Alestle Vol. 96 No. 22

ALESTLE

the

Ness’ tear-jerking novel hits the big screen page 4

thursday, 01.12.17

Cougars collect first conference win page 7

alton — east st. louis — edwardsville

vol. LXIX no. XXII

New potential housing development receives mixed feelings from community KIAH EARL Alestle Reporter A new housing development is set to begin construction before the summer of 2017 in Edwardsville on New Poag Road, adjacent to Bohm Woods State Nature Preserve. The proposed project is a 486-bed student housing complex that resembles existing off-campus student housing developments like Enclave and Axis.

This development is causing problems for some members of the Edwardsville and SIUE communities because of its proximity to Bohm Woods, as well as the effects that a development of this size will have on the preserve.

Bohm Woods is the only existing old-growth forest in Madison County and is home to many deep forest animal species that are native to the area, according to Biological Sciences Professor Richard Essner.

According to the Planned Unit Development plan that was prepared by Thouvenot, Wade & Moerchen Inc., the property will span a 15.22 acre lot and feature nine residential buildings that will range from 2-bedroom, 3-bedroom and 4-bedroom units.

These buildings will be rented by the bed and will be shared-space apartments catering to SIUE students.

The project is set to be built in one phase, and the projected completion date is July 1, 2018.

According to Essner, the amount of scientific evidence he has gathered while researching the area for over 10 years shows that the animals, specifically the birds within Bohm Woods are extremely sensitive to human disturbance and will suffer greatly from such a drastic change to their current habitat.

Essner created a petition against the housing development, citing one of the reasons being the endangerment of the forest interior bird community within Bohm Woods.

“I first learned about the project a day or so before it came up to the commission [in October],” Essner said. “I was really concerned because I’ve been doing research on the bird community of Bohm Woods since 2006, right after it was set aside as a nature preserve, and the bird community within that area are unique forest interior birds that are extremely sensitive to human disturbance.”

According to Edwardsville City Planner Scott Hanson, the property has been up for sale for eight years and Richland Residential is the first development company that has shown serious interest in the land.

Richland Residential Vice President Brent Mehall said facing opposition in situations like this are common when adding new developments to different communities.

“We’re neighbors now,” Mehall said. “We’re going to be a part of the community, and we

connect with us anytime online

Since the addition of off-campus student living facilities in recent years, University Housing has seen a decrease in its on-campus residents.

| Lauren Lowe / Alestle

were happy to make the concessions.”

Richland Residential has been extremely cooperative while working with concerned community members to ease the human footprint near the preserve, Hanson said.

“We were happy to accommodate those with concerns for the area and we understand what those concerns were,” Mehall said. “We think we made an effort to comply with what the public was asking for and we were happy to do it.”

Since the original proposal, Richland Residential has agreed to allow the Illinois Department of Natural Resources the authority to protect and maintain the area surrounding the property. Richland Residential has also agreed to only plant native trees and plants within the area with all plant inventory previously approved by the IDNR staff.

“We have to keep in mind that all of these concessions the developer is self imposing on the property that is not in Bohm Woods,” Hanson said. “There’s been a lot of confusion that people think that Bohm Woods is going away, and it’s not.”

According to both Essner and Hanson, the developers also agreed to put up an 8-foot tall fence on the side of the development that will surround the parking lot along with the northwest corner of the property. According to the PUD plan, the fence will minimize exterior lighting, car headlights, eliminate littering onto the property to the north end and prevent human trespassing into the northern part of the property.

The PUD plan also states that Richland Residential has agreed that all non-decorative exterior parking lot and exterior building lighting will be directed

“

downward and away from the Bohm Woods area.

“The new plans are better than what was initially proposed, but I still think it’s a bad idea,” Essner said. “I have concerns about noise, vehicle headlights, and the area is highly erodible.

The area will never be the same if the development is built.”

Environmental Resources Training Center director Paul

93 percent occupancy.

The housing project was proposed by a third-party developer and was approved by the city, Schultz said. While the development will provide additional housing options for students at SIUE, Schultz said the developer and the city are not required to inform SIUE directly about the details of the project because it is not affiliated with the university.

Ac c o rd i n g to Mehall, there was a market study done on the area that suggested an additional housing development so close to campus would be profitable.

SCOTT HANSON “The land Edwardsville City Planner is so close to the university, it was Shetley said the project will not a no-brainer for us,” Mehall said. have an effect on any work done “It takes a while for us to identify at the center but recognizes that schools and areas to build in and any man-made change to nature SIUE and the Edwardsville comcan affect wildlife in the sur- munity hit all of our key metrics.” rounding area.

The new project is not the “The Bohm Woods State Na- first student housing developture Preserve is located along side ment for Richland Residential, of the area in which construction and according to Mehall, there is scheduled to take place,” Shet- is a demand in the Edwardsville ley said. “Naturally because of area for additional student housproximity, the project will have an ing based off the market study. impact to that area.”

“The first off-campus colAccording to Director of lege student housing developUniversity Housing Michael ment was Enclave, and there was Schultz, the current population a huge need,” Schultz said. “We within University Housing does were turning away between 300 not call for the addition of anoth- and 400 students at one point, er off-site housing development. and those students were living as “Based on what I’ve seen, a far as Alton and Collinsville, so and on what occupancy has been Enclave took away the need for a at the university as well as the waiting list and also brought stuthree other housing locations, dents closer in proximity to camEnclave, Greenhill and Axis,” pus.”

Schultz said, “I don’t see the need University Housing refor any additional housing for mained at full occupancy until college students.”

Greenhill was built, Schultz said.

The current occupancy rate “I’m afraid what’s going to for SIUE University Housing is happen in years to come when at 90 percent according to Schul- you have about 1,200 beds that tz. Enclave is at 98 percent ac- are dedicated within those four cording to management, and the properties,” Schultz said. “My current occupancy rate for Axis is concern is that off-campus facilat 97 percent according to the of- ities will deteriorate and either fice secretary. Greenhill, previous- maintenance isn’t going to be ly called The Edge, is currently at done or security will be dropped

There’s been a lot of confusion that people think that Bohm Woods is going away, and it’s not.

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due to lack of occupancy, and they will end up a sore thumb for the city.”

Within the state of Illinois, the only public school that is seeing growth is the University of Illinois, Schultz said. All other universities, SIUE included, are either maintaining enrollment or seeing a decline.

“I don’t see the need for the growth in space at SIUE,” Schultz said. “Eventually, each of these facilities will all begin to not see full capacity. If you add approximately 470 more beds to this market, where are those students coming from to live in those spaces?”

According to Schultz, the university cannot prevent any additional development companies from going to the City of Edwardsville with a housing development projects for students.

“These developers come in and build these properties, and then sell them for a profit,” Schultz said. “The Edge [Greenhill] was on the market before it was even completed.”

As of Tuesday, Jan. 10, the petition to stop the development near Bohm Woods had 967 signatures, and according to Essner, the petition will be sent to Richland Residential President Martin Mehall once the petition reaches 1,000 signatures. Essner said he hopes the developers will see how important saving this area is to the local community and take the development to other land in the area.

“The development is intended for SIUE students, so if SIUE students are against it and sign the petition against it, it is my hope that the developers will see there is no need for this additional student living space,” Essner said.

According to the petition website and Essner, Richland Residential was presented with other building sites and has not made a decision thus far to change any current construction plans.

“We’re trying to persuade the contractor to move locations,” Essner said. “The developer hasn’t been interested. It’s a nature preserve and it deserves the highest level of protection.”

Richland Residential will go before the City of Edwardsville a final time after making public improvements such as routing water and sewer lines before beginning construction on the development according to Hanson. This meeting is open to the public.

Prior to the approval of the development, the City’s Plan Commission Conceptional workshop meeting was held Oct. 17, 2016. The PUD Development plan was presented Nov. 21, 2016, the Public Services committee met Nov. 29, 2016, and again on Dec. 13, 2016, while the Administrative and Community Services committee met Dec. 15, 2016.

For more information about the petition, visit facebook.com/ SaveBohmWoods.

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News in brief External Affairs plans Tunnel of Oppression, spring events

Student Government External Affairs Officer Carmen Connors and other committee members held a meeting on Jan. 9, where they discussed upcoming plans for the semester.

The first event discussed was the Tunnel of Oppression, which was hosted last year in April.

“The Tunnel of Oppression will be a part of our continuing effort to promote diversity understanding on campus,” Connors said. “The tunnel will be sometime in the last half of the semester and will include interactive exhibitions from diverse groups on campus.”

This year, Student Government is hoping the tunnel can help students engage with each other and bring thought-provoking issues to light, according to Connors.

Next, a second event was discussed regarding a day in which students from both SIUE and SIUC travel to Springfield later this semester. While the date is still to be determined, the trip is open to all students. At the event, students will talk to state representatives about certain issues that pertain to students in Southern Illinois.

The last event was a potential “Quad Day.” However, it may be subject to change due to the event being in its beginning stages of planning.

The idea stemmed from watching students getting stressed during finals week and SG wanting to provide an outlet to release the built-up tension.

“We are hoping to have a day late in the semester to promote outdoor activities and relaxation,” Connors said. “For example, we will have organized events such as soccer, knocker ball, hikes, etc. around campus at different times to give everyone a chance to relax and get outside.”

Environmental resources doctorate program to be offered fall 2017

Starting fall 2017, students can pursue a doctorate degree in Environmental Resources and Policy.

The focal point of the program is modern interdisciplinary training and research on physical, biological and social processes responsible for natural resources and environmental problems society faces on a daily basis.

The program will feature concentrations in water resources, ecology, climatology, energy, and mineral resources.

There will also be earth and environmental processes, forestry, agricultural and rural land resources, environmental policy and administration, geographic information systems and environmental modeling available to students who qualify for the program.

For more information on the doctorate program, contact Director of Environmental Sciences Program Zhi-Qing-Lin at 650-2650 or zhlin@siue.edu.

thursday, 01.12.17

Lead testing continues across campus TRENT STUART Alestle Reporter In early August, Facilities Management documented that SIUE had an abnormally high amount of lead in the pipes of some buildings on campus.

Through further testing, they have been able to narrow down the specific places lead is concentrated in to make sure it stays out of the drinking water.

According to Facilities Management Director Paul Fuligni, the lead has been found mostly in utility and mechanical sinks, with the exception of two drinking fountains — one in the Lovejoy Library and the other in Science West. The fountain in the library has been permanently turned off, and the one in the science building is subject to further testing.

“We’ve done some very extensive testing around campus and have shared the results we have obtained, and at this point, we believe the elevated levels of lead are occurring primarily at mechanical and utility sinks in custodial closets, which, of course, aren’t used for drinking,” Fuligni said.

Therefore, besides the two fountains that are both currently shut down, Fuligni said people should not be concerned about the water.

The university buys water from the City of Edwardsville, which, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, goes through regular testing.

The second round of tests were administered the same month as the first, which narrowed down the problem to the library and the 3-year-old Science West building. These two buildings went through further testing to find the exact source of the lead.

“We checked pretty much every drinking fountain and

Facilities Management will continue to do lead testing in the Lovejoy Library and Science Lab West until the lead found in the pipes is gone. | Photo via Adobe Stock

every faucet that people could use for drinking water,” Fuligni said.

The water fountain in the library is in the process of being replaced by a fountain with a filter on it. According to Fuligni, this fountain was in a location where it would not get much use, which was most likely the cause of the abnormal levels of lead Senior sociology major Thomas White, of Chicago, was working at the library circulation desk during the weeks the problem was first discovered. He said he did not think it affected many people.

“The water was shut down here for two to three weeks.

It seems like the Facilities Management department was pretty safe about it once they were aware of the problem,” White said.

Testing in the Science

West building produced similar results, aside from one factor that Facilities Management is still trying to figure out.

“The fact that we found only one drinking fountain with lead in it in Science West was very surprising because at every other drinking fountain, we didn’t find any lead at all,” Fuligni said.

Facilities Management will continue to test the fountain in the science building and will replace it if necessary, according to Fuligni.

The issue came as a surprise to Facilities Management since the university has had normal lead levels in the past. Fuligni said the problem in the Science West building was especially shocking. The extension to the original science building opened in fall of 2013, making it the newest building on campus.

Facilities Management met with the engineers of the building,

who could not find any structural problems that would have caused the high lead levels.

Some students, like sophomore biology major A.J. Barnett, of Columbia, believe they are not really affected by the lead issue.

“It’s not really a big concern for me because I always have my own water bottle with me, and I’m not in those buildings a lot.

But if I was, it might be a little concerning,” Barnett said.

Fuligni said there will be more testing throughout the campus later this month to make sure the situation is handled accordingly.

The Alestle will continue to follow updates on the water in Lovejoy Library and Science Lab West.

Contact TRENT STUART Call 650-3527 Tweet @tstuart_alestle Email tstuart@alestlelive.com

Student involvement advocate receives national award TRENT STUART Alestle Reporter

As a graduate student in the last semester of her master’s degree, Shayna Dixon, of Alton, has been re c o g n i z e d at a national Shayna Dixon level for her advocacy of student involvement.

Promoting student involvement has almost become second nature to Dixon due to her extensive experience working with other students throughout her years at school. Currently, Dixon is working as a graduate assistant for leadership and student organizations in the Kimmel Student Involvement Center.

Dixon has been named this year’s Outstanding Master’s Level Graduate Student by the American College Personnel Association’s for her experience, talent and commitment to the field.

“I was shocked, humbled and excited when I was told that I had received the award. I have only been at SIUE since June [2016], so to see that individuals on campus have been impressed by the

work I’ve done in such a short amount of time was truly an honor,” Dixon said.

During her last semester before graduation, Dixon will be continuing her search for a professional job. She said she is is leaning toward starting her career within the area of student involvement and advising, but does not want to limit her options just yet.

“

help future students and to help encourage students that impacts can be made even in short periods of time,” Dixon said.

Dixon’s supervisor, Kimmel Student Involvement Center Associate Director Michelle Welter, has known her since Spring 2016 and said she was immediately impressed by her knowledge and abilities.

I strive to be a student leader on campus because I was passionate about the people that I was able to build relationships with.

SHAYNA DIXON

College student personnel administration graduate student, of Alton

Dixon said the award inspired her to strengthen herself for the future, and that she does not take it lightly.

“Currently, the recognition of the award has been a bit overwhelming, but it has encouraged me to gain more experience in areas that I am lacking in to better

“In her short amount of time at SIUE, she has made an impact on the programs that we offer and the way I am able to successfully do my job. It was a well-deserved recognition,” Welter said.

According to Dixon, she has always been involved in student life throughout her academic career. As an undergraduate at

McKendree University, she took on many roles including working as a resident assistant, a peer mentor, an orientation leader, and being involved in both a student leadership program and fraternity and sorority life.

“I strived to be a student leader on campus because I was passionate about the people that I was able to build relationships with. Now, as a graduate assistant for leadership and student organizations, I am able to see a whole new side to those areas that I was involved in,” Dixon said.

Dixon has also been able to get to know another Kimmel Student Involvement Center graduate assistant, Rani Somers, of Marion, during her time at SIUE. Somers said she quickly learned how loyal Dixon is to the people in her life.

“Shayna is very deserving of the award, and she has worked so hard over the years to get to where she is now. She’s always looking for opportunities to better herself personally and professionally,” Somers said.

In March, Dixon will travel to Columbus, Ohio to receive her award at the 2017 ACPA Convention.

Contact TRENT STUART Call 650-3527 Tweet @tstuart_alestle Email tstuart@alestlelive.com

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thursday, 01.12.17

Study: Heroin resurgence an ‘unintended consequence’ of attempt to curb OxyContin abuse HARRIET RYAN Los Angeles Times 01.08.17

01.09.17

An officer met with a resident who was struck by a vehicle in the crosswalk of the Prairie Hall parking lot. The driver of the vehicle did stop and speak with the pedestrian, who stated she was not hurt.

The subject stated she was not injured but wanted to make the PD aware of the incident.

An officer met with vehicle owners in Lot 12 for a minor vehicle accident. The incident involved Illinois registered vehicle E428893 and Illinois registered vehicle P842994.

An officer responded to 519 Cougar Village for an active fire alarm activated from cooking. There was no fire, smoke or damage.

An officer issued a written warning for driving without headlights on Cougar Lake Drive at Lot 4A. An officer issued a written warning for driving without headlights on Whiteside Road at Circle Drive.

An officer issued a written warning for speeding and an expired registration on South University Drive.

An officer issued a written warning for speeding on New Poag Road at Old Bohm Road.

An officer issued a written warning for expired registration on South University Drive at Parking Lot 2.

An officer met with a female subject who reported she had lost her purse in Peck Hall.

The purse was later located intact.

An officer issued a written warning for disobeying a stop sign on University Park Drive at South University Drive.

An officer responded to the Student Fitness Center to pick up a wallet. The officer then located the wallet.

An officer took a report of a hit-and-run involving Illinois registered vehicle V908226 and an unknown vehicle in Lot A.

01.10.17 An officer met with a student in Lot 4 for a report of a minor vehicle accident involving Illinois registered vehicle Q452174. The officer left a note on Unit 2, Illinois registered vehicle E711135.

In an attempt to stem abuse of OxyContin, Purdue Pharma spent a decade and several hundred million dollars developing a version of the painkiller that was more difficult to snort, smoke or inject. Since those “abusedeterrent” pills debuted six years ago, misuse of OxyContin has fallen and the company has touted them as proof of its efforts to end the opioid epidemic.

But a study released this week found that rather than curtail deaths, the change in OxyContin contributed heavily to a surge in heroin overdoses across the country and that as a result there was “no net reduction in overall overdose deaths.”

Experts have long blamed skyrocketing heroin use on painkiller addicts transitioning to the cheaper, more easily available street opioid. But the study released Monday by scientists at the University of Pennsylvania and Rand Corp. was the first large-scale research to tie the alarming growth in heroin deaths to Purdue’s introduction of new pills.

“Our results imply that a substantial share of the dramatic increase in heroin deaths since 2010 can be attributed to the reformulation of OxyContin,” the authors wrote.

In response to the study, the company issued a statement noting that government officials have been urging drug companies to develop abuse-deterrent

painkillers like the reformulated OxyContin. The Food and Drug Administration has approved eight abuse-deterrent opioids, three of them made by Purdue.

Abuse-deterrent OxyContin does not prevent the most common way of abusing the drug — simply swallowing whole pills — but it has cut back on abuse of the painkiller by 40 percent, according to some estimates.

“The White House, FDA, and DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) consider abusedeterrent technology to be an important part of a comprehensive approach toward combating prescription drug abuse that also includes prevention and treatment,” the statement said.

More than 7 million Americans are estimated to have abused OxyContin since its 1996 debut with some regions of the country more seriously affected. The researchers from Penn’s Wharton School and Rand analyzed levels of OxyContin abuse on a state-by-state basis in the years leading up to the pill reformulation and then looked at deaths from heroin in a threeyear period after the change. They found that heroin deaths more than tripled, from 3,000 in 2010 to 10,500 in 2014. And states where OxyContin abuse rates were the highest “experienced the largest increases in heroin deaths,” the authors wrote.

Washington University School of Medicine professor Theodore J. Cicero, who separately has studied the role that OxyContin reformulation

played in heroin addiction, said he found the Penn-Rand study credible.

Underlying their conclusions is the agony of withdrawal from opioids like OxyContin, he said.

Addicts suddenly deprived pills they can inject or smoke “feel like they are going to die and the only relief is another opiate,” Cicero said. He said that looking back it is difficult to understand why experts in the field didn’t see that reformulation would lead to increased heroin use.

“It’s hard to imagine that all of us, the FDA included, didn’t pick up on this as a possibility,” Cicero said.

The study authors referred to the deaths as an “unintended consequence” and one, Rand health economist Rosalie Liccardo Pacula, said Purdue deserved credit for trying to address a problem. She said that the study looked narrowly at what she called “the worst of the outcomes” — death — because data was available. The researchers were not able to tally people who had responded to the drug reformulation by getting clean or calculate the number of people who did not abuse it in the first place because of the change to the pill.

“We can’t say there was no benefit from the reformulation,” Pacula said. “We don’t know what the outcomes will be in terms of lives saved.”

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contact the editor: lifestyles@alestlelive.com 650-3527 thursday, 01.12.17

’ s l l a C r te s n o M ‘A lity a t r o m s e l d n ha ce a r g h wit

Review:

Conor O’Malley (played by Lewis MacDougall) attempts to cope with his mother’s terminal illness with the help of a monster (voiced by Liam Neeson).

CHLOE SMITH Alestle Lifestyles Editor There is a single thing, above all, that needs to be stated in regard to “A Monster Calls” — bring tissues.

However, “A Monster Calls,” the film adaptation of Patrick Ness’ bestselling novel of the same name, calls for the use of tissues for reasons audience members may not expect.

The film tells the tale of Conor O’Malley (played with unprecedented depth by Lewis MacDougall). Faced with his beloved mother’s (played by Felicity Jones) terminal illness — a fate he can’t seem to accept, the impend-

ing doom of living in an “old lady house with old lady things” with his strict grandmother (played

by Sigourney Weaver) and vicious bullies at school, Conor’s world seems to be crashing down around him, plaguing him with nightmares that are left mysterious to the audience.

Thus, the monster (voiced by Liam Neeson) is called. As Conor stays up late drawing in his room, the enormous tree by the church across from his home suddenly uproots and takes the form of a bulking monster comprised of branches. The monster informs Conor that he will return to tell Conor three tales. Once those tales have been told, the monster demands that Conor tell his own

story: the truth about his recurring nightmare, what the monster calls “the truth of Conor O’Malley.”

Each of the monster’s tales plays out in beautiful watercolor animation, perfectly accenting the rest of the film’s gorgeous cinematography. In addition to the film’s impressive visual executions of scenes, the film’s use of sound — or lack thereof — also shines.

Particularly tense or pivotal scenes are left in complete silence, allowing them to seem all the more raw and realistic (the only downside to this decision is the fact that the silence makes it much harder to conceal your crying).

Aside from the gorgeous visuals and powerhouse perfor-

mances, what’s truly resonating about this film is the way in which takes a storyline that could easily lend itself to a simple tearjerker and transcends that, instead choosing to explore much more complicated themes.

The only issue worthy of noting is the fact that Felicity Jones’ talent warrants much more screen time than what she got. While the story is full without it, it would have been all the more fascinating and gut-wrenching to delve deeper into the mindset of her character.

Even with its fantastical premise and numerous fables, “A Monster Calls” tackles the mess of guilt, agony and confusion that is terminal illness with unparalleled

| Photo via IMDB

eloquence. In an age when many films seem to romanticize illness and loss, “A Monster Calls” does not shy away from the horrors of watching someone’s health decline — nor does it shy away, however, from highlighting the beauty that can be found in those times of pain.

The film captures the complexities of grief, the pitfalls and triumphs of loving someone and the difficulty that often comes with simply allowing oneself to feel.

Contact CHLOE SMITH Call 650-3527 Tweet @csmith_alestle Email csmith@alestlelive.com

2017 brings anticipation of new albums KENDRA MARTIN Alestle Managaing Editor The year 2016 is finally over.

Despite all the ups and downs, 2016 left behind an assortment of amazing music from Solange, A Tribe Called Quest, NxWorries, Anderson .Paak and more.

2017 has a lot to live up to.

Many artists have announced and teased music for 2017, but there are a handful of artists whose music I’m anticipating in particular.

1. Big K.R.I.T. — “TBD”

Big K.R.I.T has always been one of the my favorite artists. Truthfully, I put him up there with Kendrick Lamar as one of my favorite hip-hop artists because of Big K.R.I.T.’s wide array of talents — he raps, sings, produces, mixes and masters his own music. He is his own machine, but I feel like he should be more widely known. In my opinion, he should definitely have the amount of exposure as his peers Lamar and J. Cole have, but due to frustration with Def Jam, he has not been able to reach that level — until now.

In 2016, Big K.R.I.T. released a 12-track mixtape before announcing his departure from

Big K.R.I.T.

| Photo via Facebook

Def Jam. Personally, I was happy and excited because, as a fan, I knew this would be the best move for him. After an amazing performance at the BET Hip-Hop Awards last year, I can confidently say that this is definitely the new beginning for Big K.R.I.T., and I am looking forward to seeing what he has in store for us.

Rashad to SchoolBoy Q, Kendrick Lamar, Ab-Soul and newly signed Lance Skiiiwalker, many fans, myself included, were wondering about when SZA was finally going to drop another album. It has been three years since she released “Z,” and I am highly anticipating some new music from the songstress. While SZA shines in her features and remixes, she outdoes herself when it comes to her own music.

TDE president Anthony Tiffith, however, announced via Instagram at the end of 2016 that he was working on the 2017 release schedule and in the caption he wrote, “SZA, are you ready to get them off my head?” That was enough clarity for me to know for sure SZA would finally be releasing her follow-up project and, after three years, I know she will not disappoint.

2. SZA — “A”

Top Dawg Entertainment had a busy 2016. From Isaiah

SZA

| Photo via Facebook

Freddie Gibbs

3. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib — “Bandana”

This pair was like an unexpected match made in heaven.

When Freddie Gibbs and Madlib released “Piñata” in 2014, it was my absolute favorite project that year, and I still listen to it religiously. Naturally, it was only a matter of time before fans started asking for a second album.

When Madlib casually talked about the album in an interview for Red Bull Music Academy, and Freddie Gibbs simply tweeted,

| Photo via Facebook

“Bandana,” it aroused a ton of speculation. Although the pair has not announced a definite release date, and it’s unclear whether they have even begun working on the project, that does not stifle my excitement that these two could possibly drop the best hiphop project of 2017 if they wanted. Freddie Gibbs and Madlib, I’m waiting on you!

Contact KENDRA MARTIN Call 650-3527 Tweet @kmartin_alestle Email kmartin@alestlelive.com

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thursday, 01.12.17

events to start your year off right

page 5

Thursday, Jan. 12 Campus Recreation Winter Welcome Back 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., Student Activity Center

Friday, Jan. 13 Saturday, Jan. 14 Season for the Child presents: “My Father’s Dragon” 2 - 3 p.m., Dunham Hall Theater 12th Annual Loop Ice Carnival 10 a.m., Delmar Loop, St. Louis All-you-can-eat cannoli contest 1 and 3 p.m. time slots, Piccione Bakery, Delmar Loop

Tuesday, Jan. 17 Trivia Night $ 7 p.m., Global Brew, Edwardsville Cougar Store fitness gear sale Running until Friday, Jan. 20

Campus Activities Board: Free Friday Flick 6:30 - 9 p.m., Morris University Center Hickory Room Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Celebration 7- 8:30 p.m., St. Louis Art Museum

Monday, Jan. 16 Martin Luther King Jr. Day No classes Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Committee events 9 a.m - 3 p.m., old courthouse, St. Louis Lukas Graham in concert $ 8 p.m., The Pageant, Delmar Loop

Wednesday, Jan. 18 Thursday, Jan. 19 Gay-Straight Alliance Duck, Dodge and Dice Dodgeball Tournament 5 - 8 p.m., Student Fitness Center full gym Harmon-e acapella group tryouts 8 - 10 p.m., Dunham Hall room 1109 Late Night at the MUC: Stitch & B*tch 8:30 - 11:30 p.m., Goshen Lounge

Saturday, Jan. 21 Delta Sigma Pi LinkedIn photo shoot 4:30 - 5:30 p.m., MUC Gallery The Lumineers in concert $ 6 p.m., Chaifetz Arena, St. Louis

Monday, Jan. 23 Delta Sigma Pi game night 4:30 - 7:30 p.m., Student Success Center 1203

Wednesday, January 25 CAB Cougar Craze 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Goshen Lounge Mississippi Valley Community Blood Drive 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Stratton Quadrangle Elysian Golden Tee Showdown $ 7 - 9 p.m., Global Brew, Edwardsville

Friday, Jan. 27

We Are One: Strategies and Solutions Summit 7:30 a.m. - 11 a.m., MUC Conference Center Harmon-e acapella group tryouts 8 - 10 p.m., Dunham Hall room 1109 Red Hot Chili Peppers in concert $ 7 p.m., Scottrade Center, St. Louis

Friday, Jan. 20 Delta Sigma Pi LinkedIn photo shoot 4:30 - 7 p.m., MUC Gallery

Sunday, Jan. 22 St. Louis Art Museum Family Sunday: Fantastic Beasts 1 - 4 p.m., St. Louis Art Museum

Tuesday, Jan. 24 CAB Cougarfest hospitality room 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m., MUC Conference Room CAB Cougarfest Merchant/Volunteer Fair 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Goshen Lounge Mississippi Valley Community Blood Drive 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Stratton Quadrangle Trivia Night $ 7 p.m., Global Brew, Edwardsville

Thursday, Jan. 26 Student Organizations Activities Fair 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Goshen Lounge

CAB Menchanical Bull 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Goshen Lounge SLAM Underground (live music, cocktails, activities) $ 7 p.m., St. Louis Art Museum

Sunday, Jan. 29 Tuesday, Jan. 31 Goshen Showcase 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., Goshen Lounge Trivia Night $ 7 p.m., Global Brew, Edwardsville

Lunar New Year Festival 12 - 4 p.m., St. Louis Art Museum

$= cost to attend

VOTE IN THIS WEEK’S POLL ABOUT RESOLUTIONS AT ALESTLELIVE.COM

page 6

opinion

contact the editor: opinion@alestlelive.com 650-3527

alestlelive.com

thursday, 01.12.17

ALESTLE

the

Get your name in the paper without the court date.

alton — east st. louis — edwardsville

CAITLIN LALLY editor-in-chief

KENDRA MARTIN managing editor CHLOE SMITH lifestyles editor KYLE STEPP sports editor

Write a letter to the editor.

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| Illustration by Nicolle Patton / Alestle

Make your year the best by sticking to goals With the start of a new year, it seems as though everyone is once again using the proverb “new year, new me.” Facebook and Instagram timelines are filled with memes that celebrate changing your attitude and looking at situations through a new lense. At the Alestle we believe not many of the “typical” new year resolutions last long at all.

ALESTLE STAFF EDITORIAL According to Forbes magazine, only 8 percent of people are actually successful in achieving their new year’s resolutions. That’s a whopping 92 percent of people who fail miserably year after year.

Self-improvement always sounds

and looks easier than it is. It is a lot easier to say “I’m going to go to the gym” than it is to actually go, and for most people, especially college students, the struggles of everyday life trump the actual ability to do a lot of things that would make our lives easier.

Eating healthier and being active are among the most popular new year’s resolutions, but when you’re a struggling college student who works, takes 15 credit hours in a semester and is perpetually pinching pennies, being able to afford healthy food or even find time to go to the gym is hard. After a long day of work and school, sleep will always win against the gym.

The key to making new year’s resolutions work is not having new year’s resolutions at all.

Why wait until the year changes to make a difference for the better within yourself? There is absolutely no reason other than your own personal procrastination. If you really wanted to lose that extra weight, then you would’ve done it by now. If you really wanted to stop going out with crappy dudes, you would have.

Having the mindset of always waiting for tomorrow to get something done will leave you looking back years from now at what you could’ve, should’ve or would’ve done.

Although only 8 percent of people stick with their resolutions, don’t be afraid to set goals for yourself throughout the year.

If you can’t stop thinking about it, don’t stop working for it. You’ll be surprised how many changes you

can make if you really set your mind to it.

Remember to always work for long-term progress and not short-term glory. Focus on why you want to achieve your goal rather than what you need to do quickly to obtain it.

Try writing down your goal someplace you see it every day because mindset is key. Think about all the things you can gain by making a lifestyle change rather than how hard it will be.

Habits don’t just form over night, they take time. If you stay motivated and consistent, these resolutions can become a reality rather than distant fantasy.

READ MORE STAFF EDITORIALS AT ALESTLELIVE.COM.

GOP plans to defund women’s health care

Letter to the Editor:

House Speaker Paul Ryan announced Jan. 5, the Republican party is officially planning to federally defund Planned Parenthood as a part of process they are using early this year to dismantle Obamacare. The government restricting what women do with their bodies is an outrage. Women and men should always have access to affordable health care, and programs that aid in allowing them to make their own choices with their bodies.

I guess I was wrong about the University Center and the PlumbBob. I initially thought they were restoring and renovating the Plumb-Bob, but then thought, “No, they are renovating the University Center and have to take the Plumb Bob down and so they will clean and repair, etc.”

Now an article I read [Jan. 6] in [the] Riverfront Times leads me to believe that no, I was right the first time. Why in the world do “THEY” or that person want to move it from the Goshen Lounge?

It was made for that space and became a part of the visual impact and texture of that space.

It’s insane to relocate it. It gets seen by crowds of students and visitors there every day. It makes a statement, grabs the eye as one approaches it and keeps it is as you walk by. While relaxing beneath it in the lounge, one can contemplate its form, appreciate the design, the simplicity and creativity of the artist. The angles, symmetry and balance, the natural materials and the wisdom of the university to purchase and install in the perfect place, the Goshen Lounge.

I’m totally irate about this.

Next they’ll move the Walking Man [sculpture in library] to a corner in a dental school lab.

TAYLOR FLEIG Alestle Reporter According to NPR, currently, over 40 percent of PP’s funding is from the government, so PP cannot continue their services at the rate it does primarily on donations alone. Furthermore, the vast majority of federal money PP does receive goes toward preventive health care, birth control, pregnancy tests and other women’s health care services.

However, if you are against PP using federal money to pay for services that do not line up with your beliefs, whether they be moral, personal, political or because of religious affiliation, there is more for you to learn.

According to PP, federal

funding does not fund abortion services. Rather, federal funding raises money for cancer screenings, pap smears, STD testing and medical check ups. Additionally, access to affordable birth control for the uninsured will in fact prevent unwanted pregnancies, therefore preventing abortions. Even men can get access to prostate, colon and testicular cancer screenings, vasectomies, male infertility screenings, and sexual-health services, among other necessary health treatments. Only 3 percent of PP’s recorded services are abortions.

Its health centers focus on prevention: 80 percent of their patients receive services to prevent unintended pregnancy. PP services help prevent approximately 579,000 unintended pregnancies in a single year by providing accessible and affordable birth control. It also provides more than 270,000 pap tests and more than 360,000 breast exams in a single year, critical services in detecting cancer. PP provides more than 4.2 million tests and treatments for sexually transmitted infections, including more than 650,000 HIV tests.

It is disappointing as well as incredibly frustrating for women, Democrats and feminists that our country feels that a woman’s

right to health care is more of a topic up for political debate rather than a woman’s own personal choice.

Our support and donations are now more important than ever for women in need of affordable health care. The fight has officially begun, and people are vowing to work to help PP in any way they can, and urge you to do the same. To contact Paul Ryan personally, you can call him at his office to leave him a message at 608-752-4050. To further show your support for Planned Parenthood, there are several things you can do as well. A few you can do today to support PP’s mission: • • • •

•

Follow them on Twitter/ Facebook/Instagram to keep updated.

Become a fan of your local Planned Parenthood’s Facebook page.

Become a patient in order to become more aware of the services offered.

Donate to help support for the work Planned Parenthood does in your community.

Sign up for Action Alerts for the latest on how to get involved with campaigns.

Save Plumb-Bob!

JOHN BOB Class of 1969, Dallas, Texas

KIAH EARL TAYLOR FLEIG MIRANDA LINTZENICH TRENT STUART reporters RYAN BIERI BRIDGET CHRISTNER BREANN SPERANEO copy editors NICOLLE PATTON editorial cartoonist LAUREN LOWE graphics manager

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KELLY PFAFF LAMONE STANSBURY ROBERTO DIAZ advertising consultants BRITTANY COX JESSICA ELDER KATHRINE PATE office secretaries ANGIE TROUT office manager

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contact the editor: sports@alestlelive.com 650-3527 thursday, 01.12.17

sports

MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYS CONFERENCE CATCH-UP READ MORE AT ALESTLELIVE.COM

alestlelive.com

page 7

Women’s basketball looks to take lead in OVC

KYLE STEPP Alestle Sports Editor

After a busy winter break, the Cougars return home for another conference matchup. SIUE faces the Murray State University Racers 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 15, at the Vadalabene Center. The Cougars enter the game with a 1-2 conference record and the Racers with a 2-1 record.

The Cougars used four non-conference games to prepare for their upcoming Ohio Valley Conference schedule.

First, SIUE played the North-

ern Illinois University Huskies Dec. 16. Despite a career-high 20-point performance from redshirt junior guard Lauren White and 15 points and 11 rebounds from junior guard Donshel Beck, the Huskies downed SIUE 97-78.

Head Coach Paula Buscher said her team played hard, but was unable to stay competitive on defense throughout the game.

“We fought tonight, but we have to stay engaged defensively each and every possession. There were times I thought we were locked in defensively against a top offensive team,” Buscher said.

White and Beck were two of four Cougars in double-digit scoring. Both redshirt sophomore guard Nakiah Bell and sophomore guard Amri Wilder posted 12 points.

The Cougars stayed on the road, this time heading to Florida, for their second tournament of the season. SIUE’s first game was against the Stetson University Hatters Dec. 19. Beck poured in a career-high 27 point game, but the Cougars fell to Stetson 78-68.

Buscher said Beck continued to be an asset for the Cougars, playing big minutes.

Redshirt junior guard Lauren White drives to the basket against Tennessee Tech defender junior guard Yaktavia Hickson. White finished the competition with 10 points and three steals.

| SIUE Photo Services

“Donshel played hard,” Buscher said. “She played hard for all of her 34 minutes. She has fight in her and was a big spark for us.”

The Cougars were down 39-35 after two periods, but the Hatters went on a 7-0 run to start the third period, and the Cougars were unable to respond.

SIUE played its second game of the tournament Dec. 20, against the Bethune-Cookman University Wildcats.

The Cougars cut a double-digit deficit heading into the final period, however SIUE still fell to the Wildcats 83-78. While Beck was named to the All-Tournament team, it was junior forward Gwen Adams that led the Cougars with 19 points, followed closely by Bell with 18 points.

Adams pulled in a career-tying 13 rebounds, while Bell scored all her points on three-point shots.

After being outscored by nine through the first two periods, Buscher said the Cougars’ defense was lacking and showed in the final score.

“The biggest difference was our defense in the first half. We’ve got to fight harder defensively,” Buscher said.

SIUE finally returned to the Vadalabene Center, hoping to break its three-game losing streak with a game against the Illinois State University Redbirds on Dec. 23. A 27-12 fourth period by the Cougars lifted SIUE over the Redbirds 92-80.

Women’s soccer aims to remain on top TRENT STUART Alestle Reporter The women’s soccer team finished this year’s season in November with some of the best results the program has ever produced.

Now, the team wants to continue this success into future seasons to make sure SIUE remains one of the best soccer teams in the country.

Wrapping up the season, the team participated in the NCAA tournament. It was only the second time the program has qualified for the tournament as a Division I team.

The team wants to maintain this level of success for years to come. Head Coach Derek Burton said competing in the tournament should always be a realistic goal.

“It’s not going to happen every year, but it can happen regu-

larly if we stick to the core principles in our program. If we do that, we’re going to get there more often than not,” Burton said.

For next year, Burton said the off-season time is very important.

The team implemented a new formation and style of play this year, so now that the players have one season of that under their belt, Burton said they need to build on it.

Out of 27 players, 22 will be returning next year, so the majority of the team will already have experience together on the field. Sophomore forward Caroline Hoefert, one of the returning players, finished this season tied for both most goals with junior defender Kelsey Pruett and assists with junior midfielder Emily Grahl on the team. Hoefert said she was honored to participate in the tournament and is ready to put

The Cougars celebrate a goal against Chicago State during their 2016 season.

| SIUE Photo Services

in off-season work for next year.

“For the team as a whole, we will be working on our formation, technical abilities and personal strengths with hopes of making it back,” Hoefert said.

According to Burton, Hoefert had a breakout season, making her a definite leader on the team. He said the seniors also individually led in their own specific ways, which was crucial to the team’s success.

“Our leaders on the team did a great job of keeping everyone galvanized and together, and really cementing the culture that we want in our program: everyone working hard and working hard for each other,” Burton said.

Junior forward Alexandra Johnson was a one of these leaders. This was her second appearance in the NCAA tournament, which allowed her to use her experience to boost the confidence of the other players.

One of the Cougars’ biggest games of the year happened in the first round of the tournament, when they traveled to Notre Dame to play against the Irish on their home field. Even though they were considered the underdogs according to the rankings, the team pulled off the win and advanced to the second round after winning in penalty kicks.

Burton said the time before this game was spent on boosting the confidence of his players and making sure they continued to play the same way they had been playing all season.

“To be confident going up against a top 10 team in the country, you need to be confident in what you do, so we just built on that. We mostly prepared by re-

peating the things we had done up until that point to keep our confidence high,” Burton said.

After defeating Notre Dame, the Cougars traveled to Duke University to play against Northwestern University for the second round. Northwestern scored early in the first half, and neither team scored for the rest of the game, making the final score 1-0.

Although she would’ve liked to have gone further in the tournament, Johnson said was satisfied with the outcome, especially compared to how the team has done in the past.

“Based off of last season when we didn’t even make it to the OVC tournament, beating Notre Dame and making it to the second round was awesome, and it makes me excited to see how future generations and how SIUE can get better as a program,” Johnson said.

Johnson also said the appearance definitely put SIUE on the map as a school with a successful women’s soccer team. She said she thinks Notre Dame, their fans and the other schools watching were surprised with the talent on her team.

Burton was also proud to showcase the Cougars’ skills against these well-known schools.

“It’s just a great deal of pride for our program to be able to represent the university on a national level. Our women take pride in that as well as our coaches, and it’s something that we’re going to continue to shoot for,” Burton said.

Contact TRENT STUART Call 650-3527 Tweet @tstuart_alestle Email tstuart@alestlelive.com

Five players hit double figures for SIUE, but the late-game defense proved to be more important for Buscher.

“Our defense in the fourth quarter was the difference in the game,” Buscher said. We showed a lot of fight and made a decision to become a good defensive team. We started to get excited about our defensive stops, and we changed the tide with them.”

The Cougars used their strong performance against the Redbirds to win their first Ohio Valley Conference game Dec. 31 against the Tennessee Technological University Golden Eagles, in a 60-49 matchup.

Buscher said she could see the defensive growth in her team, and that is what made the difference.

“Our team really locked in defensively. We were switching between man-to-man and zone defenses, and we did a good job with them,” Buscher said.

Adams agreed, and said her team worked as a unit and showed communication.

“I think we all did well defensively. We locked down on playing good defense and bought into it,” Adams said.

The Cougars then went on the road, falling to two conference opponents. The first, a 75-63 loss on Jan. 5 to the Eastern Kentucky Colonels. The second, a close 6966 loss to the Morehead State University Eagles on Jan. 7.

SIUE Standings MEN’S BASKETBALL OVERALL

Southeast Miss.

E. Kentucky Austin-Peay Tenn. Tech Jacksonville St. Morehead St. SIUE Eastern Ill. UT Martin Belmont Murray St. Tenn. St.

6-12 8-10 4-13 7-11 11-8 6-10 5-12 9-7 11-8 9-4 8-9 7-12

OVC

1-2 1-2 0-3 3-0 3-1 2-1 0-3 1-2 1-3 3-0 2-1 3-1

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL OVERALL

OVC

7-10 6-10 7-10 5-12 8-8 14-3 5-11 5-11 4-13 12-5 10-6 6-7

1-3 3-0 1-3 2-2 1-3 4-0 1-2 1-3 1-3 4-0 2-1 1-2

Southeast Miss.

E. Kentucky Austin-Peay Tenn. Tech Jacksonville St. Morehead St. SIUE Eastern Ill. UT Martin Belmont Murray St. Tenn. St.

WRESTLING

OVERALL SOCON

Chattanooga Appalachian St. The Citadel Davidson Gardner-Webb Campbell SIUE VMI

3-3 9-2 1-2 3-6 4-2 3-3 1-7 0-6

1-0 4-0 0-1 0-1 1-0 0-1 1-1 0-3

ALESTLE

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HOROSCOPES

By Jennifer Shepherd, The Lipstick Mystic Monday, Jan. 09 - Sunday, Jan. 15 , 2017

Aries: March 21 - April 19 Jupiter is reminding you that you need to keep paying close attention to your career. You might want to take a class or get some additional training to allow you to advance.

Make sure your sweetheart understands your need to keep growing.

Cancer: June 22 - July 22 Challenge yourself to be more expressive. You’ll feel good over the next few weeks if you are more open and honest with people. Mercury will reward you for each brave confession that you make. You can make real progress in your relationships if you speak up.

Libra: Sept. 23 - Oct. 23 Jupiter is still racing along in your sign, and this is creating a lot of changes for you.

You could be outgrowing a goal, a career or a romance that doesn’t really suit you anymore. Be honest with yourself about what’s going on.

Capricorn: Dec. 22 - Jan.19 Mercury in your sign will make it easier for you to socialize.

Don’t just work or sleep all of the time. Get out of your usual comfort zone and meet some people. You’ll have fun sharing jokes, telling silly stories and having new adventures.

Taurus: April 20 - May 20 You’re in the process of sorting through things, putting together some mental files and emotional categories involving your relationships.

Mercury encourages you to keep at it. You’re coming up with many important insights as you do this inner work.

Leo: July 23 - Aug. 22 The moon in your sign is helping you to attain a breakthrough of some sort. If you and your honey weren’t getting along, you’ll suddenly experience great chemistry again. If you have been looking for a job, you’re likely to finally line up some great interviews.

Scorpio: Oct. 24 - Nov. 2 Be open to talking with new soul mates who might cross your path. Venus is conspiring to put some nice people in your life. Some of these folks could become friends, others might become lovers. Don’t stay shut off due to shyness or negative habits.

Aquarius: Jan. 20 - Feb. 18 You’re in an adventurous mood, thanks to Jupiter.

Maybe you’re tired of dating the same types of people over and over again. Or perhaps you crave travel, and you want to put yourself in some new settings. Go for it.

Gemini: May 21 - June 21 Now that Mercury is out of retrograde, things will start to flow for you again. If you were trying to arrange a hot date with someone, you’ll finally find that your calendar has free space. Your social life will start to pick up and you’ll start having more fun.

Virgo: Aug. 23 - Sept. 22 As Venus continues its journey opposite your sign, you could be thinking about events from your childhood that shaped your adult relationships. It could be useful to write in a journal, talk to a therapist or share ideas with a friend.

Sagittarius: Nov. 22 - Dec. 21 You can afford to push harder to get what you want. Saturn is reminding you to act super bold and be assertive. Don’t sit back and allow other people to control your destiny.

Seek people and experiences that align with your true goals.

Pisces: Feb. 19 - March 20 You’re feeling closer to your romantic partner as Venus puts you in a groovy mood. You’ll want to spend lots of intimate time with your honey. If you’re single, you could be mentally revisiting past experiences with a lovely former flame.

Jennifer Shepherd, the Lipstick Mystic®, is an astrologer and syndicated columnist with over 2 million readers. For mystical fun and psychic insights visit www.lipstickmystic.com.