The Daily Egyptian by Daily Egyptian

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Wednesday, Feburary 12, 2020

Email: editor@dailyegyptian.com Editor in Chief: Rana Schenke (618)536-3397 rschenke@dailyegyptian.com News Desk Editor: Kallie Cox (618)536-3329 kcox@dailyegyptian.com Sports Editor: Tamar Mosby (618)536-3307 tmosby@dailyegyptian.com Photo and Multimedia Coach: Angel Chevrestt (618)536-3327 achevresvtt@dailyegyptian.com Social Media Editor: Elizabeth Biernacki (618)536-3304 ebiernacki@dailyegyptian.com

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SIU Esports Arena 2: The Second Semester

About Us

The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of Southern Illinois University Carbondale 43 weeks per year, with an average weekly circulation of 12,000. Fall and spring semester editions run every Wednesday. Free copies are distributed in the Carbondale and Carterville communities. The Daily Egyptian can be found daily at www.dailyegyptian.com for the most up to date news.

Mission Statement

The Daily Egyptian, the student-run news organization of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, is committed to being a trusted source of news, information, commentary and public discourse, while helping readers understand the issues affecting their lives.

Publishing Information The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of Southern Illinois University Carbondale and functions as a laboratory for the School of Journalism in exchange for the room and utilities in the Communications Building. The Daily Egyptian is a nonprofit organization that survives primarily off of its advertising revenue. Offices are in the Communications Building, Room 1259, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, Ill., 62901.

Copyright Information © 2019 Daily Egyptian. All rights reserved. All content is property of the Daily Egyptian and may not be reproduced or transmitted without consent. The Daily Egyptian is a member of the Illinois College Press Association, Associated Collegiate Press, College Media Advisers Inc. and the College Business and Advertising Managers Inc.

Submissions

Letters and guest columns must be submitted with author’s contact information, preferably via email. Phone numbers are required to verify authorship, but will not be published. Students must include year and major. Faculty must include rank and department. Others include hometown. Submissions should be sent to editor@dailyegyptian.com.

Nicole Tillberg | @nicoletillberg315 Liesl Groninger, sophomore, Nathan Diazleal, Junior, are part of the SIU Esports Rhythm Club practicing at the Student Center Esports Arena on Monday.

Jacob Lorenz | @jtlorenz6

The Esports arena has one semester under its belt and some new additions have given the students a competitive edge. SIU administration and the Esports club review what updates were made and what to expect from the arena in the future. The Esports Club is technically a sports club associated with the rec center. Esports has dedicated games like “Overwatch,” “League of Legends” and “Dance Dance Revolution” that people play with game heads. A game head is a student that runs events for a specific game. The arena opened in fall 2019 with all the amenities teams need to compete. It has 12 state-of-the-art Alienware computers with headsets, keyboards, mice and new 144 hertz refresh rate monitors. A 144hz monitor is specifically designed to give a player a better edge when competing. These monitors have a faster screen refresh rate compared to the 4k monitors that were in the arena last semester. A faster refresh rate allows the computer to run the game at more than 60 frames per second which allows the player to see more of what is on screen.

Brandon Isom, a senior studying Radio, TV and Digital Media and “Overwatch” Gamehead, said with the new monitors, more players will be able to meet in the arena for practices. Isom said for “Overwatch” the spring semester will be their full season in Tespa. The fall was a pre-season. Tespa is a collegiate Esports organization that is based out of the Blizzard headquarters. Blizzard is the company that created the game “Overwatch.” “Blizzard goes through them [Tespa] for most of their major collegiate Esports,” Isom said. “We’ll be in the ‘Overwatch’ Collegiate Championships circuit.” Isom said in their preseason they played local teams including Southeastern Missouri State University and from teams across the country. Isom said the Student Center was very understanding. “The bowling alley and arena would close at 8 and our games would go to 9:30 sometimes,” Isom said. Brandon Macier, the marketing associate director at the Student Center, was the team’s right hand man and was able to extend the hours of the arena so the team could

finish games, Isom said. "‘Overwatch’ has been awesome, those guys are great,” Macier said. “Seeing students that are that into it and wanting to improve the program – anything we can do – we’re going to do in a heartbeat” Isom said he’s excited to see how this semester goes and is confident the team will do well in the circuit. The “Overwatch” team isn’t the only one getting the most out of the new arena. Members of the “Dance Dance Revolution” club also utilize the arena, mainly because of the new dance pads. Nathan Diazleal, a junior studying automotive technology and mechanical engineering and Gamehead of Rhythm Club, said before the arena they would meet at the rec center and they used dance pads from 2005. Now they are using new StepMania X dance pads that are compatible with the computers used in the arena. “They’re very high tech, each arrow can have its specific sensitivity changed, which can avoid some maintenance,” Diazleal said. “With other DDR machines you can’t change the sensitivity.” Diazleal said the group is able to

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meet for longer periods of time since the arena opened up. Before, they would meet until the rec center would close and get penalized if they didn’t clean up quick enough. Rhythm club now meets Mondays and Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Diazleal said sometimes they will meet on Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. too. SIU administration said they want to see more school-related activity happen in the arena. Macier said last semester they partnered with students for a minor in game animation and they got to show their final projects in the arena. He said anything digitally based and could utilize that space is more than welcome to. Macier and associate director, Kent Epplin, said they want to incorporate all the majors that can use the arena for learning.

“Anything from kinesiology to occupational therapy because right now a lot of [professional] gaming competitions they have on-sight therapists to massage your arms and show you how to stretch,” Macier said. “To make sure you aren’t getting carpal tunnel.” Epplin said they are currently trying to get more students into the arena. He said they are working hard at getting the “Super Smash Bros.” group to the arena. The group only uses the Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo Gamecube, Epplin said. Administration isn’t able to download the software needed to be a part of the SIU Esports Arena but they are working at it.

Bethany Rentfro | @BethanyRentfro

their driver's license or passport and their social security card. They are also offering a drop off service option this year, for the first time since the program’s inception. Area residents can receive assistance from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the computer lab on the lower level of Rehn Hall. The service also includes free electronic filing and residents do not have to wait for returns to be prepared. VITA services are on a first-come-first-serve basis, and no appointment is needed, however those who show up late may be asked to return on a different date. The students are unable to perform tax returns for people who are not U.S. citizens.

Staff reporter Jacob Lorenz can be reached at jlorenz@dailyegyptian.com or on Twitter at @jtlorenz6.

Beta Alpha Psi to help students, community with tax preparation Beta Alpha Psi, an honors accounting program at SIU, is helping students and community members with tax preparation. Students from Beta Alpha Psi will help prepare tax returns involving wages or salaries, interest income, dividends received, state tax refunds, unemployment benefits, IRA distributions, pension income, social security benefits and more, according to a release from the university. They will be sponsoring the free Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), which helps low and moderate income students and community members to complete their 2020 tax returns. VITA begins Feb. 8 and will continue every Saturday until April 4, with the exception of spring break. Participants are required to bring

Staff reporter Bethany Rentfro can be reached at brentfro@dailyegyptian.com.

SIU bans university travel to China due to coronavirus Kallie Cox | @KallieECox

SIU's chancellor released a statement on Thursday saying no study abroad trips to China will be approved following the rapid spread of the coronavirus. There are over 28,000 confirmed cases of the virus, according to the Washington Post. Chancellor John Dunn said in the release that SIU has been closely monitoring the spread of the disease and that the school follows in the footsteps of the Center for Disease Control’s level 3 warning to avoid non-essential travel and the do not travel advisories from the U.S. State Department and World Health Organization. “Given these travel warnings and our desire to maintain the health of our university community, all university travel to China is being restricted at this time,” Dunn said. “No institution-related travel to China, such as study abroad or other academic program visits, will be authorized or approved by the university.” Policies are in place at the Student Health

Center to rapidly identify, test, isolate and treat suspected patients while minimizing the risk of exposure to health providers and other contacts, Paul Bennett, SIU’s Medical Chief of Staff, said in a release about the virus. “Symptoms of this illness include fever, cough and difficulty breathing,” Bennett said. “Reports indicate that the virus is spreading person-to-person, although it’s unclear how easily it spreads between people. Preliminary information suggests that older adults and people with underlying health conditions may be at increased risk for severe disease from this virus.” There is no current vaccine for this or other coronaviruses, Bennett said. Dunn said the university does not advise any non-essential travel to affected areas by faculty staff or students and the university will continue to monitor the spread of the virus. News Editor Kallie Cox can be reached at kcox@dailyegyptian.com or on Twitter at @KallieECox.

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You may be bad, but are you perfectly good at it? How to practice safe BDSM Keaton Yates | @keatsians

Editor’s Note: Deacon, B and Ryan are pseudonyms used to protect the identities of three of the sources mentioned in this article. The Alternative Lifestyles, Identities and Sexualities RSO strives to normalize BDSM practices by rebuking misconceptions and providing advice on safe practice. ‘BDSM’ is an acronym that breaks down into three parts: B and D, or bondage and discipline, D and S, domination and submission and S and M, sadism and masochism, ALIAS president Nakkiah Stampfli said. Even things such as hair pulling or choking are part of BDSM, Stampfli said. ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ is a popular book series that raised awareness about BDSM, but portrayed it incorrectly. Deacon, ALIAS member and first aid trainer, said ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ raises red flags not only because it represents abuse, but because the safe word is ignored. “A safe word is where you hit your limit, that is how you indicate to your partner or partners that you’ve hit that wall,” Stampfli said. A common safe word is the word “safe word,” but other people use a traffic light system where “green” means things can proceed, “yellow” means they are approaching their limit and “red” means to cease all activity, Stampfli said. “In addition to safe words, there are these things called drop objects that are used in certain scenes where a person might be gagged,” Deacon said. “It’s something where they don’t even have to say anything; if it gets dropped, everything stops.” Common drop objects are dog or cat toys because they make noises when they are dropped, which is equivalent to a safe word, Stampfli said. “Looking at it in the perspective of a mental health professional, a lot of kinks are shoved in the same box as paraphilias diagnostically,” Deacon said. “They’re labeled paraphilias only because they meet one of four or five

Chloe Schobert | @chlo_scho

requirements of being labeled a disorder, which is deviance from social norms.” Paraphilia is a condition, or conditions, that involves having abnormal sexual desires, usually including dangerous or straining activities. When talking about kinks, people commonly miss that building community and networking is important, Deacon said. “I always thought my kink was niche for a long period of time, but you get to meet people, you get to understand new things and you get to learn that you’re not really alone when it comes to all this stuff,” B, secretary and treasurer of ALIAS said.

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The BDSM community is an open group that will talk about their kink but they are also private because they don’t expose others, ALIAS member Ryan said. “Confidentiality is a huge thing in our community. There are some of us in the community that our kink life and our vanilla life, or regular life, can’t mesh,” Ryan said. “There’s all kinds of things people can lose because people see it as being deviant.” People can go to ALIAS for education without judgement and they can remain confidential, Stampfli said. “The one big piece of advice that I have [about starting

Wednesday, Feburary 12, 2020 BDSM] is it’s going to be scary at first, just like with trying anything new. Don’t be so scared that you psych yourself out of trying it, but accept that it is going to be scary,” Stampfli said.

“It’s all about being between consenting adults, keyword being consenting.” - Ryan ALIAS member

ALIAS is a free resource on campus that can help people learn about starting out, Stampfli said. People should always be willing to learn and playing with someone who thinks they know everything about BDSM is dangerous, Ryan said. People who are just getting into BDSM need to be aware of their limits, B said. New people should also never play with someone they just met and should vet them first by asking around in the community about that person’s past and previous partners, Ryan said. “That’s part of why building community is so important because it acts like a backstop for safety for people,” Deacon said. “If there is somebody who has been shitty to partners in the past, it’s easier for that to be found out with community build up because it gets around.” For safety, everyone practicing BDSM should have and know how to use a first aid kit, Deacon said. “Make sure that you have some sort of

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communication handy in case you need to call 911,” Ryan said. “Don’t put it across the room and then handcuff yourself to the bed out of reach.” In the event that there is a need to call medical services, do not lie to your provider on what caused your injury, Deacon said. “It’s all about being between consenting adults, keyword being consenting, because that’s a fluid movement; just because you consent at the very beginning doesn’t mean that carries through the entire thing,” Ryan said. “You can revoke your consent at any time.” Consent is an ongoing conversation because as people experiment their limits could change, Stampfli said. Part of consent is talking about what partners will do in a scene and also aftercare, Stampfli said. “The easiest way I can think about aftercare for people who don’t know what aftercare looks like for them is a lot like treating someone who is sick,” Stampfli said. “Wrap them up in a blanket, give them a massage, put on their favorite movie, get some chocolate in their system, because you’re essentially treating the body for shock.” BDSM is illegal in Illinois because people cannot consent to battery or kidnapping, Stampfli said. “There needs to be some kind of clause to make sure the people that are actually battered and kidnapped receive their victim rights. I don’t know enough about legislation to know how I would write that law, but it’s definitely something that needs to change,” they said. Staff reporter Keaton Yates can be reached at kyates@dailyegyptian.com or on Twitter at @keatsians. Chloe Schobert | @chlo_scho

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A definitive ranking of each state’s most popular Valentine’s Day candy

Elizabeth Biernacki | @EBiernacki_619

Valentine’s Day is approaching and many people, including myself, are dreading the fact they don’t have anyone to celebrate with. However, one thing that I do look forward to is the Valentine’s Day themed candy and boy do I have a lot to get through! There’s a sweet out there wrapped in red, white or pink and in the shape of a heart for almost any preference, but which themed candies are the most popular? I did a quick search online and found candystore.com’s list of each U.S. state’s favorite Valentine’s day candy. 1. Conversation Hearts (19) 2. Heart-Shaped Boxes of Chocolate (13) 3. Chocolate Roses (6) 4. Hershey Kisses (5) 5. M&M’s (4) 6. Chocolate Hearts (2) 7. Candy Necklaces (1) While each state has their preference, I’ve gotta say I highly disagree with some of these rankings and would like to dispute them with my own list. Here, I will definitely rank each of these candies, seven being the worst and one being the best. Candy Necklaces I have to say, I definitely agree with the list that candy necklaces deserve to be last place. My question is why did they make the list at all? Candy necklaces are most popular in only one state, Alabama, and I can’t fathom how they made it to the top of their list. Yes, the idea of wearing your snack can be cute, but when it comes down to it, the ideal cuteness doesn’t hold up to the reality of actually eating these abominations. Not only is the candy itself chalky and flavorless, but once you’ve started eating the edible jewelry, you’re left with a sticky, slobbery string! Who wants to keep something that disgusting around their neck, even for the sake of finishing off that last morsel of sugar? If I’m going to wear a necklace, it won’t be for the purpose of consumption. Alabama, I have to disapprove of your favorite Valentine’s Day candy and rank it last in this definitive list for sheer lack of flavor and a questionable design. Chocolate Hearts Chocolate hearts are the favorite candy of Maine and Nebraska, and they’re a bit “meh." They’re usually not bad but they lack creativity and high quality chocolate. These candies are reliable, and they look cute wrapped up in their pink, red and silver foil, but the quality of chocolate is usually lacking. There’s really not much to say about these; they’re pretty boring which is why they’ve ranked number six on my list and candystore.com’s list. Conversation Hearts I feel like conversation hearts are probably one of the most recognizable Valentine’s Day candy out there considering they’re the most popular candy in 19 states including Michigan, Missouri and Tennessee. With the sweet words of love and the cute colorful designs, they’re definitely a staple of the holiday but unfortunately, conversation hearts also have their shortcomings. Similar to the candy necklace, conversation hearts have no flavor, and if there is flavor, it’s pretty gross. While I love the idea of writing a little

Carson VanBuskirk | @carsonvanbDE Valentine’s Day candies are set on display on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019 at Etcetera Flowers, Fine Gifts & Gourmet in Marion. “We feel a sense of satisfaction making people happy [on Valentine’s Day],” owner Michael Heilig said, “Especially our delivery drivers, they feel its rewarding to take people flowers.”

message and presenting the words of love to a significant other, actually eating the candy is the other half of the fun! Sorry to the 19 states that pushed these iconic candies to the top of the list, but conversation hearts are ranking at a measly five. Chocolate Roses Chocolate roses are another Valentine’s Day staple, but are only favored by six different states including Illinois, Kentucky and New Mexico. I really like the idea of chocolate roses and the aesthetic is spot on! The only problem is the chocolate is usually a lower quality so the taste isn’t quite there. The design is great and I love the shiny red foil which can be reshaped after eating the chocolate and the green stem that could definitely be useful for a future art project. No one would be upset getting a chocolate rose at the end of date night, and I would even prefer the edible chocolate one over the edible real one, which tastes like perfume. Chocolate roses are reliably "Valentine’s Day," which is why they rank right in the middle at number four of my list. M&M’s M&M’s are loved most by four states –– Idaho, Iowa, Maryland and Pennsylvania –– ranking them at five on the original list. While M&M’s are not my favorite candy, they’re reliable and they consistently taste better than the cheap chocolate hearts. They’re still lacking in creativity since Valentine’s day themed M&M’s are usually just colored red, pink, white and other festive colors, but they’re old and reliable, ranking a little higher than middle of the list at number three. Hershey Kisses I have to say, I was a bit surprised to see that Hershey Kisses only ranked at number four on candystore.com’s list with five states, including Arkansas, Delaware and Wisconsin, choosing them as their

favorite. Like M&M's, Hershey Kisses are old and reliable and themed candies are available for each holiday season. Often times the only differences are the foil wrapping the outside of the signature dollop shape but these kisses are almost as nostalgic as a wet kiss on the cheek from grandma. It’s really hard to go wrong with signature Hershey’s chocolate and the Valentine’s Day theme continues with the little messages written on the wrappers. Conversation hearts, take some notes: you can send words of love to someone and still be enjoyable to eat. Hershey Kisses beat you at your own game, which makes them the runner up for best Valentine’s Day candy. Heart-Shaped Boxes of Chocolate At last we’ve come to the number one spot, but heart-shaped boxes of chocolate ranked only number two on candystore. com’s list. Thirteen states, including Alaska, Indiana and Ohio, chose it as

their favorite candy. This candy deserves the number one spot for many reasons, the first being the amount of options there are! You can choose from a variety of different kinds of chocolate or candy for every taste, how much you want -- from a bit of regret to feeling sick -- and if you don’t know someone well, it’s always a safe option to give them options. I could rave and rave about these boxes of yumminess for pages but I’ll let the fact they earned the highest spot on the list speak for itself. You can agree or disagree with me on my definitive ranking of Valentine’s Day candies and maybe you have your own ranking as well but I think everyone can agree candy necklaces are an abomination. Staff reporter Elizabeth Biernacki can be reached at ebiernacki@dailyegyptian.com or on Twitter at @EBiernacki_619.

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Take your Valentine’s Day from regretful to romantic

Juniper Oxford | @JuniperOxford

Valentine’s Day is coming up and that means celebrating with the one you love the most. There is no wrong way to celebrate Valentine’s Day but there are some ideas that are a cut above the rest. A night under the stars Watching the sunset and having a night under the stars is probably one of the most romantic things one can do with their valentine. To up the romantic factor, prepare a picnic with all of your partner’s favorite foods! After all, they say the way to the heart is through the stomach. Pack a telescope to get a good view, hike before the sunset, pack a picnic, bring your guitar to serenade your valentine. There is certainly more than one way to celebrate with this option. Backyards can work but there are also seven parks in Carbondale alone. There are more if you count the surrounding areas, like Giant City State Park and Crab Orchards Wildlife Reserve. Be sure to check the hours of these areas when planning! Classic Valentine’s Day You can never go wrong with getting your valentine a nice card, bouquet of flowers or a box of chocolates. If you are looking for a couple ideas that are just

slightly outside the box, you’ve come to the right place. Get your valentine a can of Crush soda to show you have a crush on them, give them homemade love coupons that can be used for the power to pick the next movie you two watch together or give them flowers with the roots attached to symbolize that your love together will never die. Valentines Day Sock Hop Dance The Landings is hosting a Valentine's Day Sock Hop Dance from 1-2 p.m in the Landing’s dining room. Attendees can dress up in 50’s attire, and party like it's 1959! The sock hop dance will feature a performance by Edwin Linson and admission is free. Last minute gift ideas? A Valentine’s Day Craft Sale will be happening on Feb. 14 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Student Center Art Gallery. Stop by for a list minute gift for your valentine! These handcrafted gifts will mean more than anything you could go buy that is machine made at any chain store. This is especially a good idea for any SIU student, faculty or staff. Explore Makanda Not only is the scenery perfect for a nice drive with your favorite

tunes on the radio, the Makanda boardwalk has all the makings of a great date with your valentine. Visiting a garden can be quite romantic and the sculpture garden at the boardwalk is sure to impress any visitors. Healing Traditions Massage and Yoga is perfect for relaxation, whether it is with a partner or yourself. Maybe it's a cup of joe to share with your beau, or an ice cream cone with your love clone. Either way, the Makanda Trading Company would be a good place to stop to enjoy something together. Fancy date? Go to a winery! Take your valentine to the Honker Hill Winery, the Monte Alegre Vineyard and Cellars, Kite Hill Vineyards or Walker's Bluff. While there is no shortage of places to stock up on alcohol, the idea of a winery gives thoughts of Rome, the root of the word romance itself. Walkers Bluff is hosting a Valentine’s Day event in their tasting room, with a meal for 25 dollars per person. There is no shame in picking out some generic wine at the grocery store for under 10 bucks! The cheapest bottle of wine at Schnucks in Carbondale is just $5.50.

Is your lover also your best friend? Take them to do something competitive! There is bowling at the SIU Student Center and at S.I. Bowl or head over to Pirate Pete’s in Marion for games, food and laser tag. There are two escape rooms in Carbondale: The Panic Room and Carbondale Escape Rooms. Escape rooms give the opportunity to work as a team to problem solve, which can help build on a relationship. Is your partner your best friend as well? Friendly bets during something competitive, like laser tag or bowling, might be something fun. By the end of your game, you might have pawned dish duty on them! Scavenger Hunt Want to see who knows each other better? Create a scavenger hunt for each other about the history of your relationship! It can take you all around Carbondale and beyond, or be as small as your own home. When creating this scavenger hunt, ask yourself questions like: where did you two first meet? what is your partner’s favorite store? and when did you first know your partner was the one? Stay home There is always the option to

just stay home. You could wear your comfy clothes instead of a suit or a dress, cook your own dinner or order in and pop in that movie that you watched when you and your valentine first held hands in the theater. If you are looking for a romantic movie, the safe bet would be Roman Holiday or The Notebook. However, if you are wanting something with little plot intrigue so you don’t have to keep a close eye, Titanic is your best bet. Don’t celebrate? There is a solution. Lupercalia is on Feb. 13-15, and was a festival of fertility during the pre-Roman times, according to Encyclopedia Britannica. The main colors of Valentine’s Day, red and white, were possibly derived from Lupercalia. Atheists, free thinkers, neopagans and others who do not believe in organized religion might find Lupercalia to be more appealing than Valentine’s Day, which is a holiday celebrated by the Catholic Church and honors St. Valentine. Staff reporter Juniper Oxford can be reached at joxford@dailyegyptian.com or on Twitter at @JuniperOxford.

How to speak the love language of flowers Bethany Rentfro | @BethanyRentfro

Valentine’s Day means love is in the air for couples everywhere and one of the best ways to shower your loved one with affection is gifting them with an extravagant bouquet of flowers. Unfortunately, it can be hard to choose the right type of flower that will make your special person feel loved. Flowers have meanings and people should keep this in mind when they are planning their big day or the perfect date for Valentine’s Day. The flowers that stand out most in an arrangement are called focal flowers. These flowers all look very attractive on their own but what do they mean when they are all put together? Anemone Did you know anemones symbolize anticipation? This delicate bloom is alarmingly gorgeous and it is sure to charm anyone. With many color choices and beautiful full petals, this flower is sure to draw the attention of anyone who loves a bright and unique arrangement. Gifting these flowers to someone you’re planning to ask on a date or marry on Valentine’s Day is a sure way to symbolize love. Baby’s Breath This flower is commonly seen in arrangements as a filler to larger flowers and pairs well with most. This small, white, gypsophila flower symbolizes festivity, so make sure to add some in if you’re getting ready to celebrate a special occasion.

Daisies This distinctive flower has white petals and a bright yellow center. It is actually a fusion of two flowers into one which symbolizes true love and is one of the reasons it is so popular to gift to a loved one. Hydrangeas Hydrangeas are beautiful flowers that boast a wide array of colors and meanings. Pink hydrangeas represent heartfelt emotion, blue symbolize frigidity and apology, white symbolizes boastfulness and bragging and purple symbolizes a deep desire to understand someone. With all of these meanings, there's a perfect hydrangea for every occasion. Iris This flower comes from France and has a wide array of color selections and a unique shape. If you're looking to impress with your loyalty, this flower signifies faith, valor and wisdom. Lavender This purple flower smells amazing and symbolizes calmness and serenity. If you're looking for a flower that will bring a halt to some turmoil, lavender may just be the way to go. Lilac Lilacs are small in comparison to the others on this list and boast an incredible range of purples and white in their repertoire to make up for their lack of size. If your significant other is the first person to ever steal your heart, surprise them this Valentine’s Day with some gorgeous lilacs, whose name means first love.

Lily Lilies come in a variety of colors, each one having its own unique meaning. White lilies represent modesty and virginity. If you're looking to woo someone new on Valentine's Day, a white lily is a great way to show your patience in developing the relationship. An orange lily symbolizes passion and yellow symbolizes gaiety, so if you're head over heels for your partner, orange and yellow lilies are the best way to communicate that. Magnolia No, they’re not made of steel but these flowers are sure to steal the heart of a true southerner! It has a distinctive fragrance that is prized around the world and has been around for 20 million years. The magnolia symbolizes nobility and dignity. Orchid Orchids are one of the most popular picks for bouquets on Valentine’s Day. Maybe it’s because this flower symbolizes refinement and charm or it's the unique purple hue which would make any person feel one of a kind. Rose Roses are probably the most commonly selected flowers for Valentine’s Day but they still make a statement. Red roses symbolize passionate love, pink symbolizes admiration and white symbolizes purity. These flowers are always a safe option if you really don’t know what else to choose. Sunflower This iconic yellow flower is definitely an eye catcher when chosen for an arrangement. Sunflowers mean loyalty and adoration, so if you want your partner to know they can

trust you, this flower will communicate that message with vibrance. Tulips While tulips may not be the most beautiful flower out there, they do come in a wide array of vibrant colors. The flower itself symbolizes perfection, so if you want your significant other to feel loved, they're the perfect choice for Valentine's Day. So, there you go. Throwing together a bouquet can be much more thoughtful than just picking what looks pretty. Even if your partner doesn't know the meaning behind the floral arrangement, the knowledge of secret messages is thrilling. With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching, a thoughtful bouquet is always sure to impress.

Bethany Rentfro can be reached via email at brentfro@dailyegyptian.com.

Wednesday, Feburary 12, 2020

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The Parade of Flags kicked off SIU’s 2020 International Festival on Monday at SIU. (Bryce Harvel | @bharvel@dailyegyptian.com)

international festival Parade of flags

The Parade of Flags kicked off SIU’s 2020 International Festival on Monday at SIU. (Bryce Harvel | @bharvel@dailyegyptian.com)

SIU chancellor Dr. John Dunn hits the gong to officially kick off the week long International Festival on Monday inside the Student Center. (Jared Treece | @bisalo)

The Parade of Flags kicked off SIU’s 2020 International Festival on Monday at SIU. (Bryce Harvel | @bharvel@dailyegyptian.com)

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Wednesday, Feburary 12, 2020

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Gus says-Almost ready for date night; just need to figure out how to use this device.

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Wednesday, Feburary 12, 2020

Sports

Page 13

SIU gets past MO State with a buzzer-beater

Nicole Tillberg | @nicoletillberg315 Southern Illinois University Saluki number four, Eric McGill, Guard, defends the ball from the Missouri State Bears during the Saturday night game at the SIU Banterra Center ending the game with Mo State 66 to SIU 68 on Saturday.

Brooke Buerck | @bbuerck25

Tied 66-66 with Missouri State with just 1.6 seconds left on the clock, Southern Illinois had one opportunity to get a shot up as graduate student guard Ronnie Suggs Jr. made the ball in bounds. It was freshman guard Marcus Domask who fired the shot and a crowd of 6,528 at Banterra Center erupted as it went in. “The crowd was ridiculous,” Domask said. “That’s the reason [playing] on the home court is so special right there. That crowd and just the energy right there, that’s why we play the game.” This win gives Southern (1510, 9-3 MVC) their seventh conference win in a row and ninth consecutive win at home. “Incredibly happy for our guys and proud of this team,” Saluki head coach Bryan Mullins said. “[We] didn’t play our best tonight, and [I] give a lot of credit to Missouri State and Coach Ford. They really guarded us and did a great job offensively, too, but our

guys just stuck with it.” Southern Illinois held the 43-41 advantage at the half with the help of graduate student center Barret Benson putting up 14 points. Benson finished the night with a career-high of 24 points and seven rebounds. “He didn’t practice the last couple of days with a sprained ankle, so it was a game time decision [for him to play],” Mullins said. “And we all know how good [Missouri State’s junior forward Gaige] Prim is, so he went toe-to-toe and was determined to play.” Prim had a total of 16 points and four rebounds for the night. “He’s a really good player, too,” Benson said. “Obviously he was getting a lot of good looks too, so [I was] trying to counter that and match that on the other end as well as limit his shots too.” The Salukis grabbed their first lead of the game 22-21 thanks to guard Lance Jones. The Bears would fight back to

make an 8-point run of their own, but senior guard Eric McGill’s backto-back 3-point baskets helped SIU take the lead before the half. Southern shot 6-for-11 from the 3-point range in the first half, while MO State went 7-for-15. Domask said the team’s defense giving up 40 points at the half was something they wanted to fix in the second half. “To give up 40 points at halftime, that’s not us. [ ... ] that whole first half, we kind of played Missouri State basketball. We let them dictate everything,” Domask said. “So we just came out and tried to dictate it ourselves and slow it down and play better defense, really.” The Salukis held a tight lead in the second half, with their largest advantage only a fourpoint difference. With two minutes remaining, the Bears took the slight 66-65 advantage after Prim and senior guard Tulio Da Silva each scored a layup. As Southern was in the double

bonus, it was Domask at the free throw line who made a shot to tie the game as regulation minutes winded down. Missouri State looked to close out the game with a shot after having the ball in possession, but after Benson grabbed the rebound, Domask was able to hit his shot at the buzzer that ended the game. Aside from Benson and Domask, who finished with 18 points and six rebounds, Southern’s other scorer in double-digits was senior guard Eric McGill. McGill had 10 points and a team-high of five assists. For the Bears, junior forward Josh Hall led on the offensive end with 17 points, while Da Silva finished with a points-rebounds doubledouble with 12 of each. Southern shot 23-for-55 for the night compared to MO State’s 27for-58 shooting. Fifteen of SIU’s points came from the free throw line with only three misses. “At the end of the game, these

kids are winners,” Mullins said. “They love to compete, they love to find ways to win, and this team is doing that right now. And it’s fun to be a part of and I love coaching this group.” Southern takes the court again on Feb. 12 against Valparaiso, whom the Salukis defeated 63-50 on their home court on Jan. 7. “What I think the best thing about this team is, sometimes when things start to click people get relaxed, like they’ve kind of made it almost. But, everyone on the team’s [got] a chip on their shoulder, every day practice is a grind and we’re getting at it, so I think it’s just more big things to come for us,” Domask said. Tipoff at Valparaiso, Ind., is set for 7 p.m. Sports reporter Brooke Buerck can be reached at b buerck@dailyegyptian.com or on Twitter at @bbuerck25.

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Wednesday, Feburary 12, 2020

Photo of the day: dollar night

Students and community members enjoying the SIU Student Center Bowling Alley on Wednesday night for Dollar Night Bowling on Thursday.

Nicole Tillberg | @nicoletillberg315

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Page 15

The man behind the mascot: Q&A with the Iinfamous Gray Dawg

Southern Illinois University’s Saluki mascot shooting T-shirts into the crowd during the Homecoming game, Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018.

Tamar Mosby | @mosbytamar

Ever since my freshman year as a Saluki, I’ve wondered about the elusive figure that is Gray Dawg. His dynamic is similar to that of a superhero, seen by the public in masked uniform as a grand figure but he walks among us in secret every day as a regular person. I came face to face with SIU’s very own version of Clark Kent and while I cannot reveal his identity, I can share with you the answers he gave to some of the burning questions I had concerning his job. Daily Egyptian: Do you ever tell people who you are? Gray Dawg: “I’ve heard conversations about Gray Dawg but I mostly keep my identity a secret,” Gray Dawg said. “Sometimes people put two-and-two together but I don't publicly say it and I just let them figure it out on their own if they do, if not, that’s just the magic of the mascot.” DE: What are some problems you face when inside of the suit? Gray Dawg: “When you start off in the suit, it gets very hot but you really get used to it, so as time goes by it doesn’t bother you as much,” Gray Dawg said. Gray Dawg said the biggest problem he faces inside the suit is having proper mobility when performing a dance number. “I had to learn a certain dance number and it was difficult to do because of the tricky footwork and the tail got in the way a lot,” Gray Dawg said. Something that is surprisingly non-problematic for the masked man is the cleanliness of his costume, he said the uniform is cleaned after every game he attends. “We keep [the suit] very sanitized throughout the season, so it’s always clean,” Gray Dawg said. DE: What is your favorite thing about being Gray Dawg? Gray Dawg: “The interactions with little kids are my favorite,” Gray Dawg said. “Just seeing them completely light up when they see you and want to hug you and high-five you. I just want to inspire the little kids: [...] I love every minute of it.” While Gray Dawg has many adoring fans, there have been some who are not too fond of the mascot, sometimes rejecting his friendly gestures. Gray Dawg said when these fans don’t want to high five him or engage, he keeps moving and focuses

his attention onto the next fan willing to interact with him. DE: What is your favorite sporting event to work as Grey Dawg? Gray Dawg: “I enjoy all of the sports and I can’t really pick just one because each one brings a unique experience and aspect,” Gray Dawg said. “It’s not really one thing or the other because each one has its own advantages and challenges.” At each game he attends, he is required to take pictures for marketing and with fans. “I would have to say that the amount of pictures I take really just depends on the game,” Gray Dawg said. “On average, at the busy games, I take at least a couple thousand photos.” DE: What kinds of things do you go over at practice with your coach? Gray Dawg: “We mainly go over how to get more energetic and where to stand on the court for certain things,” Gray Dawg said. “At the beginning of basketball games cheer is out on the court and I don’t want to interfere with the cheerleaders and they don’t want to end up interfering with me when I’m moving around. So, it's mostly going over where to stand during certain parts of the game so that everyone’s all safe out there.” Just like the athletes, Gray Dawg said he practices three hours before the game but when he’s not practicing, he's thinking of new things to do to get fans involved. DE: Does the anonymity of the costume make you more confident? Gray Dawg: “It definitely helps,” Gray Dawg said. “I’ve been mascoting pretty much my entire life since middle school. My confidence over the years has really grown while I’m inside the suit. When I’m acting like a goofball out on the court, that’s not exactly me, but I’m just energetic always [...] whatever it takes to get the crowd going.” DE: What is the toughest part of your job? Gray Dawg: “I would have to say the toughest part of the jobs is getting the fans going when we’re down by quite a few points,” Gray Dawg said. “They’re usually sitting there like, “Okay, okay.” and I have to rile them up and really get them going.” DE: Are there specific rules you have to follow on the job?

Allie Tiller | @allietiller_de

Gray Dawg: There are a lot of rules for the masked hero to follow, many of which are set in place by the NCAA. One of these rules is the prohibition of trampoline acts by mascots. Gray Dawg said rules from the university can be as simple as following the instructions for a certain promotion occurring at the Banterra Center. Another rule requires him not to speak during games. Gray Dawg said it can be tough for him at times. “A lot of times I want to yell, especially when we’re up ahead and winning,” Gray Dawg said. “It’s challenging, but it’s something you get used to. When you step on the court, it’s game time and you kind of shut off your mouth without even thinking about it.” DE: Have you ever run into problems with other mascots? Gray Dawg: “I’ve worked with plenty of mascots across the Missouri Valley and a few professional mascots,” Gray Dawg said. “It’s in the family and we really understand what each other go through as a mascot and so we just have each other's backs a lot of the time. I still keep in contact with a lot of them.” DE: Was it hard to get into Gray Dawg’s character when you first started this job? Gray Dawg: “It was a lot different because the mascot I had been previously was different,” Gray Dawg said. “Each mascot brings its own challenges when you start off in it and it kind of grows on you when you start moving forward. You create your own character and each mascot is unique to that specific person. Not one person is going to do the exact same thing as the other.” After our discussion, I learned Gray Dawg is currently enrolled in graduate school at SIU and that he has been the mascot for Saluki athletics for five years. Gray Dawg walks among us as a regular student by day, but at night he transforms into the figure that we all know and love. If you pay close enough attention you may be able to discover his true identity but until then, make sure to give him plenty of high fives when you attend games. Sports editor Tāmar Mosby can be reached at tmosby@dailyegyptian.com or on Twitter at @mosbytamar.

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

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SIH Nursing Job Fair Wednesday, February 19 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

SIH Corporate Office B & D 1239 E. Main St. | Carbondale, IL » Meet with Hiring Managers, view job openings and apply onsite » Speak with nurses from 10+ departments and hear why they love working for SIH » See how you could be eligible for a scholarship or loan forgiveness worth up to $21,000 For more information contact: Cordy Love, HR Nursing Recruiter 618.457.5200 ext. 67813 cordy.love@sih.net ©2020