Daily Egyptian

DE Since 1916

Daily Egyptian THURSDAY, AUGUST 21, 2014 VOLUME 98 ISSUE 86

O’Guinn releases statement Sarah Gardner Daily Egyptian

Former Police Chief Jody O’Guinn released a statement Wednesday explaining the circumstances of his firing.

O’Guinn said he does not know the reason Carbondale City Manager Kevin Baity fired him. Baity described the justification of his termination as a “confidential matter,” in a press release Monday. He also said it had nothing to do with recent litigation or the ongoing investigation of several high-profile cases.

O’Guinn served as chief of police since 2009.

The full statement from O’Guinn: On Monday, August 18, 2014, I was called into the office of the Carbondale City Manager, Kevin Baity. Mr. Baity presented me with a letter of resignation and requested that I sign it. I declined to sign the letter, and Mr. Baity informed me that he was terminating me immediately. I was given no statement of reasons for this decision, other than my “car wasn’t seen at headquarters enough in the last thirty days”

and that the “City needs to move in a different direction.” Obviously, off-site meetings, vacation time, flex time, community meetings and appointments, as well as performing traffic stops and other police related activity, can frequently cause one’s vehicle to not be at headquarters. I have, of course, read the press release issued by the City of Carbondale that refers to issues that are “confidential” in nature as to the reasons for my dismissal, without further explanation.

Please see O’GUINN · 2

Bite out of nature

Retention targeted

by task force Luke Nozicka Daily Egyptain

Nearly 40 percent of students who attended their first year in 2012 didn’t return for a second year, according to the university fact book.

As retention remains a continual issue on campus, a task force is implementing new initiatives in the hopes to improve those numbers.

Laurie Achenbach, dean of the College of Science, said a retention task force of about 65 faculty, staff, students and administrators that was formed last year is executing a plan to keep students at the university.

Less than 25 percent of students graduated within four years in 2007, and less than 45 percent graduated within six years.

The group is instituting several ideas to its plan, such as arranging blocked schedules and expanding early alert systems.

This semester, the task force initiated the block schedule for three majors on campus, biological sciences, psychology and criminal justice, so students can take three of their four required courses together.

She said the three majors were chosen because students in these majors must all take a certain number of the same classes to graduate.

“They see each other almost everyday. It really builds a community right from the start,” Achenbach said. “It’s not only addressing their curricular needs, but also their social needs.”

For example, all students majoring in biological sciences are required to take an intro to biology and chemistry, so assigning them to the same class is “almost like a group of friends going to class together,” she said.

The task force is also expanding the early alert system from entry-level math courses to UCOL and speech communication. The system allows professors and advisers to see how students are doing in specific courses by week three, grading them by colors of green, orange, yellow or red.

“This is an initiative that I think is going to change the way that instructors and students will see how they’re doing very early in a semester,” Achenbach said. “If a student is in red for all their courses, they may need some more intensive mentoring.”

Gregory Budzban, chair of the mathematics department, said the warning system allows professors to direct students in specific support systems needed.

He said students also are tested through the system in week eight and 12 of the course.

“It’s got to be late enough so you have reliable data but it’s got to be early enough so you actually have a chance to improve student success,” Budzban said.

The warning system, tested for the first time in fall 2013, compiles grades from a test taken at the beginning of a course, analyses how well a student is doing throughout the semester and evaluates homework grades and attendance.

Please see RETENTION · 2

E van F ait D aily E gyptian Gabriel Garcia, a senior from Chicago studying geography and environmental resources, purchases produce Wednesday from the Logic Campus Market in front of Faner Hall. Logic is a Registered Student Organization that focuses on growing organic food and educating students about organic habits. Logic partners with University Farms to help people understand and change local food practices. The market provides students with easy access to organic food at a reasonable price. The market is open from 12 to 4 p.m. every Wednesday in front of Faner and the Agriculture Building.

Durbin holding hearing on Amtrak route Tom Kacich

The News-Gazette

CHAMPAIGN — Weeks after calling for a study of the potential for increased service along Amtrak’s Chicago-to-Carbondale route, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin is holding a hearing today in Champaign on freight-train interference along the corridor.

The meeting between Surface Transportation Board Chairman Dan Elliott, Amtrak board member Tom Carper and local officials is scheduled for 3 p.m. at the Illinois Terminal in downtown Champaign. The Illinois Terminal is the local Amtrak station.

Elliott is meeting with communities throughout Illinois at Durbin’s urging. Today’s meeting will focus on concerns associated with freight-train interference and rail delays that have made Amtrak’s Chicago-to-Carbondale route, along Canadian National Railroad tracks, the most delayed route of its kind in the nation.

In a July 31 letter to Elliott, Durbin wrote, “I also encourage you to visit Illinois to investigate ways the STB can take a more active role in improving the on-time performance (OTP) for Amtrak trains.

Amtrak OTP has suffered significantly this fiscal year along all lines, but none worse than the Chicago-Champaign-Carbondale route owned and operated by CN. The Illini and Saluki trains are consistently delayed by freight trains, resulting in trains arriving ontime only 54 percent of the time this fiscal year, including one scheduled train arriving on-time only 34 percent of the time.”

Durbin called the delays “unacceptable,” and said they deserved the board’s “immediate attention and action.”

“Amtrak recently filed an updated petition with the STB citing CN’s obstructions and delays that resulted in the dismal OTP for Amtrak passenger trains. I strongly encourage

you to visit Illinois to investigate this matter further and use your authority under the 2008 Amtrak Reauthorization law I promoted to enforce OTP standards when a railroad, like CN, fails to keep passenger trains on-time at least 80 percent of the time.”

Amtrak’s monthly report for June showed that Illini and Saluki trains were on time 63.3 percent of the time that month, down from 81.7 a year earlier.

For the year so far, on-time performance has been 54.8 percent, a drop from last year’s 76.4.

Freight and passenger train interference were cited as the main reasons for the delays on the corridor, which is primarily a singletrack route.

Earlier this summer, Dur-bin sent a letter to CN president and CEO Claude Mongeau, urging him to address traffic and safety issues on CN routes in Illinois.

2

Thursday, augusT 21, 2014 RETENTION CONTINUED FROM

1

Achenbach was appointed head of the task force after Allan Karnes, then-associate dean of the College of Business, retired. She said block scheduling may expand to other majors depending on the results.

Teresa Farnum, who owns a consulting company, will meet with task force members in September to Entering Fall Semester

access retention actions on campus.

“The goal obviously is to increase our retention rates immediately,” Achenbach said. “By December, we hope to see an increase in retention, especially in some of the core freshman courses.”

Luke Nozicka can be reached at lnozicka@dailyegyptian.com or on Twitter @lukenozicka.

Cohort Headcount

Graduated within 4 years

Graduated within 5 years

Graduated within 6 years

Continued to 7th year

2006

2,220

26.4%

42.9%

6.8%

1.5%

2007

2,486

23.4%

39.3%

7.1%

1.9%

2008

2,553

24.5%

40.1%

5.8%

2009

2,321

26.1%

2010

2,198

2011

2,304

2012

2,243

O’GUINN CONTINUED FROM

1

I have absolutely no idea what matters Mr. Baity is referring to.

To the extent that Mr. Baity’s press release suggests otherwise, I totally and categorically deny that I engaged in any acts that did anything other than reflect my total loyalty to the City of Carbondale while I was serving as its Chief of Police. I further state that I engaged in no acts of unethical, unprofessional, or immoral behavior, and to the extent that Mr. Baity’s press release suggests otherwise, I deny the accusation.

I began service as the Carbondale Chief of Police in 2009. At the time I began service for the City of Carbondale, Brad Cole was the Mayor and Allen Gill was the City Manager.

I was reviewed every year by City Manager Gill and received glowing reviews. Since Mr. Baity took over as City Manager I have never received a performance review from him.

Communication from his office has been sporadic, at best. To this date, the only feedback that I received from Mr. Baity about my performance was his terse and confusing statements to me on August 18th and in his subsequent press release.

These numbers are not yet listed on the 2013 - 2014 Fact Book.

I am aware, of course, that there have been several high profile cases that have occurred during my tenure.

The media has constantly sought information from my office, and there was some, limited, information that could be supplied to the media and the family members of the victims and to the public at large. I was given a verbal directive by Mr. Baity and the Jackson County States Attorney that I was to not to talk to the media about these cases. Mr. Baity informed me that he would take responsibility for all media activity as to those cases. Mr. Baity’s regular practice, however, was to offer a “no comment.” In many instances this left the victim’s family and friends as well as many Carbondale citizens frustrated. It appears that a disproportionate amount of this frustration was directed at my office.

I would like to speak directly to the Young and Varughese families.

The details in your cases were never obfuscated in an attempt to cover up negligence or malfeasance. In fact, the Carbondale Police Department, under my direction, was one of the most transparent agencies in the state.

Unfortunately, the law enforcement community is limited by law in what we are allowed to say about ongoing investigations. In the case of Molly

Young, we immediately referred the incident to the Illinois State Police to ensure an unbiased investigation.

And in the case of Pravin Varughese, Pravin was reported missing 21 hours after he disappeared. The Carbondale Police Department took every possible action to find Pravin as soon as we were notified. I have children of my own, and my heart has broken for the loss of yours.

I have served in law enforcement all of my professional life, and I hope to continue to serve in some further capacity in law enforcement.

I sincerely wish the residents of the City of Carbondale well. I have enjoyed my time working in Carbondale. Over my years of service, I have learned that when you receive a command from a superior you obey that command and do your best to implement it, whether you personally agree with or not. You do not debate it with others or act in a way that conveys your displeasure with your superior.

I do not consider myself to be a person highly proficient in media relations, but I felt compelled to issue this press release to protect my reputation.

Thank you, Jody O’Guinn

Thursday, augusT 21, 2014

Journalists killed in action Since 1992, when the Committee to Protect Journalists started tracking murders, 1,070 journalists have been killed in connection with their work, either being specifically targeted or taking fire while working in a dangerous area.

Journalists killed by country Since 1992

Russia: 56

Pakistan: 54

United States: 5

Philippines: 76

0 1-20 21-50 More than 50

Iraq: 165 Syria: 65 Algeria: 60

Number of journalists killed annually 80 70 60

Somalia: 52

Groups responsible for killing journalists 31

29.4%

Political groups

18.0

Military

17.0

Government/Police

50 40

Criminals

30

Paramilitary groups

20 10

Source: Committee to Protect Journalists Graphic: Tyler Davis

9.3 5.5

Local residents

1.7

Mob violence

1.1

Unknown

17.7

3

4 Thursday, August 21, 2014

Pot war erupts in California resort area Joe Mozingo Los Angeles Times

(MCT)CLEARLAKE, Calif.Transients hole up in the old cottage resorts where vacationing families once came to fish and swim. Rotted docks and pier pilings litter the lake’s shoreline.

Much of this city, in fact, and others nearby in Lake County, looks as if it was plucked from Appalachia _ with weeds and unpaved streets, stray dogs and backyard marijuana crops.

But across the water in the county seat of Lakeport, civic and business leaders talk of bringing back tourism, of planting more vineyards instead of weed.

They are tired of the hot August stink, when every neighborhood patch is in full bloom. They are tired of the thuggish out-oftowners, the stream diversions and the violent crime.

Last year, residents successfully pushed county supervisors to ban marijuana growing on parcels smaller than an acre and limit most rural spreads to six plants.

Pot growers organized and forced a June ballot referendum to rescind the law, losing by fewer than 500 votes out of 15,000 cast.

Now those who hope to preserve marijuana cultivation are taking their case to the voters again _ in the form of competing initiatives.

A coalition of growers and activists is pushing a plan that it says would promote reasonable, regulated and limited growing of medical cannabis. Hippie grower Ron Kiczenski says their measure would ensure that a few established farmers dominate, keeping prices high and most residents out of the market. His proposal would establish marijuana growing as a human right.

And opponents of both are gearing up for battle. In this forgotten place of both stunning beauty and deep-set poverty, between Mendocino and Napa counties, residents in November will sort out an existential crisis at the ballot box.

Michael Horner has the smooth pitch of the medical cannabis movement: no stoner chuckle and no cough. His hair is gelled into a fashionable peak and his beard is trimmed.

Sitting among the pines in his backyard on Boggs Mountain, the marijuana activist explains the initiative his group, the Emerald Unity Coalition, is pushing.

By making it legal to grow up to 48 plants in Lake County, he says, the measure is about responsibility, environmental friendliness, patients and access to safe, clean medicine. It is not about money.

The former mortgage broker

points into the trees. He says there are 70 vacant lots in his neighborhood.

“You can buy one of those lots for $5,000 and grow marijuana on it,” he says. “I know at least five back there that are.” No permits, no legal water source and no inspections.

Under his group’s initiative, the 42-year-old says, a marijuana enforcement division would keep growers in line. But for every bad actor in the industry in Lake County, “there’s 10 patient-farmers who want to be compliant and legal and good stewards of the environment and community.”

Speaking to a reporter about Horner later that evening, an opponent asks: “Did he show you his ankle bracelet?”

It turns out that Horner, who acknowledges that he abused alcohol and meth until sobering up 10 years ago, served time for indecent exposure and fleeing a police officer. After being targeted by the sheriff last year in a raid, he was convicted of possessing anabolic steroids.

He wears an ankle monitor.

Horner’s bail bondsman is Rob Brown _ a buffalo rancher, bounty hunter, foster parent and high school wrestling coach.

He is also the county supervisor leading the effort to push out the marijuana industry.

At 54, Brown is a third-generation Lake County resident. He is built like a shot-putter, looking and talking much less like a politician than a guy you wouldn’t want to skip bail on.

“It’s not the marijuana, it’s the culture that comes with it,” Brown says, sitting in his county office. “It’s the culture of 20- and 30-somethings that want to come up here because they’re too damn lazy to work. They want to smoke their weed and make their money and not have to work.”

He leans libertarian. If he had cancer and thought marijuana would make him feel better, he would use it. And the current law allows that.

But he doesn’t want people coming here “destroying the county to grow a thousand plants to take to L.A.” His cellphone goes off _ its ring tone a police siren.

He answers it on speaker phone. “What?” he barks.

“I can’t believe I’m in here again,” a young man’s voice says.

“I can’t either, what’s that, about five times this month? ...

Call me back in an hour.”

Brown hangs up.

“He’s a grower,” he explains.

“But he’s also a cranker (meth user). That’s the thing. There used to be the day you’d have the weed people and you had

the speed people. Not any more.

The lines have blurred. They’re selling weed to buy speed. And they’re doing speed to stay up all night and guard their weed.”

With a salt-and-pepper beard to his sternum, the maverick in the Lake County marijuana war believes weed is an inalienable right.

Kiczenski’s ballot initiative is grandly called The Freedom to Grow Plants, Human Rights Restoration Act of 2014, and it would allow anyone to grow any plant for their own use _ including, as his opponents note, coca leaves and opium poppies.

But by limiting people with less than an acre to four plants, Kiczenski says, Horner’s measure would keep most of Lake County out of the market. He says that is the path to the corporate takeover of marijuana.

Kiczenski says the rightto-grow initiative is the next epic battle.

“What are people supposed to do up here?” he asks. “There’s no work. Half the people grow.”

County leaders, he says, “want to create a different demographic. If they could, they’d just bulldoze this place to get rid of us and make it look like Napa County.”

“Where are we supposed to go?

OpiniOn

THURSDAY, AUGUST 21, 2014

Police build mistrust when they hide facts

Eric Zorn

Chicago Tribune

Aug. 20 — Some of the dry straw feeding the fires of outrage in Ferguson, Mo., is the suspicion — the fear, the certainty — that police just aren’t very good at investigating alleged misdeeds of their own.

Under ordinary circumstances, police officials are at least grudgingly transparent, sharing information that doesn’t compromise their investigation. What are the basic facts? How do they jibe with what witnesses are telling authorities? What’s the next step and when can we expect it?

But when an officer’s conduct comes under fire, they tend to go all opaque.

In Ferguson, it took six days for the public to learn a fundamental detail: the name of the police officer who fired the shots that killed Michael Brown during an altercation on a residential street Aug. 9. And at this writing, we’ve yet to hear a comprehensive account of the officer’s version of events to contrast them with the version told by other witnesses.

“When people don’t get information, oftentimes they’ll make up their own,” said U.S. Rep. Danny Davis, D-Ill. “Rumors get started, eight or 10 versions of events start going around and the mistrust of police increases.”

I contacted Davis to talk to him not just about Ferguson but also about his recent call for Chicago police Cmdr. Glenn Evans to be reassigned pending the conclusion of an investigation into a brutality allegation against him.

Editorial Cartoon

That allegation, as chronicled in a recent series of reports by WBEZ-FM reporter Chip Mitchell, is that in January 2013, Evans helped chase down a man believed to be carrying a gun, then placed the barrel of his service revolver into the man’s mouth to threaten him as he was being restrained.

An Illinois State Police crime lab report from April, posted online, shows that DNA swabbed from Evans’ gun matched the DNA of the arrested man, who is now 24 and being held on other charges at the Pontiac Correctional Center.

Evans is in charge of the Harrison District, a high-crime area on the West Side represented by Davis.

Evans is also, as Davis noted, “at the top of the list” of Chicago police officers with multiple excessive force complaints against them from 1988 to 2008. Davis based that observation on a report compiled for the People’s Law Office by the late Steven Whitman, Chicago’s former chief epidemiologist and the director of the Urban Health Institute at Mount Sinai Medical Center.

The city’s Independent Police Review Authority reportedly reviewed the gun-inmouth allegation, recommended that Evans be relieved of his police powers pending resolution of the complaint and forwarded its findings to Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez for possible criminal charges.

I use the word “reportedly” because, when I presented the police, the review agency and the prosecutor’s office with Mitchell’s detailed narrative and asked for comment

or clarification, each agency declined to confirm or deny even the most plain factual assertions on grounds that the investigation is still open.

Evans is “under investigation,” Mayor Rahm Emanuel said at a press availability last Thursday. “When (police Superintendent) Garry McCarthy makes a recommendation and a conclusion, then I will be involved.”

Through an underling, Evans declined comment.

Police spokesman Martin Maloney added, “Throughout his career, Cmdr. Glenn Evans has reduced crime and violence for the communities he has served.”

People’s Law Office founding partner Flint Taylor, who often represents plaintiffs in police brutality suits but is not involved in this story, said he isn’t surprised by the near blackout. The Chicago Police “Department gives lip service to the ideals of transparency,” he said. “But a big story like this comes along, and (it makes) it almost impossible to get information.”

Closing ranks behind the oft-promoted Evans, Taylor said, “sends the message to other coppers that if your statistics are good, that’s all that matters.”

“Let people know what has occurred,” said Davis, speaking of the Evans case. “Let them know how the department is dealing with it. Provide assurances. Secrecy doesn’t breed respect for law enforcement.”

And respect for law enforcement — trust, confidence — is the dousing rain that too often doesn’t fall on our most troubled communities.

5

Contact Us Phone: (618) 536-3311 Fax: (618) 453-3248 Email: editor@dailyegyptian.com Editor-in-Chief: Sarah Gardner, ext. 252 sgardner@dailyegyptian.com Managing Editor: William Jack Robinson, ext. 252 jrobinson@dailyeyptian.com Photo Editor: Jennifer Gonzalez jgonzalez@dailyegyptian.com Campus Editor: Luke Nozicka, ext. 254 lnozicka@dailyegyptian.com Sports Editor: Tony McDaniel, ext. 256 tmcdaniel@dailyegyptian.com PulseEditor: Kyle Sutton, ext. 273 ksutton@dailyegyptian.com Design Chief: Branda Mitchell bmitchell@dailyegyptian.com Merchant, ext. 257 Web Desk: Alex amerchant@dailyegyptian.com Advertising Collin Rohs, ext. 240 Manager: Business Chris Dorris, ext. 223 Manager: Natalie Bartels Business & Jerry Bush, ext. 229 Editor: Eric Fidler, ext. 247 Printshop Blake Mulholland, ext. 241 Superintendent:

About Us The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of Southern Illinois University Carbondale 50 weeks per year, with an average daily circulation of 15,000. 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.

Submissions Lettersandguestcolumnsmustbesubmittedwithauthor’s contact information, preferably via email. Phone numbers are required to verify authorship, but will not be published.

Letters are limited to 400 words and columns to 500 words. Students must include year and major. Faculty must include rank and department. Others include hometown.

Submissions should be sent to opinion@dailyegyptian.com.

Editorial Policy Our Word is the consensus of the Daily Egyptian Editorial Board on local, national and global issues affecting the Southern Illinois University community. Viewpoints expressed in columns and letters to the editor do not necessarily reflect those of the Daily Egyptian.

Notice The Daily Egyptian is a “designated public forum.”

Student editors have the authority to make all content decisions without censorship or advance approval. We reserve the right not to publish any letter or guest column.

Mission Statement The Daily Egyptian, the student-run newspaper 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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Pulse

Guide to this year’s D Kyle Sutton Daily Egyptian

The smell of funnel cake creeps over the land, attracting people far and wide. Engines growl as demolition derby cars smash into each other with violent force. Screams echo as people spin in every direction on their conquest for thrill and adrenaline.

There is only one setting that this describes. The annual Du Quoin State Fair has finally made its way back to southern Illinois, and this year provides a wide assortment of activities for attendants to partake in.

The fair will run from Aug. 22 to Sept. 1 and is located on 750 acres in Du Quoin off of U.S. Highway 51 North.

This guide will provide a rundown of some of the major events taking place at this year’s fair.

Free music will be available to enjoy at the Beer Tent and Free Entertainment Tent. The fair will also hold various agricultural expos throughout the duration and plenty of motor sports. As always, various food vendors will be set up throughout the grounds as well as carnival rides for those of you who are thrill-seekers.

The Grandstand will play host to the biggest musical acts and events the fair has to offer. Below is a list of Grandstand concerts and events with correlating dates of occurrence and ticket prices.

Tickets can be purchased at the ticket office on site or by phone. The office will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. everyday during the fair. To contact the office for phone payments, call 618-542-1515.

For more information visit the Illinois Department of Agriculture website.

Harness Racing Aug. 22/7:00 p.m.

Tickets: Free Harness Racing Aug. 23/Noon Tickets: Free Foreigner Aug. 23/7:30 p.m.

Tickets: $30/$25 Harness Racing Aug. 24/Noon Tickets: Free Kenny Rogers Aug. 24/7:30 p.m.

Tickets: $30/$25 Travis Tritt Aug. 25/7:30 p.m.

Tickets: $30/$25 The Jon Henninger Band Aug. 26/7:30 p.m.

Tickets: $10 USA Championship Wrestling Aug. 27/7:30 p.m.

Tickets: $20/$10 .38 Special Aug. 28/7:30 p.m.

Tickets: $30 Rodney Atkins Aug. 29/7:30 p.m.

Tickets: $30/$25 KC & The Sunshine Band Aug. 30/7:30 p.m.

Tickets: $30 USAC Car Racing Aug. 31/8 p.m.

Tickets: $30 Derrek Humphrey, of Sturgis, Ky., takes a break Wedn ARCA Car Racing climbs on top of rides. The Du Quoin State Fair starts A Sept. 1/12:15 p.m.

Tickets: $30 Kyle Sutton can be reached at Nico & the Gringos ksutton@dailyegyptian.com, Sept. 1/7 p.m. on Twitter @KyleSutton_DE, Free or at 536-3311 ext. 273

THURSDAY, AUGUST 21, 2014

7

Follow your pulse writer on twitter @kylesutton_De

Du Quoin State Fair

I an M ullen D aIly e gyptIan nesday from setting up a carnival ride at the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds. Humphrey has earned the nickname ‘Monkey’ because he Aug. 22 with the theme “Love a Fair: Since 1923.”

8 Thursday, augusT 21, 2014

Chicago’s The Heard talk funk, venues, balance and new material Q&A

Chase Myers Daily Egyptian

Based in Chicago and playing at venues such as the Congress Theater and Metro, funk band The Heard has been combining early funkadelic styles and upbeat jams for several years.

The group consists of a horn section, including Adam Gross on trombone, Parris Fleming on trumpet and Lucas Ellman on saxophone. There’s also Taras Horalewskyj on guitar, Neal O’Hara on keyboard, bassist Mike Starr and drummer P.J. Howard.

The band is scheduled to perform at Hangar 9 this Friday

night, and the Daily Egyptian had the opportunity to talk to the band before its stop in Carbondale.

How did you guys come together and decide you were going to play funk music?

A few years ago, Taras (our guitar player), found a funk nugget in his pocket. He planted it in the back yard, watered it vigorously and out sprouted The Heard.

How does it feel to step on stage at historical Chicago venues?

Playing the stage at Congress Theater was a rush because it felt like the place was going to collapse at any moment.

How does the crowd response in Carbondale or

southern Illinois differ from the Chicago crowd?

It’s always fun playing in our home city, but we really like playing Hanger 9 in Carbondale because the crowds warm up really quickly and just have this great energy that we love.

How would you describe your sound to someone unfamiliar with funk?

Take a look at some James Brown circa 1974 or Parliament from the same era. That’s where I would start before going deeper.

What does the word funk mean to you?

Horatio Sans.

Sometimes when a band includes a horn section, it’s hard to balance sound between the horns

and rhythm sections. How do you guys blend your sound and interact with each other on stage in order to find that balance?

Balance comes from being patient, respecting space and striving to be tasteful, even though those things can all end up taking on different meanings depending on what is happening during a given performance and where the energy level is. The majority of it comes from making sure our parts all fit together to achieve what we want out of the big picture when we are writing. We play so much together as a band performing and rehearsing that you just start to develop a sense of what feels right.

Do you have any new music in the works?

We’ve got lots of new music in the works, which we’re excited about. In December we’re going to be in California recording with Sergio Rios of Orgone (band), and the game plan heading into that is to have an album’s worth of brand new material.

Local band Soul Census will open the show at 10 p.m. Friday and The Heard will follow. Cover for the 19-and-up show is $5.

Other upcoming performances for The Heard include The Boulevard Festival in Chicago this Sunday and the Bear Creek Music and Arts Festival in Live Oak, Fla. in November.

Chase Myers can be reached at cmyers@dailyegyptian.com, or on Twitter @chasemyers_DE

The Mudsills: Bringing the Blues Through Southern Illinois Chase Meyers Daily Egyptian

When describing the blues genre of music, musical legend B.B King once said, “The Blues? It’s the mother of American music. That’s what it is – the source.” Music today likes to incorporate small pieces of the blues style like scales and note progressions, but tends to overlook the roots of traditional music.

One band that remains true to the authentic blues sound of Mississippi while incorporating its own flavor is Carbondale’s own Mudsills. Since the band’s formation in early 2012 by vocalist and slide guitarist Alex Kirt, harmonica and guitar player Billy Dan Langley,

Danny Goett (former guitarist), bassist Mike Alderfer and drummer Cody Beckman, the Mudsills have been blessing southern Illinois with its traditional Blues style.

Kirt said the musical community in Carbondale is very closely knit.

“We all met here in Carbondale at various times in various nightclubs,” vocalist Alex Kirt said. “We all know each other. Most of us end up playing music together eventually for a time.”

The band has recently parted ways with its good friend Danny Goett, who used to play lead guitar in the band until he left for Colorado in June, Kirt said. Langley has been playing guitar on some songs as well as harmonica. In the past, he had exclusively been a harmonica player for the band.

They have played in various musical

combinations over the years so it is easy for them to make magic on stage, even if a member cannot make it. However, when the whole team is together, you hear the Mudsills in its purest form, Kirt said.

“When we’re all able to make it to the gig, we have a ton of fun and our songs go in some really interesting places,” he said.

“We use a foundation of traditional blues songs played in the Mississippi hill country style,” Kirt said. “We simply use those songs as the foundation, building on it and inventing new sounds each time we play.”

Kirt said the first show the band played was completely improvised with no official rehearsal.

You’re bound to hear something completely new and different at each show, Kirt said.

“Nobody is telling anyone else how to play or what to play,” he said.

“We just get together and play music with each other.”

The blues is appropriately named.

It represents a struggle and a voice. It’s used as a way of conveying an emotional story or moment in time. Life doesn’t follow a schedule or a form, and the music the Mudsills play represents that unexpected journey.

Kirt said the band reflects influence from big names in country blues like Robert Belfour, R.L. Burnside and the grooves of Tom Waits, as well as the blues era of The Rolling Stones in the late 1960s.

Most of the Mudsills’ influence derives from artists with little technical skill, but immense improvisational talent, he said. “They are raw, gritty, rural,

and gushing with a certain something that seems to be a mixture of tension, struggle, brutal honesty, and an affinity for rebellion and lawlessness.”

The band plays a large number of shows in the Carbondale area and has always drawn a crowd. “Carbondale is as good as it gets for enthusiastic crowds who love to listen to live music being performed by small-time, unknown, independent bands” Kirt said. “They often make us feel like an important part of the local culture.”

The Mudsills will bring the blues to Tres Hombres Mexican Restaurant and Bar on Friday night. The Transcendental Cowboys will open the show.

Chase Myers can be reached at cmyers@dailyegyptian.com, or on Twitter @chasemyers_DE

Thursday, augusT 21, 2014

9

10 Thursday, augusT 21, 2014

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

FOR RELEASE AUGUST 21, 2014

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

Level: 1

2

3 4

SOLUTION TO WEDNESDAY’S PUZZLE

8/21/14

Complete the grid so each row, column andfor << Answers Wednesday 3-by-3 box Complete the (in bold borders) grid so each row, contains column andevery 3-by3 box (in digit, 1 bold to 9. borders) contains For strategies on every digit, 1 to 9. For to strategies how solve on how to solve Sudoku, visit Sudoku, visit www.

www.sudoku.org.uk sudoku.org.uk © 2014 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.

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

Today’s Birthday (08/21/14).

Your personal power expands this year, with Jupiter, Mercury, Venus and the

Sun in your sign. Shake ups at work this October reveal new options. Direct your talents at home and with family until 12/23, then an intriguing game tempts you to play... it could get romantic.

Springtime could see changes around family money and communications.

Nurture compassion.

Aries (March 21-April 19) Today is an 8 — Words travel farther with wider impact today. Take notes, record, and issue media releases.

Home duties call today and tomorrow.

Discipline is required, and experience useful. Invest time and love into a family project.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Today is an 8 — With discipline, your message travels farther than you imagined. You’re especially persuasive.

Convince your partner first. You have extra resources for a household project.

Important people speak well of you.

Listen to family advice.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

ACROSS 1 Travelocity user’s request 6 Get too personal 9 Prepare a spread for 14 Word after open, in retail 15 Duvall’s role in “Gods and Generals” 16 Rap sheet entry 17 Tarot card representing union 19 Hobbles 20 Wind that can be controlled 21 Chowed down 22 Prairie home 23 Fertility lab supply 24 Brightening near a sunspot 26 Genre that evolved from ska 29 Spanish article 30 Wordless okay 31 __ preview 32 Leveling piece 34 Spruce cousins 35 Mixer?

38 Auto club amenities 41 Work for 42 See 5-Down 46 Mountain ending 47 Inclined 48 Pantomime 49 Ingredient that mimics the flavor of an edible fungus 53 Citi Field player 54 Set of devotional prayers 55 Genetic stuff 56 React to yeast 57 Time piece?

58 Checkers’ speech? (or what are hidden in 17-, 24-, 35and 49-Across) 60 Nickel and dime 61 Lennon’s love 62 Swindler 63 Cut drastically 64 Youngster 65 Low cards DOWN 1 King and Queen 2 Meshed together

Today is a 9 — A careful workrelated investment may be necessary.

Networking unveils connections that prove profitable in the long run. Have conversations for what you want to make happen, and solutions abound.

Keep your word.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) Today is a 9 — Accept a challenge if it pays well. Send information to those who need it. Set up a meeting with colleagues, and find ways to work smarter. Replace something before it breaks. Your influence expands.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Today is an 8 — Keep practicing a game you know well. Someone older offers a partnership. Don’t go into debt in a moment of passion.

Spend responsibly. Consider longterm plans. Call home if you’ll be late.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Today is an 8 — New responsibilities lead to changes at home. Discover new respect for your

By Mark Feldman

3 Place to put things 4 Beast in the Royal Arms of England 5 42-Across helper 6 Second-mostmassive dwarf planet 7 Force back 8 __-man 9 Symbols seen in viola music 10 “The Tempest” spirit 11 Percussion instruments 12 Beethoven’s last piano concerto, familiarly, with “the” 13 Deals with a patchy lawn 18 Trumpet protector 22 __ steamer 25 Stranger 27 Yaks 28 Letters in a dossier 32 Do lutzes, say 33 The Beatles’ “And I Love __” 34 Host of some offcampus parties

08/21/14 8/21/14 Wednesday’s Answers Wednesday’s Puzzle Solved

(c)2014 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

36 Wedding invitation request 37 “Abort!” key 38 Poet’s art 39 Spray 40 Frederick the Great’s realm 43 Party choice 44 Time associated with graceful children 45 Swears (to)

ancestors. Compare bids and explore your options before making household purchases. Talk over your big picture strategy with dear friends.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Today is an 8 — Communications go the distance today. Issue statements and data. Marketing and business promotions boost your clout. Friends offer good advice. Use your selfdiscipline. Set priorities. Sort through the pile yourself, and clear clutter.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Today is a 9 — Talk to longdistance connections. Plan an adventure, and include interesting companions.

Don’t take cash flow for granted. Craft a project that benefits others. Friends provide the information you need.

Think about all the angles.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Today is an 8 — Rest up for the coming challenge. Get answers in private. Identify the major barrier. You have the innate power to do this. Take

8/21/14 08/20/14

47 From the beginning 48 “That’s a shame!”

50 Mythical goatmen 51 Academic Maine town 52 Gold brick 56 Oberhausen’s region 58 Period, for one 59 Autumn mo.

new territory. It’s easier than it looks.

Be flexible, without capitulation.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Today is a 9 — Persuade partners with facts and confidence. Keep good records. Make sure you know what’s required. Send in applications and sign contracts. Your words go farther than expected; say something positive.

Listen for the gold.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Today is a 9 — Your intention could get thwarted. Share all feedback with your partners. Relax with cool drinks and release frustration. Friends offer good advice. Look for what was missing and provide it. Get back on the horse.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Today is an 8 — Listen to all considerations before choosing your next actions. Practice creative talents.

Talk it over. Get rid of stuff you don’t need. Strengthen your infrastructure.

Align your deeds and purchases with your ethics.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 21, 2014

11

Tough campaign ahead for Saluki football Press Coverage with

Tony McDaniel The Dawgs were ranked fifth by the coaches, media and sports information directors of the Missouri Valley Conference on July 29. The result surprised me, based on the offensive weapons the Salukis have, and the nine starters returning on defense.

However, after careful consideration the ranking makes some sense and is hardly anything to be upset about. SIU plays in a ridiculous conference. The MVC is basically the FCS’s version of the Southeastern Football Conference. There are four teams ranked above SIU in the MVC also ranked in the FCS top-25, the Dawgs received votes, but were left on the outside of the top-25 looking in.

On offense the Salukis will bring back senior All-American tight end MyCole Pruitt.

Senior running back Malcom Agnew rushed

for 888 yards last season, and could seriously help boost the Saluki offense. The inclusion of speedy senior receiver Tay Willis can only help SIU’s offensive production.

On defense, the Dawgs will bring back senior linebackers Tyler Williamson and Jordan Poole, who combined return with 8 sacks, 2 interceptions and 119 tackles.

There seem to be two things hurting the Salukis with their ranking. The first is a question surrounding the quarterback.

SIU will have junior Mark Iannotti taking the snaps at quarterback and he is almost completely untested at the collegiate level.

Iannotti transferred to SIU in the spring from Eastern Michigan University, where he only attempted one pass. Iannotti has played well in practice, but we’ll have to wait to see Iannotti in game action to get a grasp on how he is as a quarterback.

The other issue is the brutal MVC. The four schools ranked in front of SIU are North Dakota State University, South Dakota State University, Northern

Iowa University and Youngstown State University. All four schools are ranked in the top-25, and three of them will return most of their starters from 2013.

North Dakota State is a no-brainer to sit on top of the MVC preseason poll.

The Bison haven’t lost a game since October 2012. They will lose their starting quarterback and running back from last season, but will bring back senior running back John Crockett who ran for 1,307 yards last season.

Junior quarterback Carson Wentz will fill the void left by Brock Jensen, NDSU’s threeyear starter. Wentz appeared in 11 games last season for the Bison.

NDSU should be good and have a great chance to win not only the conference, but also the FCS for the fourth-straight time.

South Dakota State was picked second and they deserve that ranking as well.

On offense, the Jackrabbits return senior running back Zach Zenner, the nation’s secondbest rusher. Zenner ran for 2,085 yards and added 23 touchdowns to his impressive yardage total.

On defense, the Jackrabbits lost Chase Douglas and Marshall Peugh who combined for 17 sacks last year. Junior defensive back Je Ryan Butler could be poised for a big year however. Butler recorded 4 interceptions last season as a sophomore.

After the two schools from Dakota in the MVC the talent level drops off a bit.

Northern Iowa was only 3-5 in the MVC last season, but will get most of its leading defensive players back in 2014.

The offense won’t blow anyone away though.

Northern Iowa will rely on its running game this season and senior running back David Johnson can try to carry the offense.

Johnson will bring back 1,309 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns, but the passing game didn’t put up big numbers last year. The Panthers will be tested by even some of the lower ranked teams in the Valley.

SIU and fourth-place Youngstown State were separated by just three votes in the preseason poll, and its difficult to see why.

The Penguins return most of their offense including sophomore running back Martin Ruiz who posted an incredible 1,129 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns as a freshman.

Senior quarterback Kurt Hess will also be back, he passed for 22 touchdowns in 2013 and spreads the ball well to his receivers. Hess seems to do most of the work in the passing game though. 10 receivers caught touchdowns in 2013, but none of them managed to top 400 yards receiving.

Personally I think the Salukis should be ranked fourth, a few points behind NIU and well ahead of Youngstown State.

SIU’s weapons on offense should be enough to put them in fourth and into the preseason top-25, but the experts think differently.

Tony McDaniel can be reached at tmcdaniel@ dailyegyptian.com, @tonymcdanielDE or at 536-3311 ext. 256

Lebron’s odds at five straight finals Tyler Davis Daily Egyptian

The LeBron James sweepstakes dominated the sports headlines for much of the summer. As in 2010, James kept fans on edge about where he would play next.

In 2010, he left the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Miami Heat.

Hopefully his ticket from Cleveland to Miami was round trip, as the two-time NBA champion returned to his home state in July.

James makes any team he joins a contender for the NBA title, as we saw with the Cavaliers when he first broke into the league.

He managed to lead a team that featured Anderson Varejao and Mo Williams as his sidekicks, to the NBA Finals; a feat that has not been replicated in Cleveland.

Cleveland fans are hoping for more than an appearance in the NBA Finals during James’ stint with the team. The Cavaliers made headlines again when they agreed, in principle, to trade for All-Star power forward Kevin Love earlier this month. They shipped the last two no. 1 overall picks in the NBA Draft (Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett) to Minnesota as well as a 2015 first round pick.

Most people around the NBA believe James and Love, combined with former Rookie of the Year and NBA All-Star, Kyrie Irving, make the Cavaliers the team to beat in the East.

While the team boasts an impressive starting lineup, its bench still lacks a definitive scoring punch. After signing Shawn Marion earlier this week, the bench will be headlined by Marion, sharpshooter Mike Miller, and big man Tristan Thompson, the Cavalier’s 2013-2014 starter.

The starting lineup figures to be Irving-Dion Waiters-JamesLove-Varejao. After Marion and Thompson, the rest of the bench couldn’t sniff another NBA starting lineup.

Does that sound like a championship team? No. Especially with the Heat, Chicago Bulls and Washington

Wizards all nipping at Cleveland’s heels. Let’s take a look at these squads. I’ll save the Bulls for last, let’s start with the Heat.

After losing James, Miami retooled by resigning two-thirds of the former big three in Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade. Miami also picked up swingmen Luol Deng and Josh McRoberts along with Danny Granger.

They are projected to go with Mario Chalmers-Wade-DengMcRoberts-Bosh as a starting lineup. That is no team to laugh at but on the bench there is plenty of room for improvement. They will feature Norris Cole, Udonis Haslem and Chris Andersen.

Although this year’s Heat probably won’t play in a fifth straight Finals appearances, Miami should be near the top of the Eastern Conference standings.

My sleeper pick to win 50 games, the Washington Wizards, also had a nice offseason. The team defeated a depleted Bulls team in this year’s playoffs and improved by resigning Marcin Gortat and Drew Gooden. The Wizards also acquired Kris Humphries, via sign and trade, and future Hall of Famer Paul Pierce, though he is now 36.

With a talented starting lineup of John Wall-Bradley Beal-PierceNene-Gortat, do not be surprised if the Wizards win more than just one series this postseason. The disappointing bench headlined by Humphries, Gooden and Andre Miller as well as defensive lapses will ultimately be the downfall of the team.

But now to the team that figures to challenge James the most, the Bulls. Perhaps the best news the Bulls had all offseason was hearing Derrick Rose has been tearing up competition with ferocity during Team USA practices and games. He continues to prepare for the International Basketball Federation, or FIBA, World Cup before the NBA season starts in late October.

Chicago, after striking out yet again on the biggest free agent,

Washington Wizards

Miami Heat

John Wall

PG 19.3 PPG, 8.8 APG & 4.1 RPG

Mario Chalmers

Bradley Beal

SG 17.1 PPG, 3.7 RPG & 3.3 APG

Dwyane Wade

Paul Pierce

SF 13.5 PPG & 4.6 RPG

Nene

PF 14.2 PPG & 5.5 RPG

Luol Deng

Cleveland Cavaliers

PG 9.8 PPG & 4.9 APG

SG 19 PPG, 4.7 APG & 4.5 RPG

SF 16.6 PPG & 6.0 RPG

PF

8.5 PPG, 4.8 Josh McRoberts RPG & 4.3 APG

Marcin Gortat

C 13.2 PPG & 9.5 RPG

Chris Bosh

C 16.2 PPG & 6.6 RPG

Chicago Bulls

Kyrie Irving

PG 20.8 PPG & 6.1 APG

Derrick Rose

PG 15.9 PPG & 4.3 APG

Dion Waiters

SG 15.9 PPG & 3.0 APG

Jimmy Butler

SG 13.1 PPG & 4.9 RPG

LeBron James

SF 27.1 PPG, 6.4 APG & 6.9 RPG

Mike Dunleavy Jr

SF 11.3 PPG & 4.2 RPG

Kevin Love

PF 26.1 PPG, 4.4 APG & 12.5 RPG

Pau Gasol

PF 17.4 PPG & 9.7 RPG

Joakim Noah

C 12.6 PPG, 11.3 RPG & 5.4 APG

Anderson Varejao

C PPG, 4.4 APG & 12.5 RPG

Notable Bench Players: Notable Bench Players: Notable Bench Players: Notable bench players: Cavs: Bulls: Taj Gibson, Kirk Wizards: DeJuan Blair, Drew Heat: Danny Granger, Norris Tristan Thompson, Shawn Hinrich, Tony Snell, Aaron Brooks, Nikola Mirotic, Doug Gooden, Kris Humphries, Cole, Shabazz Napier Marion, Mike Miller Andre Miller McDermott

Carmelo Anthony, enacted a solid backup plan that included signing four-time All-Star and twotime NBA champion Pau Gasol.

Chicago also brought over former first round draft pick Nikola Mirotic from his professional team in Spain.

Mirotic, a highly touted prospect, is a 6-foot-10- inch forward from Yugoslavia with impressive three-point range and above average defense. He figures to come off the bench alongside first round draft pick and threetime NCAA All-American Doug McDermott.

This gives the Bulls a projected starting lineup of Rose-Jimmy

Butler-Mike Dunleavy-GasolJoakim Noah. While the starting lineup may be comparable to the Wizards and Heat in terms of talent, the bench is what sets the Bulls apart from those two teams.

They go 10 maybe 11, deep with the veterans like Taj Gibson, Kirk Hinrich, Aaron Brooks, Tony Snell and rookies McDermott and Mirotic. The Bulls received lucrative trade offers for Gibson, and Brooks and Hinrich were both courted by other teams during free agency.

It figures to be a crowded Eastern Conference, although last week ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith handed the East to Cleveland,

as have many analysts. I will go in a different direction and pick Chicago to represent the East.

While the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder will be tough to take down, in finals, this year’s Bulls team is the best Rose has had since being drafted in 2008.

Of course, Rose remains the biggest question mark of all. It seems the East will come down to whose return will be better? James’ return to Cleveland or Rose’s return to greatness?

Tyler Davis can be reached at tdavis@dailyegyptian.com and Twitter @TDavis_DE.

Sports

THURSDAY, AUGUST 21, 2014

12

For live updates oF all saluki sports Follow @desalukis on twitter

Jones transitions to Frontier League

l ewis m arien

Aaron Graff Daily Egyptian

Catcher Matt Jones’ first home series of his senior season was played at Rent One Park in Marion, but now he’s calling it home in a different uniform.

Jones played two seasons with the Salukis. He started 113 games and hit .282 with 4 home runs and 63 RBIs. He signed with the Frontier League’s Southern Illinois Miners of the Frontier League after catcher

Jose Gonzalez’s contract was purchased by the Colorado Rockies in June.

“It makes the transition easier staying in the same part of the country,” Jones said.

Miners coach Mike Pinto said the team really likes Jones because his approach fits in perfectly with professional baseball.

“Sometimes the best guy is right in your home town,” Pinto said. “We were looking for a catcher when Gonzalez went to

the Rockies. There’s a lot of guys we could have gotten, but [Jones] was the guy we wanted.”

Pinto said he never saw Jones play with the Salukis because he doesn’t live in the area during the spring, but bench coach Ralph Santana had. Pinto said after the Major League Baseball Draft concludes, the team starts looking for players that didn’t get picked. Jones was on his list.

Jones is batting .309 in 21 games with two home runs and

d aily e gyptian

12 RBIs with the Miners.

“This is a starting point for guys coming out of college that maybe got missed in the draft,” Pinto said. “I know he’s going to have some invite tryouts with some Major League clubs, and he’s going to deserve those.”

Pinto said Jones is splitting time catching with Phil Butler, depending on the matchups and who is pitching for the Miners.

Butler is the last remaining player from 2012, when the

Miners won the Frontier League Championship. He said it is good competition between the two of them, and they both learn from each other.

“The competition is definitely better,” Jones said. “You’ve got a lot of guys from [Major League] affiliated ball that have played Triple-A or Double-A somewhere along the way.”

Jones has one semester of classes left at SIU, but no athletic eligibility remaining. He said it’s weird he isn’t participating in team preseason meetings, but he still keeps in touch with his former teammates.

“I still talk to those guys a lot,” Jones said. “I’m going to be down there a lot regularly. You can’t really forget that bond you had in college with those guys.”

Butler said Miners fans tend to be Saluki fans, and they know when a former Saluki transitions.

“We’ve had a couple SIU guys the past couple of years,” Butler said. “You definitely get a bigger reaction with those guys, especially their first game when they announce it over the loud speaker.”

Jones said he is keeping his role in mind. He said in the minors, teams are more focused on development, but right now he and his team are mostly focused on winning.

“The ultimate goal is to play Major League Baseball,” Jones said. “I’m still trying to get that opportunity with an affiliated team.”

Aaron Graff can be contacted at agraff@dailyegyptian.com, @Aarongraff_DE or (815)-483-3781

Talented freshman joins Saluki golf Thomas Donley Daily Egyptian

When the time came for golfer Alice Ho to choose where she would continue her education, she had no shortage of choices.

After considering her sister’s school Ohio University and The Ohio State University, Ho chose SIU. Ho picked the university because of the beautiful campus and an academic scholarship, which supplemented her athletic scholarship.

Ho was a 2012 second-team All-Ohio honoree at Wadsworth High School. Her statistics stood out to head coach Alexis Mihelich, who regularly scours the national junior golf rankings as part of the recruiting process. After Mihelich sent Ho an email, the mutual interest between Ho and the program grew.

“I knew Alice just loved the game,” Mihelich said. “She was really dedicated to getting better. She’s from a golfing family and I knew she would have a good four-year career here.”

Golf is not the only talent Ho possesses. A selftaught musician, Ho has been playing piano and guitar since the age of 13. Although she has never had a lesson, she can play piano pieces as difficult as Yiruma’s “River Flows in You.” She said playing music helps reinforce coordination on the golf course.

Ho is a native of Wadsworth, Ohio, which is 15 miles west of Akron. In a video on her YouTube page,

J amie e ader

d aily e gyptian

Freshman Saluki golfer Alice Ho drives the ball Wednesday at Hickory Ridge Public Golf Center. Ho said Coach Mihelich is a good motivator and a reason why she chose to attend SIU. “I came to visit

Ho called Ohio State her dream school. Ho also considered offers from Kent State University, Akron University and Division II Ashland University in

Ohio and Coker College in Hartsville, S.C., before joining the Salukis.

Ho is expected to contribute right away; she will

help fill the void left by the departure of Ashleigh and Cassie Rushing. However, her role with the team has yet to be defined, that responsibility will not be hers alone to shoulder.

“It’s a team effort for replacing those golfers that graduated,” senior captain Kris Grimes said. “But she’ll help make our team stronger.”

Ho has been well received by her teammates and coaches. Senior Whitney Nugent called her a funny, sweet, and outgoing person, while Mihelich likes her work ethic.

Ho was a successful high school golfer; she was named First-Team All-Suburban League and AllNortheast Ohio for four consecutive years.

The right-hander was the first Medina County freshman to advance to the state tournament and returned as a junior and senior. Her best finish at state came in her junior year when she finished ninth. Ho also holds the boys and girls nine-hole record with a score of 33 at Wadsworth High School.

Ho is no slouch in the classroom either. The dietetics major earned a Dean’s Scholarship for her academic performance in addition to an athletic scholarship. Ho wants to be a registered dietician after her career at SIU. While Ohio University is not on the Salukis’ schedule for this season, a matchup between Ho and her sister is not out of the realm of possibility.

“I think that would be fun,” Ho said. “I would like that.”