The Daily Egyptian - February 14, 2024 by Daily Egyptian

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Daily Egyptian SERVING THE SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY SINCE 1916.

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2024

VOL. 107, ISSUE 21

Students feel “abandoned” by chancellor amid potential departure Carly Gist | cgist@dailyegyptian.com

Pitcher Maddia Groff (left) and catcher Rylinn Groff (right) pose with the game ball from Maddia’s perfect game in their collegiate debut Feb. 9, 2024 at Bobcat Stadium in San Marcos, Texas. Photo provided by Saluki Athletics.

Groff twins’ perfect debut marks milestone for SIU softball

Brandyn Wilcoxen @BrandynWilcoxen

Freshman Maddia Groff said her nerves calmed after her first inning of work. She was making her debut for Saluki softball on opening day against a team just a 20-minute drive away from where she grew up. No one realized just how historic her next few hours would be. Perhaps no one at Bobcat Stadium in San Marcos, Texas, was more familiar with her work than the Saluki catcher, also making her collegiate debut: her twin sister Rylinn Groff. Seven innings later, the twins had orchestrated the first full-length perfect game in school history. “It’s just a full circle moment,” Maddia Groff said. “Because for girls everywhere, college softball is it. This is the dream. We’ve been aiming for this most of our entire lives, so it was just a really special moment where you can see your hard work translate.” The Salukis mobbed the mound, as the catcher Rylinn tapped gloves with the pitcher Maddia. But they’d been through big moments like this before, and they’ve done so their entire lives together. “You probably can’t duplicate that in any other way,” Saluki softball head coach Jen Sewell said. “Even if you were just friends, good friends, best friends, pitcher-catcher, I’m not sure that you can

duplicate that sort of intuitive nature with each other.” On Friday, Feb. 9, Maddia Groff took the mound for SIU’s first game of the season. By the end of the team’s 3-0 win over Creighton, she hadn’t given up a baserunner after retiring all 21 batters in a row. “I honestly didn’t even realize it until I think the sixth inning or so,” Maddia Groff said. “I usually don’t realize that stuff until later on, because like I said, I’m just more sucked into the game and making sure that we’re in the position to win.” Part of the reason why it is the first seven-inning perfect game in school history is that teams will often run-rule an opponent during the game, as was the case during Madi Eberle’s 2022 no-hitter that ended 8-0 after five innings. With the game being as tight as it was, not only was Maddia Groff chasing perfection, but also looking to hold a relatively slim lead. “I think that kind of fed into the whole, I didn’t even realize it was happening,” Maddia Groff said. “Because it was such a close game that you’re just laser focused on, okay, six more outs. Three more outs. Closing out the win, more than any other stat that was going on.” Later that afternoon, the Groff twins entered the second game of a GROFF TWINS | 9

When Southern Illinois University senior Dylan Chambers heard the news about another SIU chancellor potentially leaving, he was taken aback. “It’s not the first time it’s happened and it probably won’t be the last either, but yeah, I would say [I was] shocked,” he said. “He’s done a lot for the university here so far, but whenever you’re kind of given an opportunity to throw your hat in a different spot, I would say it’s just kind of one of those things where you just see what happens. And if it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, you just continue to go back to work.” Chambers is the president of the Dawg Pound, the student section and registered student organization that supports Saluki Athletics. While he said he would hate to see Chancellor Austin Lane go, he recognizes Lane has his own family to think about, and supports his decision either way. “I’m curious, just like everybody else, but I’m also nervous for him just because he’s a great guy,” he said. “I’ve CHANCELLOR | 4

Austin Lane, Chancellor of SIU, gives a speech at Saluki Alumni Plaza Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Oct. 15, 2021 in Carbondale, Ill. Julian Castillo | @julian_castillo24

Education Department says it’s “laser focused” on fixing federal student aid problems DE Editors editors@dailyegyptian.com

Delays and a precipitous drop in the number of applications are plaguing the Education Department’s system for handing out federal student aid. In a conference call with reporters late Monday, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said he is taking steps to help colleges prepare the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as efficiently as possible. “The Department’s top priority is to ensure students can access the maximum financial aid possible to help them pursue their higher education goals and bring college in reach for more Americans,” Cardona said. A new, simplified FAFSA form

was released in January, but parents and students reported frequent glitches with the web-based system. As a result, only about 676,000 high school seniors had submitted their FAFSA through late January, fewer than half as how many applied during the same period last year, according to the National College Attainment Network. Cardona said, including high school and college students, nearly four million FAFSA forms have been processed as of Feb. 12. Just last week, SIU announced it will be March before it can release FAFSA information to current and prospective students, details that usually would have been available for months by now. Without the

information, students have no idea how much financial aid they can expect, affecting decisions on where to attend school, and whether it’s possible at all. The SIU Financial Aid Office said in an email it hopes to announce aid awards by late March or early April. “We recognize the importance of providing timely financial aid information as you prepare for the upcoming academic year. We are working diligently to ensure that your financial aid offers will be completed as quickly as possible once the FAFSAs are released by the Department of Education,” the email said. The new FAFSA form was designed to be simpler, with 50 questions FEDERAL STUDENT AID | 5

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Page 2 | Entertainment and Culture

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

International Festival Photos by Simeon Hardley | @SimShardPhotography

Flags are gathered next to each other during the International Festival Proclamation in the Student Center. The parade and proclamation kicked off International Week at Southern Illinois University.

Participants of the International Festival gather in the student center for the Festival Proclamation.

The Sri Lankan Student Association performs a traditional dance at the International Cultural Show at the Student Center Ballrooms Feb. 9, 2024 in Carbondale, Illinois.

Food being served at the International Food Festival Feb. 7, 2024 at the Student Center in Carbondale, Illinois.

The Sri Lankan Student Association performs a traditional song during the Cultural Show in the Student Center Feb. 9, 2024 at the Student Center in Carbondale, Illinois.

Food is placed on students plates during the International Food Festival Feb. 7, 2024 at the Student Center in Carbondale, Illinois.

Entertainment and Culture | Page 3

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

SIU International Festival showcases a blend of global traditions Annalise Schmidt aschmidt@dailyegyptian.com

In a harmonious celebration of diversity and unity, SIU hosted its annual International Festival, a week-long event featuring a vibrant parade of flags, a melting pot of international cuisines and cultural performances. The event, held under the theme “Promoting Diversity Through Unity,” brought together students from all corners of the globe to share their rich cultural backgrounds. Yolina Lindquist, a Swiss dual-citizen and member of the German club, said, “We have a huge international student base, as well as an international teaching assistant population on campus, so I think it’s amazing to bring students together to embrace culture, language and ethnicity.” She has attended the international festival for the past three years and has enjoyed the opportunity to walk in the flag parades and represent her own culture. In doing so, she has gotten to experience firsthand how much goes into preparing for a week of events as influential as this one. “Everyone has put in so much work. It’s very impressive how much they prepare for it. I think each group did an amazing job representing themselves,” Lindquist said. The international parade of flags symbolized the global community on campus, providing an opportunity for students to connect, share, and celebrate their heritage. The sense of unity could be seen as students from various backgrounds

walked side by side. Lindquist said, “I can share language and culture with the rest of the students that don’t have that same background through the events.” One of the most popular events of the festival was the International Food Festival last Wednesday, where students and visitors alike embarked on a global culinary journey. Lindquist said, “How could we miss the best part of coming here? Going to the food festival and trying all of these foods.” Attendees got the opportunity to experience cultures and cuisine they were unfamiliar with, even if they were not personally involved with the RSOs. Simone Elliot, a sophomore visiting the International Food Festival, said, “I have a lot of international friends, so it’s nice to just come out and show support for them and their RSOs.” Connections were truly able to grow due to the occasion, as people collaborated to broaden their knowledge. “This event shows the diversity and community among students, allowing especially American students to connect with international students,” Elliot said. She got foods from Sri Lanka, dumplings from China and a dessert from LASA (Latin American Student Association) at the Food Festival this year. Nepalese, Persian/Iranian, Chinese and Bangladeshi foods were also available for

The Nepalese Student Association performs a traditional dance at the International Cultural Show in the Student Center Feb. 9, 2024 at the Student Center in Carbondale, Illinois. @SimShardPhotography

people to try. Chinthana Wimalasuriya, who was also visiting the food festival, said, “We need to try everything from different places. This is the one place where you can get a lot of everything.” Taking advantage of this opportunity not only allowed individuals to broaden their culinary horizons but also served as a unique platform for attendees to engage with diverse cuisines, fostering a sense of unity among the community and different RSOs. Keyla Aguilar originally came to the event because of work connections, but found the event had much to offer. Aguilar said, “I work at the Sustainable Farm, and the Office of Sustainability and we’re composting at this event to reduce food waste.” “I get a little bit of flavor from the students that go here. All the international students get to bring their flavors from home to students and faculty in the United States that they wouldn’t otherwise be able to try. I tried the chicken biryani for the first time today. I can say that I’ve had it now,” Aguilar said. Beyond the food festivities, the International Festival served as an educational platform, offering students and faculty a chance to experience and learn about cultures they may not be familiar with. The vibrant display of traditional dances and the showcase of diverse traditional clothing from various countries added a layer of cultural richness to the event. The rhythmic movements and colorful attire allowed participants to celebrate the unique cultural expressions of the global community. During the Cultural Show on Friday, members of the Nepalese Student Association, including Bristi Poudel and Rushma Baskota, got to showcase both traditional and modern Nepali dance forms through their performance. Poudel said, “Nepal is a very small country and most people don’t know a lot of things about us. So we want to show that it’s diverse in its cultures, languages and everything, despite its size.” She hopes their performance was able to show the audience aspects of their broad heritage. “We speak different types of language, and the attire that we are wearing also represents one of the ethnic community groups of our country,” Poudel said. Being a part of the RSO has been highly beneficial for these students, they said. They have gained new connections with people of the same cultural background while living in an entirely different country.

“The good thing about the Nepalese Student Association is, we are a group of Nepali students. Even though we belong to different parts of Nepal, wherever we are from, we unite together,” Poudel said. The group had to get together every evening for weeks to practice, choosing songs and attire that would work best for the dance. Baskota said, “There are four songs that had to fit one dress. We had to incorporate the dress into each part of the show.” They included both older songs and more current songs, sharing their country’s past and present musical interests. “These are the types of songs and the music that is played in every festival, and everything that we do in our country. We are used to this music and dance.” To members of the performing RSOs, cultural music, clothing and dances are highly significant to each of their individual countries. Most have grown up learning these traditions, and they are reminded of their families and homes by getting to perform. Bhagya Jayantha was one of the dancers who performed to represent the Sri Lankan Student Association. He has been practicing this style of dance for more than ten years. Jayantha said, “This is a traditional dance that we have, so mostly in school we will practice for the first time, and then some of them choose to develop it more.” Participants spent weeks on costumes and practices. “We acquired the clothes and other things we needed from whatever stores we could find in Carbondale. Then, we prepared it to look exactly right, comparing it with models,” Jayantha said. Jayantha and the team’s dedication to authenticity and detail ensured that every aspect of their traditional attire mirrored the rich cultural heritage they aimed to showcase. “We have students from all over the world at this show, and we represent one country, Sri Lanka, as well. We have a community over here [in the U.S.]. So I think it’s important that we feel that we have some value and are acknowledged to be a part of SIU.” For many international students and faculty, the festival provided more than just a celebration – it offered a sense of belonging and a portion of home. Staff reporter Annalise Schmidt can be reached aschimdt@dailyegyptian.com.

Page 4 | News

CHANCELLOR CONTINUED FROM 1

seen him as somebody that I would definitely look up to, and I’d hate to lose him, but if it means just trying to go somewhere for [his] family, by all means, you know?” David Milley, assistant director of the University Honors Program, has similar feelings. “I was surprised because I thought Dr. Lane was providing some much needed campus leadership stability, implementing a long-term strategic plan to improve the university,” Milley wrote in an email. “We all have diverse approaches to professional development, so the position at New Mexico State may be advantageous to his desired professional journey.” Milley believes that continuity in leadership is “very important to effectively implement visionary ideas and thinking.” He also said Lane “connects well with students, intentionally being very accessible and available to talk, recognize and support them, in a variety of campus settings.” After a nationwide search for a new president, New Mexico State University announced its five finalists on Friday, February 2, one of which was Lane. The Daily Egyptian surveyed 17 anonymous students and found that many feel betrayed by Lane and even worried for the future of the school. “I feel a sense of abandonment, as the chancellor was only appointed at SIU within the past couple of

Wednesday, February 14, 2024 years,” one participant wrote. “It certainly seems to me like it’s only about the money, and not any sense of actual loyalty or care for the school or its students/staff.” Another student wrote, “His [Imagine] 2030 plan has been really strong and really beneficial to the university as a whole - I’m just nervous that it will fall apart once he leaves.” “I also know that this interview process with NMSU started back around November,” they continued. “He can say he’s keeping his focus here on campus all he wants, but it’s been a couple months that his attention and efforts have been divided. If he doesn’t get that job and he stays, people are going to be hesitant to trust him again. If he gets the job and he leaves, people will be mad that we’re getting our 9th chancellor in a decade.” Chambers, however, expresses confidence in the school’s future. “I think if he were to leave, the Chancellor has a great leadership staff underneath him,” he said. “I feel like a lot of people will still [continue] to work on the plan. I don’t think everything’s just gonna stop and campus is just gonna go back to the way it started… During the next process, I feel like everything will stay the same and will still continue to grow and continue to work.” NMSU’s website says “hybrid listening sessions” were hosted throughout New Mexico last summer. The listening sessions, which “provided members of the

NMSU community an opportunity to…share their thoughts about the qualities and experiences needed in the next president,” found that community members are looking for a president “who is a key part of [their] recruitment strategy.” Lane was appointed Chancellor of SIU on July 1, 2020. Approximately a year and a half later, he released a strategic plan titled “Imagine 2030.” In a 2022 article with The Southern Illinoisan, Lane said that the goal of the plan was to shift the culture of the school by recognizing–but not dwelling on– its past, and focusing on its future. “When you are imagining, you are being positive. When you are [imagining] you’re dreaming, you are not being negative. You’re not thinking of what you can’t achieve. In the heart of it, imagine is trying to show that we can start and go anywhere,” he said. Imagine 2030 contributed to his consideration for the presidential position at NMSU. The President Search Finalist page states that, since implementing this strategy, “Enrollment of new freshmen has grown significantly, even during the pandemic, and more students from the Southern Illinois region are choosing to earn their bachelor’s degrees close to home.” Imagine 2030 and the Saluki Step Ahead, which allows transfer students to complete their degrees online, are both initiatives of Lane’s that Chambers thinks should be highlighted.

“Constantly watching enrollment grow since I’ve been here has been something that I feel that he’s worked really hard on, especially with the Saluki Step Ahead commitment and…junior colleges on signing those,” he said. “I think that is at least one thing that I would highlight about him so far, but then just his effort about putting students first I think has been another piece that stands out to me.” Chambers encourages students to continue upholding the pillars of Imagine 2030, even if Lane were to leave. “I think just continuing to go to class and being students is one of the main things [we can do], but then [also] continuing to follow the pillars, especially with student engagement [and] getting involved,” he said. “...Like I said, I don’t know if just one person leaving is going to really impact it, but at the end of the day, I think we need to continue to still be students even [if ] our Chancellor’s not here.” Elizabeth Donoghue, assistant director of the University honors program, said that faculty can contribute to maintaining stability and a sense of community by “continuing to offer quality educational experiences for students.” “I hope faculty leadership can play a role in highlighting what is needed and ways to achieve it as we move forward,” she said. She also sees this as a time to improve the school’s ambitions.

“SIU is resilient,” she said. “While leadership is important I see it as a potential opportunity to take what is working from the vision and plans that have been put in place the last several years and reevaluate what we might need going forward with new leadership.” Julia Rendleman, a photojournalism professor at SIU, would not comment on Lane’s history because she was hired fairly recently but rather mentioned that she hopes SIU will find a passionate candidate if Lane leaves. “I hope when Chancellor Lane finds his new position, SIU finds someone for the job who is deeply committed to SIU and will invest their time, energy and resources into our campus and our larger Carbondale community,” she said. At this time, the presidential search committee is not able to comment on individual candidates, Director of Communications & Media Relations at NMSU Amanda Bradford said. However, the charge the search committee was presented with from the Board of Regents states that “the Board is looking for individual who can steward the vision to move the institution forward while staying faithful to, and reinforcing, NMSU’s core strengths and values and who has the capacity, endurance and commitment to serve NMSU.” Staff reporter Carly Gist can be reached at cgist@dailyegyptian.com

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

Entertainment and Culture | Page 5

Comedic “coach” serves up laughs Ethan Holder Journ 419 beat reporting

Ten years ago, Reece “Coach” Alexander and a friend attended an open-mic comedy show at Hanger 9 on the Carbondale strip. They were only there to watch but his friend issued him a dare: go onto the stage and tell some jokes. “I signed up and not five minutes later they said ‘And your next comedian coming to the stage is Coach.’ I didn’t have anything written down and I just freestyled off the brain and I killed,” Alexander recalled. “I remember getting off the stage and the announcer was shocked that it was my first time doing comedy.” He was encouraged to return the following week. The laughter and applause from the crowd sealed the deal: a comedian was born. Alexander, 41, of Carbondale, is now a beloved regular performer in a small but vibrant and growing local comedy scene in Southern Illinois. He doesn’t just do it for the laughs. “My comedy was basically to mask a lot of pain I was dealing with at the time,” he said of when he first got on stage ten years ago. Only 10 days before that night at Hangar 9, his dad passed away. “I got on stage, and for the first time, told jokes about my dead father.” It brought him a sense of healing that he hadn’t expected. “Whenever I told those jokes about my father, I actually went home and cried. It wasn’t really tears of pain, it was more like tears of joy and remembrance,” Alexander recalled. “I was like ‘Wow, I really told jokes about you without breaking down.’” Alexander has been performing since then. One of his latest performances took place earlier this month at the Celebration Event Center in Marion. The event only gave comedians five minutes to prove they were the funniest person in the room. Shows that move fast like that, Alexander said, sharpen his comedic wit. That’s the goal, said Jonathan Hiltz, coowner of the Celebrations Event Center. He aims to give people like Alexander a space to gain experience, sharpen their acts and overall boost creativity in the community. “We have a passion for stand up comedy and the small town aspect,” Hiltz said. “We love our city and this is just another way to get people in our community to do something relatively cheap and creative.” Carol Conley, a guest at the open mic night, said Alexander’s jokes were some of the best from the competition. “I thought he was great. I thought he engaged with everybody really well and he had a diverse set, relating to everyone in

FEDERAL STUDENT AID CONTINUED FROM 1

instead of the usual 100. The website did not go online until December 31, 2023, the last date it was legally able to do so. New steps taken by the Education Department include: significantly reducing verification requirements while still taking steps to avert identify fraud; suspending new routine program reviews through June of 2024; providing additional flexibility on recertification by colleges and universities; providing a concierge service to under-resourced schools; making $50 million dollars in

the audience” Conley said. Though he only had five minutes in this particular show, Alexander said he’s grown more comfortable with longer sets. “That one joke you can be working on for the last few years can grow every time you do and it gets better and better and better,” he said. “Then, you perfect it and now it’s a whole bit. I started off doing seven minute sets, went to 14, from 14 to half-hours now. Now I can do a halfhour, easy.” Hilltz said he’s passionate about offering forums like the one his center hosted earlier this month because it’s helped numerous amateur comedians like Alexander get better over time. “I’ve seen how much people have changed and gotten better and how their acts have changed,” he said. “A lot of times they will do the same jokes or a variation or they will work on their timing. You can see how the joke evolves from where it was to how it’s gotten funnier over time. Sometimes things happen in their life and then they bring more jokes.” While a lot of local comedians put in enough work to improve over time, many of them struggle to make a living off of their jokes. Most of them, including Alexander, need to work a day job to support themselves while they pursue stand up. Alexander says his day job tends to shock people. “I’m a behavioral analyst. It don’t look like it, do it? He like ‘you a what?’ I’m a behavioral analyst for Trinity Services. I actually just came off of work and came here to do comedy,” he said. Alexander said that finances are not the only thing holding him back: the stress of doing comedy full time is daunting. “I wanna do it full time but it’s very stressful and I know my anxiety won’t allow me to do it full time but I would love to, though, if I could get my anxiety under control.” Local comics may struggle to turn their passions into careers, but that does not stop them from gaining local support. And for Alexander, bringing those local laughs is still a thrill. You can watch Alexander – or “Coach” – to those who know him on stage – this coming Friday, Feb. 16 at the Celebrations Event Center in Marion. He is the opening act for Stewart Huff, a touring comedian, and will do a 10- to 15-minute set prior to Huff ’s 1-hour show. Tickets are on sale now at the center’s website. This story was produced as part of JRNL419: Beat Reporting, a class within the SIU School of Journalism and Advertising that gives students practical community reporting experience.

federal funds available to non-profit financial aid services; and delivering test records to schools by the end of this week so they can check their systems. Cardona said it’s about having schools spend less time doing paperwork and more time providing students with the aid they need. “These are concrete steps” based on conversations with colleges, universities, parents and students, he said. “We are laser focused on making the better FAFSA a reality,” Cardona said. The Daily Egyptian editoral staff can be reached at editors@dailyegyptian.com

Reece “Coach” Alexander performs in a stand up comedy competition Feb. 2, 2024 at the Celebration Event Center in Marion Illinois. Photo by Ethan Holder

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Wednesday, February 14, 2024

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Wednesday, February 14, 2024

Classes of SIU: Metals Lab Photos take by Dominique Martinez-Powell | @dmartinez_powell.photography

Carson Slaughter, a senior metalsmithing major at SIU, works on a piece using a technique called chasing and repoussé. “Chasing is hitting it from the top side pushing down and repoussé is when you flip it over and push the material back out. So you’re kind of just sculpting a flat sheet,” Slaughter said.

Carson Slaughter, a senior metalsmithing major at SIU, assesses a metal piece he’s working on Feb. 12, 2024 at the Pulliam industry wing in Carbondale, Illinois. “Everything is done with a hammer and these tools. It’s very slow work but it’s kind of rewarding when you’re slowly sculpting it out,” Slaughter said.

Abe Packard, an alumnus community listener, works on a piece using a technique called chasing and repoussé.

Abe Packard, an alumnus community listener, compares the design sketch to the metals piece they are working. Packard is basing their piece on an example design provided to the class.

Carson Slaughter, a senior metalsmithing major at SIU, shows the design of the metal piece he is working on for class that he intends to turn into a bolo tie.

Page 8 | Opinion

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

Column: Could bad pipes lead to the fall of Life Science II?

Mo Collar mcollar@dailyegyptian.com

If your major is anything within the science field, chances are you have taken a class or two in Life Science II. This building is home to much of SIU’s scientific research and study, where both students and faculty have access to a wide array of resources to continue their academic careers. What you may not know is that it is also home to its fair share of problems, from malfunctioning pipes to collapsed ceilings that could very well cause a serious problem for the building, years of research and the people in it. Walking through the halls of LSII, you might notice something feels off, but can’t quite place what. The air feels hotter than it should be or the building seems to be making just a bit too much noise. Truth is the problem lies all around the building: the pipes. Those that run underneath LSII are old and haven’t been fully replaced in years despite the need for a change as the summer heat has been slowly but surely expanding the metal, causing all sorts of problems for the building. The most common issue when it comes to expanding pipes are leaks. The most susceptible area is the basement where a lot of machinery lies that requires a consistent water supply. In the past three months alone, the basement has experienced a constant, heavy leak that was only recently fixed properly. The leak was so bad it would completely fill up a full sized trash can within the span of 12 hours and needed to be dumped out twice a day to prevent overflow. “FEM [Facilities and Energy Management] has said they can’t stand fixing LSII because it has so many issues that they view the building as the problem child of SIU,” said one faculty member from the building (who asked not to be identified). Recently, a portion of the pipes in the hallway of LSII burst and caused a significant amount of damage, leaving half of the hallway flooded as two ceiling tiles collapsed and an indoor waterfall became the new attraction to the building. If it wasn’t for the warning of the maintenance men who were working to fix what they could, I would still be sneezing ceiling tile debris as a third ceiling tile fell down almost right on top of my head observing the leak. These leaks not only cause ceilings to eventually collapse, but the buildup of water can lead to mold growing from the wet environment. A few small patches of it have crept up into the corners of the hall on the ceiling near the trash cans. “I always walk down the hallway between

LSII and LSIII and see these dark speckled patches on the ceiling. Looks exactly like the mold I’ve seen in the dorm,” said a student lab worker. Other smaller leaks have also been observed throughout the building, but the basement is where most of the damage lies. Another such issue in the basement are the rising temperatures of the floor due to the old pipes malfunctioning. There are portions of the floor that reached 125°F over the winter. That portion is located next to important research data, the loss of which would be detrimental to multiple science departments at SIU. “You touch the floor, you get burned. There’s no way that’s safe,” the LSII faculty member said. The issue of hot flooring has been ongoing for around two months now and no action has been taken to fix the problem. When asked to do repairs, FEM said there is asbestos lining the pipes hindering crews’ ability to break through the floor. This, however, will worsen exponentially if the heat continues to stay at such high temperatures. Instead of dealing with asbestos exposure in a controlled environment with proper gear, repair crews could be facing another burst pipe, which would release asbestos without warning and endanger the occupants of the building. Another scenario SIU could be facing is the possibility of a fire starting due to the heat. Although unlikely, asbestos can burn given the right conditions and the temperature of the pipes is much hotter than the floor, much higher than the previous temperatures recorded. LSII has many labs throughout the building that contain a surplus amount of chemicals, many of which are flammable. This combined with an asbestos-started fire would leave the building in flames in seconds. A chemical fire at that magnitude would be a devastating loss for SIU. The best course of action for SIU to take is replacing the pipes from the ground up to not only save the building, but the years of research and money that went into the history of LSII. The fall of LSII can be prevented, and acting before its condition worsens is the key to keeping an irreplaceable part of SIU intact. Staff reporter and photographer Mo Collar is a lab worker at LSII. They can be reached at mcollar@dailyegyptian.com or on Instagram @m0.alexander.

The basement floor of LSII is recorded at 116°F by a thermometer Feb. 3, 2024 at SIU in Carbondale, Illinois. Photos by Mo Collar | @m0.alexander

The ceiling hallway of LSII collapses after a pipe burst resulting in a flood across the hall Jan. 20, 2024 at SIU in Carbondale, Illinois. Photos by Mo Collar | @m0.alexander

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

GROFF TWINS CONTINUED FROM 1

doubleheader in relief – Maddia on the mound, and Rylinn substituting in as her personal catcher. They would work another 4.2 perfect innings as the Salukis would win in extra innings 6-5 over UTSA, with Rylinn Groff scoring the winning run. “I can’t describe it for our program but it’s obviously a huge deal. But for the Groffs, it’s a very normal thing for them to go out and do something like that,” Sewell said. “It’s a funny mix of like, normalcy for us, and then realizing what a special combination they are.” A superstition in softball is not to mention a perfect game or no-hitter as it is going on, but it’s difficult to ignore a scoreboard with a zero in the hits column. With such a historic feat in the making, everyone in the dugout on Friday, from the coaches to the players to the athletic trainer, had eyes on Maddia Groff. “You recognize the no-hitter, but then you’re trying to remember without looking if there’s been something like a walk or something with the perfect game,” Sewell said. “Nobody wants to say it out loud.” Sewell has been on staff for several excellent pitching performances, including Madi Eberle’s no-hitter in 2022. The program is no stranger to top-tier pitching, and Maddia Groff’s first start seems to ensure she will be adding her name to a long legacy. “This has been a pitcher university for a long time,” Sewell said. “There’s been some greats that have come through here. About every two-to-three years, we get an incredible number one and usually a number two. So to be out there and throw the first-ever seven-inning perfect game is a pretty big deal.” In total, Maddia Groff retired the first 36 batters she faced before finally giving up a hit in her third appearance – another complete game and win on Saturday against Texas State. “We were really ready to help our team in any way that we could,” Maddia Groff said. “It just happened to be the first game of the season and our first game as Salukis. But I would say any time we compete, we’re going for that.” The Groff twins are no strangers to success. Both were named All-Nebraska Super-State co-captains in high school, and Maddia Groff holds the all-time career strikeout record in the state of Nebraska. They also won a state championship at Marian High School in Omaha, Nebraska, in their senior season. “She’s in a long list of great pitchers that have come out of the state of Nebraska,” Sewell said. “To come this far and just trust

us with her career is pretty cool.” To add even more improbability to their already impossible day, the victim of Maddia Groff’s perfect game was the Creighton Blue Jays, a team based in Omaha, Nebraska. Maddia Groff’s name will be listed in the record books, but just as much credit goes to battery mate Rylinn Groff. Not only does she have familiarity with Maddia, but she also calls her own games. “Sometimes Katie Griffith is involved in that, our pitching coach, and sometimes I might make a suggestion, but otherwise we stay out of their way,” Sewell said. “Very intuitive with each other, and very intuitive with the pitch-calling. Rylinn is the hidden hero in that moment.” Despite the milestone moment, the Groff twins continue to keep a teamfocused mindset, basing their success on the wins and losses of the team. Thus far, Maddia Groff has won all three of the games she has pitched in for SIU. “I’m just trying to keep it focused on wins, and doing my job as a pitcher, it’s just getting outs,” Maddia Groff said. “If you can get outs as a pitcher in any way, if you can just get the job done and scratch out wins; that’s kind of my main priority right now. So I’m trying to just keep it there rather than anything self-oriented.” As the Salukis raced to dogpile Maddia Groff on Friday, her own reaction was very subdued for someone who had just completed the best single-game performance in school history. Her subdued response reflects her selfless nature, as well as her poise despite being as new as possible to the college game. “Maddia’s sort of a reluctant star,” Sewell said. “...If you see it on film, Maddia just kind of reacts like, ho hum, threw a perfect game. And then Rylinn and the team get out there to kinda dogpile her, and she just hugs everybody and smiles. She’s that humble, she just kind of takes it in stride.” Playing for a mid-major university almost creates a default chip on a player’s shoulder. Having just been part of a likely multi-year recruiting process, many freshman feel a need to prove themselves on that stage after perhaps being overlooked by bigger schools. “I think some of them have been told maybe they’re not Power Five ready, or they’re not big enough, or this, that, or the other,” Sewell said. “All of them kind of channeled that into what you saw on Friday.” It’s clear from the results that the transition from high school to Division I softball has not fazed the Groff twins. A big part of that has been the culture of Saluki softball, providing a welcoming

Sports | Page 9 environment for them before they even took the field. “All the girls on the team have been amazing,” Rylinn Groff said. “And so when we go out there, we feel comfortable and we know that they have our backs and we have theirs.” Maddia Groff said, “There’s just that comfort factor that, no matter what, she’s behind the plate, I’m out there and we’ve got each other. Not only do the sisters have each other to provide a sense of familiarity, but fellow Omaha-native Katherine Johnson – who the Groffs have been playing softball with since they were nine years old – is along for the ride as well. The freshman outfielder went to Millard North High School, breaking several career records at her school and receiving All-State recognition. “I think they have a little mini family within the big family,” Sewell said. “To come as far as the three of them did, and to really trust us with the next four years was a big deal for us.” Sewell recognized what looks to be a standout freshman class, looking beyond the headline-grabbing Groff twins. She noted Johnson starting in right field on Friday and Sunday as an example of the new players’ ability to impact the game. “Katherine’s gonna be a star too,” Sewell said. “On the hitting side, it’s pretty difficult to get thrown out there, but she played in some big games this weekend.” Coming into a program the caliber of SIU might prove daunting for the freshman class looking to follow up an NCAA Tournament run, but this year’s class is plenty ready to make an statement and help take the team to the next level. “We’re gonna put that whole freshman class out there in some way,” Sewell said. “The Groffs are used to being in big games, as is Katherine Johnson, so it’s not unusual for any of those freshman to go out and play a big [game].” While there is still a long season ahead, the Groff twins are still taking it one week at a time. It’s hard to improve on perfection, but they, along with all of Saluki softball, looks to build itself up as it heads into a campaign to defend its Missouri Valley Conference championship from the 2023 season. “I’m just really happy that we get the chance to be on a team like this, and I think we can really surprise people this year,” Maddia Groff said. “I just love that feeling and feeling like my teammates have my back and I have their back.” Managing Editor Brandyn Wilcoxen can be reached at bwilcoxen@dailyegyptian.com or on Twitter at @BrandynWilcoxen.

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Page 10 | Sports

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

Slugging Salukis look to combine pitching depth with top-tier offense Ryan Grieser rgrieser@dailyegyptian.com

While some people would be concerned by the lack of veterans on SIU’s baseball team, don’t count Lance Rhodes among them. Rhodes, who is entering his fifth season as the head coach at SIU and recently had his contract extended through the 2027 season, is unbothered by the lack of familiarity. “Every single year we’re going to lose good players. It’s our job to replace those good players that we’ve lost with more good players. And we feel like we’ve done that,” Rhodes said. One of the areas that Rhodes feels has been filled in well is the pitching staff. While SIU’s staff ranked around the middle of the Missouri Valley Conference in most measurable statistics a season ago, the staff is nearly unrecognizable, with 10 of the 17 pitchers new to the team this year. “We really believe that top to bottom, we’ve got a chance to have some depth in there,” Rhodes said. “We’ve got a lot of intriguing arms that hopefully are going to make a big impact on the success of our season.” Several pitchers have made especially strong impressions during offseason training. Matt Schark, a senior first baseman, is especially impressed by fellow senior Mike Hansell. “Mike’s been amazing in the fall. He’s been on two 40-win teams here, and I expect him to be a leader with all of our staff. I’m expecting him to have a great year,” Schark said.

Hansell, who missed last season due to an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery, is eager to come back and show what fans have been missing out on. “I’m looking forward to getting back on the mound and proving what I can do out there,” Hansell said. Hansell isn’t cutting himself any slack coming off of the injury either, setting high expectations for himself and his performance. “I expect the best. I expect to be the best pitcher I can be and help the team win any way possible,” Hansell said. Aidan Foeller, a transfer student from Northeast Mississippi Community College, is another arm that the Salukis are collectively excited about. “That dude’s a premier arm,” Schark said. “He could be an AllAmerican the way he pitches.” Rhodes also cites newcomer Al Holguin’s success at previous stops as something to watch in the potential breakout candidate. “[Holguin]’s done a lot of really good things at the Division I level,” Rhodes said. Pitchers aren’t the only people to be excited about; several hitters stood out during the offseason program and are poised to help the Salukis carry their dominant offense from last season into 2024. “One guy that I think is flying under the radar is Jordan Bach,” Schark said. “He’s had a great fall, he probably led us in [batting] average. He can hit it anywhere on the field, pole to pole. As a pitcher, Hansell may have a better understanding of who is

Bennett Eltoft walks into the stadium as the Salukis prepare for the season in a spring practice Feb. 1, 2024 at Itchy Jones Stadium in Carbondale, Illinois. Abby Harris | @photoabbyharris_

Easton Dermondy pitches off the mound in a spring practice Feb. 1, 2024 at Itchy Jones Stadium in Carbondale, Illinois. Abby Harris | @photoabbyharris_

going to have a good season at the plate, as he often throws to them. One player in particular has given Hansell headaches, which bodes well entering the season. “Bennett Eltoft… for some reason, he does not miss the ball. Ever. It’s frustrating on the mound when the hitter doesn’t miss the ball,” Hansell said. Rhodes is hoping to see many breakouts from these players and others who haven’t yet had a light shined on their talents. “A lot of these guys, they don’t have a name for themselves yet, but we’re hoping in the next several weeks that they’re known on the division one level as good division one players,” Rhodes said. These soon-to-be recognizable names are being counted on to help do one thing in particular, something that Rhodes and the Salukis are constantly striving for: winning a conference title. “Every single season that we step foot out here, it’s to win our conference, conference

regular season title, conference tournament title,” Rhodes said. “We need to break through and have the opportunity to compete in a regional.” Rhodes is optimistic about the team’s chances to make it an NCAA regional. “If we play really good baseball on a consistent basis, with the talent that we have, we have a chance to have a really special season,” Rhodes said. While every game matters while pursuing these titles, some carry more weight or are emphasized more. Schark is able to identify several that stand out on the Salukis’ schedule. “Any conference weekend. Big ones are like Missouri State, Evansville,” Schark said. “Anybody ranked above us, you know.” Schark and the Salukis will enter the year with ideas of defiance on their mind, as many pundits aren’t giving them the love the Dawgs feel they deserve. “We’re trying to prove people

wrong. Preseason rankings came out and we were fifth, and I think that’s wrong. I think we’re a lot better than what people think we’re going to be,” Schark said. Fueled in part by the lack of respect, players remain eager for the season to begin and demonstrate what the Dawgs can do. “I’m just excited for it. The team’s put in a lot of work all offseason and the guys look good. I think everyone on the field is excited to get out there and play and kind of show what we do,” Hansell said. Though they’re in the dugout rather than on the diamond, Rhodes and his staff feel the same. “We feel like we’ve done a good job recruiting,” Rhodes said, “We’ve worked hard over the last year, and we’re excited to let these guys go and see what their hard work is made of.” Sports reporter Ryan Grieser can be reached at rgrieser@dailyegyptian.com.

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

Sports | Page 11

Salukis stop Redbird rally, win 69-66 in Blackout Cancer Game Jamilah Lewis jlewis@dailyegyptian.com

SIU guard Xavier Johnson (10) goes for a layup during the second half of his team’s 69-66 win over Illinois State Feb. 10, 2024 at Banterra Center in Carbondale, Illinois. Brandyn Wilcoxen | @BrandynWilcoxen

At the tail end of what would end up a 14-0 run, an Illinois State Redbird missed a potential game-tying three with just seconds to spare, as the SIU Salukis (16-9, 8-6) escaped with a win. The Salukis defended home court on Saturday night against Illinois State (11-14, 5-9), coming away with a 69-66 win at the Banterra Center. Xavier Johnson led the team with 17 points and nine assists. Scottie Ebube had 10 points off the bench, and grabbed seven rebounds including four on the offensive end. “Didn’t execute as well as we needed to offensively,” Saluki head coach Bryan Mullins said. “Made some big plays down

Murray State uses early lead to take down Southern Illinois

Joei Younker Jyounker@dailyegyptian.com

The Dawgs were off to a slow start in Banterra this evening when the Racers took a 14-0 lead in the beginning of the first quarter. Freshman Maddy Saracco put the Dawgs on the board with 5:28 left in the first quarter with a second-chance jumper. The first quarter ended 22-7 Racers on top. Southern Illinois came out of the break looking to get back into the game. After a foul by the Racers on an offensive rebound, Jaidynn Mason scored the first point of the quarter for the Dawgs with a made free throw. The Salukis outscored the Racers 19-13 in the second quarter, but that wasn’t enough to knock them off their lead. The first half ended with the Dawgs trailing behind by 9 with a score of 35-26. Coming out of the half, Southern was looking to close the gap but fell short ending the quarter 54-47. The Dawgs were on a run in the final quarter of

the stretch to get the win and obviously extremely meaningful with the Blackout game.” The Salukis had a strong first half, taking a double-digit lead during an eight-point run. They were able to keep that distance through halftime, with a first half score of 42-25. The second half the Salukis played a good 35 minutes of basketball until momentum fell off the last five minutes of the game. SIU was held scoreless as Illinois State went on a 14-0 run, only interrupted by two free throws by Davis with 0.5 seconds left to ice the game. “I think Scottie, Jarrett (Hensley), Moo [Kennard Davis Jr.] all contributed big minutes for us [and] were a huge piece of tonight’s success,” Mullins said.

“I thought we had really good looks in the second half.” SIU’s last eight games all have been close, all decided by two possessions or less. Some of those games included doubledigit comebacks similar to what happened on Saturday night. “We continue to battle, continue to stay together,” Johnson said. “You know when it’s hard at this level so we gotta keep fighting and keep staying together.” Salukis will look to build a streak as it travels to play at Belmont on Wednesday, Feb. 14 at 6:30 p.m. SIU defeated Belmont 73-63 during their first meeting in Carbondale on Jan. 2. Jamilah Lewis can be reached at jlewis@dailyegyptian.com.

the matchup, closing in on Murray State with 1:45 left in the quarter making the score 75-70 with a three point jumper by Quierra Love. Even with shots made by Laniah Randle and Love in the last minute of the game, the Dawgs fell short to the Racers. The Racers tallied 17 offensive rebounds and 31 defensive rebounds that contributed to their 81-74 win over the Salukis. Randle led the Salukis once again with 20 points, Love followed with 17 and Seairra Hughes tallied 16 points. “I’m impressed with our culture but I want it for our kids so bad, they’re so close, they’re battle tested,” head coach Kelly Bond-White said in her post game conference. The Dawgs will be back in action Feb. 15 in Jaidynn Mason (22) dribbles the ball as the Salukis face Belmont at home Feb. 11, 2024 at Evansville to take on the Evansville Purple Aces. Banterra Center in Carbondale, Illinois. Madison Giltner | @madisongiltnerphoto News Editor Joei Younker can be reached at Jyounker@dailyegyptian.com.

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