Daily Egyptian by Daily Egyptian

Daily Egyptian WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2017

DAILYEGYPTIAN.COM

SINCE 1916

VOL. 101 ISSUE 36

'They are trying to silence us' Pg. 10

INSIDE:

SIU named sustainable campus pg. 3 | Robotics team keeps winning pg. 7

Page 2

Wednesday, november 29, 2017

Students launch social media campaign to raise awareness, support for Africana studies KITT FRESA | @KittFresa

To try to save the Africana studies program from being cut, students are putting together a video campaign to raise awareness and support of the department. A plan approved by the Board of Trustees in July put Africana studies, along with six other programs, on the chopping block for elimination. In October, Chancellor Carlo Montemagno said he would defer his decision on the department’s fate for a year. The possibility it could still be eliminated is concerning to students like Kelechi Agwuncha, a student and one of the campaign’s organizers. “We want to have campus-wide support and visual support for Africana studies, because we’re seeing a lack in social media support for it,” Agwuncha said. “We want people

to know that this isn’t just a college issue, but also a community issue.” The video will include a montage of faces of all different colors, ages and races, Agwuncha said. It also will feature Joseph Brown, a professor in the department, Novotny Lawrence, a professor in radio, television and digital media and interviews from members of the Black Affairs Council. “It’s a campus-wide problem because everyone needs to receive this possibility of Africana studies still being here,” Agwuncha said. College is meant to open students’ minds to other experiences and cultures, Julius Jefferson a student at SIU and another campaign organizer, said. “If we lose a department like Africana studies, we lose the purpose that college has in enlightening people and providing

a greater knowledge that they could never get anywhere else,” Jefferson said. “To try and get rid of Africana Studies is insulting … it's such an important department.” The campaign’s goal is to show that the elimination of Africana studies is “not just one person's issue, but it’s everyone's issue,” Agwuncha said. “With this political climate, I think that it can honestly offer a lot of insight to people who are just oblivious to what’s happening and also oblivious to the culture,” Agwuncha said. Though it is unclear when the video will be completed, when it is done it will be shared through local media outlets and social media, Agwuncha said. Staff writer Kitt Fresa can be reached at kfresa@dailyegyptian.com.

Athena Chrysanthou (618) 536-3397

Managing Editor Abbey La Tour

Faculty Managing Editor:

Advertising Chief:

alatour@dailyegyptian.com Campus Editor: Marnie Leonard

(618) 536-3326 Photo Editor: Brian Munoz

(618) 536-3327 bmunoz@dailyegyptian.com

Ad Production Manager: Information Technology Manager: Classifieds Manager:

Design Chief: Reagan Gavin

rgavin@dailyegyptian.com Business Office:

Sports Editor: Nathan Dodd

(618) 536-330 ndodd@dailyegyptian.com

Photo credit for the front cover:

Business and Advertising Director:

Eric Fidler (618) 536-3306 Elizabeth Yohe (618) 536-3341 lyohe@dailyegyptian.com Camille Ticheur cticheur@dailyegyptian.com Eric Gire (618) 536-3310 Brey'onna Mong-Delane (618) 536-3399 classified@dailyegyptian.com Arunima Bhattacharya (618) 536-3305 Devin Miller (618) 536-3309

Brian Muñoz | @BrianMMunoz Cheerleaders Alaysia Brandy, left, and Czarina Tinker, center, kneel during the national anthem Nov. 18, before the Salukis' 69-64 win against the University of Illinois Springfield Prairie Stars at SIU Arena.

Wednesday, november 29, 2017

Page 3

The university ranks silver in 2017 campus sustainability index AMELIA BLAKELY | @AmeilaBlakely

For the second time since 2013, SIU placed in the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s Sustainable Campus Index. Geory Kurtzhals, the university’s sustainability coordinator, said the association is a higher education oversight group that creates a report of university environmental impacts every three years. Kurtzhals said SIU was ranked on the higher end of the silver level. The index is on a five level ranking system: participant, bronze, silver, gold and platinum. Kurzhals said she is hoping to reach gold in the 2019 report. According to association’s website, there were 129 reports submitted to the index. Sustainability-focused universities are attracting more students than universities that aren’t, Kurtzhals said. “It’s a trend, not just within universities,” Kurtzhals said. “Corporations and organizations are looking for people who understand sustainability.” Kurthalz said the university should want to be environmentally conscious in order to be prepared for potential employers who might be seeking graduates that understand sustainability. “Sustainability is a movement that is not going away; it continues to grow and be important in higher education, business and corporations,” Kurtzhals said. Most of the time, she said sustainable choices are smarter choices. “Sustainability is about thinking about the health of the world you are living in and the decision we’re making on a daily basis,” Kurtzhals said. “Who doesn’t want a better world for their grandchildren?” The university’s Sustainability

“Sustainability is a movement that is not going away; it continues to grow and be important in higher education, business and corporations.” - Geort Kurtzhals University Sustainability Coordinator

Council, which Kurtzhals said is made up of three faculty members, three students and three staff members, is a body that helps make environmental decisions on campus. A committee within the council, the Green Fund Committee, oversees the administration of the Green Fee to sustainability projects on campus. Kurtzhals said members on this committee oversee grant proposals to make the campus greener. Currently, Kurtzhals said there are 169 sustainability projects being implemented. One of the projects is being put together by the Saluki Green Action Team, a sustainability campaign on campus. This group’s light switch project involves volunteers going to key locations on campus and putting sticker reminders for the last person to leave a room to turn off the lights. The project will commence at 2 p.m. on Dec.1, and volunteers can sign up at sustainability.siu.edu.

Kurtzhals said they are looking for about 20 to 30 volunteers. “We know that when humans beings make a better decision and switch off lights, they’re going to save energy,” Kurtzhals said. The light switch project is about creating a culture of personal responsibility, Kurtzhals said, that involves thinking about everyday actions and how they affect the earth. She said creating sustainable habits is something that everyone can do without disrupting their everyday routine. “A light switch sticker is a sticker that is a reminder,” Kurtzhals said. “But people actually have to take the step to take the action. Every time that you take the time to make a smarter decision when it comes to energy usage or water usage you’re going to save the university, yourself or your home money.” Staff writer Amelia Blakely can be reached at ablakely@dailyegyptian.com or on Twitter @AmeilaBlakely.

Page 4

Wednesday, november 29, 2017

School of medicine planning community paramedicine program AMELIA BLAKELY | @AmeilaBlakely

Local health organizations are developing a new community paramedicine program using a $100,000 grant from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, according to a university press release. The Center for Rural Health and Social Service Development — which is part of the SIU School of Medicine — and the Good Samaritan Regional Health Center in Mt. Vernon are developing the program to improve paramedic medicine in the region. Dennis Presley, project coordinator for the Center for Rural Health and Social Service Development, said this will allow paramedics to respond to a wider array of needs. Paramedics would continue to respond to emergency calls for trauma and medical needs, and they would also be able to go into communities to monitor health. This program would be implemented in Clay, Lawrence, Wayne, Jefferson and Crawford counties, the release says. In these counties, six hospitals, five emergency medical services agencies and three mass transit organizations would be created. These new services will be called the Southern Illinois Collaborative for Innovative Care Coordination network. According to Presley's grant proposal, these counties are very rural, with median incomes that are lower than

“We’re giving them another tool with community paramedicine, which certainly enhances their ability to provide care, as well as gives us healthier patients.” - Dennis Presley, project coordinator for the Center for Rural Health and Social Service Development

others in the state. The individual county populations range about from 13,800 to 19,800 people. Presley said paramedicine would provide consistent healthcare to those with chronic diseases, including heart disease, coronary heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This program would also reduce unnecessary readmissions in hospitals, he said. “We’re giving them another tool with community paramedicine, which certainly enhances their ability to provide care, as well as gives us healthier patients,” Presley said. Although the southern Illinois healthcare system is excellent, Presley said, hospitals and health centers are experiencing more financial constraints every day. Along with an aging population hindered with chronic conditions, Presley said it’s tough for people to get the medical care they need. “It’s an area that has really high risk factors, some highest in the nation as far as chronic condition prevalence,” Presley said. Presley’s grant proposal says all five counties ranked above the state and national average rate of COPD and diabetes. Four out of the five counties ranked above the state and national rate for hypertension. “People who are constantly coming back to the hospital cost the health care system a lot of money,” Presley said. When patients are admitted to hospitals and receive medical care, the hospital is reimbursed through private insurance, Medicare or Medicaid, Presley said. He said if medical care is provided to patients with chronic conditions through paramedicine at their homes instead of the hospital, it will save the hospital money in the end. After a year of planning for the implementation of the paramedicine program, Presley said he will apply for an implementation grant that will last three years to put the paramedicine services in place. After three years, Presley said it would be up to the organizations making up the new network to decided whether or not they want to continue funding it, based on the effectiveness and money the programs save. “Community paramedicine is a model which the federal government is looking at more and more as a mode of health care that is very viable,” Presley said. “What’s interesting about community paramedicine, whether it’s been implemented in very rural areas or very urban areas, it’s been seemingly just as successful.” Staff writer Amelia Blakely can be reached on Twitter @AmeilaBlakely or at ablakely@dailyegyptian.com.

Wednesday, november 29, 2017

Page 5

Page 6

Bikes, Video Games, Computers, Laptops, Minifridges, TVs, Jewelry, Microwaves, Tools, DVDs!! Priced 1/2 of new!! Guaranteed to work! Midwest Cash 1200 W. Main (Rte.13) Carbondale. 549-6599 Cash for Students! facebook.com/midwestcash

4 Bdrm, 2 Bath, Close to SIU, New Paint & Carpeting. Central Heat & AC, Wshr/ Dryr, lg. yard, Off-Street Park. $300 pppm for 3-$275 pppm for 4. Call 618-924-1946 for info. 2 bedroom, CARBONDALE , 1 block away from campus, 2 bedroom, studio, $195/month/person, water and trash pickup included. Call 618-967-9202 Email classified@dailyegyptian.com

Wednesday, november 29, 2017

COME SIGN A LEASE! NOW SHOWING 1,2,& 3 BEDROOM UNITS ACROSS FROM CAMPUS SCHILLING PROPERTY 805 E. PARK STREET OFFICE HOURS: MON/FRI 9-5 549 -0895 - 529-2954 schillingprop.com schillingprop@yahoo.com 1384 Madira Way, 3 bed, 1 bath, garage, patio, privacy fence, washer/dryerd hookup, Mr. Oakley 618-922-1002. Close to SIU! 4 & 5 bdrm, 2 bath houses. Off street parking. $290-$310 per person per month. Large yard, central heat & A/C. Call 618-924-1965 for info and avaliability. Take a look inside-- carbondalehousing.com

CARBONDALE, 1 block from campus, 2 bedroom, studio, $195/month,per person, water and trash pickup included. Call 618-967-9202

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 bedrooms. Houses & apartments, walk to campus, washer/dryer, 2 bath. 618-549-4808 www.campusviewrentals.com 4 BEDROOM HOME for rent, $600/month. Some utilities included + first month free. 1 bedroom apartment, $300/month includes water/trash. Call Heins Agency. 618-687-1774.

AVAIL NOW 1 bdrm, across from SIU. Hi-speed Internet, satellite TV, laundry, parking, water & trash. Free pizza for a year with lease! Call 618-529-4763.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 bedrooms. Houses & apartments, walk to campus, washer/dryer, 2 bath. 618-549-4808 www.campusviewrentals.com

Professional Photography focus in shooting concerts, would like to start on portrails for more information check out Aebon Inc Photography on Face book or email aebontau@gmail.com

TOWNE-SIDE WEST APARTMENTS AND HOUSES Cheryl Bryant Rentals 457-5664

4 & 5 BDRM HOUSES One Block From SIU! Call 924-1965 for info. CarbondaleHousing.com

HOSTESS, PIZZA DELIVERY diver , pizza cooks & phone person needed. Neat appearance, part-time, some lunch hours needed apply in person. Quatros Pizza, 218 W Freeman

Licensed Mental Health Professional Mid-South Health Systems, the leader in community mental health in NE Arkansas, is currently searching for a Licensed Therapist for our Brinkley, AR clinic. MSHS offers competitive wages, an outstanding benefits package which includes 5% employer match to 401k, paid vacation, sick, personal, birthday and holiday time and employer paid life and LTD, $6,000 location premium, paid training, mileage reimbursement , continuing education, 4 day work week, moving and drive time allowance available. This clinic is one hour from Little Rock, AR and 1.5 hours from Memphis TN. Site approved for NHSC Loan Repayment Program. If you are ready to fulfill your full potential as a mental health professional contact us today! Please fax or email resume to: 870-972-4973 or tbickers@mshs.org or apply online at www.mshs.org/careers. An Equal Opportunity/Access/Affirmative Action/Pro Disabled & Veteran Employer. Email tbickers@mshs.org

Wednesday, november 29, 2017

Page 7

A decade in the lead: The SIU robotics team’s history of victories AMELIA BLAKELY | @AmeilaBlakely

Ten years ago, when the university’s robotics team organized and entered in its first competition. They took second-to-last place. “It really bruised the ego of the team 10 years ago, and they said this will never happen again,” Bruce Deruntz, the team’s coach, said. Since that first defeat, Deruntz said the team has either won first or second place in every competition. That streak continued in 2017; the team took first place in November with their robot, Winston. “We wanted to pay homage to the bagel guy,” Nate Johnson, the engineering manager of the team, said. The team competed in Cincinnati at the Association of Technology, Management and Applied Engineering’s robotics contest from Nov. 1 to Nov. 3. Johnson, a junior from Abingdon studying electrical engineering, said SIU was competing against large universities like Iowa State University, Mississippi State University, Eastern Carolina University, Eastern Illinois University, Ohio University and Northern Ohio University. Lincoln Kinley, a junior from Springfield studying electrical and computer engineering, and the team’s software manager, said the competition had two phases. The first one involved Winston collecting hacky sacks from an obstacle course. In the second phase, Kinley said Winston used those hacky sacks to play cornhole before following a line of electrical tape to a PVC pipe where he deposited the hacky sacks. Winston was made with a 25-pound arm, which extended to drop the hacky sacks in the cornhole instead of throwing

them. His infrared sensors detected the electrical tape and the pipe where the hacky sacks ended up. With these additions, Kinley said Winston can move and complete obstacles while on auto-mode. Johnson said a new robot is built for every competition. Although it’s cost-effective to reuse a robot, he said it’s harder to adapt the robot to a different set of obstacles each time. “Imagine trying to rig together, like, a Toyota Camry to haul lumber,” Johnson said. Recreating the obstacle course the robot will face in competition is the key to success, Deruntz said. “These guys make sure above in advance [the robot] can do the obstacle course or they scrap the whole thing and start all over,” Deruntz said. “Most teams don’t have the discipline to do that.” Winston cost a little under $800 to build, Johnson said. The team also has to pay for registration fees for the competitions and travel expenses, which is achieved through a combination of fundraising and Undergraduate Student Government appropriations. DeRuntz said unlike other robotics teams he has seen, SIU’s team prioritizes building the team before building the robot. They are tight-knit group, he said, and no one leaves the workshop until the day’s work is over. “That’s what helped lead to their success,” DeRuntz said. Johnson said building robots was something he always knew he wanted to try in college, but Kinley said he was worried it would be boring at first. “But then I got here and I was

Brian Muñoz | @BrianMMunoz Nate Johnson, a junior studying electrical engineering from Abingdon, poses for a portrait alongside Lincoln Kinley, a junior studying electrical and computer engineering from Springfield on Nov. 16, in the industrial processes lab in the Engineering Building. The SIU Robotics team was the champion at the Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering 2017 conference robotics competition with their robot, "Winston," named after ex Carbondale bagelman Winston Mezo.

like, ‘Wow, this is really cool,’” Kinley said. Both team members said in the future, they expect to see an increase in consumer and industrial robots. After recently completing an internship in an autoplant, Johnson said he saw automation becoming more of the norm

because robots are cheaper and do more consistent work. “It starts with the most mundane, repetitive things and then it gets more complex from there,” Johnson said. Next semester, Kinley said the robotics team will be entering two competitions as two teams. The teams will be competing

in the Midwest Robotics Design Competition and RoboBrawl, a combat competition. Both events are on March 22 at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Staff writer Amelia Blakely can be reached at ablakely@dailyegyptian.com or on Twitter @AmeilaBlakely.

Page 8

Wednesday, november 29, 2017

Brian Muñoz | @BrianMMunoz Alt.news 26:46 executive producer Ben Giles, left, freshman Danny Diamond, and equipment manager Jeff Haney review footage Nov. 13 in alt.news 26:46's workroom in the Communications Building.

FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY New! CRANBERRY ORANGE PANCAKE BREAKFAST

KITT FRESA | @KittFresa

New! WHITE CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY PANCAKE BREAKFAST

Now Accepting the Debit Dawg Card

5.00 OFF

'Whatever the students want it to be': Alt News going strong in 19th season on air

ANY CHECK OF $ 15 OR MORE

One coupon, per table, per visit. Not valid with any other coupons or promotional offers. Coupon has no cash value. No change returned. Taxes and gratuity not included. Alcoholic beverages not included. Valid at participating Denny’s restaurants. Selection and prices may vary. Only original coupon accepted. Photocopied and Internet printed or purchased coupons are not valid. No substitutions. © 2017 DFO, LLC. Printed in the U.S.A. Offer valid for dine in only. Not valid for online orders. Offer ends 12.22.17

Everyone is welcome at Alt News, a student-run sketch comedy and short film show. Established in 1998, Alt News has accumulated 31 regional Emmys. It airs on Saturdays at 10:30 p.m. and runs for 26 minutes and 46 seconds. This year marks its 19th season, and around 30 members are currently in the group. Regardless of what they study, any student with an idea is free to participate, Ben Giles, one of the show’s executive producers, said. “If somebody has the drive and the actual initiative to want to make something then I’m always down.” Giles said. Stephen Greene, the other executive

producer, said he and Giles have the last say in what eventually airs on television. The group is separated into staff and crew, with staff members making the big-picture show decisions and the crew pitching ideas and helping to film, Greene said. “We do a lot of documentary shorts that are around five to seven minutes, and then we fill the space in between those with one to two minute shorts, usually with comedy sketches.” Greene said. Alt News helps students get jobs when they graduate, Giles said. “Classes are super important, and you need to learn the rules of filming, but if you never apply those things, if you never have an opportunity to actually do any of that, then you’re never really going to

get good, you’re never going to have the experience you need to get a job,” Giles said. “I think Alt News results in a lot of people getting work after.” Julianna Johnson, one show’s senior producers, said Alt News changes every year when new students take over. Johnson said she been part of the group since she was a senior in high school because the faculty advisor at the time invited her to be on the show. Next year will mark her fifth year with Alt News. “Alt News is whatever the students want it to be,” Johnson said. “It changes each and every year because a new group of students handle it every year.” This year, Johnson said the show is focused on aesthetic, documentary shorts and comedy sketches.

Wednesday, november 29, 2017

Page 9

“Alt News is whatever the students want it to be. It changes each and every year because a new group of students handle it every year.” - Julianna Johnson senior producer Brian Muñoz | @BrianMMunoz Alt.news 26:46 executive producer Stephen Greene, equipment manager Jeff Haney, senior producer Julius Jefferson, social media manager Ben Flaman and executive producer Ben Giles pose for a portrait Nov. 13 in Alt.news 26:46's workroom in the Communications Building.

“Sometimes you can fall into standards and structures for those things, but this has been a really good year because all the people on staff this season want to break some of those rules, and we’re making more interesting things because of it,” Johnson said. Because they are not affiliated with the university, Greene said they have “total freedom.” “We’re not an RSO, we’re property of WSIU,” Greene said. The group follows PBS guidelines for the content broadcasted on live television. Anything that goes outside of those guidelines gets posted to the Alt News website. “The creative freedom, that’s one of the best things about Alt News, is that it really is what you want to make it,”

Giles said. “While we have ideas for what we want to do, we always accept people coming in saying, ‘Hey I want to make this,’ that’s like, ‘Awesome I’m glad you want to make that with us,’ and we make a concerted effort to make sure that does get it does get made.” Alt News lost its status as a Registered Student Organization a few years ago when it won five regional Emmys in a single season. Other creative groups in competition with Alt News complained that it wasn’t fair because the show was funded by SIU, and Alt News responded by cutting itself off from the university and switching to fundraising methods. Occasionally the show will rent from the Mass Communications and Media Arts equipment locker, but only if it’s to rent something specific or of a higher

quality. Otherwise as an organization, they have their own equipment. Filming all the content for a season takes up to two months, Greene said, which often includes traveling. Traveling for Alt News isn’t always regional. For example, last year the show took a week-long trip over spring break to Colorado and filmed an entire episode's worth of content. Greene said, he doesn’t think people fully understand how much time is put into creating Alt News “On average, we shoot three separate things each week. That’s a lot of work and a lot of shooting to do,” Greene said. Staff writer Kitt Fresa can be reached at kfresa@dailyegyptian.com.

Brian Muñoz | @BrianMMunoz Alt.news 26:46 equipment manager Jeff Haney, a senior studying cinema and photography from Deerfield, films a skit Nov. 13 in Studio A of the Communications Building.

Page 10

Wednesday, november 29, 2017

Cheerleaders say they are being hidden during national anthem due to kneeling protests NATHAN DODD | @NathanMDodd

Ariahn Hunt says she was confused by what happened before a recent home volleyball game. Hunt, a sophomore cheerleader from Chicago, said a change in protocol is now keeping the cheer team out of the public eye during the national anthem. The new rules were implemented at the Oct. 20 volleyball game against Illinois State University, she said. “We were in the room next to the court where we always get ready and the doors were closed and you can’t hear anything,” Hunt said. She said that the cheerleaders did not enter Davies Gym until after the anthem had played. “I felt everybody looking when I walked in and I didn’t understand,” Hunt said. The incident took place three weeks after Hunt and sophomore cheerleaders Czarina Tinker and Alaysia Brandy knelt in protest during the national anthem before a football game against Northern Iowa. Athletics spokesperson Tom Weber said cheerleading coach Kelsey Baden communicated to him that the team was held from the pregame ceremonies during two volleyball matches because they were late on arriving and did not hear the start of the matches. Brandy disputed that the cheerleaders were late, saying they arrived at the Salukis' volleyball matchup against Illinois State at least 30 minutes before the commencement of the game. “We know that the protocol was officially put into place at basketball [but] we feel as though we were strategically not put out during the anthem at volleyball games,” Brandy said. University spokeswoman Rae Goldsmith said the chancellor was not aware the cheerleaders were hidden or being put away during the national anthem. During a meeting on Nov. 16 between Hunt, Tinker, Brandy and the chancellor, the cheerleaders said they raised concerns about being kept away from the public eye during the anthem. Goldsmith said Chancellor Carlo Montemagno had approved a change in

Brian Muñoz | @BrianMMunoz Sophomore cheerleader Alaysia Brandy kneels behind Saluki Shakers during the national anthem Monday during the Salukis' loss to the SIU Edwardville Cougars at SIU Arena. A recent change in protocol put into place by SIU Athletics has removed the cheerleaders from the playing surface of sporting events during the national anthem.

which all spirit teams would be stationed at the entrances of athletics facilities where they would greet customers and thank fans for attending games. When the cheerleaders raised concerns that the new protocol wasn't being followed, Goldsmith said the chancellor addressed it and was not made aware of any additional problems. Given the cheerleaders' new concerns, Goldsmith said Montemagno would raise the issue with athletics and the chancellor's office

would then reach out to the cheerleaders to set up a meeting. During the Saluki women's basketball game against SIUE on Tuesday, the cheerleaders were placed in staging tunnels outside of the basketball court. Weber said the cheerleaders were not intentionally put in that area, and it happened due to "a lack of execution" in implementing the new protocol. "That’s not the correct procedure we’ve

tried to implement, and maybe it’s a miscommunication between the coach and the team," Weber said. "But we’re working with the coach in getting that corrected so that they’re not standing back there when the anthem is taking place." Kneeling during the anthem has become increasingly common at American athletic events since San Francisco 49’ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick knelt to protest against racial oppression in 2016.

Wednesday, november 29, 2017 University athletics first said it was simply a change of protocol designed to enhance fans’ experience and that it was not implemented until Oct. 29, but the cheerleaders say they think they and the team have been targeted because some members of the team decided to kneel. Weber said the same protocol had been used several times since January 2016. The Daily Egyptian asked several current and former cheerleaders for comment, but none responded to the requests. Athletic Director Tommy Bell said the stationing of spirit teams at the entrances of games was recommended by a consultant to make arriving at games more of an event for fans. “But only the cheerleaders were kicked outside of the stadium, and the mascots and the Shakers were still inside, which was direct targeting toward us,” Brandy said. Bell said in a Nov. 20 email that spirit teams had greeted customers at the entrances in the past. “Stationing them at the entrances to our athletic facilities is a natural extension of their role as goodwill ambassadors for Saluki Athletics,” he said. Brandy said no fans were outside the arena during the time the cheerleaders were first stationed there hours before a basketball game and that Bell was there watching them. Hunt echoed that sentiment, saying there is little or no fan interaction at the entrances, as they are there two or three hours before the game. The cheerleaders also said they have yet to be stationed at the exits to thank fans after games. “The only thing the protocol changed was where we were located during the national anthem, which is not what the protocol said at all,” Hunt said. The cheerleaders said they asked their coach if Montemagno had asked to keep them from taking the court or field during the anthem, and their coach confirmed their suspicions. “Yes. It’s all protocol changes that

Page 11

Brian Muñoz | @BrianMMunoz Sophomore radio, television and digital media major Czarina Tinker, of Nashville, Tennessee kneels during the national anthem Sept. 30 before the Salukis’ matchup against the University of Northern Iowa Panthers at Saluki Stadium.

Tom Weber and Tommy Bell and the chancellor decided,” Baden said in a text message to three cheerleaders. “Tom Weber said if y’all would like to talk to him or Tommy their doors are open – but this was not my decision. It was all protocol changes that came from above me.” By press time, Baden had not returned a phone call seeking comment. Montemagno released a statement after the Oct. 14 Homecoming football game saying he supported the cheerleaders’ right to protest. “The two symbols that are the focus of these peaceful protests stand for one of our most important constitutional rights: freedom of speech,” he said. “We may not agree with how these students are choosing to make their statements, but we must morally and legally protect their right to make them.” The cheerleaders said Montemagno met with them twice, and at a Nov. 16 meeting he spoke with them about a public forum on social and justice issues he wanted them to help

put together. “He wanted to talk to us about this forum that he wanted us to have,” Brandy said. “He said he was going to help us with it and that he would give us everything that we needed. We would just have to show up but it turns out that was a lie. We have to do everything on our own.” Brandy said that they agreed to the open forum as long as they were able to keep their constitutional right to protest. “He told us in the first meeting we had that he would not take that away from us in any way whatsoever, which he did with the new protocol,” Brandy said. “He also sent us an email stating that it is against our constitutional First Amendment rights to put us outside of the stadium or during football games because we cannot hear the national anthem whatsoever to even continue to protest,” Brandy said. “He said that he would change that [protocol] to move us inside the stadium gates but not on the field – but we were still pushed outside of

the stadium.” Goldsmith said the cheerleaders were still protesting during the national anthem and were not being denied their rights. In the email Montemagno sent to the three cheerleaders on Nov. 11, he said he "reminded athletics that the plan [he] approved was for the entire spirit squad — cheerleaders and the Shakers — to be at the football stadium gates and in the lobby of the arena for basketball games creating a positive, welcoming environment for all fans to enhance their experience.” While the cheerleaders said they have received positive feedback from all over the world, they have also experienced negativity. They also received backlash from fans near the sidelines during the Homecoming football game on Oct. 14 against Illinois State. One particular fan — a member of the Gridiron Club — yelled at the girls to stand up during the anthem. Club members are allowed on the field, and the fan stood there for the game on Nov. 4, which

the cheerleaders said made them feel uncomfortable and distraught because he was staring at them. “My understanding is there was one person, I don’t know him personally, but I do know that he is a member of our Gridiron Club, which means he has access to the field,” Weber said. “Again, when he is on the field, when anyone is on the field, we have close police right there next to our cheerleaders, we have athletic administrator staff there.” At the Military Appreciation football game on Nov. 11, the cheerleaders were not permitted to enter Saluki Stadium for the pregame ceremonies, including the national anthem. While performing a stunt, Tinker sustained an injury and was carried out of the stadium. An unidentified SIU football player yelled that it was “karma” upon her departure, as another fan yelled, “You kneel, you suck,” the three cheerleaders said. Weber said the cheerleaders did not report any issues on the sidelines, nor did any of the staff see any issues. The three cheerleaders also received threats on social media following their initial protest, they said. “The negative people are so quick to comment and let us know how they feel,” Brandy said. Brandy and Hunt said they hope to educate others on the topic of racial and social injustice in the United States. “The fact that they are trying to silence us just shows that they really don’t care about what we are fighting for,” Brandy said. “If you think about it, trying to silence people by speaking out about the murders and injustice in this country is just facilitation, you are part of the problem. The fact is just that they don’t care and it’s so baffling, and it makes it more reason to keep going.” Photography and multimedia editor Brian Muñoz contributed to this report. Sports Edittor Nathan Dodd can be reached at ndodd@dailyegyptian.com or on twitter @NathanMDodd.

Page 12

oPinion

Wednesday, november 29, 2017

Column: Towards horizontal Letter to the editor: governance of the academy How else can we The following is a composition of my own ideas as well as those awarded to me by some of my brightest peers and constituents: Southern Illinois University Carbondale is too unstable of an institution to undergo such a seismic shake-up as is insisted upon by the newest administrator. As of now, the Faculty Senate and the Graduate and Professional Student Council have formally disavowed Chancellor Carlo Montemagno’s quest to eliminate every single department on campus and a representative of the Faculty Association has stated they want full partnership in shaping the future course of the university. In the name of shared governance and all that is holy, these constituency groups must be listened to. If their desires are disregarded and the restructuring continues to be imposed as such, we may have an even bigger problem on our hands than freefall enrollment. Because unless students, staff and faculty trust in and embrace the reorganization strategy it is destined to fail and take the school with it. It has become strikingly clear that although they are ready for change, many students and faculty are beyond skeptical of the chancellor’s reorganization strategy. How can an unprecedented restructuring of the university possibly be expected to succeed if a huge portion of the people it will directly affect insist it is a terrible idea? I don’t speak for all of those against the proposal, but I do know that most of us agree we cannot just say “no, no, no” but that we need to produce ideas of our own, a counterproposal, if you will. That is why we have formed the Coordinating Committee for Change — a coalition of sorts — composed of various students and faculty with visionary ideas for what could actually save SIU from spiraling into obscurity. Working groups have formed, each self-tasked with a different aspect of researching, composing and distributing a counterproposal, or perhaps several. The grassroots nature of such a model can be juxtaposed to the chancellor’s corporatized top-down approach. If you have an interest in joining the committee please email me and I will point you in the right direction. Many people have their own ideas of what “shared governance” is, especially in institutions of higher education. But it most certainly is not just a matter of trusting our administrators to do whatever it is that they think is best. According to my own observations, my fellow members on the SIU Board of Trustees earnestly act in good faith, doing what they feel is in the best interests of the university system. That being said, we don’t necessarily know what that is. Which is why listening to and acting on behalf of the desires

of our constituents, whether that be students, staff or faculty, is strategically and ethically imperative. The reason being is that those are the people who really know SIU inside and out. It is no overstatement to say that the entire reason this institution exists is to serve the interests of the students. By the same token, faculty members like researchers, lecturers and professors hold the most important role at SIU because they are the ones responsible with sculpting the minds of said students. For that reason they should, in a sense, be at the top of the chain of command. As such, administrators, myself included, should acknowledge our role is really a subordinate and supplemental position when compared to professorship. Therefore, it is our moral duty to provide them with the environment most conducive for facilitating the transfer of knowledge from themselves to the students. Once again, the teachers are the ones who possess the insight as to what that environment ought to look like. I have heard over and over again that this whole topdown management thing has proven itself to not work at the Carbondale campus and many other institutions of higher education for that matter. There is an irrefutable need for democratic decision making within the structures of academia. After all, researchers, thinkers and scholars are the backbone of institutionalized intellectual activity. As I predicted in my last column, Inside Higher Ed — a nationally distributed publication — got ahold of the newest controversy at SIU and published a piece that was rather critical of the proposed restructuring last week. Hans-Joerg Tiede, associate secretary of academic freedom, tenure and governance at the American Association of University Professors, was quoted in the aforementioned article saying “[g]etting feedback on a fully worked-out plan that has serious academic implications is not shared governance.” Shared governance of SIU, to me, is a situation in which the stakeholders (ie. the students, staff and faculty) get to decide what their university would look like and the administration does what they can to make that dream a reality. Not vice versa. Student Trustee Sam Beard can be reached at samuelrobert@siu.edu or by phone at (618)-453-8418. His office is located in the Registered Student Organization Suite on the third floor of the Student Center and his office hours are Mondays/Wednesdays: 11 a.m. – 12:50 p.m., Thursdays: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. or by appointment.

raise enrollment MATTHEW GORZALSKI | University Archivist

It’s frustrating the SIU community has largely been left in the dark concerning recruitment and marketing strategies aimed at reversing declining enrollment. Recent years have witnessed the Saluki Way (emphasis on infrastructure and athletics), the creation of University College, $1.5 million spent on a new logo and contracting with marketing firm Lipman Hearne. While proactive, these efforts have produced little fruit. Chancellor Montemagno’s farreaching campus reorganization plan is the latest strategy in revitalizing SIU and increasing enrollment. For the record, I do not oppose the Chancellor’s plan and nearly everybody agrees that restructuring is needed. But several of my faculty colleagues have rightly noted that how the plan will increase enrollment remains unclear or naively hopeful. Unfortunately, SIU’s broader marketing and recruitment strategies are being left out of the conversation. Scrutinizing and revising SIU’s marketing and outreach could arguably increase enrollment more than a reorganization. If faculty knew what the strategies were, we could at least take comfort in knowing something different is being done to address enrollment other than a massive reorganization. Has there been any serious study in the last 5-10 years on the causes of enrollment decline (other than anecdotally)? Does are our marketing and recruitment team know what these causes are? If so, can we be informed of the strategies in place to combat these causes? At the Faculty Senate meeting on Nov. 7, one person noted that in previous years the faculty of his department received a list of high school students who had previous contact with SIU, and that they would make personal phone calls to these individuals. Has this practiced stopped, and if so, why? A personal contact goes a long way. The aspirational billboards I see are nice but generic, and do not distinguish the unique qualities of SIU. They do not boast about the programs we excel in and how they are ranked. They do not boast about our unique programs such as the only 4-year radiology program in the state, or the Fermentation Science Institute. They do not make a clear case as to why high school students should choose SIU over others. And if prospective students are turned off by our rural setting, create a message on the advantages of our location, especially as they relate to our academic programs. These are the messages that matter to prospective students rather than the “excellence rewarded” billboard I see, or whatever it is.

Wednesday, november 29, 2017

oPinion

Page 13

Fill in the blanks to excuse your party's alleged pervert REX HUPPKE | Chicago Tribune

Recently, I made the grave and irresponsible mistake of suggesting that bad is bad, and that the degree of one person's badness doesn't make another person's lesser-badness OK. That was foolish of me, and I apologize. My flawed thinking went something like this: Roy Moore, the Alabama Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, is accused of sexual misconduct with teenage girls while he was in his 30s. That is abhorrently bad. Democratic Sen. Al Franken and Democratic Rep. John Conyers are also facing sexual misconduct allegations. That is also bad. The details of Moore's alleged loathsomeness are worse but, I argued, that doesn't excuse Franken's or Conyers' alleged scumminess. If a guy murders 100 people and another guy maims one person, the existence of the mass murderer doesn't make the maimer any less bad. They're both bad, albeit to different degrees. Crazy as it may sound, I would like to have good people in positions of power, and a powerful person's goodness is not defined by whether that person belongs to one political party or the other. It's defined by the person's actions, the situations that person finds himself or herself in, and what we know about the person based on available information. Due process is a right, but being an elected official is a privilege, and our decisions on whether a person deserves that privilege can't always wait for due process. I said Moore should exit the race and be shunned like asbestos, and Republicans responded by bringing up sexual allegations against former President Bill Clinton or some other Democrat, as if one excused the other. I said Franken should step down, and Democrats responded to my abjectly stupid moral reasoning by saying

something along the lines of: "I'll say Franken should step down after President Trump steps down!!" That response, of course, stems from the fact that Donald Trump faces more accusations of sexual misconduct than Franken and Conyers combined. Apparently Franken or Conyers aren't as bad as Trump because they're accused of fewer misdeeds and they're not as high-ranking as the president. On Sunday, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi at first appeared to defend Conyers, telling NBC's Chuck Todd: "Just because someone is accused â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and was it one accusation? Is it two? I think there has to be â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C; John Conyers is an icon in our country." He's an icon who reportedly settled a sexual harassment complaint for about $30,000. Pelosi later tried to fix her "icon" comment by applauding Conyers' decision to step down from his position as the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee and saying in a statement: "I particularly take any accusation of sexual harassment very seriously. Any credible accusation must be reviewed by the Ethics Committee expeditiously. We are at a watershed moment on this issue." But at the end of the day, it's clear Democrats and their supporters are willing to give members of their own party more of the benefit of the doubt on these matters than they give Republicans, just as Republicans and their supporters do with members of their own party. On Sunday, Trump tweeted his indirect support for Moore by criticizing Democratic candidate Doug Jones: "Jones would be a disaster!" Apparently "bad is bad" only applies to members of the opposition party, and the idea of replacing an alleged scoundrel in your own party with someone who might not be a scoundrel is absurd. With that in mind, and as a penance for the sin of what I wrongly perceived

to be reasonableness, I offer up a blanket statement that can be used anytime a politician you like or at least agree with politically is accused of bad behavior. Simply circle the correct options and your thoughtful response will be good to go: "I realize this (Democratic/ Republican) lawmaker stands accused of (sexual harassment/sexual assault/preying on teenagers/arson/light homicide), but understand, we cannot afford to have a (conservative/liberal) fill this seat or we will all (die/have higher taxes). "While (lawmaker's name)'s actions are troubling, we must not jump to conclusions because (lawmaker's name) is a true (icon/hero/demigod) of the (conservative/liberal) movement. Also, it's worth noting that (name of opposing party politician who did something bad sometime within the past 100 years) was once accused of (cannibalism/operating a child labor camp/huffing paint and murdering an entire family/petty theft) and the (conservative/liberal) media complex ignored the story. "There is too much at stake to allow (lawmaker's name) to step down right now, disturbing as these allegations of (manufacturing methamphetamines behind the Lincoln Memorial/offering female colleagues "free mustache rides"/ ritually killing baby pandas) may be. The idea of finding a suitable replacement from our party who does not (have a history of harassing women/enjoy the taste of human flesh) is absurd. (Lawmaker's name) is clearly the only qualified person for the job, as our beloved (Democratic/ Republican) party long ago abandoned any (sense of moral decency/modicum of common sense/facade that it cares about anything beyond money and power). "With that said, we stand proudly behind (lawmaker's name), although not too close behind as (lawmaker's name) is known for occasionally (dropping his pants/stabbing anyone nearby/setting people on fire). "Thank you, and God bless America."

Wellness

Wednesday

10 off %

All Wellness Products First Wednesday of the month!

www.neighborhood.coop " ! ! %

Wednesday, november 29, 2017

Page 14

Answers for Wednesday >>

Brought to you by:

Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit www. sudoku.org.uk

Wednesday, november 29, 2017

Page 15 FOR RELEASE NOVEMBER 29, 2017

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

Today's Birthday (11/25/17). Consider the big picture. The next two years form a contemplative planning phase. Selfdiscipline realizes your visions. Winter itinerary changes lead to a creative renaissance. Summer bounty flushes family accounts. Resolve communication breakdowns before a bold discovery ignites your passion. Inner peace flowers. To get the advantage, check the day's rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging. Aries (March 21-April 19) -- Today is a 7 -Team harmony requires effort. Avoid gossip or exaggeration. Keep confidences. Cash in on something you've kept in reserve. An intensely creative moment flowers naturally.

Taurus (April 20May 20) -- Today is a 9 -- Muddle through some professional chaos. You may need to make a mess to get results. Stay in communication with your team. Practice makes perfect. Gemini (May 21-June 20) -- Today is an 8 -- Plan your route before setting off. Be obsessed with details for ease. Money saved is earned. Don't gamble with the rent. You're learning valuable tricks. Cancer (June 21-July 22) -- Today is a 7 -Prioritize the bottom line. Communicate with your family to make important decisions. Work around awkward outbursts. Provide compassion. Make sure everyone gets heard. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Today is an 8 -Unexpected news gets you dancing. Avoid stepping on your partner's toes. Talk, and take care of business. Collaboration handles practical priorities. Clean up messes later. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Today is a 9 -- Learn new tricks from an expert. Don't be too critical with yourself, or others. Prepare your physical routine carefully to grow stronger. Rest deeply. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Accept a fun challenge. Keep practicing your game to up

the ante. A surprise boosts self-esteem. You're earning respect. Maintain routines, and follow your heart. Scorpio (Oct. 23Nov. 21) -- Today is a 7 -- Investigate previously impossible possibilities. A loved one's bizarre suggestion could actually work. Plan household upgrades. Stay respectful of another's sensitivities. Provide family motivation. Sagittarius (Nov. 22Dec. 21) -- Today is a 7 -Keep your communications technology in order. Fix something before it breaks, based on your own intuition. Keep files and data organized. Back up hard drives. Capricorn (Dec. 22Jan. 19) -- Today is a 9 -- Do the homework to know what you can spend without breaking the bank. Comparison shopping gives you an idea of the market. Invest for growth. Aquarius (Jan. 20Feb. 18) -- Today is a 9 -- Advance a personal dream or ambition. Put your money where your mouth is, and commit to make something happen. Maintain your advantage. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Today is a 6 -Consider dreams, visions and possibilities for the future. Choose practical options, and make l ong-range plans to support them. Insights and epiphanies abound.

ACROSS 1 Schooner features 6 Frosty coating 10 Shine 15 Advil competitor 16 __ of March 17 EVE’s companion, in a 2008 Pixar film 18 *Is unsuitable 21 “__ ideas?” 22 “Back to the Future” vehicle 23 Wild place 24 Rays or Jays 26 RAM part 27 First light 28 Egyptian snake 30 Wide shoe spec 32 *Literary character with an evil alter ego 38 Anti-cruelty org. 39 “Hold up!” 40 Radiate 42 Twangy-voiced 43 Breakfast order 44 BFFs 46 Gets a glimpse of 48 Most innocent 49 Canonized Mlle. 50 *Threshold 55 Bus depot: Abbr. 56 Corrida opponent 58 Paddock sound 59 Hank’s job on “Breaking Bad,” briefly 60 Modern-day Persian 62 Tiny annoyance 63 Former One Direction singer Zayn __ 64 Frequent presidential candidate Ralph 65 Fairy tale baddie 66 In reserve 67 Skim (over) 68 *See 42-Down 69 Knight’s horse DOWN 1 Angry with 2 Without assistance 3 “Later!” 4 Family room sets 5 Final email step 6 Search quickly through 7 Figure of speech

11/29/17

By Claire Muscat and David Steinberg

8 Way around D.C. 9 Perfume compound 10 No Doubt lead singer Stefani 11 Chocolate dog 12 “My Fair Lady” heroine 13 Let happen 14 Fruit that’s still a fruit when two of its letters are switched 19 What sirens may do 20 Actress Salma 25 Chinese liquor brand 27 San Diego suburb 29 Climbed 31 The Eiffel Tower, aptly? 32 Western outlaw 33 Be indebted to 34 Cleaning cloth 35 Irish dance 36 “Close Encounters” beings 37 Hides one’s true self 38 Idyllic 41 Take for a first drive

Tuesday’s Puzzle Solved

42 With 68-Across, each successive one of a set graphically depicted by this puzzle’s circles 45 Arranged like the 68-Acrosses in the answers to starred clues are designed to be 47 Farm mom 48 Tissue layer

11/29/17 11/29/17

51 “What a nightmare!” 52 Fab Four drummer 53 [Don’t touch my bone!] 54 Info a spy might gather 57 Dollar bills 59 Condé __ 61 Recipient of much Apr. mail 63 More, in Madrid

Page 16

Wednesday, november 29, 2017

Page 17

Meet the indispensible Saluki guard Kylie Giebelhausen RYAN DEMER | @RyanDemer_DE

A classic two-way guard is essential for any team’s winning formula. As the only player in SIU history with at least 900 career points, 300 rebounds, 200 assists, and 100 blocks, senior guard Kylie Giebelhausen has been the perfect embodiment of that for the Salukis. Born and raised in East Peoria, Giebelhausen thrived at the high school level. She led her team in every major statistical category in her junior and senior seasons. In 2014, she earned All-State Honorable Mention as a senior. In addition, Giebelhausen played tennis in high school. Although not having any experience, she excelled and qualified for the state tournament in 2013. She used tennis to take her mind off things during the offseason. “It was also a lot of lateral work which translates onto the court,” the Saluki guard said. “There’s a lot of hand eye coordination and technique involved with the sport that are beneficial as well [to basketball].” Giebelhausen began her Saluki career with success, as she nailed 47 3-pointers and was named to the 2014-15 MVC All-Freshman Team. As her career progressed, Giebelahausen improved significantly. She led the team in blocks her sophomore year and continued to grow as a scorer and rebounder. “With confidence and taking more risks on the court, I’ve improved,” Giebelhausen said. “Off the court I’ve gotten a lot stronger in the weight room and that helps being in the lane more rather than settling for exclusively being a 3-point shooter.” Last season, she was named All-MVC First Team after she led the team in scoring. She also led the MVC with 82 3-pointers, the third-most in a season in school history. “The hard work truly pays off,” Giebelhausen said. “I think the reason why it feels so rewarding is because I wasn’t highly recruited out of high school. All I needed was somebody to give me a chance and Coach Stein did.” Giebelhausen came into Southern with the expectations of being a role player. Her success came from her desire to get better each day, as well as the

benefit of her height advantage. “On the defensive end, I always depended on my length,” the Saluki guard said. “Through conditioning with lateral and agility movements, I’ve improved as a defender and rebounder since coming here.” Her rebounding have improved in her time at SIU, as she finished last season second on the team in rebounds. She entered this season as the leading rebounder of all returning Salukis. However, her mind isn’t caught up on individual stats. The focus is on a strong finish for this season. “I think a championship is always the goal every year I’ve been here,” Giebelhausen said. “Hopefully we’ll get to another 20-win season and get the freshman to mature a little more.” With the high talent brought in by Saluki head coach Cindy Stein in the offseason, Giebelhausen is eager to use her experience to help the underclassmen grow. She said that if the season does not go the way she would like it to, at least she’d be able to provide the freshman with valuable learning experiences to build off for seasons to come. “We have such young talent,” the senior guard said. “They’re all already ready to play and the only place they can go is up, so hopefully my point of view can help them improve.” After she grooms the Saluki freshman, Giebelhausen is prepared to continue in a professional career. With a major in exercise science, Giebelhausen plans to enter pre-physical therapy. After already being accepted to Bradley University, she has her future set. Being that Bradley is in Peoria, the guard is excited to return home. “I’ve missed out on my family a little bit while playing basketball,” Giebelhausen said. “It was totally worth it, but right now I can just focus on basketball.” After her career is over, the first thing that Giebelhausen plans to do is buy a dog, as it is difficult to take care of a dog while traveling with the team. She also plans to travel to France to visit her brother who is studying abroad. In addition, Giebelhausen plans to run a full marathon one day. Despite her passion for running, her main drive always lies in the sport of basketball. “In the future, I’ll somehow find my way back

Brian Muñoz | @BrianMMunoz Kylie Giebelhausen defends the ball Monday during the Salukis' loss to the SIU Edwardville Cougars at SIU Arena.

to basketball, whether it be through coaching teams or holding lessons,” she added. “I feel like it can’t be out of my life for that long.” Right now, Giebelhausen is focused on savoring her last season as a Saluki. On Monday, she forever cemented her legacy in SIU history and became the 25th Saluki to score 1,000 career points. "I’ve always told myself in the back of my head,

I wanted to be the player other coaches wished they got the chance to coach and the teammate other players wish they got to play with,” Giebelhausen noted. “So far, I think I’m leaving that mark.” Sports writer Ryan Demer can be reached at rdemer@dailyegyptian.com or on Twitter @RyanDemer_DE .

Page 18

Wednesday, november 29, 2017

Page 19

Meet electrifying Saluki receiver Darrell James RYAN DEMER | @RyanDemer_DE

Junior wide receiver Darrell James is making a name for himself in Carbondale as he shredded opposing defenses with his speed all season. James finished the season as the leader of SIU receivers in every major statistical category, as he recorded 773 yards, 8 touchdowns and averaged 16.4 yards per catch. His stellar season earned James the honor of being named to the All-MVFC team as an Honorable Mention at the culmination of the season. He finished fourth in the MFVC in touchdown receptions and fifth in receiving yards per game. “It feels cool in a sense, but it’s not good enough,” James said. “I’d rather trade the three 100-yard games I’ve had for three more wins on the record.” One game that James specifically took pride in was the Week 2 win over rival SEMO. He said that it was great to establish a connection with then-starting quarterback junior Sam Straub early in the season. Oddly enough, James is a bit inexperienced at the position compared to most receivers at the collegiate level, as he played running back throughout his entire career up to his senior year in high school at R. L. Paschal High School. “I love playing running back,” the Saluki receiver noted. “It’s just a lot easier to go and make plays when you get the ball in your hands from your quarterback.” James played running back since he was four years old when he played Pop Warner football in Beloit, Wisconsin. He found himself preying on the rural competition level. When he moved to Fort Worth, Texas, he was in for a major change. “It was crazy because I got so much confidence from making plays and being in the spotlight,” James added. “Because of my past and who I am as a man, I had the hunger and determination to keep myself in a position as a standout player.” A standout player he was, as he caught 97 passes in his senior season to go along with 1,413 yards and 14 touchdowns. However, the collegiate competition is significantly higher than in high school,

Dylan Nelson | @DylanNelson99 Junior wide receiver Darrell James protects the ball during the Salukis' 31-44 loss against the University of Memphis Tigers on Sept. 23 at the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee.

even given the fact that James played in Texas. He needed to continue developing his game to thrive at the next level. “I’ve improved so much in route running since my transition,” James said. “There’s so many little things that go into running a route that a running back would never think about.” There are benefits to James’ previous experience at running back, however. “I’m not afraid to give a hit or take a hit,” James noted. “I think that once I get the ball I’m a lot more comfortable than a lot of receivers in space.” James has been an explosive player for

Southern his entire career. Improving upon his stats each season, he thrived in the Saluki offense this season. Using his blazing speed to blow past the secondary, he is always a viable threat downfield. “This year he’s been able to step into a premier role in our offense and help us be explosive,” Saluki offensive coordinator John Van Dam added. “Defenses have to honor him as a downfield presence, and that allows us to open up other things.” One aspect of James that transfers to the field is his work ethic. James is praised by coaches for how hard he is willing to work to improve his game.

“He plays hard; the biggest thing is that he’s been consistent each week this season,” Southern head coach Nick Hill. “Right now, he’s playing as good as anybody in the league.” The work that James puts into the game of football isn’t exclusively held on the field. In his free time, he spends most of his time watching film of his peers. “I mainly like to watch highlights of great receivers,” James added. “I try and see what they’re doing that I’m not doing and what I can be doing on the field.” As the season wound down, Jame turned his attention toward next season. He is prepared to be thrust into a leadership role on the team. Next season, James will be one of two senior wide receivers on the roster and the only one to spend all four years in a Saluki uniform. “I’m definitely going to try to improve every statistical category along with my leadership,” James noted. “There’s always room for improvement in every attribute of life.” In his ultimate plans, James goal is to advance to the next level and make it to the NFL. Though a big step up, he feels up to the task. He said that it all starts in the film room, as it shows everything you need to see as a receiver, whether you like it or not. “One thing I need to do is become more consistent,” James said. “That’s something I’m in complete control of, so I just need to stay positive even in the toughest of times.” When football is said and done for James, he plans to give back to the community. Currently, the Texan is majoring in sports administration along with a minor in coaching. James' vision is to eventually settle down at a high school or college to give back to the local community. “I just look back at my life and see all of the inspirational coaches and mentors that God has blessed me with, and it has made me realize that I want to be that blessing for others,” he added. Sports writer Ryan Demer can be reached at rdemer@dailyegyptian.com or on Twitter @RyanDemer_DE.

Page 20

Rehab Unlimited

Wednesday, november 29, 2017

Rehab Unlimited strives to provide consistent, compassionate care to SIU community members.

Carbondale A service of Memorial Hospital of Carbondale

Common Services Oﬀered: • Orthopedic Rehabilitation • Sports Medicine • WORKready • Stroke Rehabilitation • Vestibular Rehabilitation • Aquatic Therapy • Speech Therapy

Physical Therapy Occupational Therapy An alliance between the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and Southern Illinois Healthcare gives southern Illinoisans access to the same rehabilitation care that earned AbilityLab the ranking of “Best Rehabilitation Hospital in America” by U.S. News and World Report every year since 1991.

Be a part of our online community! Find us on Facebook at SIH Rehabilitation.

Questions? Call 618.549.0721 305 W Jackson Street Carbondale, IL 62901 Providing rehabilitation services in partnership with the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab