INSIDE THE ISSUE:
March 17, 2016
Vol. 68 No. 25
SIUE Congress finalizes plan for university’s fiscal future
Kendrick Lamar’s latest release leaves fans speechless
PAGE 2
PAGE 4
|Photo by Lashai Spencer/Alestle
Stepping up to the plate
Cougars hope to bounce back from winless nonconference play PAGE 6
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2 // The Alestle
Little Rock Nine member to receive honorary degree at spring commencement KENDRA MARTIN Alestle Reporter
At the spring 2016 Commencement Ceremony, Thelma Mothershed Wair will be receiving an honorary doctor of humane letters degree from SIUE. Wair is an SIUE alumna as well as a member of the legendary Little Rock Nine. The Little Rock Nine is a group of nine African-American students who were enrolled in an all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Ark., in September of 1957 after the U.S. Supreme Court declared that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. Wair said she is looking forward to receiving the award from her alma mater. “I am very excited and honored to receive this award,” Wair said. “It is wonderful to be honored by my alma mater. I have received many awards over the years, but this one will always be special because it comes from the school that helped form me into the person I am today.” Wair was a student at Little Rock Central High School and has endured many obstacles in receiving her education, so she said getting your education should always be obtainable regardless of the obstacles many students face while enrolled in school. “Having endured the 1957 Central High Crisis, I learned that getting an education did not have to be a battle and that there were a lot of people who were willing to help me accomplish my goals,” Wair said. Since graduating from SIUE in 1970 and receiving her master’s in guidance and counseling and an administrative certificate in education, Wair said she has enjoyed being able to pursue a career in helping people. “I enjoyed working as a counselor in the East St. Louis school system, where I helped children formulate some goals for life,” Wair said. “I also feel accomplished in teaching life skills at the Red Cross to disadvantaged women.” Wair said her passion for helping people started early in her life after seeing how involved her parents were in the community. “My parents were always involved in church, school and community activities,” Wair said. “I just continued to do what I had seen all my life.” Wair said she wants students who are in college to always remain positive and understand that their hard work is going to pay off in the long run. “My advice would be to always believe in yourself, and to not allow others to tell you what you can and cannot do,” Wair said. “Strive for excellence in all endeavors and be willing to give a hand to lift up another person whose needs are educational or material.” Interim Chancellor Stephen Hansen said Wair combatting social injustices as well as educating herself is something at which to marvel.
Little Rock Nine member and SIUE alumna Thelma Mothershed Wair |Photo courtesy of Doug McIlhagga Read more about Wair at alestlelive.com.
NEWS
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Thursday, March 17, 2016
Hansen presents plan of action from temporary SIUE Congress KYLE STEPP MADISON O’BRIEN Alestle Reporters
The university has gone without a budget for eight months, but despite the fiscal crisis, Interim Chancellor Stephen Hansen said SIUE has a visible way to move forward. On Monday, March 14, Hansen addressed the campus community in the Morris University Center Meridian Ballroom and discussed the progress that has been made by the SIUE Congress that was established last fall. The congress consists of 200 members who have devoted their time and creativity to help come up with ways to successfully overcome the budget emergency. According to Hansen, SIU Systems President Randy Dunn has also been masterful in handling the politics in Springfield and the ways in which SIUE will move forward as an institution. Hansen said the road forward may be bumpy at times, but the community must think of new ways to do business, while understanding how we got to this point and where we are going. “Repeated budget cuts were threatening to refine who we are as an institution, and it left us uncertain how the community would move forward,” Hansen said. Hansen said it is important to remember SIUE is a master’s comprehension institution, and that it has a certain capacity as an institution, which is defined by students and faculty to carry out programs. During his presentation, Hansen said when the university’s capacity diminishes, we begin to lose quality, and soon after we begin to think we are not able to provide for students any more. Hansen displayed a diagram that exhibited the main goal of the university — to educate students. For months, the congress has been focusing on five basic questions, and from those questions conclusions, and actions have been determined to decide how we move forward. The first question presented was, “Should SIUE continue to grow in enrollment while operating with fewer state resources?” According to Hansen, the answer is yes, but the congress realized there would be an impact on quality and resources for students. The second question the congress concentrated on was, “How should SIUE determine its academic program priorities?” In response, Hansen stressed that the criteria, the guidelines, the process, and who would establish priorities would be taken into consideration. The third question Hansen proposed was, “How can SIUE increase revenue to replace the loss of state appropriated dollars?” The congress had to devise a plan as if the university’s state budget had been dropped from $58 million to $20 million. It was left to the nearly 200 SIUE Congress members to plan how the university would continue operating, all while determining how long it would take to raise the $39 million the university lost from the state legislature. Hansen said of the many ideas proposed by the congress, most members agreed the financial load on students and their families should remain low. “The congress generated many inter-
Interim Chancellor Stephen Hansen addresses the university with a plan of action the SIUE Congress has been working on during its meetings throughout the year. |Photo courtesy of SIUE Marketing and Communications
esting ideas, but one thing was clear — we could not balance the books on the backs of the students and parents. We couldn’t raise tuition and fees high enough to cover $20 million. That would put us at tuition rate that would be astronomical,” Hansen said. Hansen went on to say the University Planning and Budget Committee and the Steering Committee used the congress’s ideas and came to the conclusion that the university should increase enrollment — specifically online. The UPBC is still analyzing a new budget model, or hybrid budget model, and Hansen said he expects the committee to present a model within the next two weeks. The fourth question Hansen and the Steering Committee considered was, “Should SIUE adopt a different budget model?” Hansen explained to the audience that the current budget model allows for no flexibility — if the university sees a 10 percent cut, each specific department sees a 10 percent cut. It was concluded that a more flexible budget model will be implemented in the near future — a model that rewards progress. The next question for discussion was, “How should SIUE revise its curriculum and its delivery to improve quality and efficiency?” Hansen said he and the Steering Committee used a number of ideas proposed by SIUE Congress members to create a plan which focuses on improved scheduling and creating classes faster and easier. “Our action items were to complete some initiatives that we have already started having to do with scheduling, rapid course development, online programs, the review of National Survey of Student
Engagement results and general education assessments,” Hansen said. Associate professor of management Timothy Schoenecker said the action items are becoming more crucial for the financial stability of the university — especially a new budget model. “All of the [action items] are taking on even greater importance with the ongoing state budget situation. In particular, I think that it was important to get a quick start on revising our budgeting process,” Schoenecker said. Junior marketing major Ashley Sourbeck, of Belleville, attended the meeting and said she agrees with many of the proposed action items — especially utilizing online enrollment and rapid course creation. “I agreed with what [Hansen] said about creating more online opportunities for students. I commute, and I like the idea of having more online class. Creating more classes could also bring more students to the university and help more programs,” Sourbeck said. The budget crisis has put pressure on the SIU system, and Hansen said the university will have to be patient and expect some “zigs and zags” through the next couple years. Hansen said the university will continue moving forward, as he quoted Martin Luther King Jr. “In some of these action items we’ll fly. In some of the others we’re going to crawl, but in all of them, we are going to move forward. We are setting the stage for SIUE to continue to thrive — not just survive,” Hansen said. Kyle Stepp and Madison O’Brien can be reached at kstepp@alestlelive.com and mobrien@alestlelive.com or 650-3525.
Thursday, March 17, 2016
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The Alestle // 3
MapLight comes up with breath of fresh air for voters MADISON O’BRIEN Alestle Reporter
Nonpartisan research organization MapLight has just made it easier for people who are conflicted about which way to vote by giving them in-depth information on candidates. MapLight is an organization that tracks money in politics, and it has announced the launch of a new voter information guide called Voter’s Edge Illinois. Voter’s Edge Illinois allows anyone to view funding profiles for all the candidates in the race, including their total money raised, contributors to their campaign and the origin of their funding. According to their website, votersedge.org, voters can simply type in their home address and their personalized ballot is delivered, accompanied with helpful information such as news articles, funding sources for presidential and congressional candidates, candidate biographies, ballot measure summaries and more. The site claims all of their
information comes from a variety of sources that are transparent and accurate. The website also does not express any preference about the issues or candidates and neither supports nor opposes candidates or political parties. After the voter has made his or her choice, he or she can print his or her ballot to bring to the polls or share with family and friends via social media. As college students, we can sometimes find ourselves in a peculiar political transition stage. We are trying to figure out our own opinions, and getting involved with politics can, at times, seem burdensome because it requires so much research and attention. Freshman music major Jake Hathaway, of Vandalia, said he plans on voting, and that the app has sparked his interest. “I would use the app mainly because it says it offers unbiased opinions about the candidates, so you wouldn’t get the same information you see on social media,” Hathaway said.
According to Hathaway, he thinks a lot of students are not uninformed, but misinformed about politics because they are influenced by what they see on social media. “This app would be really useful to people who are confused about politics because all the information is unbiased,” Hathaway said. “I see a lot of information posted on Facebook and Twitter, and when people get their information from those sites, all they see is people who really hate one party or really love another party.” Hathaway said he encourages students to get informed and to vote, because no one can expect to get what they want if they do not actively work toward it. “A lot of people complain about what’s going on in the country right now, but if you don’t vote, then you have no say on how it can be fixed,” Hathaway said. Madison O’Brien can be reached at mobrien@alestlelive.com or 650-3525.
Presidential candidates Clinton and Trump take St. Louis by storm before the primary elections
3-1-16 A sergeant advised there was a subject in the Supporting Services Lot that was yelling and hitting a SIUE vehicle. The sergeant and officers spoke with the subject, and the subject left the area. No damage was done to the vehicle.
An officer responded to Cougar Village 403 regarding an active fire alarm. The officer advised the alarm was activated due Officers responded to the Student Success Center and con- to an unknown cause. No fire, smoke or damage was reported. tacted Kitana Radcliff. Radcliff was transported to the SIUE PD The area was secured. and arrested for domestic batAn officer responded to an tery. Radcliff was processed and transported to Madison County active fire alarm at 502 Cougar Jail pending arraignment before Village. The alarm was activated by the smell of cannabis. No resa judge. idents were present at the apartment at that time, so Housing A student came into the police department and reported keyed in to check the building. No fire, smoke or damage was that her parking hangtag had reported. Officers later respondbeen stolen from her vehicle. ed back to the apartment and made contact with the residents. An officer responded to Cougar Village for an active fire One resident possessed a minute amount of cannabis, which the alarm. Housing was notified. officer seized and destroyed. No There was no smoke or fire reported. The alarm was activated arrest was made. by an unknown reason and was 3-5-16 restored. An officer arrested Jacolbi S. White for criminal trespass to state-supported property when White came to the police department to turn himself in. White was processed, and released with a notice to appear. 3-2-16 An officer issued a state citation to Lily Cronin for 43 mph in a 25 mph speed zone. The offense occurred at North University Drive and P3 Road.
Democratic presidential candidate and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks at her campaign rally held at the Nelson-Mulligan Carpenters’ Training Facility Saturday, March 12, in Affton, Mo. Clinton spoke about keeping jobs in America and healthcare for all. |Brian Muñoz/Alestle
Republican presidential candidate and entrepreneur Donald Trump ridicules presidential opponents Cruz and Clinton at the Peabody Opera House Friday, March 11. Thousands of supporters waited in line to hear Trump speak, getting there as early as 2 a.m. |Brian Muñoz/Alestle
An officer issued a state citation to Cody J. Rettinghouse for speeding 45 mph in a 25 mph speed zone. The offense occurred on North University Drive at P2 Road.
An officer issued a state citation to Mary J. Hanrahan for speeding 63 mph in a 45 mph speed zone. The offense occurred on New Poag Road at North University Drive. An officer issued state citations to Patrick K. Pilger for expired registration and an uninsured motor vehicle. The offense occurred at North University Drive at New Poag Road.
An officer issued a state citation to Matthew N. Williams for expired registration. The offense Analeia L. Williams was occurred on East University Drive arrested for retail theft. Williams at North University Drive. was processed and released after posting a $150 cash bond. An officer issued a state citation to Robbie N. Coleman for An officer responded for a speeding 49 mph in a 25 mph lockout on vehicle owner Daniel speed zone. The offense occurred J. Glauber. Glauber was arreston South University Drive at ed on an active warrant out of South Circle Drive. Phelps County, Mo. Glauber was transported to police department An officer issued a state citawhere he was processed. Glauber tion to to Carl L. Blackwood for driving while using an electronic was unable to post the $5,000 device. The offense occurred on cash bond and was transported to the Madison County Jail. The East University Drive at North University Drive. case is under investigation. An officer stopped a vehicle and subsequently arrested Justin B. Becker for driving while suspended. Becker was transported to the police department where he was processed and released with a notice to appear.
An officer issued a state citation to Juliun Robinson for speeding 50 mph in a 25 mph speed zone. The offense occured on North University Drive at P2 Road.
An officer issued a state citation to Leroy J. McDonald II for speeding 47 mph in a 25 mph speed zone and for no insurance. The offense occurred on South University Drive at University Park Drive.
An officer issued a state citation to Caitlin D. Sims for speeding 70 mph in 45 mph speed zone. The offense occurred on East University Drive at North University Drive.
3-6-16
Lifestyles
4 // The Alestle
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Thursday, March 17, 2016
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king Kendrick
does it again
LASHAI SPENCER Alestle Photographer For the past two years, artists have been releasing surprise albums and mixtapes more often. Kendrick Lamar has recently added himself to this growing list by causing an overnight commotion with the release of “Untitled Unmastered” at approximately 10 p.m. March 3, via his official Twitter page. The album appeared on Spotify hours earlier than expected, and social media went into a frenzy claiming “King Kendrick” had done it again. The project features eight tracks that are, as suggested by the album’s title, untitled and unmastered, but don’t let that fool you; even in their raw state, these songs still warrant the high quality and sophisticated production displayed throughout Lamar’s highly-acclaimed “To Pimp a Butterfly.” A mixture of instrumentals that channel the same heavy bass, jazz and upbeat funk-inspired grooves pre-
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sented in “TPAB” propose these tracks were demos recorded before, during and after the production of the album. Lamar has made few comments about the dates that follow track number, but fans have noticed the correlation between the dates noted and prominent racialized occurrences. For example, track one is followed by the date “08.19.2014,” which was one of many nights protesters were attacked and arrested by police in Ferguson, Mo. While each track is not actually titled per se — only numbered and dated — each song is just as unique as the next with the complex layering of instruments, melodies and lyrics. Lamar conveys his thoughts regarding race, reputation and success through lyrics that note experiences personal to his background throughout the album. This style has famously set him apart from other rappers of the time. His commentary on relevant topics like systematic racism causes his music to resonate with an exclusive demographic of listeners considered to be conscious. The album begins slowly with a skit taking place in a bedroom. An unexpected sexual scene is planted into the listener’s minds by the whining of jazz instruments and a baritone voice, but just before the two-minute mark, Lamar chimes in with a frantic tone and a
rapid pace creating the scene for what is referred to by some as “Judgment Day.” Starting with “I see it vividly,” Lamar goes on to mention all of the wrongdoing he observes in the world and continues on to try to reconcile with God about his own wrongs and what he has done to absolve them. Commenting on his fear of God, Lamar paints himself as a prophet saying, “Told me to use my vocals to save mankind for You / Say I didn’t try for You / Say I didn’t ride for You / I tithed for You / I pushed the club to the side for You / Who love You like I love You?” At the end of the track, Lamar realizes no matter what he does on his quest for personal redemption, his progress is limited, so he urges listeners to do “Whatever makes all of you happy in this bitch / Just take it all back before the light switch.” While all tracks are guaranteed to make you listen intently, two tracks in particular have been highly discussed among fans. Initially performed on the “Colbert Report” Dec. 16, 2014, “untitled 03,” which was written exclusively for that performance, was not expected to be recorded or released. In this song, Lamar speaks from the perspective of three different minority groups — Asian, Indian and black — offering advice on how to live his personal life better. After this, he speaks from his own perspective and switches from the previously used lyric “piece of mind” to “piece of mines,” where he alludes to the music industry being a present day form of slavery due to its greedy, money hungry nature and lack of regard for the actual artists. Also making a debut on talk television, “untitled 08,” known best as “Blue Faces,” was first heard Jan. 6, during Lamar’s performance on the “Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.” With a funky beat and catchy chorus, it is no surprise this track is the most talked about thus far. Mimicking a sound made familiar in his song “These Walls,” the rapper annotates the narrative of financial difficulty faced by a young woman in college and another person who criticizes Lamar’s past accounts of struggle and compares them to his own. Merging his own voice with the critics’, he then notes that excuses are useless, and he was able to still achieve success even with “shackled feet.” Reappearing at the end of the song is the voice that brought in the album, speaking further on people’s tendency to wait for handouts and resort to wrongdoing when that handout takes too long. Although “Untitled Unmastered” is not as cohesively interwoven as his previous projects “good kid, m.A.A.d city” and “To Pimp a Butterfly,” this album is a reminder of Lamar’s artistry and relentless effort to create music that is meaningful to his fans. With the chant “Pimp, Pimp Hooray” inserted throughout the tracks and at the closing of the album, this compilation serves as his victory lap to last month’s Grammy Awards, where he took home five trophies. “Untitled Unmastered” is available for purchase on iTunes and streaming on Spotify and Apple Music. Lashai Spencer can be reached at lspencer@alestlelive.com or 650-3525.
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Thursday, March 17, 2016
The Alestle // 5 Alton - East St. Louis - Edwardsville
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t he
Get your name in the paper without the court date.
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Lashai Spencer Christian Sykes
Budget cuts affect students and staff, need plan The state of Illinois’ budget crisis and its impact on higher education has been the topic of recent discussion. Illinois public universities have financially suffered for eight months with no state budget while the government fights over funding.
Alestle Staff Editorial Although some universities are better equipped than others to combat the financial strain, it is only a matter of time before the budget impasse because it is too much for higher education to handle. Recently, budget issues hit close to home, forcing our sister school SIUC to announce 180 potential layoffs along with cuts to university programs and services. This announcement follows SIUE’s recent decision to cut the women’s golf and men’s tennis teams, saving the school approximately $200,000, according to the Intercollegiate Athletics Committee. These cuts don’t just affect current student-athletes, but future student-athletes as well. SIUE had two perspective students, one
in each of the cut programs, who signed national letters of intent to play at SIUE. It is a slap in the face to these students, current or perspective, whose means of remaining in, or attending, school could be dependent on these athletic scholarships. These cuts also deter potential students away from the school for fear of other cuts.
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funding — roughly $11.5 million. Although the decision to make these cuts is understandable, it is disheartening that budget issues are forcing many universities’ hands. It is unfortunate faculty, staff and students have to suffer because the lack of a state budget, and it should not have to come to a point employees fear being laid
Although the decision to make these cuts is understandable, it is disheartening that budget issues are forcing many universities’ hands. Alestle Staff
Athletes in the cut programs are still able to fulfill their contracts. This just means the university won’t be accepting students aspiring for these two sports teams — at least until they get the funding. SIUE has also proposed cutting 33 graduate assistantships, 137 administrative professionals and non-tenure track instructors, maintenance funding and library
off from jobs they love. It’s unacceptable. Gov. Bruce Rauner proposed a 20 percent cut to higher education in fiscal year 2017, as well as overruling MAP grant funding for fiscal year 2016-2017. This is a major blow to universities. But these budget cuts aren’t just affecting SIUE. There are 119 universities in Illinois alone, not including community colleges, so
students everywhere are impacted. Higher education shouldn’t be taking so drastic of a cut. Education, in all forms, is beneficial, and the state is taking away vital resources that are crucial to student success. Gov. Rauner should take this into account, as well as the state as a whole, while making his decisions. The situation is dire; there needs to be a solution now. A budget should have been approved long ago. Wasting time by idly sitting by and not working toward a solution is unfair to students who are just trying to receive a quality education to ensure their futures. It is time to speak up. This is our education and we need to make sure the government understands that these budget cuts are taking a toll on higher education. The government’s decisions affect us in the short term and long run. It’s time we become the change that we want to see. We need to tell our elected government officials that this situation is unacceptable and the problem needed to be addressed and fixed eight months ago. Read more staff editorials at alestlelive.com.
Don’t get caught up in analysis paralysis, take risks College is often touted as one of the most exciting periods of your life. It is a time where many find inspiration, love, and often themselves.
Michael Oranika Alestle Reporter Part of navigating college is coming up with a plan for whatever it is that we want to accomplish, both for the time being and for the future, whether it be better grades, selfimprovement or starting a business. For many students, the planning phase is often the most difficult to get out of for the classic reason — it’s easier said than done. In order to get things done, it is crucial to follow through with them. Many of us come up with great ideas, but we do not always accomplish them. Unfortunately, ideas are only a small part of productivity. The other 99 percent is execution; we spend too much time on the planning phase that we get caught up in what’s cheekily referred to as “analysis paralysis” — the state of becoming a perpetual learner. According to Forbes’ “How To Overcome The ‘Analysis Paralysis’ Of Decision-Making,”
analysis paralysis is the state of over-thinking which inhibits progress or prevents it from taking place altogether. Analysis paralysis is caused by spending too much time thinking about what we want to do. We spend too much time researching on the Internet that it becomes hard to stop because of all the interesting things we’re learning. We spend so much time on reddit poring over other people’s strategies and reading other peoples’ plans of action trying to find guidance on what we’re working on that we lose sight entirely, or we lose inspiration on our projects. The three-second rule is a rule that if you see someone you’re interested in, you must approach them within three seconds in order to prevent any self-limiting beliefs. The same concept can be applied to achieving goals. Simply put, the more time elapsed between conception of a plan and execution of that plan, the more likely self doubt will entangle. Great effort is required to accomplish great things in life, and that effort is manifested by getting out and doing something — anything. The brain’s neurons respond best to real world stimuli, which means the best way to get better at anything or become more confident of your goal is by starting something and finishing it.
According to UChicagoNews’ article “Learning by doing helps students perform better in science,” brain scans showed that students who took a hands-on approach to learning had activation in sensory and motor-related parts of the brain when they later thought about concepts such as angular momentum and torque. Experience is the best teacher — just look at all the greats like Mozart, Skrillex, and U2 drummer Larry Mullen Jr. None of these people perfected their crafts by sitting around and planning. They went out and did what needed to be done. Think of your favorite musician. Now think of how many subpar tracks they released before they made that song you can’t get out of your head. Believe it or not, those less than favorable songs were extremely vital in making that hit track. This is why failure is such an amazing thing; it’s not an option, but a teacher. Your first project won’t be the best — it might even fail — but you’ll gain the experience needed to tackle your second project without the learning curve of the first. Michael Oranika can be reached at moranika@alestlelive.com.
Brian Muñoz
Photographers Michael Oranika Kendra Martin Madison O’Brien Kyle Stepp Chloe Rice
Reporters
Lauren Lowe Graphics Manager Nicholas Agadi Advertising Manager Jeff Reul Writers’ Coach Kelly Pfaff Advertising Consultant Christal Sampson Kat Pate Bryce Radick Brittany Cox Front Office Angie Trout Office Manager Tammy Merrett Alestle Program Director Letters to the Editor Policy: The editors, staff and publishers of the Alestle believe in the free exchange of ideas, concerns and opinions and will publish as many letters as possible. Letters may be submitted at the Alestle office located in the Morris University Center, Room 2022 or via e-mail at opinion@alestlelive.com. All hard copy letters should be typed and double-spaced. Letters should be no longer than 500 words. Include phone number, signature, class rank and major. We reserve the right to edit letters for grammar and content. Care will be taken to ensure that the letter’s message is not lost or altered. Letters to the editor will not be printed anonymously except under extreme circumstances. We reserve the right to reject letters.
The name Alestle is an acronym derived from the names of the three campus locations of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville: Alton, East St. Louis and Edwardsville. The Alestle is published on Thursdays in print and on Tuesdays online during the fall and spring semesters. A print edition is available Wednesdays during summer semesters. For more information, call 618-650-3528. For advertising, email advertising@alestlelive.com. Have a comment? Let us know! opinion@alestlelive.com The Alestle Campus Box 1167 Edwardsville, Ill. 62026-1167
sports
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The Alestle // 6
Senior infielder Jacob Stewart took a strong swing but missed, resulting in a strikeout during the third game of SIUE’s face-off with Jacksonville State University this past weekend. Of the three games played between the two teams, SIUE could not outscore Jacksonville in any, taking their record to 0-11; 0-2. |Lashai Spencer/Alestle
Thursday, March 17, 2016
With their hitters unable to rally a good hit, the rest of the players look on, encouraging their teammates to play their hardest. Between Friday, March 11 and Saturday, March 12 SIUE and Jacksonville State University played three games, all resulting in losses for the Cougars. |Lashai Spencer/Alestle
Looking up:
Cougar baseball begins conference play KYLE STEPP Alestle Reporter
The baseball team started its conference season Friday, March 11, looking to bounce back from a winless 0-9 nonconference schedule. The Cougars finished their nonconference schedule with three losses in a threegame weekend series against the Missouri State University Bears March 4-6 in Springfield, Mo. MSU took the first game 6-2, holding the Cougars scoreless until the final inning. Two walks by the Bears and a single by SIUE freshman catcher Brock Irwin loaded the bases. Acting as a pinch hitter, senior infielder Jacob Stewart brought in a run after being walked at the plate. Senior infielder Skyler Geissinger singled to center, picking up an RBI and the Cougars’ only other run. The second game belonged to the Bears, outscoring the Cougars 12-5. SIUE scored five runs on five hits, but was unable to capitalize on nine walks by MSU pitchers. Freshman infielder Jackson Layton was one for four with two RBIs. Layton put SIUE on the board first in the second inning. He drove in Stewart with a single to left field. Layton also drove in freshman outfielder Aaron Jackson late in the eighth inning. Head Coach Tony Stoecklin said SIUE is playing at a higher level since the start of the season, and he has noticed more aggression at the plate. “Today we showed improvement as a team, even if the score doesn’t reflect that. Our energy was better, and our confidence level was higher. Our approach at the plate was better today,” Stoecklin said. The Cougars scored one run on six hits in the final game of the MSU series. The Bears swept the series and dropped the Cougars to 0-9 on the season. Sophomore outfielder Dustin Woodcock scored SIUE’s only run. Woodcock reached first base on an error to start the inning. The next batter, Geissinger, was walked and Layton singled. With bases loaded, freshman catcher Brock Weimer hit into a double play that also brought Woodcock from third base. Junior catcher Kailer Smith accounted for three of SIUE’s six hits in the game, earning three singles. As the team prepared for its first home game of the season junior infielder Keaton
Wright said this is the first time the Cougars have been swept since joining Division I, but he thinks the Cougars’ tough nonconference schedule will benefit the team later in the season.. “We started with a tough schedule, which I think will help us out in the late run. It’s tough being swept — this is the first time we’ve been swept since joining Division I. We can’t think too much about those games; we have to look ahead. We have to look ahead to Murray State and hopefully get a couple wins,” Wright said. The Cougars were scheduled to play the Indiana State University Sycamores, but the game was postponed due to inclement weather. According to the SIUE Athletics website, there is no reschedule date but “the two teams will work to reschedule the game for a date later in the season.” SIUE held their first home series of the year with a two-day, three-game series against the Jacksonville State University Gamecocks on Friday, March 11 and Saturday, March 12. The Gamecocks won game one on a come-from-behind 9-7 win late in the game. The Cougars scored a season-high seven runs through seven innings, but JSU rallied for a four-run rally in the top of the ninth inning to take a 9-7 win in the opening game. In the second game of the double header, JSU jumped ahead early, scoring 11 runs in five innings. The Cougars scored a single run in the first inning, two in the sixth and finished the night game with a single run in the final inning. With the team’s conference schedule just beginning, junior pitcher Connor Buenger said the team needs to work together to have a successful season. “We have to come together as a team and come to practice every day with the same focus and drive each day,” Buenger said. Wright homered twice as the Cougars lost the third game of the three-game series on Saturday, March 12 at the Simmons Baseball Complex. Despite building a 4-1 lead early, SIUE allowed JSU to score six runs in the final three innings of the game. The Cougars allowed three runs that likely cost them the game. Stoecklin said the team needs to step up on defense to prevent so many unearned runs.
Senior pitcher Jarrett Bednar prepares to launch a pitch at the Jacksonville State player plotting to steal third base during the fifth inning of the third game played between the two teams. |Lashai Spencer/Alestle
“We have to play better defense. We had too many unearned runs this week. The unearned runs cost us two games. Game one was lost by unearned runs, and the same in [game three],” Stoecklin said. The Cougars played the University of Evansville at home on Wednesday, March
16 at 6 p.m. and will continue conference play against the Murray State University Racers in a three game series March 18-20 in Murray, Ky. Kyle Stepp can be reached at kstepp@alestlelive.com or 650-3525.
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Thursday, March 17, 2016
The Alestle // 7
Cougar softball finishes long road trip, begins home play with 5-11 overall record KYLE STEPP Alestle Reporter
The softball team continued its season in the Spartan Invitational on March 4 through 6 in Spartanburg, S.C. On the opening day of the tournament, SIUE athletes hit five homeruns and gained a 1-1 split. After losing to the University of South Carolina Upstate 10-8, the Cougars bounced back for a double digit (15-1) win against Valparaiso University. Junior infielder Allison Smiley put the first run on the board for either team with a solo shot in the bottom of the second inning. Valparaiso answered in the next inning, but the Cougars would go on to score the final 14 runs and end the game in the top of the fifth inning. Smiley said the last few weeks of practice have improved her strategy at the plate. “I’m seeing the ball a lot better right now. The coaches have helped us physically and mentally to get better at the plate,” Smiley said. Sophomore pitcher Ashley Koziol allowed only four hits in five innings and recorded no
walks, picking up her second win of the season. Both senior outfielder Jordan LaFave and sophomore outfielder Haley Adrian hit their first homeruns of the season as SIUE took down Elon University on Saturday, March 5 in a 7-1 victory.
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Hose batter reached first base on an infield error and was driven in off a homerun by Presbyterian freshman infielder Megan Anderson. Douglass finished the inning on the mound, and held the Blue Hoses scoreless for the remainder of the game.
record. The Cougars traveled to the Carolinas to take on the University of South Carolina Gamecocks Tuesday, March 8 and a double header against the Western Carolina University Catamounts. The Gamecocks took the
I try to have the same mental approach. Getting the first out is important whether you are in the middle of an inning with runners on or starting a game. Baylee Douglass Sophomore pitcher
Sophomore pitcher Baylee Douglass pitched all seven innings for SIUE, allowing two hits and one run. The Cougars closed out the Spartan Invitational Sunday, March 6 with a 2-1 loss to Presbyterian College. Adrian singled and scored on a right-center field double by LaFave. Koziol was on the mound for SIUE and retired the first nine batters she faced. A Blue
As one of the Cougar’s most versatile pitchers, Douglass said she is comfortable starting the game and working out of the bullpen. “I try to have the same mental approach. Getting the first out is important whether you are in the middle of an inning with runners on or starting a game,” Douglass said. SIUE fell to Presbyterian and ended the tournament with a 2-2
Cougars end season with loss to Belmont in OVC semifinals KYLE STEPP Alestle Reporter
The women’s basketball team traveled to Nashville, Tenn. for the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament on Thursday, March 3. The Cougars fell to Belmont University, but not before winning an overtime thriller against Southeast Missouri State University. Sophomore guard Lauren White pulled down an offensive rebound and scored the go-ahead basket with 5.5 seconds in overtime to secure a victory in the opening round of the OVC tournament. White said she was executing Head Coach Paula Buscher’s strategy, and it paid off for the team. “[Buscher] kept telling us to play hard the whole game until the buzzer goes off. When I get in, my job is to rebound, so I went after it and put it back up,” White said. Senior guard CoCo Moore led all scorers with 23 points, scoring 15 in the second half. Redshirt senior guard Shronda Butts scored 20 points, secured nine rebounds and assisted on five Cougar baskets. Sophomore guard Donshel Beck recorded her seventh double-double of the season, scoring 11 points and grabbing a game-high 17 rebounds. Sophomore forward Gwen Adams was the fourth Cougar in double-digit scoring with 12 points. White was the only player to score coming off the Cougar bench. The Cougars out-rebounded SEMO 51-43 — a statistic Buscher said she believes won her team the game. “Hats off to SEMO. The thing we talked about before the game is that [SEMO plays] so hard. In the end, I think it ended up being defensive and rebounding,” Buscher said. The Redhawks led the Cougars 17-11 after the first period. SIUE came back with a strong second period and headed into halftime down 33-29. A strong second-half performance, led by Moore’s 15 second-half points, gave the Cougars a 39-35 edge in the final two periods.
SIUE capitalized on points off turnovers, scoring 18 points while holding SEMO to 9. The Redhawks had the advantage on the bench, outscoring the Cougars 24-5. With just one day of rest, the Cougars fell to Belmont University in a 92-68 rout by the No. 2 seated Bruins. The loss ended SIUE’s season, giving the team an 18-13 record for the year. Belmont used its 11 three-pointers and 52.5 percent shooting from the field to score 20 or more points in each of the four periods. Beck led the Cougars in scoring and rebounds with 20 points and nine boards. Butts and Moore also added double-digit scoring efforts with 16 and 11. Butts finished the season with more than 1,100 points and set a new school record with 174 made free throws in a season. Butts said she has been trying to get to the line all year, but fell short against Belmont. “[Buscher] always told me to get to the basket, and that’s what I tried to do this season. [Against Belmont], it didn’t go the way we wanted. I thought Belmont had a great game,” Butts said. Senior center Raven Warford became the second player in school history with 100 blocks, a feat she achieved in the final period of her collegiate career. Moore finished her SIUE career with 1,034 points, earning her 21st on the alltime scoring list. Buscher said it is tough to see her seniors play their final game, but it is great to see what they have done for the program. “Anytime it’s this last game, you’re tugged. You really appreciate everything they have given to the program, and they have sacrificed a lot. They have brought us to a really good place. The thing people don’t see is how [Moore and Butts] have grown as people,” Buscher said. Kyle Stepp can be reached at kstepp@alestlelive.com or 650-3525.
game into eight innings and eventually beat the Cougars on a walk-off single in the bottom of the eighth inning. Douglass, who earned Ohio Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week, pitched all eight innings for the Cougars and was charged with the loss. SIUE ended its 16-game road stretch with two losses on Thursday, March 10 against the Catamounts. In the opening game, the Cougars bounced back from a 1-0
deficit when LaFave was driven in by freshman utility player Alyssa Heren in the top of the third inning. Douglass held off the Catamounts until Catamount second baseman Crystal Cyr hit a lone homerun to left field — the eventual game winner. The Cougars struck first with a two-run homerun by sophomore utility player Tess Eby — bringing in LaFave and senior infielder Rachel Keller. Western Carolina countered with four runs in the next half inning, and would go on to score the game’s final seven runs. Head Coach Sandy Montgomery said the Cougars would focus on their game and be ready for the team’s first home game of the season against Drake University on Wednesday, March 16 at Cougar Stadium. “It’s been a long road trip. We have some things to clean up. We’re looking forward to getting home and having the home opener,” Montgomery said. Kyle Stepp can be reached at kstepp@alestlelive.com or 650-3525.
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