2024.02.14

Students eat FREE

Food pantry sees student usage increase in last year

By Cam’ron Hardy News Editor | @DEN_News

Eastern’s food pantry saw usage more than double from 2022, the associate director for the office of leadership and engagement said.

Crystal Brown, the associate director for the office of leadership and engagement, oversees Eastern’s campus food pantry and, according to her, the usage has in -

creased significantly since its opening.

“The first year we opened, October of [2021] to May of [2022], we had 957 total student visits, and like 544 unique individuals that used the pantry,” Brown said.

“Last academic year, August of [2022] to May of [2023], we had 2,688 total student visits and like 850 unique individuals. It drastically went up.”

(See PANTRY PG 9)

By Alli Hausman Copy Chief | @DEN_News

With a flash of the lights, a tap of a shoe and a roll of the body, the EIU dancers took to the stage in the Doudna Fine Arts Center, performing its annual spring showcase.

The show, titled “Time of Our Lives,” featured 20 songs spanning a range of dance styles like contemporary, jazz, tap and hip hop. The nine-person group performed at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Junior secondary English education major Amber Benhart attended the performance to celebrate the birthday of and support her roommate Lex Coniglio, a performer and choreographer in the EIU dancers.

“I loved it. It was probably my favorite [show] in the three years I’ve seen the dancers,” she said.

By Payton Liggins Sports Reporter | @DEN_News

Matt Bollant is the current head coach of the EIU women’s basketball team.

Bollant is originally from Winona, Minnesota, and he dreamed of being in the NBA. But those dreams changed once he realized he wanted to do more for the sport.

Having a passion for basketball since childhood, he continued to play in high school and some of college.

Bollant always had the thought of wanting to coach in the back of his head, but he was just waiting to execute it.

Since he started playing basketball with his older brother at such a young age, he was far ahead of the other players on his youth team.

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, IL 61920 217-581-2812

News Staff

Editor-in-Chief

Rob Le Cates DENeic@gmail. com

News Editor Cam’ron Hardy dennewsdesk@ gmail.com

Assistant News Editor Audra Gullquist dennewsdesk@ gmail.com

Photo Editor Sia DeyKoontz denphotosdesk@ gmail.com

Design Editor Harper Hancock hahancock2@eiu. edu

Sports Editor Zaria Flippin densportsdesk@ gmail.com

Assistant Sports Editor Luther Yoder densportsdesk@ gmail.com

Opinions Editor Ellen Dooley denop.eds@gmail. com

Copy Chief Alli Hausman athausman@eiu.edu

Faculty Advisers

Editorial Adviser Tim Drachlis

Photo Adviser Greg Cooper

About

Publisher Joe Gisondi

Business Manager Betsy Jewell

The Daily Eastern News is produced by the students of Eastern Illinois University. It is published weekly on Wednesday, in Virden, Ill., during fall and spring semesters and online during the summer term except during university vacations or examinations. One copy per week is free to students and faculty. Additional copies can be obtained for 50 cents each in the Student Publications Office in Buzzard Hall.

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Corrections

The Daily Eastern News is committed to accuracy in its coverage of the news. Any factual error the staff finds or is made aware of by its readers will be corrected as promptly as possible. Please report any factual error you find to Editor-in-Chief Rob Le Cates at 581-2812.

Employment If you would like to work for The Daily Eastern News as a news or sports reporter, photographer, columnist, cartoonist, copy editor, designer or videographer, please visit at the newsroom at 1811 Buzzard Hall.

217-581-2923 (fax) Attention

Second Huck’s, sports complex coming to town

By Veronica Gipson Student Government Reporter | @DEN_News

Mayor Brandon Combs spoke about plans for upcoming developments in Charleston during the student government meeting Wednesday.

Combs said this year has been the biggest year for construction during his 10year term.

According to Combs, the Huck’s that will be built on Lincoln, near Walmart Inc., will be a mega store offering convenience store items. The store will have deli and a Godfather’s Pizza inside. Additionally, there are tentative plans to offer electric vehicle charging.

Further, there are plans to add more kayaking services to Lake Charleston due to high demand in the spring.

If the demand is still high this spring, Combs said he would be happy to accommodate demand.

The city has bought land which has increased the amount of hiking trails available. Until those trails are available though, Combs recommended walking at Charleston’s new Linder Sports Complex at Recreation Drive and Nursery Road.

Combs said the city’s new multimillion-dollar sports complex was built at no cost to taxpayers.

Grants by the Charleston Area Charitable Foundation covered the cost of materials, and the labor was done in-house by city officials.

Construction at the Linden Sports Complex is not yet complete as there are plans to add a pickleball court.

Oliver Ehmann, a senior political science major, and a part of Student Government’s External Relations and Universi-

ty Enhancement committees, asked about what steps Charleston can take to begin recycling because as it stands, the university and city at large do not recycle.

Combs shared that the city used to offer free recycling at the beginning of his term, though it was abused.

People took large and unsuitable items to the recycling center at the time which ultimately led to the partner company to withdraw from the agreement.

It has been difficult for the City Council to find a company that could provide proper and complete recycling for the city since then.

Combs wrapped up his address with comments and plans on the state of transportation in Charleston. He shared that an unnamed investor wants to initiate a busing system throughout Charleston but are in negotiations with the city about whether or not that would be done privately or

through the university or city government. The rest of the meeting addressed university-specific issues such as the appointment of the Bond Revenue Committee and the Constitution Revision Committee.

Student Body President, Nidhi Patel, a senior political science major, shared that the Constitution Revision Committee will meet privately throughout February, have an outreach tabling meeting on Feb. 26 to hear opinions and concerns of the student body and have a final presentation of the revised constitution on Feb. 28.

Senator Emilee Boyd, a student representative on the faculty senate shared that a elementary education graduate program will be added to EIU’s curriculum and there is talk of a pre-library minor being incorporated as well.

Veronica Gipson can be reached at vmgipson@eiu.edu or 581-2812.

FRONT PAGE COVER BY HARPER HANCOCK AND ROB LE CATES

BY CAM’RON HARDY | THE DAILY EASTERN NEWS

Charleston Mayor Brandon Combs visited the student senate during their meeting Wednesday.

DANCERS

CONTINUED FROM PG 1 >>

Benhart’s favorite dance of the night was “Somebody That I Used to Know.” The contemporary-style duet featured performers Coniglio and Ella Penca and was one of three songs choreographed by Coniglio for the show.

This year’s showcase theme was first inspired by “Time of Our Lives” by Pitbull and Ne-Yo back in August.

At first, the idea for the theme revolved around the best times in our lives. However, as the directors Mandy Transon and Rachel Wisner brainstormed, the meaning evolved and broadened.

“Time of Our Lives” moved to times. The good times, bad times, the hard times in between and the times that seem so small now that will be looked back on fondly in the years to come.

With a broader theme, the directors could implement a wider variety of dances and emotions.

“This show is more a sense of who you are all the time. Like, this is your life, not just what you see on the front page,” Transon said.

For the senior early childhood special education major, this show was about reflecting on her time in college, what she described as the time of her life.

When Transon came to college, she brought with her an extensive love for dance.

“I wasn’t ready to end my dance career,” she said. Transon has been dancing since she was 3. She started dancing competitively at age 7 and never looked back, she said.

“Every day after school, especially the older I got, I would go to the studio and I would be there 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, and on Saturday I would be there all day,” she said.

When she first came to EIU, Transon joined the Pink Panthers Dance Team. She danced with them for a year and a half before moving to the EIU dancers, where she has danced for three years. She spent this year and last year as a director, choreographing, scheduling practices, reserving rooms, creating events and more in the role alongside Wisner.

“It’s very nice, a very loving team and a good experience,” she said. “And I didn’t have to leave dance.”

Transon’s favorite dances in the show are the duet between her and Wisner to “The Other Side” by Hugh Jackman and Zac Efron and a tribute she choreographed for those who have had cancer, are battling cancer or who have been taken by cancer to “Heaven’s Not Too Far” by We Three.

For Wisner and the other dancers, “Time of Our Lives” refers in part to what they’re experiencing right now: life in college.

“I like the aspect of the theme that’s like the ups and the downs because you think college is like yeah, the time of your life, but it’s not always going to be amazing,” Wisner said.

Wisner, a sophomore accounting major who is in her first year as an EIU dance director, has been dancing for 15 years.

She started out doing tap dancing when she was younger because of her sister, she said. Eventually in middle school, Wisner began to compete, continuing in competition through high school.

However, the competition burnt Wisner out. EIU dance, she said, helped reignite her passion because it is noncompetitive.

“I’m just really grateful this exists,” Wisner said. “It helped me a lot as a freshman to transition to college and from what I’ve heard from our team, I think a lot of other people agree with that.”

Wisner’s favorite dance in this show is a duet she shared

with her boyfriend Blaine Burns, who joined the EIU dancers this year just to perform with his partner. Wisner taught Burns how to dance from scratch for their shared song “Pointless” by Lewis Capaldi.

Both directors said they preferred this year’s show theme to last year because it felt more real and relatable.

Advisor of the EIU dancers Larry Cox was impressed with the changes the EIU dancers have made this year.

“They’ve been really fun to work with,” he said. “They’re so organized.

They are dedicated to rehearsing.

Cox was asked to advise the dancers four years ago and has been sharing the role with Director of Programming, Publicity and Promotion at Doudna, Dennis Malak. The advisers aid the dancers in organization but have little to no creative impact on the show.

This year, Transon and Wisner started planning earlier, in September right after auditions, Cox said. Alongside the early start, the directors allocated different roles to more dancers, adding two more choreographers—Coniglio and Xiana Pettis, a social media manager—Ella Penca—and a fundraising coordinator—Kassidy Prebstle.

“They have given people within the group different leadership roles, which is awesome,” Cox said. “Then as a student group, not only are you having people in leadership roles in terms of dance but also other arts roles that you would have out in the real world. They’ve done that really well this year.”

This week, Cox said, the EIU dancers were in tech week, adding in costumes, lighting and the Doudna crew to the show.

This performance was senior Estela Guzman’s first time lighting a dance show.

The theatre arts major with an emphasis in technology and design has worked on many theatre productions but said dance shows were a different ball game in terms of design.

“In dance, we use a lot of side lights so we can emphasize the dancers’ movements, while in plays we like to focus on seeing actors’ expressions and getting an understanding of the environment,” Guzman said.

The lights in the performance also featured several backlit moments, creating a silhouette effect on the dancers that highlighted their movements.

“Everybody tried their hardest,” said Transon. “We’re ready to run it tomorrow.”

“Time of Our Lives” will be shown twice more on Saturday at Doudna, first at 2 p.m. and finally at 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased on its website.

Alli Hausman can be reached at 581-2812 or at dennewsdesk@gmail.com.

BY ROB LE CATES | THE DAILY EASTERN NEWS

The EIU dancers close act one with a full company performance of “Heaven’s Not Too Far” by We Three. The group dedicated this song to loved ones who currently have, had or lost their lives to cancer.

BY ROB LE CATES | THE DAILY EASTERN NEWS

Xiana Pettis, a sophomore biological sciences major, performs her solo “Pon de Replay” by Rhianna during the second dress rehearsal for their spring show named “Time of Our Lives” Wednesday at The Theatre.

How much food do the EIU dining halls order?

By Cam’ron Hardy News Editor| @DEN_News

A “self-standing auxiliary” is how Eastern’s Executive Director of University Housing and Dining Services Mark Hudson described the dining halls on campus.

According to Christopher Coffey, associate director of housing and dining for panther dining and the food court, last semester dining services bought

• 326 cases of chicken wings

• 272 cases of chicken tenders homestyle

• 146 cases of hamburgers

• 58 cases of shrimp

• About 1,000 pounds of beef fajita meat

Most of the money that the dining hall spends, food wise, is on chicken because of the different ways it is served, Hudson said. 15 different kinds of chicken are bought.

The dining halls are paid for primarily by the people who utilize the dining halls, which are primarily students, but there are still expenses and dues that housing and dining services must pay.

Hudson said that housing and dining spends over $5 million annually on utilities and over $3 million annually on groceries.

Gordon Food Service is a grocery supplier with whom Eastern has a master contract with.

“So, like four times a week, we’re placing an order online of what we need for those two days that the order is serving,” Hudson said. “I think three days a week, sometimes four, their trucks will come on to campus, go to each of our dining centers and our staff unloads all those trucks and puts them in freezers, refrigerators.”

Recently, the dining halls in Taylor Hall and Thomas Hall consolidated into one area.

Hudson said that decision was made because students’ resources were not being used as efficiently as needed.

The change happened when enrollment was slowing down at Eastern.

“Occupancy has slowed; there wasn’t a need for two serving centers in the South Quad,” Hudson said. “Because just to serve the very basic stuff, you have to have at least a baseline number of staff, and I knew that we could consolidate that into one center; consolidate our staff and offer more variety in one location.”

Hudson said that the change has been for the better and has heard positive feedback.

The way that the food is purchased is “quite the impressive process,” said Hudson.

The consolidation also allowed for housing and dining services to save money.

It has saved several hundreds of thousands annually, said Hudson. The money that was saved was put back into the center and was used for serving stations and cosmetic additions. Hudson said they are halfway through the process, and there is more to come during the upcoming summer.

Included in those changes are new carpets and floors.

Hudson said he also plans on having all the colors match for aesthetic purposes.

“We’re always looking for additional

recipes. We’re looking for, if we need to buy any, additional equipment that will help students have as good of experience as possible when they eat in those dining centers,” Hudson said.

One of the favorites amongst Eastern’s students was the grilled cheese and tomato soup, according to Hudson. Another favorite is the make-your-ownpizza station that is in the South Quad.

Audra Gullquist contributed to this story.

Cam’ron Hardy can be reached at 581-2812 or at dennewsdesk@gmail. com.

How much do meal plans cost?

By Cam’ron Hardy News Editor| @DEN_News

Students with a meal plan pay around $8 per meal when they swipe into a dining hall, said Executive Director of University Housing & Dining Services Mark Hudson

Eastern currently holds five meal plans for students that also include bonus meals and dining dollars.

Hudson said that decades ago there was only one meal plan including 20 meals.

The plans were changed in around 2000 to include more meal plans so that students could have the option to eat in the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union food court.

Dining dollars are spent at the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union at the fast-food restaurants there like Chickfil-A, the Panther Grille and Qdoba Mexican Eats.

For students without a meal plan, going to a dining hall will cost $10 per meal, coming out to a 20% discount for meal plan holders.

According to Christopher Coffey, associate director of housing and dining for panther dining, the cost of the meal plans is included in the room and board rate.

“It was felt that they (students) didn’t need a full 21 [swipes] because they’re

going to eat some of their meals in the food court,” Hudson said.

Hudson also said that since many students do not eat all of the meals in dining halls, housing and dining incorporated the dining dollars.

The unlimited meal plan was included around five years ago, according to Hudson.

It was targeted toward athletes, at their request, but more non-athlete students have the plan than student athletes.

“The meal plans are like room and board combined,” Hudson said. “So, all of them are priced with the difference between the meal plans. They’re all priced with a standard double room. So, if you’re a student who is on the unlimited plan, your room and board rate in a

double room would be $5,962 a semester.”

The money used to run housing and dining services comes from the people that use the business.

“What we do is we have a process where we calculate what our expenses are every year, and then we divide them by the number of people that we project to be living with us. That’s how we set our budget and what our rates are and our objective.”

Hudson said some of the bills that they have to pay are their grocery bills, which is over $3 million annually, and the utility bill, which is over $5 million annually.

One of the questions that Hudson said students ask him is about not being able to allow their friends to use

their meal swipes.

“The reason is because the way the budget is built, we know that students are going to miss about a third of their meals, so we adjust the price down to reflect that accordingly,” Hudson said.

“It’s based on the theory that a person can only eat so much, but if you use your 12 [meal swipes], then you give somebody [your] next three, then we’re going to have to make the prices more expensive because we’re using more food.”

Audra Gullquist contributed to this story.

FILE PHOTO| THE DAILY EASTERN NEWS Eastern spends a large percentage of its grocery money on many different ways chicken is prepared.

Opinions

We endorse Hendrickson as next provost

The Editorial Board majority endorsed Eastern’s current Interim Provost Ryan Hendrickson to serve as the official provost.

After weeks of interviews, Eastern heard out the four provost candidates to fill the vacancy.

All candidates displayed desirable traits previously published in an earlier editorial.

Simone Cummings and Denise Seabert checked the “for the students” box, while Brian Thomas exhibited a behind-the-scenes leadership approach.

Hendrickson has home field advantage having a pre-established relationship with Eastern since 1999.

While as the enacting provost, he hasn’t just been a warm body to fill the position but has taken action to better the institution.

He has expanded academic and scholarship access with several new programs and has assisted with a student

Editorial Board

mental health app.

He already has a rapport with our current university president Jay Gatrell, so the two will collaborate well together off the bat.

While the other candidates exemplified good leadership and student-driven passion, why fix what isn’t broken?

Hendrickson has more than proved his dedication and vigor for Eastern and its students.

We thank the other candidates for expressing interest in Eastern, but as students looking for long-term dedication and commitment to the community, Hendrickson would be the prime candidate.

Eastern would be making a grave mistake to not hire the long-time member of its community Hendrickson.

The Editorial Board can be reached at 581-2812 or deneic@gmail.com.

FILE PHOTO | THE DAILY EASTERN NEWS

Ryan Hendrickson, Eastern’s interim provost, has stayed with Eastern since 1999 and has earned TheNews’endorsementtobethenextoffiicialprovost.

The great water debate

You cannot tell me all water tastes the same.

Voss water is expensive but worth it

By Zaria Flippin Sports Editor

“Voss water is unprocessed, and because of that, their water tastes cleaner.”

Water has such a specific taste to it depending on what brand of water you drink.

When I was little, I didn’t really care about what water I drank: my only requirements is it had to be clean.

When I started getting older, my taste buds started to expand as well, and I can clearly decipher different taste in waters. Personally, I think the best water is Voss water.

I know, it’s expensive water, but you can taste the difference from Voss water compared to cheaper water like Great Value and Dasani.

One thing about water that I have found interesting is that some waters are processed. When I was younger, I never knew that water could be processed/purified.

If you really think about it, though, I feel like that’s why certain waters taste bad.

For example, Dasani, a water brand that most people are aware of, has an aftertaste to it that I absolutely hate.

After doing more research about what the best water brand is, after realizing Dasani was started from Coca-Cola, it made so much sense on why I don’t like Dasani: why would I trust a company that is known for their carbonated, high fructose corn syrup drinks with my water??

When a water brand has to come out and say that mineral salts are added to enhanced taste, I think that’s a sign that I shouldn’t be trusting them with my daily supply of water.

Voss water is unprocessed, and because of that, their water tastes cleaner.

According to vosswater.com, the company make sure that all of their products of water meet the U.S. Federal, State, and Norwegian standards.

It also doesn’t hurt when the brand of water that you like is considered “one of the world’s purest bottled waters.” In my opinion, that’s great information for me to know as someone who cares about what nutrients and minerals go into my body.

Now, let’s get back on the topic of price ranges. I know, a bottle of Voss water is fairly expensive compared to a gallon of Great Value water, but can you say that Great Value is one of the world’s purest waters?

No, you can’t.

Yes, you can get cheaper waters, but they won’t taste as good at the price it’s selling at.

Water brands like Essentia, San Pellegrino, Fiji and Voss are on the higher side of the pricing scale, but they have a better taste.

Now, because the price ranges of the best water brands are on the more expensive side, I don’t drink Voss or any of the expensive waters that often.

But if I go to a gas station and I am wanting water, Voss water is the brand I will choose.

Every. Single. Time.

Zaria Flippin can be reached at 581-2812 or zhflippin@eiu.edu.

Earlier this week, I had to pull an all-nighter to finish a paper.

I had worked a 10hour shift that day and needed to get the story done before noon the next day. Like your average college student, I just decided to chug a Mountain Dew and get to work.

Great Value

water

is more than H2O; it’s a friend

It took hours grueling over my laptop screen, flirting with Thesaurus.com for some better synonyms and getting to know Grammarly spell check a little too well.

With the earliest touches of sunlight peering in through my dorm window, I was done; it was 7 a.m. My face drooped with exhaustion.

There was only one thing that could mark my accomplishment: a cold sip of Great Value purified drinking water-- the best type of bottled water.

For starters, Great Value is cheap. Compared to fancy bottles like Smart Water, Fiji or Essentia, Great Value is affordable in bulk. Where a 12 pack of Smart Water costs $21.88 at Walmart, a 40 pack of Great Value only costs $5.36. A 24 pack of Voss water costs $41.99.

With my college student budget, even if I wanted these more expensive waters, they are outside of my price range. I have other bills to pay and save for, as do most.

Even in other cheaper waters, Great Value reigns supreme. A 35 pack of Ice Mountain costs $6.98. Aquafina and Dasani are worth the same Above all else, I have found Great Value water to be the tastiest inexpensive bottled water.

Commonly I hear Ice Mountain heralded as an amazing cheap water that combats my beloved Great Value, but I must disagree.

I think Ice Mountain water is aptly named, as it tastes like licking a rock. Like most spring waters, Ice Mountain leaves my mouth feeling dry and leaves my soul feeling sad.

The metallic aftertaste does not fill me with joy.

I’ve had expensive spring waters before, like Fiji, and they just disappoint me—though I do respect Fiji for its starring role in the movie “Bullet Train.” I can’t get over the dirt taste I relate with all spring water.

I don’t even need to mention Dasani. The acid taste speaks for itself.

Other purified waters just don’t compare to Great Value for me. I’ve had Essentia and I’ve had Voss. While both were tasty, they left me with an additional chalky feeling in my mouth. Alongside that, the price point is just never worth it for me when Great Value is right there.

Through the big game, Great Value will be there waiting in the locker room to hype you up.

On your wedding day, Great Value will be there wiping a tear in the back row—a silent but consistent supporter.

Even now as I write this, Great Value water is there patting me on the back, promising to keep me sane and hydrated.

With love and microplastics in my heart, I stand by Great Value water.

Alli Hausman can be reached at 5812812 or at dennewsdesk@gmail.com.

By Alli Hausman Copy Chief

“On your wedding day, Great Value will be there wiping a tear in the back row - a silent but consistent supporter.”

By Cam’ron Hardy News Editor

Love in any capacity is always a hard thing to manage.

The 2015 romance film “Carol” exhibits the conflicts between forbidden love and managing children.

Depicted from Patricia Highsmith’s novel “The Price of Salt” and taking place during the 1950’s, Therese Belivet (Rooney Mara) meets Carol Aird (Cate Blanchett) while selling her a trainset for Aird’s child, Rindy, played by both Sadie and Kk Heim.

After this first encounter, they begin to establish feelings for each other, but this all takes place in the midst of Aird going through a messy divorce with her husband, Harge Aird (Kyle Chandler). They fight for custody of Rindy and Harge Aird fights with the idea of los -

Valentine’s Day music from a radio DJ ‘Carol:’ love always finds a way back

By Sia DeyKoontz

Photo Editor

Valentine’s Day is all about love.

It is a way of celebrating the relationships we have with people. It is traditional to send a card, often anonymously, to a person one is romantically involved with or attracted to.

Some love the feeling of being free while others are taken and in love. Whatever way you are, the music you listen to speaks to your heart. The sounds of vocalist and instrumental combine in a way that produces beauty, harmony and expression of emotions. Love is ever changing. Feelings change and love is lost, but love can also be found within music.

I’ve created a playlist for all your Valentine’s day needs, whether you’re falling in love, in a relationship or dealing with heartbreak.

FALLING:

“Coffee Bean” by Zaniah

“CVS” by Winnetka Bowling League

“Love Songs” by Kaash Paige

“Beautiful Things” by Benson Boone

“Mine” by Bazzi

“Bad for Business” by Sabrina Carpenter

“Paperwork Valentine” by tiffi (featuring City Girl)

ing his wife.

Harge Aird also knows that Carol Aird is a lesbian and does not agree with this, thus interfering with Belivet’s and Carol Aird’s relationship. The film is so authentic.

Aird’s character is so determined to get what she wants out of Belivet.

Blanchett was a great casting choice. She has such a strong attitude in the film, and her face always gives off this idea that she knows something that we don’t.

Towards the end of the film, things do not turn out the way she wants it to for a brief moment, and her expressions were so captivating. Her somber vocal tones and realistic emotions allow her to have such a stellar acting performance.

Her wardrobe also added to her powerful persona.

Award winning Sandy Powell was the costume designer for the film.

Powell studied what people wore back then by looking at high-fashion magazines including Vogue.

Vanity Fair released an article going

into depth about Powell’s fashion choices.

Nonetheless, the costumes were an integral part in allowing the film to make it feel the way it does. By all of the characters having exceptional clothing, everyone has an opulent and sophisticated attitude, which never comes off as rude or narcissistic.

Additionally, by the film being shot on Super 16 mm film, it has such a grainy filter over it, giving it a vintage aesthetic to it.

This was a great movie to be shot on film. Everything meshes together so well, and the judicious cinematography and camera shots gave a sense of class to the film.

Mara’s character was very timid, which fit well.

There was a scene during the film where she was stressing about how she never says “no” to anybody, and her character definitely fits that well.

Belivet is not too much of an emotional person and does not have a lot of expressive scenes, but Mara does a great

job in her acting performance as well.

The pacing was a bit slow but kept my interest the entire time, and it never felt too long, even with its two-hour run time.

The story was an interesting one to tell. There were a lot of character relationships to keep up with, but it never felt too complex to keep up with. Towards the end of the movie there was a reoccurrence of them going back to each other.

Belivet insinuated that she did not want to see Aird after she invited her somewhere.

Moments later, we see Belivet rushing to the same restaurant that Aird invited her to.

Even with all of the conflicts that they go through and the spontaneous decisions that were made, they still found a way back to each other.

Rate: 4.5/5

Cam’ron Hardy can be reached at cahardy@eiu.edu or 217-581-2812.

“Lover” by Taylor Swift

“Sick of Losing Soulmates” by Dodie

LOVE:

“Parachute” by Kyndal Inskeep and Song House

“Dandelions” by Ruth B

“Lucky” by Alexander 23 and Chelsea Cutler

“City Lights” by Connor Price [perfect song for long distance]

“Lavender Haze” by Taylor Swift

“To be Loved” by SEV (featuring Brika)

HEARTBREAK:

“exes” by Tate McRae

“Toxic” by Britney Spears

“Skyfall” by Adele

“Allergic” by Haven

“Before He Cheats” by Carrie Underwood

“New Rules” by Dua Lipa

“Flowers” by Miley Cyrus

This Valentine’s Day, let music be your helper.

Songs can have a calm vibe that makes you realize everything you want in a relationship, the warmth of someone you love next to you and the feeling of being loved.

Once in love, that warm feeling close to your heart, you want to do everything together with your partner. You think about them all the time and know that someone will be there by your side

no matter what happens when you have them. Songs can bring words to those feelings.

Should that love fade and that warmth rush out, leaving you in the cold, music can be your company.

That is what is so great about music. It reaches emotions we cannot express and makes us feel deeper than just crying. It helps get past the good and the bad while also giving us the hype we need to keep breathing and going whenever we have everything else in the world to worry about.

Whether everything you wanted and thought you needed is over, whether

your romance has just begun or is in full bloom, there’s music for that.

Sia DeyKoontz can be reached at 581-2812 or at dennewsdesk@gmail. com.

PANTRY CONTINUED FROM PG 1 >>

Out of the total visits, Brown said a lot of those are repeated visits. The pantry is on pace to double the number of visits for the year.

Brown said there are a combination of reasons why more people have been visiting the pantry.

“Now that we’ve been here for two years, more students are learning about the pantry. More students are feeling comfortable coming,” Brown said. “You don’t feel that stigma as much.”

Brown also said international students have used the pantry more than others, which helps the pantry know what type of items to provide for the university.

During the fall 2023 semester, Brown said just over 50% of pantry visits were from international students

Yaswanth Reddy, a freshman computer science major, utilizes the pantry to save money and believes more students should know about it.

Pavano Kosher, a computer technology major, also utilizes the pantry.

He said he goes to get some of the basic and essential foods he needs.

Hemanth Naga, a senior majoring in computer technology, gets some of his meals from the food pantry, going there to get healthier items.

“I’ve been here for one year, and it was very helpful to me, like the fruits, the eggs and even the milk,” Naga said.

The pantry has been working to include more foods eaten within other students’ cultures. However, obtaining these foods has been an issue for the pantry due to Charleston’s smaller community, Brown said.

“Something that I am working on this semester is trying to figure out four, fix [or] six different stable items that we

can maybe try to find, maybe like up in Champaign or order online, so that we can provide a little more variety in the cultural foods moving forward,” she said.

Students also use the pantry because it is cheaper than going out to eat.

Students and employees of Eastern can use the pantry two times per month at no cost.

All they need to do is bring their Pan-

ther card.

Food insecurity is a common issue on college campuses. According to Brown, 40% of college students throughout the country experience food insecurity at some point.

Brown described food insecurity as someone not knowing where their next meal is coming from.

When students are hungry in the classroom, their attention is taken

away from what they are supposed to be learning, and they are not retaining information.

The EIU campus food pantry is located in the basement of McAfee Gym in room 1347.

The pantry has an assortment of items to choose from including dry staple goods, canned foods, cold foods and beverages.

They also offer hygiene products. The range of items in hygiene products is small but is expected to increase in the spring.

The pantry receives food items from donations and from food drives.

There are also two other food pantries in Charleston. “We have a very close partnership,” Brown said.

Eastern’s pantry has partnered with the Charleston pantry.

Every Thursday night, year-round, Eastern staff members, students and volunteers run the Charleston pantry.

Brown said that her goal for the pantry is for everyone on Eastern’s campus to know about it.

Brown also said that the pantry is going to have a small expansion during the semester.

“We were fortunate enough to be a part of that emergency fund grant that the university got for this spring semester,” Brown said. “So, we will have a little more food in here than what you’ve seen in the past. [It] might not be forever, but you know for this semester.”

Also, due to the grant, the pantry will be able to offer students hygiene products including toothpaste, toilet paper, body wash and diapers for young children.

Cam’ron Hardy can be reached at 581-2812 or at dennewsdesk@gmail.

BY IMMANUEL JOHNSON | THE DAILY EASTERN NEWS

Crystal Brown, the associate director for the office of leadership and engagement, talks about the campus food pantry and how it is available to students with a Panther card with many types of food available for free.

BY IMMANUEL JOHNSON | THE DAILY EASTERN NEWS

Ravioli is one of the many protein foods people can get at the campus food pantry.

BY SIA DEYKOONTZ | THE DAILY

BOLLANT

CONTINUED FROM PG 1 >>

“I had been playing for several years, so he kind of got me into sports.” Bollant said. “Then I had a really good youth coach. He made me feel super confident and made our team feel confident.”

Having that motivation and confidence as a young player helped him when he started coaching after his college career.

“The one thing I learned from that coach for sure was just to help your players be confident and believe in them,” Bollant said.

Bollant started coaching in the Philippines at 20 years old, following in the footsteps of his brother who was on a missionary trip there. Bollant coached a high school team there for six months.

Following his graduation from Wino -

na State University, Bollant found the opportunity to be an assistant coach for University of Evansville under head women’s basketball coach Kathi Bennett.

“I love to see the players grow and to see how they change from when they’re freshman.”

- Matt Bollant

“I worked with Pat Bowlen as a girls’ coach,” Bollant said. “And then I met Kathi, and she was a women’s basketball coach at Evansville. I got my start

with that.”

Bollant went on to coach for Bryan College for five years, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay for five years and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign for five years, coming to Eastern in 2017.

While coaching women’s basketball has many positive factors, Bollant said, there are also many challenges that must be overcome in order to be successful as a coach.

“I think the harder part that people don’t realize is that yesterday I drove nine hours to watch a game [for recruiting],” Bollant said. “Thankfully, I’ve got a great staff that I can rely on, and they share the load and do a ton of things. I’ve delegated more than I ever have because my staff is so good.”

“There’s more to it,” Bollant said. “Everybody loves the coaching, the practice and games, but the driving and the re-

cruiting. I guess [the] stress that comes with managing a staff and managing 15 to 16 players off the court as well.”

One of the most rewarding aspects of coaching is seeing the players grow and improve over time, Bollant said. He takes great pride in the development of the team, both on and off the court.

“I love to see the players grow and to see how they change from when they’re freshman coming in.” Bollant said. “Twenty five years later, we still have relationships with some of those players, and they come to our games.”

Eastern’s women’s basketball is hoping to secure a high seed in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament starting on March 6 in Evansville, Indiana.

Payton Liggins can be reached at 581-2812 or at densportsdesk@ gmail.com.

EASTERN NEWS

Women’s head coach Matt Bollant coached at several other universities for 15 years before coming to Eastern in 2017.

Q&A with Ellis, Desroches

By Payton Liggins Sports Reporter | @paytonannette27

Freshman guard Lalani Ellis and redshirt-freshman Sydney-James Desroches answered some questions ranging from any superstitions before the game to which teammate they would let get the aux.

Q: How has the season been going so far?

Ellis: “The season has been going well. We had a few bumps during our journey, but that’s part of every journey. We did nothing but prepare ourselves to fight adversity when it comes around again.”

Desroches: “The season has had some ups and downs like every season will, but it has been good.”

Q: What’s your favorite basketball team?

Ellis: “Milwaukee Bucks.”

Desroches: “Miami Heat.”

Q: Favorite snack before a game?

Ellis: “Starburst, Skittles, Twizzlers. Anything sugary.”

Desroches: “I don’t really have a favorite snack before the game. Probably chips, which I shouldn’t be eating.”

Q: Favorite meal before a game?

Ellis: “Get me a burger and some fries, and I’m going crazy.”

Desroches: “Chick-fil-A.”

Q: What are your goals for the season?

Ellis: “Win the NCAA Tournament. Show them what we are really like. We really some dogs, so y’all better watch out. We just had a bump in a row. What’s the journey without a bump? Come on now.”

Desroches: “I say the goal for the season is to get a ring and be the champs. Regular conference and the OVC Tournament, and then just to get better as a basketball player. Like, it doesn’t stop here.

Just keep going up as a team like [Ellis] said.”

Q: What basketball player do you look up to the most?

Ellis: “Lonzo Ball. You know he really locked in on a defensive side, so I re-

ally gotta lock in on defense. So I look at him and then offense just gonna come.”

Desroches: “Kevin Durant. I just love his mid-range game, and I think he’s an all around scorer, one of the best scorers in the game, so I try to model my game after him.”

Q: Post-game meal?

Ellis: “Burger and fries from the [Martin Luther King Jr.] Union.”

Desroches: “Caesar salad. I just love it so much.”

Q: Favorite basketball movie?

Ellis: “‘Space Jam.’”

Desroches: “I never watch a basketball movie. I just watched ‘Love & Basketball’ like last year.”

Q: Do you have any superstitions before a game?

Ellis: “Probably got to be like the way I put my socks and my shoes on. Then I gotta listen to a specific song.”

Desroches: “I just gotta pray before every game. Like, if I forget to pray, I feel like my game will be terrible.”

Q: What sport would you play other

than basketball?

Ellis: “I probably wouldn’t play another sport, none of them spark my interests.”

Desroches: “I would play volleyball instead because I love the sport, and that is the first sport I ever played.”

Q: Ice Mountain or purified water?

Ellis: “Ice Mountain.”

Desroches: “This is kind of hard, but I’m going with purified water.”

Q: Pancakes or waffles?

Ellis: “Pancakes.”

Desroches: “Definitely pancakes.”

Q: Which teammate would you let get the aux?

Ellis: “Taris Thornton.”

Desroches: “Emily Meidel.”

Q: How are you balancing being a student athlete?

Ellis: “I balance being a student athlete by putting my schoolwork first. My mom always told me basketball would be around forever so make my education my main priority, and basketball will flow after that.”

Panthers of the Week

The junior forward from Greenville, Wisconsin recorded her 21st double-double of the season against the Morehead State Eagles.

McGlone ended the game against Morehead State with 33 points and 18 rebounds as Eastern beat Morehead State 105-103 through four overtime periods.

With this double-double from Saturday, McGlone passed Toni Collins (20) to achieve the most double-doubles in a singular season in program history.

Desroches: “I balance being a student athlete by putting God first in all of my days because praying or reading my bible gives me peace and removes so much weight and stress off my shoulders.”

Q: What do you put in your ramen noodles?

Ellis: “Hot sauce.”

Desroches: “I put cayenne pepper in my ramen and the seasoning packet that comes with it, but when I was younger, we would put hot dogs in it.”

Q: What would you tell your younger self?

Ellis: “Always push yourself no matter what, and remember your reason for doing what you love. Keep your confidence high through any obstacle.”

Desroches: “I would tell my younger self to learn to speak up for herself and to find a relationship with God sooner because that would have helped with so much.”

Payton Liggins can be reached at 581-2812 or at densportsdesk@ gmail.com.

The junior guard/forward recorded two double-doubles throughout the week against Southern Indiana and Morehead State.

In the Panthers’ 81-71 win over the Screaming Eagles, Davis recorded 20 points and 12 rebounds, leading the team in rebounds on Thursday.

Davis also recorded a 19 point and 10 rebound double-double against the Morehead State Eagles on Saturday as he led the team in rebounds.

MACY MCGLONE

KYNDALL DAVIS

BY PAYTON LIGGINS | THE DAILY EASTERN NEWS Freshman guard Lalani Ellis and redshirt freshman forward Sydney-James Desroches said their favorite sport besides basketball is volleyball.

Wilkersons celebrate 29 years

By Patrick Schmitz Sports Reporter | @DEN_News

Love can stem from anywhere, even on the campus of Eastern Illinois University.

That’s where Eastern’s head football coach Chris Wilkerson met his wife Sharna Wilkerson.

The Wilkersons were both student athletes at Eastern when they first met. Chris Wilkerson played football at Eastern while Sharna Wilkerson was a catcher for the softball team.

“Well, we had been student athletes on campus together, and Eastern is such a tight-knit community that most of the student athletes know each other,” Sharna Wilkerson said. “So, we knew each other pretty much all along. But it was I think my junior year. We had class in the same building, and I would get done with class and walk to the locker room to go get ready for practice. And [Chris] was always standing there in the hallway.”

Sharna Wilkerson caught Chris Wilkerson’s eye first.

He made sure to wait for her just to get to talk to her a little bit, and it did not take long for Chris Wilkerson to catch Sharna Wilkerson’s eye as well.

“He looked good in a football uniform,” she said. “That didn’t hurt.”

The couple started dating shortly after, and it was love after their first kiss for Chris Wilkerson.

“So, the first time that we went on a date, we went to a movie at the old Will Rogers Theatre, so there used to be a movie theater downtown,” he said. “It was like $1.50 movies or something

like that. This is before the show place in Mattoon. Anyway, so we went on that date, and you know, I thought it went well myself. I take her back to her place, and I got my first kiss so for me that’s what I knew for sure.”

They got engaged after only nine months of dating and married after 18 months of being together.

The Wilkersons have been going strong. They will be married for 30 years in 2025.

“We have a big one coming up neck next year, not this year, but 2025 will be our 30th,” Sharna Wilkerson said.

“We would like to take a trip to Greece. I would really like to see the Greek Islands.”

Chris and Sharna Wilkerson like to have experiences for their anniversary

gifts.

For Valentine’s Day, however, the small things are what they will cherish the most.

“Jewelry [is] always a good thing,” Sharna Wilkerson said. “I don’t know too many people who don’t like that. But I have cold feet all the time, and he got me a foot warmer for underneath my desk because both he and my oldest child like the house pretty chilly. So, and I’m old, that means I’m always cold. So, the foot warmer socky things were good.”

Chris and Sharna Wilkerson don’t need the big things to be happy for Valentine’s Day. All they need is each other and time together, they said.

“We have a hot tub now,” Sharna Wilkerson said. “First time we’ve ever

had a hot tub, so we do like to take a drink to the hot tub and just relax down there. But it doesn’t have to be anything too lavish, you know? Could be watching the night of Netflix shows or going to the movies out here, try a different restaurant.”

The couple also have three kids including EIU freshman defensive lineman Peyton Wilkerson.

For Valentine’s Day, they made sure to not forget the kids either.

“It’s not like one that goes over the top, you know,” Peyton Wilkerson said. “My parents still make it known, like getting us those little heart boxes of chocolate, and like every morning, dad will get my mom some flowers and do some stuff with each other.”

Chris and Sharna Wilkerson make sure to have a wonderful day full of experiences and gifts to each other.

Valentine’s Day is another day for them to show their love for each other in many ways. One of those ways is usually flowers, however they both like something a little sweeter.

“With a physique like this? Chocolate for sure.” Chris Wilkerson said. Through college and beyond, Chris and Sharna Wilkerson stuck together through it all.

“She is an amazing, amazing woman. She’s absolutely the best partner in the world,” Chris Wilkerson said. “She’s so caring and giving and loving, and I’ve been really blessed to spend almost 30 years with the queen.”

BY PATRICK SCHMITZ | THE DAILY EASTERN NEWS

The Wilkerson’s celebrate Valentines Day and anniversaries with anything from small gifts to watching movies on Netflix to going out to a restaurant for dinner.

BY PATRICK SCHMITZ | THE DAILY EASTERN NEWS

Sharna Wilkerson and her husband Chris Wilkerson met on campus in the early 1990s and have been married for almost 30 years. Sharna Wilkerson played for the softball team and Chris Wilkerson played for the football team.