SIUE SHOWBIZ holds production ‘The Tempest’ page 4 wednesday, 06.28.17
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alestle
Women’s Tennis comes off record-breaking season page 7
alton — east st. louis — edwardsville
vol. LXXX no. III
Supreme Court allows limited travel ban
Ban deemed to not effect international student enrollment KEEGAN GAUWITZ sports editor
The Supreme Court approved parts of President Trump’s travel ban on June 26, with the exception that the ban “may not be enforced against foreign nationals who have a credible claim of a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States.” As long as that exception remains in place, international students from the six banned countries (Libya, Sudan, Syria, Iran, Yemen and Somalia) should theoretically face no difficulty in leaving or re-entering the country due to their affiliation with SIUE. Director of International Student Admissions James Monahan said the number of international students has fluctuated throughout the last five years. Monahan said it’s normal to see that type of ebb and flow, and it’s unclear whether or not the current political climate will play a role in future enrollment. “It’s a little too early to tell. However, we’ve definitely seen some impact. Recently, there’s been more competition from countries like Australia and Canada in particular. So, when you have some of the rhetoric that we’ve seen recently in the U.S. against immigration, that sort of puts a damper on students looking at the U.S.,” Monahan said. Monahan said some inter-
national students felt concern surrounding Trump’s proposed travel ban, fearing that if they leave the U.S. to visit their home country, they may not be able to come back. “The proposed travel ban made our students a bit scared that they can’t go home and visit their families. In other situations, we’ve had students graduating and their parents — who had
planned on attending the ceremony — decided against it,” Monahan said. However, with the Supreme Court approving only a limited version of the travel ban, international students should be protected under the approved conditions because of their affiliation with their university. Their family members should be protected as well.
The Office of International Affairs also reported very little change in atmosphere amidst recent events. “The current situation has had little to no effect on students wanting to travel abroad, or parents’ willingness to send their kids abroad,” Study Abroad Advisor Kim Browning said. Although present enrollment shows no negative effects
in either department, Monahan expects a slight dip in future enrollment, not only at SIUE, also across the country. However, he said he doesn’t expect the slump to last long. “Short term, I think we might see a slight decrease across the country this year just because of all the rhetoric. Long term, however, there’s a demand for higher education out there from young people in countries that don’t have the infrastructure in place to serve their growing population … So, I think there will always be a demand for students coming to the U.S.,” Monahan said. Overall, Monahan sees the demand for both parties involved to be too great for any decrease in enrollment to last too long. International students will continue to be drawn to the U.S. and Monahan hopes U.S. students, faculty and citizens see that as a positive. “Hopefully people see the value of bringing diverse ideas to the university, and the economic impact that these students have. They’re out getting apartments, buying things at stores, they provide a positive impact. It also gives them a better understanding of American economics,” Monahon said.
KEEGAN GAUWITZ
650-3527 @kgauwitz_alestle kgauwitz@alestlelive.com
SIUE participates in St. Louis PrideFest
Independence Day celebrations in the Metro East Alton / Godfrey Fireworks on the Mississippi Date: July 3 at 9:00 p.m. Where: Alton Riverfront Park Alton, Ill. 62002
Highland 4th of July Fireworks Date: July 4 at dusk Where: Glik Park 12525 Sportsman Road Highland, Ill. 62249
Godfrey Family Fun Fest Date: July 4 at 9:00 p.m. Where: Glazebrook Park 1401 Stamper Lane Godfrey, Ill. 62035
Edwardsville Independance Celebration Date: July 1 at 5 p.m. Where: 58 S. State Route 157 Edwardsville, Ill. 62025
Patriots in the Park Date: July 4 at 9:15 p.m. Where: Coolidge Middle School 3231 Nameoki Road Granite City, Ill. 62040
Miranda Lintzenich / The Alestle SIUE Safezone walks in the St. Louis PrideFest parade on Sunday, June 25. SIUE was the only university to have a booth at PrideFest and walk in the parade.
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Hitting high notes
East St. Louis offers opportunity for young performers CHLOE RICE editor-in-chief
CAITLIN LALLY editor
MIRANDA LINTZENICH lifestyles editor
KEEGAN GAUWITZ sports editor
SHAWN GILLES BREANN SPERANEO TRENT STUART copy editors LESLIE HARDIN photographer BRYCE STABENOW reporter NICHOLAS AGADI advertising manager AMRI WILDER DELENA STOKES 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.
CAITLIN LALLY editor
With a long-standing tradition of training skilled dancers under Katherine Dunham, SIUE’s East St. Louis campus hosts the Performing Arts Program Summer Camp to keep the legacy alive. For six weeks, children ages 6 to 17 attend the camp every day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to learn dance and music, culminating in a final performance at 6 p.m. Friday, July 14, at East St. Louis Senior High School. Jack Williams, director of dance and the overall ESLC Performing Arts Program, said what guests can expect from the performance is far from a “little recital.” While in past years the performance has taken place at the East St. Louis campus, according to music director Mary Jo Pembrook, the space could not accommodate the number of people who wanted to attend the event. “They usually have the performance in a multipurpose room that has a little bit of a stage, but they couldn’t fit all the parents in because when there’s 100 students and everybody and their grandparents want to come, we
Left, Kadarius McCollum receives piano instruction from music director Mary Jo Pemrbook as a part of the Performing Arts Program Summer Camp June 21, at the East St. Louis Center. Caitlin Lally / The Alestle
can’t fit everybody in,” Pembrook said. Pembrook, a former music theory professor at University of Missouri Kansas City, started volunteering with the East St. Louis
Center in fall 2016. Since then, she has become a faculty member teaching several music classes and piano lessons throughout the day. “I moved here and I got real interested in East St. Louis … I
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.
ESLC on page 3
news in brief
Counseling hosts open forums for director candidates Counseling Services is in the process of searching for a new director and needs your help. According to Keith Becherer, director of Campus Recreation and search committee chair, the final four candidates have been narrowed down to the following: Jessica Ulrich, Courtney Boddie, Daniel Wilkinson and Ellen Zimmerman. Members of the SIUE community have the opportunity to meet with each candidate and weigh in by providing feedback by 4 p.m. Monday, July 3, via Qualtrics. The open forum for Wilkinson will be at 3 p.m. Wednes-
day, June 28. Wilkinson recently earned a second master’s degree at Webster University in business administration after receiving a doctorate in clinical psychology at Ohio University. He has worked as a psychologist at St. Louis University since 2010. The final open forum will be held for Zimmerman at 2 p.m. Friday, June 30. Zimmerman, a graduate of Illinois State University, worked as the lead mental health counselor at McHenry County College in Crystal Lake since 2009. She not only dealt with students’ health concerns, but also their academic ones. All candidate meetings will
take place in Student Success Center room 1203. According to Becherer, each candidate will have 15 minutes to give a presentation about current mental health issues and their strategies to address them. The candidates’ resumes can be reviewed during the open forums. Ulrich’s session took place June 19, while Boddie presented June 21. For more information, contact Becherer at kebeche@siue. edu or 650-2348.
Third Starbucks to open soon in Edwardsville 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.
didn’t know that SIUE had a center out here and when I found that out, I thought, ‘well, this is where I want to work,’” Pembrook said.
The building going up by the Edwardsville High School will be a new Starbucks. Including the Starbucks on SIUE’s campus, this will be Edwardsville’s third Starbucks. The new off-campus Starbucks is closer to SIUE; however, the addition of a Starbucks begs the question: Will more off campus students start going to the
new Starbucks before coming to campus, or will they continue to come to the one on campus? Manager of SIUE’s Starbucks Tammy Levingston said she doesn’t think the new Starbucks will negatively affect student traffic at SIUE’s location. “I don’t think it will make a big difference because a lot of the kids hit us in between classes and
at the events that are here, so I don’t see much difference in our sales compared to at the new store [when it] comes in,” Levingston said. Edwardsville Economic and Community Development Director Walt Williams was unavailable for immediate comment after repeated attempts.
Graduate School of Business program receives national ranking SIUE’s School of Business graduate program for economics and finance is ranked seventh nationally by “The Financial Engineer Times.” SIUE sits on the list, 2017 Financial Economics Rankings, between Bowling Green State University and University of Colorado-Denver. Saint Louis University also made the list in 14th place. A variety of components are considered for a school’s rank, including average GRE/GMET scores, average undergraduate GPA, graduates’ starting salaries and the school’s acceptance rate. According to a press release, program director Riza Demirer said, “This is a direct reflection of the hard work and dedication from our faculty, staff and students.” READ MORE BRIEFS AT ALESTLELIVE.COM
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page 3
Students prep for performing arts camp finale ESLC from page 2
06.19.17
06.23.17
An officer responded to the trails by the Science West building around 3:30 p.m. because of a report of a male only wearing red underpants. Officers searched the trail and were unable to locate anyone with that description.
An officer responded to 526 Cougar Village for an active fire alarm. Housing was notified. The alarm was activated by humidity and was restored. There was no fire, smoke or damage.
06.20.17 An officer responded to the bike trail by Stadium Drive toward the main campus around 9:30 a.m. because of a report of a male wearing only a jockstrap. Officers advised him to wear more clothing and the subject got dressed and left campus. An officer responded to the Engineering Building because of a report that someone may have misused federal grant funds.
06.21.17 An officer responded to the Physical Plant Maintenance Shed for a found Visa debit card. An officer responded to Lot B for a report of a traffic accident between Illinois registered vehicles DTL318 and SMKNBRD. An officer responded to a found debit card from the Morris University Center Welcome Desk.
06.22.17 An officer responded to a fire alarm at 426 Cougar Village. The alarm was caused by cooking and was reset. There was no fire, smoke or damage.
An officer issued a written warning for speeding 59 mph in a 45 mph zone. The offense occurred at South University Drive and Stadium Drive.
06.24.17 An officer issued a written warning for speeding 59 mph in a 45 mph zone. The offense occurred on New Poag Road at Old Poag Road. An officer issued state citations to Katelen Place for driving with expired registration and speeding on North Circle Drive at Lot 12.
06.25.17 An officer responded to 524 Cougar Village for an active fire alarm. Housing was notified. The alarm was activated by cooking and was restored. There was no fire, smoke or damage. An officer found keys to Illinois registered vehicle 2129265 at Stadium Drive and South University Drive, and returned them to the owner. An officer responded to Cougar Village 415 for an active fire alarm. Housing was notified. A cleaning crew was on scene, and an alarm was activated in the hallway. The alarm was restored. There was no fire, smoke or damage.
06.26.17
A student reported his PlayStation 4 was stolen from his apartment in Cougar Village building 523.
An officer issued a state citation to Cheri L. Bagwell for speeding 60 mph in a 45 mph zone on Stadium Drive at Whiteside Road.
An officer responded to an active fire alarm at 525 Cougar Village. The alarm was activated by cooking and was restored. There was no fire, smoke or damage.
An officer issued a state citation to Abbey L. Holdener for expired registration on East University Drive at North University Drive.
Officers responded to Bluff Hall because a Springboard student reported her roommate had a pocket knife. There were no threats made with the knife. The Springboard student with the knife was located and the knife was confiscated.
06.27.17 An officer issued a written warning for speeding 60 mph in a 45 mph zone on Stadium Drive at Whiteside Road.
during the camp such as hip hop, jazz, ballet, West African and even Dunham Technique. “Dunham Technique is … you might say a West Indies or Caribbean style of dancing,” Williams said. According to Williams, Dunham was inspired by Haitian cul-
to mention creative freedom. “[The kids] get a chance to express themselves,” Williams said. “Some of the shyness comes out and we really try to get them to bond with one another.” Although the city of East St. Louis may face problems, like other municipalities, Williams
With instruments such as guitar, piano, chimes and drums, the students practice pieces ranging from “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” to Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata.” According to Pembrook, while the music portion is popular, the tradition of the camp has been focused on dance. “Some of the students are doing both music and dance,” Pembrook said. Program and dance director Jack Williams, JACK WILLIAMS who was origiESLC Performing Arts Program and dance director nally taught by Dunham, said this year is the 50th anniversa- ture and put her own spin on the said the program is a “diamond ry of the dance program at the type of dance she witnessed there in the rough.” ESLC — with the exception of while working on her thesis. “It’s really a jewel,” Williams taking a short break and return“She was so overwhelmed by said. “In the midst of all the chaing three years ago. the Haitian culture, especially the os going on every day, especially “When you think of the East rituals. So she studied the rituals, now, this is a good place for kids St. Louis campus, the first thing the dancing, the voodoo and all to come and feel safe and have an someone’s gonna say is ‘That this,” Williams said. “Her tech- opportunity to really grow.” dance program — is that dance nique was a way of life, ‘cause it program still there?’ because we goes very deep.” are the oldest program on this During the camp, Pembrook CAITLIN LALLY campus,” Williams said. said students receive lunch, a 650-3527 Rooted in this history, stu- t-shirt, professional instruction @clally_alestle dents learn a variety of dance and attend three field trips — not clally@alestlelive.com
“In the midst of all the chaos going on every day ... this is a good place for kids to come, feel safe and have an opportunity to really grow.“
Edwardsville pool opens for season after repairs BRYCE STABENOW reporter
The outdoor pool on campus that had shut down for repairs is now open and operational again. Donna Meyer, SIUE’s interim director of Facilities Management, said a leaky drain was the cause of the closure, but workers have located and corrected the problem. The pool is not only open to students, but all members of the community as well. The city of Glen Carbon and Edwardsville’s Parks and Recreation department have leased the pool from SIUE for a second summer to provide the local area with a public pool. “It’s good for the community,” Edwardsville Recreation Activities Supervisor Hayley Verheyan said. “It gives people opportunities to go swimming or take swim lessons.” Although there are other pools in the area, they are not open to the public and require memberships to access. The pool is free to access for all SIUE students with a Cougar Card. Free parking is available in Lot 10 without a parking permit, and there are regular shuttle rides to and from the pool. Daily admission is $5 for adults and $4 for children and senior citizens, but frequent visitors can also opt for memberships. The pool is open from noon to 8 p.m. on
Guests enjoy the Edwardsville-Glen Carbon community pool on the SIUE campus, Tuesday, June 27, after it opened over the weekend. Leslie Hardin / The Alestle
Mondays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Fridays, and noon to 6 p.m. all other days. Swimming lessons and party rentals will also be available during the summer, and more information about appointments
and reservations can be found at cityofedwardsville.com.
BRYCE STABENOW
650-3527 @bstabenow_alestle bstabenow@alestlelive.com
READ ABOUT THE TRANSFORMERS NEW MOVIE AT ALESTLELIVE.COM page 4
LIFESTYLES
contact the editor: lifestyles@alestlelive.com 650-3527
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wednesday, 06.28.17
SHOWBIZ PRESENTS SHAKESPEARE’S
‘THE TEMPEST’ MIRANDA LINTZENICH
lifestyles editor
The 2017 SIUE Summer Showbiz presented Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” last weekend and will continue this weekend on June 30, July 1 and July 2. The show was adapted and directed by Chair of the Theater and Dance Department Chuck Harper. “The Tempest” takes place on a deserted island filled with island fairies, a sorcerer named Prospero and a usurped Duke plotting to bring his daughter, Miranda, back to her rightful place in the Kingdom. May graduate Gracie Sartin, of Fenton, Mo., played the part of Miranda. “As soon as I heard we were doing ‘The Tempest,’ I knew I had to do it,” Sartin said. “My mom raised me on Shakespeare. I thought, ‘I have to try out for this.’ Once I found out all of the parts for the cast and we started rehearsing, I started to love it more than I did before.” Sartin said knowing who the director and other actors were gave her confidence that this show would be full of creativity and talent. “‘The Tempest’ is not a typical Shakespeare show, so it was kind of what I expected,” Sartin said. “I hope [the audience comes] out with a new love for Shakespeare. I hope people going to SIUE see how much the directors put into these shows.” Sarah Robinson attended the show because of her love for Shakespeare. “I like listening to the language,” Robinson said. “It transports you to somewhere else. It’s an odd play and I’ve always wondered what it would be like. The setup of the theater made it feel like an island.” Harper said he hopes audience members recognize the important lessons conveyed in the play. “Magic and secrecy and revenge are all kinds of fun things to think about, but ultimately the reality of our lives and real relationships are where we should put our focuses.” According to Harper, an example would be Prospero, played by English professor Jeff Skoblow, realizing he wasn’t completely without blame. Harper said it’s about virtue, not vengeance. Showtimes include Friday, June 30 and Saturday, July 1, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, July 2, at 2 p.m. in the Metcalf Theatre. Tickets can be purchased at the door or in the box office located in Dunham Hall or at 618-6502774. Tickets are $15 each or free with a valid SIUE ID.
English professor Jeff Skoblow played the part of Prospero. Harper said he asked Skoblow to play the part a year in advance because the character makes the show. | Photo courtesy of Valerie Goldston
The opening speech was written by the director, Chuck Harper. He also cut the end speech out and replaced it with a speech from the middle. | Photo courtesy of Chuck Harper
MIRANDA LINTZENICH 650-3527 @mlintz_alestle mlintzenich@alestlelive.com
FUTURE SHOWS Summer Showbiz presents The Addams Family July 14-16 and July 21-23 2017-2018 Season Starts Gem of the Ocean October
Tartuffe February 2018
Dance in Concert 2017 November The End: An Apocalypse Anthology December
“TBA” (a new work still in progress) April 2018
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alestlelive.com
Individuals gather for the PrideFest St. Louis Parade on Market Street, in St. Louis. The route was sponsored by Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals.
| Miranda Lintzenich / The Alestle
SZA IS OUT OF ‘CTRL’
KENDRA MARTIN guest writer SZA probably had one of the most anticipated albums of 2017, and rightfully so. The first lady of the Top Dawg Entertainment label dropped her first extended play, “Z,” with too much critical acclaim after a string of mixtapes, including “See.SZA.Run” and “A.” These made her an artist to keep an eye out for, however, these tapes did not make me a fan. Although I’ve always liked SZA, nothing connected me to her music. I liked a few songs here and there like the amazing “Babylon” with Kendrick Lamar, “Ur” and even
“Teen Spirit.” In that time, SZA contributed her vocals to her TDE labelmates such as Jay Rock, ScHoolboy Q and Isaiah Rashad — with whom she shares amazing chemistry. It seemed like the songs she was featured on were always my favorites. SZA was even featured on the remix of DRAM’s “Caretaker,” and her vocals were absolutely breathtaking. She showed no signs of slowing down, and even her cover of PartyNextDoor’s “twoAM” showcased a vast improvement of her vocals and songwriting abilties. But her big break came when she found herself being one of the writers for “Feeling Myself ” for Beyonce and Nicki Minaj, as well as being featured on Rihanna’s “Anti” album for the opening song, “Consideration.” SZA captured my attention and I awaited her album. Then she released her debut album, “CTRL,” June 9, and I was not disappointed. SZA showcases a sort of empowerment throughout this album while also remaining vulnerable. It’s an incredible piece of honesty and SZA shows no signs of beating around the bush. The intro, “Supermodel,” has SZA laying it all out on the table with the lyrics, “Let me tell you a secret / I’ve been secretly banging your homeboy while you in Vegas / All up on Valentine’s Day.” The bold lyrics cause the listener to instantly become wrapped up in the story being told. Throughout the album, you understand that SZA is not perfect with song like “The Weekend,” in which SZA discusses being the
side chick for a man, and even “Normal Girl,” where she desperately wishes she were a regular girl that someone like her father and her significant other would be proud to have. The album is almost like you are reading someone’s diary or listening on a phone conversation that you have no business listening to. It’s incredibly honest and SZA just wants to speak her truth. The album contains 14 songs and there are only three features, but they do not outshine SZA in any way. They have their place and add to the songs, but SZA remains the star of this piece of work. All in all, SZA knocked it out the park with this album. Although I was indifferent to her before, she made me a fan with this album because she sounds so comfortable and confident. She is not hiding behind the music anymore and her songwriting is incredible. She has a way with words, which makes the message more relatable. This album is another addition to TDE’s amazing catalog and I am interested to see where SZA goes next and when the tour starts. (PLEASE COME TO ST. LOUIS.) SZA, thank you. KENDRA MARTIN 650-3527 @kmartin_alestle kmartin@alestlelive.com
ARE YOU USING THE SNAP MAP? VOTE IN OUR POLL AT ALESTLELIVE.COM. page 6
opinion alestlelive.com
Your opinions deserve more than 140 characters.
CAITLIN LALLY editor
opinion@alestlelive.com
alestle view Snapchat releases potentially problematic feature With the technology we have today, millions of people have the opportunity to share whatever they want whenever they want. Snapchat’s new feature is just another way for others to get even more information about you at any given moment. Snapchat is not the first platform to come up with this idea. Apple has been using the ability in its “Find My Friends” app since 2011. Although similar, Snapchat’s version of Find My Friends introduces a brand new dynamic: the opportunity to share your exact location with your whole contact list rather than a select group of individuals. This is where prob-
lems could easily start to arise. Many people have hundreds of contacts on Snapchat — some friends, some family and most likely a handful of other acquaintances. Users need to be aware that by sharing their location with all of their contacts, they are not only sharing it with their friends and family, but also others they may not know very well. There is also the privacy issue of letting Snapchat have access to your location data at all. Although Snapchat has made it clear that your photos and chats are deleted from their servers after 24 hours, they also have legal obligations to share some data with governments in countries where
their service is used. It’s unclear what data is shared in those requests, and while it is presumably not your chat logs or photos, it could potentially be your location history. Clearly, the best way to avoid problems would be to either select the people you know well or simply just turn off the feature completely. There is no reason why hundreds of people should know exactly where you are whenever they want. If somebody really wants to see you, they should be able to contact you individually to find out where you are. READ MORE STAFF EDITORIALS AT ALESTLELIVE.COM
Finding ourselves: A column about self-expression
A proud ally shares her Pride experience It has been a while since I wrote about what transgender means to me, but that doesn’t mean the topic has to stop there. MIRANDA LINTZENICH lifestyles editor
Two very important milestones have occurred since I last wrote “What Transgender Means to Me.” Those include: My brother officially coming out on Facebook, as well as the St. Louis PrideFest 2017. My brother, Cooper, is 14 and has spent a lot of time deciding whether or not coming out on social media was worth the negativity that might follow. We were both pleased to find that no one outwardly opposed his bold post. Family members have since told me that they were not surprised in the slightest. I soon learned the power of
wednesday, 06.28.17
Finding balance in routine
Write a letter to the editor.
In its most recent update, Snapchat unveiled a new feature, Snap Map, which allows users to see the location of their friends from anywhere around the world. Although users are allowed to disable the feature, some people are still worried about the risks that could come from it. The new page in the app is a map that shows exactly where your friends are at any time. Users are able to select whether they want all of their friends, certain individuals or nobody at all to see their location. This feature is a valuable reminder about the importance of online safety and also makes us wonder, how far is too far?
Share your thoughts: opinion@alestlelive.com 650-3527
social media. His post didn’t go viral. I don’t think it gathered more than 50 likes, but that was not the point. The point was that so many people commented supportive and loving acknowledgments. A platform that bullies used to get into his head soon became a platform he could be himself on. The rest ceased to matter. That was two months ago. When we realized Pride was around the corner, both of us marked our calendars and bought shirts to wear at the event. I researched times and locations, and even wrote a story about SIUE SafeZone’s involvement in Pride to inform others about the opportunities for the LGBTQ community. Pride gave me a chance to outwardly show my brother that I am in no way, shape or form embarrassed or ashamed of who he is. I think he is strong as hell for going through something of this magnitude, and I applaud anyone who is in the same com-
munity as him. The atmosphere of Pride is pure acceptance. People can walk in only pasties and underwear,
others and never to judge someone based on their identity, sexual preference, race, gender, or any other identifier. People come from all walks of life, and until people wholeheartedly embrace the idea of equality, the world will need more than a yearly Pride celebration. So, don’t be afraid to get to know others around you. Everyone comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes, and we are all formed by our backgrounds and pasts. Try to put yourself in someone else’s shoes before you assume or judge. My brother has taught me so many things, and I wish everyone carried such boldness.
“The atmosphere of Pride was pure acceptance.” MIRANDA LINTZENICH
while others wear balloon packs on their backs. Not everyone dresses in such bold statements, but everyone accepts the fact that this is Pride and anyone can be whatever they want to be. I think everyone should aspire to be that accepting all the time. I am open with my support for my brother and I am also open with my faith. If these events have taught me anything, it’s that my only place is to love
MIRANDA LINTZENICH 650-3527 @mlintz_alestle mlintzenich@alestlelive.com
When it comes to coping with a mental illness, people have a variety of strategies. From therapy to medication, or a combination of others, there’s no right or wrong way to healthily cope. However, one method I find most helpful doesn’t involve doctors, research or much money. Routines may be perceived as too rigid, or perhaps they remind you of being in grade school. But no matter what your excuse may be, having a regular schedule is like discovering a magic formula. I find it most effective to schedule one week at a time. This gives me an outline for what to expect. It helps me prepare mentally and physically for the tasks ahead of me, and puts me in an organized frame of mind. Ultimately, this makes it easier and less stressful to go about my week. To help me do this, I use a simple planner. You can also buy colorful pens to color code your calendar. Even an online scheduling system can work — just use whatever is easiest for you. The first thing I like to do is write in my obligations — work shifts, assignment deadlines, bill due dates. That makes it easier to determine where you can block off personal time. This strategy is essential for helping me stay happy, healthy and motivated, and I’d recommend it for anyone. By actively writing in when I will reserve time for myself, I am reminded that my life requires balance. I can spend this time however I like as long as I am not stressed out. Spend your time how you want, but just remember to do something you enjoy. Don’t have a lot of free time? Start small. Maybe sit in your car for an extra song you like before going into work. Or spend an extra five minutes with your coffee in the morning. Personal time doesn’t have to take a long time. Think quality over quantity. Aside from writing out your obligations and personal time, arguably the most important part about a schedule is actually sticking to it. Of course, you should expect some fluctuation in your calendar, but if it’s in your control, try to stay on track as best as you can. If you’re not used to having a routine, try it out and maybe soon enough it’ll become a habit. See if it makes your life easier, and if not, you’re not at a huge loss — just keep looking for what works for you. CAITLIN LALLY 650-3527 @clally_alestle clally@alestlelive.com
contact the editor: sports@alestlelive.com 650-3527 page 7
sports
READ ABOUT THE BLUES PRESEASON ROSTER SWAPS ONLINE THIS WEEK
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wednesday, 06.28.17
Women’s Tennis has record-breaking season KEEGAN GAUWITZ Sports Editor
SIUE women’s tennis completed one of the most successful seasons in the program’s history, winning 21 straight matches, before taking their first and final loss of the season to Vanderbilt University in the first round of the NCAA Division-I championships. SIUE’s 21 wins set a program record for wins in a season at the Division-I level. The Cougars were led this season by seniors Lexi Aranda and Mia Frogner, who held the one and two singles spots, respectively. Aranda finished 19-6 in singles matches, and Frogner wrapped up the season with a 20-7 record in the number two spot. Both players received firstteam All-OVC honors. Following an 18-0 start to their season, the Cougars faced Southeastern Missouri in the Ohio Valley Conference regular season title game. SIUE won 6-1, finishing the regular season undefeated, and earning the top seed in the OVC tournament with a 9-0 conference record. Head Coach Nick Mueller said the team’s success stemmed from senior leadership and great cohesion between the teammates. “Team chemistry was very good. Lexi and Mia were two of the best senior leaders we could have had, and very good tennis players as well. We had a lot of girls that really bought into that,”
Mueller said. In the first match-up of the OVC tourney, SIUE played No. 4 seed Eastern Illinois at the Centennial Sportsplex in Nashville, Tenn.
4-2, earning their 20th win of the season and advancing to the conference championship where they defeated Eastern Kentucky 4-1. Frogner clinched the win for the Cougars as they won their sec-
Mia Frogner and Lexi Aranda being honored on senior night at SIUE.
The Cougars won a doubles point early as freshmen Callaghan Adams and Laura Tupper defeated Eastern’s Emily Pugachevsky and Srishti Slaria 6-3. Aranda and Frogner picked up two singles points early for SIUE before Adams clinched the decisive match at the number five spot. The Cougars beat Eastern
ond straight OVC title, wrapping up their undefeated regular season run, and guaranteeing them a spot in the NCAA tournament. “[Going back to back] is incredibly special, personally and as a teammate … Freshman and sophomore year, being ousted in the first round, going home disappointed, thinking ‘what else could we have changed?’ and then those
tough days of working together paid off junior and senior year,” Aranda said. For the second straight season, SIUE drew the Vanderbilt Commodores in the first round of
Photo courtesy of SIUE Athletics
the NCAA tournament. The Cougars traveled to the Currey Tennis Center in Nashville, Tenn. to play VU May 12. The Cougars were beat 4-0, and the Commodores knocked them out of the tournament for the second straight season. Vanderbilt continued their success, making it to the semifinal game before being knocked out
by the eventual champions — No. 1 seed Florida. Following the season, Frogner was honored by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association with the Central Region’s ITA/Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award. The award is given to players based on their tennis accolades, scholarly achievements, sportsmanship, extracurricular activities and leadership. The senior from Oslo, Norway was the top student in SIUE’s School of Business, appearing as a commencement speaker at the spring ceremony. Coach Mueller praised Frogner and Aranda for their leadership on the court as well as their leadership off the court, and said two of the biggest moments of the season came from each senior. “One of our first matches, we hosted SLU and Lexi clinched in the final match … and that’s the first time we’ve beaten SLU since 1986. It just kept going forward from that point. In the OVC championship, Mia was the one to clinch against Eastern Kentucky,” Mueller said. Following the high standard this group has set, the Cougars look forward to next season, where they hope to bring their third consecutive OVC championship back to Edwardsville.
KEEGAN GAUWITZ
650-3527 @kgauwitzalestle kgauwitz@alestlelive.com
Volleyball coach Leah Johnson flies north to coach the Redbirds KEEGAN GAUWITZ Sports Editor
SIUE Head Volleyball Coach and Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year Leah Johnson has announced that she will be leaving Edwardsville to become the head coach at Illinois State University. Johnson has spent the past six years leading the Cougars volleyball program through the transition from Division II to Division I. The Cougars are coming off one of the most successful seasons in program history, where the team amassed a program record of 22 victories on their way to the OVC Tournament championship. Director of Athletics Bradley Hewitt said the move to the highly-touted Illinois State program is an opportunity for Johnson to take a big step forward in her promising career. “It’s a better opportunity for her financially and support-wise for greater success. Everybody coaching has an ambition of reaching the pinnacle of their particular sport. This gives her a closer step toward that goal,” Hewitt said. Hewitt said ISU handled the situation with utmost class, asking permission to speak with Johnson in regards to the position. “They explained that they didn’t want to disrupt our program, but that they were wanting to talk to her. Shortly afterward, they announced that their coach
Coach Johnson instructing her SIUE players last year at the Vadalabene Center.
was moving on. Following that, their administration called, and I supported them with contact info for Coach Johnson,” Hewitt said. The program’s growth throughout Johnson’s six years at the helm is a testimony to her vision and ability to set the standards necessary for turning a program around. Hired at the end of 2011, Johnson took the reigns of a program not yet acclimated to the
skillset of Division I volleyball. With patience and resolution, she planted a seed that started small, building the foundation of her program with good recruitment and disciplined defense. Like any rebuilding period, the first few years of growth came with ups and downs before Johnson’s program fully flourished in the 2016 season. In their first season finishing above .500 at the Division I level, the Cougars
Photo courtesy of SIUE Athletics
went 22-8, appearing in the OVC championship for only the second time in program history. Johnson’s OVC championship-contending team yielded two OVC All-Tournament team members: senior setter Mallory Mangun and junior defensive specialist Katie Shashack. Mangun — along with senior middle blocker Taylor Joens and senior outside hitter Jackie Scott. “She came in and built a
program the right way. When we hired [Johnson] we wanted someone who wouldn’t take shortcuts, wouldn’t undermine values, and wouldn’t take athletes that aren’t going to be committed. In her six years, Leah met all of those standards,” Hewitt said. Johnson’s coaching career began where her playing career ended — the national powerhouse Missouri State — as an assistant to head coach Melissa Stokes. Johnson played for Stokes all four years at Missouri State, winning a Missouri Valley Conference tournament with the Bears in 2003. After two years with Missouri State, Johnson moved to Notre Dame where she served the Irish as a volunteer assistant coach before being named SIUE’s fourth head coach in 2011. As the Cougars prep for their 2017 season, former assistant coach Kendall Paulus has been named acting head coach, while former assistant Luke Young has been named associate head coach. “It will be different, but we need to step up as players and hold ourselves accountable. We’re all familiar with Coach Paulus and Coach Young, so I think we’ll be prepared when the season comes around,” redshirt sophomore setter Sami Knight said.
KEEGAN GAUWITZ
650-3527 @kgauwitzalestle kgauwitz@alestlelive.com