The Alestle Vol. LXXII No. VI

T H E

ALESTLE

thursday, 09.26.19

The Student Voice Since 1960

vol. LXXII no. VI

Student Government members Anna Miller, senior criminal justice major of Troy, Illinois; Mackenzie Rogers, senior psychology and political science major of Marshall, Illinois; and Madalynn McKenzie, senior psychology major of Alton, Illinois, enjoy Monday’s homecoming golf cart parade.

ACCESS shows off new and improved space | page 2

WHAT I WISH YOU KNEW: being Muslim in the U.S. | page 4

CLIMATE STRIKES are only the first step | page 6 | MacKenzie Smith / The Alestle

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ACCESS debuts new layout during grand opening MADISON LAMMERT editor-in-chief

After a summer of renovations, the Office for Accessible Campus Community & Equitable Student Support now calls a space roughly three times the size of its former office home. ACCESS showcased this space Sept 20. during its grand opening.

According to ACCESS Director Dominic Dorsey, ACCESS staff moved into the space Aug. 1, but the office was not fully finished until recently — just in time for its grand opening.

The event consisted of a ribbon-cutting ceremony as well as a tour by Dorsey through the new space.

The former ACCESS office was converted into an area specifically designed for testing, including a push-button door for those using wheelchairs and a one-way mirror for test monitoring.

The extended space includes a conference room that functions

as a meeting space for staff and community partners as well as a study area for students. There is also space for graduate and practicum students to complete their tasks.

“We have a space for our graduate assistants and our practicum students to work out of, which is critical because a lot of the work that they do requires them to either work independently and have separate meetings or they have to shut a door and work on projects extensively,” Dorsey said.

Current practicum student and senior social work major Grace Flacke, of St. Louis, said she believes the new space will also help fulfill ACCESS’ goal of working more with her department.

“I know Dominic right now really wants to involve the social work department in kind of a social work aspect for services and for this to just be a place that’s more accessible,” Flacke said.

Dominic Dorsey flashes a thumbs up to the camera at the ACCESS grand opening celebration | Photo courtesy of Dominic Dorsey

ACCESS Director Dominic Dorsey guides a tour through the newly renovated ACCESS office during ACCESS’s grand opening Sept. 20. | Photo courtesy of Dominic Dorsey

The new space also includes what Dorsey described as a “living room” area, furnished with a couch and display of awards.

ACCESS student worker and sophomore psychology major Elaina Rossman, of Knoxville, Illinois, said this makes the space more welcoming and home-like, which she believes makes students more comfortable when seeking ACCESS’ resources.

“I just think [it’s important] because it’s kind of hard in general to talk about disability,” Rossman said. “It’s a nervous process that people have to go through, especially if they didn’t have [Individualized Education Programs] and stuff in high school, so this is new to them. It just makes it more welcoming and it makes it easier for students to come in and get the help that they need, be-

cause this is what ACCESS is all about.”

Dorsey said the brightness of the new space, it being large enough for all to easily navigate through and it being easily visible to those passing through the Student Success Center also contribute to helping students feel more comfortable when entering ACCESS. Dorsey said all the updates and additions to the space were done intentionally to help maximise ACCESS’ benefits.

“Every component within that space is very intentional — nothing was left to chance, nothing was done happenstance,” Dorsey said. “We wanted to make sure everything was done with a purpose, and the purpose made sense for the students and the individuals we serve.”

According to Dorsey, the renovation and expansion was much needed, as the number of students registered with ACCESS is soaring. ACCESS has already registered almost 800 students, even though they expected to reach 750 over the span of the year, Dorsey said.

“We had our testing and our graduate assistants and our student workers all crammed into this very, very tight space that was almost claustrophobic,” Dorsey said. “We had just outgrown it significantly. We were always looking for additional space for testing and reserving additional rooms — it just wasn’t conducive to what we were doing.”

For more information about ACCESS’ mission and the services it offers, visit https://www. siue.edu/access/.

Part three of series on implicit bias comes to campus MADISON LAMMERT editor-in-chief

As part of the Diversity and Inclusion Institutional Leadership Team’s “Implicit Bias and Institutional Change” series, faculty and staff members discussed how implicit bias can impact behavior in a professional setting and how it can be combated in Friday’s session.

According to the Kirwan Institute For The Study Of Race And Ethnicity at Ohio State University, implicit bias is commonly defined as attitudes or stereotypes that unconsciously impact understandings, decisions and actions.

Friday’s session, titled “Who Am I in the Delivery of Services: Implicit Biases Inside and Outside the Classroom” was the third of four events, Diversity Day being the fourth, in the implicit bias series.

Courtney Boddie, director of Counseling Services and leader of Friday’s session, said the first session titled “Implicit Bias and Institutional Change: Who Am I at SIUE?” examined scientific evidence behind implicit bias as well as encouraged attendees to consider which ingroups they belong to.

For the second part of the her students’ needs and how she series, attendees looked at how conveys materials now that she is their identities that were dis- aware of her own potential imcussed in the first session impact plicit biases.

“For me, [when] teaching their interactions with others.

Throughout Friday’s event, in the classroom, being aware of Boddie specifically focused on my own implicit bias makes me how implicit biases can uninten- more aware of how I’m delivering material. I used to say at the tionally impact behavior.

“So, we think about implicit bias as being unconscious and automatic, like we talked about, [and] pervasive which means everywhere,” Boddie said. “It tends to put us in a position to favor our ingroups … it’s often misaligned with what we declare to believe. It does have real-world effects on behavior.”

COURTNEY BODDIE After establishing Director of Counseling Services the impact implicit biases can have on behavior, and demonstrating how these beginning of the semester that ‘I behaviors affect others in a work give you all the tools you need environment at SIUE, Boddie to be successful in this class,’ … asked participants how their new- and yet, I came to the realization found awareness of implicit bias- two or three years ago after fifes might impact their services. teen years of teaching that not Susan Hume, professor and everybody knows how to use the chair of the geography depart- tools,” Hume said. ment, said she is more aware of Tara Raburn, the business

enterprise program administrative associate in the purchasing office, said she sees how being aware of her own implicit bias is important in her new position at SIUE. “My job focuses on getting women-owned, minority-owned businesses into contracts at SIUE,” Raburn said. “I think that this event will kind of help me, as I’m meeting those vendors, think about where they’re coming from and try to get past any bias I may have or just uncover if I do have biases or what biases I do have, because everyone has them whether they realize it or not.”

As was advertised, Friday’s session also discussed specific ways members of the campus community could combat their own implicit biases. One suggestion Boddie gave was to interact with cultures different from one’s own.

“There’s nothing like actually interacting with people to change the game,” Boddie said.

In the event that one offends another person as a result of their

“[Implicit bias] tends to put us in a position to favor our ingroups … it’s often misaligned with what we declare to believe. It does have real-world effects on behavior.

implicit bias, Boddie said one should offer a genuine apology — one that focuses on the impact of the behavior, not the fact that it may not have been intentional.

Boddie said being consciously aware of one’s own biases and working to change consequential behavior requires a lot of work.

“I think one of the things that makes some people scoff at diversity work is that what comes up for them is ‘that’s a lot of work,’” Boddie said. “There’s a lot of effort that goes into being conscious and intentional and not just running around. I mean, that is the reason why humans have evolved to have these unconscious things in the first place …

We have all of these mechanisms that help us do that, and then to slow down, interrupt them and then talk about them and feel our way through them and how they create connection and disconnection, that is a lot.”

Diversity Day will be from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 15 and will include events on the Edwardsville, East St. Louis and Alton campuses.

For a full schedule of activities, visit the Institutional Diversity and Inclusion website.

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09.19.19 An officer responded to a report of two male subjects pushing each other on the basketball court inside the Student Fitness Center. The officer said one subject left before their arrival, and that there was only pushing and no punches were thrown.

09.20.19 An officer was dispatched to Cougar Lake Pool on reports of subjects being in the pool area after hours. The officer informed the subjects that the rec area was closed and the subjects left the area.

A Samsung Galaxy S8 cell phone was reported missing from the Early Childhood Center.

09.21.19 A Samsung Galaxy S8 cell phone was found at the Morris University Center and turned over to SIUE PD. An officer responded to an active fire alarm at 416 Cougar Lake Drive. The officer said the alarm was activated due to cooking, and that there was no fire, smoke or damage.

09.22.19 The Edwardsville Fire Department and an SIUE Police officer responded to a carbon monoxide detector alarm at 412 Cougar Lake Drive. EFD reported no presence of carbon monoxide and cleared the scene.

An officer took a report at Glen Carbon Walmart of a license plate possibly being stolen from a vehicle.

09.23.19 An officer responded to a report of a male subject possibly looking in a dorm window at Evergreen Hall. The officer checked the area and advised unable to locate subject.

09.24.19 DaMarco E. Washington was charged with disorderly conduct after an officer was dispatched to Bluff Hall. Washington was processed and released after posting bond.

09.25.19 An officer reported a suspicious vehicle parked by the Center for Spirituality and Sustainability. The officer checked the building and found an employee sleeping on a couch inside.

An officer wrote a warning for disobeying a traffic control device and for possession of drug paraphernalia.

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Esports arena planned for next fall RYAN BIERI managing editor

An esports arena may be coming to the Morris University Center.

SIUE is in the planning stages of creating an esports arena with a renovation to Cougar Lanes, replacing some of the pool tables.

The most recent proposal includes 24 gaming PCs, six “bringyour-own-console” stations with monitors and space for spectators in an 800-1000 square foot space, according to Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Jeffery Waple.

There is also another proposed plan for the esports arena which would place it near the multi-purpose room in Bluff Hall.

Waple also said even though the university cannot currently say where the arena will be located, the plan is to have it open by next fall.

“By next fall, the goal is to have an esports arena on campus somewhere,” Waple said.

Some of the computers will be reserved exclusively for SIUE’s esports teams, but there will also be machines available for open play. The space will be free to use and may have 24-hour access on the weekends, if not every day.

Waple said figuring out how to best partition the MUC to allow access to the arena without allowing access to all of Center

Court is a big factor in deciding whether or not the arena can be open overnight. He also said additional staffing requirements will factor into the decision.

“It’s a little bit easier in the residence hall, but still with challenges,” Waple said.

Esports Club President Jordan Kramer said the university told the esports club they could ask for more equipment than they originally did.

“Originally we asked for 12 [computers], but then we went and upped it to 24 PCs,” Kramer said.

Right now the Esports Club has teams for six games, including Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, League of Legends and Overwatch. The number of players on each team varies from game to game.

Kramer, who has played on the club’s Counter-Strike: Global Offensive team for the past three years, said having a dedicated space for competition boosts morale in a competition.

“I know it’s really easy for a player to get down on themselves when they’re just sitting behind their computer in their apartment.

They might be doing badly for a few rounds or a game or two, and they can sort of just lose interest, and it makes them play worse,” Kramer said. “When you’re around your team, you can help

Pembrook talks budget, salary raises at Q&A JENNIFER SANDERS reporter

Finances and salaries consumed much of the discussion with Chancellor Randy Pembrook and more than a dozen university directors and staff last Friday.

Pembrook said the Board of Trustees recently voted to increase salaries by 2.75 percent for non-represented faculty (those who are not part of a union).

But some had concerns about the perceived disparity between salaries in Carbondale and Edwardsville. “[Carbondale has] had a decrease in enrollment and they have made over time —about the last five years— cuts to their budget and the number of personnel over that amount of time,” University Budget Director William Warner said. “Carbondale today is different than a decade ago if you’re looking at the numbers.”

However, Pembrook acknowledged that there is a significant difference in the salaries of the two universities.

“There are some areas where we’re pretty far behind,” Pembrook said.

According to the Chancellor, the historic distribution of state funding for the universities is distributed in approximately a 64/36 ratio, with Edwardsville receiving the smaller portion. He added that recent decisions have agreed that all additional money

given to the universities would be split 50:50 between Carbondale and Edwardsville.

Though the university received a 5 percent increase in funding from the State of Illinois for the 2019-2020 school year, Pembrook said the institution’s overall revenue is down due to lower enrollment than in previous years.

Pembrook also said approximately 99 percent of the additional funding went towards increasing salaries.

“We could have minimized the salary implications and held back that new money,” Pembrook said. “If we’re down by 200 new students then we could have used the money to offset that, but then we couldn’t have invested in people.”

Pembrook said he had “a concern” when looking at SIUE’s salaries as compared to national rates.

“I have a concern looking at our salaries and comparing nationally. I think we need to be investing more in people,” Pembrook said. “Retention is one of our strategic goals and I felt like we have to do something fairly dramatic. The backside of that means you don’t have as much money for paper clips or for travel.”

Editor’s note: For more coverage of the Chancellor’s Q&A visit the news section of Alestlelive.com

Harrisburg University’s esports team Storm hosted the annual HUE Invitational gaming event Saturday with 64 teams from across the country competing. | Vicki Vellios Briner / Special to PennLive (TNS)

promote a better atmosphere, where you won’t have those players who are constantly down. You can hype them up.”

Timothy Cockrell, captain of the varsity Overwatch team and junior chemistry student from St. Libory, Illinois, said being able to play on standardized, high-end PCs may help iron out technical issues for some of the team’s members.

“Some [players’] equipment is kind of, let’s call it a little shaky,” Cockrell said. “We have a few people that have audio issues, and a few other lingering technical issues that could possibly be solved by being able to play in the same

space, as far as the audio issues go, and on a machine that has been tested and approved and can for sure do everything we need it to do,” Cockrell echoed Kramer’s sentiments and said he thinks playing in the same physical location could help strengthen the team’s bond with one another.

“A lot of us would like the opportunity to directly interact with the people we play with … we know [each other’s] names, we share a battlefield, but unfortunately we have not been able to share an opportunity to get to know each other in person,” Cockrell said.

news in brief Dining Services’ SIUE’s DNP budget program ranked addressed sixth nationally at SG meeting At Monday’s Student Government meeting, Dennis Wobbe, director of Dining Services, was asked about how the upcoming increase in minimum wage will impact Dining Services, which employs around 380 individuals.

Wobbe said it will take $1.2 million dollars in additional funding to maintain current operations.

Wobbe also talked about what they can provide students and mentioned some possible changes coming soon. He discussed the different dietary restrictions Dining Services accommodates, such as gluten intolerance, kosher diets and a halal option at Sammiches.

Student Government approved the recognition of five new student organizations: Club Golf, SIUE Film Society, Finance Management Association, Student Economics Association and Comic Book Club of SIUE. SG also filled the vacant Senator for the College of Arts and Sciences - Arts and Communication seat by swearing in Kelsi Delgado and also approved a name change of the student organization Students for Women’s Choice to Students for Reproductive Rights.

According to national rankings of Doctor of Nursing Practice Programs updated on Sept.

16 by RegisteredNursing.org, SIUE’s program ranks sixth overall.

The nursing organization publishes a list of annual rankings for graduate and undergraduate programs in nursing — including DNP, RN to BSN and Ph.D. programs, among others.

Graduate programs were assessed according to several key criteria — accreditation, online programming, quantity and variety, ratio of nursing program completions to total program completions, tuition and fees compared to cost of living, ratio of tenured faculty, acceptance rate and graduation rate.

Assistant Dean of Graduate Programs for the School of Nursing Andrew Griffin commented on the ranking in a SIUE press release.

“It is always gratifying when outside organizations recognize SIUE’s graduate nursing programs in such a positive way,” Griffin said.

For the full list of ranked institutions, visit https://www.registerednursing.org/degree/w/.

STAY TUNED FOR COVERAGE OF HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH page 4

WHAT I WISH YOU KNEW JORDYN NIMMER opinion editor In the face of exhaustive stereotypes portrayed in the media about Muslims, Rodaina Tarek Mousa, an English literature graduate student from Alexandria, Egypt, encourages others to look beyond her appearance and advocates for social justice.

“Since I’ve gotten here, I’ve had lots of conversations with all different kinds of people — from bus drivers to random people on campus,” Mousa said. “It’s been so much of an eye opener, how many people that have no idea what Egypt is. They see Egypt and think of camels, pyramids and deserts, but they don’t see beyond that.”

Proving Egypt consists of more than its stereotypes, Mousa encourages others to consider the abilities of Egyptians.

“I am an indicator that there are people who think, have a mind of their own and are capable of achieving big things,” Mousa said. “I’m hoping I’m a window to these people [who misunderstand Muslims].”

Mousa received a grant through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, which led her to enroll at SIUE and pursue a graduate degree in English literature, while simultaneously completing teaching assistantships for the Arabic language and English literature.

“I’m the Arabic 101 teacher on campus, [and] I’m also doing my graduate courses and taking up women’s studies — that’s kind of my focus,” Mousa said.

“Back home, I’m a teaching assistant at Alexandria University. I teach English literature with a focus in 16th and 17th century literature.”

According to Mousa, her selection as a Fulbright Grant recipient allows her to

lifestyles

contact the editor: lifestyles@alestlelive.com 650-3527 thursday, 09.26.19

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Muslim women are more than their religion and hijabs bridge the linguistic and cultural differences between the U.S. and Egypt.

“I have the Fulbright Grant, and I’ve been chosen along with 23 people from my country out of 100 million people, literally, to be here and do these studies,” Mousa said. “This grant allows people from all over the world to come to the U.S. and teach their mother tongue to university students and American scholars to go abroad and teach English to university students in return.”

Mousa said people often make assumptions about her and her beliefs before even having a conversation with her.

“They automatically assume that because I am a Muslim, hijabi person, I cannot be pro-LGBTQ,” Mousa said. “I’ve only been here a month, but my classes have already taught me so much about not only being a woman in the modern world, but also about myself and how I identify, carry myself and exist. I’m hoping I can use this knowledge to empower not only myself but also my students when I get back.”

Mousa is no stranger to assumptions and stereotypes. During her first month in the U.S., Mousa said she has noticed a pattern in her interactions with new people.

“If someone sees me on the street — wearing a hijab — they act as if I’m not there and ignore me,” Mousa said. “If I’m sitting on the bus, the seat next to me is always the last seat taken, which I find kind of awkward. I just want people to treat me like a person, because I am a person.”

The discomfort goes both ways around Mousa. While others may feel uncomfortable interacting with her, she feels uncomfortable when people are fearful of her.

“People are really awkward and uncomfortable just by my presence, and they

English literature graduate student Rodaina Tarek Mousa, of Alexandria, Egypt, poses with an array of crafts she created.

I Photo courtesy of Rodaina Tarek Mousa

don’t know how to deal with me,” Mousa said. “I just wish people did not assume anything. They do not expect me to be affectionate, which I really am. They avoid all physical contact, altogether.”

Mousa encourages individuals to interact with her as they would with anyone else, whether this includes a simple conversation or a hug to greet her.

“What I really want people to do is, if they feel like striking up a conversation, I would like to,” Mousa said. “I’m very sociable. I love talking about my country, heritage and religion. That’s what I’m here for.”

Mousa is more than her faith and appearance. She feels proud of her achieve-

ments and has several talents outside of her education.

“I have a small handmade business,” Mousa said. “I’ve been trying to start it up and make it grow for the past four years.

Actually, I’m going to have my very first art exhibition next October here in Edwardsville.”

Mousa is exhibiting a selection of her artwork at the Leclaire Parkfest in Edwardsville on October 20.

Students interested in applying for the Fulbright Grant can learn more at https:// www.cies.org/program/fulbright-global-scholar-award. Applications are now open for the 2020-2021 Fulbright Global Scholar Award.

REVIEW: The Goose Game shows off avian in action RYAN BIERI managing editor Much like the Canada geese on campus, the goose in Untitled Goose Game is an absolute terror — and it’s super fun to play as one of those jerks.

In Untitled Goose Game, players take on the role of the (un)titular goose, who just wants to go about its day and wreak havoc.

The concept, much like the game’s visual, is pretty minimalist. You’re just a goose with a to-do list of tasks which range from the mundane — have a picnic — to the maniacal — make someone buy back their own stuff.

Players can move around, duck, use their beak, run and honk, but that’s about it. The goose is capable of picking up or pulling on most objects in the world, and that’s where the fun really begins.

The few humans populating the small town the goose visits (read: terrorizes) leave the goose alone when it isn’t in places it shouldn’t be — a garden, an open-air shop or a restaurant patio — and most of them seem to go about their routine end-

lessly.

However, when the goose moves an item, or sometimes blatantly steals it, they go out of their way to put whatever’s out of place back where it belongs. In practice, this means if the player needs a carrot, for a picnic perhaps, they can destroy one half of a garden, and sneak away with their real treasure while the gardener has to put some pumpkins back.

Although, sometimes the game’s goals require the player to be mean for the sake of being mean. For example, one objective asked the goose to “trap the boy in the phone booth.” When I played, I did this by walking up to him and mashing on the honk button while he fled in terror to the safety of a nearby glass box. Was it really mean? Yes. Was it also hilarious? Absolutely.

There are only four full areas in the game, and I was able to beat it in around three hours. The game is not over after the completion of the goose’s to-do list, though.

Once the main quest is finished, a number of new, optional challenges, like a timed mode and more difficult puzzles, pop

The goose in Untitled Goose Game traps a young boy in a phone booth.

I Photo courtesy of House House

up for players to complete. The additional content doesn’t feel like padding for padding’s sake, either. The main story is cute and short, but there’s more for players who weren’t satisfied with the short experience.

Untitled Goose Game released Sept.

20 for Nintendo Switch and on the Epic Games Store for PC and Mac. It retails for $20 on all platforms but is on sale for $14.99 right now.

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REVIEW: ‘Between Two Ferns’ is perfectly awkward RYAN BIERI managing editor “Between Two Ferns: The Movie” is uncomfortable, hilarious and a good way to waste an hour and a half.

For viewers who have never seen the internet series, Zach Galifianakis hosts a low-to-no-budget YouTube show featuring celebrities (ranging from Tila Tequila to then-President Barack Obama) in awkward deadpan interviews.

Galifianakis asks questions that are occasionally offensive and always uncomfortable. Sometimes the celebrities will answer earnestly, and sometimes they play into the awkwardness.

For example, at one point in the movie, Galifianakis is interviewing Keanu Reeves (who the on-screen graphic calls “Keanu Reefs” from “Bill or Ted”) and asks him if he does research for his on-screen roles.

“Have you ever considered researching a character that has taken acting classes,” Galifianakis asks.

“Right now I’m acting like this is fun,” Reeves replies. “How am I doing?”

The movie hosts a number of high-profile cameos including Matthew McConaughey, Chance the Rapper, Brie Larson, Rashida Jones, Adam Scott, John Cho, Paul Rudd, John Legend, Jon Hamm, Hailee Steinfeld, Awkwafina, Tiffany Haddish, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tessa Thompson, Peter Dinklage, Gal Gadot and legendary interviewer David Letterman (who Galifianakis refers to as “Santa Clause with an eating disorder”).

Most of the movie’s interviews are just setups for awkward, often incredibly funny deadpan jokes. However, some of the interviews, like the one with John Legend, are genuinely uncomfortable. In an interesting, somewhat unsettling reversal of the formula, Galifianakis becomes as awkward as a typical guest, while Legend is just excited to be there.

The movie takes the form of a mockumentary to stitch the interviews together.

In it, “Between Two Ferns” is a public-access TV show Galifianakis hosts. Will Ferrell plays himself as a coked-up bully who found Galifianakis’ show and uploaded it to his website Funny-or-Die, of which Ferrell is a real-life founder.

“His show’s success is absolutely predicated on the fact that people are laughing at him, not with him,” Ferrell says.

After a major accident at the TV station, Ferrell gives Galifianakis a goofy, genie-like promise of a lifetime talk show — that is, a talk show on the network Lifetime — if he can deliver ten episodes of “Between Two Ferns” in two weeks. The rest of the movie is a cross-country trip to score interviews with celebrities.

Galifianakis’ brings his TV crew — Carol Hunch (Lauren Lapkus), Cameron “Cam” Campbell (Ryan Gaul) and “Boom Boom” De Laurentis (Jiavani Linayao) — with him on the road. All three of the actors have their moments, but Lapkus’ over the top, stoic performance really shines.

The plot is dumb and full of deadpan slapstick gags, but despite some good jokes, the wrapping is mostly just that — a plot device to justify putting a bunch of small “Between Two Ferns” clips together.

The best part of the movie comes after everything has wrapped up. As the credits roll, the movie plays bloopers from the interviews which are as funny as — if not funnier than — the finished product itself.

Aside from leaving me close to crying from laughing so hard, the clips also highlight how impressive it is that Galifianakis and his guests can keep straight faces through all the ridiculous lines they deliver.

Anyone who has seen any previous episodes of “Between Two Ferns” will probably know how they’re going to feel about this movie — it’s more of the same gimmick, but the gimmick still lands.

“Between Two Ferns: The Movie” was released on Sept. 20, and is available to stream exclusively on Netflix.

HOMECOMING: AT A GLANCE

Michelle Jiles, a graduate student in clinical child and school psychology, of Flossmoor, Mariah Young, a graduate student in College Student PerIllinois, poses with Eddie the Cougar at the sonnel Administration, of Edwardsville, hands out T-shirts to Homecoming Kick Off. students at the Homecoming Kick Off. | Mackenzie Smith / The Alestle | Mackenzie Smith / The Alestle

Senior accounting major Chris Dietz (left), of Wentzville, Missouri, and senior undecided major Kyle Kinder (right), of Goreville, Illinois, represent Alpha Kappa Lamda in the Golf Cart Parade. | Mackenzie Smith / The Alestle

Dominic Dorsey, director of ACCESS and winner of the Best Senior speech language pathology major Caroline Crabtree, of Springfield, Illinois, waves to the crowd Tasting Chili competition on Wednesday, spoons out chili during the Golf Cart Parade. for students. | Mackenzie Smith / The Alestle | Taylin Ritter / The Alestle

opinion

SEE OPINION ON CANCEL CULTURE NEXT WEEK page 6

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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 SPENCER PECK TAYLIN RITTER MACKENZIE SMITH photographers ELIZABETH DONALD BROOKE HILL SHANE WHEATLEY copy editors JENNIFER SANDERS reporter ERICA GREEN podcast producer SUMMER BRADLEY graphics manager JONAS MALAVE CAMPOS advertising manager NATHANIEL JOHNSON DAVID DEWEESE ad consultant CRISHAWNA NASH JORDAN RICHEY MARISA RUSTEBERG office secretaries ANGIE TROUT office manager TAMMY MERRETT program director Have a comment?

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Climate strikes are a step in the right direction THE ALESTLE STAFF editorial board

The global climate strike on Friday showed there are millions of young people across the planet who are determined to fix the current climate crisis the world is in.

Unfortunately, one day of ecological activism is not going to be enough to save us.

It is everyone’s duty to push the institutions they interact with to be more environmentally friendly — from the university to our hometowns and even our future employers. Making smallscale personal changes is great, but large-scale changes are the only real solution.

According to The Guardian, climate scientists released a report this week which says emissions rates must be slashed at least threefold from the 2015

Paris Climate Agreement — and that’s just to keep global temperatures from rising more than 2 degrees Celsius.

We all need to do more than simply cut out plastic straws.

Most of the time, a single person is not going to be able to make the kinds of changes the world needs right now.

Of course, some individuals can make a difference. One such person is Greta Thunberg, a 16-year-old climate activist who was the driving force behind last week’s strike.

However, becoming that single person requires an incredible amount of drive, perseverance and luck. Most people cannot afford to spend that much time and effort on a cause, no matter how important.

On top of that, it usually does not matter how dedicated or passionate one is when try-

ing to change organizations like a government. One person can be ignored, but a group is much harder to brush off. A group amplifies all of our voices and shows those in power that our causes demand their attention.

Let’s be clear: Every one of us should do our best to make changes and reduce our own carbon footprint. The Environmental Protection Agency reported that in 2017, approximately 29 percent of greenhouse gas emissions came from transportation and 28 percent came from electricity generation. We can limit excess electricity use, ride bikes and carpool to reduce emissions.

However, trying to get our communities and workplaces to switch over to more environmentally friendly options — like hybrid or electric commercial vehicles or changing the electric supply from coal to a renewable

resource like wind or solar power — is going to have a much larger impact on overall emissions.

More than anything, it’s a matter of scale. If one person begins to live their life only making the most environmentally friendly choices — eating local, traveling by car as little as possible, zealously looking to conserve energy — that most likely wouldn’t have as much of an impact as an institution of SIUE’s size switching over to renewable energy sources. SIUE is among 41 colleges and universities who have reported using 100 percent renewable energy.

So, get involved. Don’t let these issues go away just because the strike went well. Stay informed on events and issues in your area, and make sure to vet politicians on these issues at the local and state level, not just in national elections.

particular — are being scammed.

The ambassadors are exploited for their free or cheap labor and only receive compensation for their time based on the conversion rate of new ambassadors and the sale of products. The trademark of the scheme is the lack of hourly pay to the workforce.

Of course, workers who have high conversion rates and product sales are likely to bring in a decent wage. However, the majority of this workforce does not perform at this level.

The marketing strategy simply uses products to cover the exchange of money. The scam operates on the unequal distribution of funds among workers and improper compensation for workers’ time and energy.

An analysis conducted by the Federal Trade Commission found that all multilevel marketing schemes utilize a pyramid, mean-

ing a top-heavy structure of monetary distribution. This translates to individuals at the highest operating power within the company receiving the greatest portion of wealth, and consequently, the individuals at the bottom receiving the lowest.

The saddest aspect of multilevel marketing schemes is the exploitation of individuals for their free or cheap labor. Often, people are lured into the schemes with false promises of an easy part-time job which pays cash for online promotion.

Further, the analysis showed 99 percent of the people involved actually lost money through participation in the scheme. Not only are the schemes exploiting vulnerable individuals, they are robbing their sellers.

Beyond the exploitation of workers and the unethical referral strategy, these companies often promote products which are

scams themselves. Many of the products are renowned for being faulty or cheaply made.

Of the small income these sellers make, the majority goes toward purchasing samples, catalogs and products from the company. The vast majority of companies using this strategy require their sellers to purchase the products prior to selling them.

If a seller can’t effectively sell the product, they’re stuck with unwanted product and have lost time and money during their efforts.

These should not be supported, especially with clear evidence showing their distribution of wealth and power. Social media users should be warned about deceiving messages from recruiters. Multilevel marketing may benefit the people at the top of the company, but someone should be speaking for the majority.

Multilevel marketing schemes are out of control JORDYN NIMMER online editor

Like many other Instagram users, I receive messages on a regular basis from women asking if I’m interested in earning extra money by promoting certain products.

To be blunt, I’m fed up with the onslaught of messages. After receiving over 100 different messages, I’ve devised the perfect response strategy — block the account and move on with my life.

The women sending the messages are often non-salaried ambassadors for companies using a multilevel marketing strategy that entails referring products to a target audience and recruiting new sellers. They reel new ambassadors in through the private messaging function on Instagram and other social media sites.

These schemes are the latest way people — college students in

contact the editor: sports@alestlelive.com 650-3527 thursday, 09.26.19

sports

LAUREN BRIGGS sports editor

SIUE Standings MEN’S SOCCER OVERALL MAC

5-2-1 4-3 4-3-1 3-3-1 3-4-1 0-6

West Virginia W. Michigan Bowling Green SIUE Northern Illinois Akron

0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0

WOMEN’S SOCCER OVERALL OVC

Sarah Armendariz, Hannah Bagley, Annie Ellis, Jordyn Klein, Rachel McDonald and Gabby Wimes cheer / Photo Courtesy of SIUE Athletics and celebrate at the Purdue Fort Wayne match.

In their second match of the weekend, SIUE played a hard game against Presbyterian, only winning set three of four by 2 points. Presbyterian came in with consistent scoring throughout the match, playing an even 25 each set.

Despite losing to Presbyterian, the teams had comparable stats. Blocks were 9-7 SIUE, digs 64-60 Presbyterian and aces were 4-3 SIUE. Presbyterian shined in their hitting percentage, however, coming in at 0.285. SIUE had a 0.233 hitting percentage.

In their final match of the weekend gainst Purdue Fort Wayne, SIUE won sets three and four, but fell short in five.

Although they lost, the Cougars still had some standouts.

McDonald and setter Sarah Armendariz both played double-doubles against the Mastodons. McDonald ended with 12 kills, 16 digs and 2 aces, and Armendariz finished with 18 assists, 12 digs and 2 aces.

Armendariz was not on the original roster and said she was excited she hit the court.

SPORTs in brief

Cross country gains new assistant coach CeCe Moore CeCe Moore was named as the new assistant coach for Cross Country and Track and Field in an announcement earlier this month.

Moore previously served as a volunteer assistant on the coaching staff at the University of Oklahoma, which has a Division I athletics program like SIUE. Prior to coaching, she ran cross country and track and field at the university for a year as a graduate student.

Before transferring to the University of Oklahoma, Moore studied and competed at St. Louis University, where she holds several school records for the indoor 800m.

Moore said her previous experience as a runner allows her to put herself in the athletes’ shoes

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SIUE continues losing streak in Cougar Classic Last weekend, the Cougars played their first three home matches on the newly named First Community Arena against the University of Central Arkansas, Presbyterian College and Purdue University Fort Wayne.

They lost all three matches, extending their losing streak.

Junior outside hitter Rachel McDonald said they went in with high expectations despite the losses, she was excited for the growth.

“We were very confident in who we were as a team,” McDonald said. “[It was] not our best handle at adversity, but we’re learning still and I really think the four weeks before conference are all just preparation. So I’m glad that we could see a little adversity.”

Against Central Arkansas, SIUE played five sets (25-22, 2225, 25-26, 22-25, 12-15), winning sets one and three.

Head coach Kendall Paulus explained the team was adjusting throughout the weekend.

“We are still kind of moving some people around,” Paulus said. “The line-up isn’t exactly set, like we have an idea of what we like and what things work, but people are moving in and out of those. And that was actually something we were really excited about this past weekend, was just to see people come in off the sideline and do really well and have a lot of confidence.”

LOOK FOR THE HOMECOMING GAME COVERAGE NEXT WEEK

and influences her coaching style.

“It’s extremely helpful having the personal knowledge of being a competitor that helps me every day in how I approach coaching,” Moore said.

Moore graduated from Saint Louis University with a bachelor’s in history and a minor in biology in 2017.

Moore, a St. Louis native, also said she chose SIUE to be near loved ones and because of the sense of community.

“I was really excited about the opportunity to be closer to home and be with my family,” Moore said. “And after my interview with SIUE and meeting the staff and the coach, I just knew that it was a welcoming community and that it was the perfect place for me to work, so that’s

why I ended up choosing SIUE over other opportunities.”

JENNIFER GOEKNER

650-3527 @jgoeck_Alestle jgoeckner@alestlelive.com

Assistant coach CeCe Moore / Photo courtesy of SIUE Athletics

“In the first set, I wasn’t first on the roster to go and so ... it made me more eager to go in.,” Armendariz said. “So when they put me in for the last two matches [against Purdue Fort Wayne], I was excited and pumped because I had been working really hard in practice to get on the court. So a double-double was awesome for me.”

The Cougars will play their next match against Austin Peay State University at 6 p.m., Friday Sept. 27 at the First Community Arena at the Vadalabene Center.

4-3 3-3-4 3-4-3 2-6-1 4-5 3-7 1-4-3 2-4-2 1-5-1 3-7 1-6-2

SEMO UT Martin Tennessee Tech Morehead St. Murray State E. Kentucky Austin Peay SIUE EIU Jacksonville St. Belmont

2-0 1-0-1 1-0-1 1-0-1 1-0 1-1 0-0-1 0-1-1 0-1-1 0-2 0-2

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL OVERALL OVC

SEMO Morehead St. Tennessee St. Jacksonville St. Murray State SIUE E. Kentucky Tennessee Tech.

Austin Peay EIU Belmont UT Martin

9-6 9-3 7-6 6-6 6-6 5-7 5-9 4-9 2-12 1-11 1-14 4-11

1-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-1

Local businessman, developer now part owner of Dodgers JOSEPH BUSTOS Bellevile News-Democrat (TNS)

The CEO of R.P. Lumber is now a part owner of the L.A. Dodgers, the team said in a news release.

Robert L. Plummer has joined the ownership team of the National League baseball team, along with Alan Smolinisky, a principal of a private investment company in California.

“I have been a fan of the Dodgers since my Little League days, and my involvement with the club is a dream come true,” Plummer said.

Plummer is chairman and CEO of R.P. Lumber, the retail home center and building materials supplier with locations in Illinois and Missouri. Plummer, who also develops property, also serves as chairman of TheBANK of Edwardsville board, vice chairman of BJC HealthCare in St. Louis, and serves on the boards of numerous

other charities.

He also is the father of state Sen. Jason Plummer, R-Edwardsville.

The Dodgers did not disclose how much Plummer paid for his stake in the team.

He and Smolinisky join an ownership group that includes Magic Johnson, Hollywood executive Peter Guber, Billie Jean King and her partner, Ilana Kloss, Todd Boehly and Robert Patton Jr. “The two newest members are both civic-minded, accomplished businessmen and lifelong Dodger fans,” said Dodgers Chairman and owner Mark Walter. “We are proud of having built a very strong ownership group, and Robert and Alan will certainly add to that strength. I look forward to having them join us for this exciting post-season run in October.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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