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SIUE STUDENT SURVIVES BRAIN ANEURYSMS
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vol. LXXX no. XI
Protestors scream for justice in St. Louis
Amy Jade, of Saint Louis, leads the protesting chants at Market Street on Friday, Sept. 15. The protesting began after the acquittal of former Saint Louis Metropolitan police officer Jason Stockley of first-degree murder in the 2011 shooting of Anthony Lamar Smith, 24, during a high-speed car chase. I Photo by Justin Bristol / The Alestle
Salary raises, campus improvement to come for SIUE ZEKE TORRES reporter
Raises in salary, building renovations and the installation of synthetic turf were all discussed at the Board of Trustees meeting Sept. 14, at the SIUE School of Dental Medicine in Alton. People listened as the Financial Committee discussed the highly-anticipated salary raises for SIUE employees. The raise was approved, but came with a catch. The raise will only apply to unrepresented employees and those in the union with a closed contract benched to non-salary adjustments. Compensations will be part of open contract negotiations for members in the union. According to Chancellor Randy Pembrook, SIUE has not had salary increases in the last three years. Pembrook said he believes this is a good way to thank the faculty after operating on two years with no budget.
“We have had downsizing in terms of belt tightening in terms of staff. Our staff has been doing more and this is a way to affirm their hard work,” Pembrook said. The proposed plan was 4.04 percent increase — two percent for the 2016-2017 fiscal year and the rest for the 2017-2018 year. According to Pembrook, the raise increase should keep employees up to date with the rate of inflation. Wayne Mills, an engineer in the mass communications department, said he supports the raise. “After all that has occurred on campus in the last years, it is time for people to start feeling whole again,” Mills said. Pembrook and SIU President Randy Dunn will work together to determine the other eligibility guidelines. After the raise was approved, Vice Chancellor for Administration Rich Walker discussed the proposal of renovating Founders Hall as a part of SIUE’s 21st century plan.
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The plan would begin with the renovations of Founders Hall, and then work its way to Alumni Hall, Rendleman Hall, Peck Hall, Dunham Hall and Lovejoy Library. According to Walker, the total plan costs $34.1 million and will be funded through the facilities fee. “Like most of SIUE’s core campus buildings, Founders Hall has been adequately maintained, but since its construction 41 years ago, its primary electrical, lighting, plumbing, windows, and mechanical systems are original. The scope of the plan is to update all of those,” Walker said. The plan was approved, and Walker moved on to his next proposal — the installation of synthetic turf at the SIUE Outdoor Recreational Complex. The $1.1 million project will put new turf down at the soccer, football and softball intramural fields. Walker said the turf has many benefits for the campus.
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“The turf helps provide our school with an up-to-date look. Also, it gives the intramural and club teams a better field to play and practice on, no matter the conditions,” Walker said. Sophomore business major, Nick Scott, of Marshall, Illinois is a member of the club football team, said this is a good investment for the school. “This benefits club sports greatly. This will draw in bigger numbers of people wanting to play club sports, because of how cool new turf is. This can help them grow and get more recognition, like our football team. Most people don’t know we have a club football team and this is exactly what the team needs to bring more recruits and a better crowd,” Scott said. The next Board of Trustees meeting will be Dec. 14 at SIU-Carbondale.
ZEKE TORRES
650-3527 @ztorres_alestle
The Alestle
Alumna wins big at the Emmys KENDRA MARTIN managing editor
The 69th Primetime Emmy Awards premiered Sunday, Sept. 17 and SIUE alumna Jules Roberson Bailey took home the Emmy in the Community Service category for her documentary, “Bullying: Enough is Enough,” that ran on KSDK last November. Bailey received a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from SIUE in 1999. She had previously won an Emmy for Best Morning Newscast as an executive producer for KSDK as well. Bailey’s documentary “Bullying: Enough Is Enough,” was made in efforts to tackle the ongoing issue of bullying.
KENDRA MARTIN
650-3527 @kmartin_alestle kmartin@alestlelive.com
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CHLOE RICE editor-in-chief
Madison County’s Democratic Caucus yields no endorsement
KEEGAN GAUWITZ reporter KENDRA MARTIN managing editor MIRANDA LINTZENICH lifestyles editor
MADISON O’BRIEN sports editor BRIDGET CHRISTNER opinion editor
RYAN BIERI online editor KALLI MORRIS social media editor
TAYLOR FLEIG KEEGAN GAUWITZ CORINTHIA JORDAN LUKE MOLEN ZEKE TORRES reporters
KAITLIN BAKER JUSTIN BRISTOL CHRISTAL SAMPSON photographers
SIUE hosted one of seven Madison County Democratic Caucuses Tuesday night to help determine which candidate the county will endorse for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. Out of the eight candidates running, none received the 51 percent vote needed for an endorsement from Madison County. Local candidate Bob Daiber, of Marine, was the favorite at SIUE’s poll, along with the rest of Madison County. Daiber received 64.1 percent of votes at SIUE, and 47.2 percent of votes in all Madison County polls combined. Daiber’s son, Ryan Daiber spoke at SIUE in support of his father. “In case you didn’t know, Bob Daiber’s from Madison County. This is our chance to be properly represented in the state. We’ve had multiple governors who come down here maybe twice during their whole term, and I know that if some candidates are elected, we’re going to get the same result,” Daiber said. Daiber is currently superintendent of schools in Madison
Junior political science major Rahime Aliu, of Cottage Hills, gets emotional for her candidate Chris Kennedy. She shared passionately about his views on making education a priority during the Democratic Caucus in the Meridian Ballroom on Sept. 18th. | Justin Bristol / The Alestle
County, and despite large local support, he is considered an underdog to the current favorite J.B. Pritzker, of Chicago. Pritzker finished second in polling, winning 32.5 percent of votes at SIUE and 44.7 percent in the county. In support of Pritzker, Milton Patch, of Edwardsville, spoke about the importance of Pritzker’s
BREANNA BOOKER TRENT STUART copy editors JOANN WEAVER graphics manager NICHOLAS AGADI advertising manager KATERINE PATE DELENA STOKES AMRI WILDER office secretaries ANGIE TROUT office manager TAMMY MERRETT program director 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.
Junior political science major Nick Paterline, of Mascoutah, speaks during the round-robin event at the Democratic Caucus to promote his candidate Daniel Biss for the Governor of Illinios in the Meridian Ballroom on Sept. 18th. | Justin Bristol / The Alestle
campaign in changing the state of Illinois. “I used to work for Dr. Daiber at the regional office of education. I looked at his campaign, and I looked at J.B.’s, and I thought, you know what, Dr. Daiber gave me a chance, but I have to give Illinois a chance. We’re not running a campaign for governor, we’re running a campaign for all Democrats. We’re focused on getting people elected who can change the state of Illinois,” Patch said. Patch said Pritzker recently made a stop in Belleville to meet with union workers, and that the campaign has the support of the American Federation of Labor and the Chicago Federation of Labor. The remaining six candidates include Chris Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, of Chicago; state Sen. Daniel Biss, of Evanston; state Rep. Scott Drury, of Highwood; Tio Hardiman, of Calumet City; Alex Petrakis, of Vernon Hills; and Chicago alderman Ameya Pawar. At SIUE, Kennedy and Biss
accumulated 14 and 11 voters. After being voted unviable, most of their supporters dispersed between Daiber, Pritzker and undecided votes. Biss supporters and undecided voters rounded off Madison County’s total with 3.3 and 4.8 percent. Democratic County Chairman Mark Von Nida kicked off the caucus with a message focused on the common goal of finding a representative of the Democratic Party that could defeat Governor Rauner. Von Nida said his goal was to push Democrats toward a future of social justice in Illinois, rather than concerns of gun control, and women’s reproductive rights Republicans have focused on. “My sole issue is that we pursue social justice — as each one of us is inherently worthy,” Von Nida said.
KEEGAN GAUWITZ
650-3527 @kgauwitz_alestle kgauwitz@alestlelive.com
Student Organization for Sustainability encourages SIUE to join the EcoChallenge TAYLOR FLEIG reporter
The Student Organization for Sustainability is participating in this year’s EcoChallenge, an event put on by the Northwest Earth Institute annually. It is based on the idea that if you practice a habit 14 days in a row you are more likely to continue doing it. “It’s not just for students, but also faculty and staff to join the SIUE Green Team,” SOS Adviser Connie Spurlock said. Within the challenge, there are three levels in each area — EcoLearner, EcoPro and EcoLeader. When a topic is chosen, the participant will be presented with three tasks that relate to the category. “Participants are expected to select three to five challenges that we work on for two weeks,” Spurlock said. “Each of these gives folks a way to be more thoughtful in terms of how we consume and use resources.” The app that goes along with EcoChallenge will allow the SIUE Green Team to measure their col-
lective impact, such as the amount of bags recycled. It also allows the organization to see their current status so it can get a baseline of what students, faculty and staff are already working on. “I like the EcoChallenge because of the fun nature; it’s very playful. There are different tools such as EcoChallenge selfies. It gets people who otherwise wouldn’t participate to come to the table,” Spurlock said. “It also brings in accountability, because if you commit to something, you have to work with your team which increases likelihood of participation.” Along with the EcoChallenege, SOS has also endorsed the Goshen Market. On the morning of Saturday, Sept. 16, there was an event downtown Edwardsville to get students to interact with the weekly market. “I think it is important that students get to see people that grow their own foods,” Spurlock said. Free donuts and coffee were served to all students as well as free yoga sessions led by Studio
Gaia Yoga. Friday, Sept. 22, the Center for Spirituality and Sustainability and the SOS are co-sponsoring “Finding our Balance: An Equinox celebration.” “The sustainability group will be there to celebrate the equinox,” SOS President, Dana Wynn, of Alton, said. The crowd will gather at 6:30 p.m. on the 90th meridian at the sculpture known as “The Crossing” for a short sustainability tour of campus. “We will be meeting to welcome in the fall and share our ideas about what it means to us,” SOS Vice President Kevin Greer of Edwardsville, said. The tour will conclude at the Center for Spirituality and Sustainability with a candlelight vigil where cider and cookies will be provided. People are encouraged to share reflections and read inspirational materials related to finding balance. Balance is the theme of the ceremony, since it takes place on the Autumn Equinox, the day of the year where there are
an equal amount of day and night hours. Stanford University has a STAR (Sustainability Rating, Assessment and Tracking System) program that has rated SIUE as a platinum-rated school, meaning SIUE is one of the top schools in the nation for sustainability. According to Wynn, SOS has already made big strides in becoming more eco-friendly and will continue to grow. Wynn said Professor Spurlock has been very motivated in making SIUE an eco-friendly campus and community and continues to try and to make that goal reality. “One of the first things that I noticed when I met professor Spurlock was that she said that she wanted to make SIUE a sustainability hub. That was three years ago, so that’s something that we still have as a big picture in mind,” Wynn said.
TAYLOR FLEIG
650-3527 @tfleig_alestle tfleig@alestlelive.com
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thursday, 09.21.17
Dunham’s rich life, career celebrated in exhibit open today LUKE MOLEN reporter
09.18.17 An officer issued a written warning for an expired registration on East University Drive near North University Drive. An officer responded to a report of a scofflaw violation. The vehicle was towed by Brown’s Towing. An officer responded to a fire alarm at 408 Cougar Village. The alarm was activated by cooking. There was no fire, smoke or damage.
A parent advised her daughter’s ex-boyfriend was harassing her daughter in a non-physical manner, but the daughter was hesitant to involve the police. An officer attempted to contact the daughter. The investigation continues. An officer responded to the Cougar Village Outdoor Recreation area to assist Edwardsville Fire Department with a grass fire that was accidentally caused by a hay baler. The fire extinguished without incident.
An officer retrieved a found iPad mini that was found in room 1160 of the Science West Building. The item was returned to its owner.
An officer responded to a two vehicle traffic accident on the Flying Fields parking lot. A state citation was issued to Bradley B. Creasy for failure to reduce speed to avoid accident.
A subject reported that the vending machines in the east and west women’s restrooms of the first floor of Rendleman Hall had been damaged and the money was stolen.
An officer issued a written warning for driving without lights when required and expired registration on East University Drive.
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An officer stopped a vehicle and subsequently arrested Brad H. McPherson (32 years old, 37 S. Cherry Hills, Edwardsville) for driving under the influence. McPherson was transported to the SIUE Police Department where he was booked and processed. McPherson was released after posting his Illinois drivers license and $100 cash bond. The vehicle was towed by Brown’s Towing.
An officer responded to 415 Cougar Village for a fire alarm. The alarm was activated by cooking. There was no fire smoke or damage.
An officer responded to a fire alarm at 431 Cougar Village. Maya A. Bragg was subsequently issued an ordinance ticket for possession of drug paraphernalia.
An officer responded to a two vehicle traffic accident on South University Drive near P2 Road.
An officer observed a damaged crosswalk sign on North University Drive at P2 Road. Wood River Police Department arrested Austin Z. Moore (21 years old, 1201 Gonterman, South Roxana) on SIUE Police Department Federal Transmit Administration warrant-illegal consumption of liquor by a minor and transported him to the SIUE Police Department where he was processed and booked. Moore posted $375 cash bond and was released.
09.16.17 An officer issued a written warning for failure to dim headlights when required on Stadium Drive near New Poag Road. An officer retrieved an Illinois drivers license that had been turned in to the Morris University Center Information Desk. An officer issued a written warning for speeding 39 mph in a 25 mph zone on South University Drive near University Park Drive.
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A subject reported hearing somebody on the upper level of 419 Cougar Village yell “no.” An officer contacted the subjects involved who were yelling while playing video games. Nobody was in need of assistance.
A subject reported his vehicle was struck while parked and unattended in Lot 6 on Thursday, Sept. 14 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. A subject reported that somebody had apparently entered his office via the ceiling panels. An officer responded to a vehicle traffic accident in Lot B. A state citation was issued to Alexis Z. Lambert-Johson for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.
09.14.17 A subject reported their vehicle was struck and damaged while parked in Lot 6. An officer responded to a scofflaw violation on Lot G. The vehicle was towed by Brown’s Towing. An officer responded to a fire alarm at the Science Building. The alarm was caused by construction work. A subject reported while driving their vehicle, it was sideswiped by another vehicle going in the wrong way in Lot 6.
Katherine Dunham started the Performing Arts Training Center on the SIUE campus 50 years ago. Prior to this endeavor, she traveled the world for 20 years, performing heavily enriched dance based on research of African diaspora cultures and gathering an assortment of musical instruments. In 1998, multiple SIUE buildings underwent renaming. As a result, the “Communications Building” was renamed “Dunham Hall” in honor of Katherine Dunham. The opening of the “Katherine Dunham: A Life of Dance, Activism and Anthropology” will be 4-6 p.m. Thursday Sept. 21 in the Lovejoy Library. The display will consist of five themes — “Influences and Learning,” “Artist and Author,” “Educator and Activist,” “Legacy” and “Musical Instruments.” Dunham master instructor and East St. Louis PATC program director Theo Jamison will perform a dance with an accompanied drummer at the opening. In addition to Jamison’s presentation at the Sept. 21 exhibit, two other performances will take place in honor of Dunham. The specifications are still being determined. The exhibit in Lovejoy Library will include information about Dunham’s work at SIUC, SIUE, Alton and PATC, along with her work as a museum curator and the depths of her artistic and scholarly achievements. Curator Cory Willmott highlighted three goals that she hopes will be achieved with the exhibit — reacquainting the SIUE community with Dunham’s legacy, bringing forward different achievements that may have been overlooked or forgotten and reinvigorating the Dunham network. “Miss Dunham is a larger than life person,” Willmott said, “and the more you know about her, the more you realize how multifaceted and just absolutely incredible she was. Many people have talked about her combination of dance and anthropology as really forward looking, unusual and creative.” Sponsorship from the SIUE Department of Anthropology, SIUE University Museum, Lovejoy Library and SIUE East St. Louis Center made it possible for Willmott and curator Konjit Avent to complete this project.
Katherine Dunham and SIUE Emeritus Professor Eugene Redmond in Dunham’s office at the Katherine Dunham Dynamic Museum in East St. Louis in the 1970s. | Photo courtesy of Eugene Redmond Collection, Lovejoy Library
University Museum collections manager Erin Vigneau-Dimick and her graduate assistants have also been instrumental in the physical organization of the exhibit. Both Willmott and Avent are concerned with keeping Dunham’s legacy alive and hope the exhibit will help reestablish her name. “I started volunteering with Katherine Dunham Centers for Arts and Humanities in East St. Louis three or four years ago,” Avent said. “I have been involved trying to keep the museum open and her legacy going. It’s really a jewel, and people don’t know it is there, but there really is some priceless material in that museum.” Willmott and Avent started working on the exhibit in April 2017. While both curators would have preferred more time to complete the display, they decided to rush the event to keep the opening within the 50th anniversary of PATC. “It was through [Avent] when we visited for a tour of the museum with Ms. Leverne Backstrom [who is the President of the Board of Directors of the Katherine Dunham Centers for Arts and Humanities] that I learned it is the 50th anniversary of Katherine Dunham coming to East St. Louis,” Willmott said. “I thought ‘Wow, we really should do something on SIUE campus to celebrate that.” Experts consider Dunham as an individual who revolutionized American dance. During her undergraduate studies at the University of Chicago, Dunham received a grant to
travel to the Caribbean, where she studied the culture and learned to diversify her dancing. Upon her return to the states, she received a bachelor’s of philosophy in anthropology. Shortly after, she created the Dunham technique, her form of dance, and met her personal and creative partner John Pratt. They married in 1949. “Miss Dunham was iconic to her contribution of dance,” Backstrom said. “She dared to expose what she was doing [creating her own form of dance and certifying people in the form] to the world.” In 1945, Dunham opened Dunham School in New York and later the Katherine Dunham Dance group, which eventually became the Katherine Dunham Company. She focused on African, African American and Caribbean dance. With the Dunham Company, she toured for two decades and attracted the global eye. She visited a vast array of countries, appeared in films, performed, directed and received numerous awards. “She could motivate and mobilize all these people to follow her, trust her and learn from her,” Willmott said, “and they excited audiences all over the world with this incredible stage presence and energy. It was something completely new.” The Katherine Dunham exhibit will be displayed in the Lovejoy Library starting Thursday, Sept. 21 until Tuesday, Oct. 23.
when he posted a video of himself on Instagram displaying a gun collection, according to law enforcement sources familiar with the arrest. Los Angeles police said Gonzalez was taken into custody with the help of a police K-9 at about 2 a.m. Detectives in Dallas provided the LAPD with GPS coordinates for the Instagram post and an LAPD fugitive team found a rented Chevrolet SUV connected to Gonzalez. Gonzalez sped off in the SUV and struck a power pole. Gonzalez and an unidentified man aban-
doned the vehicle and fled to a nearby area where the police K-9 tracked them down, according to police. Both men were treated at a hospital for minor injuries, officials said. According to Dallas police and the Texas Department of Public Safety, Gonzalez — who is also known as Little Chris — is tied to a Bloods clique and wanted for murder; leading an organized crime group and a series of aggravated robberies and home invasions.
LUKE MOLEN
650-3527 @lmolen_alestle lmolen@alestlelive.com
Instagram post of guns lets LAPD track down gangster on Texas’ most wanted list RICHARD WINTON Los Angeles Times
One of Texas’ 10 most wanted criminal suspects was taken into custody by Los Angeles police early Tuesday after he displayed video of an arsenal of weapons on Instagram that authorities used to track him to Woodlands Hills. Christopher Ricardo Gonzalez, 18, a Texas gang member with a lengthy history of violent robberies, home invasions and alleged murder, was captured by the LAPD after Dallas police were able to track his position
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LIFESTYLES alestlelive.com
contact the editor: lifestyles@alestlelive.com 650-3527 thursday, 09.21.17
Left, Sophomore pre-pharmacy major Molly Umfleet, of Bonne Terre, Missouri, holds a sign she drew on her last day in the hospital. Umfleet was in the hospital for two weeks. Right, Umfleet stands with Bri Mosher and Grant Steiner, who she knows from the on-campus ministry, Cru, that Molly is a part of. | Photos via Molly Umfleet
SIUE student survives two brain aneurysms Sophomore pre-pharmacy major faces death; now has new outlook on life CORINTHIA JORDAN reporter Just before the start of the school year, sophomore pre-pharmacy major Molly Umfleet, of Bonne Terre, Missouri, was faced with what she considers to be the biggest trial of her life— two brain aneurysms. Although, the event itself happened six weeks ago, including two weeks strapped to a hospital bed, Umfleet is starting to get back on her feet and is adjusting back to life on campus. “Honestly, I did not know what an aneurysm was, and I was probably distracted by the pain,” Umfleet said. “It wasn’t until after surgery that I realized I could’ve died.” When Umfleet arrived to Parkland Health Center’s emergency room at 1:30 a.m. on August 6, surgeons decided she would need brain surgery after diagnosing her with a ruptured aneurysm. Three hours later, Umfleet found herself at St. Louis University Hospital awaiting further plans learning of a second aneurysm. Umfleet showed no signs of health complications before August. She was preparing to be a Cougar Guide, was part of the student ministry, Cru and went on an alternative spring break to Roanoke, Virginia last spring. The night she went to the hospital changed all of her plans— Headaches never seemed serious before. But it was the only warning sign for the aneurysms, according to Umfleet. Umfleet had to undergo several tests and CT scans, and doctors at SLU’s hospital diagnosed Umfleet with mild fibrous dysplasia — also known as loopy arteries — which makes Umfleet genetically predisposed to aneurysms, which will need close monitoring in the future. No one in Umfleet’s family has suffered a brain aneurysm before, but they are in the process of getting tested for the condition. According to the Brain Aneurysm Foundation, there is a brain aneurysm rupturing every 18 minutes, and are fatal about 40 percent of the time. Of those who survive, about 66 percent suffer sa permanent neurological deficit. According to Umfleet, she beat the odds by surviving not one, but two brain aneurysms and is still healthy and fully functioning. She also said the experience has given her more time for ministry work with Cru and allows her to share her story. Ultimately, she credits her survival to God. Umfleet said school administrators and staff have been very flexible and lenient, especially with making sure she can keep her scholarship and that she is on track to enter the pharmacy program next fall. After her brain surgery, Umfleet said she felt a little weary about coming back to SIUE, because she would have to take fewer classes than her peers. SIUE has been more supportive than she expected. “It’s really made me love my school even that much more, because they’re letting me keep my scholarship, and they have been awesome. I was so terrified I’d be an entire year behind, but I’m gonna have to go to school over the summer and winter and straight
through until next year. But I’ll get to enter the School of Pharmacy when I was supposed to. Student affairs coordinator for the School of Pharmacy, Monica Kempland, has been working with Umfleet and said she has seen first-hand the strength and determination Umfleet has shown. “She is in the front, taking the handlebars, steering and providing much of the pedal power. I’m behind her pedaling for a little support and balance. We understand that sometimes life happens,” Kempland said. “Adversity has only seemed to strengthen her resolve to achieve her goals of becoming a pharmacist.” Kempland said she is sure that Umfleet’s experience will only deepen her empathy and compassion in working with patients in the future. Along with administration, Umfleet said her family and friends have been very supportive of her as she gets well. Her best friend, sophomore pre-pharmacy major Emily Skiles, of Pevely, Missouri, being one of them. “When Molly called me the day after she her aneurysm ruptured, I felt absolutely helpless. I had just talked to her about 30 minutes before it happened so I was shocked. I think that, besides praying, keeping her company was the greatest way I could’ve helped her,” Skiles said. While sitting in her hospital bed, Umfleet remembered reading a passage of scripture a week before being rushed to the hospital from the book of Jonah, “To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you, LORD my God, brought my life up from the pit,” (Jonah 2:6). “This is the pit and you’re gonna bring me out of it,” Umfleet said, referring to the passage. Though Umfleet is taking it easy for now, she still enjoys an active life. In her free time, Umfleet cooks dinner for her closest friends, reads books, volunteers with Cru and creates wooden art signs with her business, “I’m Art Signs.” “I can make all the plans I want, but if it’s not God’s plan it doesn’t matter,” Umfleet said. “We don’t get to pick what happens, we just get to pick how we react to it.” According to Umfleet, her experience surviving two brain aneurysms has been truly eye-opening. She has felt a drive to be healthier and more active, as well as a new opportunity to understand herself and also relate to others. “One of the main things I’ve taken away is that you never really know what others are dealing with,” Umfleet said. “I would just say to give others grace, even if you don’t know why you’re doing it.” CORINTHIA JORDAN 650-3527 @cjordan_alestle cjordan@alestlelive.com
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Delmar Loop paints over boarded windows to promote love for their city, still supportive of peaceful protests
Top Left, Local store owners support St. Louis by promoting “No H8” in their area. This was a response to the Stockley verdict announced on Friday, Sept. 16. Protestors gathered on Saturday, Sept. 17 and several local stores’ windows were broken. Top Right, Volunteers help paint murals on Saturday, Sept. 19. A taped sign said, “To heal requires radical love.” Bottom left, An artist paints a mural in front of Loop Living, a store based in furniture and home goods. Bottom Right, A mural of the Gateway Arch as a rainbow is featured in front of The Silvery Lady jewelry store, next to the Tivoli Theater. | Photos by Miranda Lintzenich \ The Alestle
HIP-HOP’S CONFLICTING RELATIONSHIP WITH DRUGS KENDRA MARTIN managing editor Drugs have always played a part in hiphop. Since the genre was born in the 1970s, drugs have always had both a positive and negative role in the music. In today’s era, drugs are more prominent than ever. There are many songs that reference drugs today, with codeine and Xanax being the most popular alongside weed. When I was younger, I was always able to ignore the constant drug references in music, but recently, it’s been hard to ignore. I don’t mean to sound like an afterschool special, but I believe this is a topic that needs to be discussed. Many rappers have rapped from the perspective of being drug dealers, and some of these rappers have actually lived the life of a drug dealer. In the ‘90s, the most known drug of choice was marijuana. The fact that one of the most popular hip-hop album of all time is Dr. Dre’s “The Chronic” shows how relevant weed was to hip-hop culture during the time period. Marijuana is probably one of the most recognizable drugs in hip-hop and it’s rare to find rappers that don’t reference it in any of their songs. I personally don’t smoke,
but I never had a problem with people who do. The references never really bothered me, because I understand the side effects of marijuana and I know it has never caused any deaths or overdoses. I don’t relate to it, but I can’t really blame people for rapping about their experiences. Today, although weed is still a recognizable drug in the music, hip-hop seems to have shifted to harder substances and it makes me uncomfortable. The most common are Xanax and codeine. These are prescription drugs, but when used recreationally, they can lead to horrible side effects or even death. I remember watching a video of Chicago rapper Lil Herb, now known as G Herbo, speaking about the side effects of codeine — also known as “lean” in hip-hop — and comparing it to heroin. He explained that withdrawal from lean was almost as bad as heroin because of the stomach aches, headaches and other feelings of addiction. It was scary, because it seems like most hip-hop listeners would not even think to do heroin, but lean is cool with them. I’m not trying to judge anyone and I hate to sound like a D.A.R.E. representative, but I think that this is a topic that gets swept under the rug. Many rap pioneers have died from codeine including Pimp C, A$AP Yams, DJ Screw and many more. Hip-hop is not the first genre to glamorize drug use and it will not be the last. However, being that hip-hop is one of the most influential and most powerful genres in the modern era, I think we have to start being real about drug use.
There are many popular hip-hop artists that use lean. Lil Wayne is a perfect example of one. Although I do not consider Lil Wayne one of my favorite artists, I cannot deny the impact he has on the culture. He has essentially influenced this entire generation of artists, and I would hate for hip-hop to lose such a icon over this. In the next thirty years, I want hip-hop to be a genre that can properly honor our legends like R&B and rock do, but we can’t do that if they are dying young. Drugs will always be around, but it’s up to us to be smart about it. I understand that for some people, things may get hard and drugs are seen as an escape. However, I just want people to understand that there are other options to escape pain. Drugs don’t always have to be the first option. It may sound like I am picking and choosing where I say marijuana is cool, but lean is not, but the facts are the facts. Lean has been proven to kill people. According to narconon.org, the use of the drug, when combined with alcohol or other drugs, can contribute to death. This might not get the entire population of rappers and even listeners who use lean to stop, but I hope it is enough to make them reconsider their choices. KENDRA MARTIN 650-3527 @kmartin_alestle kmartin@alestlelive.com
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Be mindful of your reach: Social media posts may have drastic consequences When Jemele Hill, host of ESPN’s “SC6,” called President Donald Trump a white supremacist on Twitter, she most likely didn’t expect to have Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee-Sanders suggest that she should be fired. “Donald Trump is a white supremacist who has largely surrounded himself w/ other white supremacists,” Hill tweeted Sept. 11. However, celebrities attacking Trump for his track record on race is nothing new, especially after his lackluster response to the white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. In a monologue from the Aug. 14 episode of “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” Meyers said that Trump’s spearheading of the birther movement against former
President Barrack Obama was “racist and insane, but he was written off as a clown, a bitter little clown,” among a list of other things. While we at The Alestle are unable to tell you why this particular tweet has gotten such a powerful reaction from the Trump administration, we do not believe that it is the place of the government to suggest to a private company who it should fire. Late night hosts such as Meyers, Stephen Colbert, Trevor Noah and Jon Oliver have made a new niche out of constantly trashing Trump and not always in comedic ways either. When asked if he thought Trump was racist during an ABC News interview, Noah said that he did.
“It’s tough to say someone is not racist when they’re doing all the racist things,” Noah said. Trump being called out on his track record of racism is nothing new. In a Feb. 2016 article, The Huffington Post found 13 instances of Trump being accused of racism, before the election was even over. None of these resulted in Trump’s team calling for anyone’s removal. In what has become the new presidential standard, Trump personally responded to the criticism from Hill with a direct attack on Twitter claiming that incidents like this are the reason ESPN is losing subscribers. However, as Business Insider points out, a lot of the network’s losses are due to a change in the way people consume media.
Social media in particular has given many a voice that can be shared with millions of people regardless of political affiliation. While some opinions are more informed than others, when expressed they have a tendency to get people into trouble. Unfortunately for Hill, even if she was telling the truth, she still works for ESPN. When you speak up about issues that hit close to home, people are going to think those opinions represent ESPN as a whole. The same happened for Colin Kapernick when he protested police brutality, along with Munroe Bergdof when she made comments about race. It is shameful how these corporations are willing to making millions of dollars off of their
hosts, but they cannot handle it when they speak up as an individual. Regardless, however, this is not the place for the government to interject, even though Hill’s statement was about the president. ESPN is its own entity and should take care of the situation however they deem appropriate. To continue to show our disapproval of these seemingly inappropriate actions by the people running our country, we need to make our voices heard. Citizens and corporations that are being negatively impacted by the government need to know that they have support from thousands of people around the country.
are not available, people should think on a larger scale and look nationally or globally. Many entities are in place for exclusively providing aid to people in crisis. Many businesses have been asking customers to donate money to the Red Cross. After purchasing a meal at McDonald’s or groceries at Walmart, customers have been faced with the question: “Would you care to donate a dollar to the American Red Cross Foundation?” Rather than blowing this question off, people should say, “Heck yeah!” and contribute to the cause. Not only will such organizations gather the funds and use them in an effective manner, but some of them will also match
customer donations. According to Inc., businesses such as Walmart, Dow Chemical Company, Starbucks, Bank of America and AT&T all match donation contributions. In times of crisis, not everyone needs to be a hero by gathering supplies to donate. Rather, people simply need to find established organizations that are already helping and contribute in that fashion. Even a single dollar can help those in need tremendously.
Supporting hurricane victims is simple LUKE MOLEN reporter
As hurricanes have raged and caused havoc throughout southern states, many people have heard the call to help their fellow neighbors in need. Unfortunately, many of these heavy-hearted individuals are failing to provide the proper support for hurricane victims. Everyone should feel the call to help. No one should wait around while other people struggle. Even though one cannot stop the storm, he or she must help in some way, right? Too many well-intentioned people simply do not know the proper way to assist hurricane victims. To provide the most ef-
ficient care, one should donate money rather than food, clothes or other “essential” items. By donating money, victims can be proactive. Not only can they buy the exact items they need, but they can also strengthen their local community. Money is the most important commodity to give the victims. Not only does it allow them to pick from their local grocery, but it also empowers them, making them feel less stressed from the crisis. Food and clothes are also great items to give; however, such items do not boost the local economies. In fact, when not self-delivered through the rough weather, many of the support packages arrive around the same
time as other local suppliers do. Nevertheless, I encourage the attempts to help. Food and clothes should be donated, but only when done properly. Organizations and businesses are aware of the crisis at hand. Rather than taking matters into our own hands, we should research the area to discover how the community is already supporting people in need. These organizations will operate more efficiently than the single person attempting to help. Not only will their actions be coordinated, but they will also be accurate and effective at helping the individuals who need the most. When local organizations
LUKE MOLEN 650-3527 @lmolen_alestle lmolen@alestlelive.com
sports
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CHECK OUT THE MEN’S SOCCER GAME RECAP AT ALESTLELIVE.COM thursday, 09.21.17
Women’s soccer starts conference play with two wins ZEKE TORRES reporter
The Cougars began Ohio Valley Conference play at home against the Belmont University Bruins, then traveled to play the Eastern Illinois University Panthers. SIUE won both games to begin their OVC campaign. SIUE got their first win of the weekend Sept. 17, with a 3-1 win over the Bruins at Korte Stadium. Freshman midfielder Andrea Frerker, scored her first goal of the season in the 33rd minute to put SIUE up 1-0 going into halftime. Coming out of the half, sophomore midfielder Peyton Roehnelt put the Cougars up 2-0 off of an assist from senior forward Emily Grahl in the 49th minute. Belmont got a goal in the 63rd minute to make the game 2-1. Five minutes later, the Cougars iced the game when junior forward Avery Anderson scored the Cougars’ third goal of the game from a through ball by freshman forward MacKenzie Litzsinger. The Cougars had 10 shots with four on target while the Bruins had 22 shots with eight on target. Senior goalkeeper Juli Rossi had seven saves in the win. After the 3-1 win, Head Coach Derek Burton said his team was off to a good start for their busy weekend. “It’s a great way to start the weekend. We beat a very good team that scores a lot of goals,” Burton said. The Cougars traveled to Charleston, Illinois to face the Panthers in their second game of the week. A deflected shot ended up near Litzsinger’s foot, and she put the ball in the back of the net to give the Cougars an early lead in the 29th minute. The SIUE offense didn’t produce another goal until the 71st minute when Grahl beat two
Panther defenders, scoring the second goal of the game. After the game, Grahl said she credited her teammates for the goal. “It feels great to put one away. The team did such a great job of locking the ball in our offensive end and giving ourselves the best chance for success,” Grahl said. In the 87th minute, sophomore forward Allison Wendt added the final goal giving SIUE a 3-0 win. Rossi, who had two saves in the game, said it was a good weekend for SIUE women’s soccer. “Coming off a two-win weekend gives us great momentum to move forward. We worked very hard in both games and putting away the games the way we did just shows the work we did,” Rossi said. SIUE scored six goals in their two wins from six different players, while only allowing one goal. Rossi credited that accomplishment to the whole team. “Overall, our teamwork and determination has allowed us to achieve so much. Our attackers have been working very hard the past couple of games, and it has shown. Our backs also have been putting on a great show by helping me only allow one goal,” Rossi said. SIUE is on the road for their next game against OVC rival Austin Peay at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22. Grahl said SIUE hopes to keep up their momentum. “The next step is to learn from games that we have played and continue to develop as a team. We are very excited for the new standard we’ve set early in the conference season,” Grahl said.
ZEKE TORRES
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Women’s volleyball finishes 3-0 at the Cougar Invite KEEGAN GAUWITZ reporter
SIUE’s volleyball team hosted their second tournament of the season this weekend, sweeping Seattle University, Montana University and the University of Illinois at Chicago Friday and Saturday at the Cougar Invite. The Cougars opened the weekend tournament Friday night at the Vadalabene Center, facing the Seattle University Redhawks. SIUE beat the Redhawks 3-1, out-hitting them .285 to .139. The Cougars’ offense was led by senior outside hitter Emily Harrison with 12 kills. Harrison was followed by senior outside hitter Ashley Witt and senior middle blocker Taylor Joens, who each had 11 kills. Joens also boosted the team’s defensive effort with a team-high nine blocks. The Cougars tallied
Senior outside hitter Ashley Witt hangs in the air as she prepares to spike the ball toward the University of Illinois at Chicago players Saturday, Sept. 16, in their 3-0 win. I Allison Gregory / The Alestle
13 blocks total and 71 digs in the game. Senior defensive specialist Katie Shashack led the team in digs with 21. Redshirt sophomore setter Samantha Knight added 13 digs, and senior outside hitter Jackie Scott posted 12. The Cougars faced Montana in their first match Saturday and dropped a close first set 29-31 before battling back to win three straight for the 3-1 victory. Head Coach Kendall Paulus said the match against Montana was a back-and-forth battle, and the team did well keeping a high level of energy. “It’s a game of momentum; the tides can shift at any moment. [Montana] would sneak up on us and steal a little momentum, but the team takes so much pride in playing with energy. Whenever they’re not meeting their own standard, they fight to get back to their best,” Paulus said. SIUE out-hit Montana .253 to .124, racking up 74 digs and eight blocks as well. Joens — named tournament MVP later in the day — hit an astounding .562 against Montana, with 18 kills in 32 attempts. Joens ended up with 37 kills on the weekend. Joens was also named OVC player of the week after her performance at the Scenic City Showdown the previous weekend. According to Assistant Coach Luke Young, she continues to improve week after week. “[Joens] sees the court so well. We know that teams are going to do whatever they can to double-block her. We run a pretty fast offense, so that should open up opportunities for other attackers, but she’s learned this season to score on the double block as well as she does one-on-one,” Young said. Joens gave credit to the Cougars’ setters — Knight and sophomore Mallory Nicholson — for her success. Joens agreed with Young and said her vision of the court has helped her against the double-blocking.
“A lot of it comes from seeing the court and getting the opportunity to have playing time over four years. I’ve gotten a good feel for open spots on the court, rather than swinging right into the block. On top of that, our setters see the court really well. They get the ball to our other hitters, then open me back up,” Joens said. Harrison followed closely behind Joens, hitting .414 against Montana, with 15 kills — joining Joens on the All-Tournament team with 34 kills on the weekend. The Cougars have played in four tournaments so far this season. Joens has received all-tournament honors in two, and Harrison has been honored in three. “I really have to give a shoutout to our seniors. They make sure everyday that everyone on the team is being accountable so that we continue to have weekends like this last one,” Paulus said. SIUE concluded the tournament with a sweep over the University of Illinois at Chicago, improving the Cougars’ overall record to 10-2 — SIUE’s best start since making the move to Division I. Young said he was most impressed with the Cougars’ improvement in mindset and composure over the weekend. “I think our mindset ultimately was the most consistent piece this weekend … the team’s mindset was consistent every single match this weekend, where at times, we’ve seen that waiver a bit. This weekend, that wasn’t the case,” Young said. The Cougars will travel to Austin Peay University Friday, Sept. 22 and Murray State University Saturday, Sept. 23 where they look to keep their high level of confidence as they begin Ohio Valley Conference play. “This weekend is going to be tough, but I really think our team is stable and confident enough to bring their best this weekend. I don’t think we’ll waiver on energy or communication,” Paulus said.
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