Daily Egyptian

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New taxes proposed for Carbondale Hayley Dillon

@HayleyDillon_DE | Daily Egyptian

A six-figure city deficit could lead to an increase in the price of prepared food, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages.

Jane Adams and Lee Fronabarger— members of the Carbondale City Council—recently proposed a packaged liquor tax and food and beverage tax, which the council could vote on next month.

This follows the council’s finding

Since 1916

Daily Egyptian TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2015 VOLUME 99 ISSUE 21

of an estimated $780,000 deficit for fiscal year 2016. The number is now down to about $300,000, said City Manager Kevin Baity but the proposal still stands.

The 1.5 percent food and beverage tax being proposed would affect all prepared foods, such as food served in restaurants or food at grocery store delis. It would generate about $1.2 million, said Adams, who is also running for mayor of Carbondale.

The 1 percent packaged liquor tax would affect all places selling alcohol, such as liquor stores and bars.

Both Baity and Adams are in favor of these taxes, but for different reasons.

Baity focused on the idea of balancing the city’s budget, but said the council would decide where the money will be allocated if these taxes are passed.

“Budget cuts and these taxes need to be done in combination,” Baity said.

Please see TAXES · 3

African professor wants expansion of Black History Month Austin Miller

@AMiller_DE | Daily Egyptian

P eter r ogalla • D aily e gyPtian Kofi Akamani, assistant professor of forest recreation and conservation social science, poses for a portrait in his office Friday in the Agriculture Building.

Originally from Kumasi, Ghana, Akamani has studied in Ghana as well as Norway and Idaho before teaching at SIU.

After studying on three continents, one professor has found a home at SIU. Kofi Akamani, who is an assistant professor of forestry, was born and raised in Ghana but has been working at SIU since 2011.

Located in western Africa, Ghana is home to more than 25 million people. Akamani grew up in the city of Kumasi, and earned his bachelor’s degree in development planning from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.

He went on to get his master’s degree from the University of Oslo in Norway and his doctorate in natural resources from the University of Idaho.

These experiences have given Akamani an interesting take on race.

As important as race is, society cannot ignore problems like the environment and social inequality, he said.

Growing up in Ghana, he said society was more worried about interactions among ethnic groups, instead of race, because land ownership and other rights were dependent on ethnic class.

Please see AKAMANI · 3

School of Art and Design settling into new home Jonathan Swartz

@JP_Swartz | Daily Egyptian

Design students are attending classes in a gymnasium and doing homework in the adjoining pool— what would have been, anyway.

Three schools are getting new facilities as a result of complex $8.25 million renovations of Pulliam Hall’s gym and pool, which was completed last semester.

The construction was financed and will be paid back by the Facilities Maintenance Fee, said Kevin Bame, vice chancellor for administration and finance.

Repurposing old structures has a domino effect, said Phil Gatton,

director of Plant and Service Operations.

The School of Art and Design moved from temporary structures near Brush Towers—called the blue barracks—and the School of Social Work has vacated the basement of Quigley Hall.

The School of Architecture, now housed in the blue barracks, will move to the basement of Quigley after remodeling is complete, Gatton said.

The School of Art and Design’s new facilities include a new wood shop, photo studio, presentation rooms, classrooms and offices.

Bleachers were removed from

Schools of Architecture, Design and Social Work All Get New Homes Schools of Design and Social Work move to the renovated area in Pulliam

Pulliam

School of Architecture moves to Quigley’s basement from barracks

Quigley

Barracks

Planned to be demolished

M arat t sablinov

•

D aily e gyPtian

the gym and the pool area, but the original gym floor remains, complete with markings. However, the only person playing basketball on the court now is Kay Zivkovich, associate director of the School of Art and Design.

Zivkovich made use of the hardwood, dribbling a basketball into class on the first day, said Zach McKay, a senior from Centralia studying communication design.

The only remnant of the pool is its name. Studio space now rests over where swimmers used to work out. The students who use the area refer to the large, open room as the pool, Zivkovich said.

Zivkovich said the large outside door of the wood shop has made it easier to transfer large projects in and out, and well ventilated work spaces have improved working conditions.

“This is a huge step in the right direction,” Zivkovich said.

New facilities create less trouble for Plant and Service Operations as well.

Reconstruction began because the pools needed extensive repairs, including replacing pumps and filtration systems. Gatton said repurposing was a wiser investment than maintaining the rarely used structure.

H oliDay W agner • D aily e gyPtian Alex Hamm, a junior from Palmyra studying art, and Lucas Mortin, a senior from Murray, Ky., studying industrial Design work on images Monday in the new art studio in Pulliam Hall.

The School of Art and Design needed a new home for similar reasons.

The blue barracks, originally built as temporary structures, were prone to vandalism and flooding, and had numerous maintenance issues, Gatton said.

Continued use of the barracks would mean putting money into poor structures that still would not meet the needs of the program, he said.

Moving the design program to Pulliam did more than provide students and teachers higher quality workspace.

Zikovich said the art department was scattered across campus in eight or nine separate locations.

“This is an opportunity for us to be closer to the whole crafts area, which includes blacksmithing, glass blowing, and ceramics,” Zikovich said.

Students also appreciate the closeness the new facilities bring to the department.

“The whole space is really set up for collaboration,” said Ryan Krauskopf, a senior from Fort Wayne, Ind., studying industrial design.

Please see PULLIAM · 2

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Tuesday, February 24, 2015 About Us

Contact Us

The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of Southern Illinois University Carbondale 43 weeks per year, with an average daily circulation of 7,800. Fall and spring semester editions run Monday through Thursday. Summer editions run Tuesday through Thursday. All intersession editions run on Wednesdays. Free copies are distributed in the Carbondale and Carterville communities. The Daily Egyptian online publication can be found at www.dailyegyptian.com.

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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. Uche Onyebadi, fiscal officer.

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Zivkovich said industrial design students did not have the opportunity to work so closely with communication design students before the new workspaces were created.

Despite love for art and design’s new home, life in the blue barracks

will be missed.

The old structures held a lot of history and tradition, said Rob Lopez, associate professor in the School of Art and Design.

Lopez said the design program has won numerous awards and developed a tradition of success while housed in the the barracks.

He said the freedom to operate

separately from other departments was convenient, but the new facilities better match the quality of the program and bring design students together. “[The pool] is my favorite room,” Lopez said. “There are a lot of places to work, there’s energy, there’s both disciplines together. This is our dream to have everyone together and have their own space.”

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

AKAMANI CONTINUED FROM

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In 2004, he left his temperate home for the Norwegian tundra.

There, he found Norway to be less diverse, and was told the older natives were unfriendly toward immigrants.

He said he never felt discriminated against but never considered staying in Norway. He suspected there were not many institutional safeguards for immigrant opportunities.

He said he saw other Ghanaian people with master’s and doctorate degrees who were overqualified for the jobs they had.

“I didn’t want to be a part of that. If I was in Norway, I don’t believe I would be in the position I am here.”

After coming to America he found the population to be more diverse and welcoming.

While living in Idaho for five years, he said he never felt oppressed or profiled. His only issue relating to the color of his skin came from a small child asking if he had drank too much coffee, turning his skin dark.

Even though Akamani has not experienced many of the negative racial issues in American history, he is aware of those troubles. He said it is important to recognize and celebrate Black History Month, but society needs to address inequality at all levels.

Equality is a journey, he said. Racial progress should be broadened to all marginalized groups, including gay people, women and the impoverished.

Karl Williard, professor of forest hydrology, said Akamani’s international background is a great asset to the university.

Having diverse viewpoints helps students because they can understand issues outside of their own perspective, Williard said. He anticipates Akamani being at SIU for a long time because of his upbeat and positive attitude.

Akamani’s views on his field of study changed through the years.

His parents were farmers and had no access to formal education, so he learned step by step.

Even though he is working on sustainable development

and planning, Akamani said he had no interest in the subject before college.

Akamani researches the policy and decision making related to sustainability, and how resilient communities are.

“Community resilience is all about a community’s capacity to deal with unpredictable forces of change, as well as being able to maintain their well-being,” Akamani said.

There are multiple forms of unpredictable change.

Demographic, economic and technological transitions are one set of natural occurrences, but natural disasters and environmental policies are another.

While working on his doctorate in Idaho, Akamani studied the Northwest Forest plan, started in 1994.

The policy reduced wood harvesting by as much as 90 percent in some areas. Certain towns were dependent on the timber industry for decades, so they had to find ways to adapt.

Ten years later, more than 1 million new jobs have been added to compensate for lost jobs in the lumber industry.

Larger communities were able to handle the decision and grew in population.

Communities with the right resources and institutions could survive, while smaller, wood-dependent communities did not.

Jim Zaczek, chairman of the forestry department, said he has enjoyed having Akamani on staff.

Zaczek said he is more versed in biological facet of forestry, while Akamani provides the human science aspect. Zaczek said humans represent the fifth dimension.

“You need to know biology and ecology, but the human dimension is where you make change,” Zaczek said.

“People are the main dimension of anything.”

Akamani said the past progress in race relations had diverted attention from environmental and socioeconomic problems.

“Yes, we need to explore growth, but we also need to be more explicit about our environmental concerns, and we need to be explicit about issues of social inequality,” he said.

Akamani said he has not been back to Ghana since 2010, but he looks forward to taking his wife and child to his native land in the near future.

TAXES CONTINUED FROM

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Adams’ opinion focused on her plans for projects that could help to revitalize the city, including a city skate park and improving technology in Carbondale.

“I am very strongly on the record being opposed to raising the taxes [for the city’s deficit],” Adams said. “That’s some money that could really do some good.”

John “Mike” Henry, Adams’ opponent in the April election, said “I’m not necessarily opposed to [the packaged liquor and food and beverage tax]. Of all those choices of taxes those would probably be the best to do.”

Although city officials believe these taxes could help Carbondale, one SIU student is not happy with the idea of being charged more.

Jessica Hays, a freshman from Bozeman, Mont., studying photography and forestry, said the sales tax in Jackson County was high.

“We’re already paying a ridiculously high sales tax,” Hays said. “There should definitely not be anything added.”

The Illinois sales tax is 6.25 percent, with an additional 2.25 percent home rule sales tax for a total 8.5 percent.

Baity and Adams do not think the food and beverage and liquor taxes will change much.

“You might see a month or two where people back off because they don’t think they can now afford to, but do they go out starting again after that period?” Baity said.

“Yeah, that always happens.”

Adams said the taxes will not change much for people’s personal finances.

“When I eat out, I leave a tip, and that tip can be 15 percent or 20 percent, it’s kind of

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arbitrary,” Adams said. “You put a 1 percent tax on, next to the tip that you customarily give, it’s very small.”

These proposed taxes are not new to Carbondale.

“The city had a food and beverage tax up until somewhere around 1987, ‘89,” Baity said. “They chose to do away with it in exchange for an increase in the overall sales tax.”

However, when the tax was eliminated in the late 1980s, it was not off the table for good. The council considered restoring the tax in the spring of 2013.

Baity said the council decided to increase the home rule sales tax instead of reinstating the food and beverage tax. Home rule sales tax is a tax implemented by a community that is not applicable to prepared foods, medical costs or anything that has a license or a title to it.

Adams said the city should not increase the home rule sales tax because it is already too high.

The city does not have many options to decrease the deficit other than new taxes, Baity said.

“Staff is very cognizant of where to cut and have been making cuts for a number of years,” he said. “We’re to the point that if we make any more cuts it’s going to affect services that are offered or programs that are offered.”

The decision will be left up to the council, which will hear proposals in meetings held in March, with a potential vote on March 21.

“It’s going to be a balancing act between whether they choose to increase taxes or whether they choose to just make cuts,” Baity said.

OpiniOn Letter to the Editor

Diversity is not a numbers game Johnathan Flowers doctoral candidate in the department of philosphy

In a September 2014 article in the Daily Egyptian, Nathan Stephens, director of the Center for Inclusive Excellence, stated: “Diversity tends to be compositional, with numbers…

Inclusivity speaks more specifically on getting people together but also looking at why they weren’t here in the first place.” If we are to take Stephens’ words seriously, “diversity” is something that can be measured with quotas, percentages, and statistics. On the other hand, “inclusivity” is an activity: it is something we do to improve our lives and our campus.

Keeping that in mind, I want to talk about some problems with how we think about diversity and inclusivity. The reason I am focusing on diversity first is simple: we tend to treat diversity as a “solution” to problems of racial inequality.

In other words: an organization committed to diversity is also committed to combatting racial inequality, and therefore cannot be involved with racism. Diversity becomes something valuable because it promotes the image of not being involved with the specter of racism.

Recall Stephens’ words concerning diversity as “compositional,” or concerned with numbers. This creates an idea of diversity, or being diverse, as only concerned with how many “diverse” individuals are present in the organization. In short, an organization can argue against the presence of racism or discrimination by presenting positive “diversity” numbers: the higher the number of “diverse” individuals, the easier it is for the institution to divorce itself from racism. Now, if we are

‘‘I

f “inclusion” is something that the members of an organization do, and inclusive excellence something an organization aspires to, the bar for anti-racist work is raised: rather than demonstrating numbers, the organization has to demonstrate action in combatting racism.

— Johnathan Flowers

to assume that “diverse” means “non-white,” then SIUC’s factbook puts the diversity of the student population at 28.8 percent.

Reduced to a numbers game, diversity allows institutions to avoid looking at the structures that maintain racism because the presence of diverse bodies “proves” a lack of racism. Because defeating arguments of a lack of diversity—and the implications of racism—becomes as simple as presenting numbers, institutions are not challenged to change the practices that create the very need to demonstrate diversity in the first place. In this way, diversity, as a numbers game, allows for the perpetuation of systemic racism by allowing organizations not to think about the causes for their lack of diversity.

This is, I think, why Stephens makes a separation between “inclusion” and “diversity.” This difference may also be why SIUC’s mission statement includes “inclusive excellence,” rather than “diversity” in its first line. If “inclusion” is something that the members of an organization do, and inclusive excellence something an organization aspires to, the bar for anti-racist work is raised: rather than demonstrating numbers, the organization has to demonstrate action in combatting racism. In the

case of SIUC, this action takes the form of creating of approved spaces where conversations about race can be had.

To be clear, spaces can be anything from entire departments concerned with the experiences of AfricanAmericans, to three credit hour multicultural requirements to satisfy degrees, to student organizations dedicated to cultural outreach and exchange, or even centers for inclusive excellence. By providing the spaces where “inclusion” can take place, the university can present itself as taking action against racism and discrimination. However, this has the effect of stating in no uncertain terms that conversations about inclusivity are to be restricted to special spaces and times, like Black History Month, for example.

There are a couple of problems with this approach to inclusivity.

First, by creating these spaces, the university also places all of the responsibility for action on the individual: if individuals choose not to use the resources that the university has generously provided, then it is not the university that is at fault, but the individuals who have chosen not to used these spaces to engage in the activity of inclusivity. Second, this approach to inclusivity assumes that students are actively looking for spaces. However, since the university simply provides the spaces, and not

active encouragement to use them, it is difficult to see how this approach fulfills the university’s mission of inclusive excellence.

More seriously, since the university is an education institution with “student success” as one of its missions, it would follow that it would seek to make the education of its student body as inclusive as possible. However, the relegation of coursework related to the experiences of minority populations to a single three-hour elective requirements perpetuates the idea that the history and experience of minorities are to be studied as an after-thought, rather than as important contributions to the education of your student body.

When a university treats education about the experiences of other cultures as an elective requirement, it contributes to the ignorance about these cultures that leads to racism.

Further, this demonstrates a lack of commitment to the university’s mission of “inclusive excellence.”

This is not to call for the university to abandon its attempts at the creation of spaces for inclusivity; it is a call for the university to recognize that it has a role to play beyond simply providing resources and expecting students to understand what to do with them.

Inclusivity, as an activity, must be active and the university must take

steps to promote and encourage participation in the spaces that it seeks to provide, rather than relying upon students to seek out these spaces on their own. If “inclusive excellence” is to be included in the mission of the university, along with “student success,” it needs to take as active a role in nurturing one as it does the other.

I wish I could conclude with an optimistic point, but I can’t in good conscience. Proponents of diversity call for more diverse hires, a more diverse student body, more recognition of excellence in the face of adversity, without recognizing why that adversity is there in the first place. It would be, as Martin Luther King, Jr., once suggested, integrating into a burning house. Adding diverse bodies to disrupt the appearance of exclusion only serves to cover up the problem: we, as a community, as Salukis, need to address the issue at its root, and that involves hard conversations.

On the other hand, these conversations cannot be limited to “approved spaces,” no matter how numerous, nor should they be reserved for the 28 days of February during Black History Month. These conversations, as part of a commitment to “inclusive excellence,” need to happen in all of our classrooms, all of our departments, and the university, as an institution committed to the cultivation of inclusive excellence, needs to recognize that it has to take a more active role in the promotion of these conversations. Otherwise, we risk perpetuating the culture that enabled the deaths of Kimani Gray, Vonderrit Myers, Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin, Reika Boyd, Aiyana Jones, and Amadou Diallo, among countless others.

P ulse Artists preserve New Orleans’ jazzy flavor Chase Myers

@chasemyers_DE | Daily Egyptian

Madonna and Herbie Hancock may sound like a random musical pairing, but in Madonna’s 1994 jam “Sanctuary,” she actually sampled Hancock’s classic “Watermelon Man.” Ever since the roaring 1920s, artists at each end of the creative spectrum have attempted to capture the essence of jazz’s roots from cities like St. Louis, and more traditionally, the “Big Easy.”

Robert Ketchens and William Burton Jr., two visual artists from St. Louis, will discuss their artistic journeys with jazz and present six fine art pieces from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Wednesday at the Lesar Law Building.

A New Orleans native, Ketchens’ art career began in 1970 when he volunteered for the U.S. Air Force as a medical illustrator and eventually fell in love with fine art while in Germany, he said.

Ketchens said general creativity is the main focus of the discussion, something New Orleans has plenty of.

“Once you are in the city … you can feel the sense of something special in the air,” he said. “For me, that is the sense of creativity that hangs in the air like a ripe pear waiting to be plucked by the individual passing by the tree.”

Ketchens met Burton Jr. 10 years ago at a group art exhibit sponsored by the Urban League of St. Louis. Their booths were near each other and they were both impressed by each other’s work.

About five years ago, Ketchens was chosen to teach for St. Louis Artworks, an agency teaching art to teenagers, and chose Burton as his assistant.

Burton Jr. began drawing at a young age, but his career arose many years later from an epiphany he had as an inmate in an Oklahoma prison, he said.

A guard noticed his work and told him to put his talent to good use and make an honest living.

He said two weeks after he was released, his mother died, which motivated him even more to pursue a career in art.

“I remember telling her on her deathbed that I am going to get my act together and I am going to be an artist like I said I would when I was little,” he said.

This is the second year they have visited Carbondale; the first was for a discussion on blues music.

“We’re approaching it, not as another research project on jazz, but the perspective of visual artists … from the pure standpoint of what it takes to be creative in an environment in which an artist finds themself,” Ketchens said.

Both artists said jazz should be recognized as a parent of modern day art and be respected as such.

The two have been working on a two-year series of art pieces, half of which focuses on blues and the other half on jazz, mapping their transition.

“From blues we went to jazz, but we knew there was a gradual evolution of it so we wanted to be true to not only the art, but to the music and culture,” Burton Jr. said.

The birthplace of jazz music is widely recognized as New Orleans, a place where voodoo rituals were openly accepted and everyone, regardless of race, could own a drum.

As technology allows popular music to be produced frequently and conveniently, the intricacy of traditional jazz music tends to be unappreciated.

“Rhythmically, I think everything we see nowadays is an outgrowth of what we had from New Orleans,” Richard Kelley, director of jazz studies said.

New Orleans jazz was a collective effort among musicians in the form of ensembles, whereas in cities like New York, music was more solo oriented, he said.

“The collective group aspect of New Orleans music at the time was really the calling card,” he said.

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

5

‘Majora’ is unmasked for adventure Austin Miller

@AMiller_DE | Daily Egyptian

Everyone wants to go on an adventure.

People like to escape their boring routines and see something new, which the “Legend of Zelda” franchise has done for more than 20 years.

Link, the green-cloaked warrior boy, has fulfilled the fantasies of many children, even though some still incorrectly call him Zelda.

Zelda is the princess, people. Get it right.

Even though a “Zelda” game has not been released on consoles since 2011, the series has been successful on the portable 3DS. While fans eagerly await a new game for the Wii U, expected in 2015, Nintendo has been busy remastering the classic games to keep that good taste in players’ mouths.

The latest of these is “The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask,” which turns 15 this year.

“Majora’s Mask” is a direct sequel to “The Ocarina of Time,” the greatest Zelda installment ever, and many people’s all-time favorite game.

What makes “Majora’s Mask” so appealing is how different it is from other games in the franchise.

“The Legend of Zelda” has always been about childish fun and wonder. There is a large map to be explored; filled with monsters, friends and prizes. Taking a quick detour can lead to caves full of treasure or man-eating plants.

All of those aspects are still present, but players can only stop to smell the roses briefly because time is of the essence.

The entire game takes place over three days. At the end of which, the moon will crash into the world and kill everyone. Players have to move through dungeons quickly to save mankind.

Adding a “shot clock” if you will, to a series known for consuming hours of someone’s time is interesting, and many argued against it when it was first released. But dealing with the stress of the hourglass running out adds importance to decisions made in the game.

In order to combat the impending doom, Link is able to use his trusty ocarina, a small, oval-shaped flute, to reverse and slow down time, making his quest more manageable.

He can also find different masks to help him out. One mask turns Link into a plant person, so he can fly around. Another mask allows increased sword damage.

The different masks create a nice variety in gameplay and create a puzzle-like experience.

But having to constantly switch between

‘‘A

dventures are all about seeing new things and “Majora’s Mask” is an adventure from adventure.

Think about that.

— Austin Miller

masks becomes a hassle pretty quickly.

Gamers will have to fly around with the plant mask, then take off the mask to equip the sword and fight, then put the mask back on to fly farther.

It takes several seconds to change masks, creating a cut-scene that take players away from the action. It is like going trick-or-treating, but having to change costumes before each house.

Yeah, it is cool at first, but eventually you just want to stay a werewolf.

Even though the mask system is hit or miss, the basics of the game are interesting because they are different from any game in the series.

“Zelda” has largely been a franchise for kids, along with most Nintendo games. So, focusing on themes of death, doom and depression is a huge contrast to other titles.

In many works of fiction, sequels are darker and grittier than their predecessors.

“The Empire Strikes Back” is much darker than “A New Hope.” “A New Hope” ends happily with Luke Skywalker destroying the Death Star. “Empire” ends with Luke having his hand cut off and learning his arch nemesis is actually his dad.

Similarly, one of the greatest achievements in cinematic history, “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure,” throws two wannabe rock stars through time visiting Lincoln and Socrates to pass high school. Yet the sequel, “Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey” takes them to Hell to visit Satan.

If it worked for Bill and Ted, it will work for anything.

“Majora’s Mask” is not better than “Ocarina of Time.” That is the truth. But it does offer a completely different, yet still enjoyable experience.

Adventures are all about seeing new things, and “Majora’s Mask” is an adventure from adventure. Think about that.

This remastering scratches just enough of my Zelda itch for now, but I cannot wait for an allnew journey later this year.

‘The DUFF’ bullies audiences Jacob Pierce

@JacobPierce1_DE | Daily Egyptian

High school movies are a staple in the film industry. Aside from a few releases in the 1970s, the renaissances for these flicks came in the 1980s. The list goes on with classics like The John Hughes collection, “Heathers” and “Risky Business.”

The 1990s had brief success with this genre, but once the new millennium came around, the quality of these movies decreased. “Easy A” and “Mean Girls” are exceptions to a rule that includes, “John Tucker Must Die,” “She’s the Man” and “I Love You Beth Cooper.”

“The DUFF” (Rated PG-13; 101 min) is a teen comedy directed by Ari Sandel, and is another in the line of embarrassing high school movies.

Bianca Piper, played by Mae Whitman, is a high school senior close to graduating. Her two best friends, who she has known since she was young, are part of the popular crowd, while she is a barely-noticed geek. Her entire world is thrown upside down when a childhood friend, played

by Robbie Amell, tells her she is a “DUFF”, or a “Designated Ugly Fat Friend.”

Piper does not take this lightly and decides to do something about it. She enlists the help of her childhood friend to assist her in becoming the most beautiful version of herself. Soon, the two start to fall in love and Piper’s life becomes more complicated than it ever has been.

This movie looked awful, which may seem brutally honest, but the makers of “The DUFF” might need some tough love. It looked like a poorly made rip off the already terrible “She’s All That.” A boy takes time to beautify an “ugly” girl because of a contrived plot device and the boy ends up falling for the girl in the end. It is sickeningly generic and has been parodied to death at this point.

I do not pretend to have a direct to teens today, but I have never even heard of a DUFF. It seems like the filmmakers made up this Urban Dictionary word, while they should have been working on a better script for the movie.

“The DUFF” is not a complete misfire. I compared it to the 1990s hit “She’s All That” and I can firmly say this movie is better. There are several themes and plot points with potential.

Bullying, self-confidence, divorce and domestic struggles are all brought up—sometimes decently—but are abandoned.

One of the wasted plot points is the concept of troubled home lives. This is a huge character developing opportunity which seems to be thrown away without regard. Both Piper and Wesley Rush, her childhood friend, come from broken homes. Piper’s is one of divorce and Rush’s is on the verge of it. Her home life is thrown away as a joke and his is brought up once and promptly forgotten.

This unearths an even deeper seated problem.

These characters are not characters, not in the true sense of the word. They are depthless embodiments feigning original motivations.

Nothing more than puppets used to spout

“witty” dialogue the screenwriter and director had to have.

Rush is the hilarious jock stereotype, who has more going on inside than he is showing. Piper is the unique girl, who can shed her shield of idiosyncratic qualities and become “beautiful.”

The saddest aspect of both is they are so close to exceeding the archetype, but fall short.

Rush almost has a true broken background and interesting quality to him and Piper’s eccentric qualities are almost revered instead of changed.

To make good teen fiction, regardless of medium, one has to understand teenagers.

No one expects an artist to fully understand the complex and mostly scary brain of a high schooler. Yet, a simple understanding of their culture is needed to make a genuine story.

Sandel and Josh A. Cagan, the screenwriter, do not seem to have an understanding of teens today at all. They get buzzwords. Youtube, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter are thrown out as to say, “Hey, you guys use this right? Isn’t that funny, you guys?” No concept of living in this digital age is given a thought beyond being a shallow joke.

The movie is not a complete waste of time.

Whitman and Amell have a unique chemistry unseen in most bad movies. The film has a lot decent jokes thrown among the terrible gags about Facebook and Snapchat. Overall though, “The DUFF” will make you groan more than it will make you laugh. Go watch “Easy A,” “Mean Girls” or even “Sixteen Candles” for the fifteenth time instead.

6

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

WANTED TO BUY: vehicles, running or not, trucks & cars, $200$500. Call 218-6289 or 439-6561.

BUY, SELL, AND TRADE, AAA Auto Sales, 605 N Illinois Ave, C`dale, 618-457-7631 www.carbondaleautos.com

STEVE THE CAR DR. MOBILE MECHANIC, Handy man, Ladder work 618-525-8393.

4 year Whirlpool W/D $395. Fridge $195. Stove $125. Dishwaser $95.

All excellent.Call 618-525-9822.

WASHER/DRYER $350, Stove $140 refrigerator $195. Rebuilt. 90-day warranty. Able Appliance 457-8372

PARSON!S PROPERTY 900 E. Grand Ave. #102 Call 618-457-8302 rentparsons@yahoo.com Country village, beautiful country setting, 2 bdrm, 1.5 bath, pool, water, furnished, w/d, d/w, lawn, trash free parking. Special rates for fall.

Grand Ave. 3 bdrm, 2 bath, w/d, internet, cable, trash, free parking, close to campus, great prices.

1, 2, 3 bedroom apartments. 4 and 5 bedroom houses and duplexes.

Availability for summer and fall.

LOOKING TO SUBLEASE 1 bedroom for June and July, in a 3 bedroom apartment. Shared kitchen and living room with 2 roommates at The Pointe at SIU. $479/month everything included, fully furnished, close to campus, private shuttle, access to Crosstown, Grand Ave., and Mall bus.

Very neat. Study room, gym, game and computer rooms available.

Call 773-499-6989 or email obusari100@siu.edu

GREAT LANDLORDS, 1 & 2 bdrm, duplex apts, avail fall, c/a, no pets.

At 606 East Park St, 618-201-3732. www.westwoodapartmentsllc.com Special on studio apts and 1 bdrms avail May and June. 618-303-9109.

G & R!S BEAUTIFUL NEW, 1 and 2 bdrm apts, no pets, call 618549-4713 or visit 851 E. Grand Ave or www.grrentals.com.

SCHILLING PROPERTY 805 E. PARK CARBONDALE, IL 62901 (618) 549-0895 WWW.SCHILLINGPROP.COM SCHILLINGPROP@YAHOO.COM 905 Park: New Loft, washer/dryer/dishwasher No application fee, pet friendly, laundry on-site, across from SIU.

NEW RENTAL LIST OUT, apts & houses. Pick up list at 508 W. Oak or call 529-3581 or 529-1820 C!DALE, NICE, LARGE 2 bdrm avail now, 400 N. Westridge, upscale neighborhood, laundry, Avail now, May or Aug. 529-3581, no pets. www.trailswestapts.com.

STUDIO APT, BE The First to live in these newly remodeled apts. New appliances porcelain tile. Walk to SIU, starting $375/mo. 457-4422.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5 bedrooms. Houses & apartments. W/D, 2 bath 549-4808 www.siucrentals.com

NOW RENTING FALL 2015-16 SCHILLING PROPERTY 805 E. PARK STREET (618) 549-0895 www.schillingprop.com schillingprop@yahoo.com

CALL FOR A SHOWING AND SIGN TODAY NO APPLICATION FEE. PET FRIENDLY. ACROSS FROM SIU

4 BDRM, 4 BATH, CLOSE TO campus, washer/dryer, dishwasher, cats considered, heat/air, free parking, $1560 ($390 each), www.alpharentals.net, 457-8794 1 BDRM APT. Yard, carport, across from campus. 707 S. Oakland. Avail.

May 2015. Call DG Rentals at 618-924-5266 or 618-521-6800.

FEEL LIKE YOU live at the Dog Pound with the Pet Noise and Odors? Move up to Pet-Free Living.

Studio, 1 and 2 Bdrm apts. Walking distance to SIU. Call for an appt 457-4422.

NICE 1 & 2 BDRM, rental list at 2006 Woodriver, a/c, near shopping, lease & dep, no pets, 529-2535.

AVAILABLE FEB. 2, or 3 Bedroom, various locations, washer/dryer, dishwasher, pets considered, heat/air, free parking, www.alpharentals.net, 618-457-8194

1,2,3,4,& 5 BDRM UPGRADED houses and apartments. Call VAN AWKEN (618) 549-4935.

NEAR CAMPUS: 1 & 2 Bdrm Apts and Luxury Studio Apts. Also (7-10 Minutes from SIU-C) 1 Bdrm Apts under $300/Mo and 2 NO Bdrm Apts under $400/Mo. PETS. Call 618-684-4145.

EFFICIENCY APT, $285/mo, good neighborhood, clean, quiet, low util, trash & water incl,laundry, for serious students, 618-713-3295.

AVAIL NOW older 1 bdrm, 2 blocks from SIU, $250/mo no pets, you pay utilities 5293581

PRIVATE COUNTRY SETTING, extra nice, 3 bdrm/2 bath, w/d, c/a, 2 decks, no pets. 549-4808, 9am-4pm

DUPLEX NEAR CRAB ORCHARD lake, 2 bdrm $450/mo Call 618-559-9561

1,2,3,4,5,6 BDRM HOUSES & apts. Pick up list at 508 W. Oak. Call Bryant Rentals at 529-1820 or 529-3581

BARGAIN RENTAL PRICES NEAR CAMPUS: 2, 3, & 4 Bdrm Houses, W/D, Most C/A, Free Mow. Also, Geodesic Dome 7-10 Minutes from SIU-C: SPACIOUS 2 & 3 Bdrm Houses, W/D, Most C/A, 1 3/4 Baths, Carport, Patio or Huge Deck, Free Mow. NO PETS. Call 684-4145.

See our entire lisit of rentals at bit.ly/PaperRentals

2 BDRM APT. DELUXE Apt, walk to campus. Hardwood laminate floor and porcelain tile in kitchen and bath. Washer/Dryer, Dishwasher upgrade appliances. Perfect for 2 students. 457-4422 www.universityedge.net

NICE 1, 2, or 3 bdrm, 516 S. Poplar, close to campus. Avail now.

529-1820 or 529 -3581.

1 BDRM APT. on Park Street near SIU. Gallery kitchen, spacious living room, lovely apt. Starting $440/mo.

Call 457-4422. universityedge.net AVAILABLE NOW, NICE, clean, 1 bdrm apt. at 509 S. Wall. $295/mo, no pets, 618-529-3581.

4 BDRM, 2 bath. Close to SIU, central heat & a/c, large yard. $270 per person/mo. Ph.618-924-1965.

3BDRM, 306 W College, like new c/a, w/d, d/w, private yard, 549-4808 www.siucrentals.com NICE 2 BEDROOM, 1.5 bath, w/d, garage, water and trash, no pets.

Available now (618) 549-0470

2 BDRM TOWNHOUSES available now & August. Fully loaded. www.universityheights.com

4 bdrm - 511, 505 S. Ash, 802,406, 319, 321, W Walnut, 305 W College, 103 S Forest, 501 S. Hays NICE LARGE 5 bdrm, 2 bath, c/a, w/d, available now, May or Aug, $250 per person. 300 N. Springer, 529-3581.

2 bdrm- 319, 324, 406 W Walnut, 305 W College, 503 S. Ash

NICE 5 OR 6 bdrm, c/a, w/d, close to SIU 2 kitchen, 2 bath, 700 W Freeman. 529-1820 529-3581

549-4808 (9am-7pm) WWW.SIUCRENTALS.COM 705 W. Walnut, 2-Bdrm, c/a, w/d.

Available August 2015. Call DG Rentals at 618-521-6800 or 618-924-5266 5 & 6 Bedroom Houses for Rent.

Great locations on Mill Street!! Available August 2015. These locations always go fast. Call or Text Chris for more info or to schedule a showing.

(618) 924-4942

NICE HOUSE, QUIET AREA, Approx. 5 minutes from campus.6 bdrm, 2 bath all appl incuding w/d avail Aug., 2015 $330-$245/student, for 4-6 students. 806-1799.

BEAUTIFUL 4/5 BDRM. HOMES on West Mill. 618-559-5245. campuscolonial.com

4 BDRM excellent cond., near campus, w/d, d/w, a/c, lawn care incl, pets ok, avail Aug 618-719-1386.

MODERN, MANUFACTURED HOMES 2 bdrm, 2 bath, w/d, d/w, a/c, energy efficient, (618) 924-0535 www.comptonrentals.com NICE 1 & 2 BDRM, $260-$300, lawn & trash incl, mgmt & maint. On-site, avail now, 618-529-9200, no dogs. www.salukihomes.com 2 BDRM UNITS $275-$300/mo 618-924-0535 www.comptonrentals.com NEWLY REMODELED, 2 BDRM, water, trash, & lawn incl, lg spacious lots, starting at $300/mo, call 549-4713, www.grrentals.com

4 BDRM, 2 bath. Close to SIU, central heat & a/c, large yard. $270 per person/mo. Ph.618-924-1965

2 BDRM, 2.5 BATH, washer/dryer, dishwasher, cats considered, heat/air, free parking, $865 - $910 www.alpharentals.net, 457-8194

1112 W. Walkup, 2-Bdrm, w/d, c/a.

Very close to campus, Avail. August 2015. Call DG Rentals 618-521-6800 or 618-924-5266.

LEASING CONSULTANT, OFF Campus Student Housing firm. Office experience beneficial. Christian environment. Now thru Sept. Must have own transportation and drivers lic. Details, 4574422 GIANT CITY LODGE In Illinois most scenic State Park seeks outgoing, professional people.

SERVERS - experience preferred GRILL COOK - experience required Apply in person. For info call 457-4921

--5-10 hours a week.

--Hourly wage plus commission --Need to have excellent attention to details.

--Applications available at the D.E. front desk in the Comm.

Bldg. Rm 1259, Monday - Friday, 9:00am - 3:00pm. You can also email classified@dailyegyptian.com to request one.

--Must be enrolled in at least 6 credit hours for Spring 2015 and Summer 2015 --Submitting a resume is encouraged

CUSTOMIZE YOUR AD Bold $0.25/word/day Large font $2.00/day Centering $0.25/line/day Borders $0.65/day QR Codes $4.00/day Picture $5.00/day JET TAXI SERVICES Operating 24/7 in Carbondale up to 50 miles. Hiring FT/PT Drivers. Call 618-964-4412

HANDYMAN SERVICES, PAINTING, home repairs, please call 618-525-6650 or 618-833-3498.

WE BUY MOST refrigerators, stoves, washers, dryers, window a/c, Able Appliance, call 457-7767

CDALE NICE LARGE 2 BDRM, a/c, w/d, call after 5 6186872443 2 BDRM HOUSE NEAR SIU. Newly remolded. Hardwood laminate and tile floors. d/w, w/d and elect fireplace, simply a stunning home for 2 students $375p/p 4574422

Gymnastics InstructorSouthern Illinois Gymnastics Academy is opening up in Carbondale! We are looking for fun, energetic, happy, people who were gymnasts. You will be working in a beautiful fully air conditioned facility with all new equipment with in-ground trampolines, in-ground tumble trak and a huge loose foam pit.If this sounds awesome, please apply online at: sigymnastics.com. We look forward to working with you. Email scott@extremekidsmarion.com

Classifieds Salesperson

3 bdrm- 310, 313, 610 W Cherry 405 S Ash, 106, 408 S Forest, 306 W College, 321 W Walnut, 1052 W. No Name Rd.

1 bdrm- 802 W Walnut, 106 S Forest, 310 W Cherry

WALKERS BLUFF IS now hiring , event intern, event & office assitant, servers, food runners, and cooks. E-mail resume to info@walkersbluff.com

The Daily Egyptian is now hiring

6-12 Bdrm, info call 549-4808

1 BDRM, LOFT OR FLAT, close to campus, washer/dryer, dishwasher, pets considered, heat/air, free parking, $505-$635, www.alpharentals.net, 457-8194

AVAIL NOW 1 bdrm, across from SIU. Hi-speed Internet, satellite TV, laundry, parking, water & trash. Call 618-529-4763.

1 AND 2 BDRM, Duplexes, on the lake, with fireplace, one car garage, fully loaded, avail now & Aug, 549-8000, universityheightsrentals.com

BARGAIN RENTAL PRICES

See our entire list of rentals at bit.ly/PaperRentals

COUNTRY SETTING, 1 & 2 bdrm, gas appl, a/c, pets ok, $375 to 900, call after 5pm, 618-521-0258.

WWW.COMPTONRENTALS.COM 3-BDRM W/BSMT, w/d 1305 S. Wall 2-Bdrm, w/d 1315 S. Wall 2 Bdrm, 1102 N. Tarico **618-924-0535**

GRAB A ROOMMATE 2, 3& 5 BEDROOMS STARTING AT $300 PER PERSON!

MOUNTAIN VALLEY PROPERTIES www.mvprentals.com Includes w/d, electric, water, cable, internet, trash & parking.

CREEKSIDE APTS- 711 S. Wall St., 3 bdrm/ 2 bath starting at $945/month GRAND PLACE APTS- 900 East Grand, Buildings 4 & 5 ONLY. 3 bdrm/ 2 bath starting at $945/month. 2 bdrm/ 2 bath starting at $790/month Call 618-527-1100 to view apts.

G & R!S BEAUTIFUL NEW, 2 bdrm townhouses, no pets, call 549-4713 or visit 851 E. Grand Ave. or www.grrentals.com.

AUTO MECHANIC WANTED, PT/ FT, apply in person at Auto Bestbuy, 214 Health Dept Rd, M!boro.

SALES CLERK, PT, must be 21yrs, apply in person, SI Liquor Mart, 113 N. 12th St., M!boro. Please no calls.

NEED A CLASSIFIED AD? Business online ads $25/30 days Individual online ads $5/30days

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

207 West Main Street Carbondale, IL 62901 Ph. 1-800-297-2160

7

FOR RELEASE FEBRUARY 24, 2015

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis

<< Answers for Monday Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit www. sudoku.org.uk

To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

Today’s Birthday (02/24/15).

Grow your professional status along with your income this year. Step into new leadership. Discipline and focus

pay fine dividends. Nurture your social reach to amplify. Prepare to launch a personal dream project after 3/20.

Meticulous bookkeeping serves well, especially after 4/4. New partnership sparks after 10/13. Stir passion into your work, and thrive.

Aries (March 21-April 19) -- Today is a 9 -- The money’s available, if you go for it. It takes discipline. Clean and cook and imagine an inspiring future. Focus attention on home and family. Create beauty together. Grow community support networks. This is power.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) -Today is an 8 -- Keep focusing time and interest on a subject you love. Be persistent, even without agreement.

You’re stacking up treasure for the future. Make peace with what is. You can get whatever you need. Important people speak well of you.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) -Today is a 7 -- Delegate a difficult job. Let go of what you have to get

ACROSS 1 Rosie of “The Jetsons,” for one 6 Recede 9 Downloadable programs 13 Golden Gloves venue 14 Chimney substance 16 Toondom’s __ E. Coyote 17 Camp shelters 18 Single proprietor 20 The Old Spaghetti Factory alternative 22 Big D hoopster 23 West Coast sch. with more than 100 NCAA championships 24 Martini order 25 Gloomy 27 Golf hole starting points 29 On the topic of 32 Fed. power dept.

33 “__ Legend”: Will Smith movie 35 Nook and Kindle 38 Self-defense option 40 Emphatic military reply 42 Actor McKellen 43 Japanese soup noodle 44 Formula for salt 46 Brewpub lineup 50 Mr. Fixit’s forte 53 Singer Orbison 55 Aflame 56 Chinese chairman 57 Fragrant bloomer with typically pink flowers 61 Comment after a feast ... or what the first word of 18-, 20-, 38- and 57-Across would sometimes say— if it could talk 63 Christmas celebrity 64 Future plant 65 Nonstick cookware brand 66 __ salts 67 Grinds to a halt 68 Seek damages from 69 Poker-faced

something better. Take time to meditate on it first. Organize household matters.

Get advice from an elder auntie. New information helps solve a dilemma.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Feminine discipline and strength supports you now. Completing old tasks pays best. Something doesn’t add up. Postpone household chores.

Send for whatever you need. Tailor the plan to fit the budget. Make soup and comfort foods.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Think of more ways to grow your income. A creative path suits you nicely. Your partner provides needed resources. Work on design and brand management. Work for what you love, despite obstacles and barriers. You’re attracting attention.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Travel, study and exploration flow well today. Pursue a curiosity.

Unravel a mystery. Romance enters the picture unbidden. Your best tutor

02/24/15 Monday’s Answers 2/24/15

By C.C. Burnikel

DOWN 1 Squeal on 2 Parental warning words 3 “No fighting, kids!”

4 “As seen __”: ad phrase 5 Used a stun gun on 6 College application pieces 7 Mannerless fellow 8 Like headline typefaces 9 “So-o adorable!”

10 Cash for fun 11 Crowd __: popular performer 12 Order takers 15 Overflow (with) 19 Artist with the website imaginepeace.com 21 Pa’s pa 26 Hill-building biter 28 “Burnt” crayon color 30 __ firma 31 Surg. sites 34 Mil. mail address

Monday’s Puzzle Solved

©2015 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

36 Literary wrap-up 37 Football’s Parseghian 38 Popped the question 39 Bavarian article 40 Conjecture 41 Think tank guys 45 Baby rocker 47 King in Shakespeare’s “The Tempest”

is a good friend. Don’t spend on stuff you don’t need. Use what you’ve got.

Whistle a tune.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Manage household funds to conserve resources. No gambling.

Clean, sort and organize. File and give away things. Cooking at home saves money. Plan for the future. A trickle adds up, over time with interest.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Today is an 8 -- Collaborate on a passion project with someone interesting. Deepen your partnership.

Invest in your career. Someone you respect is paying attention. This work brings unexpected rewards. Create something of beauty together. Align your efforts to your heart.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- Today is a 9 -- Clean up a mess at work. Manage a breakdown without losing your cool. Reject a suggestion that’s too expensive. More funding is required. Hold a bake sale or crowd

02/24/15 2/24/15

48 Moving engine part 49 Hot and humid 51 Post-surg. area 52 Rapids transport 54 Go-aheads 58 Inseparable pals, to texters 59 Brummell or Bridges 60 Captivated 62 NFL scores

funding project. Find buried treasure by getting organized.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -Today is a 9 -- Provide well for your family, without losing your sense of humor.

Get at least one big task completed. Play together. In adversity, pull together for strength. In thriving, build your teamwork and replenish reserves.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- Today is an 8 -- Pay extra for longlasting quality on a home repair. Invest in something that saves you time.

Devote energy and effort towards home beautification. It’s not about impressing anyone. It’s about supporting you, your family and work.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Today is an 8 -- Your partner appreciates you handling the plans.

Talk about what needs to get done, and delegate tasks. Send out press releases, and issue statements. Record your song. Accept a sweet deal.

Provide meticulous craftsmanship.

Sports Rivera’s career comes full circle to achieve dreams Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Aaron Graff

@Aarongraff_DE | Daily Egyptian

There is no place like home.

Former Saluki volleyball player Alex Rivera graduated in December and is playing professionally with Las Gigantes de Carolina in her home country of Puerto Rico.

“It was always a dream to grow up and have that experience,” Rivera said.

Rivera is living with her family in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico. She said her parents were in the stands for her most important matches in college and they support her even more now.

“They haven’t missed one game,” she said. “It’s the best gift they can give to their daughter.”

Rivera’s mother, Lili Rojas also played professionally in Puerto Rico.

“Volleyball is part of her family,” SIU coach Justin Ingram

8

said. “She was probably the baby that grew up in the ball cart because her mom was a 20-year professional herself for the Puerto Rican national team.”

Rivera is the first player to play professionally after their Saluki career in Ingram’s time at SIU. “She’s worked really hard her entire life to be as great as she can be,” Ingram said. “The reward is her talent is catching up to the hard work she’s putting in.”

Saluki sophomore setter Hannah Kaminsky said Rivera has a the potential to play for many years.

“Probably for quite some time.

Until she has kids probably,” Kaminsky said.

Rivera said everyone in the league has been playing their entire lives, and there are no bad teams.

Her team is ranked fifth of seven, but has the same record D aily E gyptian F ilE p hoto Former Saluki Alex Rivera, pictured here in October 2014, is playing professionally with Las Gigantes de Carolina in her home country of Puerto Rico. Rivera graduated from SIU in December.

Scottsbluff, Nebraska Carbondale, Illinois

Vega Beja, Puerto Rico

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as the third and fourth ranked teams. The only difference is the number of individual sets won.

The team made the semifinals last season and finished third, with Rivera as the only rookie on the team.

Ingram said every player has qualities that will be missed, and Rivera was tremendous in

reception. This allowed hitters to be more successful.

He said he is unsure of how Rivera will be replaced; whether it be a current player stepping up, or a recruit coming in.

Rivera said she still keeps in touch with her teammates and coaches at SIU regularly.

“At SIU I was able to meet

people who are going to be a lifetime friendship,” Rivera said.

She said becoming a professional is something she has wanted to do for as long as she can remember. Rivera said her parents have supported all of her decisions and they are just as happy to see her succeed, as she is to live her dream.

Rotation boasts experience, readiness for season Brent Meske

@brentmeskeDE | Daily Egyptian

The Saluki softball rotation returns three of its pitchers from last year along with a freshman who will be the No. 2 pitcher on the team this year.

Seniors Katie Bertelsen and Alyssa Wunderlich, along with sophomore Shaye Harre return to the team with the addition of freshman Savanna Dover.

Coach Kerri Blaylock said it is hard to judge the pitching because the team has not played a consistent schedule this year.

“It’s weird because we haven’t gotten in a groove,” she said.

“We’re going to tinker with what we have when we get into a more normal schedule.”

Bertelsen, who will be the No. 1 pitcher this year, returns after being named a second-team All-MVC pitcher last season, going 14-13 with a 3.72 earned run average and a .281 opponent batting average.

Bertelsen said she has to be a leader and keep control of the game.

“When I’m on the mound, I try to stay calm so other players stay calm as well,” she said. “Staying calm in those tough situations allows me to

not let one run turn into seven.”

Dover has appeared in four games this year after coming to SIU from Cherokee High School in Canton, Ga., where she was All-Region, AllState and was named the Region 5 5A Pitcher of the Year in 2012.

Assistant coach Buddy Foster, who works with pitchers, said Dover needs more time to develop.

“She has all the tools to be really successful but she’s still on a learning curve,” he said. “We’re trying to get her to just go for it and stop being careful.”

Bertelesen said Dover will need to grow up quickly to fill in the role of No. 2 pitcher.

Dover said she has a long way to go, but is confident in her ability to get where she needs to be.

“It’s been a bumpy road, but I’m excited,” she said. “I can still develop more pitches and confidence in those pitches.”

Blaylock said Wunderlich will be used as a short relief pitcher because of her use of spin pitches instead of power pitches. She said Wunderlich will be used for three to four innings per appearance. “[Wunderlich] can do a great job paired with another pitcher,”

Blaylock said. “She comes in and settles us down and gets us out of a jam.”

Wunderlich led the team with a 3.13 ERA her freshman year in 2012, going 12-2. Since then, she has gone 11-13 with 1 save.

She said the relief role is something she has developed.

“It’s a little nerve-wracking at first, but my freshman year prepared me for that,” she said. “I have to stay ready and focused to come in the game at any time.”

Harre, who also plays first base for the Salukis, will be used in the circle as well this year.

She said Blaylock told her she would be used a lot this year in relief.

“I come in to try to get us out of jams and force ground ball outs,” Harre said. “I have to keep the ball low and keep the spin [on the ball] down.”

Blaylock said Harre would also be used as a starter when the team plays five games in a weekend. She said Harre is a naturally gifted pitcher and she has confidence in her ability.

Harre said she is fine with her role on the team.

“It’s a heavy load, but it’s

nothing I can’t handle,” she said.

“You just go in and try to get the job done, I don’t put added pressure on myself.”

The Salukis will likely use all four

pitchers in their upcoming fivegame Triple Crown Invitational beginning at 4:30 p.m. Thursday in Puerta Vallarta, Mexico against Northern Colorado.

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