Cougar defender Patrick Coleman leaps over Billiken midfielder Carlos Leatherman in pursuit of the ball at the 2024 Bronze Boot. The Cougars went on to defeat the Billikens in a close match, marking their second straight victory in two years.
Gavin Rask / The Alestle
09.08.24
Officer responded to a report of a vehicle in Lot 4D that had been keyed and had eggs thrown at it.
09.09.24
Officer responded to a report of a subject camping on SIUE grounds. Officer made contact with subject and informed them of no camping policy and they left the area.
09.09.24
Officer took a report of alleged fraudulent charges on a SIUE credit card. An investigation will be conducted.
Dining aims to fix cooling system by mid-October
CAMELA SHARP reporter
Upcoming changes in Dining Services will include menu changes, meal plan adjustments and comprehensive cooling system repairs.
This semester has started off differently for Dining Services, which has seen some noticeable setbacks and limitations as some of their refrigerators are out.
Dining Services Director Dennis Wobbe has been dealing with this issue which, he said, started with the initiative to put in a new cooling system.
“There was an original plan to take our coolers and put in a new system. It’s a rack system. So, it’s down in the lower level, and it pumps refrigerant to all of our walk-ins,” Wobbe said.
According to Wobbe, because they are replacing the system, that means that the coolant has to be taken out as well, which, in turn, has led them to have to work out of refrigerated trucks.
“If you look at our loading dock, there’s refrigerated trucks out there,” Wobbe said. “We’re getting all the stuff that we used to have here and manually moving everything and trying to work
Feeding campus wildlife leads to disruptive lifestyles for humans, animals alike
birds and have hummingbird feeders at home,” Essner said.
with it.”
Dining Services has been facing these issues since August. The project was expected to be completed in two months. Last week, they began the starting phases of fixing things with aims to a mid-October completion date Wobbe said.
Many students were met with this issue unexpectedly and have had to adjust to the inconvenience.
Freshman data analytics major Devin McKinney said he misses having access to
“[It’s an inconvenience because] they’re not serving certain things, and I’m a picky eater.”
Savant Taylor Freshman Business Administration major
cold food options.
“That’s really unfortunate, because I really look forward to my things being cold. So, it just sucks,” McKinney said. “There’s just so much that they have. I just miss it.”
Freshman business administration
major Savant Taylor said that he doesn’t miss anything in particular, but having that wider range of options would make choosing easier.
“[It’s an inconvenience because] they’re not serving certain things, and I’m a picky eater,” Taylor said.
Wobbe said Cocina may slowly begin to undergo some changes which are significantly dependent on available space and availability of supply.
“We started with a very limited menu,” Wobbe said. “I think we’re adding some tacos, beef [items] and different items all this next week, and then keep on going forward and see if we can change the menu and what we can get in here.”
The cooling system is not the only uncertainty within Dining Services. What the menus should consist of and what they are able to obtain and store has been an issue as well. Dining Services is also in early stages of reforming the meal plan options, according to Wobbe.
“We’re looking at some other plans too — [a] commuter plan [and other] different ones. We’ve had a lot of interest in starting some new ones,” Wobbe said.
There are currently no set plans for changes to the meal plan, deliberations on the plan are still in process.
SENATE SCOOP THE
Monday, September 9, 2024 - Mississippi/Illinois Room
Feeding the animals on campus may seem like the right thing to do, but there are factors to consider for the sake of both our well-being and that of the animals.
Sometimes people feel an innate desire to take care of or domesticate animals they come across, offering food as a friendly gesture. While these intentions are often pure, the results may not be beneficial for either party.
According to Professor of Biological Sciences Richard Essner, people on campus need to be aware of predators like cats.
“I think SIUE probably is a dumping site for a lot of nuisance wildlife and feral animals. It’s not good to feed those animals,” Essner said. “Cats, in particular, kill a lot of birds, mice and things like that, so we don’t really want to have a high population of those predators around.”
“Professor of Biological Sciences Darron Luesse said animals are naturally supposed to fear large mammals like humans, and teaching them to be comfortable with close interactions isn’t in their best interest.
Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences Jason Williams said we shouldn’t feed the geese on campus, as their population is already large and they can also pose a threat to our health.
“[Geese] have prolific [gastrointestinal systems], and they poop all over the place, and that poop can have things like E. coli in it,” Williams said. “The more you feed them, the more they’re here. They’re more closely associated with us, [so there’s] more chance we have of coming in contact with things like that.”
Williams said the food that we often try to give to animals may not be suitable for them and the diet they’re meant to live by.
I think SIUE probably is a dumping site for a lot of nuisance wildlife and feral animals. It’s not good to feed those animals.”
“Animals have evolved to consume a specific type of diet — they are the healthiest when they eat that diet,” Williams said. “Their diets don’t overlap with what we normally eat, so food that we give them is actually not very nutritionally beneficial to animals.”
Darron Luesse Biological Sciences professor
“You can make them aggressive,” Luesse said. “If they get used to being fed by people, they can become more aggressive, and then maybe bite the hand that doesn’t feed them, or get used to being involved with people in a way that they normally shouldn’t be.”
A safer approach to feeding animals might involve leaving proper food out for them to consume at their own pace, minimizing the interaction and potential risks.
Essner said a method like using a bird feeder is generally harmless, but if it isn’t cleaned properly, there’s a risk of spreading diseases.
“If we were talking about hummingbird feeders or feeding birds [in general], that’s a pretty common practice that seems to be beneficial for birds … I feed
Luesse said a person’s intention behind feeding the animal may be met with the opposite result. He compared the instance to feeding a baby chocolate all the time, saying that the lack of nutritional value is damaging regardless of the amount given.
“If you give animals food that they’re not used to eating, they could be full, but still overall be malnourished because they’re not getting the right nutrients from the diet they’re supposed to have,” Luesse said.
According to Williams, feeding the animals may also be dangerous if those feeding them aren’t careful about the packaging. The animal may not know that it isn’t supposed to eat the packaging from something and be harmed by consuming it.
“They don’t really need us,” Essner said. “They don’t need supplemental food from us. They can do just fine on their own.”
Four new senators join Senate ranks
DYLAN HEMBROUGH editor-in-chief
The Student Senate approved several thousand dollars in program requests and swore in four new senators and an Executive Board member at Monday’s meeting.
The new senators for 2024-25 are Senator for the School of Business Emma Ebbeler, Freshman Senator Alexander Baldwin, Freshman Senator Stacia Tillison and Graduate Senator Victoria Magbagbeola. Senator for the School of Engineering Aiden Kocher was sworn in as the new external affairs officer, completing this year’s Executive Board.
The Senate heard and approved two requests for program funding. The first, for $2,850, was for the Student Experimental Theatre Organization for their fall and spring productions. The organization originally requested $4,000 but did not receive that amount, as it was a larger request than is normally granted.
The second organization was the Sagarmatha-Nepalese Student Association, which requested $2,325 for their Dashain Tihar Celebration and Orientation. The event is scheduled for Oct. 26.
Additionally, the Senate approved the creation of five new student organizations. The first was the 1989 Society, a club centered around the appreciation of Taylor Swift’s music. The name comes from Swift’s 2014 studio album “1989.”
“The name Taylor Swift is trademarked, and they wanted to use a unique name that would highlight knowledge in the field,” Organization Relations Officer Ben Cole said.
The Senate also approved the Black Literary Analysis Club, the Revival Student Fellowship, the Ukraine Advocacy Association and Sigma Iota Rho, an honors society for international studies
majors. The Revival Student Fellowship, a Christian organization, and Sigma Iota Rho both obtained permission from their parent organizations to open a chapter at SIUE.
Senators Ray Ehrenhaft and Tonanzi Montoya sponsored resolutions that the Senate heard and approved as well.
Ehrenhaft’s resolution, titled “Acknowledging 208 Weeks in a College Career,” sought to acknowledge the limited time each college student has to make a difference while in college.
“Let it be resolved that the SIUE Student Government urges speed and decision from the administration of SIUE, student organizations, and from ourselves,” Ehrenhaft’s resolution said.
Montoya’s resolution, titled “Student Government Polo Uniform Policy,” sought to promote sustainability within Student Government by reusing polo uniforms from year to year. Montoya noted in the resolution that a majority of Student Government’s budget has been spent on “internal items” historically.
“Merchandise and other such “internal” purchases rarely if ever address the most fundamental issues faced by the student body,” Montoya’s resolution said.
The Polo Uniform Policy also provides for the creation of a regularly-updated link on Student Government’s website with a breakdown of their budget.
Student Body President Barrett Larkin clarified that a resolution is different from a bill in that bills require a specific action. Resolutions, on the other hand, are “an attitude” that Student Government strives to maintain.
Senator for Students with Disabilities Winter Powell was the only unexcused absence this week. The next Senate meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Sept. 24 in the Mississippi/Illinois Room.
CAMELA SHARP reporter
THE BOOT IS BACK THE BOOT IS BACK
Captain of the team and defender Wes Gibson hugs Assistant Coach Jordan Grant following the conclusion of the Cougars’ Bronze Boot victory. Gibson earned Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week following the match.
Gavin Rask / The Alestle
LEFT:
Freshman forward MaryClaire Imig jumps up for a hug with graduate student defender Matea Diekema after Imig made her big debut as the sole scorer of the game. SLU overtook SIUE, 6-1. | Pedro Henrique G-M / The Alestle
Bailey Hall, daughter of SIUE Assistant Professor Candace Hall, waves a flag to show her support for the Cougars. | Pedro Henrique G-M / The Alestle
SIUE brought home back-to-back victories in the Bronze Boot series, marking the first time since consecutive wins in ‘79 and ‘80.
| Gavin Rask / The Alestle
THE ALESTLE WILL BE ON BREAK NEXT WEEK. WE WILL RETURN IN PRINT 9/26
Striking a chord: Students contribute to local music scene
BRANDI SPANN opinion editor
SIUE is home to talented musicians and creatives who dedicate their time to writing, arranging and performing music for the community. Be sure to check out these student bands!
Olive
Junior Owen Weber is a jazz performance student. He’s a guitarist and vocalist for his Alton-based project called Olive.
“Local music is such a big deal, and I feel like not many people realize that. There’s a lot that can be gained, not only as a fan, but as a producer in the local music scene. It can be a tight-knit bond between a lot of people, like a whole community,” Weber said.
Weber played the drums and the guitar in his high school jazz band. During his junior year, he downloaded a free trial of a music software, and he ended up releasing his own music to Spotify for a few years.
Weber’s family friend, Jacob Gordon, had been playing bass on and off for Weber’s solo songs. In the summer of 2023, Weber was hanging out at Maeva’s Coffee in Alton, and that’s where he met Ian Whitmore.
“One of the workers there was like, ‘Hey, I saw your music online. Do you need a drummer for a band?’ and I was like, ‘Yeah, actually,’” Weber said.
Ever since then, Olive has moved from being a solo project to a group endeavor. Weber said that they will be releasing one more song written and recorded by him, and then they plan to begin writing and collaborating with one another.
Olive performed at the Mis-
TENETS
sissippi River Festival After Party in June.
“The after party was very much more like an indie, alternative kind of vibe — a bit more grungy,” Weber said.
Weber said that the band is authentic when it comes to both their genre and their style.
“I feel like we try to be pretty transparent about who we are and what we bring to the table. I don’t want to be caught trying too hard,” Weber said. “When you start trying too hard, it might get over-encumbering or boring, maybe.”
Weber said that the band name comes from Olive Street in St. Louis.
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Go check
Tenets, a local band based in O’Fallon, Illinois.
“I think music is such a creative outlet, and it’s something that needs as much support as it can get, especially in an area like Southern Illinois, where music isn’t as big as it would be across the river, over in St. Louis,” Keen said.
more local
out
music.
There’s always something out there for everybody.”
Owen Weber Guitarist and vocalist Olive
“A friend of mine in middle school was driving around there, sent a picture of the street sign and was like, ‘Oh, it’s you,’ as a nickname, like a play on Owen. So, I accepted it,” Weber said.
Olive sells their own merchandise — T-shirts, CDs, stickers — at their events. They will be performing alongside local act JOEL at 8 p.m, Friday, Sept 27, at The Heavy Anchor.
“Go check out more local music,” Weber said. “There’s always something out there for everybody.”
Tenets
Aidan Keen is a junior mass communications student specializing in video production. He’s a guitarist and vocalist for
taught myself through YouTube videos and the internet,” Keen said.
Keen said that the band had five gigs over the summer, and they have another one coming up in September.
Keen and his classmate got into making music in eighth grade. By their senior year of high school, in 2022, they had collected more band members and were playing live shows.
Keen said that the band spent a whole evening tossing around band name ideas. They had originally decided on “Tenants.”
“Like an apartment tenant,” Keen said. “We looked into it. There are a couple bands that had similar [names]. I had recently seen the Christopher Nolan movie ‘Tenet,’ so I’m like, ‘Well, let’s just make that plural, and we’ll go with that.’”
Keen has been playing the guitar for about seven years and said his interest in music came from his family.
“My dad was a musician. He was a drummer in high school, and I always thought that was super fun. My older brother — he’s a few years older — he learned guitar, but it never really caught on. He moved out, left his guitar there and I picked it up and
OLIVE
“We started writing original music this summer, and we’ve been trying to really tighten up and sound as professional as we can,” Keen said.
One of Keen’s band members, Jackson Slaby, studies music production and recording at Belmont University in Nashville. The band spent a weekend in Nashville recording their first original song in a professional studio. Keen said that the single, ‘One Small Issue,’ should be released “in the next month or so.”
“We’ve all started talking and being friends simply from a connection with music and the similar artists we listen to,” Keen said. “I think it’s important to listen to [local music] and listen to as much as you can.”
The band is currently selling T-shirts inspired by Charli XCX’s album “Brat” for $15 each.
“We’re making them to order because they’re all meticulously handmade,” Keen said. “It’s me and another guy with a heat press and a bunch of vinyl pressing on the shirts for a couple hours.”
ROJ Collective
Junior Johari Kimeu is a jazz performance student, and he’s the trombonist in local jazz band ROJ Collective. By challenging himself and keeping a curious, open mind, Kimeu said that he developed a deeper connection to music and to his peers.
Kimeu said that the band doesn’t just perform ordinary covers.
“It’s been mostly covers, but
the way that we put together the arrangements that we do are pretty improvised, pretty spontaneous and kind of unique to us,” Kimeu said.
Kimeu has been playing the trombone for three years.
“Trombone has this uniqueness and personality to it that we do not see a lot of as a featured instrument,” Kimeu said in an email. “I think it is really fun and has allowed me to put my own approach to the music we play. It definitely requires you to put in the work and even think outside the box, which I think I resonate with.”
The band began in 2022, right before Kimeu’s freshman year.
“We all went to high school together, so it seemed pretty natural,” Kimeu said. “We had gotten together to play something, and it kind of snowballed from there.”
“Being able to create art with friends and be present for their growth is a really amazing thing that I am grateful to be a part of,” Kimeu said in an email.
ROJ Collective performed on the Stratton Quadrangle in May during the solar eclipse. They frequently play their songs on the Quad. Kimeu said that the band will go out there to play whenever they find the time.
“It’s a great time for performers to see support and I think, as a listener, you get something new that hasn’t been done before and probably won’t be done again,” Kimeu said.
“It’s a good time. It’s definitely a creative outlet that I have. It’s a creative outlet that I really appreciate, and it’s given me opportunities that I hadn’t imagined before.” Kimeu said.
ROJ COLLECTIVE
Aidan Keen / submitted by Valentine Kenyon
Owen Weber / submitted by Valentine Kenyon
Joshua Last / submitted by Jessica Gould
AUBREE NOLES reporter
The Ukraine Advocacy Association was approved by Student Government at this week’s Senate meeting. The club plans to educate students on Ukrainian culture and history while fostering solidarity with Ukraine.
Baymuhammet Baltayev, a junior political science major studying international studies, is the founder of the club. Baltayev said they plan on teaching students about Ukrainian democracy and freedom, as well as tradition and culture.
“We have several Ukrainian faculty members who are working with us very closely, and we are super excited about it,” Baltayev said.
Baltayev said another aspect of the club is fostering solidarity with Ukraine as the war between Ukraine and Russia continues.
Baltayev said the idea came to him several months ago when he was working on a project with Sophia Wilson, a political science professor at SIUE from Ukraine. He said he had taken one of Wilson’s classes on politics in Eastern Europe, where he learned about Ukraine and Russian propaganda being distributed there amid the war.
“That’s when we found some of the very disturbing findings, such as the fascist ideology in Russian state media, and
Ukraine Advocacy Association formed to educate,
how that really is spreading — not only in Russia, but in Western Europe, Eastern Europe, as well as the United States,” Baltayev said.
Foreign Language Chair Olga Bezhanova, who is also from Ukraine, told Baltayev to reach out to Ukrainian Fulbright Scholar Halyna Morozova. He asked her if she wanted to join the club, and she accepted.
Morozova presents and promotes Ukrainian culture and language on campus. She said her main goal while she is here is to spread awareness about Ukraine. She has only been here for about three weeks, but she said she was glad to be joining the club as she believes it is important.
Morozova said that Ukraine is a democratic country whose freedom and independence is under attack by Russia. She also said the problem extends beyond the borders of Ukraine.
“What is happening in Ukraine right now, which is obviously the war, is not just a simple war for resources or politi-
cal views. This is a war between a civilized world and not [a] civilized world, about democracy and dictators,” Morozova said.
Morozova said that it’s important for people to know what is going on in Ukraine, because the impacts of war don’t just affect Ukrainians, as but the whole world.
“We are living on the same planet, right? What happens to one part of the world [directly] influences the other part,” Morozova said.
tayev has divided the different things that will be taught into three categories: educational workshops, advocacy and culture exchange. Baltayev said he thinks that advocacy should be shown through awareness-raising and informative sessions, not necessarily through demonstrations.
“We really look forward to having Ukrainian scholars who are experts in Ukrainian history, culture [and] politics to join us and talk to us,” Baltayev said.
The Ukraine Advocacy Association plans on meeting weekly this year. Bal-
A project the association has planned is displaying pictures of Ukrainian college students who would have graduated but have been killed by missiles in the war. Baltayev said the idea is to bring awareness to the tragedy that is currently going on by showing the students who would have had their diplomas had they not been killed.
“These types of projects, I believe, are very informative — not only informative, but powerful in delivering the message of peace and the message of Ukrainian freedom,” Baltayev said.
Morozova said it doesn’t matter if you know about Ukraine or not; it’s a perfect opportunity to learn and for the club to improve its ability to educate people about other countries.
For more information, reach out to the club’s adviser, Professor Sophia Wilson.
Media policies are a slippery slope to censorship
THE ALESTLE STAFF editorial board
Right now, there are employees of SIUE — a state institution — whose First Amendment rights are being restricted by media policies and practices like the one in University Housing, which we reported on two weeks ago.
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Policies and practices like these are inappropriate, as they both suppress the First Amendment rights of employees and have an indirect effect on the media itself.
As Student Press Counsel Anne Marie Tamburro said, “Public employees have the right to speak to the press on matters of public concern in their private capacity.”
An example of a real matter of public concern recently was the fallen light pole in Cougar Village. Exposed wiring in an area with children, such as the Family Housing units, could lead to disaster. That’s a matter of public concern.
Policies and practices like the one at SIUE silence the average citizen and allow the organization to control the narrative, as stated by one of the anonymous employees we spoke to at the time.
In a country rightfully obsessed with freedom of speech, it’s a wonder this policy is still in effect.
As journalists, it is our duty to report the most accurate version of the truth. This often requires us to speak with a
At a recent rally in Pennsylvania, former President Donald Trump criticized what he referred to as “unfavorable” media coverage and called journalists an “enemy of the people.”
It’s no secret that heavy bias exists in some mainstream media corporations. There are agents in the media who intentionally distort the facts — or discard them altogether — to present their own narrative.
While news organizations have been known to offer more than their fair share of opinion, most of them don’t get sued for disinformation.
FOX News, on the other hand, argued in a 2020 court case that statements made by Tucker Carlson, a prominent
variety of sources to present a well-rounded story.
While the people at the top may be able to give context to a situation, it’s often the people near the bottom who know any given situation the best.
A resident assistant interacts with students every day. If an RA reports something that contradicts administration’s official statement, journalists are duty-bound to look into it.
There is no straight answer on consequences for an employee who spoke to The Alestle. This practice is malleable as is, and not having a policy actually written down allows for even more administrative liberty in enforcing it.
While this particular practice may not be the most egregious
one at first glance, universities have come under fire for First Amendment violations several times in the last several years. In 2023, SIUE made a settlement of $80,000 to former art therapy graduate student Maggie DeJong after her First Amendment rights were violated.
The National Constitution Center specifies that public universities, as state institutions, fall under the umbrella of “government” and cannot restrict free speech so long as that speech is not inciting violence.
It’s pretty telling if your employees are scared to lose their jobs over speaking with the media. Housing — and any other department with similar policies — must change to offer their employees the rights they deserve.
Honest journalists are not an ‘enemy of the people’
pundit with the network at the time, cannot be taken as “facts” and are instead “exaggeration” and “non-literal commentary.”
This particular case was decided by Trump-appointed District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil, highlighting the largely unseen issue of partisan judicial appointments at the lower levels of the court system. The massive number of Trump-appointed judges are a reality the U.S. will have to deal with for the next couple of generations.
No reasonable judge can argue that FOX News does not report real news and allow them to keep up the facade of a legitimate news organization. It’s safe to say that FOX News is not a reputable news source.
Viewers of most mainstream media channels may be familiar with Trump’s hush money pay-
ments to keep adult film stars, such as Stormy Daniels, quiet about a past affair. FOX viewers, however, were presented with the narrative that Daniels approached Trump and threatened to ruin his political career if he didn’t hand over a large sum of money.
Carlson turned a story about an affair and a hush money case into one about extortion.
The true enemies of the people are those in the media who hide behind the moniker of “journalism” to push their own agendas. Journalism is about reporting the most accurate version of the truth available — stories should speak for themselves.
FOX is just a modern continuation of “gonzo journalism,” a style of writing popularized by Hunter S. Thompson and known for “factual distor-
tion and exaggerated rhetorical style,” according to the Oxford English Dictionary.
As bad as Thompson was for the journalism industry, he, too, was a symptom of the disease of “yellow journalism,” a style of “journalism” that emphasized sensationalism over factual reporting. Yellow journalism is widely believed to have caused war between the U.S. and Spain. Yellow journalists, Hunter S. Thompson and FOX News anchors are not journalists. True journalists and non-journalists alike should condemn these figures for their dishonesty and the irreparable damage they have caused to society. Until this greed can be reined in enough for honest journalism to prevail, journalists must continue to uncover the truth — not create their own truths.
BRANDI SPANN Opinion Editor
SAM MUREN Managing Editor
DYLAN HEMBROUGH Editor-in-Chief
AUDREY O’RENIC Sports Editor
CHLOE WOLFE Lifestyles Editor
HANNAH LEDFORD
Online Editor
TAHZIVE AVI ISLAM Multimedia Editor
DYLAN HEMBROUGH editor-in-chief
Hypocrisy of educational leadership hurts students
SAM MUREN managing editor
Some of life’s most crucial decisions are made by people who are selected to lead us as a society. However, a lack of quality leadership has become increasingly apparent, particularly in education.
We see it in sports, politics, education and our social groups — the characteristics of leadership are intertwined into every aspect of our lives.
Being the one to have the final say or the person everyone looks to for guidance is no easy task. Many place absolute trust specific leaders, hoping they won’t be led astray.
Having individuals with strong moral character in leadership roles is pivotal to achieving success in everything we do.
One of these is in education. Administrative departments throughout America’s educational institutions tarnish the concept of leadership.
It is ironic that those entrusted with
Commuters
MATTHEW WOLDEN copy editor
SAM MUREN managing editor
shaping future leaders of the United States are the ones who betray their own ideals.
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It is
ironic that those entrusted with shaping future leaders of the United States are the ones who betray their own ideals.
Sam Muren Managing Editor
True leadership takes courage because everyone’s trust lies within the one in charge. Mistakes are inevitable; we’re all human. However, we are raised from a young age to take responsibility for those mistakes.
A courageous leader would take responsibility for their mistakes, yet leaders in education seem to shift blame. Instead of taking responsibility for their faults,
they rely on their public relations team to sweep it under the rug.
Most administrators avoid acknowledging problems. They’d rather protect their image than admit to any flaws in their leadership and decision-making.
This is evident both locally and nationally. The U.S. Department of Education’s poor decisions showed in their execution of the new FAFSA process. Students and college institutions alike were left confused and in financial uncertainty as the school year began.
However, the Department of Education gets off the hook. Where is the accountability?
Locally, the lack of leadership is just as glaring. The denial of safety within Edwardsville’s District 7 is appalling. Even if the cases were isolated incidents, the administration’s refusal to address simple questions is deeply troubling.
People across the country and in small communities like Edwardsville look to these administrations to help protect,
serve and educate their children. Most administrators are paid by taxpayer dollars to carry out these tasks.
While the consequences may not be fatal here, they can be in other districts’ cases. Administrative negligence can indirectly lead to tragedies like school shootings and bomb threats. By then, the ability to hold the leaders responsible is too late to before lives are lost.
A lack of accountability in these incidents has led to a larger, national issue when it comes to violence and school shootings. Leaders have to be proactive to prevent lives from being lost.
That is why it’s crucial for those who appoint and oversee these administrative leaders to hold them accountable when they fail.
Leaders must also remember that their role is to serve those they represent. They should be transparent in their decisions-making process that impact many lives and be prepared to face the consequences when decisions lead to negative outcomes.
should be given the option to purchase a meal plan
The convenience of the residential meal plan is something that commuting students could benefit from.
As it stands, there is no current meal plan available for students who commute to campus. However, students that choose to live in University Housing have three different options for meal plans.
Having various pricing options is helpful, but restricting the meal plan options to only university residents feels a bit isolating. SIUE is leaving out a majority of the people that spend over half of their day on or around campus.
The university only provides on-campus housing to 2,792 students, according to SIUE’s Fact Book. The total enrollment of SIUE is approximately 12,000 students. Only offering the meal plan to those residents leaves around 10,000 students on their own for food options.
Commuting students find themselves at a disadvantage compared to residents. While both spend significant time on campus, only some students can easily return to their residence for a quick bite. For commuters, driving distance or class schedule often makes eating at the MUC feel like the only option.
The resident’s meal plan provides a discount and convenience. Not only would commuters benefit from access to a meal plan, but staff and faculty would too. Even students who live at the apartment
complexes near campus like The Reserve or Parc at 720 are not offered a meal plan.
Eating is pivotal to being able to achieve academic success and complete studies as a student. According to Piemont, not eating can lead to low blood sugar, irritability and fatigue — all symptoms that interfere with everyday studies.
While the university is not prohibiting commuters from eating at Dining Services, they are treating them less fairly than residents by witholding this option.
Granting a discount to commuter students would encourage them to buy more from Dining Services without worry of a high cost.
There should be no reason for students to have concerns regarding their meals when the university could easily give them the same access as residents.
Limiting the option to residents only and excluding other factions of the campus seems like an extreme oversight.
The university is missing the opportunity to open the plan for everyone and generate more revenue for Dining Services.
The students who get the discounted price are more likely to use that option over someone who is paying the full price. Commuters would be more likely to buy food from Dining Services if they had a meal plan.
Commuter students are SIUE students. Why treat them differently when it comes to meal plans? Opening this accessibility to everyone would be more beneficial to everyone rather than limiting it to specific groups of the university.
Early education can break the cycle of gun violence
TAHZIVE AVI ISLAM multimedia editor
The recent tragedy on Sept. 4 at Apalachee High School in Georgia, where a 14-year-old student opened fire, killing two students and two teachers and injuring nine others, highlights the ongoing issue of gun violence in our society.
While many variables play a role, it’s crucial to consider how early experiences and influences might shape an individual’s response to conflict and aggression.
Illinois’ strict gun laws, including background checks and waiting periods, are among the toughest nationwide. Despite these measures, gun violence remains a significant concern.
Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly said, “In East St. Louis, they have been implementing … an investigative unit that takes a community-based, trauma-informed approach aimed at reducing violent crimes,” Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly said. “It’s very hard to deter crime if you can’t solve crime.”
Early exposure to violence plays a pivotal role in shaping how individuals respond to conflict later in life.
“Children who witness violence, whether in the home or through media, are more likely to use violence as a way to resolve conflicts,” the American Psycho -
logical Association said.
The National Library of Medicine found that children who experience violence at home are more likely to exhibit aggressive behavior in their interactions with others.
The psychological impact of such exposure can manifest in various ways, from heightened aggression to difficulties in managing emotions.
Understanding the long-term effects of early exposure to violence is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies.
The broader conversation about gun violence and recent tragedies like the Georgia shooting highlights the need to critically examine media portrayals of violence. Media often depicts violence as a solution to problems, which can significantly impact a child’s perception of acceptable behavior.
University of Iowa President Barbara J. Wilson says children learn about emotions from the media by observing the emotional experiences of characters. This process often leads children to develop empathy for these characters.
Wilson notes that while the research on the long-term effects is limited, there is significant evidence that media exposure can contribute to children’s fears, anxieties and aggressive behavior, particularly through violent television programming and video games. She also
explores the potential for positive social effects through educational content.
“Research involving a randomly assigned control group demonstrates that children can transfer to real life the emotional lessons they learn from TV,” Wilson said.
Media freedom is a fundamental aspect of democratic societies, but it comes with the responsibility of ensuring that content does not perpetuate harmful norms.
Schools play a crucial role in shaping
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Understanding the long-term effects of early exposure to violence is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies.
Tahzive Avi Islam Multimedia Editor
children’s attitudes toward violence and aggression. While institutions like SIUE implement safety measures including police patrols, emergency alerts and mental health resources, these measures alone do not address the underlying issues of how students learn to manage emotions and conflicts.
According to a study published in
the Journal of Media Literacy Education, integrating programs that promote emotional literacy, teach conflict resolution skills and critically examine media influences can help reduce aggression. Schools can be instrumental in providing students with tools to handle their emotions in healthy ways.
Programs that focus on social-emotional learning, such as the CASEL framework, are particularly effective. These programs teach students skills such as empathy, self-regulation and effective communication, which are crucial for managing conflicts constructively.
By incorporating these techniques into school curricula, educators can help students build the skills necessary to navigate conflicts without resorting to aggression. These programs can also help counteract the negative influences of media portrayals of violence by promoting healthier ways of resolving disputes.
We must foster a society where violence becomes the exception rather than the norm, and where everyone is equipped to handle conflicts constructively.
By tackling early exposure to aggression, refining media portrayals and embracing effective educational strategies, we can pave the way for a safer environment. This concerted effort will not only benefit us today but also ensure a more secure and peaceful future for our children and generations to come.
The Boot is Back: Men’s soccer earns second win against SLU at CITYPARK
O’RENIC sports editor
The Cougars clinched the second consecutive win in the Bronze Boot series against the St. Louis Billikens on Sunday.
After an intense scoreless first half at the Major League CITYPARK Stadium, sophomore midfielder Yasha Schaerer secured the Cougars’ 1-0 victory off a penalty kick near the 62-minute mark. Schaerer’s kick came after senior forward Nacho Abeal was fouled in the box.
“Unbelievable feeling,” Scaerer said. ”Scoring in such a stadium — a dream of every footballer.”
The Cougars took on the new season with nearly half of the team being newcomers.
Head Coach Cale Wassermann said Schaerer and junior midfielder Carles Zomeno were previously underutilized.
“I think in our first two games, we didn’t use them enough,” Wassermann said. “We gave them a little bit more
of a freedom of movement, and I thought those two guys really played well and helped us control the tempo of the game.”
Graduate student goalkeeper Rob Gjelaj, another new addition to the team, earned the starting keep and played the entire game. He saved all four shots on goal, recording his first shutout for the Cougars.
“We knew last spring that Rob was going to be good, but to step into a big moment like the Bronze Boot game, in front of so many eyes and to play so well … [it] was really special,” Wassermann said.
The back-to-back Cougar victories in the series mark the first time since consecutive wins in 1979 and 1980. Joseph Carenza Jr., former soccer coach at Washington University in St. Louis, and Chris Carenza, a leading player for SIUE in the 1970s, presented the Bronze Boot Joseph Carenza, Sr. Trophy to the Cougars. The trophy was named after their father, National Soccer Hall of Famer Joseph Carenza
Sr., who began the Boot series back in 1969.
“It’s a special feeling,” Wassermann said. “I’m connected with a lot of the older alumni who played in the Bronze Boot games in the ‘70s and ‘80s. So, for us to win it last year with such a special group was great. But to do it back to back against a quality team like SLU is never easy.”
The Cougars will travel to take on the University of Memphis Tigers at 2 p.m. Friday in Memphis, Tennessee. Last year, the Tigers bested the Cougars in the first round of the National Collegiate Athletics Associations men’s soccer tournament.
“We want to come back with a different result than we did last time, and to do that, we’ll have to execute technically and tactically, but also, we’ll have to match their intensity,” Wassermann said. “We’ve gotten better every week this season, and when half our team is new, you can only take it one day and one game at a time.”
Senior defender Mary Fetter gains possession of the ball from Saint Louis University, running it up the sideline to the other half of the field. Despite the 6-1 loss, Fetter kept her energy consistent throughout the game.
| Pedro Henrique G-M / The Alestle
SLU dismantles women’s soccer in 6-1 loss at STL
AUDREY O’RENIC sports editor
The Cougars were defeated by St. Louis University 6-1 in Sunday’s match at CITYPARK Stadium.
Within the first 13 minutes of the match, the Billikens secured the first goal off a corner kick. Despite the early goal, the Cougars remained engaged with a strong line of defense, and the rest of the first half remained 1-0.
SLU scored twice more in the top of the second half before freshman forward MaryClaire Imig made her big debut as the sole scorer of the game. The newcomer, assisted by junior midfielder Macie Begley, pulled SIUE to 3-1 in the 64-minute mark. The Cougars regained momentum, but the Billikens managed to secure another successful shot nearly a min-
ute after the Cougars’ first goal. By the end of the game, the Billikens got in another two goals for a final score of 6-1.
Starting last year, the Cougars battled the Billikens in an exciting doubleheader at CITYPARK. Women’s Head Coach Derek Burton said the Bronze Boot game has gained new importance to both teams.
“Adding two good women’s programs to the plans for the event itself has been just super exciting,” Burton said. “From a historical perspective, it’s been something on the men’s side, but now that the women are involved, it adds another layer.”
The Cougars stand 1-22 overall. SIUE will battle sister school SIUC in their final non-conference game at 6 p.m. Thursday in Carbondale.
