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alton — east st. louis — edwardsville
vol. LXIX no. XXV
INSURANCE IMPASSE
Lack of coverage affects faculty, staff morale
KIAH EARL Alestle Reporter
Ranked ninth on the list of the top ten reasons to work at SIUE, the promise of excellent employee benefits is falling short for some faculty and staff members. With negotiations between the state of Illinois and state workers’ unions at a stalemate, members of faculty and staff are left in a whirl of wage freezes, budget cuts and increasing health insurance coverage problems. Four years ago when mass communications assistant professor Mark Poepsel was hired, he said he was offered both Healthlink and Coventry health insurance packages. According to Poepsel, he was told to stay away
from Healthlink by other faculty members because of its bad reputation when it came to paying bills. Medical insurance associate professor at SIU School of Dental Medicine in Alton Jeannie Carpenter said she was recently rejected from long-term providers because of her current insurance coverage plan, Healthlink, which is one of the insurance options provided through the state to faculty and staff. Faculty and staff are presented with a contract package that includes health insurance coverage. This means that while some people are experiencing issues, they cannot opt out of their current coverage or stop payment on premiums. The only time one’s coverage can be changed is during
the open enrollment period that happens annually in May. However, changing coverage does not ensure payment nor cover backdated services. “We’re being rejected by our own providers,” Carpenter said. “My husband and I have been going to the same dentist for 15 years, and now we are concerned that we will have to either find another dentist or just neglect our dental care altogether.” To prevent having to wait on reimbursement from the state, health care providers like Carpenter’s dentist are now charging state employees upfront for services. This is forcing faculty and staff to either pay the full amount for services and wait for the state to reimburse them, or just not receive the services at all.
“In October of 2016, my husband was denied at CVS for a flu shot,” Carpenter said. “Not because we didn’t have the insurance, but because of the history the state has of not paying. CVS said they wouldn’t take the risk.” Carpenter has been working for the university for four years and said these issues are hurting staff morale. According to Carpenter, there are some staff members who are looking for other jobs with more reliable health insurance coverage. “People are worried,” Carpenter said. “[Illinois Gov. Bruce] Rauner is proposing that our premiums skyrocket. It could cost as much as $600 a month for my husband and I to have full medical coverage — and that’s almost an entire paycheck for me.”
According to English professor Charles Berger, the combination of wage freezes and outof-pocket medical expenses could eventually mean some faculty members begin looking at job opportunities outside of SIUE. Berger lives in St. Louis, and said he has not personally experienced any issues with health coverage through SIUE, but knows other faculty that live in-state who have. “The state of Illinois is behind in terms of reimbursing health care providers,” Berger said. “The providers are asking people to pay upfront for services and that can be a tremendous hardship for a younger professor or someone with young children.” INSURANCE | pg. 3
Students, admin collaborate in town hall meeting
TRENT STUART Alestle Reporter
In response to the student-led Unity Rally in November 2016, administrators, faculty and students gathered in the Morris University Center Conference Center Jan. 30, to discuss the concerns some SIUE students have had over the last few months and what the university can do to help. The meeting was open to the public for members of the SIUE community to come have conversations with administrators about ways the university can be a safe and inclusive place for all students. The event was organized by senior mass communications major and Sankofa Vice President D’Amonti Batton-Jackson, of Peoria, with the help of historical studies professor Jessica Harris. “The main takeaway is that students have a voice and have an important role to play in making inclusion a real part of our community,” Harris said. The administration used the meeting as a way to listen and interact with the students who have concerns. Batton-Jackson said he hopes to see some changes take place sooner rather than later. “Hopefully, some of the recommendations are put into action. That’s always the ultimate goal,” Batton-Jackson said. To make sure participants’ voices were heard, small groups of students and administrators sat at tables to discuss recommended solutions for six topics brought up in the meeting: sustained dialogue; student engagement; training and programming; recruitment and scholarships; recruiting and retaining faculty, staff and administration; and student success. Administrators engaged in conversation with students and wrote down the students’ opinions about the recommended solutions. After the topics were discussed at the tables, there was an opportunity for attendants to
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On-campus rape of St. Louis girl prompts police investigation CAITLIN LALLY Alestle Editor-in-Chief
choose from in Dining Services. Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Jeffrey Waple announced there have already been steps taken to make this a reality in the near future. Chancellor Randy Pembrook closed out the meeting by talking about what he has learned from the meeting. He left the attendants with one challenge: to be nicer to others. “If this group does that, we’ll take a step toward what I think everyone wants SIUE to be — a place where we appreciate each other and we learn from each other and we create an environment that is SIUE,” Pembrook said.
University Police are currently investigating the report of a rape that occurred Jan. 28, on the 500 side of Cougar Village. The victim, a 17-year-old female, and the two male suspects, a 19 year old and a 20 year old, all from St. Louis, were visiting a student’s apartment in Cougar Village when the assault took place, according to Police Chief Kevin Schmoll. None of the individuals involved have any affiliation with the university. University Police have spoken with both suspects and the victim, who was referred to Call For Help and transported to the St. Louis Children’s Hospital for a sexual assault forensic evidence kit test, Schmoll said. Under the Clery Act, higher education institutions are required to distribute notifications to the campus community in the case of an ongoing or serious threat to the campus community. However, by the time police received the report from a friend of the victim, Schmoll said officials knew the suspects were no longer on campus, and therefore determined there was no longer a continuing threat to SIUE. According to Schmoll, this is why students, faculty and staff did not receive a timely warning about the assault. University Police will present the case to the Madison County State’s Attorney upon finishing its investigation, Schmoll said.
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School of Nursing Dean Laura Bernaix listens to the table discussion during the town hall meeting Jan. 30, in the Morris University Center Conference Center. | Allison Gregory / Alestle
share their ideas with the entire group. On the topic of student engagement, senior political science major Reginald Hamilton, of Chicago, shared ideas about how University Housing can give students the opportunity to interact with people of different backgrounds. Hamilton said that he was assigned to room with three white students while in University Housing. Hamilton described himself as the “black sheep,” but said he grew close with his roommate and suitemates throughout the year. “They opened my mind to actually getting to know that not every Caucasian is out to get me, and they can actually relate to me too,” Hamilton said. Participants also weighed in on ways the university can main@thealestle
tain conversations similar to the ones discussed in the meeting for students across campus. Some possible solutions included building sustained dialogue into the already required courses or adding a cultural competency course as its own required class in the curriculum. Additionally, the group discussed how the university can better communicate their ideas and events to reach and impact more students and staff. Some students suggested the “required mailing list for SIUE students” emails are not enough. Their solutions included advertising these ideas through BlackBoard or utilizing the electronic bulletin boards around campus. Another topic that was discussed was giving students more halal and vegetarian options to @thealestle
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Administration responds to Trump’s executive order TRENT STUART Alestle Reporter President Donald Trump signed an executive order to suspend travel from seven Muslim-majority countries for the next 90 days. Inevitably, international students across campus have been concerned about their safety, and SIUE administration is promising to take the proper steps to communicate with the students who may be affected. Chancellor Randy Pembrook sent a statement about the executive order to the SIUE community Monday afternoon. In the email, he explained that the Office of International Affairs would be the primary contact for concerned international students. “SIUE is committed to maintaining a safe, secure and inclusive campus environment for all students, faculty and staff and does not discriminate against individuals based on their religion, ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation or place of origin,” Pembrook said in the statement. Pembrook also stated he is in contact with SIU President’s Office and legal counsel to establish the best way to help and support the campus community. In addition, a town hall meeting was held Monday night for students to voice their concerns and opinions to administrators. The immigration ban was a focus during part of the meeting. “We are working on it, and we are trying to make sure we understand the bottom line as it relates to how the policy is being implemented,” Pembrook said. Electrical engineering graduate student Zia Ansari, of New Delhi, India, directed questions at Pembrook on behalf of students on campus who are concerned about the new executive order. He said they are scared about what is going to happen as a result of the executive order and wanted answers about if the university is going to comply with the students. Ansari asked what Pembrook plans on doing in response to the order. Pembrook said the administration has been gathering the facts and is planning on hosting a focused Q&A session to communicate directly with those affected. “My commitment to you is that any time we have something like this come up, that we will be taking steps to talk to people, to try to assure people that this is a safe environment, that we are advocating for you because we want you here,” Pembrook said. In regard to faculty and staff concerns, they may contact the Office of the Provost for assistance and ongoing support at extension 3779.
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Denise Cobb first to present provost candidacy MIRANDA LINTZENICH Alestle Reporter SIUE administration is in the process of selecting a new provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. The prospective candidates include Denise Cobb, of SIUE; James E. Payne, of Bunting College of Business, Georgia College & State University; Scott R. Furlong, of University of Wisconsin Green Bay and James W. Ermatinger, of University of Illinois Springfield. Cobb presented her candidacy during an open forum at the Edwardsville campus Jan. 26. She currently serves as interim provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs as well as a sociology professor. Cobb identified three opportunities she would offer the university and the role of the pro-
“
them to each other. I can help connect them to projects that they care about. I can help move things forward.” Cobb said she feels as if her experiences of being a first-generation college student, making SIUE her home for 13 years and as someone who was shaped by SIUE make her a good candidate for the position. Sociology professor Connie Frey-Spurlock seems to agree. “I do think she is a good fit,” Frey-Spurlock said. “I know that she is committed to the diversity and inclusion, and that is critical in serving our community. She has a lot of knowledge about the campus and does a good job of connecting people with like minds or similar interests.” The provost oversees academic strategic planning and eval-
I can help connect them to each other. I can help connect them to projects they care about. I can help move things forward.
DENISE COBB
Interim Provost, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs vost. “I want one thing to be clear,” Cobb said. “As I go through occasionally I’ll talk about things we have accomplished. Know that I recognize that the provost or I haven’t accomplished those by themself. We can only do those things together. We create things together. We execute those things together.” Cobb also said she feels like she can connect people to each other and shares the same values as SIUE. “I walk across campus and I know people, I know their story,” Cobb said. “I can help connect
uation on campus, as well as budget administration of over $81 million in academic and support units, $35 million in externally sponsored projects and over $147 million in student aid. “I was pleased to hear her focus on a liberal arts focus — I appreciated that,” associate English professor Brian Henderson said. “I also appreciated that in many different ways, she wants to be a facilitator and support for faculty initiatives. It encourages me to think of the different research or different kinds of programs or initiatives under Dr. Cobb.” The provost also works close-
Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Denise Cobb, of New Orleans, presents her candidacy for provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs Jan. 26, in the Morris University Center. | Sam Kitchen / Alestle
ly with the East St. Louis Center director, leads in academic planning, new program development, assessment, faculty development and institutional research, among other things. According to the provost search committee, the provost is a highly visible embodiment of the institution’s culture of cooperation and collaboration between academic and non-academic units. They are looking for someone that will provide a strong, visionary leadership while working collaboratively and transparently within a shared governance environment. The Provost Search Com-
mittee was lead by a number of professors, SIUE department directors, advisers and other administration staff. The next provost candidacy open forum will be held by Payne at 11 a.m.-12 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 2 in the Mississippi-Illinois Room. He is also scheduled at 8 a.m.-9 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 3 in Room 280 of the School of Dental Medicine Building in Alton and then 10-11 a.m. at the East St. Louis Center. Contact MIRANDA LINTZENICH Call 650-3527 Tweet @mlintz_alestle Email mlintzenich@alestlelive.com
New organizations start to take shape TRENT STUART Alestle Reporter
At Friday’s Student Organization Advisory Board meeting, four organizations were voted to become part of SIUE’s over 250 student organizations. Members from each organization – Make-AWish, the Chinese Student Association, G.I.R.L. and Phi Alpha Theta – attended the Student Organization Advisory Board meeting to discuss their organizations and constitutions with the board members. All four were recommended by acclimation. During the meeting, the spokespersons from the potential organizations talked about the main goals and initiatives for how they will provide for the community. They also reviewed the constitutions, and Student Organization Advisory Board members asked questions about specific aspects of each organization. After gaining recommendation from the Srudent Advisory Board, the next step is for the Student Government Senate to approve each organization. Once the groups are recognized as official organizations, they will begin to function independently.
One of the organizations, Make-A-Wish, is a national program that grants wishes for children who have life-threatening conditions. It was formerly a philanthropy through the Greek Council, but it is now becoming its own student organization. “Make-A-Wish is going to impact the campus greatly once more people find out about it. A lot of people are unaware that it has come to SIUE, but I think that when it’s more advertised students will become more involved with it and it will continue to grow,” sophomore mass communications major and Make-A-Wish executive board member Mollie Thompson, of Centralia, said. Thompson said the program may also remind students of how to be thankful for what they have. Similar to Make-A-Wish, the Chinese Student Association and Phi Alpha Theta have also been associated with SIUE before. However, both programs have been inactive until now. Phi Alpha Theta is a history honor society being revived. Historical studies graduate student and Phi Alpha Theta President Nichol Allen, of Belleville, said she hopes the organization will not only teach students about the past in a fun and relevant way, but also develop a community of relationships
between its members and other students, faculty, and the surrounding community. “We aim and strive to be a group of student leaders that can provide guidance and support to other students on various different platforms,” Allen said. The Chinese Student Association also reintroduced their organization at the meeting. Before this semester, its inactivity was due to a lack of members, however organizers believe there are enough people interested to regain the title of a recognized organization. According to freshman marketing major Haoran Zhang, or China, the organization will provide the campus with more information about Chinese culture that may not have been talked about before. The newest organization to take part in the meeting, G.I.R.L., was started by sophomore mass communications major DeJanee Callahan, of Chicago. Callahan said G.I.R.L. stands for “Gorgeous, Intelligent/Intuitive, Remarkable, Life.” “My organization is going to add a fresh space on campus for women to express themselves and evolve into the best versions of themselves,” Callahan said. She said the organization’s main goals are to inform, empower and unite women.
Organization Relations Officer Chase Tiffany speaks at SOAB meeting. | Sam Kitchen / Alestle
The next Student Organization Advisory Board meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 13 in the MUC Board Room.
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INSURANCE IMPASSE
Faculty, staff express frustrations with health coverage in Illinois INSURANCE | from pg. 1
Poepsel has a 4-year-old son and said his son’s pediatrician told him she would keep seeing his son for his annual checkups once a year, but informed him that she would most likely never be paid for any of the visits. “She continues to see my son out of the kindness of her heart,” Poepsel said. According to Poepsel, his son’s pediatrician’s office said the doctor could no longer administer vaccinations to his son because the state is refusing to pay for them. “The state doesn’t want to reimburse for the vaccinations and is telling the doctor that she would be in breach of contract if she gave them out,” Poepsel said. “They just don’t want to pay anymore.” The state has not officially declared to doctors that they aren’t covering the vaccinations, but rather, the state is refusing to pay for the vaccinations when they are billed, according to Poepsel. Poepsel said he took his son to the Madison County Health Department in Alton expecting to pay out-of-pocket for the required vaccinations but was told that Coventry, his insurance provider through the state, could be billed for the services, so Poepsel ended up not paying anything. While Poepsel was not required to pay upfront for those services as well as other services his son has since received, he said the thought of receiving a bill in the mail is still looming. Applied communications studies professor Eric Wrobbel said he is also experiencing the
same issues with health coverage ment isn’t received, turning that her and her family, which would for his 17-year-old special needs bill over to the individual. leave both her and her husband daughter. Carpenter said she fears staff uninsured. Wrobbel has regularly sched- members will begin to neglect “People are scared to death uled checkups for his daughter their personal health if they can- that something catastrophic is at the Down Syndrome Clinic at not afford to pay upfront for the going to happen and their insurthe St. Louis Children’s Hospital coverage. According to Carpenter, ance won’t be there to pay for it,” and was recently told she could the state is supposed to reimburse Poepsel said. no longer be seen unless Wrobbel for upfront coverage costs, but she Berger says SIUE is not to paid upfront for services because has not been provided with the in- blame for the health coverage isthe clinic could no longer accept formation outlining the steps to sues, but they could be doing a his insurance. better job of providAccording to ing faculty with ways Wrobbel, university to earn extra income officials, including in case of emergency Chancellor Randy situations. Pembrook, reached “There’s a defiout to BJC Healthnite feeling of anger careand got the clinic directed at the state,” to agree to reschedBerger said. “In my ule Wrobbel’s daughopinion, SIUE could ter for her visit. do more to make “On one hand, sure that faculty are I can only say great receiving additional things about SIUE,” forms of compensaWrobbel said. “The tion like we used to.” state, on the other In the past, hand, has completely SIUE has offered screwed us over.” numerous summer In addition, course options for Wrobbel also has students to take and, JEANNIE CARPENTER been seeing a chiroin turn, for faculty to Associate professor, SIU School of Dental Medicine teach. These courspractor for a back injury that happened es provided faculty two years ago, and said he knows do so. with ways to make extra money for all of 2016 and 2017, his “I don’t think it’s fair. I’m throughout the year and create fidoctor has not received any pay- working every day just to get my nancial safety nets. However, the ment from the state for any of his check and have all this money tak- number of summer courses has bi-weekly visits. en out for health coverage when plummeted and fewer professors “We’re in the dark; the state I’m not being covered,” Carpenter have the opportunity to make that hasn’t told us what is going on, said. “I’m accumulating medical extra money. when it will get better, or what bills and checking my credit week“For people who live in Ilwere supposed to do in the mean- ly to make sure I don’t owe on a linois, there are a lot of stories time for health coverage,” Car- bill that I thought was covered about serious out-of-pocket expenter said. and wasn’t.” penditures,” Berger said. “There According to Wrobbel, some According to Carpenter, if the have been no pay raises for three doctors are sending bills to the premiums go up, the insurance years, and teaching opportunities state and then after a while if pay- will no longer be affordable for for summer term have been lim-
“
We’re in the dark — the state hasn’t told us what’s going on, when it will get better or what we’re supposed to do in the meantime for health coverage.
ited, which in the past has been something for faculty to count on.” The state pays public universities on the basis of enrollment and when the state lacks the money to provide these funds, schools have to find alternative ways to manage. In the past, budget cuts have affected program offerings, scholarship and grant funding for students, caused budget cuts among departments, layoffs and wage freezes. “I fear for what’s to come for us,” Carpenter said. “I feel degraded. I feel disrespected. At this point, I’m expecting the worst as we move forward.” According to Wrobbel, several newer faculty members are looking for other employment opportunities outside of the state because of pay, funding and health insurance. “Keeping people is becoming more difficult and attracting new ones is also becoming more difficult,” Wrobbel said. “Everything that administration can do, they’ve been doing. I am very appreciative for Dr. Pembrook and [former Interim Chancellor Stephen] Hansen for holding the university together.” Gov. Rauner’s office in Springfield and Chicago were contacted via phone and email Jan. 27, for comment and have yet to respond as of Feb. 1.
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Counseling Services addresses increase in demand TRENT STUART Alestle Reporter
Over the past couple of years, Counseling Services has noticed an increase in demand for its services. To help deal with the demand, it has a 10-session limit in place and can sometimes refer students to other counselors in the area after finding out the individual’s needs in their initial appointment. Although the 10-session limit cuts down how much an individual can utilize SIUE’s Counseling Services, according to Director James Linsin, the average number of sessions students attend nationwide is between five and seven, regardless of whether there is a session limit in place or not. “[The session limit] is in response to the fact that we were getting pretty long waiting lists before. We wanted to make sure that [long wait lists] didn’t happen and that we were able to see clients in a timely manner and serve as many students as possible,” Linsin said.
According to Linsin, the session limit has definitely helped with the waiting list. He said in the last year and a half, the longest someone has had to wait for a first appointment was around two weeks. Counseling Services also refers students to other mental health centers in the area. According to Linsin, the counselors review each case individually, and if they believe it is in the best interest of the individual, he or she may have to go to another center to get more specialized treatment. “For some clients, they would really benefit from starting in an agency that allows for longer-term counseling as opposed to starting here, opening up about their concerns, and then getting a referral after the 10 sessions,” Linsin said. In order to look at cases individually, every student who sets up an appointment must first go through an intake session. Each intake session is 30 minutes, and it addresses the general concerns of the individual. Every
Friday morning, the counselors will present each intake session they took part in during the week, and the clinical team – made up of the other counselors – decides what would be best for each client’s situation. The options after the intake sessions include individual counseling, group counseling or counseling at an agency outside of SIUE. Linsin said more often than not, they decide students should continue their treatment at Counseling Services, whether it be through group or individual counseling. Freshman speech pathology major Isabella Sopkin, of Pleasant Plains, was referred to individual counseling after her intake session. “I honestly was so nervous to go to counseling because I was scared I’d be judged for needing help. Once I got to counseling, I felt so welcomed and comfortable though. The whole atmosphere makes you feel like you can speak without any fear of judgement,” Sopkin said.
If the clinical team decides the individual should be referred to another agency it has potential to cost more for the person. However, according to Linsin, that may not always be the case. He said there are some mental health centers that offer services free of charge for certain clients and issues. Regardless, the individual’s entire situation is taken into consideration when deciding what is best for the client. “Even with the referral process, we personalize that and work with that in the referral. If there’s questions or concerns or there’s factors that would make a referral out very difficult for that person, we definitely keep that in mind,” Linsin said. Freshman applied communications studies major Bethany Throgmorton, of Marion, has attended two sessions at Counseling Services and said it has really helped her so far. “It’s cathartic to be able to talk about what’s going on in your life, even if you don’t feel
like there are a lot of things going wrong,” Throgmorton said. Throgmorton said she plans on going to Counseling Services until she is comfortable enough to cope on her own or until she has used all of her sessions. “I do understand the concern of being able to see more patients more quickly. There are only so many counselors, and they want to help as many patients as they can,” Throgmorton said. By uses these different strategies, Counseling Services has been able to make their system run more efficiently, which in turn, can make the process faster and better for the students in need. “Our main priority is serving the students by giving them the help that they need and delivering it in as timely fashion as possible,” Linsin said. Contact TRENT STUART Call 650-3527 Tweet @tstuart_alestle Email tsuart@alestlelive.com
Sciences gather in celebration of Darwin’s birthday MIRANDA LINTZENICH Alestle Reporter
Around 400 students attended the fourth annual Darwin Day Jan. 30, which consisted of the second annual Ralph W. Axtell lecture series, a book signing followed by and a reception. “Darwin Day is an international celebration of the birthday of Charles Darwin,” Christopher Theodorakis, planning committee chair and environmental science professor, said. “Darwin’s birthday is
actually Feb. 12, but our speaker couldn’t make it that day, so we decided to celebrate [on Jan. 30]. Charles Darwin would be 208 years old.” Robert D. Martin, author of “How We Do It: The Evolution and Future of Human Reproduction,” discussed sperm counts, the “fertile window,” pregnancy and immunity and the effects of the chemical compound Bisphenol A. Psychology department chair and professor Paul Rose said he enjoyed the blend of science and other ideas.
“I really enjoyed the nice balance between basic science and applications that can improve human health,” Rose said. Chaya Gopalan, primary care and health systems associate professor said she is as passionate about the harmful agent BPA as Martin and learned a lot of new information from the lecture. “I learned that [the hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin,] is behind morning sickness and that correlation was interesting to see. That is the first hormone made during pregnancy,” Gopalan said. “The second thing
that stood out to me was that the sperm count decreases. That caught my eye.” Gopalan said she always knew sperm was transported by contractions and active transport, but the idea that sperm tails play a minimal part in movement and conception surprised her. Senior biology major Ashley Padilla, of Springfield, said she enjoyed Martin’s ending notes on the effects and immensity of BPA usage in the United States. “I enjoyed the lecture probably most towards the end,” Padilla said. “I had no idea how
prevalent BPA was. I knew that it was in plastic, but I didn’t know that it was used in tin cans and water pipes. It just hit me hard because I didn’t know or realize.” Martin said he wanted not only to educate people based on his research regarding the topics, but also to show how his research could potentially play a part medicinally. Contact MIRANDA LINTZENICH Call 650-3527 Tweet @mlintz_alestle Email mlintz@alestlelive.com
01.28.17 An officer responded to 501 Cougar Village for an active fire alarm. University Housing was notified. After the officer restored the alarm, it went into trouble status. The alarm was then left in trouble status. University Housing will contact an engineer. There was no smoke, fire or damage. An officer issued a written warning for speeding 59 mph in a 45 mph zone on South University Drive at Stadium Drive. An officer issued a written warning for expired registration on East University Drive. An officer issued a written warning for improper display of registration on South University Drive at P2 Road. An officer issued a written warning for expired registration on North University Drive at P2 Road. An officer issued a state citation to Gustavo Melendez-Diaz for speeding 63 mph in a 45 mph zone and driving an uninsured motor vehicle on New Poag Road at Old Poag Road. A state citation was issued to Louis C. Grote for expired registration on North University Drive at the kiosk. Sauget PD advised they were detaining Trevian D. McCullough (22 years old, 11719 Larimore Road, St. Louis) on an active SIUE PD warrant for aggravated domestic battery and unlawful restraint. An SIUE officer responded to Sauget PD, took custody of McCullough and transported him to the SIUE PD where he was fingerprinted, photographed and processed. McCullough was unable to post bond and was transported to Madison County Jail at 6:33 a.m.
01.29.17 An officer issued a written warning for failure to signal on Circle Drive at Whiteside Road. An officer issued a written warning for improper lighting for one headlight on North University Drive at Hairpin Drive. An officer issued a state citation to Jennifer E. Dowd for expired registration on East University Drive. A subject reported a criminal sexual assault that occured on Jan. 28, on the 500 side of Cougar Village. An officer issued a written warning for speeding 59 mph in a 45 mph zone at Stadium Drive at Whiteside Road.
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An officer issued a state citation to Kristina L. Ware for driving an uninsured motor vehicle and a written warning was issued for disobeying a stop sign at South Circle Drive at Evergreen Hall. An officer responded to the Gardens for report of smoke in the area. The officer searched the vicinity and could not locate anything. An officer issued a state citation to Michael Amoah for speeding and driving an uninsured motor vehicle on Northwest University Drive at Circle Drive. An officer issued a state citation to Taylor Sallis for speeding on South University Drive at P1 Road.
01.30.17 An officer responded to 531 Cougar Village for an active fire alarm. University Housing was notified. The alarm was activated by an unknown cause and needed to be reset multiple times. University Housing called out for an engineer. There was no smoke, fire or damage. An officer issued a written warning for speeding 56 mph in a 45 mph zone on Stadium Drive. An officer picked up a found MacBook computer from the information desk. The officer located the student and returned the computer. An officer responded to an active fire alarm at 428 Cougar Village. University Housing was notified. The alarm was deactivated by maintenance and was reset. There was no fire, smoke or damage. An officer issued a written warning speeding 37 mph in a 25 mph zone on South University Drive at University Park Drive. An officer took report of a minor traffic accident that occured between Illinois registered vehicle TMEC98 and Illinois registered vehicle 1972363 at P1 Road and North University Drive around 9:00 a.m. An officer issued a written warning for speeding 40 mph in a 25 mph zone on South University Drive at University Park Drive. Officers responded to Center Court in the Morris University Center for theft of food. A cashier reported that the theft occured at approximately 12:10 p.m. and described the suspect as a black male, wearing a red cap, black backpack and a blue jacket. An officer took report of a missing phone. When checked, the phone was ringing in the Science Building on campus. The phone was located and was returned.
Trump continues to cause controversey in his executive order on immigration that will suspend refugee resettlement and entry into the U.S. of people from several countries. | Andrew Harrer/Pool/Sipa USA/TNS
Conservatives scold GOP Congress for wavering on Trump immigration order KATIE GLUECK
McClatchy Washington Bureau
Republicans in Congress might be searching for ways to distance themselves from President Donald Trump’s immigration order without disavowing his tough talk on security, but conservative activists from South Carolina to Florida to Texas have no patience for such nuance. “This was not some surprise,” Glenn McCall, the Republican national committeeman from South Carolina said. “He campaigned on this. This is something, overwhelmingly, I would say, the folks in the state supported.” Indeed, the White House’s executive order ‚ — signed late Friday afternoon to restrict immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries for several months and to bar refugees for even longer — is exactly in line with what candidate Trump promised. It was condemned worldwide over the weekend, as television networks provided blanket coverage of protests at airports in major American cities, and some individuals — including people who work with the U.S. military overseas — were stuck in limbo as officials tried to parse the executive order and a court’s stay. Meanwhile, members of Congress — not to mention several of Trump’s own selections for Cabinet positions — were caught off guard by the order, which has since been lambasted by Democrats and some Republicans as being excessively broad. But Republican activists are now circling the wagons, excusing Trump for the confusion and lashing out at lawmakers who, in their view, were too quick to criticize. It’s the latest evidence that the post-campaign GOP base is firmly in Trump’s corner, and has little appetite for any questioning of his authority early on in his White House tenure, especially by members of his own party. That attitude among activists helps explain why some Republican lawmakers have kept their heads down; even relatively gentle criticism of Trump, especially on a national security
or immigration issue, can be politically perilous back home. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., waited until Sunday night to weigh in, offering a joint statement with Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., in which the pair expressed uneasiness about the order and said they had further questions. It was a more mild statement than other lawmakers offered and came two days after the order was signed — but it still didn’t sit well with some activists back home. “I just wish he had taken a breath and read the text,” Hillsborough County, Fla., GOP Chair Deborah Tamargo said of Rubio. “Donald Trump campaigned on extreme vetting. The majority of people that voted for him give you two reasons: One was safety, the other was the economic piece, but the safety piece, by and large, the majority of people are very happy he’s taken steps to safeguard our safety,” Tamargo said. A Rubio spokesman did not offer comment when asked, though Rubio said Monday that, as constituents raised concerns, he was continuing to have a difficult time getting specific answers about the order from the State Department, a remark Foggy Bottom denies. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., has been more pointed in his criticism of the executive order, releasing a joint statement with Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., in which the pair laid out extensive concerns. The two relatively centrist Republican senators have emerged as among the most willing officials in the GOP to break with Trump — and in South Carolina, activists are steamed, McCall said. “They’re really upset, and would like for him to give the president and his team a little more leeway,” McCall said, noting that the administration has sought to correct for one of Graham’s concerns, tied to green card holders — though that was not the senator’s only issue with the executive order. “What I’m hearing is people are very supportive of it,” McCall said of the executive order. “They’re really behind the president and his team as it relates to it. This is just one of a number of reasons they supported and voted for President Trump.”
Asked for comment, Kevin Bishop, Graham’s communications director, offered an example of an individual caught up in the executive order that hits close to home. Nazanin Zinouri, a graduate of a Ph.D. program at South Carolina’s Clemson University, has not been able to re-enter the United States after visiting family in Iran because of the stringent travel ban. Graham has been working to help her, he tweeted Monday. But many Republican activists stress that the ban is temporary — even though its time frame, especially for refugees, is unclear _ and they are inclined to dismiss much of the reporting on the backlash as more media overkill. “I bet it strikes a lot of Texas Republicans, and Texans generally, as a lot of hysteria over issues that were already debated and largely determined by the outcome of the election,” Ray Sullivan, a veteran Texas Republican operative said. “Trump campaigned, and arguably won the election, based on his border and immigration positions, as well as a more populist economic message. Voters in general, and certainly Texas Republican voters, fully expect him to do what he said he would do on the campaign trail.” The vast majority of the Texas Republican delegation is backing up the executive order — though a number, including House Homeland Security Chair Michael McCaul, R-Texas, have called for adjustments (only one Republican member from Texas, Rep. Will Hurd, has fully disavowed it so far, and he comes from a battleground district, a rarity in deep-red Texas). Sullivan noted that on the whole, there have not been many Texas GOP voices willing to go as far as Graham and McCain in breaking with Trump ‚ — “and I doubt there will be anytime soon,” Sullivan said. “Texas Republicans, if not fully supportive of the Trump administration, are willing to give him a lot of leeway to fulfill his campaign pledges and continue to build his administration and his governing style,” Sullivan said. READ MORE WIRE STORIES AT ALESTLELIVE.COM
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lifestyles alestlelive.com
contact the editor: lifestyles@alestlelive.com 650-3527 thursday, 02.02.17
The minimalist movement: students adopt lifestyles of simplicity MIRANDA LINTZENICH Alestle Reporter The minimalist lifestyle seems to be on a trending rampage, and SIUE students are taking part. SIUE alumna Dana Wynn, of Edwardsville, wants people to realize they don’t have to have a lot of things to have a satisfying life and a high happiness level. “I realized if you consume as much as the average consumer, there is too much waste, and those are problems I’m trying to solve through individual projects,” Wynn said. Wynn said she was inspired by the book “The Plastic Purge” and has since cut down on junk and processed foods, paper usage and went six years without a phone. She has since gotten a smartphone which she uses for work. Senior international business major Alexis Schad, of Shiloh, said minimalism is really looking at the things in one’s life and asking what is necessary. “Part of it is that I think there is a notion in the U.S. that what you have is equal to your worth, and I don’t buy into that,” Schad said. “It’s hard to be a minimalist because I tend to be a collector, but I’m trying to get away from that. I do go through my apartment once a year to get rid of everything.” Schad said minimalism can be beneficial because it helps the environment by allowing for more space, but getting rid of sentimental items is the hardest part for her. “In my dreams, I would love to be off the grid. In actuality, I don’t think I have the personality for it,” Schad said. “Minimalism is classist. People who have money don’t generally get rid of their belongings. You have to change your mindset.” Student Government External Affairs Officer and senior accounting major
Carmen Connors poses with “Lucky,” the schoolbus she and her boyfriend are converting into a tiny house. | Photo courtesy of Carmen Connors
Carmen Connors, of Freeburg, has been working on a minimalist project since December with her boyfriend. The pair is converting an old 1969 International Loadstar 1800 school bus, named Lucky, into a tiny house. “The first question everyone asks when they hear we are building a tiny bus house is, ‘where did you find the bus?’” Connors said. “I actually inherited
Lucky from my collector grandpa. Grandpa bought the bus some 20 years ago ... About three years ago he decided to scrap it but wanted to wait until the price of metal went up. Lucky for us, it never did, so when he passed a year and a half ago, the bus was still parked behind a shed.” Connors now has a bus, a dream and some time on her hands to begin the process of building her new home.
Connors and her boyfriend have been gutting the bus, buying spare parts from junkyards, cutting off an old van’s hardtop to raise their roof and creating blueprints. According to Connors, the bus itself has quite a few quirks in comparison to other buses that get converted to tiny houses. “Our bus has been sitting outside behind a shed for the last three or so years, and at different times has been home to some woodland creatures,” Connors said. “We discovered raccoon prints across the seats, many an old corn cob under the seats and a few turtle shells as part of the current decor. There were also a few knick knacks such as a John Deere golf club, random pieces of metal and old farm equipment.” Connors and her boyfriend have started to measure out a tentative floor plan with the idea to keep it as simple as possible. She said she is willing to make sacrifices for her dreams to work out. “We don’t want a house that is filled to the brim, but rather one where we can stretch out and feel comfortable. I’ve been very conscious about trying to stay decluttered in the last few years, but I will admit I am currently adapted to a normal-sized closet. My biggest fear about downsizing is not having the space for my professional work wardrobe,” Connors said. In the meantime, Connors started something similar to Project 333 as a New Year’s resolution to strive to have a wardrobe of only 33 pieces for three months to push her limits. Connors said she hasn’t strictly counted the number of items in her closet, but has limited the amount to what she uses constantly. Contact MIRANDA LINTZENICH Call 650-3527 Tweet @mlintz_alestle Email mlintzenich@alestlelive.com
Hip-hop archive set to arrive at Harvard University KENDRA MARTIN Alestle Managing Editor Hip-hop has come a long way. What was once strictly for urban youth is now a global phenomenon. I remember hearing
stories from the ‘70s and ‘80s when people thought rap was simply a fad that would fade away. Forty years later, hip-hop is more than alive and continues to influence and shape popular culture today. The hip-hop culture has recently made its way to Harvard University thanks to
Record producer 9th Wonder performs at the Paid Dues hip-hop festival at the Nokia Theater in New York City in 2008. | Photo via WikiMedia Commons
record producer 9th Wonder. The former member of hip-hop group Little Brother is now helping to develop a hip-hop archive to encourage the pursuit of knowledge, art, culture and responsible leadership through the genre, according to Hip-Hop Archive. 9th Wonder chose four albums to be included in the archive: Nas’ “Illmatic,” Lauryn Hill’s “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,” A Tribe Called Quest’s “The Low End Theory” and Kendrick Lamar’s “To Pimp a Butterfly.” This hip-hop archive continues to show how far hip-hop as a culture has come, from smaller events like Migos shooting to number one on the Billboard Charts after being thanked by Donald Glover (aka Childish Gambino) during his Golden Globes acceptance speech to hiphop being recognized by an Ivy League institution. In an Instagram post, 9th Wonder wrote, “These are the first four we chose to start with to live for forever in the Harvard Library … and to be forever placed in the canon … complete with liner notes and the vinyl that was used in the production of the album.” I think this is an incredible idea because
hip-hop has so many elements to it people, including myself, have yet to uncover. If I chose my own archive, it would include Blu & Exile’s “Below the Heavens,” Nas’ “Illmatic,” Lupe Fiasco’s “Food & Liquor” and A Tribe Called Quest’s “The Low End Theory.” I would choose all of these for different reasons, and biased reasons at that, but it’s interesting to explore what albums to pick. I think it is great that hip-hop naysayers are finally being proven wrong because as mentioned before, many thought it was simply a fad, but just like any other genre, hip-hop has continued to change with the times. It has developed its own sub genres, from trap, drill, alternative and gangster, among many other distinguishable sounds. As a proud hip-hop fan, this makes me happy that we are finally getting recognition as a solidified genre and culture. For more information on the hip-hop archive, follow @TheHipHopArchive on Instagram and visit its official website. Contact KENDRA MARTIN Call 650-3527 Tweet @kmartin_alestle Email kmartin@alestlelive.com
thursday, 02.02.17
Fall in love with Februrary Thursday, Feb. 2 “Blueprint for Black Empowerment“ hosted by Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. 4:30 p.m., Morris University Center Conference Center Alpha Kappa Lambda Cutest Couple $ 6 - 9 p.m., Meridian Ballroom
Saturday, Feb. 4 Black Theater Workshop 7:30 - 10 p.m., Metcalf Theater
Monday, Feb. 6 Student Experimental Theater Organization One Act Festival 6 - 10 p.m., Metcalf Theater
Wednesday, Feb. 8 Red Cross blood drive 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., MUC Mississippi/Illinois Room CAB: “Hip-Hop at the Goshen: Name that Tune” 11 a.m., Goshen Lounge Ebony and Ivory Step Show $ 6:30 - 11 p.m., Meridian Ballroom SETO One Act Festival 7:30 - 10 p.m., Metcalf Theater
Saturday, Feb. 11 CAB: Cougar Kids Saturday 2 - 6 p.m., MUC University Club
Monday, Feb. 13 CAB: “Uplifting the Vision” craft 11 a.m. - 12 p.m., Goshen Lounge Career Development Center Cougar Career Closet 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., MUC Hickory/Hackberry Room
Wednesday, Feb. 15 CAB: “Laughing off the Pain: Comedy Show” 7 p.m., Meridian Ballroom Department of Theater and Dance presents: “Five Women Wearing the Same Dress” 7:30 - 9:30 p.m., Dunham Hall Theater
Friday, Feb. 17 15th Annual Parti Gras 7 - 10 p.m., Student Fitness Center Full Gym “Five Women Wearing the Same Dress” 7:30 - 9:30 p.m., Dunham Hall Theater
Sunday, Feb. 19 Black History Month film series: “Beasts of the Southern Wild” $ 1 p.m., St. Louis Art Museum “Five Women Wearing the Same Dress” 2 - 4 p.m., Dunham Hall Theater
Tuesday, Feb. 21 Graduate Student Social Work Association bake sale $ 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Peck Hall lobby Goshen Showcase 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., Goshen Lounge Jazz band concert 8 - 10 p.m., Dunham Hall theater
Thursday, Feb. 23 CAB: “Speakout: Lift Every Voice” 6 p.m., MUC Oak Redbud Room Student Dance Concert 6 - 10 p.m., Metcalf Theater
Saturday, Feb. 25 Africa Night 6 - 9 p.m., Meridian Ballroom Student Dance Concert 6 - 10 p.m., Metcalf Theater
$= cost to attend
events
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alestlelive.com
Friday, Feb. 3 Campus Activities Board Escape Rooms 6 - 9 p.m., MUC Conference Room CAB: “Black Film and Theatre Symposium” 7 p.m., Meridian Ballroom Black Theater Workshop 7:30 - 10 p.m., Metcalf Theater
Sunday, Feb. 5 Black History Month film series: “Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child” $ 1 p.m., St. Louis Art Museum Black Theater Workshop 2 - 4 p.m., Metcalf Theater
Tuesday, Feb. 7
Career Development Center mock networking 5:30 - 7p.m., MUC Maple, Dogwood, Oak and Redbud Rooms “Black History Game Show” hosted by Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. 5 - 9 p.m., Mississippi/Illinois Room SETO One Act Festival 6 - 10 p.m., Metcalf Theater Alestle Scrabble Night 6:30 p.m., Goshen Lounge
Thursday, Feb. 9
Red Cross blood drive 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Stratton Quadrangle CAB: “Taste of Culture: Africa” 11 a.m., Goshen Lounge “Fed Talk” hosted by National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs 6 p.m., Student Success Center 1203 SETO One Act Festival 7:30 - 10 p.m., Metcalf Theater
Sunday, Feb. 12
Black History Month film series: “A Ballerina’s Tale” $ 1 p.m., St. Louis Art Museum
Tuesday, Feb. 14 CAB: I Love SIUE! 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., Goshen Lounge CAB presents: “La La Land” 6:30 - 9 p.m., Meridian Ballroom
Thursday, Feb. 16 “Five Women Wearing the Same Dress” 7:30 - 9:30 p.m., Dunham Hall Theater Late Night at the MUC: Cougar Painting Studio 8:30 - 11 p.m., Goshen Lounge
Saturday, Feb. 18 Dance Marathon $ 12 p.m. - 12 a.m., Meridian Ballroom “Five Women Wearing the Same Dress” 7:30 - 9:30 p.m., Dunham Hall Theater
Monday, Feb. 20 CAB: “Black Art Showcase” 6 - 9:30 p.m., Meridian Ballroom University Dance Organization presents: Student Dance Concert 6 - 10 p.m., Metcalf Theater
Wednesday, Feb. 22 Student Dance Concert 6 - 10 p.m., Metcalf Theater CAB Just 4 Laughs 6:30 - 9:30 p.m., Meridian Ballroom
Friday, Feb. 24 CAB: Hungry Hungry Humans 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Goshen Lounge CAB: “Umoja: Black Business Expo” 3 - 10:30 p.m., Goshen Lounge Student Dance Concert 6 - 10 p.m., Metcalf Theater
Tuesday, Feb. 28
CAB: “Remembering Black Heritage” closing ceremony 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., Goshen Lounge Education career fair 3 - 6 p.m., MUC Conference Center Choir concert 7:30 - 9:30 p.m., Dunham Hall Theater
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opinion
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thursday, 02.02.17
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Music brings us together | Illustration by Nicolle Patton / Alestle
In a world where so many things are tearing us apart, a love for music seems to continue to bring people together no matter their race, gender or sexuality. The Alestle believes music is used by many artists as a tool for unification by breaking down barriers that otherwise separate people.
ALESTLE STAFF EDITORIAL Music is one of the first things our brains are programmed to respond to, and has always been something humans turn to for comfort. Music preceded language through drumming and rhythmic patterns and seems to follow us everywhere we go in life, from lullabies to funerals. Looking back on the highs and lows in one’s life, there is typically a song associated with that feeling or time. Music has the ability to stimulate human memory, not only to create a memory,
but also remind us of an old one. Artists like Migos, Beyoncé, J. Cole and Bruno Mars are creating spaces for people to gather judgment-free and enjoy themselves. Through their music, Migos bring hundreds and sometimes thousands of people together that otherwise would never find anything to relate to. After being thanked by Donald Glover, aka Childish Gambino, during rheir Golden Globes acceptance speech, Migos discovered a new level of stardom that expanded them out of the hood and into suburban America. Exposure to different genres of music is not only enjoyable, but can also be used as a tool for education. Cultures express themselves differently through the music they listen to, sing along with and perform. Music serves as a tool for people to define themselves and their culture, and it allows people to express themselves through
performance or even simply through listening. Performing and listening to music is a great opportunity for people to learn about one another and experience different cultures firsthand. With so many things to be upset about, music helps people have something they can always depend on for warmth and comfort on bad days. Music will forever be a social experience that allows us to get together and enjoy catchy lyrics and beats with others no matter who they are. Music can also connect people through sharing certain songs. For example, some people use Spotify to share playlists and follow each other. Music not only affects those who listen to it, but also the artists who create it, allowing them to expresses their emotions openly to the public. Whether you are a music enthusiast or not, the best way to express your feelings of anger, love, passion and happiness is through music.
Since music is therapeutic, put on some headphones and enjoy. Take the inspiration from the artists and their lyrics and use it positively in your own life, whether that means uplifting yourself or encouraging a fellow student. And while you’re at it, try branching out and listening to a different genre every once in a while. You not only might find a favorite new artist or song, but also be exposed to a new perspective on life and society. In these trying times, supporting one another and attempting to understand one another is vital to moving forward. Music is one of the simplest and most beautiful ways to do this. In the words of Troy Bolton and the East High Wildcats, “We’re all in this together.” So let’s make the most of it. READ MORE STAFF EDITORIALS AT ALESTLELIVE.COM.
Men: You are more than a gender role One thing many people overlook when they think of the feminist movement is that the movement is not only beneficial to women, but also men and everyone in between. The goal of modern feminism is equality for all, no matter one’s sex, gender, race, sexuality or other differences. Since feminism is for all, it aids in allowing men to be freed from harmful societal expectations as well.
TAYLOR FLEIG Alestle Reporter If more men realized how feminism could benefit them, they could take advantage of how the movement assists not only the women in their lives, but also themselves. Masculinity today has a strict definition that must
be followed in order to live up to societal expectations. Since the beginning of time, harmful gender roles have been forced onto men and women. One of the major goals of the feminist movement is to critically analyze and evaluate these roles as well as dismantle them. Being aware of how you are expected to act in society gives you a sense of control and can make you feel empowered, contrary to what some believe. Taking a step back from what we have been societally conditioned to believe since birth can be extremely difficult at first, but soon becomes second nature. One harmful gender role enforced for males is the idea that men cannot show emotion and must be emotionally objective at all times. According to Medical Daily, reinforcing rhetoric that
feminizes emotional expression and masculinizes violence has the power to stunt empathy, drive dominance and connect respect with fear. Another enforced gender role of men is to be sexually aggressive and interested in women. When men are not sexaully and romantically interested in women, they are often called hurtful names and are assumed to be homosexual. Lastly, men are also expected to be “manly,” physically strong and masculine with the knowledge of how to fix cars, assemble furniture and do other tasks that are characteristically masculine. Men are not born with a love for the color blue nor to enjoy sports any more than women. They are societally conditioned to believe they must enjoy these things to be a man;
and if they fail to do so, they will be ridiculed. Gender roles enforced on men are most certainly not limited to these few — this is just the tip of the iceberg. Men and women feel inferior when they cannot fit the societal mold that is imposed on all of us at birth. People should be more willing to educate themselves on the bindings of society’s complicated structures. Once people are more educated, they will realize that stereotyped depictions and characteristics that are categorized as either feminine or masculine definitely do not define a person.
Contact TAYLOR FLEIG Call 650-3527 Tweet @tfleig_alestle Email tfleig@alestlelive.com
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TAMMY MERRETT Have a comment? Let us know! opinion@alestlelive.com The Alestle Campus Box 1167 Edwardsville, Ill. 62026-1167 Letters to the Editor Policy: The editors, staff and publishers of the Alestle believe in the free exchange of ideas, concerns and opinions and will publish as many letters as possible. Letters may be submitted at the Alestle office: Morris University Center, Room 2022 e-mail at opinion@alestlelive.com All hard copy letters should be typed and double-spaced. Letters should be no longer than 500 words. Include phone number, signature, class rank and major. We reserve the right to edit letters for grammar and content. Care will be taken to ensure that the letter’s message is not lost or altered. Letters to the editor will not be printed anonymously except under extreme circumstances. We reserve the right to reject letters.
The name Alestle is an acronym derived from the names of the three campus locations of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville: Alton, East St. Louis and Edwardsville. The Alestle is published on Thursdays in print and on Tuesdays online during the fall and spring semesters. A print edition is available every other Wednesdays during summer semesters. For more information, call 618-650-3528. For advertising, email advertising@alestlelive.com.
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MAN STREET on the
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Who is your favorite artist? How do they unify people who wouldn’t come together otherwise?
Senior applied communication major Daniel Nosce, of Alton “I like Bruno Mars because his music reflects a time when everything is pretty chill, not [with] all the crazy stuff going in the world.”
Sophomore nursing major Virginia Williams, of Chicago “She [Beyoncé] is a role model and people really look up to her. She brings people of different ethnicities, races, genders and ages to her shows and she helps unify.”
Freshman biology medical technology major Emma Burns, of Breese “My favorite band would be The Story So Far, which most people don’t know what it is. I wouldn’t say they are screamo, more of a grungy rock band.”
Senior music business major Devin Lohrenz, of Troy “Betty Who because of all the wedding proposals I have seen [and] how many people enjoy having her songs in their videos.”
Senior studio art major Katie Manning, of Edwardsville “My favorite artists would have to be Pentatonix, all five of them are amazing. They are a fantastic a capella group. They made a capella cool again.”
Freshman exercise science major Kiara Neal, of Edwardsville “My favorite artist would be J. Cole because he actually has a message behind everything he says.”
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sports
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SIUE Standings MEN’S BASKETBALL OVERALL
Southeast Miss. 9-13 E. Kentucky 10-14 Austin-Peay 7-16 Tenn. Tech 9-15 Jacksonville St. 13-11 Morehead St. 10-1 SIUE 5-19 Eastern Ill. 10-12 UT Martin 15-9 Belmont 16-4 Murray St. 12-11 Tenn. St. 13-9
thursday, 02.02.17
Track sets records, preps for outdoor Meyer, O’Connor lead SIUE in perfect indoor start
OVC
4-3 3-6 3-6 5-4 5-4 6-3 0-10 2-7 5-4 10-0 6-3 4-5
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL OVERALL
Southeast Miss. 9-13 7-12 E. Kentucky 11-11 Austin-Peay 8-14 Tenn. Tech Jacksonville St. 10-11 16-6 Morehead St. 9-13 SIUE 7-14 Eastern Ill. 6-16 UT Martin 17-5 Belmont 12-9 Murray St. 8-11 Tenn. St.
OVC
3-6 4-2 5-4 5-4 3-6 6-3 5-4 3-6 3-6 9-0 4-4 3-6
WRESTLING
OVERALL SOCON
Chattanooga Appalachian St. The Citadel Davidson Gardner-Webb Campbell SIUE VMI
5-8 11-2 2-7 3-10 5-6 6-6 3-10 1-10
WOMEN’S TENNIS OVERALL
Southeast Miss. E. Kentucky Austin-Peay Jacksonville St. SIUE Eastern Ill. UT Martin Belmont Murray St. Tenn. St.
1-1 1-2 0-1 0-1 2-0 3-0 0-1 0-4 0-1 0-0
3-1 5-0 1-2 0-3 2-3 2-1 3-2 0-4
OVC
0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
Individual Accolades Keith Meyer breaks SIUE records for the 3,000-meter and 5,000-meter runs. Matt O’Connor breaks SIUE record for the 800-meter run. For more information, visit siuecougars.com.
Junior jumper Julian Harvey, of Edwardsville, is a tri-jump athlete. Harvey competes in the long jump, high jump and triple jump with the SIUE Track and Field Team. | Alestle File Photo
TRENT STUART Alestle Sports Reporter The track and field indoor season has started with some outstanding individual performances. Multiple personal records have been broken, and some players are maintaining the level of success they had last year and plan on improving throughout the course of the season. Although neither the men’s or women’s team has won a meet yet, there have been been some quality individual performances. Not only have many athletes achieved PRs, but three school records have also been broken. At the Indiana Relays, senior distance runner Keith Meyer broke SIUE’s indoor record for the 3000-meter and the 5000 during the two-day meet. In the 3000, Meyer finished in 8:23.40, topping the 1990 record by 1.91 seconds. He ran the 5,000 in 14:24.73, which broke the previous record by 9.02 seconds. Junior distance runner Matt O’Connor also topped the indoor school record for the 800. He finished the race in 1:52:21 — .33 seconds faster than the previous record. According to Assistant Coach Joey Pacione, the longdistance runners have prepared for the track season by running with the cross country team in the off-season. “They should be able to build from the cross country seasons into track, and it’s already shown,” Pacione said.
Senior thrower Megan Lauzon is aiming for the school record for the indoor weight throw, and although she has not yet achieved a personal best this season, she said she is impressed by the quality performances of her teammates so far. “We have had quite a few PRs at the first few meets of the season. I would say PRs at every meet is one of our main goals,” Lauzon said. Other athletes, such as junior jumper Julian Harvey, have been able to build upon their success from recent years. In 2016, Harvey broke the school records for indoor long jump, triple jump and high jump, as well as for outdoor high jump and triple jump. He also qualified for the Olympic trials. Harvey said this year has definitely been a step up from the last. “I think everyone’s just really coming up and doing their thing, even the freshmen and sophomores. With the small team that we have, it’s just a great thing to see,” Harvey said. Pacione said watching athletes like Harvey grow is one of the things he is most looking forward to for the rest of the season. “Our coaching staff has been working really hard to give the athletes the right program, and the athletes have been working hard to take advantage of that and better themselves,” Pacione said. By the end of the season, the team expects to have some individuals qualify for the national meet. For long jump,
Harvey has made the tournament the past two years, placing 13th in 2015 indoor and 11th in 2016 outdoor. This year, he is working to surpass his success from recent years. “We’ve mostly been focusing on long jump, so it’s been easier on me, and it’s definitely helped me mentally. I’m trying to be top five in the nation and definitely win some OVC championships,” Harvey said. In order to maintain and top the individual success in recent years, the team had been putting in a lot of offseason work. According to Lauzon, the throwers have been doing a lot of conditioning, weight lifting and throwing. “I think this year has been one of our most intense practice years. We’ve had two-a-days every day, and I know the throwers especially have been putting in a lot of reps, a lot of work, so I think it’s going to pay off in the end,” Lauzon said. For the sprints and jumps, Pacione has been working on some technical aspects with the athletes. “We did loads of work with movement quality and technique both within the sprinting and the jumping. The girls especially really got after it in the weight room and saw all of their max numbers go way up,” Pacione said. To start off the season, SIUE participated in two dual meets, where they competed against one other school. Pacione said the feel of these meets is always nice because it brings out the true
competitiveness of the sport. In the dual meets, instead of going up against athletes from many different schools, the individuals are paired against athletes from the other school. According to Pacione, athletes are focused on defeating the other team, rather than working on individual triumphs in dual meets. Pacione said he believes the wide variety of new venues the team will be playing in will be an interesting part of the season. “It will be nice for the athletes to get a wide range of experience with surfaces and tracks and different competition too because for most of our meets, we’ll see different schools,” Pacione said. The indoor season is set to wrap up at the beginning of March with the OVC and national championships. Lauzon said she thinks much of the team is looking forward to the outdoor season. “Indoor is kind of like training for outdoor, just to get you ready for the season. I think the transition will be pretty easy,” Lauzon said. The team will participate in the SIU Don DeNoon Invitational Friday, Feb. 3 and the GVSU Big Meet Friday, Feb. 10 before heading to Charleston for the OVC Indoor Championship at the end of the month.
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Wrestling splits senior’s final home contest TRENT STUART Alestle Sports Reporter The wrestling team overcame Gardner-Webb University, but failed to defeat South Dakota State University during its Senior Day Jan. 28. The Cougars’ win against Gardner-Webb came down to the wire in a matchup between redshirt sophomore heavyweight Jake McKiernan and Gardner-Webb’s Boyce Cornwell in the last match of the meet. Before the match, the Cougars were only leading by one point, and McKiernan sealed the victory with his 3-2 win in the heavyweight category. “Gardner-Webb is a team that we’re pretty close with a lot of years as far as the conference race goes, so to get a win over them, especially on Senior Night, was really cool,” McKiernan said. The win improved the Cougar’s conference record in the SoCon Valley to 3-2, and five other wrestlers contributed points to the team’s win. While wrestling is usually an individual sport, according to Head Coach Jeremy Spates, the individual successes led to a combined team effort in order to get the win. “That’s something that we’ve talked about a lot. We’ve had a lot of good individual performances throughout the year, but we haven’t had those full team performances, so that was something nice to see,” Spates said. Despite their victory over Gardner-Webb, the Cougars could not carry their success into the next match against the South Dakota State University Jackrabbits, who are ranked 19th in the nation. “They’re ranked pretty high in the country, so we had a tough
loss there, but there were some bright spots there as well,” Spates said. These bright spots included wins from both McKiernan and 125-pound senior Freddie Rodriguez. Both men went undefeated on the day OF their matches and were the only two to win their matches against SDSU. The Jackrabbits took the reigns for the other matches in the duel. They outscored the Cougars 34-9 and improved their overall record to 10-3. The Cougars, whose overall record moved to 3-10 after Saturday’s matchups, will be on the road for the rest of the season. They have three more regular matches before the SoCon Tournament March 4. “We’re kind of on the home stretch, so we’re going to be working hard to peak here at the end of the season. By winning the conference tournament coming up, you go to nationals, so we need to be ready for that too,” McKiernan said. So far, Spates expects the team to have a few qualifiers for the national tournament. He said the team has been improved in the NCAA tournament over the past few years. “We have a couple of guys – Freddie, [149-pound senior] John Fahy and [129-pound redshirt senior] Jake Tindle – who have won the conference before, so we know that they can do it. We also have a number of other guys that have either placed in conference, or that we expect to place in the conference this year,” Spates said. According to Spates, to continue to improve for the end of the season, the team will be working on their match mentality, a few technical aspects and healing up physically.
Left, wSouth Dakota State University’s junior Luke Zilverberg and SIUE’s senior Clayton Bass move off their starting positions Jan. 28 during the Cougars’ 34-9 loss in the Vadalabene Center. | Allison Gregory / Alestle
Cougars look for conference win KYLE STEPP Alestle Sports Editor
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Two first-half deficits proved too difficult for the men’s basketball team to overcome this past week. First, the Cougars fell to the Tennessee State Tigers Jan. 25, after a 76-56 rout in the Vadalabene Center. Next, the Cougars traveled to Charleston and suffered another double-digit 75-60 loss to the Eastern Illinois Panthers Jan. 28. After these two losses, the Cougars are 5-18 in the season and 0-9 in the Ohio Valley Conference. Against the Tigers, SIUE started the first half with just 18 points and was unable to recover. Sophomore guard Carlos Anderson led the Cougars with 15 points, scoring 10 in the second half and also adding three assists and two rebounds. Junior forward Jalen Henry had 11 points, while junior forward Keenan Simmons also scored in double-digits with ten points and seven boards. Despite a 20-point loss, SIUE dominated some of the stat lines. The Cougars’ bench outscored the Tigers’ bench 25-11, and also scored more points off turnovers. Head Coach Jon Harris also gave Tennessee State credit, and said the Tigers showed why they sit near the top of the OVC. “Tennessee State is one of the top teams in the league and played
like it tonight,” Harris said. “They have some big guys, they are good rebounders and they shot it well against us.” After the loss to the Tigers, the Cougars traveled to the home of the Panthers, looking to end their losing streak. However, EIU, led by guard Terrell Lewis, handed the Cougars their ninth consecutive OVC loss. Harris said Lewis was the game changer for the Panthers. “Lewis has stepped up and made big shots for them, especially early in the game, and got them some separation. Coming into the game he was shooting about 20 percent from three-point range, so he really stepped up,” Harris said. The Cougars led the Panthers in the paint with 26 points to EIU’s 16. SIUE also held the Panthers to no fast break points and outscored their bench 15-8. Harris commended his team on attacking the rim on offense. “We haven’t won that battle a lot,” Harris said. “We did some good things. I just don’t think we were quite as aggressive as we needed to be on the other end.” Henry led the Cougars with 16 points and seven rebounds, while Simmons added 12 points and was two boards shy of a double-double. After suffering a 92-69 road loss to Belmont University Jan. 30, the Cougars return home against Jacksonville State University at 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4.
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By Jennifer Shepherd, The Lipstick Mystic Monday, Jan. 30 - Sunday, Feb. 05 , 2017 Aries: March 21 - April 19 You’re wondering about the meaning of life as Jupiter prompts you to contemplate bigger issues. This might not be the best time to be in a committed romantic relationship because you’re still trying to figure out what you really want out of your life.
Cancer: June 22 - July 22 It might be hard for you to express yourself since Mercury isn’t doing you any favors. Your instinct will probably be to spend time on your own and remain safely inside your shell. It’s OK to take a break from heavy duty relationship stuff.
Libra: Sept. 23 - Oct. 23 Flirty vibes are aiming themselves at you, courtesy of Venus. Even if you’re in a relationship, you’re in the mood to chat with some new people. Indulge in some fun banter and give yourself permission to share some laughs.
Taurus: April 20 - May 20 Mars is increasing your desire to flirt and have fun. If you’re single, you’ll want to go out and meet some new people. If you’re dating someone, you might realize you want to keep your options open rather than committing to someone. Keep circulating.
Leo: July 23 - Aug. 22 You’ll start having more energy now since Mars is in a friendly planet. You’ll finally feel motivated to get things done. You’ll also handle relationships better because you’ll have a lot more confidence. Expect to make some real progress.
Scorpio: Oct. 24 - Nov. 2 A manic sun is making you restless, so try to slow down. You could be seeking resolution with a relationship, but things are still uncertain in your situation with your partner. Avoid giving anyone an ultimatum because it won’t fix things.
Gemini: May 21 - June 21 As an intelligent Air sign, it’s important for you to be intellectually compatible with your significant other. You don’t do well dating people if you can’t talk with them about life, the universe and everything. The sun is reminding you to seek quality romantic partners.
Virgo: Aug. 23 - Sept. 22 The moon opposite your sign is showing you certain things need to get better for you to feel completely committed to your honey. You’re in the mood to make a checklist about things that are good and are bad in your relationship.
Sagittarius: Nov. 22 - Dec. 21 You’ll want your partner to Mars is in a friendly sign, and this will cheer you up enormously. You’ll be able to look at those minor day to day problems with a sense of humor. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Share some laughs with your partner even if things are little crazy.
Capricorn: Dec. 22 - Jan.19 You and your honey will have fun together this week. A flirty and fun moon is helping you to lighten up and enjoy things. It’s OK to indulge in creating a happy little world with you and your sweetheart. You’ll have fun in your own joyful bubble. Aquarius: Jan. 20 - Feb. 18 The sun continues to inspire you, helping you to look at your life from a fresh perspective. It’s a great time to dream big. Consider all the things you really want to experience, and find ways to achieve your most cherished goals. Pisces: Feb. 19 - March 20 You’ll experience an increased sense of intimacy with your partner, courtesy of sexy Venus. You’ll want to turn off the phone, the TV and the Internet and focus exclusively on your honey. Enjoy a minivacation with your honey..
Jennifer Shepherd, the Lipstick Mystic®, is an astrologer and syndicated columnist with over 2 million readers. For mystical fun and psychic insights visit www.lipstickmystic.com.