The Daily Egyptian - February 22, 2023

Daily Egyptian

Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine: A 1-Year Retrospective

Eyes will be on Eastern Europe this Friday as the world questions whether an end to the Russian invasion of Ukraine is in sight as the one-year mark of Russian troops crossing the border approaches. With the conflict preparing to enter a second year on February 24, tensions and fighting remain elevated in what many assumed would be a short conflict between disproportionate powers.

Timeline

The invasion began officially on February 24, 2022, when Russian President Vladimir Putin announced in a 5:00 a.m. (Eastern European Standard Time) public address the beginning of a “special military operation” in Ukraine. In reality, fighting had begun even earlier in the morning in the village of Milove, where Russian forces assaulted the border more than an hour earlier. The official announcement would mark the beginning of formal fighting, and Russian troops quickly entered Ukraine from their own territory and that of a Russian ally, Belarus, under cover of missile strikes on major Ukrainian cities such as Kyiv, Odessa and Kharkiv.

Early Russian gains included a push toward Kyiv in an unsuccessful effort to quickly displace the government and a rapid movement into the east of the country which resulted in the eventual capture of the major cities of Mariupol and

Kherson. Smaller operations were attempted, including airborne attacks on airports such as the Hostomel Airport in Kyiv’s suburbs and reported covert attempts to assassinate Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Despite early successes by Russian forces, Ukrainian resistance to the invasion remained resilient, with the assault on Kyiv being repelled and delayed until a counter-offensive could begin around March 16, with much of the region being liberated following a Russian retreat later in the month. In the east and south, Russian troops had much more success, but advanced slower than expected, failing to capture the city of Kharkiv and meeting staunch resistance during fighting in Mariupol, both of which likely granted time for Ukraine to prepare for future counterattacks.

In September, Ukraine reported having reached their prior border with Russia in the northeast, which would mark the beginning of a shift in favor of Ukrainian counter offensives, with successes reported in Bilohorivka (Sep. 19), Kupiansk (Sep. 29) and Lyman (Oct. 1). Two days later, Russian forces fled from several settlements in the northeast, resulting in the end of Russian occupation in the area around Kharkiv.

Ukrainian successes also continued slowly in the south, culminating in a Russian withdrawal from Kherson on Nov. 9.

With winter setting in, offensives largely halted by both sides in mid-November, with Russian tactics switching to missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian military, civilian and energy infrastructure. In the time since, fighting has continued fiercely on most fronts, but little territory has changed hands outside of small offensives, with the notable exception being the Russian capture of Soledar on January 16.

Impacts

The results of the invasion on the people of Ukraine have been extensive and brutal. According to the United Nations’ Office of the High Commissioner

for Human Rights, 6,919 civilians had been confirmed as killed and another 11,075 wounded as of Jan. 2. The High Commissioner’s office noted that actual figures are likely considerably higher due to delayed reporting in areas where hostilities continue.

Reporting on the number of troops affected is more difficult due to the fog of war, but the most recent report, conducted by the Norwegian army, estimates that 180,000 Russian troops have been killed or wounded, 100,000 Ukrainian troops killed or wounded and a much higher estimate of 30,000 civilians having been killed.

The United Nations Human Rights Council has

called for investigations into atrocities committed by Russian occupation forces, on allegations of widespread sexual violence and the murder of civilians. Following Russia’s retreat from the region around Kyiv, the regional police reported finding the bodies of close to a thousand civilians, with more than 300 found executed in the city of Bucha alone, many in mass graves.

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry has also found other mass killings, notably in Makariv (132 civilians), Izium (414 civilians) and Lyman (85 civilians). Some of those found in each incident are reported to have shown signs of torture.

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Beauty is Pain

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Humans of Chicago

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The Braves vs. The Salukis

Isaac LudIngton ILudIngton@daILyegyptIan com

Dominique Martinez-Powell | @dmartinez_powell.photography

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Emotional burn-out and the power of Sisu

About Us

The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of Southern Illinois University Carbondale on a weekly basis. Fall and spring semester editions run every Wednesday. Free copies are distributed in the Carbondale, Carterville, and Springfield communities. The Daily Egyptian can be found at www.dailyegyptian.com or on the Daily Egyptian app!

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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.

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As the midterm exams begin to be discussed in many of our classes and weeks of homework assignments begin needing to be finished and turned in, many staff and students alike may be beginning to feel overwhelmed or worse near burnout.

Feeling more anxious and depressed are perfectly normal and natural human emotional responses to life’s many stresses. However, just because we feel them at intense moments, we don’t have to succumb to their crippling effects.

One concept/philosophy comes to mind whenever mental health issues begin to become more noticeable, while we are still being expected to accomplish projects: “Sisu”.

Dating back to the early 1500’s, Sisu (pronounced “see’-su”), can best be defined according to the book “The Finnish Way” as, “extraordinary determination, courage and resoluteness in the face of extreme adversity. An action mindset which enables individuals to reach beyond their present limitations, take action against all odds and transform barriers into frontiers.”

It’s an integral element of Finnish culture and also a universal capacity we all share.

Even when we are working on an assignment and we are certain in our heads that failure is inevitable; we must keep trying with our 100% of our being. Failure is only inevitable when we are self convinced of its inevitability! The harder we work now the easier life will become. So go out now, take your life into

your own hands and give each day your best, for when there is success both personal and professional, happiness will surely follow within the principles of Sisu.

Staff Reporter Cian Lehtonen can be reached at clehtonen@dailyegyptian.com

Cian Lehtonen CLethonen@daiLyegyptian Com

Devon Moon | @woah_devon

Outside of the loss of life, the invasion has resulted in significant humanitarian impacts. From a pre-war population of around 44 million, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, estimates that more than 7.8 million Ukrainians have left the country as refugees and another 6.5 million are displaced within the country. Even outside of the country, disruption to grain exports has exacerbated hunger and famine crises in some poorer nations which relied on Ukrainian trade.

Recent US Involvement

Prior to the Russian invasion and throughout the conflict itself, the United States has avoided direct involvement in the conflict but has remained

strongly committed to supporting Ukraine in its defense. In lieu of involvement on the ground, The U.S. has provided roughly $29.3 billion in security assistance since the invasion began, of which the State Department reports that approximately $18.7 billion is from Department of Defense stockpiles.

These include a recent decision to work with U.S. allies to provide a projected 300 tanks to Ukraine, which will include 31 M1 Abrams tanks. Ukraine has repeatedly requested such support in light of the higher number of armored vehicles in Russia’s arsenal. Prior aid has included Multiple Launch Rocket Systems, artillery systems and ammunition, and armored personnel carriers, among other equipment. These shipments have also included supplies of air defense missiles, which are seen

as essential at preventing civilian casualties from Russian strikes on energy and civilian infrastructure.

The Near Future

The near future of the conflict appears to be one of uncertainty, as the harsh winter begins to ease and both sides look to secure territory. Buoyed by the recent support and upcoming supply of tanks, Ukraine is likely to seek to regain the remaining territory still under Russian occupation. While this territory has been significantly damaged and most residents have already fled, those remaining in these territories are seen as under continuing risk until the occupation is ended.

On the opposite side, Russia has since held referendums in multiple occupied regions, an action which the United Nations’ Secretary-General

António Guterres says violates the U.N. charter, “would have no legal value” and which “deserves to be condemned.”

These announcements grant the territory status as Russian territory under their legal system, which will incentivize the Russian military to continue the war until they are defended, or in the case of some liberated areas such as Kherson, captured once again.

In addition, the Russian military has been buoyed by the decision to begin a partial mobilization on Sept. 21, which increased troop numbers by an estimated 300,000. Ukraine’s military intelligence also believes Russia is preparing for a second round of mobilization, which could increase the number of combatants by as much as 500,000 additional troops.

With both sides dug in and

expanding their arsenals and manpower, the war many saw to be quick and certain appears poised for another round of bloody fighting once one of the two sides makes the next move. Which side will eventually succeed in reaching their goal remains unknown.

The one year anniversary of the conflict will be the topic of discussion Feb. 22 at 5 p.m. at Guyon Auditorium in the Morris Library. Associate professors of political science, Stephen Shulman and Steve Bloom, will answer questions about the impact the conflict has had around the world. It will be livestreamed on the university’s YouTube channel.

Staff Reporter Isaac Ludington can be reached at iludington@dailyegyptian.com

Bottled water versus drinking fountains: a clash of ideals on campus

Ryan gRieseR RgRieseR@daiLyegyptian Com

Southern Illinois University is a green campus, figuratively and literally.

In a literal sense, the staggering amount of trees and foliage present on the campus produce a wonderful green color for the majority of the year.

SIU is figuratively green, too. They were again named in The Princeton Review Guide to Green Colleges: 2023, one of only 455 institutions to earn the honor.

“They have been a leader, there’s no question,” said Jim Wall, a professor in the journalism department who has taught at SIU for 23 years in addition to completing undergraduate school there.

SIU also has a large recycling program, with hundreds of tons of material being collected every year. However, there is one area where onlookers could assert that SIU is lagging behind.

In a world where reducing plastic usage and waste, especially plastic water bottles, is becoming more and more mainstream, it remains somewhat difficult for students to actually do so. There are very few places on campus where it is possible to easily refill a reusable bottle without considerable effort and a major mess.

Sometimes, it’s too easy. People run out the door, grab a plastic bottle from the $7 pack of 24 bottles to make sure they have a drink and are on the way.

They finish the bottle, throw it away, and don’t have a second thought about the entire process. The notion of recycling is usually off of the radar.

At SIU, one doesn’t have to go too far to recycle their bottle. SIU’s sustainability office, together with the Sustainability Council [which is funded by the university’s Green Fee and included in student fees], has populated the campus heavily with various recycling cans. It often seems like there is a recycling can in nearly every room.

“I have noticed quite extensively, bins for [recycling], at various buildings and various locations on campus” Wall said.

SIU’s efforts have earned them praise from several sources.

“I believe they do a pretty good job with recycling as a whole… and have kind of tried to take the lead in that respect in encouraging all programs, and all buildings, and all departments… to at least do what they can” Wall said.

Still, one has to make a conscious choice to make sure their bottle ends up in there. And therein lies the problem; it’s a choice.

Wall said, “It’s a habit, like any other habit, and habits are hard to establish. But, with recycling, even if folks individually were to start small, in a small way, that could have a larger impact without even knowing it.”

The Princeton Review classifies a college as Green based off of several questions. Among them is “how environmentally responsible a school’s policies are.”

According to Dave Tippy, the Superintendent of Grounds and overseer of SIU’s recycling program, the program is “multi-faceted, consisting of paper, cardboard, commingle, metal, food waste, concrete, asphalt, and landscape waste recycling.”

Tippy says it is difficult to “give an accurate amount on plastic alone since most of our plastic is recycled as comingle glass/plastic/aluminum.”

But, nearly 43,000 pounds of this commingled material were collected in 2021, making for a large environmental impact even with glass and aluminum included.

It is again difficult to say how many bottles are simply thrown away, as the bulk of garbage is generated from “literally thousands of offices and dorm rooms across campus” [Tippy].

This recycling effort is valuable for campus and for the world. Keeping plastic bottles out of landfills and the environment is beneficial, as plastic water bottles are made of PET [polyethylene terephthalate] plastics.

According to the World Wildlife Fund of Australia, PET bottles nearly take

450 years to decompose.

PET bottles have a big impact on the environment beyond simple decomposition.

Consumption of PET bottles rose rapidly as the bottled water industry, initially an alternative to unsafe public water, exploded in the 1990s due to Coca-Cola and Pepsi producing their own brands, Dasani and Aquafina respectively. America alone uses 17 million barrels of crude oil to make plastic bottles, to the tune of 29 billion. And according to National Geographic, only one in six of those bottles ever makes it to a recycling bin.

While it’s impossible to say with full confidence how much people actually recycle, there have been efforts around campus that lend strength to the ideas that more than one of six plastic bottles is recycled or that the use of plastic bottles is being reduced.

“I have seen an awful lot more people, students and staff and faculty and everybody, bringing their own [bottle] and refilling it,” Wall said.

One thing that has been hailed as a savior in the sustainability world, specifically related to water, is the bottle filling station.

These devices are increasing in popularity, especially in a world that is ever more conscious of viral diseases due to the COVID-19 pandemic and cognizant of the environmental changes the world is undergoing.

There are several styles of bottle fillers; some are spigots, while others are sensor-controlled dispensers. Almost all of these are mounted in tandem with a water fountain, for obvious reasons regarding plumbing.

Yet, there just aren’t very many around SIU’s campus.

Mark Owens, the Director of Facilities and Energy Management at SIU, said “We do not have an inventory of drinking fountains or bottle fillers.”

Due to the size of SIU’s campus, it would be a considerable undertaking to form a catalog of every single water

fountain and subsequent bottle filler.

A sample of 10 educational buildings across SIU’s campus was taken, in which the number of water stations that included a bottle filler component was measured. There were only 21 fillers as opposed to 98 water stations. Water stations that had two water fountains were only counted as one fountain due to their close proximity. This means that there is only a filler available [in the sampled buildings] on 21% of stations.

While this percentage is not guaranteed to be consistent around campus, it did hold up between the 10 buildings sampled; while some had more and others had less, there was a consistent average of roughly 21% of the stations including a bottle filler.

These fillers are few and far between on campus, at least right now.

Jordan Kruse, a student at SIU, said, “Sometimes they’re pretty out of the way… I’d have to go to the other side of the building depending on where my class is to get one of those bottle fillers.”

The university is in the process of installing more fillers, though.

“When a drinking fountain is replaced, we go back with a bottle filler type whenever possible,” Owens said.

Part of the reason that there may not be a larger amount of fillers is due to the logistics of installing one.

“Typically, the electrical and plumbing rough-in locations of the new [water fountains with bottle fillers] do not match the old so the wall has to be opened up and then patched and painted,” Owens said.

These issues make fillers expensive; parts and labor “averages around $1500 [per unit],” according to Owens.

But progress is progress. Kruse especially thinks that getting more fillers is a positive thing.

“I don’t think there could be enough, honestly… These bottle fillers are obviously more filtered, and so it’s better

water, so the more of those we could have would be great” Kruse said.

These fillers save water, too. According to Dora Wong, a spokesperson for Coca-Cola [Dasani], it takes almost 166% of the amount of water in the bottle to fill a bottle of Dasani water.

SIU’s fillers are sometimes bought with money and grants from the Student Green Fee [which is included on one’s bursar bill as a part of the “General Student Fee”] as a part of the Green Fund Grant Program; numerous fountains around campus bear stickers with the words, “Student Green Fee.”

It is clear that bottle fillers are of growing importance around campus; many of the fillers found bore stickers with those same words on them. The biggest remaining issue at this point in time is the continued funding and installation of these fillers. Support certainly doesn’t seem to be an issue.

Kruse thinks that these fillers are even more convenient than bottled water, an encouraging sign for having more fillers and also for the decreasing amount of plastic around campus.

“Think about the amount of times I’ve filled this [reusable bottle] up. I mean, the amount of water bottles I would’ve had to buy to equal that is a ridiculous amount, so I’ve saved money, and I think it’s a lot easier” Kruse said.

According to Jim Wall, recycling is an education process.

“We’ve had step one… everyone knows what the symbol is. Now, we have to get people to do it,” Wall said.

As more people are educated about recycling, they will realize how important it really is for both campus and the world. SIU has a growing infrastructure in place, one that is advancing and making SIU an even more eco-friendly establishment as it heads into a green future.

Daily Egyptian wins 22 awards at Illinois College Press Association competition

Jamilah lewis

Jlewis@dailyegyptian com

The Daily Egyptian brought home 22 awards at the annual Illinois College Press Association competition for 2023.

Managing Editor of the Daily Egyptian, Annie Hammock, said she’s most proud of winning second place in general excellence in print and third place in general excellence on the web. She said ICPA is always a great experience and a good time to connect with colleagues.

“A chance for real bonding between team members and learning from experts on things like artificial intelligence in journalism and using correct pronouns to reflect the diversity of our sources,” she said.

Hammock said students worked hard for their awards.

“I’m thrilled for all the students who were honored,” Hammock said. “They are a terrific staff of hardworking, caring journalists and it shows in the stories they write, the designs they make and the photos they take.

She said the DE received great information like customizing newsletters, which the paper has discussed adding.

In the future, Hammock said she’d like to be able to bring more students if they can obtain the funds for as many people as possible to get to experience the conference.

The DE and its staff won a variety of awards - from sports photo editor Lylee Gibbs winning first place in sports photo, sports reporter Brandyn Wilcoxen winning first place in sports game and news stories, and staff reporter Daniel

Bethers winning first place in headline writing.

DE Editor-in-Chief Sophie Whitten said the team was able to get a lot out of ICPA this year with engaging sessions such as an editor’s roundtable discussing issues in today’s newsrooms.

“We also had the opportunity to have our paper critiqued by a managing editor from another paper,” Whitten said. “We were given great feedback about ways we

can improve.”

Whitten said she’s grateful to attend ICPA for her third year with the DE. Journalism alum Steve Warnelis funded the experience for members of the editorial board for the past three years, although in 2021 the conference was held by Zoom.

“It is in a big part thanks to Steve Warnelis who has sponsored our trip to Chicago,” Whitten said. “We

continually learn so much from the conference and I am excited to see future DE journalists attend years to come.”

A diverse range of topics connected to media production and creating a health networking environment for potential collaborations with other schools is something ICPA does well, Whitten said.

“ICPA does a good job of tackling relevant topics newspapers are covering and facing such as creating a diverse and inclusive environment in the newsroom or the relationship artificial

intelligence may have with the future of journalism,” Whitten said. Whitten said being recognized for the work put into the paper makes her proud.

“We were given a lot of encouraging feedback that makes me excited for the remainder of my time as EIC,” Whitten said. “I think the DE is headed in a good direction and I am happy to be a part of it.”

News Editor Jamilah Lewis can be reached at jlewis@dailyegyptian.com

News editor Jamilah Lewis accepts an honorable mention award for best feature story during the ICPA award ceremony Feb. 18, 2023 in Chicago, Ill.

(Left) Sports editor Joseph Bernard, editor-in-chief Sophie Whitten, news editor Jamilah Lewis and faculty managing editor Annie Hammock wait for the ICPA conference to begin Feb. 18, 2023 in Chicago, Ill.

Sponsor Steve Warnelis watches the ICPA award ceremony Feb. 18, 2023 in Chicago, Ill.

All photos provided by Julia Rendleman | @ juliarendleman

Assistant sports editor Cole Daily applauds ICPA winners during the awards ceremony Feb. 18, 2023 in Chicago, Ill.

(Top) Assistant sports editor Cole Daily takes a photo of sports editor Joseph Bernard on the train to Chicago Feb. 16, 2023 in Carbondale, Ill.

(Second from the right) News photo editor Dominique MartinezPowell and multimedia editor Kylen Lunn are recognized for their first place and honorable mention photos, respectively, Feb. 18, 2023 during the ICPA awards in Chicago, Ill.

News photo editor Dominique Martinez-Powell watches the ICPA award ceremony Feb. 18, 2023 in Chicago, Ill.

(Left) Multimedia editor Kylen Lunn and sports editor Joseph Bernard watch the ICPA awards Feb. 18, 2023 in Chicago, Ill.

International Food Festival

A couple is served food during the International Food Festival Feb. 08, 2023 at the SIU Student Center Ballroom in Carbondale, Ill. Arjun Tsapalasetty | atsapalasetty@dailyegyptian.com

People get food from Nepali’s stall during the International Food Festival Feb. 08, 2023 at the SIU Student Center Ballroom in Carbondale, Ill. Arjun Tsapalasetty | atsapalasetty@dailyegyptian.com

India’s famous sweet (Gulab Jamun) sits on a table to be eaten during the International Food Festival Feb. 08, 2023 at the SIU Student Center Ballroom in Carbondale, Ill. Arjun Tsapalasetty | atsapalasetty@dailyegyptian.com

Srilankan’s variety of dishes during the International Food Festival Feb. 08, 2023 at the SIU Student Center Ballroom in Carbondale, Ill. Arjun Tsapalasetty | atsapalasetty@dailyegyptian.com

People at the International Food Festival pose at the Bangladeshi stall with their representatives Feb. 08, 2023 at the SIU Student Center Ballroom in Carbondale, Ill. Arjun Tsapalasetty | atsapalasetty@dailyegyptian.com

An Indian representative provides food service during the International Food Festival Feb. 08, 2023 at the SIU Student Center Ballroom in Carbondale, Ill. Arjun Tsapalasetty atsapalasetty@dailyegyptian.com

The Indian Representatives pose for a group photo during the International Food Festival Feb. 08, 2023 at the SIU Student Center Ballroom in Carbondale, Ill. Arjun Tsapalasetty | atsapalasetty@dailyegyptian.com

Eevee stops for a break city Feb. 17, 2023 in

Rio and Mike, who only gave their first names, street perform in front of the Museum of Art on S Michigan Ave Feb. 17, 2023 in Chicago, Ill. klunn@dailyegyptian.com (Honorable mention winner for the ICPA Shoot Chicago Competiton)

A worker at the Museum of Ice Cream preps cream in the Ice Cream Lab Feb. 17, 2023 at The Museum of Ice Cream in Chicago, Ill. | @ dmartinez_powell.

Sean Monnier, Kacie McGillivary and Arianna Horming sit in the first room of the Museum of Ice cream and listen to MOIC worker give instruction on how the museum works Feb. 17, 2023 at The Museum of Ice Cream in Chicago, Ill. | klunn@dailyegyptian.com

Caia Kottler uses a skating aid to enjoy a day of skating with her family Feb. 17, 2023 at Maggie Daily Park in Chicago, Ill. @ dmartinez_powell.photography

Humans of Chicago

break during her afternoon walk through the Chicago, Ill. | klunn@dailyegyptian.com

Maria Torres plays with her grandson Noah Sebastian in the sprinkles pit Feb. 17, 2023 at The Museum of Ice Cream in Chicago, Ill. Torres’ family came from all over to meet in Chicago. Some came from Florida and others like Maria Torres came from Puerto Rico to connect with their relatives and have new experiences, the family said. “[The experience] is fabulous. A reunion for my family,” Torres said.| @dmartinez_powell.photography (First place winner of the ICPA Shoot Chicago Competiton)

Workers at the Museum of Ice Cream prep for guest to make ice cream in the Ice Cream Lab Feb. 17, 2023 at The Museum of Ice Cream in Chicago, Ill. @dmartinez_powell.photography

Aviation alums soar into varied careers

Sandra EdSon SEdSon@dailyEgyptian com

If you look up in the sky over Carbondale on any given day, you may catch sight of a piece of Southern Illinois University (SIU): the School of Aviation’s small planes with bold letters on the underside of the wings that read “SIU.” But the university’s nationally-recognized School of Aviation doesn’t just train pilots. It also creates other professionals in the related areas of Aviation Management, Aviation Technology and Aviation Maintenance to name a few.

2003 SIU alum Dennis Diaz was living in Woodbridge, Virginia when he obtained his pilot certificate in high school. One of his flight instructors was an SIU alum.

“My instructor suggested that I look into SIU. My instructor’s initial recommendation carried a lot of weight, as she was someone that I admired and respected,” Diaz said.

He enrolled in SIU with the intention of becoming a pilot with a major airline. But the terrorist attack of 2001 on the World Trade Towers made him think about a different career in aviation.

“I was at SIU on Sept. 11 and so obviously hugely tragic events, worldchanging events that day and on a personal level, kind of just watching what happened to the aviation industry,” Diaz said. “There was a big industry downturn as a result.”

At the end of his senior year, he was looking for summer internships.

“[I] saw that the NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) had an internship available.”

The NTSB is a government agency that operates with the goal to make transportation safer by conducting independent accident investigations and advocating safety improvements.

“My thought was ‘I’ll go over there and do a summer and go back to flying’…I was fortunate enough at that time, in the agency, they were looking for people…so, what was supposed to be three months turned into six months turned into twelve months turned into basically four-year career development at the end of, I became a full investigator,” Diaz said.

He is now Eastern Region Chief of the NTSB based in Washington, D.C. Although Diaz achieved his senior staff position with a lot of hard work, he credits his SIU experience with his success.

“I felt exceptionally prepared coming into that internship with the classes that I had had, not just on the flight side but also on the management side, on the technical knowledge, systems knowledge, industry knowledge…the regulatory environment you’re coming into...I felt fortunate, I felt wow, I really got an education that in many facets was a well-rounded education,” Diaz said.

He said one safety class with Dr. Jose Paul Ruiz changed his life.

“It was the thing that turned me onto this being a possible career path. If it hadn’t been for that, if it hadn’t been for him, I probably wouldn’t be where I am today,” Diaz said.

SIU Aviation Management alum Buck Taft also graduated from SIU in 2003. But, prior to visiting the SIU campus, college wasn’t high on his list of priorities.

“I didn’t have a clue on what I wanted to do…and I came down to southern Illinois

with a friend of mine whose brother went there and at the time they had Spring Fling…It was like a big party. George Clinton and the P. Funks were playing. My buddy and I looked at each other and we were like, this is awesome,” Taft said. “We kinda decided right there, we’re gonna transfer schools and I looked online and saw they had an aviation program and I was already flying and I was like, this is what I want to do. I want to do aviation.”

Taft worked an internship in Springfield, Illinois and then graduated.

“I still didn’t know what I wanted to do, you know, if I wanted to be a pilot, I didn’t know if I wanted to go into the military and fly, I didn’t know if I wanted to work for the airlines, had no clue what I wanted to do. And the airport said, ‘Hey, um, we like you, we appreciate the time you gave us as an intern. We don’t have a job for you but would you like to be a temporary custodian?’ I said, ‘sure, that works’ and I was a custodian for three months,” Taft said.

His dedication paid off, and he was hired onto the airport full-time.

“I was in, and I just kept doing it and I moved to a different airport and kind of moved up and then I moved up again and the next thing you know, I wanted to be an airport director,” Taft said.

His advice to students who might be thinking of a career in airport management:

“I started as a custodian, and you know, now I’m an airport director. One of my instructors told me…just get your foot in the door and then once you get your foot in the door, it’s up to you to excel and to take on new challenges, work harder than anybody else, put in extra hours, be dedicated, be flexible.”

Taft has worked at four airports and said every new job set him up for the next.

“It’s important, even though it’s not the job you want, it’s not the place you want to live, they’re offering you a job, take it. Suck it up for two years and then move on and move up,” he said.

2018 SIU Aviation alum Natelie Chappell always knew she wanted to study aviation. But it was in her senior year of high school that she realized she wanted to be an air traffic controller.

“I had my first flight when I was three weeks old. My dad is an airline pilot. I’ve just always been in love with airplanes and all things aviation-related,” she said.

During a chance meeting with a female air traffic controller, Chappell learned about the flexible schedule, good pay and variety of daily activities the career offered.

“My college in Beaver, Pennsylvania… did a sister campus program and it really intrigued me that I could earn my Bachelors degree in-person on the weekends…every Saturday and Sunday from like 8am to 5pm-ish…we would do the Bachelor’s program in aviation management and it was really cool because it was a smaller class and the teachers who taught at SIU would fly up to Pittsburgh.”

When asked what duties she performs at her job, Chappell said, “I am responsible for hundreds of lives daily and managing aircraft in and out of the (Washington) D.C. area. I work in a dark room and control aircraft on a radar scope and keep them all separated.”

Chappell has previously worked as an air traffic controller in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia. She currently works at Potomac TRACON (Terminal Radar Approach Control Facilities), a radar facility that services air traffic in and out of the Dulles Airport.

“I’m so glad I did it. SIU was amazing,” she said.

Fellow SIU alum and 2005 graduate Pat Skonie also became an air traffic controller. Skonie majored in both aviation management and aviation flight while he worked as a flight instructor for the university.

“I actually originally went to SIU to become a pilot,” Skonie said.

But the thought of spending large amounts of time away from his girlfriend and future wife, coupled with plans to start a family, inspired him to contact one of his SIU professors for career advice.

“…I actually contacted Dr. Ruiz…I had taken an air traffic control class… with him…and I knew he was an air traffic controller previously…I kind of asked him, ‘hey, what’s out there that I can do, you know, in air traffic control?’ I thought, ‘you know, that was a cool class I took’ and I thought maybe that would keep me in aviation and in something I could do,” he said.

Ruiz recommended a technical college up north not far from Skonie’s hometown of Naperville, Illinois that taught air traffic control. Skonie is now an air traffic controller at the Chicago Center, which is one of 21 ARTCC’s (Air Route Traffic Control Centers) in the U.S. that service major U.S. cities.

“Typically my facility at the Chicago Center, we’ll handle aircraft going into O’Hare, leaving O’Hare, leaving Midway, you know, leaving all the airports within our airspace and landing within our airspace, and then we’ll also work the traffic that overflies our airspace, all the en route aircraft going from the east coast to west coast and visa versa – north and south. On a normal day, we work 6,000-7,000 flights through our airspace.”

Skonie is confident that his education at SIU has benefitted him in his present career.

“[It] gave me the background and definitely an invaluable experience, you know. What I learned at SIU has greatly helped in my career as an air traffic controller…it definitely gave me the foundation and a lot of fundamentals that have been beneficial to my job,” he said.

Staff Reporter Sandra Edson can be reached at sedson@dailyegyptian.com

Photo provided by Howie McCormick.

Daily Dawgs: COVID is still a thing

Erica looS | ElooS@dailyEgyptian com

Hi guys! It’s me, Rufus! I’ve told you about all my different jobs, but I don’t think I mentioned nurse before. That’s one of my most important jobs, and gosh, have I been busy lately! Mom and everyone else in our house got COVID-19 at the beginning of the month. There are six humans in our house, and they were all sick at the same time! I was the last man standing – it was all riding on me.

I know there are other dogs in the house, three others to be exact, but they aren’t good nurses like me. They’re kind of dumb-dumbs, actually, so I really had to step up my game while everyone was sick. Luckily for us, all the humans have been vaccinated and Maimie, Poppy and Mom have gotten boosters, so they weren’t as sick as they could have been. But it was still nothing to sneeze at. Except there was actually a lot of sneezing. And nose blowing, which I still find very strange. That’s one of the big differences between dogs and humans. But I’m getting off topic.

Mom and Maimie are the ones who seemed to be the sickest, so I made their recovery my top priority. They’re both pretty forgetful on a good day, but holy paws, this thing made them even more forgetful! It’s been like living with goldfish! I’ll admit, there were times I thought that maybe they were beyond the scope of my care. Then I gave myself a good shake, and that thought quickly vanished.

For Maimie, I made sure to give her lots of kisses and let her pet me as much as she wanted. Poppy doesn’t allow dogs in the bedroom, so my aid to Maimie was limited. But Mom doesn’t have crazy rules like that, and I sleep in bed with her, so I was able to give her extended care. She had a hard time sleeping because she would wake up coughing, so I made sure to snuggle really close to her and let her know I was there if she needed me.

I have found in my experience that

when humans pet dogs, it helps them as much as it does us. So I made sure to keep my mom on a strict petting regiment –if her eyes were open, she needed to be petting me. I also made sure she didn’t overexert herself. I didn’t allow her to do any work at her computer, and she was only allowed out of our bedroom for short amounts of time. I even insisted that she eat in our room – I had to keep my eyes on her at all times.

Another important component of her recovery was fresh air. I made sure that we took trips outside as often as she felt up to it. I didn’t make her walk too fast, but I knew it was important to stay out there as long as possible, so I would go about my regular security duties and check my socials (sniffing the yard) while we meandered around. I have a lot of responsibilities, and security is one of the most important. But I’m getting off topic.

At one point, Mom said her heart was racing, and I could smell how worried she was. She laid down on our bed in the ‘play bow’ position, with her head on the bed and her butt in the air. I was so excited when I saw that! I was disappointed in myself for not thinking of the benefits of a little play time first! I started jumping around, doing the play bow too and letting my eyes get a little wild. We love to play! Mom calls it ‘playing puppies’ because she plays with me like she’s a dog! She’s the best ever!! Me getting so playful made her laugh, and I love to hear my mom laugh! That’s how humans let you know they’re happy! And, wouldn’t you know it, she stopped being worried. A little play time is always a good idea!

Mom’s favorite thing to do when she doesn’t feel good is veg out in front of the TV. This is something I’m always down for. I don’t usually watch the TV, mostly I lay next to her and listen. Sometimes I fall asleep, but it doesn’t bother me to lose track of what’s going on on TV; I’m with my mom, so there’s nothing bad that can come from that. Unless we’re in the car on the way to the vet. But I’m getting off

topic again.

It took about two weeks for Mom to start feeling better, but she finally did! She’s still more tired than usual, and still has a cough and a leaky nose, but she’s over the worst of it and on the mend. But guys, I’m exhausted! Mom said she’s sick of being sick. I’m sick of her being sick, too! Sheesh!

Well, I’m out of time right now, and

it’s a beautiful day outside, so I’m going to try to get Mom back out for some fresh air! I won’t be in next week’s issue; Mom said it’s a special issue for women’s history month, so I’m going to use that opportunity to have a bit of a vacation! I need it!

Love, Rufus

Photos provided by Erica Loos. | eloos@dailyegyptian.com

On one Friday night a couple of weeks ago while feeling ambitious and perhaps a little too confident, I sat back in a doctor’s chair as the kind man leaned in and said “beauty is pain” as he stuck the first prick of lip injections into my upper lip.

To say I was prepared for the needle, but not the beauty industry jargon that was just muttered before me, would be all too right.

I winced in discomfort, but not from the small needles and the injections spreading beneath my numb lips, but from the immediate frustration I felt from the well known saying that beauty is pain. I despise the phrase, as obviously it is bonkers to begin with, but especially because I know that I am beautiful, I just got the fillers for fun.

There is such a stigma around body modifications of any kind, from the extremes like complete reconstruction surgeries, all the way down to a little bit of botox around the smile lines. It doesn’t matter what you get even if it is so natural that nobody could ever tell, if you utter the words

“I got *insert cosmetic surgery* recently” you are considered a crazy person.

Before the date of my lip injections, I was a bit of a snob about facial enhancements of any kind. Since these types of procedures we typically see only on the filthy rich and celebrities, who all have the resources to get as much as they see fit, I felt a bit off about it. I always felt bad that the person felt like they needed them, and also to be completely honest, judged them a bit. I get embarrassed at

Beauty is pain

the thought of myself probably pushing my dumpy nose to the sky at anyone who would ever ask me about this topic, and I can definitely recall saying once “I would never do such a thing”, but here is the real thing: I did, and I love it.

Something changed my mind about facial enhancement procedures. Perhaps it was just too many hours at the age of 14 staring into a hand mirror like a villain creeping up on me in the night? Did my confidence that has served me for too long just give out? No, and no, I simply got jealous that my friend was getting them. Oh my, there I said it. Something that I am sure made the folks that are too stuck up to admit it, that sometimes I follow the march of others into some mainstream trends.

Some would once say that I was keeping up with the Jones’, but in today’s era, are we just keeping up with the Kardashians?

The American reality royalty family, the Kardashians have dominated fashion and pop culture since 2007. These California girls have set many fashion trends over the years, but arguably the biggest one is their use of cosmetic surgeries. Of course, they hide it from public, as most people do in their recovery stages, but it is very obvious that they are done up with all sorts of fillers and enhancements. This might be controversial, and I want to say that I do enjoy a good “Keeping up with the Kardashians” clip. But they are the reason so many people view the world of plastic beauty in such a negative way. We all remember Khloé and Kylie’s old faces, or when Kris had wrinkles. They went from fairly normal looking people in the beginning of their show, to almost too

- Aaron Elliot Reporter

recognizable now. They normalized a once far out and beyond belief ideal of making yourself look different, or just updating what you’ve got.

The Kardashians are a perfect example of how power and wealth can affect your taste, style, and look, from what you wear, all the way down to your bones. They have always had money, even when they would have classified themselves as broke, and they have always had some sort of status, and they know that. One thing that they didn’t realize that they had before all of what is today, is looks.

I thought about this, all of this as I sat and let the man with the needle create mounds of Juvederm into my lips. Pictures of people who now resemble feline characters like the late Joan Rivers and Gloria Vanderbilt, or like the great Amanda Lepore. I felt anxiety as my extraordinarily numb lips started to feel as if they were a balloon being filled with a bicycle pump. After what felt like a million pokes, but was probably less than ten, the man passed me a hand mirror and asked how I felt.

Later that night while sitting in my nightgown criss-cross applesauce on the

couch, holding my own hand mirror, I asked my closest friend a simple question: “Did I make a huge mistake?” to which he kindly sat in silence for a brief moment collecting his thoughts and then said, “No, but is this going to become a huge problem?”. I hadn’t really thought about that at all. I mean, I didn’t really need the filler in the first place, and I am starting to love the way my lips are now. Am I creating an insecurity that I hadn’t had before?

The feeling of unease came over me as I realized that after I got my lips done, the first thing I did as soon as I came home was stare in the mirror, observing my swollen lips, but also tugging up my under neck, and pulling back my forehead.

Since the beginning of time, beauty standards have always been a thing, and its pain and torture has always been prevelent, not only physically but mentally as well. So I leave you with one question; Is beauty more of a mental pain, or must you endure pain to be beautiful?

Staff Reporter Aaron Elliott can be reached at aelliott@dailyegyptian.com

AAron Elliott AElliott@dAilyEgyptiAn com

Brooke Nicholas | bnicholas@dailyegyptian.com

“Some would once say that I was keeping up with the Jones’, but in today’s era, are we just keeping up with the Kardashians?”

New hires bring excitement to SIU Football

ryAn griEsEr rgriEsEr@dAilyEgyptiAn com

Head Coach Nick Hill and the SIU football team have hired three new crucial staff members for the upcoming season.

DJ Vokalek, Larry “Lightning” Warner, and Elizabeth Toth were all hired in late January and early February.

“Boxes aren’t unpacked yet, man,” Vokalek said. “I don’t know where I’m going, what I’m doing. I just know where this place is.”

Vokalek will be serving as the defensive coordinator, replacing Jason Petrino, who left to take the defensive coordinator position at Missouri Valley Conference rival North Dakota State University.

Warner, the new running backs coach, returns to SIU after a standout playing career at Southern in the mid2000s.

“It’s home to me. I’ve probably lived here longer than I’ve lived anywhere” Warner said.

He is filling Nate Griffin’s role, who has transitioned to tight ends coach for the 2023 season.

Elizabeth Toth, who joins the Salukis after being a director of football operations as a graduate assistant at Quincy University, is already knee-deep in her new job.

“It’s great. It’s busy and I like that. I like staying on my toes and keeping busy,” she said.

While being a new face can sometimes have a dampening effect on an individual, it doesn’t seem like it’s happened for any of the recent staff additions. All are excited to get to work and for the opportunities ahead.

“I think the opportunity to be a defensive coordinator and be able to be a big part of the defense… the opportunity to work for Coach Hill and the type of person and the type of head coach and the type of offensive coach that he is [is exciting]” Vokalek said.

He said the Salukis are strong on the other side of the coin.

“There’s great offensive minds here,” said Vokalek, who has had two separate stints working for another MVC rival, the University of Northern Iowa.

Warner has come away impressed with the early returns on the running back room.

“I know one thing; they come to work,” he said.

Warner is also ready to do his part for those players, high energy included.

“If you ever come and watch practice and things like that, you’ll see me; I’m coaching them hard. I’m challenging them every day,” he said.

When talking about meeting with running backs, Warner said, “You know, because I’m going to pull the best out of them… it’s my job to pour all the greatness that you have out of you. And if you trust me and believe what I’m telling you, and you trust what the coaching staff are putting in place for you… it’s gonna be hard to leave here not being great.”

There’s a clear passion for football present among all of the new hires. Though loving football may seem like a prerequisite for working on a football coaching staff, it really is true for these three.

Vokalek says, “I’ve got to be honest… I’ve enjoyed every stop that I’ve been at.” Toth doesn’t directly coach, but is an essential part of the football staff. Some of her duties include scheduling all of the team’s travel arrangements, planning official visits, conducting visits, and dealing with financial aspects of the team.

“I think I bring a different passion of loving everything else that isn’t football,” Toth said.

That isn’t to say that there won’t be adjustments or things to learn as spring ball sneaks up on the calendar.

Vokalek said, “I think the biggest challenge right now for me personally, is

you know, getting to know the players, getting to know the names… you know, just getting acclimated and getting them to know me and me to know them.”

Vokalek, who also coached at Missouri State University, is very familiar with the Missouri Valley Conference, calling it “the best FCS conference in the country.”

He knows what it takes to coach and play defense in the MVC.

“You know, you got to make sure that you’re disciplined… If you’re not a disciplined football team, there’s not a lot of room for error. And we have to be sound in what we do… you know, we’ve got to play good sound defense, good run defense,” he said.

Vokalek is a big believer in stopping the run especially.

“That’s got to be a primary focus for us as we stop the run and force teams to throw the football,” he said.

Warner, the former Saluki running back who is in his first college coaching gig, is confident that he can bring a key component to the coaching staff.

“Energy. Just the love for the game… that is what you’re gonna get from me. It’s just somebody that’s going to come to work everyday and not make excuses and just find a way to get it done,” Warner said.

If that sounds like a player’s mentality, that’s because it is.

“To me, I take life as a player’s mentality. You know, it’s just things gonna change… but you still gotta show up and perform, you know, so that’s always been my approach to everything. You know, whatever I do, I’m gonna have fun with it. I’m gonna find the positive in it.

Fans have a lot to be excited about entering the 2023 season. A significant number of new coaches in important positions can change the trajectory of a team. Teams often have sustained success even when they lose coordinators and position coaches. Sometimes, a new voice is even the key to unlocking a level that wasn’t being touched before.

“I think the coaches are going to bring a new heat that [the players] aren’t expecting and I think that it’s gonna kinda like knock the players and wake them up. So, I think the fans should be excited, you know, for the different coaches that have come in, and the different coaching styles to… kind of revamp what has been going on here,” Toth said.

Staff Reporter Ryan Grieser can be reached at rgrieser@dailyegyptian.com

Fan cheers with a sign at the Blackout Game on Feb. 19, 2023 at the Banterra Center in Carbondale Il. Arjun Tsapalasetty | arjuntsapalasetty@dailyegyptian.com

Saluki’s cheerleader performs during time-out at the Black Out game Feb. 19, 2023 at the SIU Banterra Center in Carbondale, Ill. Arjun Tsapalasetty | arjuntsapalasetty@dailyegyptian.com

Fan reacts to a play during The Blackout Game at the Banterra Center on Feb. 19, 2023 in Carbondale Il. Arjun Tsapalasetty arjuntsapalasetty@dailyegyptian.com

A Trumpet player plays the song during the Blackout Game on Feb. 19, 2023 at the Banterra Center in Carbondale Il. Arjun Tsapalasetty | arjuntsapalasetty@dailyegyptian.com

Brittany Wendel wears sports Mardi Gra beads during the Blackout Game on Feb. 19, 2023 at the Banterra Center Carbondale, Il Arjun Tsapalasetty | arjuntsapalasetty@dailyegyptian.com

The team huddles during a timeout at The Blackout Game at Banterra Center on Feb. 19, 2023 at Carbondale, Il. Arjun Tsapalasetty

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Sophie Whitten

Sophie Whitten swhitten@dailyegyptian.com