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Staff reviews best barbecue of Metro East page 4
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Cougar softball snags perfect pre-season page 7
alton — east st. louis — edwardsville
vol. LXIX no. XIV
Professor to be Protesters turn out for second presidential debate on Nov. 8 ballot
MIRANDA LINTZENICH Alestle Reporter
When most people think of the upcoming election on Nov. 8, they generally think of the presidential candidates. However, it will also be a date to vote for local politicians. Math Instructor Katie Stuart is Katie Stuart the democratic candidate for state representative of District 112 running against Republican Incumbent Dwight Kay. On Wednesday, Oct. 5, Stuart participated in an open forum hosted by the SIUE chapter of State Universities Annuitants Association. The State Universities Annuitants Association is an advocacy organization that focuses on preserving pension and healthcare benefits for employees, according to their organization. The SUAA was responsible for actually putting together the event, according to Stuart. Stuart addressed the questions SUAA had laid out from the annuitants regarding the state budget and other state level problems. According to Stuart, her part was to be able to answer those questions. Stuart said she has never run for a political position before. “When you see the problems in the State of Illinois, they go far beyond what I can tackle in the classroom,” Stuart said. According to Stuart, gaining the position would give her the ability to help fix the problems the state is currently handling, like the budget. “I understand the importance for the community and university at large,” Stuart said. “I’ll support the university system.” Unlike Stuart’s candidacy, this particular event did not directly pertain to students per se, but the quality of the university’s faculty and staff does, according to John Jennetten, president of the SIUE chapter of the SUAA. “Having secure pensions and providing affordable healthcare are some of the factors that are important to both faculty and staff and leads to the retention of better employees,” Jennetten said. “SUAA wanted the opportunity to hear from each of the candidates,” Stuart said. “They had questions that pertained to their members.” Kay will be attending the next SUAA open forum Tuesday, Oct. 18, according to Jennetten. The moderator for the open fourm will be Leo Welch, a faculty member at Southwestern Illinois College. Members of the SUAA include mostly retirees, but also current employees, according to Jennetten. “This was a sponsored SUAA action. Our goal was to provide information to our current members. We have about 500 in our local chapter,” Jennetten said. “We wanted to focus on issues related to pensions and healthcare benefits for the employees.” “The biggest difference is that both participants will be there,” Jennetten said. “Attendees will get to hear from both candidates. Also, the first event only had about a dozen people, so we are looking for a better turnout.” The Candidates Forum will begin at 5 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 18, upstairs in the MUC, at Fixins’ Restaurant. SIUE retirees, current employees, their spouses and their survivors are all invited, according to the chapter’s website.
Members of ‘BRICK X BRICK’ stand in solidarity before the second presidential debate Sunday, Oct. 9, outside of Washington University in St. Louis. ‘BRICK x BRICK’ is an effort to build the 2016 women’s vote against Donald Trump and misogyny. | Brian Muñoz / Alestle
Questions linger after BLM conference KIAH EARL Alestle Reporter The Black Lives Matter conference last week left a lot of people underwhelmed with SIUE’s institutional effort regarding race relations around campus. Some said the conference did not meet their needs, while others felt the conference was another step in the right direction for SIUE and minority relations. “We will continue to have the Black Lives Matter conferences every October to keep the conversations ongoing,” Associate Chancellor for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion Venessa Brown said. “Beginning in January, we will also hold the ‘We Are One Summit: Strategies and Solutions,’ which will allow us to take the issues discussed in the October discussion and find solutions.” The Office of Diversity and Inclusion will be hosting the summit Wednesday, Jan. 18, which will give those that were in attendance at the Black Lives Matter conference, as well as anyone interested, an opportunity to work handson with other members of the SIUE community to create a plan for diversity and inclusion both collectively and individually moving forward. This summit is intended to provide a positive space for
students, faculty and staff to begin to be proactive about diversity and inclusion on campus. Brown said this summit will follow the Black Lives Matter conferences annually in January and allow for a place where campus community members can feel safe and productive while tackling otherwise difficult topics. “The summit will allow us to make the issues brought up in the conference relatable to our SIUE community,” Brown said. “We are one, that’s everybody, not just some people, but an all-inclusive conversation.” Brown recognizes there were some issues at the conference and plans to keep those in mind for the next October conference session in 2017. “I recognize that some people took the opportunity to ask questions, and some were left unanswered,” Brown said. “In the future, we will have more control over the open forum discussions by limiting the amount of responses per question.” Senior exercise science major Ta’Nia Jordan, of Glendale Heights, said she plans on attending the summit, and she hopes that students and staff come with an open mind and ready to work. “I think that a lot of people get so caught up in talking about not doing anything,
and that position becomes comfortable,” Jordan said. “It’s easy to complain about nothing happening, especially when the programming isn’t available. Now that it’s readily available, those of us who want to see change need to be there ready to work, ready to help and ready to be that impact.” Jordan said she looks forward to attending the summit in January. “Its really cool to know that administration is giving students the opportunity to be a part of the changes occurring on campus,” Jordan said. “It makes me feel like the university cares when students are allowed into the planning process. Nobody experiences the university like the student does, so it’s really amazing to have our perspective genuinely valued.” Senior political science major Reggie Hamilton, of Chicago, said he hopes the summit is productive, and not just for show. “I think that the conference itself was a start, but I keep asking myself, is the summit really going to be productive?” Hamilton said. “I feel like we all might go and share ideas, but whether or not our ideas are valued and actually used is the next question.” Many students agree with Hamilton. The lack of trust be-
tween administration and students is a divide that plagues the ability to be productive in more areas than just diversity and inclusion. The We Are One Summit: Strategies and Solutions in January will be a registration-based event, like the Black Lives Matter conference. Brown said she encourages anyone who has any positive ideas for the ways in which the university should promote diversity and inclusion around campus to attend the event so their voices can be heard. Brown said she understands different people around campus might feel underrepresented and she believes speaking up and being a leader at events like this can be the beginning of a movement for any underrepresented population on campus. “When we say black lives matter, we have to recognize that we’re talking about everybody.” Brown said. “The things happening to black people is a result of the historical culture within our country, and that includes everyone.” For more information, contact Venessa Brown at vbrown@siue.edu. Contact KIAH EARL Call 650-3527 Tweet @kearl_alestle Email kearl@alestlelive.com
The Alestle will not have a print issue Thursday, Oct. 20. Go to alestlelive.com for the latest news. connect with us anytime online
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Professor talks about sex, desire
MINORITY Student organizations REPORT: provide LGBT safe space
MIRANDA LINTZENICH Alestle Reporter
TAYLOR FLEIG Alestle Reporter
out is a time “ Coming [when] we are able to be who we truly are.
NASH TAYLOR
Freshman psychology major, of Mattoon
be understanding, supportive, and trustworthy if LGBT people need help, advice, or just someone to talk to, will not tolerate homophobic and heterosexist comments and actions but will address them in an educational and informative manner and have attended Safe Zone training and have information on campus and community resources,” Co-Chair of SafeZone Mary Sue Love said.
”
Alliance club that meets at 5:30 p.m. on alternating Wednesdays and Thursdays in the Morris University Center. “I personally feel the GSA is a resource but not as present as it could be because cause the meetings I’ve been to [have] not [had] a big turnout. But then again that’s why I promote my fraternity, Delta Lambda Phi, to make sure the communities know we’re
‘Boy Gets Girl’:
a strong support system here,” Simpson said. GSA participates in Saint Louis PrideFest, Bisexual Awareness Week, which was Sept. 1926, and National Coming Out Day, which was Oct. 11, and holds several events around campus year round. Freshman psychology major Nash Taylor, of Mattoon, and GSA member said, “Coming out is a time [when] we are able to be who we truly are.” According to most of the LGBT community at SIUE, they said they have nothing but great words regarding the support they receive. There are many programs and resources for students to seek out. Freshman marketing major Mina Mathenia, of Wood River, said, “I think the gay community has excellent support. I haven’t experienced any negativity for my orientation. There’s a decent amount of Safe Zone stickers around, even at one of the cash registers in the food court. The school isn’t biased one way or another.” Contact TAYLOR FLEIG Call 650-3527 Tweet @tfleig_alestle Email tfleig@alestlelive.com
Training to expose sexual violence
KIAH EARL Alestle Reporter
in La lly /A le st le
Health and Counseling Services will partner up with Solid Lines Productions to host a staged reading of “Boy Gets Girl” on Monday, Oct. 17 in the Meridian Ballroom. The reading will be followed by an open forum discussion with the actors, director, and staff from Health and Counseling Services. The staged reading will tackle subjects like intimate partner violence, stalking, sexual assault and domestic violence. Solid Lines Productions is a theatre troop out of St. Louis that aims to foster community dialogue through acting and staged readings about socially relevant issues. According to Lindsey Serrano, confidential adviser to survivors of sexual assault, college campuses nationwide are required to have prevention programming regarding different topics throughout the academic year. Events like “Boy Gets Girl” this allow for students to be exposed to issues in a different and refreshing way, rather than just another online training course. As the confidential adviser, Serrano works closely with members of the SIUE community who are survivors of all forms of sexual violence, including sexual assault, harassment, stalking and intimate partner violence. “For our campus, one of the socially relevant issues we’ve been focusing on is intimate partner violence, sexual assault and stalking,” Serrano said. “This staged reading is a way to educate students about healthy relationships and what those look like.” According to Serrano, events like these are ways to get student organizations educated on topics that need to be important to everyone. Serrano said she encour-
itl
Contact MIRANDA LINTZENICH Call 650-3527 Tweet @mlintz_alestle Email mlintzenich@alestlelive.com
Having a place to express one’s true self is vital for proper support and self-esteem. For the LGBT community at SIUE, there are various places students can go to feel accepted around campus. SIUE charted Delta Lambda Phi on March 12, 2005. Delta Lambda Phi was a fraternity that was founded in 1987 in Washington D.C. by gay men for all men and remains the only national fraternity founded by gay men. According to their website, their mission is to develop dignified and purposeful social, service and recreational activities for men, irrespective of sexual orientation, to lead in determining the rights and privileges of individuals in society, and to present a strong and positive image, which respects the diversity of all individuals, irrespective of sexual orientation. Sophomore theater and performance major and Vice President of DLP Joe Simpson, of Chicago, said, “Last year, Delta Lambda Phi teamed up with a medical group in order to bring HIV testing to campus.” SIUE also has a Safe Zone program. Safe Zone consists of
“The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Resources website of SIUE seeks to encourage a safe environment that is welcoming to all students, staff, faculty, and community members.” Love said. SIUE also has a Gay-Straight
Ca
Sex is not a foreign concept to most college-aged students, and with topics such as consent on the rise, it is becoming a commonplace conversation. Assistant Professor of sociology and women’s studies, Alyson Spurgas presented her research on women and their low sexual desires at the event, “Desire, Consent, and Women’s Experiences with Sexual Care work” Oct. 4. Spurgas was asked to speak at the event by Director of Women’s Studies Alison Reiheld. The main point was to start a discussion, according to Spurgas. “With my research, I interviewed women with low sexual desire. I found that some of them feel like they have to perform sexual carework for their partners,” Spurgas said. “Providing this care, doing this work, is part of feminine socialization.” One of Spurgas’ students, senior liberal studies major Jada Foster, of Granite City, is working on her second bachelor’s with a focus on human sexuality and gender studies. According to Foster, the main focus was the low sexual desire found in women, and sex being considered labor, not a choice. “Dr. Spurgas is brilliant. She knows her research and cares deeply about women, especially those being blamed for having low sexual desire as if it’s the fault of their biology, when it may have everything to do with the way girls and women are socialized in our society. I’m hesitant to use this word, but we are typically treated as subordinates to men,” Foster said. “Society affects sexual desire.” Foster said the purpose of the series was to go beyond the physical aspect of consent and desire and look at how women relate to intercourse and the idea of feeling obligated to be a “pleasure tool” rather than someone who deserves pleasure. “Women are diagnosed with low sexual desire by doctors with ancient understanding of the female body and mind,” Foster said. “Sex becomes less of a form of pleasure and turns into a form of work for the woman — in Spurgas’ words, ‘sexual carework.’ And who wants to have sex when it feels like work? Nobody.” Spurgas said many students aren’t informed and don’t have a lot of education about sex — particularly about consent. This is an important problem for students and faculty to take on, according to Spurgas. “I think it should matter because women make up half of the population, if not more,” Spurgas said. “College is a time where people have sexual experiences, so it’s important to make campuses a safe place.” Students seeking help regarding sexual assault can call the Sexual Assault Victims Care unit at 618-397-0975 or 618271-8990. The National Sexual Assault Hotline is available at 1-800-656-HOPE and is free and confidential.
students and faculty that want to be a help to the LGBT community. Anyone can be a part of Safe Zone, or be an ally. Training is offered and required to be apart of the organization. “As a group, Safe Zone is a community of people who: will
ages students to attend and expose themselves to this one-of-a kind type of training. “The more people that we can get involved, the better,” Serrano said. “A lot of people are in unhealthy relationships and don’t even realize it,” senior sociology major Javier Staples, of East St. Louis, said. “Programming like this is encouraging because it gives us as young adults the tools that we need to recognize when we need help or when our friends need help,” Staples said. Junior graphic design major Julia Johnson, of Springfield, said any programming that tackles taboo topics is helpful both to students and staff. “Any event that can promote
awareness for some of the things that people like to pretend don’t exist are helpful,” Johnson said. “There is a lot of stigma and shame surrounding things like stalking and sexual violence, and I am a huge advocate for anything that tries to change that.” Serrano said she believes social media has become a tool for people to use as a means of stalking without knowing that what they’re doing is unhealthy. “I believe that with the rise of social media, people are unaware that they are stalking people,” Serrano said. “A person’s information is more easily available now than it ever was before and social media just gives people a way to invade those boundaries without even thinking about it.” Serrano said through train-
ings like this staged reading, students will have the tools to recognize when themselves or someone they know is in an unhealthy relationship. “We don’t think we’re doing anything wrong when we get on someone’s Facebook page and scroll all the way down,” Serrano said. “We can know where someone is all the time, and that information is constantly available to us.” Serrano said she hopes through trainings like this, students will begin to understand what healthy relationships look like, and have the tools to know when they are in a situation that is problematic. “We want to educate students to ensure that if they are ever in an unhealthy situation, they will know the indications of what to look for,” Serrano said. “Students need to be able to recognize unhealthy behaviors as a person’s inability to function in a healthy relationship, not indications of how much someone loves or cares about them.” According to Serrano, this is not the first collaboration between SIUE and Solid Lines Productions. Last year, they presented “Five Kinds of Silence” to raise awareness about incest, as well as “The Voice’s Choices.” The staged reading will take place at 7 p.m. Oct. 17, in the Meridian Ballroom and is free to students, faculty, and staff. Donations will be accepted throughout the night for St. Martha’s Hall, a domestic shelter that provides crisis intervention, support groups, community education and advocacy programs in St. Louis. Contact KIAH EARL Call 650-3530 Tweet @kearl_alestle Email kearl@alestlelive.com
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Democrats hold wide edge among Latino voters, but turnout remains an issue DAVID LAUTER Tribune Washington Bureau 10.08.16 An officer issued a written warning for no rear registration light on South Circle Drive at Lot B. There was an active fire alarm at 413 Cougar Village. University Housing was notified. The alarm was activated by cooking and was restored. There was some smoke but no fire or damage.
10.09.16 An officer found a paper mache scarecrow in the small parking lot off Stadium Drive. A family member requested a welfare check on a resident of 512 Cougar Village. She stated that she hasn’t been able to make phone contact with him since he left home. She called back and advised she did make contact with him, and he was fine. An officer issued a written warning for an expired registration and no driver’s license on person. The offense occured on East University Drive at North University Drive. An officer issued a written warning for expired registration on Cougar Lake Drive at North University Drive. An officer issued a written warning for driving without tailights on North University Drive at Lot 10.
10.10.16 While checking a building, an officer found a door unsecured with a key inside the lock. The officer secured the door, located the key owner and returned the key. An officer issued a scofflaw violation to Illinois registered vehicle 9364629 in Lot 6. The owner signed acceptance of responsibility form. The vehicle was not towed. An officer issued a state citation for operating an uninsured motor vehicle issued to Andrea Tavis on South Circle Drive at Residence Drive. The officer also issued a written warning for failure to yield to pedestrian.
An officer responded to Lot A for a vehicle accident report. Two police units responded. A tow and EMS were not required. No citations were issued. An officer responded to Lot B to take a hit and run accident report. One police unit responded. Officers responded to a report of a subject who was barred from university property being at the Vadalabene Center. Christian L. Christmas (22 years old, 1368 Franklin Ave., Collinsville) was arrested for criminal trespassing to state-supported property and was transported to the PD where he was fingerprinted, photographed, and processed. Christmas was released on a notice to appear.
Fully three-quarters of Latino registered voters in the U.S. have discussed Donald Trump with family, friends or co-workers over the past year, and the tone of those talks is not sympathetic, an extensive new survey shows. The study by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center found Hillary Clinton leading Trump by about a 2-to-1 margin among Latinos roughly the same as the edge that President Barack Obama held over Mitt Romney, the Republican nominee, four years ago. And that was before Trump spent a week feuding with
a former Miss Universe, Alicia Machado. The support Trump does have among Latinos came primarily from older, U.S.-born men, especially those who are evangelical Protestants a heavily Republican group. The two potential weak spots for Clinton among Latino voters, the survey found, were the same that polls have found among non-Latinos younger voters and overall turnout. Latino voters younger than 35 showed even less support for Trump than did their elders, but significant numbers reported that they were considering votes for third-party candidates Gary
Johnson, the Libertarian, and Jill Stein of the Green Party. Each of those candidates received support from about one in eight Latino millennials, the poll found. Overall, the share of Latino voters who said they were definite about voting was somewhat lower than four years ago. That may have changed by now, however. The study was based on a poll conducted Aug. 23 through Sept. 21. It surveyed 1,507 Latino adults, including 804 registered voters. The margin of error for the registered voter sample is 4.6 percentage points in either direction. READ MORE WIRE STORIES AT ALESTLELIVE.COM.
An officer responded for a wallet that was turned into the welcome desk in the Morris University Center. Dispatch was able to contact the owner to pick up the wallet before the officer arrived on the scene. Officers responded to assist a subject in collecting her wallet from the welcome desk. An officer collected the wallet and handed it to the owner. An officer issued a written warning for speeding 35 mph in a 25 mph zone. The offense occured at North University Drive and Lot 2. An officer responded to take a report of a missing wallet. An officer responded to the Student Fitness Center after the staff advised they may have given a phone to someone it did not belong to. The staff called back and advised that they located the subject and confirmed it was his phone. The officer disregarded. An officer issued a written warning for disobeying a stop sign. The offense occured at North University Drive and East University crossover. An officer issued a written warning for an expired registration. The offense occured at North University Drive and North Circle Drive.
The change of party affililation of Latino registered voters from 1999. Pew Research Center / Staff, Tribune News Service
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lifestyles alestlelive.com
Metro east eats:
barbecue
contact the editor: lifestyles@alestlelive.com 650-3527 thursday, 10.13.16
To find the best barbecue experience for our readers, the Alestle staff visited six locations in the Metro East area known for their barbecue. Locations were reviewed by the following criteria: quality of meat, quality of sauce, variety of menu choices, side options, atmosphere and customer service. Scores were determined by each staff members’ satisfaction, and the average of those scores determined that restaurant’s rank.
Pappy’s Smokehouse: 5/5
Pappy’s Smokehouse, located near St. Louis University, seems like just a hole-in-the wall barbecue joint, but after eating there, it’s no surprise that the small restaurant has gained national attention. The restaurant has a decently sized dining area, but the cafeteria-style ordering combined with the classic country music playing throughout the restaurant and low-key decor makes Pappy’s feel authentic and homey. Pappy’s offers a selection of meats including pulled pork, pulled chicken, beef brisket and burnt ends, but trust us — you should stick with the ribs. Quite honestly, teeth might not even be necessary to finish a full slab; the meat was falling off the bone and tender, without falling apart so much that you couldn’t eat them. Luckily, even if ribs aren’t your thing, the rest of the menu holds up, too. The pulled pork, pulled chicken and brisket are all moist and tasty. While not the typical choice, the “BBQ Spud,” a baked potato topped with meat, baked beans, cheddar cheese and onion, is a solid option if you’re looking for more than just meat.
For those who don’t eat meat at all, the sides are good enough that we’d probably still recommend taking a trip out to Pappy’s at least once. In particular, the deep-fried corn on the cob and sweet potato fries, seasoned with a sugary mix instead of salt, are amazing. They also offer baked beans, slaw, potato salad, green beans and applesauce as sides, with an option to substitute two sides for a baked potato. If you’re going out to Pappy’s with some friends or a date, the best item on the menu is “The Big Ben,” a full slab of ribs with a beef brisket, a pulled pork sandwich and one fourth of a whole chicken. The meal also comes with four side options, so you can sample as much of the menu as possible — but we’d recommend getting at least two pieces of deep fried corn on the cob, because you’re not going to want to share yours. If you’re bringing three or more, “The ‘Adam’ Bomb” is probably a better option, which is a “Big Ben” with an added hot link Frito pie. The cashiers and servers are always friendly, and the food typically comes out within five minutes of placing your order. How-
Ribs, sweet potato fries and fried corn on the cob.
ever, if you’re planning on going around to closing time, which is 8 p.m., especially on the weekend, there’s a good chance that Pappy’s will be sold out of some, or all, of the menu, so it’s in your best interest to get there early.
Pappy’s ribs were ranked as the best in the country in a list by the Food Network, and we can see why. If you’re in the mood for some barbecue, we’re hard pressed to think of a better venue to hit up in the St. Louis area.
| Ryan Bieri / Alestle
3106 Olive St., St. Louis 314-535-4340 pappyssmokehouse.com About 30 minutes from campus
Salt + Smoke: 5/5
A pulled pork sandwich and white cheddar cracker mac and cheese. | Kalli Morris / Alestle
Before even entering Salt + Smoke, the aroma of sweet and smoky barbecue hits your senses from the parking lot. This oneof-a-kind spot is on the bustling Delmar Loop, but unlike any of the surrounding dining options, this restaurant offers homemade recipes for everything from their sauces to their pies, ultimately creating unique dining experience. Early on a Friday afternoon, we went in to see if the food would be as delicious as the aroma promised, and we left happy customers. We were welcomed with open arms and warm smiles. They seated us in a cozy booth in the corner. The decoration is a mixture of rustic antiques and homey touches such as red-checkered tablecloth napkins. You can tell by how workers interact with one another that they are happy to be there, which creates a welcoming atmosphere for the customers to enjoy. Diving into the menu, all options were priced very reasonably, especially for budgeting college students like ourselves. Salt
+ Smoke offers a variety of options, from starters to sandwiches and all the way to combos. While everything sounded mouth-watering, we went with a pulled pork sandwich and a side of their white cheddar cracker mac and cheese. They use a smoking technique to cook the meat, which not only creates a deep flavor, but also the source of the great smell. At first there was a mixup with our order and we were brought a chicken sandwich, but our waiter was very quick to fix the problem, and there wasn’t a long wait. When they brought out the meals, our waiter explained their array of sauces, which have quirky names like “My Sweet Bestie,” “I Can’t Even,” “Mustarolina” and “Hotangy.” The first is a more traditional sauce, while “I Can’t Even” offers more of a punch. “Mustarolina” is a unique take on mustard, and “Hotangy”is made with vinegar to create a tangy flavor, which the name suggests. As one who is very picky when it comes to choosing sauces, this
provided us with the best of everything. None were too spicy, but instead left a pleasing taste on our pallet. Once we settled on our sauce to dip the sandwich in (a combination of “Hotangy” and “Mustarolina” in case you were wondering), we could officially dig in. Our pulled pork sandwich was topped with a light coleslaw and homemade pickles. As for the mac and cheese, it was easily the best we have ever had. The addition of crackers add a crunchy and salty element that was unique and entirely satisfying. Reflecting on our dining experience at Salt + Smoke, it is definitely a restaurant we look forward to coming back to. The welcoming atmosphere and delicious dining options don’t disappoint.
6525 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis 314-727-0200 saltandsmokestl.com About 40 minutes from campus
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Beast Craft BBQ: 5/5 Beast Craft BBQ, located right off of state route 159 in Belleville, brings together great meat, unique side options and a large drink selection to form a perfect little barbecue joint. Amazingly enough, we couldn’t find a bad choice on Beast’s menu, and trust us, we tried just about everything. From the ribs that fall off the bone to the beef brisket, every entree Beast offers is smoked to perfection. Beast offers pork steaks, a half of a chicken, kielbasa, pulled pork, brisket, a turkey breast and a changing daily special — in this case it was smoked chicken wings. Most of the meats are available in a plate or a “sammich” meal, and Beast also offers platters of different meat combos. In particular, the ribs are worth noting — tender enough to fall off the bone and never a bad choice. However, we think the crown jewel of Beast’s menu is the
pork steaks, particularly with the apple butter barbecue sauce. Beast occasionally offers the “Apple Bottom Sammich,” a plate-sized serving of the apple butter barbecue slathered pork steaks, as a special. If you visit Beast while it’s on the menu and you don’t pick it, you’re missing out. Beast’s side selection is quite impressive. There are the standard choices like their fresh-cut fries, a spring salad, baked beans and slaw. But, their best side options are their more unique ones — fried Brussels sprouts with pork belly, or an option to get an extra two ounces of meat. The pièce de résistance of their sides is without a doubt their candied bacon: two large strips of bacon encrusted with a sugary mix and what seems like black pepper. Beast manages to keep the side savory, while making sure the sugar and spice mix is the forefront of the item. Beast only offers three sauce
selections: “The Standard,” “Cherry Chipotle” and “Texas Chainsaw.” “The Standard” is a tangy sauce that goes well with anything. The “Cherry Chipotle” sauce is just as good, and even though it has some kick to it, if you’re not looking for something sweet, it’s probably not for you. The “Texas Chainsaw” is their hottest sauce, and our recommendation, but it might be a little much for some people. If you’re over 21, Beast offers an impressive selection of local and national craft beers and ciders. Some days, Beast even has drink pairings under each item on the menu. Beast only opened in December 2014, but make no mistake, the secret is out on this little restaurant. We originally planned to visit Beast on a Saturday evening around 6 p.m., but the line was clear out the door when we arrived. Luckily, it was a little less
Ribs, fries and candied bacon.
busy the next day for lunch. Beast serves their food cafeteria style, so you won’t have much interaction with the staff, but everyone we encountered there seemed to genuinely enjoy working there just as much as we enjoyed our time at Beast.
Fire-N-Smoke: 4.5/5
Brisket and St. Louis ribs, mac and cheese, baked beans and garlic toast. | Lashai Spencer / Alestle
With locations in Troy and O’Fallon, there is no question why Fire-N-Smoke has claimed a reputation for having some of the best barbecue you can find in the Metro East. This wood-fired kitchen is known for serving high quality meats and all the fixings that you could ask for in a classic barbecue joint. Their assortment of entrees, sides, sandwiches, sauces, locally brewed beers and nonalcoholic beverages creates a place in their establishment for virtually any kind of barbecue lover. With an open dining area aligned with picnic-style wooden tables, this place is easy to enjoy with a small group of friends or your whole family. On our visit, we ordered the two meat platter which came with two meats, two sides and two thick slices of their fresh baked bread with a garlic butter spread. For our meat options we got the St. Louis Style Ribs and their
12-hour Smoked Texas Brisket and as our sides we got their mac and cheese with barbecue baked beans. When the food came out to us, it was steaming hot and came with a cup of St. Louis barbecue sauce, but you can also order your meal already slathered in sauce. When it comes to sauce, FireN-Smoke has five options that allow customers to add in the sweet, hot or tangy flavor notes they desire in barbecue. These sauces included their St. Louis sauce, a house-made cranberry barbecue sauce, chipotle, honey sriracha and a blazing hot ghost pineapple barbecue sauce. Sauced or not, though, both cuts of meat held up this restaurant’s promise of delivering quality and taste. The ribs were so tender you could separate them with a gentle pull and the brisket had a flavorful, peppery crust that was nearly irresistible. When we first dug
| Ryan Bieri / Alestle
20 S. Belt W., Belleville 618-257-9000 beastcraftbbq.com About 35 minutes from campus
into the baked beans, we were surprised and excited to find that it was loaded with chunks of brisket. The addition of these smoky bits complemented the sweet and savory balance of the beans very well. Upon tasting the mac and cheese, we were very pleased with the contrast of textures between the creaminess of the cheese that laid under a crisp top layer of breadcrumbs. As if this delicious meal was not enough, the large portion sizes you receive for the price you pay confirms that it is worth every dime. 914 Edwardsville Road,Troy 505-0815 firensmokewoodfiredkitchen.com
About 15 minutes from campus
Doc's Smokehouse: 4.5/5
Don’t be fooled by the size of Doc’s Smokehouse; the small restaurant packs a big punch. The menu offers a wide range of choices suited for almost any appetite, from classic entrees like pulled pork and beef brisket, to hickory-smoked burgers and barbecue nachos. The meat is tender, but the seasoning doesn’t stand out much, allowing the flavor of the sauce to shine. Each table has four bottles of sauce, each carrying a unique, well-crafted flavor, all signature to the restaurant. We highly recommend trying them all. While the meat and sauce
are perfectly satisfying, it’s Doc’s side dishes that truly stand out. With a whopping 13 options for sides, no customer will be left unsatisifed when deciding what they want to dine on alongside their main entree. Doc’s will make customers feel right at home. The restaurant is cozy, which adds to the experience: the walls are decked out with various awards the restaurant has won, and blues music plays at the perfect volume over the speakers. The service is exceptional, as well — our table was checked on five times during the course of our meal by different employees see-
ing if we needed drink refills or any other assistance. Doc’s Smokehouse may not be the greatest barbecue experience you’ll ever have, but we’re confident that you’ll enjoy the intimate atmosphere and wide variety of menu options, and the short distance from campus can’t be beat.
1017 Century Drive, Edwardsville 656-6060 docssmokehouse.com About 5 minutes from campus
Pulled pork, fries and green beans.
| Chloe Smith / Alestle
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thursday, 10.27.16 Suljo Talic, of Imperial, smokes a cigarette outside of the Coco Cafe Sunday, Oct. 23, in the Bevo Mill neighbordhood while talking about leaving his job. “I left my job because they haven’t paid me in a long time,” Talic said.
Bosnian immigrants give inside look on politics, conflict BRIAN MUNOZ
Photography Editor
Twenty-three days. The sharp blast of a gunshot, bullets whizzing through the air, pig’s blood dripping in an attic, absolute chaos. “It took my father 23 days to escape Bosnia to go to Germany,” sophomore biochemistry major Elmedina Kekic, of St. Louis, said. Elmedina Kekic’s father, Mirsad, was one of the thousands who had to face the destruction of a homeland and the displacement Bosnians during the Bosnian Genocide from 1992 to 1996. In April 1992, the government of the Yugoslav republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina declared its independence from the country of Yugoslavia.
Over the next several years, Bosnian Serb forces, with the backing of the Serb-dominated Yugoslav army, targeted both Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim) and Croatian civilians for atrocious crimes resulting in the deaths of approximately 100,000 people (80 percent Bosniak) by 1995, according to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. “My grandma was a widow in the war,” Elmedina Kekic said. Out of three children, her father was the only one that stayed with his mother in Bosnia. His two quickly married and left Bosnia with their husbands. “My [grandmother] had two daughters that got married and left right away. One left to Norway and the other left to Austria. My dad stayed until the
very end,” Elmedina Kekic said. According to Elmedina Kekic, being taunted by the Serbians was a common occurrence. “People kept knocking on my grandmother’s door looking for my grandpa, and they knew he was dead. My dad got very mad. He was 19, what was he supposed to do?” Elmendina Kekic said. “My grandma said to him, ‘You’re going to run. You’re going to run tonight. If I hear a bullet I know you’re dead,’” Elmedina Kekic said. Escaping the war-stricken country, Mirsad Kekic ran and was placed in a truck trailer with four German drug addicts, according to Elmedina Kekic. Mirsad had to find a way to get his mother out of the country. Escaping the ethnic cleansing of Bosnia was no easy feat for Mirsad Kekic. The refugee faced constant gunfire and tyranny, according to daughter Elmedina Kekic. “When my dad was escaping Bosnia, him and his best friend were walking by a pear tree and my dad told him, ‘Let’s pick a pear for good luck.’ My dad picked his and when his friend went to pick the pear, his friend was shot and killed right in front of [Mirsad’s] eyes,” Elmedina Kekic said. Mirsad Kekic finally reached Germany and began searching for
a way to create an income in order to rescue his family from Bosnia. “After arriving in Germany, my dad stole a bicycle, got a job at a butcher shop 15 miles away from where he was staying, pedaling back and forth each day until he had enough money to get an apartment,” Elmedina Kekic said. Shortly after, Mirsad, along with his mother, children and wife, escaped Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Kekic family returned to Bosnia the summer of 2016 and were shocked to see what was left of the home Elmedina’s grandmother had once lived in. “During the war, everything was damaged, ” Elmedina Kekic said. “As part of being Muslim, we don’t eat pork. The Serbians slaughtered a pig and hung it in the attic. When my grandmother returned over this past summer, there was Serbian writing all over [the house], everything was misplaced, there were bullet holes in the walls. The Serbians attempted to murder my grandmother. They thought she was still in the home when they massacred it,” Elmedina Kekic said. Migrating to the U.S. Starting in the mid-1990s, after the breakup of the former Yugoslavia and the horrific war
that accompanied it, Bosnians began to move to St. Louis in such large numbers that there are now more Bosnians per capita in St. Louis than anywhere else outside Bosnia, according to The Atlantic. Off of Interstate 44, a community of Bosnian citizens is overlooked by a towering limestone and terra cotta water tower that was built by August Busch Sr. in 1916. It is said that Busch Sr. wanted an in-between from his home to the brewery where he could sit and have a beer. “St. Louis is known as Little Bosnia. It’s better here because Bosnia is a third-world country. They don’t have the same opportunities that we do,” Elmedina Kekic said. Creating a culture The Bevo Mill neighborhood of St. Louis is a hub of Bosnianrun coffee shops, restaurants and businesses. A group of men regularly gather outside of Coco Café in Bevo Mill, drinking coffee, smoking and conversing about the previous night’s festivities. “It’s tradition to wake up each morning and go to a coffeeshop to talk about life, what happened the night before and current events,” Elmedina Kekic said.
Samira Nuckic, 18, of St. Louis, takes a customer’s order at her father’s shop, Berix, Sunday, Oct. 23, in the Bevo HIll neighborhood of St. Louis. The Bevo Mill neigborhood houses the largest amount of Bosnian shops in the area.
contact the editor: sports@alestlelive.com 650-3527 thursday 10.13.16
sports
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SIUE Standings
SIUE wraps up perfect fall season KYLE STEPP Alestle Sports Editor The SIUE softball team wrapped up their fall season Oct. 9, with a perfect 6-0 record after downing the Lake Land College Lakers at Cougar Field. The Cougars took a 2-0 no-hitter win in game one. Haley Chambers-Book was responsible for the no-hitter, and missed a perfect game after hitting a batter with one out in the fourth inning. Chambers-Book also struck out eight batters on the day. In an interview with SIUE athletics, Head Coach Sandy Montgomery said Chambers-Book had a strong day on the mound and was accurate with her throws. “[Chambers-Book] threw really well. She had good command of all her pitches,” Montgomery said. As far as runs, freshman pitcher Abby Marlow singled in the second inning, bringing home senior infielder Allison Smiley. Junior catcher Tess Eby added a cushion run in the sixth inning, giving SIUE the 2-0 win. Montgomery highlighted several players that have transitioned to a new position. Sophomore outfielder Alyssa Heren has moved from left field to center field and senior infielder and Louisville transfer Sarah Lopesilvero has been inserted into the lineup at shortstop. The Cougars have seen several additions to the lineup, but Montgomery told SIUE Athletics the best hitters will be the ones who play. “We have a lot of options and a lot of depth at a lot of po-
The Cougars took their first Ohio Valley Conference loss against the Murray State University Racers in five sets (2522, 15-25, 23-25, 25-21, 15-12) Oct. 7, at the Vadalabene Center. SIUE Head Coach Leah Johnson told athletics the team was unable to play with the same poise as they normally do. “We normally are so balanced, and tonight we weren’t able to be balanced because we have the production in a few positions,” Johnson said. Junior middle hitter Taylor Joens led the Cougars with 15 kills and junior outside hitter Ashley Witt added 11 of her own. Johnson also told athletics the Cougars were executing passes well, but the team found itself committing crucial service errors. “We were pretty solid from a passing standpoint. The crucial part of the game that we have not experienced as of late is service
OVERALL OVC
Southeast Miss. E. Kentucky Austin-Peay Tenn. Tech Jacksonville St. Morehead St. SIUE Eastern Ill. UT Martin Belmont Murray St.
7-4-4 8-4 8-4-2 6-5-3 5-9-1 4-9-2 6-5-2 4-9 4-10 4-6-4 5-4-2
1-2-3 3-2 3-0-2 2-1-2 2-4 1-4-1 4-1 1-4 1-5 3-2-1 4-0-1
MEN’S SOCCER
OVERALL MVC
Loyola Evansville Missouri St Cent. Arkansas SIUE Drake Bradley
10-1-0 4-3-1 7-4-1 3-7-1 5-4-3 4-8 2-8-3
4-0 1-0 3-1-0 1-3-0 2-1-1 1-3 0-3-1
Catcher Amy Hunt (center), of Troy, high fives teammates after a win Oct. 9, at Cougar Field. | Photo courtesy of SIUE Athletics.
sitions,” Montgomery said. “I’m pretty happy with the overall team. Defensively, we also have played well.” The Cougars took a 5-1 win in game two. The Lakers took the lead in the first inning, but it was all SIUE from there. SIUE scored twice in the second and fourth innings, as well as a run in the sixth. Junior pitcher Ashley Koziol recorded the win for the Cougars, striking out five batters in four innings. Freshman closer Emily Ingles picked up the save, and was key with six strikeouts in her three innings on the mound. Montgomery told SIUE Athletics the Cougars will benefit from their depth on the offensive end.
Cougars drop two in OVC matchups KYLE STEPP Alestle Sports Editor
WOMEN’S SOCCER
errors. It had a critical effect in set four,” Johnson said. Despite their team-high 78 digs in OVC matches, SIUE had 12 service errors for the match. Murray State committed 37 attack errors that included 15 blocks, but the Racers were able to pick up 16 kills from senior outside hitter Scottie Ingram, 13 from redshirt senior right setter Kristen Besselsen and 11 from middle blocker Dacia Brown. The Cougars returned to the Vadalabene Center Oct. 8, urging all in attendance to wear black, to take on the Austin Peay State University Governors. SIUE fell to the Governors in five sets (2624, 17-25, 24-26, 25-21, 15-12), dropping to 14-7 on the season and 5-1 in the OVC. Despite SIUE having a better kills (57-48), digs (9289), blocks (10-8) and hitting percentage (.115-.087), Johnson told athletics the Governors played harder than the Cougars, but they won’t let that discourage them in the future. “I think [Austin Peay] played
“We have some options [on offense] as well. Zoe Schafer has been hitting well. We have a lot of young players that are going to add a lot of offensive depth this year,” Montgomery said. SIUE started their perfect season with a 7-2 win against Parkland College and a hardfought 10-inning game against the Saint Louis University Billikens on Sept. 25, at Cougar Field. Junior infielder Haley Adrian scored the winning run after two errors by the Billikens’ third baseman. Chambers-Book threw six scoreless innings and Ingles closed the game out with four shutout innings. The Cougars picked up their next two wins, again at
Cougar Field, on two shutout competitions against the Jefferson College Vikings. Chambers-Book earned the win in game one, while Ingles picked up the win in game two. Koziol finished out both games, pitching one inning in game one and three innings in game two. Six of the seven Cougars’ RBI’s came from players new to SIUE’s roster. The Cougars start their spring season in February 2017. The full spring schedule can be found on the SIUE Athletics website in late October. Contact KYLE STEPP Call 650-3527 Tweet @kstepp_alestle Email kstepp@alestlelive.com
VOLLEYBALL
OVERALL OVC
Southeast Miss. 2-18 1-5 E. Kentucky 7-11 2-4 Austin-Peay 14-7 5-1 Tenn. Tech 6-13 2-4 Jacksonville St. 15-9 5-1 Morehead St. 7-12 3-3 SIUE 11-6 4-2 Eastern Ill. 4-17 1-5 UT Martin 5-16 1-5 Belmont 10-6 4-2 Murray St. 10-8 5-1 Tenn. St. 12-10 3-3 For more Ohio Valley Conference standings visit OVCsports.com
at a higher level emotionally that we played. That starts in the practice gym with everyone showing up every single day. So we’ll get back to work Monday,” Johnson said. Joens led the Cougars again with 14 kills, while Witt added 11. Senior setter Mallory Mangun recorded a double-double with 19 assists and 19 digs. Johnson also told athletics it seemed like different competitions, because both teams changed their game plan in set three. “It was almost like two separate matches because the game plan for both teams changed so much in set three. [The Cougars] adjusted and made the comeback in set three. In set four, it was a game of error I thought,” Johnson said. The Cougars finish their four-game home streak at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14, against Morehead State University and 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, against the Eastern Kentucky University Colonels at the Vadalabene Center. Contact KYLE STEPP Call 650-3527 Tweet @kstepp_alestle Email kstepp@alestlelive.com
Junior outside hitter Jackie Scott (7), of Wildwood, Mo., serves the ball Oct. 8, during SIUE’s 3-2 loss to Austin Peay at the Vadalabene Center. | Allison Gregory/ Alestle
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HELP WANTED Need ride twice a month to doctor’s appointment in St. Louis. Prefer a female driver. Please call 618-377-1714 for more information. Front Desk Attendant Leisure World Heatlh Club in Edwardsville, Ill. has a front desk position open. Great atmosphere, greeting members and helping them get healthy. No experience necessary. Great place to work! Call Mark 618-791-5482 Email lymbo15@hotmail.com
FOR RENT $720 - 15 Minutes to SIUE and St. Louis SMOKE FREE 2 BR 1.5 BA Townhomes $720/ mo. includes water, sewer and trash service. Washer/Dryer in unit. Quiet, clean, well maintained. No pets. No smoking on the property. On-site owner. (618) 931-4700 email: fairwayestates@charter.net www.fairway-estates.net Email fairwayestates@charter.net
Now providing care in your dorm room. OSF isn’t just providing care in your home; we’re providing care while you are away from home. With OSF OnCall, you’ll get quick online access to doctors ready to diagnose and treat you. For care on the spot, visit osfhealthcare.org/OnCall.
See how it works at. osfhealthcare.org/OnCall.
Illnesses and injuries don’t make appointments. Why should you? At Gateway Urgent Care, we understand that illnesses and injuries don’t always occur at convenient times. That’s why we make it easier to get the care you need with on-site lab and imaging services. We’re here for you every day with no appointment necessary. Some of the urgent care services we offer include treatment for:
Abrasions, cuts and burns • Cold, sore throat, fever and flu • Sprains, strains and broken bones • Asthma and allergies
Flu season is here.
Attend our walk-in flu shot clinic at SIUE (lower level of Student Success Center) Friday, October 14 • 9 a.m.-2 p.m. | Thursday, October 20 • 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Must be 18 years or older. Self-pay $20 (cash or check).
Open 7 Days a Week, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
4273 S. State Route 159 • Glen Carbon
618-288-2297
MAN STREET on the
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thursday,10.27.16
What are your thoughts on the presidential election? Junior exercise science major Rachael Walker, of Aurora
“I don’t plan on voting for either candidate, I don’t agree with a lot of the stuff they’re presenting. I feelw like if one of them gets into office, we’re doomed. I plan on writing in Bernie Sanders on my ballot and I hope a lot of other people do the same.”
Senior psychology and English major Reid Anderson, of Decatur
“I guess the media’s portrayal of it. For me, it seems like the media makes a charade out of the election. It’s about who can belittle the other person the best. It’s not about problems like climate change. They make caricatures out of the candidates, and I feel like that’s a problem in our media-dominated society.”
Junior nursing major Sophie Penwell, of Chatham
“I honestly think it’s kind of a joke. I can’t believe there is a man like Trump running for president and that the government is actually allowing something like that to happen.”
Sophomore biology major Cathleen Wood, of Edwardsville “I do not want to vote for Trump. I do not want to vote for a Clinton. I think they’re both really awful candidates. I think I’m going to throw my vote away and vote for a member of the third party.”
Sophomore childhood education major Beckie Scanlan, of Frankfort “I feel excited because it is my first election that I get to vote in. I think of the Constitution and our rights. I think we’re lucky that we’re even able to vote.”
Sophomore history major Jeff Kleinaitis, of Belleville
“I waited 18 years for the opportunity to vote and these are the two options that I got. I’m probably not going to vote.”
MAN STREET on the
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alestlelive.com
thursday,10.27.16
What are your thoughts on the presidential election? Junior exercise science major Rachael Walker, of Aurora
“I don’t plan on voting for either candidate, I don’t agree with a lot of the stuff they’re presenting. I feelw like if one of them gets into office, we’re doomed. I plan on writing in Bernie Sanders on my ballot and I hope a lot of other people do the same.”
Senior psychology and English major Reid Anderson, of Decatur
“I guess the media’s portrayal of it. For me, it seems like the media makes a charade out of the election. It’s about who can belittle the other person the best. It’s not about problems like climate change. They make caricatures out of the candidates, and I feel like that’s a problem in our media-dominated society.”
Junior nursing major Sophie Penwell, of Chatham
“I honestly think it’s kind of a joke. I can’t believe there is a man like Trump running for president and that the government is actually allowing something like that to happen.”
Sophomore biology major Cathleen Wood, of Edwardsville “I do not want to vote for Trump. I do not want to vote for a Clinton. I think they’re both really awful candidates. I think I’m going to throw my vote away and vote for a member of the third party.”
Sophomore childhood education major Beckie Scanlan, of Frankfort “I feel excited because it is my first election that I get to vote in. I think of the Constitution and our rights. I think we’re lucky that we’re even able to vote.”
Sophomore history major Jeff Kleinaitis, of Belleville
“I waited 18 years for the opportunity to vote and these are the two options that I got. I’m probably not going to vote.”