Indiana Statesman For ISU students. About ISU students. By ISU students.
Monday, Feb. 29, 2016
Volume 123, Issue 61
indianastatesman.com
Sherard Clinkscales hired as director of athletics Indiana State University President Daniel J. Bradley announced Feb. 28 that Sherard Clinkscales has been hired as the new director of athletics. He was formally introduced at a news conference this afternoon inside the Hulman Center. “I am excited to bring Sherard back to Indiana. His experience and strengths will bring great balance to ISU athletics, and I am looking forward to working with him to advance our athletics program,” said Daniel J. Bradley, president. Clinkscales’ initial focus will be on marketing, ticket sales and fundraising, Bradley added. Clinkscales comes to Indiana State from North Carolina State where he most recently served as
ISU celebrates Hoopla with obstacle course Sydney Feldhake Reporter
Throughout the week of Feb. 22, Indiana State University Sycamores celebrated a week of basketball with an event known as Hoopla, that began with the Sycamores Hoopla Kickoff in the commuter lounge and ended with the women’s basketball game against Southern Illinois. Throughout the week, there were various events such as karaoke, window decorating and face painting, but on Feb. 26, many Sycamores participated in the second annual Sycamore Slide. Sycamore Slide was held at 4 p.m. in the lot D extension on 9th and Eagle. “(Sycamore Slide) is an obstacle course where female, male and co-ed teams pull each other through on sleds, while the person in the sled is also trying to make baskets,” Vanessa Shelton, junior Gamma Phi Beta and human development and family studies major, said. “The team who gets through fastest wins.” The female winners of the Sycamore Slide were the ladies of Chi Omega. Pike won the male division of Sycamore Slide. In the end, Indiana State University Dance Marathon waltzed home with the trophy for co-ed teams. Other participants were Student Government Association, Theta Chi, Kappa Alpha and Alpha Sigma Alpha. “We are growing with each year,” Shelton said. “It is really a work in progress.” Eli Hibdon, a SGA competitor and a freshman in business administration said, “It is a great way to have fun and get involved with ISU activities, and (for me) represent SGA.” Sycamore Slide and Hoopla were started to create ways to have fun, get involved around campus and celebrate ISU. “We are doing this to create excitement around ISU and to help those kids who might not be into basketball still have fun and get involved,” said Ellen Malito, a staff member of campus life and an adviser to Gamma Phi Beta. This year, with midterms peeking around the corner, Hoopla had somewhat of a different aura to it than it has in the past few years. Students this year found Hoopla to be a study break
SEE HOOPLA, PAGE 2
the senior associate athletics director for student services and sport administration. “First, I want to thank God for this opportunity,” Clinkscales said. “I’m extremely grateful to Dr. Dan Bradley and the administration at Indiana State University. I can’t wait to meet with the members of the Sycamore family as we get the ball rolling with Sycamore Athletics. I feel very honored and blessed to be the director of athletics at Indiana State.” Clinkscales joined N.C. State in July 2011 as an associate director of athletics and was quickly promoted in January 2012. While with the Wolfpack, he worked for legendary athletics administrator Debbie Yow. “Sherard is a profes-
sional whose first concern is the quality of the experience for student athletes, followed closely by a desire to engage alumni and fans in the life of the University and athletics department,” Yow said. “He is thrilled to return to his home state and ready to make a difference for Indiana State. We will miss his sizable contributions, but we always knew he was destined to become an AD.” Clinkscales was selected following a national search, chaired by Diann McKee, Indiana State senior vice president for finance and administration/ university treasurer. “We were encouraged and pleased that our pool attracted a large number of experienced and highly competent candidates,” McKee said. “The search
committee felt we had merited serious consideration from highly qualified athletic professionals. The position profile was not an easy match — having a strong background in NCAA compliance, fundraising, and athletic administration set a high bar.” Clinkscales provided oversight to multiple administrative units and sports at N.C. State, including strength and conditioning, sports medicine, nutrition, housing and student services. He also served as the departmental liaison to the Academic Support Program for Student Athletes (ASPSA) and supervised baseball, wrestling, volleyball, as well as the men and women’s soccer programs. He was also a member of
the Athletics Cabinet and participated in financial and capital deliberations. Clinkscales served as Vice Chair for the ACC Wrestling Committee as well. He currently serves as the chair of the NCAA Committee on Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct. In the summer of 2013, Clinkscales attended the prestigious DIA Athletics Directors’ Association Athletic Directors’ Institute, a “by invitation only” gathering of the most talented intercollegiate professionals. Clinkscales is a graduate of Purdue University with a bachelor’s in history and came to N.C. State after working two years for the NCAA at its main headquarters in Indianapolis. With the NCAA, he served as an assistant di-
rector of championships. In addition, he was chosen to serve on a number of internal committees. He drafted and presented sport-specific legislation to the NCAA Championship Cabinets and Management Council, and also led the NCAA’s Division III branding initiative throughout all championships. As Assistant Director of Championships, Clinkscales had direct oversight over seven different championships, including men’s and women’s soccer, women’s lacrosse, national collegiate rifle and men’s hockey. He directed a staff of 35, and was charged with leading the individual sports committees during
SEE CLINKSCALES, PAGE 2
Polar Plunge makes a splash Sydney Feldhake Reporter
The Terre Haute community made a huge splash at the 8th annual Polar Plunge at Indiana State University sponsored by Alpha Sigma Alpha and the Special Olympics. Near 233 participants were “Freezin’ for a Reason” and made the icy plunge in support of Special Olympics at 10 a.m. on Feb 27, 2015, raising a record shattering $45,525.60. For the past eight years Alpha Sigma Alpha has sponsored the Polar Plunge at ISU to raise funds for more than 11,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities both local and across the state. “One of Alpha Sigma Alpha’s big philanthropies is Special Olympics and supporting the athletes,” Kayla Lindsay, Alpha Sigma Alpha’s president, said. “We do it year around, and we really like to work hands on with our philanthropies, so this gives us an opportunity to work hands on.”
Assistant Chief of ISU police Michele Barrett participates in the eighth annual Polar Plunge.
The Special Olympics is the largest public health organization globally that is dedicated to helping those with disabilities. The Polar Plunge not only rais-
es awareness about intellectual disabilities but also raises money. It has raised more than $3.4 million alone, making it the state’s largest fundraiser for Spe-
cial Olympics. Accompanying the plunge were various contests, which included a costume contest, largest group, most money raised
Marissa Schmitter | Indiana Statesman
by a group, and most money raised individually. Costumes ranged from Breaking Ice (Breaking
SEE PLUNGE, PAGE 3
Mizzou professor’s fate in the spotlight Matt Pearce
Los Angeles Times (TNS)
How did a story about black students protesting their university’s response to racist incidents turn into a story about the fate of a white professor? The professor, Melissa Click, sided with the protesters at the University of Missouri. As black students gathered on a public quad on campus last fall, she was captured on video calling for “muscle” to remove student journalists from the area and swatting a student’s camera. The video sparked debate — especially among activists, conservatives and journalists — over what was acceptable behavior for an academic and whether she should be punished. While many black activists were sympathetic to Click, journalists accused the communications professor of disregard for the First Amendment. In the media, her future became the easiest storyline to follow, quickly overtaking the complicated racial issues being raised by the protesters.
Last week, university leaders decided they’d heard enough. In a 4-to-2 vote Thursday, the board of curators fired Click for her behavior. The board deemed her actions “dangerous” and said they had posed “a serious public policy question” as to whether it would allow faculty “to invoke intimidation or violence against a student.” “The board respects Dr. Click’s right to express her views and does not base this decision on her support for students engaged in protest or their views,” Pam Henrickson, chairwoman of the board, said in a statement Thursday. “However, Dr. Click was not entitled to interfere with the rights of others, to confront members of law enforcement or to encourage potential physical intimidation against a student.” Through a spokeswoman, Click declined to comment. For years, black students had complained about racism at the predominantly white Columbia, Missouri, campus, saying that they sometimes felt unsafe and
that the “N-word” was often hurled at them. They said the university was unresponsive. The activists made the university system president, Tim Wolfe, a prime target. At a protest during a parade, they stopped Wolfe’s car. Click, who had worked in the communications department since 2003, was with them. In body-camera video later obtained by the Columbia Missourian newspaper and made public this month, Click can be seen putting herself between police officers and the protesters. “Get out of the road or get arrested!” an officer says, putting a hand on Click’s shoulder. “Get your … hands off me!” Click says. In November, a graduate student, Jonathan Butler, went on a hunger strike demanding Wolfe’s removal. The university’s beloved — and revenue-generating — football team, backed by its coach, Gary Pinkel, went on strike to support Butler. When Wolfe resigned
Nov. 9, black students gathered on the quad where they had originally set up a small tent city. They celebrated as national, local and student journalists tried to capture the moment. But the story took a turn. In a video that went viral, students and staffers who had circled the tent site confront student photographer Tim Tai, who argued that he had a right to cover a protest in a public place. Click grabs the camera of another student, Mark Schierbecker, and tells him, “You need to get out,” then shouts to other protesters: “Who wants to help me get this reporter out of here? I need some muscle over here!” After Schierbecker posted the video online, Click said she started receiving angry calls and emails. “I hope you’re gangraped by some of the very animals with whom you’re so enamored,” one person wrote, according to emails obtained through an openrecords request and published by the Chronicle of Higher Education. “You have proven that
you do not believe in basic constitutional values, especially the one that is so critical to an amazing network of Mizzou graduates,” wrote an unnamed emailer identified by the Chronicle as a news editor at CNN. Nearly 120 state Republicans signed a Dec. 18 letter denouncing Click’s “illegal” actions and said she “inflame(d) an already caustic situation that was clearly out of line.” They also took a crack at her professional work on pop culture, writing: “Our constituents have expressed outrage at the fact she is using taxpayer dollars to conduct research on ‘Fifty Shades of Gray,’ Lady Gaga and ‘Twilight.’” Earlier last week, a state Republican lawmaker introduced a budget that would have eliminated Click’s salary. But student activists have backed Click. “Click is NOT the issue,” the activist group Concerned Student 1950 wrote on Twitter before she was fired. Click was charged with misdemeanor assault for the “muscle” incident,
SEE PROFESSOR, PAGE 2 Page designed by Hannah Boyd