIUC Provost Meera Komarraju. Pembrook said this aligns with progress being made within the School of Nursing. “One of the great things is the timing of this discussion,” Pembrook said. “Our School of Nursing just received a $2.75 million federal grant to expand nurses, nursing practitioners in the downstate area; all of those individuals will be interning at healthcare sites in the southern
half of the state, so it aligns very well with what we’re trying to do.” In addition to the committee formation helping to create a reputation for SIU as a health care provider, Dorsey said he also believes it will help the southern Illinois region overall. “We’ve got a lot to gain from a region being healthy,” Dorsey said. “We’ll have less crime, less illness, less homelessness, et cetera because all of this is tied in.”
Greenhouse renovation, bus transportation services approved, new naming rights to atrium The board also approved the expansion and renovation, along with the corresponding budget, of SIUE’s greenhouse. The agenda placed the total project estimate at $2,550, 856 and it will be funded largely by the Capital Development Board in addition to private university donations and university reserves. The project will more than double the size of the greenhouse by adding a new wing, as well as a workspace and control center. Along with approving the greenhouse project, the board also approved contracts with four bus companies: Vandalia Bus Line of Caseyville, Illinois, Chancer LLC of Moweaqua, Illinois, North America Central School Bus of Joliet, Illinois and First Student, Inc. of Glen Carbon, Illinois. The contracts are based on the maximum value of $3,500,000 or the contract term that ends June 30, 2029, whichever expires first, and are funded from the department budget requesting bus transportation. The board agreed to name the atrium in the Engineering Building the “Enterprise Holdings Founding Atrium” in exchange for $1.5 million worth of gifts and pledges from the foundation. The next board meeting will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 5 at SIUC.
Enrollment growth below UIUC, EIU, above SIU, WIU RYAN BIERI managing editor
SIUE’s fall 2019 enrollment is down at a time when some other schools are seeing an increase in student enrollment. According to the Chicago Tribune, Illinois State University had its largest freshmen class in 33 years, the University of Illinois at Chicago saw a 5.4 percent increase in overall enrollment, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign saw a 4 percent overall increase in enrollment and Eastern Illinois University was up 4 percent overall. Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s enrollment dropped 8.75 percent, the University of Illinois at Springfield had a 6.6 percent drop in enrollment and Western Illinois University lost more than 10 percent of their total enrollment — while SIUE is down 1.2 percent overall. Despite the slight dip in enrollment at SIUE, some programs
are seeing increases. Most notably, the school’s graduate student population saw a 40 percent increase from fall 2018. Due to this, Chancellor Randy Pembrook disagreed with the notion that SIUE might be falling behind in enrollment compared to other in-state public universities. “I think we saw significant growth in the graduate population … I think our international students were up significantly, with the largest group of new international students that we’ve had in a decade,” Pembrook said. Director of Undergraduate Admissions Todd Burrell said SIUE has relatively maintained its enrollment over the past few years, and credited new programs with that success. “[It’s] these new programs that have really helped us to do that. The RN to BS program in the School of Nursing has some record enrollment — they’ve really done some outreach to the
community and said ‘what can we do to service you,’” Burrell said. “There was a need and the school fulfilled it. That has really helped us out in our enrollment … It’s not foregoing a typical freshman [or] transfer, but recognizing that that marketplace is more competitive [and] will be challenging.” Director of Marketing and Communications Doug McIlhagga said the university is still paying attention to other state universities’ enrollment trends. “There’s always a concern because you have budgets you’re trying to meet, and you do that by having students on campus. The fact that we prefer to be around 14,000 [students], I don’t think, is a mystery or a surprise to anyone,” McIlhagga said. Going forward, Pembrook said the university might look to increase scholarship funding to increase freshman enrollment, specifically the Aim High program, which is a scholarship base specifically designed to keep Il-
linois high school graduates instate. “I think we may in the future try to be as aggressive in the future with the Aim High program. We were relatively conservative in terms of the way that we approach that scholarship area for the fall of [2019],” Pembrook said. Burrell said SIUE is competing against schools that have been around longer and may be able to spend more on incoming students, but he was happy with SIUE’s enrollment this year. “I’m thrilled that we have 1,700 [freshmen] students because there’s 1,700 students on our campus getting a great education. Is the number where I want it to be? No, I would’ve loved to see a few more, based upon the work we’ve done with them,” Burell said. “But in the end, the decisions that the student makes, they make for their best interest, and I don’t think it’s anything SIUE didn’t do.”
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LIFESTYLES
contact the editor: lifestyles@alestlelive.com 650-3527
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thursday, 09.19.19
The Alestle staff visited four restaurants around the Metro East that offer vegetarian burgers. We noted the atmosphere, service, taste and price while at each location. The following is what we found: yum!
Red Robin tastes good, but prices are too high Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews is a familiar place for many people, with the red booths, the big burgers and the family setting. However, we didn’t decide to go to Red Robin to experience something familiar. We went to step out of our comfort zone and try their Impossible Burger — something we would say is worth trying. We tried two burgers while we were there. Ironically, the first burger had a fried egg and bacon on top of it, preventing the burger from being vegetarian-friendly. We ordered the Red Robin Royal Burger and replaced the patty for an additional $3.50. The point of this was to see if the Impossible Burger could hold its own against food we already like, and it definitely did. It tasted very similar to how actual meat would. However, it was a lot thinner than their normal burgers and not uniform in size. It was thin and hard to taste
in some bites, while, in others, the Impossible Burger dominated. Overall, it was pretty good, but it lacked consistency. The second burger we ordered was just a plain patty. The goal was to see how strong the Impossible Burger’s flavor was by itself. As any meat-eater may expect, the burger was not as good without toppings. The size was a lot more consistent throughout, but the flavor was lacking. This probably has nothing to do with the patty itself so much as how Red Robin handled it. We have had Impossible Meat before and one of its strengths is how well it retains seasoning. The texture was also spoton in comparison with meat, and puts up a good illusion when biting into it, even without toppings. The only downside to the patty is the price tag. Red Robin has decent food, but substituting
| Lauren Briggs / The Alestle
for the Impossible Burger is an almost $4 price raise. A meal for two was roughly $40, so just be mindful. Our suggestion is for people
to try the Impossible Burger at Red Robin just to experience it, but we wouldn’t suggest going there habitually just for a nonmeat burger!
RED ROBIN 6699 Edwardsville Crossing Dr. Edwardsville, Illinois 62025 618-655-9513 www.redrobin.com
Wang Gang falls short on their substitute burger Like many other restaurants, Wang Gang brought their own version of a substitute meat for burgers with the Beyond Burger, made for those with dietary or lifestyle limitations. However, their attempt falls short of resembling anything remotely close to real meat. When we first walked into the restaurant, we noticed the dark interior and a large bar area. The decor was a bit too modern to look like an Asian eatery, however, they had enough decorations to tie the look together. It was definitely not the place one would expect to get a burger, let alone a traditional patty substitute. Overall, the restaurant looked pretty nice, even though we just got our burger to go. The Beyond Burger has a higher fat content than the Impossible Burger while also sporting higher calories, so it’s overall
just a fattier version of regular Impossible meat, which might have affected our judgment overall of the taste. We ordered the meat substitute burger with only cheese, in order to better taste the patty. However, as it was less than stellar, we quickly realized this was a mistake. The plain sesame seed bun was not awe-inspiring either. While it did taste like a real burger, that’s the only praise we’re able to give it. Perhaps if it had other toppings on it, this would meld the taste a bit better. Eating it plain, however, left us very disappointed in what we had ordered. The cheese used to top the burger was very rubbery, making it hard to bite into without having the cheese stick to our mouths. After making it past the cheese, the patty itself was very
dry and tough, something that we’re sure also would’ve been changed by putting more toppings on it. The mix of the dry patty with the thin cheese did not make a good combo, leaving me underwhelmed as we search for alternatives to meat products and ways to limit how much meat we take in. We think Wang Gang missed their mark on this one. While we only ordered the burger and an order of sweet potato fries, we spent approximately — $17 something we were not prepared for walking in. While we can’t vouch for the rest of their menu, except for the fries, but we will say that the Impossible Burger left a negative impression. Despite the negative impression of the Beyond Burger, we did keep in mind that it is an Asian eatery, so it’s very likely
| Shane Wheatley / The Alestle
that the rest of their menu is closer to their expertise. Additionally, it might just be the overall higher content of fat in the Beyond Burger as opposed to an Impossible Burger.
WANG GANG ASIAN EATS 1035 Century Dr. Edwardsville, Illinois 62025 618-655-0888 www.wanggangasian.com
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The Impossible Whopper is not king of all burgers The Impossible Whopper is a near-exact replica of Burger King’s signature sandwich. Burger King’s offerings are often temporary and fairly out of the ordinary. However, the Impossible Whopper might be good enough to make it onto the menu full time. A Burger King isn’t the classiest joint in the world. It’s fast food, and what diners are going to get from the Impossible Whopper is fast food quality. With that said, the Impossible Whopper is a pretty close imitation of the burger chain’s famous sandwich. We ordered an Impossible Whopper combo (sized up to medium, which at Burger King is the equivalent of a large at most places) and a Whopper Jr. alongside it for comparison — both plain with cheese. Our total was $13.07, which isn’t bad considering our order was enough for a meal and a half. The imitation meat patty looks a little different than a standard burger — it was much smoother than you would see with traditional beef patties. There was also a slightly off smell to the sandwich, not unpleasant, but different than a standard burger to be sure. When we bit into the sandwich, however, we were surprised to find it tasted nearly identical to our recollection of the Whopper.
It wasn’t just the taste, either. The Impossible Whopper was just as juicy as any of Burger King’s other offerings. Despite that, when we took a bite of the traditional Whopper for comparison, there was still a definite difference between the two. The biggest distinction was the aftertaste. The Impossible Whopper felt almost entirely natural in our mouths, but after swallowing, the flavor lingered on our taste buds slightly longer than the original. It’s not unpleasant, but it is definitely noticeable when comparing the two side-by-side. While we visited Burger King to try out the new Impossible Whopper, we’d be negligent if we didn’t at least mention the most important part of any visit to a fast-food chain — the fries. Unfortunately, our fries weren’t all that good, but it was around 2 p.m. on a Monday afternoon — not exactly peak hours for fresh fries. (We were the only customers in the restaurant, and there were only two customers in the drive-thru during our entire meal). If we were given the Impossible Whopper without any indication that it wasn’t a regular burger, we probably wouldn’t have noticed that this was not beef, and that’s about the biggest compliment any meat substitute
can get. However, alongside Burger King’s signature sandwich, we noticed a clear difference, even if it wasn’t a deal breaker for us. For those looking for a cheap, quick way to try an Impossible Burger, Burger King is a solid choice. BURGER KING 708 Edwardsville Rd. Troy, Illinois 62294 618-667-8390 www.bk.com
| Ryan Bieri / The Alestle
White Castle takes the crown overall: for impossible and veggie sliders alike
White Castle is known for their affordable selection of sliders. While typically not held in high esteem when compared to other fast food options, White Castle’s rendition of the Impossible Slider was surprisingly tasty for its price. The closest White Castle is located 14 minutes from campus in Collinsville, Illinois. This made it the farthest trek included on our list. At least the cheap meal made up for the extra money spent on gas — or so we reasoned in our minds. We arrived at the White Castle on a Sunday afternoon, and while the drive-thru was quite busy, the inside of the restaurant was fairly empty. The layout of the restaurant was confusing to say the least. The cashier’s window was hidden behind a soda machine, and there were no cashiers to be found. This did not make for a great first impression, however, somebody eventually came to assist us. The decor — or lack there of — was typical of a fast food restaurant. There was nothing special about it. We made our way to the counter and looked over the menu, hoping to find the Impossible Slider as an option. The var-
ious slider meals were listed first on the menu above the cashier’s window. To the far right, the types of meat available for sliders were pictured. Once a cashier appeared, we ordered the Impossible Slider with smoked cheddar cheese for $1.99 and the veggie slider with American cheese for $0.99. Both burgers were extremely cheap, even for a fast food restaurant. While the burgers cooked, we waited patiently. Directly next to the cashier’s counter was a window overlooking the grill. We entertained ourselves by watching the cook make all of the sliders. The sight wasn’t very appealing, as the grill was doused in small onions and grease. The cheese was peeled off a stack of what seemed to be at least 50 slices. The meat was frozen prior to being placed on the grill and was certainly not fresh. After waiting a considerable amount of time, our ticket number was called, and we received our sliders. We found an empty table in the restaurant to relax and enjoy the food. First, we ate the Veggie Slider — the only vegetarian burger option offered at White Castle prior to the introduction of the
Impossible Slider. The slider did not resemble real meat in texture, flavor or appearance. The consistency was mushy and the flavor was lacking. The Impossible Slider — a blend of potato protein, wheat, coconut oil and a few other ingredients — was significantly better than their traditional vegetarian option, despite being double the price. At first, the burger was confusing to our senses. The texture was akin to the normal texture of meat and the flavor was significantly better and resembled meat more than the Veggie Slider. The burger tasted crispy on the edges and was coated with salt. Although the Impossible Slider lacked the juiciness of a real meat patty, the taste was surprisingly good. We found ourselves craving the slider after leaving the restaurant. For the price and flavor, the Impossible Slider is an excellent option for individuals seeking a tasty, vegetarian-friendly meal option on a budget. WHITE CASTLE 3 Eastport Plaza Dr. Collinsville, IL 62234 618-346-4328 www.whitecastle.com
| Jordyn Nimmer / The Alestle
opinion
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alestle MADISON LAMMERT editor-in-chief
RYAN BIERI managing editor
JENNIFER GOECKNER lifestyles editor
LAUREN BRIGGS sports editor
JORDYN NIMMER online editor
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alestle view
Vaping industry should be smoked for crisis THE ALESTLE STAFF editorial board
After what seemed to be a positive movement away from smoking with anti-cigarette ads and tobacco education, vaping has set us back and has brought about many new health complications. What began as an immense effort to reduce tobacco usage, vaping products quickly became a problem of its own. Amid lawsuits against vape companies, there have been 380 confirmed and probable cases of vaping-related lung diseases — including six cases resulting in death — which were reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The cases include incidents with both legal and illegal e-liquids. Since their invention in the early 2000s, e-cigarettes, vape
pens and personal vaporizers have rapidly popularized in the United States, especially among children, teenagers and young adults who should not have been targeted in the first place. In 2017, over 3 million high school students and 570,000 middle school students admitted to using e-cigarettes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Companies such as JUUL unethically market their products without scientific evidence, claiming e-cigarettes are less harmful than traditional methods of nicotine consumption such as tobacco. The Federal Drug Administration has responded to the corrupt marketing tactics by issuing a warning letter to JUUL. The letter outlines the allegations of improper marketing. Prior to marketing their
products as less harmful than tobacco, JUUL had not conducted any scientific studies to back this claim. The company had even sent representatives to schools across the country to market the products, according to Acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Ned Sharpless. In one such case, a representative of JUUL told a ninth-grade classroom that their products were “totally safe,” according to the testimony of two teenagers who were present during the incident. While vaping has presented problems in the past, such as with illegal e-liquids containing THC, flakka and other drugs, the latest allegations of health complications caused by vaping are of much greater concern. The mysterious lung illness which is likely to have resulted from vaping has appeared in
multiple cases across 36 different states, according to the CDC. The outbreak has allegedly been attributed to chemical exposure and has been reported in patients using products with THC and/or nicotine. Most recently, there were multiple cases of “severe pulmonary disease” resulting from street-purchased THC oil which contained vitamin E acetate, a vape cartridge additive. The vaping crisis should have been avoided altogether by addressing the advertising strategies of these companies sooner. Since the crisis is growing, we need to crack down on the vaping industry and prevent companies from taking advantage of vulnerable groups, such as children. The health complications are worrisome, and we need to hold these companies accountable for what they’ve set in motion.
Third-party candidates should be given the vote BROOKE HILL copy editor
I used to see third-party candidates as irrelevant information during elections, because they were unlikely to win. Looking back on the 2016 election, I regret that I voted for Hilary Clinton instead of supporting one of these candidates, because she turned out not to be the best choice. I voted for Clinton in the 2016 presidential election, believing this to be the wisest choice available. I disagreed with Clinton’s platforms on many issues I considered vital, and did not think highly of her as a candidate. However, I had adopted the mindset that by voting for her, I was helping to minimize the chance of a Donald Trump presidency. Despite receiving more votes than any other candidate in the
popular election, Clinton lost the election to current President Trump by receiving fewer votes in the electoral college. My tactic was unsuccessful, which made me question if I had used my vote well. My support for Clinton in 2016 has been tallied and analyzed. I am deeply unsatisfied with the differences between the things I actually think, and the things that voting implies I think. Looking at the current political stage, candidates are openly endorsing policies such as college for all and universal basic income that are significantly more aligned with a socialist’s agenda than the policies Clinton had proposed during her candidacy. While my beliefs are still considered niche, they are becoming more mainstream. By supporting whichever candidate I sincerely wanted to win, I could have provided more
useful and accurate data that aligns with the beliefs of an actual United States citizen without impacting the decisions of the electoral college in any way. Instead, I provided data on what I was willing to compromise. It was not necessary for me to vote in favor of something I was against as it was counterproductive. Had third-party voters in 2016 unanimously banded together with the DNC and managed to get Clinton elected, this shift in the political landscape would not be happening. The established policies of the DNC would be seen as adequate enough to win elections, and not in need of this level of reform. There would be significantly less incentive for candidates to reach out to demographics of voters who, like myself, hold views that see little representation in mainstream US politics. Considering the relatively
narrow scope of mainstream political ideologies in the US compared to other nations, I see this shift as vital for anyone outside that scope. If the impact of a vote is to show the decision a citizen wants to make, that citizen is using their vote for its intended purpose. For future elections, I intend to consider third-party candidates as viable options, given this experience. I intend to vote more honestly, and set a precedent for what sort of policies reflect the values that a candidate would need to adopt in order to earn my vote. I encourage other SIUE students to do the same, and to represent their views with their votes, to receive better representation of those views on the main political stage. Since it will never provide proper representation, voting for an outcome I don’t want is simply a waste of a vote.
contact the editor: sports@alestlelive.com 650-3527 thursday, 09.19.19
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Men’s soccer loses Bronze Boot game in double overtime MADISON LAMMERT editor-in-chief
With roughly 10 seconds left in double overtime, St. Louis University broke the 1-1 tie and headed back across the river with the Bronze Boot in tow. As The Alestle previously reported, the rivalry was re-established last year when the two teams faced each other in their first regular season matchup since 1995. Last year’s Bronze Boot game ended in a tie. Junior midfielder Jaime Izquierdo Roiz said while the team knew the crowd came with high expectations in tow, the team tried to treat it like any other game. “We knew there was a big expectation for this game, we knew it was going to be a big crowd, but we just took it as another game,” Izquierdo Roiz said. “We practiced the same way [and] did the same things.” Almost 11 minutes into the game, SLU senior forward Leo Novaes scored the game’s first goal, assisted by SLU senior midfielder Devin Boyce. Sophomore midfielder Kelby Phillips said he thought the Cougars responded well in the wake of SLU taking the first goal. “We responded really quick to their goal, so I thought the momentum was going to shift our way,” Phillips said. Senior midfielder Jorgen Pettersen tied up the game approxi-
Head Coach Cale Wassermann discusses strategy at the game.
mately 15 minutes later, scoring SIUE’s first and only goal, assisted by senior midfielder Mathias Krigbaum. With neither team breaking the tie during the second half, the game went into two ten-minute overtimes. With 10 seconds left to score, SLU freshman midfielder Kipp Keller scored the winning goal off a corner kick by his teammate Novaes. While SLU’s winning goal
came late into the second overtime, leading some fans to assume a tie, Wassermann said he was not surprised such a late goal determined the end result of the game. “I’ve been in enough of these games to know a goal can come with one second left,” Wassermann said. “I’ve been on the winning and the losing end of it. I think our guys knew that too, I don’t think anyone took their
/ Photo Courtesy of SIUE Athletics
foot off the gas, I just think they had two too-late set pieces and they’re hard to defend.” Even with Friday’s loss, Roiz said the team has been making great strides this year, and he’s optimistic about the rest of the season. “We’ve already started to see a lot of things improve,” Roiz said. “I feel like everyone is really committed to this team and to make this year a really good year.
We just take [it] a game at a time, and we’ll see what the future holds for us — hopefully something big.” The Cougars face the University of Central Arkansas at 7 p.m. onSaturday, Sept. 28 at Korte Stadium.
MADISON LAMMERT
650-3527 @madison_alestle mlammert@alestlelive.com
Cross Country places second at first home meet JENNIFER GOECKNER lifestyles editor
SIUE Cross Country placed second out of six teams at the John Flamer Invitational on their home course Friday. Both the men and women finished behind the University of Tennessee at Martin, who also competes in the Ohio Valley Conference. Senior Aly Goff and junior Kassidy Dexheimer led the women’s heat for SIUE with third and fourth place finishes, respectively. Goff completed the 5K course with a time of 18:38.7, and Dexheimer crossed the finish line at 18:50.9, shaving five seconds off her time from the meet at Eastern Illinois University a week earlier. Sophomore Emily Ellis finished ninth with a time of 19:33.7, and senior Keri Burmester placed 11th with a 19:39.7 finish. Goff said she thought the women made a good showing at Friday’s meet, but she’s still looking to improve individually and as a team. “I think [the meet] went really well for the team,” Goff said. “We had some people PR, so that’s really exciting because this is not necessarily a course that ev-
eryone PRs on. For me, I wish I could’ve stayed with the top girls, but I was just kind of feeling it. But, this isn’t the point in the season where we’re going to be doing our best.” Freshman Roland Prenzler was the only Cougar to place in the top 10 for the men’s heat, with a fifth-place finish. He completed the 8K course with a time of 26:15.1 — a 45-second im-
“Last week, I had a tough Paslay said she thought the team mainder of the season. race,” Prenzler said. “It’s hard to performed well and can now con“I think this season is going get used to the 8K, but this week tinue to work toward conference to go well. We had a lot of peowent better with a race under my with a better idea of where they ple come back after working rebelt and this home crowd cheer- stand. ally hard over the summer, so we ing me on.” “For the first [home] meet have a lot of people looking really Prenzler said he has set high coming out, we haven’t really good in practice, so I’m feeling goals for himself for the rest of practiced much on our course really good about this season.” the season and hopes to contin- this year, so I think it was a good Cross Country’s next meet ue as one of the top finishers for start and seeing where we could will be held at 10:50 a.m. SaturSIUE. be at for conference,” Paslay said. day, Sept. 28 at Loyola Universi“As the season continues, I “I think we’re all just really excit- ty Chicago. The next home meet think I’d like ed to build to conference, and it will be the conference championto be all-con- was a pretty good second meet ship on Nov. 2. “Last week, I had a tough race. ference,” Pren- for everybody.” said. “I CeCe Moore, Cross Coun- JENNIFER GOEKNER It’s hard to get used to the 8K, zler 650-3527 know there try’s new assistant coach, said she @jgoeck_Alestle but this week went better with were three of expects the team to continue to jgoeckner@alestlelive.com our conference perform well throughout the rea race under my belt and this runners in of us as home crowd cheering me on. front well as someone who is unROLAND PRENZLER attached, but runner to be up with conference athprovement from his time at the letes and to maybe give our team a Eastern Illinois meet. high finish would be very importSenior Landon Skelly also ant for me because I want to repshaved 18 seconds off his time, resent our school well at the confinishing in 12th place on Friday ference meet, which will be held with a time of 26:41.8. here on Nov. 2.” According to Prenzler, the With conference at home week between the two meets this season, this meet allowed the gave him more time to adjust to Cougars to see how they comrunning the 8K, and the home pared to other conference teams crowd also helped push him to on this course. Senior Jalea Paslay / Photo Courtesy of SIUE Athletics improve his time. finished with a time of 22:18.5. Ronald Prenzler at the meet.
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