Editorial: Disappearing ashtrays are leading to campus litter | Page 8
Northern Star Thursday, February 26, 2015
Volume 115, Issue 72
The Truth Shall Bear All Light
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Bill Dumoulin Grandfather to Alex Dumoulin, with whom he was close Cassie Dumoulin, Alex’s sister, on the relationship between Alex and Bill Dumoulin: “He made sacrifices to come to Alex’s games. She definitely plays basketball in memory of him, but more importantly she lives her life to kind of honor him and hopefully follow him as a role model.”
Alexandra Meyer | Northern Star
Alex Dumoulin, women’s basketball senior forward, tries to remain upbeat and inspire others on the team. Dumoulin, who grew up on her family’s farm compound, has always played basketball with her family. She developed a close relationship with her grandfather, Bill Dumoulin, who she hopes to be like.
‘She lives her life to ... honor him’ Basketball’s Dumoulin uses lessons from grandpa on, off court Photos
Frank Gogola Sports Editor T @FrankGogola
DeKalb | Alex Dumoulin, wom-
en’s basketball senior forward, remembers Feb. 5, 2014, quite well. It’s not because the Huskies nearly pulled off an upset against the Akron Zips, losing 71-67. It’s not because of her performance on the court; she went scoreless on 0-1 shooting, grabbed one rebound and turned the ball over once in four minutes. In her two years at NIU, Feb. 5, 2014, stands out to Dumoulin because it was the day her grandpa, Bill Dumoulin, died. She said her grandpa always came to her home games and would sit in his wheelchair up on the track above the lower bowl of seats at the Convocation Center. “It was quite tough to play, to be honest with you,” Dumoulin said. “I mean, he played a big role in my life. I grew up with him ever since I was a little kid.
Go to bit.ly/17As2tS for photos of Alex Dumoulin and her family. “I can’t tell you all the support I got from my teammates and my coaching staff. Just the fact that I had their support and their understanding was tremendous. It will never be forgotten.” Cassie Dumoulin, Alex’s sister and a former women’s basketball player with the Illinois Fighting Illini, said she talked with Alex that day and they concluded their grandpa would have wanted Alex to suit up for the game. “I know Alex and him were really, really close,” Cassie Dumoulin said. “She just played, and he was definitely a supporter. He made sacrifices to come to Alex’s games. She definitely plays basketball in memory of him, but more importantly she lives her life to kind of honor him and hopefully follow him as a role model.”
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H H H Basketball runs in the Dumoulins’ blood. It’s a game Alex Dumoulin began playing while growing up on her grandparents’ farm in Hampshire. There was never a shortage of players for pick-up games. Alex Dumoulin, the second oldest of 10 kids, is one of 27 people who call the family farmhouse home. “As my grandma says: ‘We raise pigs, corn, soybeans and kids,’” Dumoulin said. Bill Dumoulin and his wife had three kids: Mike, Mary and Pat, Alex’s dad. Dumoulin said her Uncle Mike has seven kids, her Aunt Mary has three kids and her dad has 10 kids, the oldest being 23 and the youngest 7. The family compound consists of the original farmhouse, a
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60-by-60-foot “play room” and Alex Dumoulin’s family’s living space, which is past the play area. The “play room,” located inside of a Morton shed, serves as an area for family gatherings and includes two basketball hoops. “On weekends when we were younger we would always play family against family and just have little competitions after lunch,” Dumoulin said. “The fact that we do it together [is] always fun. Yeah, of course some calls aren’t going to go our way, but we’re always going to have a good time. And it’s just a fun family atmosphere.” H H H
Alex Dumoulin Senior forward for women’s basketball On growing up playing with her relatives: “The fact that we do it together [is] always fun. Yeah, of course some calls aren’t going to go our way, but we’re always going to have a good time.”
Before playing basketball at NIU, Dumoulin played at Hampshire High School and then spent two years playing at Elgin Community College. She said that’s the tradition for the girls, at least.
Read Dumoulin | Page 11
Weekend
Not sure how to make the most of your weekend in DeKalb? Turn to Page 6 for a guide to local events from today to Saturday or head to Page 7 to learn about a FIFA tournament with a prize.