The Alestle Vol. 77, No. 24

STUDENT BODY MARKS IN LARKIN

Knapp elected vice president, Ford elected student trustee

DYLAN HEMBROUGH editor-in-chief

Results are unofficial until ratified by the Student Senate on April 1. The president, vice president and senators will take office April 15.

The student trustee will take office July 1.

Muslim students share insights on practicing Ramadan on campus

CAMELA SHARP reporter

Muslims on campus are having difficulties practicing Ramadan, as many who fast during the month are having trouble finding food options on campus. Changes are being made to fix that.

As SIUE works to accommodate each of their students’ individual needs, they accept the direction and suggestions made by students. Thanks to the Muslim students of SIUE, they can have a better idea of which steps to take and which changes to make.

Asmaa Khalid said that she would like to see an increase of zabiha and halal options in the MUC.

“[I would like] access to zabiha and halal meat, which is basically the Muslim, kosher version of meat,” Khalid said. “It follows certain guidelines for butchering and cleaning of the meat.”

Muslim students have discussed their concerns and desires for dining hall options for Ramadan. Janyya Faadir-White, a Somali American student majoring in psychology, said there are some halal options, but no zabiha options.

Many Muslims participate in Ramadan, which is a month-long practice where they will pray, reflect, get together as a community and fast. Their fast is from dawn to sunset.

Faadir-White said that the ending

time of the fast conflicts with the closing hours of food sources in the MUC.

“So say if the dining hall closed at 8, right now we’re fasting for Ramadan so we break fast at, like, 7:06,” Faadir-White said. “For it to be open two more hours would be accommodating.”

Ridwan Oyebamiji, a Muslim student majoring in biomedical sciences said that the current halal options are not available long enough.

“I think one thing too is just more halal options in the MUC,” Oyebamiji said. “There’s currently only one, and it’s only available at a certain time of the day. Obviously, that certain time of the day is when we’re fasting. So pretty much there’s no halal options for us.”

Oyebamiji said that there are issues with things like the chicken shawarma meal. The shawarma was introduced specifically for Muslim students but has become so popular to everyone that it isn’t as available to Muslim students as it should be.

“The chicken shawarma is a very popular item that a lot of people like, not just Muslims. That’s something that previous students asked for six or seven years ago down the line,” Oyebamiji said. “The chicken shawarma being offered in the MUC is an outcome of the work that students put in, but it’s not necessarily benefiting the people that it was catered for in the first place.”

Some non-Muslim students agree on a need for extended hours and would also like to see the Muslim students receive more accommodations.

Griffin Wilson, a student majoring in anthropology, said that SIUE should have a religious consultant to help the school better accommodate students and faculty.

“I think if we have a religious consultant at the school, it would be important to get them into the discussion on when we can provide food,” Wilson said. “I definitely think that’s important. Even if it’s late at night or early in the morning, it’s important to have food for Muslim students.”

Dining Services is actively working on these issues. Dennis Wobbe, the director of Dining Services, said that they have Muslim staff and they communicate about accommodating the Muslim population on campus.

“We have a lot of Muslim students on our team and we regularly consult with them on different items,” Wobbe said. “We looked at the prayer schedules and what our hours are, how they’re conducive.”

Wobbe said that Dining Services has consulted Muslim students often to figure out what food they want at Entrees.

“They recommended a lot of the fish options,” Wobbe said. “That’s something that Muslim students can have — and vegetarian options, so we’re

see RAMADAN on page 3

The unofficial Student Government election results were released Wednesday, March 27, shortly after voting closed.

Junior business major Barrett Larkin won the presidency with 513 votes. His opponent, biology major and pre-medical student Moayad Abuzaneh, garnered 485 votes. There were 14 write-ins for the presidency.

The difference in votes was 28, which is slightly less than the vote difference between President Mackenzie Richards and Ugo Eleonu last year.

Graduate student in industrial and organizational psychology Kaia Ford, who was absent from the March 18 debate on account of being ill, was elected the new student trustee with 655 votes. Graduate student in mechatronics engineering Jared Jess, the current vice president, got 297 votes. There were 14 write-ins for this spot.

Sophomore political science major Lucia Knapp earned 940 votes and won the vice presidency as the only candidate. There were 32 write-ins for this position.

Zach Entwistle (497) and Heaven Watkins (438) won the two spots for senator-at-large. The other three candidates were Carson Baer (419), current Freshman Senator Ben Cole (183) and Landon Winkelman (152).

The two international student senators will be Zee Salas (667) and Abdulsalam Odofin-Kamorudeen (469). The other candidate was Mainprice Akuoko Essuman (436).

David Ferrier (92) won the position for CAS — Science and Math senator over incumbent Brenden Auerbach (71).

Becca Loftus (33) was re-elected as the School of Pharmacy senator over Charlyse Roy (30).

The two positions for senator for the School of Business were won by Jenna Nestor (45) and Brian Obi (39). The other candidate was current Fee Commissioner Sydney Euchner (33).

The following tallies were collected for the uncontested positions.

Roman Becker (senator for non-traditional students; 982), Winter Racine (senator for students with disabilities; 950), Tonanzi Montoya (senator for CAS — People and Culture; 160), Imareon Taylor (senator for CAS — Arts and Communication; 125), Devin Willis (senator for the School of Education, Health and Human Behavior; 124), Iyanuoluwa Fatunmbi (senator for graduate students; 89), Ray Ehrenhaft (senator for the School of Nursing; 70), Aiden Kocher (senator for the School of Engineering; 59), Nicholas Young (senator for the School of Education, Health and Human Behavior; 53), Peyton Lovel (senator for the School of Engineering; 46) and Nick Yuhas (senator for the School of Dental Medicine; 4).

All five candidates for the Student Diversity Council were also elected: Megan You (638), Lex Allen (627), Jasiah Andrews (587), Ashton Carter (576) and Natasha Kabir (427).

There were no candidates for military and veteran services senator or student athlete senator, so write-in candidates are currently being reviewed. These results are unofficial until Senate ratification on April 1. There were 1,036 voters in total.

Barrett Larkin Mo Abuzaneh Lucia Knapp Jared Jess Kaia Ford

Edwardsville School District approves new, gender-neutral bathrooms

CIARA FOLKERTS reporter

Edwardsville High School will be adopting gender-neutral bathrooms after a 5-2 vote at Monday’s school board district meeting.

Members of the Madison County community came out to the school board district meeting to voice their opinions as a last attempt to influence the board’s final decision on the new commons expansion plan.

“As a student here, I see what happens in the bathrooms more than every adult in this room,” an EHS student at the meeting said. “There are never any monitors. There are endless fights and lots of bullying that goes on and no one stops it.”

Members of the community have expressed the safety concerns regarding how the renovation would increase drug abuse, sexual assault and bullying.

“Your community is speaking to you loud and clear,” Kara Miller, a parent of the district, said. “We have a list of safety concerns and one of them is we don’t want this bathroom.”

Meanwhile, other members of the community have expressed their support for the single-stall bathrooms and how this would provide LGBTQ+ students a safe space.

“I was thrilled when I saw the gender-neutral bathrooms that create a place where children can be kept safe,” Caleb Romoser, a 2008 EHS alumnus and a teacher at Belleville Township High School, said. “Fights can be prevented in a safe and private way for all those involved.”

Luke Slater, a junior transgender student at EHS, said that the new bathrooms would make him feel more comfortable and not limit him to using the only gender-neutral bathroom at school.

Everyone on the board voted in favor of the expansion plan except for board members Bob Paty and Scott Ahart, who voted in opposition to the plan.

Paty and Ahart addressed their concerns of how the contractor’s bid for the carpentry work was handled and the initial conflict of interest with the bid proposals.

Pfund Construction initially placed a bid proposal, but was rejected due to Kristen Pfund being on the Board of Education as well as the Chief Experience Officer for the company.

“I don’t want my vote to be construed as being political on one side or the other,” Paty said during the meeting. “I still come back to why I’m voting ‘no’ for this, because I do feel strongly about how the process [contractor’s bid] has been handled.”

“The bid was put forth and we’ve known for a while there was conflict [of] interest and it hadn’t been properly addressed,” Ahart said. “The bid should nev-

er have been considered, which taints this project right here.”

Pfund encouraged the board to rebid the proposal due to Pfund Construction’s price being $70,000 lower than Holland Construction Services, which was the board’s initial contractor.

“It’s a significant amount of money that our school is spending overall,” Pfund said. “I feel to do our due diligence, that at least bringing that one portion out to bid can’t hurt.”

The board unanimously rejected Holland Construction Services as a contractor and will be moving forward with a rebid on that portion of the contract.

The renovations are estimated at about $6.8 million and will expand the commons area by 8,000 square feet. According to the Riverbender, the project will facilitate a “Tiger Bites” area for student events, studying and purchasing snacks.

“It became evident that the restrooms adjacent to the com-

mons needed renovation, just due to age and infrastructure concerns,” Mary Ann Mitchell, public relations and communications coordinator, said. The bathroom will be designed to have floor-to-ceiling stalls with locking capabilities and individual lights indicating occupancy. Additionally, the bathrooms will have a central common sink area that is visible for staff to monitor for safety purposes.

According to Mitchell, the restrooms will be supervised during peak usage time.

“This is only one bathroom at the high school that we are doing this to,” Patrick Shelton, Superintendent of District 7, said. “As long as we can provide multiple options for students, everybody can find their private safe space and hopefully [be] appropriately monitored.”

EHS Principal Steve Stuart was contacted twice, both over email and in person, but declined to comment.

Elevator keys went missing in Prairie Hall: Who Done It?

CAMELA SHARP reporter who took them.

Elevator keys have been missing at Prairie Hall since March 10 — the day many students returned from spring break — potentially creating big problems for move-out day and SIUE’s pockets.

“

This follows instances of incorrect key renting logging by desk employees, key renting may have not been logged at all, students with a key may have forgotten or misplaced the key or students have been withholding keys.

Elevator keys are important in dorms on campus. Without a key, people can not use the elevator, which makes it difficult to move in and out of the building.

“We don’t know exactly who it was because it wasn’t logged properly,” Singley said. “So we can’t really go after them because we don’t know exactly who it is. All of them are still missing.”

As of 7:30 p.m., March 24, one elevator key has been returned. However, two are still missing. Though their methods of getting to the bottom of the situation are limited, Singley said the resident assistants have an idea on one of the leads.

I hope they can just be returned before move-out so that residents can actually use the elevators.”

Ny La Hill, Prairie Hall Resident Assistant

Tyler Singley, a senior resident assistant and history and education major, said that there was an issue with tracking down keys because they were unsure

“It’s really just kind of waiting to see who uses the elevator, because then we’ll obviously know who it was,” Singley said. “We’ve been trying to back track the logs a little bit to figure out exactly who might have them. We have an idea, but we have to catch them in the act so we can actually go through protocol and everything.”

Resident Assistant Ny La

Hill, a senior accounting major, said that she hopes that the keys will be returned by move-out day and isn’t sure if the keys were simply forgotten or taken.

“I hope they can just be returned before move-out so that residents can actually use the elevators during the move-out process. I don’t know if it’s just that somebody just forgot to give it back or somebody actually took it,” Hill said.

Sophomore Desk Manager and anthropology major Griffin Wilson said that one of their current methods of finding the missing keys is waiting for someone to use the elevator.

“The issue that’s going on is someone decided they either wanted to keep the key or they do not remember having the key,” Wilson said. “So what we’ve been doing as desk managers is trying to listen to see if the elevator dings and we didn’t give out the key. If we didn’t just give out a key, and we hear the elevator dinging, someone is committing an SIUE-grade felony.”

The residents of Prairie Hall who don’t have access to any of these keys are in store for a very difficult move-out day, and they aren’t happy about it.

Olivia Dray, a sophomore and biochemistry major and a Prairie Hall resident, said that

03.14.24

A person near Science East reportedly walked around with no clothes on. When officers arrived, nobody was found.

03.19.24

An officer responded to a report of a person on the East St. Louis campus assaulting, threatening and using a homophobic slur against people on the campus.

03.25.24

An officer took a report of stolen credit cards being used to make charges. The cards were stolen from a car parked at the Glen Ed West Soccer Complex.

leaving the elevator key in the elevator would probably help to avoid situations like this.

“It’s going to make moving out really hard,” Dray said. “I hope we can find the elevator keys, because having to lug everything downstairs would be weird. If there’s a possibility that we could leave the key in the elevator at all times, that would be pretty nice.”

Nursing major and freshman Haylie Rodgers said that she had to wake up to the devastating news of the missing keys on March 10 and later had to carry a mini fridge up the stairs.

“I had to carry a bunch of stuff,” Rodgers said. “That was really upsetting.”

Jenna Lercher, a junior nursing major, said that she doesn’t believe the keys were taken purposefully.

“We have a limited amount of keys as it is,” Lercher said. “I don’t think people would intentionally do it, because most people need the elevator.”

If the remaining keys are not found, SIUE may have to find a way to scrape up last-minute money to pay for new keys. If they can’t do that, move-out day will be difficult for many of the Prairie Hall residents. This will be especially hard for those with accessibility concerns.

RUSSIA

A mass shooting at a Russian concert on March 22 killed 60 people and injured at least 140. The Islamic State, or ISIS, has claimed responsibility for the attack.

UNITED NATIONS

The United Nations voted 14-0 to demand a ceasefire in Palestine for Ramadan, which ends April 9. The ceasefire also demands the release of hostages taken.

INDONESIA

Indonesian Presidential Candidate Anies Baswedan has made claims of a fraudulent election. Baswedan’s opponent, Prabowo Subianto, got 60 percent of the vote.

SUDAN

The United States has stated it will attempt to resume peace talks on April 18 for the ongoing conflict in Sudan. The conflict has displaced millions and killed tens of

UNITED KINGDOM

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is now set to be extradited to the United States, but the extradition is on hold to ensure he won’t receive the death penalty.

Information courtesy of Reuters / AP

Katie Robberson, an ex-member of the school board, speaks in favor of adopting gender-neutral bathrooms at the Edwardsville District 7 meeting on Monday, March 25.

| Ciara Folkerts / The Alestle

Dining Services working with Muslim students, faculty to make Ramadan easier

RAMADAN | COVER

boosting those up. For halal meat, we have some. It is more difficult to get the halal meat in, so we are still looking at it. At Sammiches, we have the shawarma and some other items, but it is increasingly hard to find and get it in stock.”

Wobbe said that they are working together to provide halal options in other MUC locations, such as Union Station and the Grab N’ Go. They are also working on making these locations fit within the fasting time.

“Union Station, we will have end caps and all the halal certified items for the month of Ramadan,” Wobbe said. “We will work with updating the Muslim Student Association on the selections. We’re working with our Grab N’ Go and our other areas first selections for the premorning time, before their fast starts.”

For more information on Dining Services, visit its website.

An Important Message About Gas Safety

Natural gas delivered to the University from Ameren through an underground piping system. It is used to provide fuel for clean efficient heat to all campus buildings and residence halls. It is also used for hot water and food preparation.

Overview of Hazards of Pipeline and Prevention Measures Used

The hazards associated with the pipeline include fires, explosions, leakage, damage to the facility and loss of service. In order to prevent these incidents, the pipeline maintained and inspected according to state and federal regulations. Facilities employees receive ongoing training to ensure the continued safe transport of natural to the campus.

In order to prevent damage to the pipeline due to construction excavations SIUE participates in the one call system known as JULIE. Within 2 days of a call for a planned excavation SIUE will mark the location of underground gas as well as other utility lines.

Recognizing and Responding to Gas Leaks

Pure natural gas is colorless and odorless. Before gas is delivered to the SIUE campus, an odorant called mercaptan is added to give gas its distinctive odor so you can smell a leak immediately. The odorant makes the smell like sulfur or rotten eggs.

If you smell a faint odor in any campus building notify facilities management at 3711. If the gas odor is strong and or you hear a hissing or leaking sound, you should leave the building immediately. If the odor is strong:

• Do not use telephones cell phones, computers, or elevators

• Do not smoke, use a lighter, match or open flame

• Do not operate vehicles near where the leaking gas could be

• Do not re-enter the building to retrieve personal affects

If you smell a strong gas smell in the air outside, or you see unusual occurrences such as: high pitched whistle or hissing sound, blowing dust, dead vegetation in a normally green area, or ground fires, you may be observing signs of a leak in a natural gas line. Always use caution near an outdoor gas leak and recognize the possible hazards, such as fire, ignition or explosion.

In these conditions:

• Do not use any device or equipment that may generate a spark or flame

• Do not start up or shut down motor vehicles or electrical equipment

• Do not use a telephone or cell phone in or near the area

Survivor of Tulsa Massacre fights for justice decades later

AVA GALBAN reporter

Viola Ford Fletcher, lovingly referred to as “Mother Fletcher,” made a visit to SIUE to share her powerful memoir, “Don’t Let Them Bury My Story.” Throughout the panel, she opened up about her harrowing experiences as the oldest living survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre.

Now, alongside her grandson Ike Howard, Fletcher is on a relentless quest for justice, pushing for accountability and reparations in a landmark Supreme Court case.

The Tulsa Race Massacre took place in 1921 in the Greenwood district of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Nicknamed “Black Wall Street,” the area had a flourishing, almost self-sustaining economy.

“I would describe it as our first Wakanda,” Howard said. “It was an amazing environment to be in with everybody supporting each other. Everybody had the right attitude.”

However, the beauty of this community was short-lived. On the morning of May 30, a Black man named Dick Rowland rode in an elevator with a white woman by the name of Sarah Page, and when the elevator reached the ground floor, Page ran out screaming.

Accounts on what happened in the elevator vary, however. As news of the incident circulated, iterations became more extreme. Rowland was soon detained and armed white mobs stormed the city hall, where they were soon met by civilians hoping to defend Rowland and their community.

“I saw people falling from being shot and killed. It was something sad to look at. I wondered, ‘Why are people being treated like that?’” Fletcher said. “They burned down houses, churches, schools and grocery stores. They destroyed everything they found.”

This massacre resulted in approximately 300 fatalities according to Britannica, as well as massive destruction of infrastructure, displacement of residents and mass eradication of records, erasing much of the history behind the event.

The massacre also had an extreme impact on the mental health of the survivors. Howard recalled how PTSD impacted their family.

“Her mother had to be institutional-

ized because she kept on waking up and saying, ‘They’re burning down the house, Ma!’ and the whole house was scared because she believed in her mind that they were burning down the house,” Howard said. “Everybody went into this survival mode at night.”

According to Howard, Fletcher herself is still facing the aftereffects of the massacre.

“Mother Fletcher does not sleep in a bed. She’s always in go mode,” Howard said. “She’ll leave the lights on and wants to be facing the door. She’s reliving her entire life. The trauma is still with her and she doesn’t sleep at night.”

Nevertheless, Fletcher and Howard continue to dedicate their lives to fighting for justice for those impacted by the massacre, taking their fight to court once again.

After their initial suit was dismissed from court on grounds of prejudice, their lawsuit is set to be appealed in the Supreme Court of Oklahoma on April 7, deciding whether or not their case will be reinstated.

The trial goes much further than Fletcher and her grandson. With no punishments ever being prosecuted or punished by any level of government, and no reparations from the state or federal government, Fletcher advocates for the justice of those victims of the massacre.

“Well, why not?,” JP Haynes, co-author of “Black Wall Street: The Musical” said. “If it’s that obvious, that deplorable, what’s so hard about making this right?”

As only one powerful historical example of extreme racial injustices, its prosecution sets a precedent, according to Haynes.

“I mean, you have to go back years and years, to state after state, to city after city and make a lot of people whole,” Haynes said. “This country isn’t ready or doesn’t want to do that.”

If a court is to rule that the events that occurred throughout the Tulsa Massacre were damaging and a “nuisance” to the lives of its survivors, it could possibly set a precedent for more cases and conversations on the dismissal of other historical acts of racial violence.

Fletcher and her grandson said their mission is to educate and fight for justice for those whose lives were impacted by the massacre. Their advice for younger generations is: “Talk to your elders. They have a wealth of knowledge. Don’t ignore your elders. They’re as active as you allow them to be.”

When the sun goes dark: Things to know for the eclipse

DYLAN HEMBROUGH editor-in-chief

If you’re one of the millions of people who have been looking forward to the April 8 solar eclipse, follow this guide to the path of totality.

Our sister school, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, is at one of the best spots to view the eclipse — Right in the center of the path of totality, where the moon covers the sun completely. Carbondale will see the eclipse for just over four minutes.

The period of totality begins at 1:59 p.m. in Carbondale, flanked before and after by a couple hours of partial eclipse — when the moon isn’t completely covering the sun.

The drive to Carbondale is roughly two hours. So, be sure to leave enough time in case of traffic backups. Due to the potential traffic jams before and after the eclipse, it is also a good idea to

bring plenty of water, food and first aid.

For those who cannot make it all the way to Carbondale, the path of totality extends from Carlyle, Effingham and Paris, Il linois, to the southern tip of the state. However, the further from the midline of the path you are, the less time you will have to view the eclipse.

According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, Interstates 57 and 64 are likely to be clogged by traffic as an estimated 100,000 to 200,000 people travel to Southern Illinois to view the eclipse.

IDOT advises turning headlights on if driving during the total eclipse, as the area will experience near-nighttime conditions for a few minutes. Eclipse viewing should occur in places away from traffic, so don’t pull off to the side of the road to watch.

According to WSIU, cloud cover in Carbondale “reaches at least 60 percent one-third of the time” April 8. This means there is a decent chance of cloud cover that day, so keep an eye on the weather in the area in the days and hours before the eclipse.

on a particular alignment of the Earth, moon and sun to occur.

The April 8 solar eclipse will be the last total solar eclipse visible from the contiguous United States until Aug. 23, 2044.

SIUC has teamed up with NASA and Chicago’s Adler Planetarium to host an eclipse viewing at Saluki Stadium. The university requires parking passes to be purchased for those parking on campus.

If you are satisfied with seeing just the partial eclipse, there will still be a significant portion of the sun covered up for a few hours in the late morning and early afternoon.

Solar eclipses happen with relative fre quency across the world, but they depend

Tulsa Race Massacre survivor Viola Ford Fletcher (MIDDLE) talks about the events she witnessed in 1921. She was accompanied by her grandson Ike Howard (LEFT), the co-author of her book. JP Haynes (RIGHT) moderated the event.

| Maximilian Lenhart / The Alestle

Black Girls Rock celebrates students and Black style

BRANDI SPANN opinion editor

Black style has an ingenuitive legacy that greatly impacted fashion and culture. Innovative students on campus styled clothing and accessories to honor the past and look to the future.

Black Girls Rock, a holistic student organization that supports Black women on campus, held their 5th annual spring fashion show on March 22. The theme was “The Black Experience.”

The Meridian Ballroom was lit up under pink and purple spotlights that made for a moody atmosphere. The models performed dramatic poses and slow turns that were met by roars of applause.

Outfits were enhanced by bold sunglasses and shiny black leath er, entertaining the crowd and celebrating Black artistry and legacy in fashion. Models wore stylized varieties of denim, lettuce hem, bodycon dresses, patchwork and more. The personalities of the models enriched the outfits and kept heads turning.

Sophomore Arie Johnson modeled in the show. She said that Black Girls Rock had been working on the show for about three or four months, and a cou ple of the pieces were handmade by the models themselves.

“I feel like [fashion is] import ant to highlight because it helps bring out our individuality. We’re all very expressive in very different ways, as [the crowd could] see. It gives people a

chance to connect with one another,” Johnson said.

The show was split into four different scenes: Black Alternative, Black Culture, Black Corporate and Vacation Vibes.

Johnson said her favorite outfit that she modeled was her Black Culture look — a ruffled skirt with a corset and bold accessories. Johnson said she always appreciates a good pair of earrings.

“It’s amazing — the energy in the room with the group is always very supportive. I love it. Being onstage can always be a little nerve-wracking. But once you get started, the crowd is there for you,” Johnson said. The Black Alternative scene was a flurry of heels, bags, gloves and corsets. Sometimes leaning into cyberpunk and goth inspirations, the outfits featured a ruffled denim skirt, ripped pantyhose, fur, a glittery belt and a patchwork vest. While most of the outfits were black, this scene featured glimpses of silver, green and red.

Sophomore Diamond Billings is a member of the Fashion Show Committee for Black Girls Rock. She said the beginning of the show was her favorite part. She loved the different aspects of Black Alternative and how the choreographers put the moves together.

“It’s not just walking. It’s a lot of different dancing and you actually get to take in and absorb the models,” Billings said.

The Black Culture scene opened with a trio of models in black newsboy caps strutting to Beyoncé’s “AMERICA HAS A PROBLEM.” Black leather continued to dominate the outfits, but this scene introduced yellows, oranges and blues, jeans with lots of pockets, jorts, a Y2K windbreaker, tiny purses and a bold orange ruffled dress with an open back. A braid twirl and hair flip made way for a wave of coordi nating dancers wearing pink and light washed denim.

“I like to see them in this light — the confidence that they’re radiating. They all look very confident and happy to finally get to show their art,” Billings said.

Freshman Synih Gilkey is also a member of the Fashion Show Committee for Black Girls Rock. She said she feels proud to see familiar faces up on the stage.

“I love the song ‘American Has a Problem,’ so I appreciate that part,” Gilkey said. “And I also really love the Black Corporate portion of the show because it eats down — for a lack of better words.”

The Black Corporate scene introduced a few props. The looks were illuminated by a handheld mirror and the toss of a clipboard. This scene introduced a variety of motion and texture to the clothing. Models wore knee-high socks, berets, brown leather shoes, pencil skirts and sleeveless button-up vests. Some standouts included a black hat rimmed with dangling, silver jewels and a chartreuse cropped suit jacket with shoulder pads and a matching mini skirt.

The Vacation scene began with gold hand fans. There were a few crocheted pieces and sheer cover ups. The flowy looks were paired with glittering high heels. Sun hats, two pieces, floral dresses and a gold chain belt were important elements. The models wore warm colors, then cool colors, ending the show in a rainbow of bold and bright waves and applause.

Sophomore Makiah Lewis was a makeup artist for the show. She started doing makeup in 2020 and started her own business on Instagram called Kaked by Kiah. She draws inspiration from other artists online.

“I know that I did a good job,” Lewis said. “Black Girls Rock is an amazing organization. Everybody was so positive and welcoming to me. All the other makeup artists did amazing as well.”

She said that her favorite looks were the orange dresses and white sun hats in the Vacation scene. She said that the show was excellent and well organized.

“The energy in the room was amazing. I feel positivity,” Lewis said. “Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!”

The models’ walks and dances captured the joy, confidence, power, glamor and sophistication behind the legacy of Black fashion and style. The show was a successful celebration of students on campus — their creativity, artistry and individuality.

My favorite photographers who have infuenced pop culture

OLIVIA WHITLOCK copy editor

In a fip phone video from 2007, when I was four, I am heard in the background saying, “Can I take a picture? Can I take a picture?” Little did everyone know, that was the beginning of the end!

With that being said, as a life-long amateur photographer and lover of 2000’s pop culture, I have to give props to some of my favorite photographers from that era!

David LaChapelle

LaChapelle’s pop-surrealistic work pushes social boundaries, radiating vibrancy and glamor. His artistry is unparalleled, truly setting him apart in the industry. No one does it quite at the level LaChapelle does. The frst time I saw LaChapelle’s work, I was captivated by his conceptual imagery and instantly became a fan of his celebrity portraits.

Steven Klein

Klein’s work is often provocative and known for its theatrical, unique qualities that incorporate high fashion. Many of his shoots also feature elements of the macabre, such as the use of dark lighting or gruesome depictions. His daring approach to photography challenges conventions and norms.

Phil Knott

Widely recognized for his authentic portraits of musicians, Knott’s work is not only striking but deeply rich and raw, capturing the true essence of his subjects. His images almost offer a glimpse into the souls of those he photographs.

Alison Jackson

Jackson is renowned for her iconic lookalike photographs of celebrities. She skillfully manipulates her subjects into scenarios that often deceive the public, creating images that appear startlingly real due to their paparazzi or documentary style. Her work delves into society’s fascination with celebrity culture.

Petra Collins

Not exactly a photographer from the 2000s, but rather the 2010s, much of Collins’ work is heavily infuenced by nostalgia, coming of age and the Y2K aesthetic. Her pastel, dreamlike, fantasy style is reminiscent of “Girl Culture” by Lauren Greenfeld (another personal favorite of mine) or a Sofa Coppola flm. Instead of shooting digitally, Collins shoots in 35mm flm. Her photographs are very personal and intimate, contributing to current-day pop culture.

Special Notice for Availability of Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Data

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER

Availability of Monitoring Data for Unregulated Contaminants for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Our water system has been sampled for a series of unregulated contaminants. Unregulated contaminants are those that don’t yet have a drinking water standard set by EPA. The purpose of monitoring for these contaminants is to help the EPA decide whether the contaminants should have a standard. As our customers, you have a right to know that these data are available.

If you are interested in examining the results, please contact Mike Myers at 618-650-3477 or SIUE P.O. Box 1039, Edwardsville, Illinois 62026

This notice is being sent to you for the SIUE State Water System ID#: IL1195550

Date distributed: 3-11-2024

Markus Klinko

Klinko is well-known for defning 2000’s pop culture with many of his images. He uses various techniques and a wide range of aesthetics, depending on his subject, making him very adaptable. Like many of the artists on this list, his portfolio is extremely high-profle and culturally signifcant.

Mark Hunter “The Cobrasnake”

Ruling and encapsulating the indie sleaze party scene as one of the most popular nightlife photographers in the 2000s, Hunter’s photos are bold and spontaneous. They exude a carefree, lively energy that makes you, as a viewer, feel like you’re in the moment too. I have been a fan of Hunter for several years, and his book, “The Cobrasnake: Y2Ks Archive,” was my frst photography book. I purchased it the second it hit shelves.

Martin Schoeller

An image from Schoeller is almost immediately recognizable due to his distinctive close-up style and level of sharpness. This “in your face” nature of his work reveals every physical feature and innermost emotion of his subjects. Schoeller’s photographs are deeply human and truly genuine.

Additional favorite photographers: Annie Leibovitz, Mark Seliger, Terrence O’Connor, William Eggleston, Jean-Baptiste Mondino, Robert Sebree.

Ciara Folkerts and Brandi Spann

Gender Neutral Bathrooms and BGR Fashion Show

PHOTOS BY PEDRO HENRIQUE G-M

The dual credit divide — unequal access for students in lower-income schools

THE ALESTLE STAFF editorial board

Students in lower-income districts are less likely to be provided with the opportunity to enroll in dual credit courses, creating an educational divide due to their socioeconomic class.

Many high school students may not be fully aware of the benefits that dual credit courses can provide for them later in their academic career.

Dual credit courses are designed to allow students to take courses at a college level that can be counted as credit for both their high school and college transcripts.

However, for many students in districts lacking the prop-

er funding, their high school may not be able to provide the opportunity to enroll in dual credit courses.

The Dual Credit Quality Act, passed in 2010, states that any high school requesting to implement dual credit courses may receive them.

But even if schools do implement these courses, underlying costs for the course itself may make students unable to participate.

Research has shown that students who enroll in these courses are more likely to graduate from high school and attend college.

From a college admissions standpoint, students who have successfully completed dual credit courses reflect an ac-

ademic readiness for college level courses.

This gives students in higher socioeconomic classes a comparative advantage, with the availability of these courses providing connections in the college world.

Dual credit courses allow for students to have a smoother transition into college. This is due to the fact that these courses prepare them for the demands and expectations set for them at the college level.

Students may also be able to significantly reduce the price of their overall college education by taking these classes in their high school careers. It could be vital for lower-income students looking to further their education.

In fact, a study by Education

Trust in 2018 found that over 83 percent of Illinois schools are underfunded. Recently, Illinois has allocated funds to offset disparities between school districts.

Funding began in 2018 with the intent to boost adequate funding for public schools statewide. Before this was implemented, 168 school districts in Illinois were funded at less than 60 percent adequacy.

Students enrolled in these classes can explore different subjects and majors before college. This could be an incredible outlet for students in lower-income who may not have even thought of the possibilities of college.

The lack of these courses for lower-income students causes educational barriers that perpetuate equity gaps.

Should we really continue to celebrate April Fools’ Day?

TORI WATERS copy editor

Quit foolin’ around!

No, seriously. A silly knock-knock joke and harmless pranks are what April Fools’ Day is known for. Yet, before all the jokes and puns, April Fools’ carried a slightly different meaning from the goofy tradition we know it as today.

Although there is not a confirmed origin story, there are a few answers to why April Fools’ Day is the tradition we know today.

In a History.com article, April Fools’ Day dates back to 1582, when France switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar. At that time, the new year began with the spring equinox, which happens to be around April 1.

The individuals that were slow to recognize the start of the new year became the target of jokes and hoaxes. They were called “April fools.”

The slander did not stop

there. These individuals would be pranked by having paper fish placed on their backs and were referred to as “poisson d’avril” (April fish), which is said to symbolize a gullible person.

The history of April Fools’ Day does not stop there. This tradition has also been connected to ancient Rome.

April Fools’ Day could be linked to festivals such as Hilaria, from the Latin word for “joyful,” which was celebrated in ancient Rome at the end of March by followers of the cult of Cybele. This event involved people dressing up in disguises and mocking fellow citizens.

Some speculate that Mother Nature created April Fools’ Day.

April Fools’ Day can be traced back to the vernal equinox, or the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere, when Mother Nature fooled people by having unpredictable weather.

Now that the origin of April Fools’ Day is uncovered, the most important question is still undiscovered: is April Fools’ Day

a tradition we should continue to celebrate?

Absolutely not.

I can get behind a nice, clever joke, and I am all for comedy, but April Fools’ Day jokes are extremely tacky and painful to sit through. I cannot recall a time when a joke was told on April Fools’ Day that genuinely made me laugh.

Unfunny jokes are not the only flaw of April Fools’ Day. Pranks are the absolute worst.

Many pranks have not been interesting or funny since 2010. They are all the same, and nothing spectacular comes out of pranks. The person playing the prank will receive two minutes of laughter but cause the other individual public humiliation, fear or resentment.

Pranks are great in theory and have the potential to be funny. But generally, pranks are taken too far, and there seems to not be a boundary line between funny and humiliating.

Another problem I have with April Fools’ Day is the lack

of creativity. I remember hearing stories about a Burger King advertisement in 1998 when they introduced a “left-handed Whopper.” The advertisement introduced the idea of a Whopper for left-handed people by rotating condiments 180 degrees to be more suited to lefties. Later on, there was an announcement that the “left-handed Whopper” did not exist. That is an example of a hoax that is hilarious and creative.

It is sad to say the least, but April Fools’ Day does not have the same excitement it used to have. All the jokes are the same, advertisements do not pull funny stunts anymore and pranks are not what they used to be.

Nowadays, April Fools’ Day is a day that encourages people to create outlandish lies that are insensitive and not funny. In addition, when you log on to any social media before or after April Fools’ Day, it is almost impossible to trust any sources.

April Fools’ Day needs a timeout.

People of all ages stroll down to Marchdown

After a night of loud music, dancing, strolling and stomping, the ladies of Epsilon Xi Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta sorority and the men of Iota Pi Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity took home the champion trophies for the Divine Nine Marchdown competition.

Divine Nine is an organization comprised of nine different traditionally Black fraternities and sororities.

Every year, the nine come together for the Marchdown competition with a choreographed and themed stomp routine with the goal of being crowned as champion.

The event was first started in the mid 1980s and has slowly grown from being held in the Morris University Meridian Ballroom to the Vadalabene Center.

Fans new and old (Above): Audience members at the Marchdown included high school students, SIUE students, instructors and alumni. Many attendees were associated with the Divine Nine. During a break, the hosts asked who the oldest member of the Divine Nine present was. There were several people who “crossed” — joined the various associations — in the late 1970s, but the oldest was Marqita Norman, who crossed into the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority in 1971.

|

Chloe Wolfe / The Alestle

Wakanda forever (Above): The Iota Pi Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity’s theme was “Black Panther.” Iota Pi won best fraternity and was the overall winner of Marchdown.

| Chloe Wolfe / The Alestle

Break dance (Above): In a break between performances, judges took a dance break. All judges are connected to the Divine Nine. Judges chose the best sorority, the best fraternity and the best overall.

| Chloe Wolfe / The Alestle

Night in the factory (Right): Each sorority and fraternity chose a different theme for their performances. The Deltas chose “Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory,” while the Epsilon Iota chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha chose “The Hunger Games.”

| Chloe Wolfe / The Alestle

Future generations (Top left): After their win, the Epsilon Xi Deltas posed for a photo with 3-year-old Blair Baker. Deltas helped Baker form their sign. Baker wore a jacket reading “Future Delta.”

| Chloe Wolfe / The Alestle

contact the editor:

sports@alestlelive.com

(618) 650-3527

THE ALESTLE WILL BE ONLINE ONLY NEXT WEEK. WE WILL RETURN IN PRINT APRIL 11.

Thursday 03.28.24

Baseball turns the tide with series win over Lindenwood

SAM MUREN reporter

Baseball took a 2-1 series victory in their first Ohio Valley Conference series of the season against Lindenwood University this past weekend at Roy E. Lee Field.

The Cougars and Lions both came into the series 5-16 overall this season looking for early OVC success.

“It doesn’t matter about anybody’s record as you get into conference play,” Head Coach Sean Lyons said. “It’s just different.”

The Cougars looked to senior starting pitcher Tyler DeLong to give them an early edge. DeLong pitched for 6.2 innings and only allowed one run in that duration to start the series.

DeLong’s pitching and the Cougars’ fielding allowed SIUE to gain an early lead.

Sophomore shortstop Chase Bloomer picked up two Runners Batted In off a single hit that allowed senior runner Drew Mize and senior runner Zack Floyd to score.

Bloomer contributed again in the fifth inning for a game-high of three RBIs. SIUE added two more runs and held a 5-1 lead heading into the seventh inning.

The flow of the game completely shifted heading into the seventh inning. One big change was the fierce cold winds that turned a nice day for baseball into a cold battle.

Lindenwood began to make good contact on home plate, and they managed to earn some runs. The Lions earned three runs in the top of the seventh inning.

DeLong was taken out of the game and senior pitcher Zeus Ponder entered to help the Cougars out of a bind. SIUE then responded in

the bottom of the seventh with two runs.

Lindenwood added one more run but couldn’t overcome the Cougars’ early start. Game one ended 7-5 in favor of SIUE.

Both teams were right back to action the next day. Lindenwood came back swinging.

Four runs in the second inning were too much for the Cougars to handle, and whenever they seemed to close the gap, Lindenwood made sure they couldn’t.

The final score was a dominating 14-6 for the Lions. The pressure was back on SIUE to respond in a series-winning matchup the next day.

With the series on the line, the Cougars relied on junior pitcher Kyle Athmer to start them on the mound. Athmer was starting for the first time this season.

“It’s a little nerve-wracking at first, but for me, once you get that first strike across, [the nerves] kind of go away. [I] get into it and go on a roll,” Athmer said.

Athmer pitched for 4.2 innings, and Lindenwood was held off the score sheet his entire time in the game.

“Good start out of Kyle Athmer,” Lyons said. “[He] did a nice job to keep [Lindenwood] at bay for four [innings] and some change.”

SIUE also took notes from the Lions’ early lead on Saturday and decided to try it themselves. The Cougars put up three runs for an early 3-0 lead. The Cougars’ offense impressed, but the defense was also a strong factor.

SIUE saw two important calls in their favor that Lyons asked to be reviewed. Lindenwood had appeared to score in the first, but

Lyons claimed the catcher tagged him out near home plate. Sure enough, the umpires reviewed and then overturned the play.

Then, in the third inning, the umpire called an SIUE runner out at second. Again, Lyons asked for a review, and the play was overturned. This eventually led to SIUE opening the scoring.

Lindenwood eventually found their way around the bases of a home run hit by junior designated hitter Bryson Arnette in the sixth inning.

SIUE was quick to respond with five runs in the bottom of the inning.

Despite the heavy blow and 8-1 score, the Lions put up a big fight in the seventh inning.

Ponders had entered the game to replace Athmer in the fifth inning, but he found himself in a jam during the seventh.

Lindenwood had loaded the bases, so Lyons decided to change things up. Junior pitcher Liam McKillop was called in to salvage the situation.

McKillop gave up one run by walking the first batter he faced, but then he struck out back-to-back batters and helped guide SIUE out of the inning.

“That was huge,” Lyons said. “[McKillop] comes in with the bases loaded and limits them to one run. That was huge for us.”

Both teams’ offensive leaders each added another run before the end of the

game. SIUE’s junior batter Lucas Spence added an RBI, and Lindenwood’s Arnette also added an RBI.

Spence led SIUE with three RBIs on Sunday and was right behind Bloomer for most RBIs during the weekend.

“Today, we came out swinging the bats well,” Spence said. With the win on Sunday, SIUE is now 2-1 to open their OVC play. Their overall record improves to 7-17 for the season.

The Cougars will get a quick break from the OVC with their next game against Evansville at 6 p.m. on March 26, in Evansville, Indiana.

Baseball will return to play OVC opponent Southeast Missouri University on March 28-30 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

View from the Sidelines: Fall in LOVE with SIUE Tennis

SAM MUREN reporter

SIUE tennis has dominated almost every opponent on the court this season. Every player has contributed to help SIUE with their impressive start to the season.

I have zero doubts in my mind that once you see this team in person, you will become a die-hard fan watching them play.

Tennis is definitely not one of my top favorite sports, nor is it something I fully understand when it comes to rules and terminology. However, watching SIUE Tennis is a completely different story.

This team is just exhilarating to watch in person. When

you are watching this team play you can just see the competitiveness of each player. The standard you have to meet here is ridiculously high. You can say it’s almost crazy to expect so much out of these athletes, but whatever their methods are to hold each other to this standard is working. Tennis has only played two conference matches this season. The team still has four Ohio Valley Conference matches to go before the playoffs. Their record is 1-1 in the OVC after a recent loss to Southeast Missouri University. I can only imagine their anxiousness to play them again for a rematch. Their loss to SEMO is one of three and their overall record is 10-3 this season.

The most recent match I was able to attend was their matchup against Tennessee State University, which was their first OVC match of the season. SIUE dominated Tennessee State, winning 7-0.

You can check out the story for some of the specific stats, but what I took away was the enjoyment of watching the team play.

Even as a non-tennis person, watching the Cougars crush the opponent was thrilling. Graduate student Jill Lambrechts was a notable player to keep an eye on.

Her singles match was the one closest to the crowd and one that I happened to focus on. Lambrechts were very fun to watch. She is very talented and has such a competitive nature that it seems like she will win every match.

Lambrechts is writing her name in the history books here for SIUE tennis. Mia Frogner (2013-17) held the record for most career singles and doubles wins. Not for much longer though, as Lambrechts has already captured the doubles wins and can claim singles wins here very soon.

Lambrechts may be a focal point for the team but other players have shined for SIUE too.

I won’t lie, I did not expect to be as invested in watching the team at first. What really drew me in was how easy it looked for the Cougars. Tennessee State seemed like they had some talented players on their team, but the Cougars quickly

frustrated them.

I have never seen collegiate players make their sport look so easy and as flawless as the Cougars did.

Every play seemed unpredictable to their opponent, but whatever their opponent threw at them was played to perfection.

It was crazy that whenever an SIUE player did make a mistake, they immediately followed it up with small frustration and then a solid play right after.

Fans need toshow up for this team. It’s the teams like this that have something special and deserve the attention of a solid fanbase.

If you happen to be free one evening, see tennis has a match, check it out! You won’t regret it.

Right-handed pitcher Tyler DeLong launches the ball during a 7-5 win over Lindenwood on March 22. | Maximilian Lenhart / The Alestle