THE
alestle
American Sign Language Brilliant boba bonanza! An inside look at our to be taught at SIUE The Alestle samples basketball coaches’ by Deaf professor area boba tea locales journeys to SIUE PAGE 3
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Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Thursday, February 22, 2024 Vol. 77 No. 20
THE student voice since 1960
E B G N I H ‘REAC
’ M U M I N I M E R A B E H T D N O Y
Students and ACCESS advocate for an inclusive campus MICHAL KATE CASTLEMAN online editor
Editor’s Note: Winter Racine is a former Alestle employee. It is important that SIUE, as well as other institutions, aim to maintain an accessible environment for anyone who comes to campus. However, SIUE has a long way to go before achieving a completely accessible campus. Students and the ACCESS office are actively working to transform SIUE into an inclusive space for everyone. Winter Racine is a junior Mass Communications major as well as the Student Government senator for students with disabilities. Racine is the president of Chronic Connection, an organization for
students who may experience chronic illness or students who support those with chronic illnesses. Racine is the vice president of New Horizons, an organization that supports students with disabilities. Due to her advocacy work for students with disabilities, Racine was nominated as a 2023 SIUE Difference Maker. Difference Makers are nominated by their peers as recognition of their initiative in going above and beyond in their community, according to a previous Alestle article. Racine said the Americans with Disabilities Act is a guideline and should be utilized as one — she also said the ADA is a starting point — but it is not the end goal. “We need to reach beyond the bare minimum of accessibility and equity and
we need to aim to do better than the colleges around us,” Racine said. “We are so focused as a university in making sure that we are marketable and competitive, but we don’t show that in what we offer for students with disabilities.” Racine said the reality of disability is it is one of the only minority groups anyone can become a part of. She said people need to think about the experience of disabled people, whether they themselves are disabled or not. “I think able-bodied people often feel attacked when disabled people are telling them about problems with accessibility, and that is understandable,” Racine said. “I try to do my best to balance my anger and my compassion for people.” Racine said when it comes to advocating for accessibility, there is no intention to attack anyone in the conversation. She
said everyone benefits from an accessible environment. “I understand that this is something you don’t understand until it impacts you,” Racine said. “I did not realize how inaccessible the world really is until it became inaccessible to me and I think that is why I push so hard for people to realize it could very well impact you one day.” Racine said SIUE may compare favorably with other institutions, but this is not the yardstick SIUE should
see ACCESS on page 2
Senate welcomes new 600 DAYS LATER... Student senator, hears announcements NO GUARANTEE AT THE e on campus mini food pantries
On day 600 of no contract, union petitions outside MUC BRUCE DARNELL managing editor
Members from the AFSCME Local 2887 union stood with petitions at the Quad entrance of the MUC in an attempt to gain support and educate passersby of the union’s situation with negotiations. The day they petitioned, Feb. 20, marked day 600 of no contract with the university. AFSCME Local 2887 President Julie LaTempt-Brazier attempted to stop anyone walking into the MUC and get them to sign the petition to support the union. “We are trying to educate people,” LaTempt-Brazier said. “This is a place of education and knowledge, and it doesn’t seem like a lot of that is happening in Rendleman Hall … We have negotiations on Friday, [Feb. 23]. We are hopeful they will make the right decision.” LaTempt-Brazier said students she stopped were surprised about the length of the negotiations. Kylie Takahashi, a sophomore psychology major, asked LaTempt-Brazier about signing the petition. “I don’t know that much … [But] I know that they’ve been protesting a lot,” Takahashi said. “It’s something that I’m pretty passionate about as an avid socialist. I heard [the unions] say, ‘We haven’t had a contract for 600 days,’ and I was like, ‘600 days!?’ To me, that seems a little sick.” Takahashi said she believes students don’t appreciate clerical staff or building service workers as much as they should.
“If you tell one of [the workers], ‘Thank you so much,’ they’ll turn around so fast. I think it’s cruel that the school treats them this way,” Takahashi said. Another AFSCME Local 2887 member present was Cheryl Jordan, office administrator for the Office of Academic Advising. “We’re trying to get the students’ attention that this is continuing to go on so that, hopefully, the negotiation committee on their side — as well as the chancellor — will see this as an important thing that needs to be taken care of,” Jordan said. Jordan said about 20 students stopped and signed the petition or expressed support for the union in a period of about 30 minutes. Jordan said that a consequence of the lack of a contract is losing workers, which can have a large impact on students. “People are quitting to go to better jobs … It’s a complete training process and it takes them a year or two to get those things underway,” Jordan said. “From the clerical standpoint, that means students’ paperwork won’t get completed, which may or may not affect the graduation requirements they have.” Jordan said she thinks it’s ridiculous that the administration doesn’t see the value in clerical and service workers. “We do a lot of the work that keeps this university going. If they don’t see that as a value, then that’s a problem,” Jordan said.
THE SENATE SCOOP M o n d ay, Fe br u a r y 19, 2024 - G os h e n L o u n g e
DYLAN HEMBROUGH editor-in-chief The Student Senate added another senator to its ranks at its Feb. 19 meeting in the Goshen Lounge. The Senate unanimously approved the appointment of junior Peyton Lovel to the position of senator for the School of Engineering. Lovel was the only applicant to the position. The Senate approved two travel fund requests of $600 each for the Pediatric Pharmacy Association and Alpha Sigma Tau, as well as a $2,758.32 program request from the Muslim Student Association for their Eid Dinner on April 19. Freshman Senator Ben Cole reported that a series of bylaw revisions will be presented at the next Senate meeting on March 18. “We have made lots of progress that we will soon share with the whole senate,” Cole wrote in his report. “We have made a lot of changes to the bylaws, including some minor things like name changes, and then some other things that will affect how Student Government runs. Those details will be coming very soon.” Interim Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Miriam Roccia addressed
the Senate as well. According to Roccia, 319 students accessed the Cougar Cupboard in January, which was “nearly equivalent” to the number of students who accessed the service last year. Cougar Cupboard is a nonprofit food pantry supported by donations, according to its website. Roccia also said a series of “Mini Cougar Cupboards” are in the process of being set up. Three are already present in Lovejoy Library, the MUC and the Student Fitness Center, with three more planned for the School of Dental Medicine, the Engineering Building and Rendleman Hall. Senator Prasheen Bijukchhe was tardy to the meeting without an excuse, and Senator Alejandra Parram was the only unexcused absence. At the previous Senate meeting on Feb. 7, The Alestle reported that five senators were absent without an excuse. Only Senator Ray Ehrenhaft was absent without an excuse; Senators Alexis Allen and Brian Obi were both tardy without an excuse, and Senators Cheyenne Carpenter and Mae Mohme were
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Advocating for accessibility continues for students, ACCESS ACCESS | cover
measure its accessibility standards with. “We must move above the notion that ADA compliance is sufficient enough on its own,” Racine said. “SIUE must aim to set the bar higher to lead by example and establish a standard of inclusivity and support for students with disabilities, thereby ensuring that our campus is genuinely welcoming and accessible to all students.” Racine said the institution has the resources and expertise necessary to transform our campus into an accessible and welcoming space. She said the university needs to channel those resources effectively to rectify ongoing issues. “While good intentions are admirable, they are insufficient. What we demand is a commitment from our university’s leadership to bring about real and tangible change,” Racine said. “I don’t want to talk. I want change.” “Our collective voice has the potential to catalyze transformation. I think we need to hold the capacity to instigate substantial change, and that starts with the recognition of the urgency of the issue,” Racine said. Leah Foster is a junior Mass Communications major, as well as a senator for students with disabilities in Student Government. Foster is also a member of New Horizons and the vice president of Chronic Connection. Foster said a current issue at SIUE is the lack of evacuation chairs in our campus buildings. These chairs are lightweight and built with wheels to help those with mobility issues to exit buildings safely. Foster said the normal standard for institutions is to have one chair per floor of each building, but SIUE only has one chair across the entire campus. “It’s not practical to only have one evacuation chair,” Foster said. “It sits in the ACCESS office and if something goes
on in the Engineering Build- get our diploma if we do not feel ing or Alumni Hall, you can’t safe on campus.” get to that in a quick enough Dorsey said ACCESS has a time span.” lot of “irons in the fire,” but ACDominic Dorsey is the Di- CESS is not trying to work out rector ACCESS. He said since issues on a timetable or individuhis arrival at SIUE, ACCESS has ally. He said they are working on aimed to purchase more evacu- accessibility issues simultaneousation chairs for every building ly to see how far they can push on campus. SIUE toward being known as an Dorsey said evacuation inclusive campus for everyone. chairs cost around $1,500, and “I think the major accomsince the chairs are not required, plishment we’ve made is raising ACCESS has to wait for the awareness about the difference funds to purchase them. between compliance and acces“There s i b i l i t y,” are individD o r s e y uals who said. “I think that are able to the bar has leave out While good intentions been excepthe front tionally low door in the are admirable, they for instimiddle of an emerare not enough ... [We tutions to do just the gency, [but] want] tangible change.” letter of the the student law instead is asked to of operatwait in an Winter Racine, ing in the area of resPresident of Chronic Connection spirit of the cue hoping law, which someone remembers to tell first respond- is to do a bit more and be more ers that they’re there,” Dorsey intentional about the removal said. “They have to wait in ter- of barriers.” Dorsey said the albatross in ror for someone to come get them. It doesn’t sit well with conversations about accessibility me and I don’t think it sits is not necessarily about wants well for anyone who is aware and desires, but funds and fiof the issue, but it comes down nance, considering that the ADA is an unfunded mandate. to finances.” “There’s the have-to and Foster said an emergenthe want-to,” Dorsey said. “As cy should not have to occur for you’re navigating conversations SIUE to care about the lack of about where money gets spent evacuation chairs on campus. “If something happens, budgetary wise, it does require maybe it will kick-start some- a significant amount of advocathing, but we don’t want some- cy to pinpoint these things that thing to happen to a student or may be an afterthought.” Dorsey said ACCESS is anybody for them to care about working with the Office of the issue,” Foster said. Racine said lacking the feel- Equal Opportunity, Access and ing of safety can have a damag- Title IX to identify spaces on campus that can be used as sening effect on students. “This goes beyond acces- sory rooms for people who may sibility and equity — this is a need them. Foster said routine updating safety issue. It’s beyond wanting these rights because they are of campus features, such as eleour human rights,” Racine said. vators, needs to be considered by “We want these rights because the university. “Bringing attention to we cannot graduate if we are not safe. We can’t put in the work to the problems that we’re facing
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Former county clerk joins race for US house in central Missouri JOE HOLLEMAN St. Louis Post-Dispatch (TNS)
A mid-Missourian has finally announced intentions to run for the 3rd District seat in the U.S. House, a job held now by the retiring Republican Blaine Luetkemeyer. Taylor Burks, former Boone County Clerk and congressional candidate in 2022, has tossed his hat into the Republican primary, political publication Missouri Scout reported Monday. The publication reported Monday that Burks has formed a federal campaign committee to seek the Republican nomination. The first two high-profile entries into the race — State Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman and former State Sen. Bob Onder — both hail from the St. Louis area.
Retiring U.S. House Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer on Oct. 2, 2020, in Washington, D.C. | J. Scott Applewhite-Pool / Getty Images Burks lives in Ashland, Missouri, which is between Columbia and Jefferson City. A Truman State University graduate and married father of three, Burks is a lieutenant commander in the Navy Reserves. Burks was appointed in 2017 by then-Gov. Eric Greitens as the Boone County clerk and served one year in that position. In 2022, Burks finished fourth in a field of seven GOP
candidates for the 4th Congressional District seat. Former Kansas City television anchorman Mark Alford won the primary and went on to win the general election. The retiring Luetkemeyer, who has represented central Missouri in Congress since 2009, announced in early January that he would step down after his current term expires.
helps,” Racine said. “Students don’t realize how bad the elevators are at times because some students don’t need them. If they don’t work or are too slow, they can just walk up the steps, but we have students who simply can’t do that.” Racine said the sidewalks on campus need to be fixed, especially for people who use mobility aids such as wheelchairs and mobility canes. She said the potholes and cracks in the sidewalk can be dangerous for those using mobility aids. “This issue is not one of mere inconvenience — it strikes at the core of fundamental equality. We as disabled students continue to face disparities within our campus environment,” Racine said. “It is crucial for the university to take full accountability and address these systemic issues.” Racine said she recognizes that these improvements are difficult, expensive and may take time to do, but these issues need to be taken seriously by the university. “Advocating for yourself gets really tiring,” Racine said. “It’s like screaming into a void and no one is hearing you. I think people just get tired of fighting.” Dean Kaufman is a sophomore geography major, as well as a member of New Horizons and Chronic Connection. He said accessibility on SIUE’s campus needs to be discussed more. “I definitely think SIUE has a good program for student accommodations. The accessibility is not as good as it could, [but] it’s still decent,” Kaufman said. “I just think there are places where improvements should be made to make people’s lives a little easier.” Kaufman said groups such as Chronic Connection and New Horizons are great for fostering more community for disabled students. “I definitely think those groups really help facilitate communication for people who are disabled or have chronic illnesses,” Kaufman said. “I think if there was more visibility for those organizations, they could make a bigger impact.” Foster said New Horizons and Chronic Connection create a positive campus climate amongst students. “The use of support clubs and safe environments have allowed students to convey how they feel about accessibility on campus,” Racine said. “When we’re looking at a wider collection of that, I think a lot of students have fear of talking about it with staff, faculty and administration because of the fear of backlash.” Dorsey said the greatest triumph is having individuals advocate for students with disabilities. “We’re thankful for individuals across campus who are exercising their voice and helping to educate others about not only their needs, but the needs of other students who may come behind them,” Dorsey said. ACCESS can be found on the main floor of the Student Success Center and is available to any student who may be seeking an accommodation. New Horizons and Chronic Connection can be contacted through GetInvolved or their social media pages.
02.09.24 An officer responded to a report of people carrying suspicious items in Parking Lot 1, but they were gone when the officer had arrived. 02.11.24 An officer responded to a report of an argument between a mother and daughter at Cougar Village. The officer said the area the argument occurred was clear. 02.16.24 An officer responded to a report of domestic battery in Woodland Hall. The officer said the victim declined to press charges against the alleged attacker.
PALESTINE Aid into Gaza, particularly food aid, has been stopped at the border due to dangerous conditions and denial of entrance. In December, a quarter of Gaza’s population was starving. RUSSIA Russian activist Alexei Navalny died in an Arctic penal colony on Feb. 16. Navalny was a vocal critic of President Vladimir Putin, and was arrested in January 2021. BRAZIL Brazil’s President Lula da Silva has called back the country’s ambassador to Israel after comments he made likening the war in Palestine to the genocide of Jews in Nazi Germany. SPAIN Continuing Europe’s farmer protests, Spanish farmers drove tractors to Madrid in a protest of perceived strict environmental regulations in the EU. UNITED KINGDOM Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, is awaiting a verdict in the U.K. to determine whether he’ll be sent back to the U.S. to be tried for espionage relating to a 2007 U.S. military leak. Information courtesy of Reuters / AP
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Picking up a new language in a new class MATTHEW WOLDEN copy editor
Former President Trump speaks during a “Get Out the Vote” rally in Waterford Township, Michigan, on Feb. 17. | Alex Wroblewski / Getty Images
Trump worst president, poll finds BRIAN NIEMIETZ New York Daily News (TNS)
A rating of U.S. presidents found Donald Trump was the nation’s worst ever leader while Joe Biden ranks 14th, putting him among the top-third of commanders-in-chief. The 2024 Presidential Greatness Project Expert Survey asked more than 500 members of the Presidents & Executive Politics Section of the American Political Science Association and recently-published scholars to rate the 46 presidents in “overall greatness” on a scale of one to 100. Respondents ranked Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Roosevelt and George Washington, respectively, at the top of the list. Trump finished dead last behind James Buchanan, who preceded Lincoln and governed in the lead-up to the Civil War. Overall, Democrats and independents agreed Trump should be at the bottom of the rankings
while Republicans thought four presidents were worse. Republicans picked George Washington as the top president while choosing Lincoln — a Republican — second. Democrats rated Honest Abe and FDR ahead of the nation’s first leader. With the next national election nine months away, pollsters are being less kind to Biden than historians. A RealClearPolitics aggregate of national polls shows Trump holding a two-point lead on Biden in a rematch of the 2020 election. Both candidates are their party’s presumptive nominee, though Trump still faces a long-shot primary challenge from former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley. Of the living presidents, Barack Obama was the seventh most favored leader on the list, Bill Clinton came in at No. 12, Jimmy Carter ranked 22nd and George W. Bush finished 32nd. Trump’s team did not return a Presidents Day request for comment.
The new foreign language class under the title “American Sign Language I” is a class taught by Jerry Covell, a deaf lecturer. The class was brought under the Foreign Language Department as, just like other foreign languages, ASL has its own culture. “Next year will be 20 years that I’ve been teaching American Sign Language,” Covell said. Covell started teaching American Sign Language at SIUE this semester. According to Covell, the class had an interpreter for the first day only to get students acclimated to the class. “I told them the introduction with the interpreter and gave them an overview of the book and what’s expected,” Covell said. “And we do that because I can’t really get in-depth about my expectations and homework and whatnot if they can’t understand me.” Covell said the students have to have some sort of hearing obstruction to fully immerse the students into the class. “The students are required to have earplugs,” Covell said. “I’ve noticed that whenever students rely on their hearing, they will engage with each other [verbally]. ASL is a visual language, and you need to learn how to depend on your eyes.” With how much of a visual language ASL is, the class needs to be in a room where you can
see each other easily. Covell said just in case they wouldn’t be able that the ability to see each oth- to understand, but they soon reer is imperative to communicate alized that there was nothing to with ASL. worry about. “You have to turn and look “At first, it was terrifying and sign and turn and look and because I myself wasn’t sure if sign, so ASL classes always need we’d be able to communicate to be a visual setup,” Covell said. with [Covell] and understand Students said they took this him, but he’s made it very comclass as an elective or out of in- fortable and easy for us to underterest. A few of the students said stand,” Soto said. it even changed their outlook on Several of the class. the students “I just expressed very thought that high praise this would be for Covell as a good for my [Covell] made it teacher. Stumajor,” senior dents such as com mu n ica- very comfortable junior educations major and easy for us tion major Ava Jayla Fox said. Henry said “But this to understand.” Covell makes class has realan effort to ly opened my make the class eyes. There’s Eden Soto, as easy as posFreshman philosophy major other forms sible to underof communistand. cation as well.” “We are learning very quickOther students said they took this class to help ensure ly, but it’s easy to catch on when that Deaf culture is included in you are immersed in the experieveryday life such as Acacia Hel- ence. Even though it’s all ASL ton, a freshman technical theater and we don’t have an interpreter, he still writes on the whiteboard and design major. “[This class] shows the cul- so we can know what signs are tural side of it,” Helton said. different things,” Henry said. Henry also said they practice “We are all like, ‘Oh you are really all Americans. We do the with each other and as homesame thing.’ I didn’t realize how work to solidify what they know. “When we practice the different we were because … like special needs, they’re just shoved signs, we have conversations into a corner. I don’t want them with each other. We ask, ‘What’s to be shoved in a corner. I want your name? How are you?’ and we do one-on-one conversations them to be with us.” The students, such as fresh- and go throughout the group man philosophy major Eden and practice with different anSoto, also said that there was swers to practice different signs,” worry on the first day of class Henry said.
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Header by T. Weltzin
What would we do without sweet treats? We reviewed all types of boba at local spots, from Edwardsville to St. Louis. While the drink is the most important component, the perfect drink comes with friendly service and a good price. We rank based on price, taste and service, reviewing local boba spots to find your perfect fit.
Yummy’s Donut Palace has boba fit for monarchs T. WELTZIN multimedia editor
I T. Weltzin / The Alestle
Quick service, impeccable boba and large donuts don’t excuse the less-thaninviting atmosphere. Yummy’s Donut Palace lives up to the name, as not only is the boba taste worthy of the title, but the prices reflect the restaurant’s name. Two donuts and two small boba drinks were roughly $20. I am not a boba connoisseur, so $20 is a bit too much for two small drinks and two pastries for me.
Despite the price, Yummy’s has a variety of flavors that you can mix and match. I had never tried boba before, so I went for a safe choice of coconut milk tea with jelly coffee boba. I was pleasantly surprised and I instantly understood why others enjoy the trendy drink so much. As for the cafe itself, it had a graband-go vibe to it. While there were tables inside, the cold lighting and unprofessionally-painted walls made the atmosphere grim. However, the store owner was very nice. Next time, I’ll take a table outside.
Best Boba Tea: Quick service, warm atmosphere AUDREY O’RENIC sports editor
I Audrey O’Renic / The Alestle
Located in west Belleville, Best Boba Tea offers a wide variety of boba tea, lemonades and rolled ice cream. One thing to note is the confusing business hours. The hours listed on the physical door are listed as 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., whereas their website says 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. I went on a Wednesday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. to be safe. The restaurant had a minimalistic interior with pink walls and greenery, and I was warmly greeted by the staff. Because it was Valentine’s Day, I went with the pink strawberry boba. However, I was told that the boba was not done cooking, so I had to choose between the only
available options: mango popping boba or rainbow jelly. I’m not a fan of either, but ultimately went with the rainbow jelly for a total of $6.65. My boba was capped with a pink seal, and the server even went to the back to get me a pink straw to match. The drink itself tasted like melted strawberry ice cream; it was delicious and not too sweet. Unfortunately, the rainbow jelly threw me off and I wish I had just asked for no inclusions. Overall, it’s a fun drink, but I would only get it on occasion due to the price. However, if you are an avid boba drinker, then this is the place to go. Best Boba Tea delivers quick service with a welcoming atmosphere. Just make sure you catch them at a time when the boba is ready.
Bubblecup Tea Zone is the perfect spot for boba beginners MICHAL KATE CASTLELMAN online editor
I Michal Kate Castleman / The Alestle
Bubblecup Tea Zone in St. Louis thoroughly impressed me with its large menu, amazing boba and a calm atmosphere. The store was small, with a few seating options, as well as a photo-op with a couch and a grass wall. The employees were kind and patient with me as I scanned their menu. They offered milk teas, fruit teas, flavored slush and creative snow. As someone who is new to boba tea, I was grateful for the kindness of the employees at Bubblecup Tea Zone, who were willing to teach me about the many flavors and teas they offered.
I opted for the traditional strawberry milk tea and added boba pearls for an extra $0.50. At first, I was uneasy about the milk tea, but I am so glad I tried it because I truly loved it. It was so sweet. I especially loved the boba pearls at the bottom. For pricing, Bubblecup Tea Zone prices are affordable. Some drinks are cheaper than your average Starbucks order. My order was less than $7 before the tip, which is a good price considering the drink was a bit larger than a medium coffee.
I would recommend Bubblecup Tea Zone, especially if you are trying boba for the first time. The options are endless and the environment was welcoming.
Kung Fu Tea provides fun, cheap boba flavors SAM MUREN reporter
I Sam Muren / The Alestle
Kung Fu Tea is a martial arts-styled boba shop on Delmar Boulevard in St. Louis. It is located in the Delmar Loop. The chain-store has many unique flavors of boba to choose from. I ordered the Oreo Wow Milk Strike boba. Personally, I am not a big fan of the texture of the boba pearls or tapioca. However, despite the texture, the flavor was really good. It reminded me of an
Oreo or cookies and cream. I paid $5.65 for a medium size boba. As for the store itself, there was a cool atmosphere. I thought the minimalist Asian-inspired decor and artwork was unique and added a nice ambiance. There are many different shops and restaurants in the Delmar Loop to choose from if you are looking to make a fun trip for boba tea. It is on the edge of St. Louis City, which could be a hassle for some SIUE students.
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Refreshing and sweet, Honey Bee Tea is open late BRANDI SPANN opinion editor
I Brandi Spann / The Alestle
Honey Bee Tea is the perfect spot to stop for some late-night boba. They’re open until 9 p.m. I ordered three different drinks for my friends and I, starting with the fresh peach fruit tea. True to its name, the drink was incredibly refreshing. It had fresh fruit slices submerged in the tea. It was a mellow tea, but not too sweet. The Okinawa milk tea with toasted crème brûlée was slightly unmixed, but nothing that couldn’t be fixed by giving the drink a whirl with my straw. It tasted like vanilla — not sweet, but strong. The
tapioca was fantastic and most definitely freshly made. The crème brûlée tasted like whipped vanilla pudding. The fresh mango green tea with strawberry popping boba had a subtle hint of mango. It was not too sweet and not too overwhelming. It would be the perfect revitalizing drink for studying or relaxing. There were only a few popping boba flavors, and the drinks were priced between $6 to $9 each. Located conveniently beside the bustling Brentwood Plaza, stop by World Market, Target or Trader Joe’s after ordering your drink.
CJ’s Juicery a great stop for boba, leisure activities BRUCE DARNELL managing editor
I Bruce Darnell / The Alestle
Located in downtown Alton, CJ’s Juicery has good boba at a reasonable price, as well as good gaming facilities for customers. I ordered the jasmine milk tea with honey and had an immunity shot added to the drink because I was feeling sick, which ultimately didn’t help too much. The drink cost about $10. Looking around the store, I saw familiar cafe staples such as a chess board, a checkers board, a Jenga tower and an air hockey table. When I got my drink, it was hot at the
bottom and cold at the top. I don’t know what part of the drink had the immunity shot — or if I even got it. It may or may not have been separate and I only left with my drink. The drink was good. The herbal flavor of the tea mixed well with the honey and milk, and the tapioca pearls complimented the drink well. The heat dissipated quickly, but in the first minute of drinking, the taste was delicious. After the drink’s temperature evened out, the drink didn’t taste as good, but that didn’t make it bad. Overall, I think CJ’s Juicery is good for anyone in the area wanting to hang out with some friends and drink some boba tea.
Tastea Boba Tea truly triumphs in the boba department DYLAN HEMBROUGH editor-in-chief
I Dylan Hembrough / The Alestle
It’s hard to find in downtown Edwardsville, but Tastea Boba Tea is worth it for any boba connoisseur. The interior of Tastea Boba Tea is a small one, but a cute and cozy one. The locale has a modern coffee shop vibe, complete with warm wood trim. The menus are all easy to see and contain dozens of customizable tea options. There is a small seating area in the building as well that offers a streetside view of downtown.
I asked the cashier if the pudding tea was any good, as I rarely drink tea, and she assured me it was. So, along with the mango popping boba I was looking forward to, I ordered the pudding tea. The price of around $7 for a small tea was a tad steep, but the friendly service and taste made up for it. As for the tea itself, it was delightfully cold and really did taste like chocolate pudding. The mango boba was the highlight for me — the sweet, fruity flavor was almost overwhelming, but in a good way. I enjoyed the beverage and finished the entire drink by the time I got home.
Cube Tea Studio offers a trendy environment, good boba CHLOE WOLFE lifestyles editor
I Chloe Wolfe / The Alestle
I am not the biggest fan of boba, but Cube Tea Studio’s was delicious, even if I did not get the kind I originally wanted. When you first walk into the building, you are immediately greeted with ambient lighting and blaring music. If I had been more familiar with boba and what I wanted, this would not have been so jarring. The ambiance and quick service made up for that though, even if it affected my experience. Due to the loud music, I could barely hear the cashier asking
me what kind of boba I wanted and how sweet I wanted it. I ended up going with lime lemon yashi fragrant tea with 75 percent less sugar and strawberry popping boba. In total, the drink was $7.38 after tax. Within less than five minutes of ordering, they called my name and we were on our way. The drink was delicious — earthy with a hint of lemon. I did not enjoy the feeling of the boba, but I did enjoy its taste. Although I would probably not go back, I have already suggested it to my friends who love boba.
Welcoming ambiance, Hitea offers cheap, delicious boba BRANDI SPANN opinion editor
I Brandi Spann / The Alestle
Hitea, the pink-painted shop on S. Euclid Avenue in St. Louis, offers a lowlit, ambient shop with unique flavors and great prices. I ordered their white peach jasmine tea with 20 percent sweetness and light ice. It cost $5.50. They either forgot to put the ice in the drink, or it melted immediately. There was no fruit floating in the drink, but it tasted fresh. There were strong notes of sweet peach, making it refreshing. It did not taste bitter
like a typical tea would. The sweetness level was perfect. I also ordered the Budapest crystal peach sap flower milk tea with 70 percent sweetness and light ice. It cost $5.75. The drink tasted milky and smooth, with plenty of mashed jellies in the bottom of the drink adding an interesting, chunky texture to each sip. The employees were welcoming and kind. It took them about 10 minutes to make our drinks, which was only an issue due to the 15-minute parking available on the surrounding streets. The drinks were artisanal and the shop itself was warm and inviting.
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DYLAN HEMBROUGH Editor-in-Chief
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Living sustainably is simpler than you might imagine THE ALESTLE STAFF editorial board
Sustainability is a popular conversation, especially online. Even though some conversations surrounding sustainability can be problematic, living a sustainable lifestyle is not impossible, and is actually quite easy. We should all strive to be more sustainable in our daily lives. While there are debates about the ethics of thrift shopping, given that secondhand stores are often seen as affordable shopping options, they remain excellent sources for everything from clothing to furniture. Other methods of shopping we should consider are small, local businesses. According to a Forbes article, locally-owned clothing stores, restaurants and bookstores consume fewer resources and produce less waste than larger, well-known establishments. We should also consider keeping the clothes we have for longer or donating our clothes when we are done wearing them.
Constantly buying new clothes because we feel like we want them does not contribute to bettering the environment. If possible, buying higher-quality clothing is a better investment due to longevity of the clothing items. We shouldn’t be purchasing our clothes because of what is trendy. Conversations about sustainable lifestyles can often shame those who cannot afford to shop outside of fast fashion retailers, such as Shein. A rise in thrift stores and small business prices can create an appeal for fast fashion stores, as items at these shops are incredibly cheap. We should not be throwing away our clothes unless they are damaged beyond repair. Even then, fabric scraps can be upcycled to make other textiles. For those who are not handy with a needle and thread, old shirts and towels can be repurposed as cleaning cloths to reduce further waste. Another sustainable action we should take is to buy our food from farmer’s markets. When
we shop locally, you’re contributing to your community while also reducing your carbon footprint. There’s also a chance your food will taste better too, if you buy from farmer’s markets. People who are selling food from their gardens are less likely to use the chemicals that are commonly found in the food sold in grocery stores. We should also be bringing our own reusable bags when we shop at larger stores. Edwardsville’s tax on plastic bags encourages people to bring their own bags and there’s a chance people will create the habit of bringing them when shopping outside of Edwardsville too. Even if your community does not tax plastic bags, you should still consider reducing the number of plastic bags you take home with you. Bringing your own reduces the amount of plastic that is thrown away once you are done with the bags. Reusable water bottles are a popular purchase right now, especially with brands like the Stanley Cup, Owala and Hydroflask
becoming trendy. While overconsumption of water bottles is not the best economical option, having a reusable water bottle is a great environmental choice that helps reduce single-use plastics. When you’re ordering food in the MUC, you should consider saying “for here” instead of “to-go.” When you purchase to-go containers just to eat the food inside of the MUC, you’re contributing to producing more waste on campus. SIUE should also consider reusable dish options for restaurants such as La Cocina or Garden Patch, which only offer togo plastic containers. This way, SIUE can reduce the amount of waste it is producing. Whether it’s shopping for clothes or food, there are simple ways for you to live more sustainably without completely altering your lifestyle. If you implement any of these small changes in your life, you can make a huge impact. If it’s a financially viable option for you, take these small steps to reduce our footprint and help the Earth be a healthier place.
vances social skills and develops an expansion of memory and cultural understanding, provides a fresh outlook on native language and nurtures confidence and creativity. According to the Pew Research Center, “Across Europe, 91 percent of students in primary and secondary school were studying English in 2017,” and while the requirements are arguably geographically influenced, this provides a range of opportunities for students to experience the world that U.S. students don’t often pursue. The United States does not have an official language at the federal level. But out of the 50 states, 32 have declared English the language of the state, including Illinois and Missouri. While English is predominant, there are millions of speakers accounting for other succeeding languages like Spanish, variations of Chinese, Tagalog and Vietnamese. Other official languages at the state and territory levels in the U.S. include Dakota, Lakota, Nakota, Hawaiian, Spanish, Chamorro, Carolinian and at least 20 variations of native Alaskan languages. As one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world, it’s disheartening that the United States does not have a national standard for language
courses in public schools. The biggest inhibitor to this change in the U.S. is an overwhelming disinterest in learning a second language. It seems that most people feel that there is no need to learn one because they will not use it in their day-to-day life. While this may be true, it’s a limiting perspective, and it does
not promote a sense of appreciation for international diversity. Higher education is meant to hone in on a specific area of study, but a curiosity for more makes an individual more likely to be receptive to new perspectives, and it will give students the tools to expand their education beyond their degree.
Language courses should be required for a degree in higher education BRANDI SPANN opinion editor
SIUE only requires courses in foreign languages when an individual is pursuing a bachelor of arts. However, every student could gain valuable exposure if these courses were required for every degree. In the digital age, our environments are not only influenced by our physical surroundings, but an international community. Even an introductory level understanding of a language different from one’s local language will strengthen an individual’s education and expand career opportunities. Learning a foreign language serves to enhance an individual’s skills in attentiveness, memory and listening habits. Children develop language during a “critical period” by acquiring it naturally from their environment. After adopting the rules of a native language, adults spend the rest of their lives growing their vocabulary. But to study a new language means that one must learn the structure of it, rather than naturally acquiring it. This means that it requires dedication, practice and immersion. The benefits of learning — rather than acquiring — a language are cognitive. It ad-
Non-English Languages Spoken in Homes of the U.S. Population Aged Five Years or Older Data Collected in 2019 Census
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View from the Sidelines: SIUE hockey needs to fix inconsistency Alestle Reporter Sam Muren is passionate about athletics and has played sports throughout his life. He will share his insights on SIUE sports every two weeks.
SAM MUREN reporter Here are some key takeaways from the SIUE Hockey team’s 2023-24 season. Throughout the season, multiple patterns became apparent. Some developments the Cougars should focus on maintaining, while others they should look to correct or adjust. It is interesting to see the patterns develop throughout the season, especially when they are patterns that tend to burn the team.
The Frustration
Hockey fans know that players at every level will make mistakes. Some mistakes happen in the heat of the moment, others tend to repeat in other games. The Cougars as a whole team found themselves incorporating bad habits that occurred sporadically throughout the season. When the Cougars played an important game, it always seemed as if they started the game poorly or finished the game poorly. There were many instances this season when the Cougars found them-
selves in a hole early on in the game. Once they started playing like themselves, they would dominate. This odd habit occurred in their games against Maryville University. Sometimes, they would recover and win the game. Other times, they failed to complete the comeback. If they played better in the beginning, then the pressure for a comeback would be alleviated. Too many games ended poorly for SIUE by failing to play consistently good hockey for 60 minutes. Aside from the consistency issues, the Cougars only had one other problem tying them down: penalties. SIUE had many games that ended with a one or two-goal differential, but the Cougars would end on the wrong side of the equation due to penalties. This happened in their most recent series with Saint Louis University. The Cougars took a penalty in overtime and the Billikens won the game on a power play. Penalties will always be a major factor in a season. The Cougars had the second-best penalty kill in their division. Oftentimes, SIUE took unnecessary penalties when the game was tied or one goal away from being tied. Every hockey team has a game that slips
away from a foolish penalty in a critical moment, but it felt like déjà vu for the Cougars throughout the season.
The Fun
While SIUE had some repetitive errors throughout the season, they also cultivated positive aspects to build on. Attendance at SIUE home games continued to be positive for the Cougars throughout the season. The product on the ice, win or lose, is drawing a crowd to the East Alton Ice Arena to see SIUE Hockey. The fans are coming because the Cougars are fun to watch. Despite specific struggles, SIUE has a very entertaining style of hockey. When the Cougars are on their game, the fans and the team are in for a treat. SIUE brings a balance of passion and skill to the table. The roster is filled with scrappy-minded players who are not afraid to get rough when a game gets heated, and some players bring eye-capturing skills that can be fun to watch. Senior forward Jakob Schreiber and senior Brendan Sommer were my key forwards who were most fun to watch this season. Both exhibited a competitive nature to complement excellent hockey senses and skills. I also enjoyed watching senior goalie Brendan Rasch, who would keep the
Cougars within the possibility of winning multiple times.
The Future
The team needs to continue to build a positive reputation. The best way to do this is to win. By solving the main issues discussed above and fine-tuning their game, this team has the potential to beat the heavyweights in their division. Bradley University and Maryville University held first and second place this season. SIUE did not win one game against either team. Winning against these two teams is key to the future Cougars’ success. New and developing players will be interesting to keep an eye on. One player that caught my attention was the addition of freshman forward Ethan Cook. Through the few games Cook played, he made a very positive impression with his two goals against SLU. Two other players to keep in mind are the development of freshman defenseman Ethan Kuehnel and freshman forward Kadan Kruger. If these players can hone their current skills, they will be major factors in the Cougar’s future success. With the closing of the 202324 season, what comes next for SIUE Hockey is up to the players on the ice.
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An introspective look into SIUE basketball coaches’ unfinished stories SAM MUREN reporter
Both Men’s Head Basketball Coach Brian Barone and Women’s Head Basketball Coach Sam Smith are crafting the narrative of their coaching careers. Here is an overview of everything so far and the path that led them to SIUE.
Coach BRIAn Barone HAS COACH’S BLOOD running through his veins Barone is in the middle of his fifth season with SIUE as head coach. However, Barone’s story of being the Cougars’ head coach goes way back. His father was a coach when Barone was younger. Growing up in that environment gave Barone a passion that he lives out today. “I kind of grew up in the business of being a coach’s son,” Barone said. Barone’s father, Tony Barone, Sr., played basketball for Duke University and eventually went on to coach for Creighton University, Texas A&M University and the National Basketball Association team, the Memphis Grizzlies. “For me, I was always in [the coaching] world,” Barone said. “It’s kind of what I’ve always known.” Barone played basketball at Texas A&M while his dad was coaching there. After two years at Texas A&M, Barone transferred to Marquette University. He sat out for one year before finishing his playing career. Barone shifted his life from playing on the court to coaching from the sidelines. “I went into a junior college down in
Florida, spent some time in Kansas and went to work for Porter Moser at Illinois State [University],” Barone said. Moser, now coaching at the University of Oklahoma, once played for Barone’s father and also coached Barone when he played at Texas A&M. Barone returned to Marquette to coach with a former Marquette teammate, Tom Crean. Crean was then hired at Indiana University, and Barone joined his staff for a while. Barone also had a stint at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay before returning to another junior college and Indiana. Now, Barone is at the helm of SIUE’s men’s basketball program. “It was definitely a dream come true,” Barone said on his first stint as head coach with the Cougars. Barone had done everything in basketball, but at SIUE, he is at the long-desired helm of the ship. “Every time there is the national anthem before the game, I kind of go through my timeline — in a shortened way — of how lucky I am to be able to coach a game in a couple of minutes,” Barone said. Barone has established many relationships with former teammates and fellow coaches throughout his years of coaching. “It’s neat to be able to have the relationships from over 20 years [in college basketball],” Barone said. The past has led Barone to SIUE, but now his home and primary focus is here in Edwardsville. “I’m proud to be from Edwardsville,” Barone said.
SIUE Men’s Basketball Head Coach Brian Barone watches the Cougar’s play against Tennessee Tech on Jan. 27. | Maximillian Lenhart / The Alestle
Coach Sam Smith AIMS TO REBUILD SIUE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
SIUE Women’s Basketball Coach Sam Smith follows the action leading to the Cougars’ 58-67 loss. | Maximillian Lenhart / The Alestle
Now in her third season as head coach of SIUE women’s basketball, Sam Smith is looking to build something special. Coming from Joliet, Illinois, Smith played basketball for DePaul University. After finishing her college basketball career, she joined her older sister Allie Quigley to play professional basketball outside of the United States. Smith and her sister both played basketball in college together and then shared more time on the court in Hungary. However, Smith quickly decided that playing basketball was no longer what she had the most interest in. Quigley went on to play in the Women’s National Basketball Association. “[I] decided that wasn’t for me,” Smith said. “I was there for a short time. Then [I] decided I wanted to come back home and start coaching.” At just 22 years old, Smith returned to the States to coach at the University of St. Francis in her hometown of Joliet. “[I] was an assistant [coach] my first year, then became the head coach the next year,” Smith said. Smith worked for St. Francis for seven years. It was here where she began to establish herself in the coaching world. Smith took that early coaching experience to the next level at the Division 2 school of Lewis University. Smith continued to impress during her four years at Lewis. “[We] had some great success: 20-win
seasons [and] went to consecutive NCAA tournaments,” Smith said. Eventually, the head coach position at SIUE opened up. Smith looked into the opening and knew it was the place for her. “My husband and I fell in love with the area,” Smith said. “[I] just have fallen in love with the community, the school, the athletic department and everything [Edwardsville] about.” Smith also saw a vision for the women’s basketball program. “As a coach, I just saw the potential in it being something special,” Smith said. “We’re still in this rebuilding phase as a program.” Smith saw the potential for a great program when she arrived, but saw it come to life with her first win. SIUE women’s basketball captured their first win against a Big 10, a Division 1 Conference, school. “We beat the University of Illinois on the road at Illinois. [It was a] very, I would say, underdog type win,” Smith said. This was Smith’s first win at the Division 1 level. The team was paid to come and play Illinois as a bye team. “It was pretty amazing when we got a win like that and it being the first one,” Smith said. This is only year three for Smith at SIUE, but she knows there is a long road ahead for her and the program. Smith said that she enjoys coaching so that she can mentor young women. SIUE women’s basketball will have Smith to look to as they continue down their rebuild.