Western Courier | October 16, 2017 by The Western Courier

Opinions: Stoik — Boy Scouts makes a progressive move for women.

Edge: Hohman — “Dynasty” premiere shows promise for season.

Monday, October 16, 2017 - Vol. 118 Issue 24

Back Page: Football topples Missouri State University 49-30.

JESSIE MATIAS/PRODUCTION MANAGER

By Emily Stieren assistant news editor For the Western Illinois University students and staff interested in women’s issues on campus gathered to enjoy food and coffee and meet the new director of the Women’s Center, Stephanie Hovsepian. The Western Organization for Women (WOW) hosted their annual Fall Reception last Wednesday. According to the President of WOW Kimberly Rice, pairing up with Hovsepian provided a good opportunity to create diverse ideals within WOW. “We always try to have our reception at the beginning or sort of beginning-middle of the fall semester just to have every-

one come together,” Rice said. “It’s also a really good opportunity for us to remind our members of different things that we have going on. This year, we decided to pair it with allowing the WOW membership to meet Stephanie Hovsepian.” Hovsepian is not a member of WOW, but is currently working toward being a part of the organization. This is her first time working with women’s issues on a professional level, therefore taking on the position as director of the Women's center will allow her to spearhead women's issues and build experience in the process. “The last two years I actually worked at Western in the Office of Student Judicial Programs. The position of director opened up

and I was interested,” Hovsepian said. “I actually do not have a background in women’s studies or feminist theory, but I have worked in Student Affairs for more years than I want to count right now.” Hovsepian is eager to make a difference for the women at Western and bring confidence to students of any gender. “I just enjoy working with students and providing opportunities for students to kind of see their potential and feel empowered and go out there and be the kind of people they want to be in the world, so this position seemed like a really good opportunity to do some of that work,” Hovsepian said. WOW represents the women on

campus and the improvements needed to make Western more suitable for them such as working toward getting personal product bins in bathrooms and lactation rooms on campus. They are also focused on advancing women’s opportunities in the workplace and the university. Anyone willing to work on improving women’s life on campus is able to join the organization. “You do not have to identify as a woman to be a part of WOW and that is the same with the Women’s Center,” Hovsepian said. “People of all gender identities and expressions can get involved and I encourage them to. As a woman, a cis (gender) woman, we need cis (gender) men as our allies to help us educate and bring awareness about

different issues.” People who identify as cisgender have a gender identity that corresponds to their biological sex. A cisgender man, for example, identifies with a masculine gender and was born a biological male. The annual WOW Fall Reception is a good chance to remind the campus community of what WOW does for women. It allows all faculty and students of any gender, race or sexuality to come together to advocate for women’s rights, not just on campus, but everywhere. The Fall Reception also gave attendees the opportunity to renew their WOW membership. For more information on WOW, visit http://www.wiu. edu/WOW.

Fallen Soldiers 5k returns to Western

ANGEL STRACK/PHOTO EDITOR

In honor of two Western Illinois University alumni killed in the line of duty, Capt. Derek Dobogai and Lt. Col. Robert Baldwin, Western hosted the annual Fallen Soldiers 5k run/walk to raise funds for the Fallen Soldiers Scholarship on Saturday.

Monday, October 16, 2017

NEWS

WesternCourier.com

JESSIE MATIAS/PRODUCTION MANAGER

Tabi Jozwick courier staff

To improve communication between the Western Illinois University and the Macomb communities, President Jack Thomas will be hosting a Brown Bag Lunch Conversation on Thursday from noon to 1 p.m. in the University Union Bratton Lounge. According to Thomas, the Brown Bag Lunch Conversations throughout the academic year are to give facility, staff, students, alumni and the Macomb community the chance to ask him questions and to bring their issues and concerns about Western over lunch. “It’s an opportunity to just have dialogue and to keep communication going,” Thomas said. “Sometimes, when you have a lot of things going on, particularly of all of the things that happened last year with the budget impasse and how things we have going on now with negotiation.” Thomas stresses that the lines of communication need to be open within both the Western and the Macomb communities. “I think that there needs to be more dialogue, just to assure people that everything is going fine and that people feel heard,” Thomas said. “As president of this university, that I am accessible, I’m touchable, I’m reachable and somebody who can communicate with them.” Thomas believes that the people will want to talk about the issues that Western is facing during the Brown Bag Lunch Conversation. “We are still not out of the woods

STAFF MEMBERS editor-in-chief Nicholas Ebelhack NA-Ebelhack@wiu.edu news editor Isaiah Herard IA-Herard@wiu.edu assistant news editor Emily Stieren EN-Stieren@wiu.edu opinions editor Shannon Norris SA-Norris@wiu.edu sports editor Mat McClanahan

Located on the third floor of the Heating Plant Annex on the south end of campus across from Sherman Hall. Mail: 1 University Circle, WIU, Macomb, IL 61455 Phone: 309-298-1876 Fax: 309-298-2309 Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays E-mail: micour@wiu.edu Member: Illinois College Press Association, National Association College Press

yet,” Thomas said. “Those are some of the messages that I have been articulating with several meetings that I had in the past few days and I want people to feel comfortable and I also want them to know basically what is going on and I don’t want them to hear secondhand, I want them to hear directly from me as president of the university.” Thomas hopes that by getting the information straight from him, it will ease up the fears that many people have about Western. “We want people to know that we are able to discuss those issues and to squash rumors that may be out there and that they feel that they have an opportunity to talk and to express their concerns as well,” Thomas said. “I want to hear from them, so it’s a two-way street, not just that individuals hear from me, I want to hear from them as well and be a person who is going to sit there and listen and then hear the things that they say.” Thomas hopes that the Brown Bag Lunch Conversations will bridge the communication between himself and the Western and Macomb communities and will create better relationships with both communities as well, including Western students. Thomas also wants people to know that if they have any questions or concerns, they can reach him by calling his office to set up an appointment, sending him an email or even through social media. You can reach President Thomas at 309-298-1824 or via email at J-Thomas2@wiu.edu For more information about the Brown Bag Lunch Conversations contact Kerry McBride at K-McBride@wiu.

MD-McClanahanw@wiu.edu assistant sports editor Devon Greene DJ-Greene@wiu.edu edge editor Alyssa Hohman AM-Hohman@wiu.edu copy editor Joshua Defibaugh JG-Defibaugh@wiu.edu proofreader Valerie Clemens VN-Clemens@wiu.edu

proofreader Alexis Lowe AL-Lowe@wiu.edu proofreader Tacuma Venzant T-Venzant@wiu.edu photo editor Angel Strack AE-Strack@wiu.edu assistant photo editor Pedro Avila PJ-Avila@wiu.edu production manager Jessie Matias JM-Garcia@wiu.edu business manager Faith Rucker F-Rucker@wiu.edu advertising manager Patryk Mazur P-Mazur@wiu.edu adviser Will Buss WJ-Buss@wiu.edu

PUBLISHING AND CIRCULATION

The Western Courier is published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays during the regular school year, excluding holidays, finals week and semester breaks. The WC updates the website weekly during the summer. All content reflects the editorial discretion of the students operating the newspaper and must be interpreted as unofficial university communication. While every attempt is made to determine the validity of advertising contained herein, the advertising in the WC is not to be construed as endorsements of any specific products or services. The WC assumes no responsibility or liability resulting from the content of paid advertisements. Subscription price is $36 per year mailed third-class bulk rate from Macomb. The WC is printed by The Galesburg Register-Mail in Galesburg, Ill.

No reproduction or reuse of material is permitted without written consent of the WC. All rights reserved. To request permission to reprint any material from this publication, please contact Nicholas Ebelhack or Will Buss at 309-298-1876.

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Monday, October 16, 2017

NEWS 3

Jessie Matias/production manager

By Doni Purifoy courier staff Western Illinois University celebrated the 50th anniversary of Thurgood Marshall’s appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court and his legacy with a ceremony in the Gwendolyn Brooks Multicultural Center on Wednesday. The guest speaker was Western alum Robert E. Weems Jr., of Wichita State University. As the new Willard W. Garvey Distinguished Professor of Business History, Weems gave those who attended the lecture a soliloquy on the life, working career and accomplishments of Marshall. Weems spoke upon key points in Marshall’s career, such as his time as a civil rights attorney, arguing the vital supreme court case Brown v. Board of Education, which labeled segregation in schools unconstitutional. Weems also mentioned many times that Marshall was a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and an active member of the NAACP. Charles Hamilton Houston was also discussed because of his contributions toward integrating schools and dismantling Jim Crow laws. “Marshall and other members

of the fraternity and the organization played vital roles in the dismantling of Jim Crow racial segregation,” Weems said in his keynote speech. “Charles Hamilton Houston and Thurgood Marshall played vital roles in the Donald Murray case, which gave Murray, an African American male who had been denied admission to the University of Maryland Law School because of his race admission into the law school.” Lanier Mays, a Western student and an active member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity said that it is his duty as a member of Alpha Phi Alpha and brother of Marshall to ensure that his legacy lived through the people of the audience on Wednesday. “It is our service to all, and that’s what we’re here for,” Mays said. "With Thurgood Marshall being a brother of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated, it only feels right that we take the lead and initiative to sponsor this event, making sure that everything goes well as far as getting refreshments, cleaning and making sure that the brothers that came out of town to see this lecture were accommodated in a well manner.” Sponsors of the event included

the Centennial Honors College, the College of Fine Arts and Communication, Leslie Malpass Library, the College of Arts and Science, the Department of History, the Department of political science, the Department of Liberal Arts and Western’s Eta Eta chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha. Alphonso Simpson, professor of Liberal Arts and Sciences and member of Alpha Phi Alpha said the lecture was informative and an accurate portrayal of the life and times of Marshall. “The lecture was great, and informative,” Simpson said. “I’m glad that many people came out. I knew Dr. Weems when I was back at the University of Missouri Columbia, and so when I saw that he would be speaking, I knew that I had to be here. It is important that other students and other people get here to know about Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, and his impact. I think that everyone should know about him. We like to talk about stock black history figures such as Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, and we leave out Thurgood Marshall and all that he’s done for racial equality and social justice.”

Jessie Matias/production manager

•On Oct. 6 at 6 p.m. De Andre Miller, 18, of 805 Tanner Hall, was arrested in the 300 block of University Drive for reckless driving following an accident, which caused an estimated $700 in property damage along University Drive. Miller was ticketed for reckless driving and assigned a Nov. 8 court date. He was transported to the McDonough County Jail at 6:05 p.m. where he was lodged pending bond. •On Oct. 7 at 4:51 a.m. a 14-year-old juvenile in Tanner Hall was issued a citation for curfew and illegal consumption of alcohol by a minor. The juvenile was released to his parents. •On Oct. 7 at 11:31 a.m. an individual reported at OPS that sometime between 11:2011:30 p.m. on Oct. 6, she was struck in the back by a BB while waiting at the Murray Street bus stop. The incident is under investigation. •On Oct. 8 at 3:07 p.m. non student Corrion Martin, 20, of Chicago, was arrested near Charles and Orchard streets for domestic battery

and criminal damage after an alleged incident in Tanner Hall. He was transported to the McDonough County Jail at 3:15 P.M. where he as lodged pending bond. •On Oct. 9 at 12:23 a.m. Chynyun Tan, 19, of 720 Tanner Hall, received a notice to appear Nov. 14 for a Macomb City ordinance violation for possession of cannabis (less than 10 grams). •On Oct. 10 at 3:46 p.m. a student came to Mowbray Hall to report the theft of her unlocked bicycle, valued at $50, from the bicycle rack on the north side of Malpass Library. The incident is under investigation. •On Oct. 10 at 5:42 p.m. a student near Henninger Hall was judicially referred for behavior. •On Oct. 12 at 3:27 p.m. one student was judicially referred for the theft of a bicycle from Stipes Hall on Oct. 10. •On Oct. 12 at 10:32 student in p.m. one Henninger Hall was judicially referred for possession of drug paraphernalia.

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Monday, October 16, 2017

4 OPINIONS

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JESSIE MATIAS/PRODUCTION MANAGER

Last Wednesday, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) board of directors unanimously to welcome girls into the Cub Scout and Boy Scout programs, allowing them the opportunity to obtain the highest rank of Eagle Scout. “This decision is true to the BSA’s mission and core values outlined in the Scout Oath and Law. The values of Scouting —

trustworthy, loyal, helpful, kind, brave and reverent, for example — are important for both young men and women,” Michael Surbaugh, the Boy Scouts of America’s Chief Scout Executive said, in an official statement. “We believe it is critical to evolve how our programs meet the needs of families interested in positive and lifelong experiences for their children. We strive to bring what our organization does best – developing character and leadership for young people – to as many families and youth as possible as we help shape the next generation of leaders.” This decision is widely unpopular among many for I believe reasons, but ultimately it is a great step for the organization, courageously reflecting the val-

ues of the Boy Scout code. Many people see this shift as a direct challenge to scouting traditions, leaving them to ask the question, “Isn’t that why we have Girl Scouts?” But Girl Scouts aren’t for everybody. Many young girls would much rather engage in the exciting activities offered by the Boy Scouts than the Girl Scouts. The BSA has realized more of its own potential impact on the lives of young people in our nation. Some think to welcome girls to the opportunity of Eagle Scout is to diminish the prestige of the rank itself as if they just couldn’t bear to see a young woman as their equal. They aren’t handing out free badges for girls with a pat on the back for the act of being born a different sex; these young women will have work just as hard as anybody else to gain prestige in the scouts. There will not be coed Cub Scout dens, for all intents and purposes; the Boy Scouts will

remain the same for boys. It will include opportunities for females to have similar experiences with other females. In an official statement made by the BSA, they announce, “Cub Scout dens will be singlegender — all boys or all girls. Using the same curriculum as the Boy Scouts program, the organization will also deliver a program for older girls, which will be announced in 2018 and projected to be available in 2019, which will enable them to earn the Eagle Scout rank. This unique approach allows the organization to maintain the integrity of the single gender model while also meeting the needs of today’s families.” For years the BSA has been in decline. Membership peaked in the 1970’s and has been progressively getting lower ever since. The organization has a history of intolerance that they are, in this sense, attempting to correct with a more inclusive membership.

I fail to see what the problem is with allowing girls to join the Boy Scouts. When one takes the time to review the organizations plan of inclusion it is completely logical. This is not a liberal attempt to poison a sacred American tradition; this is not an attack on masculinity; and this is not a slap in the face to Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts. This is a logical step forward in the right direction for an organization that is striving to reflect its own values.

Find ways to combat anxiety Studies from the American Psychological Association have shown that anxiety remains the highest mental health concern for college students, with 41.6 percent of those surveyed reporting they have experienced anxiety. This means almost half the students enrolled in universities have experienced some kind of anxiety-related incidents that have inhibited their work ethic and desire to further their education. Some students don’t fully understand what’s happening to them when they’re put under certain pressures and expectations. And this allows for the anxiety to seemingly consume them.

They put it off or ignore it and we all know that’s not the best way to cope with stress. It allows for the anxiety and pressing thoughts to become bigger and far more detrimental to our mental states. From time to time, everyone experiences a point in their lives when the stress seems to become too much to handle. It sometimes even causes emotional or physical breakdowns of those who are affected by these incidents. But it’s normal. Everyone has their bad days and there are sometimes people who have bad days for a very long time and that’s okay. It’s just about finding the right way to deal with these unwanted thoughts

and emotions. That’s why I felt the need to bring up this topic; to put some ideas out there for those who may be feeling these anxious thoughts and emotions. That even though it feels like there’s nothing you can do to be free or have a second of peace, there is. No matter how little or insignificant these things may seem, they help and can lead to other exercises that help way more too. Personally, sociability isn’t something that would necessarily calm an anxious state of mind, but here at Western Illinois University we have fun activities such as Throwing Thursdays. which allows anyone to come in and have fun playing with clay or trying to master the art of pottery. Sometimes after a rough exam — or anything that’s troubling you — letting out your creativity really helps.

Even before studying for a big exam or before a stressful event I find that the five, four, three, two, one relief rules found on Stellar really help. It goes five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell and one thing you can taste. These rules help ground and center your mind with things that are readily available, putting you in the here and now. Meditation is also a really big one that a lot of people

advise anxious individuals to try. There are many ways to go explore the methods of meditation but the simplest one I commonly use is an app on my phone that’s basically a timer. It plays nice music and a guiding voice that tells you to breathe in and out and to think of calm places for about 10 to 20 minutes. You might feel sleepy right after doing this method, but if you continuously do this exercise you should see an improvent in your mental health.

October 16, 2017

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E2 EDGE

Monday, October 16, 2017

WesternCourier.com

Manson’s new album has a horror feel to it

POWER 97.COM

With Halloween just around the corner, Marilyn Manson’s new studio album will leave you feeling like you are in a horror film. The shock rocker recently released “Heaven Upside Down,” a 48 minute concept album, which has a similar sound to his older work. Those who listen to Manson know that his music revolves around violence and living the rock star lifestyle. There are a few songs off

the album that are easy to translate. “Saturnalia” is the longest song off the album by eight minutes. The intro begins with a synthesizer, fast guitar riffs and Manson humming. One would think when hearing it that it would be about something dark, however it’s quite the contrary. “Saturnalia” is about astrological elements, including the Solar Eclipse that occurred back in August. The song ends with the lyr-

ics “Blinded by blackness, just empty shells, in the deafening void, of our last sunset.” “Heaven Upside Down,” another song off the album, is a dedication piece to Manson’s father who passed away while the album was being recorded. Other songs off the album are graphic and may not suit many people. Though the album has dark themes, it has not stopped fans from making a purchase. Since its release on Oct. 6th, the album has already sold 32,000 copies. Marilyn Manson whose real name is Brain Warner, has taken the rock world by storm since

1989. For years Manson has been known as a controversial figure, who’s loved by young adults and despised by parents. His character is known for a wild stage pressence, bizarre music and of course, influencing adolescence to worship evil creatures. Though his presence may seem intimidating, Manson has created legacy in music. Prior to his solo work, Manson fronted a band that was named after him. The Marilyn Manson Band received three platinum and three gold awards on their albums, along with two number-one albums. Manson is not only a

successful musician, but plays a part in many charities. When he is not making records or touring, he participates in Make-A-Wish Foundation and Little Kids Rock, a charity that provides music education and instruments to low-income families. Additionally, Mason also works with Project Nightlight, an organization that encourages children and teenagers to speak out about physical and sexual abuse. Currently Manson has postponed nine concert dates due to an onstage injury on Oct. 1st. However, he will be performing again Oct. 15th in Grand Prairie, Texas.

JESSIE MATIAS PRODUCTION MANAGER

Edge 3

Monday, October 16, 2017

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“Big Brother”season finale leaves fans confused

FLICKR.COM

It has almost been a month since the season 19 finale of “Big Brother” aired. I don’t know about you, but man, do I have so many mixed feelings and thoughts about this past season. Let us take a minute to recap a little bit. Right from the beginning there were oh so many showmances (show romances) from “Jody” to “Maven”. This is a reality game show that you are trying to win,

not a dating show. There were also a lot of twist and turns, or should I say temptations, one allowing Paul from season 18 to come back this season, who was basically the “puppet master” of the house. Everyone wanted to be part of Paul’s friendship, well, everyone besides Cody. There were also a lot of alliances and back doors that tore the house apart from the start. I, for one, as all for team Alex and Jason.

Wait a second, did I say there was a lot of back-dooring going on this season? I believe I did. Most of the time, those being back doored knew they were like Cody but that wasn’t always the case. The one that killed me on the inside was that of my team, Alex and Jason. I won’t lie, I was crying with them. Honestly, I do not understand how chaotic Christmas and the Meatball (Josh), along with Paul, made it to final three. It absolutely blows my mind on how far Kevin made it so far as well, but that is a story for another day. Going back to the final

three, I was not sure who I wanted to win, because I really was not a fan of any of them at this point of the game. You have the veteran of “Big Brother,” the crybaby Meatball, and the girl who has been unable to compete in a majority of the challenges all season due to a little mishap early on in the season. Then, it was down to the veteran and the meatball, which was a difficult one for the jury to vote. The jury is suppose to vote based on their game and strategy, but I believe a lot of it was based on personal feelings this season. Which I would

have been on the same boat if I were part of the jury. Unfortunately, for Paul, the meatball, Josh, played a better social and strategic game this season making him the winner of season 19 of “Big Brother.” You would think that Paul would have learned a little more from being in the exact same spot from last season, but I guess not. On a different note, who is ready for celebrity “Big Brother?” You can bet your butt that I’ll be tuning into that every night it’s on. I can only imagine the chaos that is to come from this new twist on Big Brother.

WIKIMEDIA.ORG

This past Monday, during halftime of the Bears-Vikings game the trailer for “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” premiered. The trailer was chalk full of information and teasers about what will be in the new film. Throughout the trailer we see the return of some familiar faces and beloved/hated characters. In the trailer we see Mark Hamill re-

turning as Luke Skywalker, Daisy Ridley as Rey, Carrier Fisher as Leia, John Boyega as Finn, Adam Driver as Kylo Ren and Oscar Isaac as Poe Dameron, to name a few. The trailer was so full of enticing information and clues as to what the newest addition to the “Star Wars” saga will be about. So much happens in the

trailer and there is a lot of careful editing that makes it difficult to tell what will actually happen to the characters. And of course, since the trailers releas fans have been dissecting the trailer and predicting what will happen during the movie. The main theme of the trailer was one of “raw, untamed power.” Power was brought up again and again usually surrounding Rey and Kylo.

Jedi page E4

E4 EDGE

Monday, October 16, 2017

Jedi from E3

General Snoke narrates the opening of the trailer and mentions power. We see the theme again during a snippet of Luke explaining to Rey how he has only seen a power like this one other time and that he did not fear it enough but that he would not make that mistake again. In the trailer fans see Luke

training Rey. She demonstrates a strong command of the force, which obviously strikes some chord with Luke, making him resistant to training her. This is followed up with a flashback to a fiery scene, we see Luke’s mechanical hand break free of debris and it seems that this is supposed to be the destroyed Jedi training school, which we know from the last film, was the event that happened before

Luke went into hiding. There is also a scene that shows Rey saying something along the lines of how she needs someone to help her figure out her place and then it cuts to Kylo Ren holding his hand out, seemingly towards Rey to indicate that the two will work together at some point. There is a lot of speculation surrounding the potential relationship between Kylo and Rey. Many suspect

WesternCourier.com that the two will form some sort of alliance possibly creating a new branch of the Jedi. It has been explained that “The Last Jedi” is referring to Luke Skywalker, however some believe that it could mean that the Jedi as we knew it will be done. The Jedi in Lukes time and before believed in a stark black and white, there is a good and a bad, no in between. If Rey and Kylo were to join up they could

perhaps create a gray jedi, somewhere in between the good and the bad. There was so much that happened in the trailer that it is hard to grasp it all. For all “Star Wars” fans out there, I suggest watching the trailer and reading what other fans have to say online, there are some creative predictions out there. The film will not be released to theaters until December 15 but tickets are available now.

JESSIE MATIAS PRODUCTION MANAGER

“Cuphead” needed to be amazing to live up to over three years of hype after being announced at 2014’s Electronic Entertainment Expo, and fortunately, it exceeds those expectations by finding the sweet spot between charm and challenge. Created by first-time developers Chad and Jared Moldenhauer, the game lends itself heavily to 1930s cartoon art, an aesthetic that the brothers lend heavily to their childhood memories. After an attempt in 2000, the Moldenhauer brothers decided to redesign the game with better resources following the

success of 2010’s “Super Meat Boy.” Unlike a cartoon, however, the game focuses on the gameplay rather than the plot. The titular character and his pal Mugman gambled their souls away in the Devil’s Casino. But should the duo collect the soul contracts of the other inhabitants of Inkwell Isle with the power given to them by the Elder Kettle, they’ll be off the hook. What the story lacks in complexity, it makes up for in gameplay. It’s fast paced, easy to get the hang of, and most of all, challenging. The game consists

primarily of boss fights with run-and-gun platforming sections in between, and each one is unique and difficult. doesn’t su “Cuphead” garcoat itself in the beginning, the first few boss fights are challenging but not so frustrating that you would want to quit. It takes time, but with each bout you learn the enemy’s attack patterns and correct your mistakes, and when you finally see “KNOCK-OUT” written across the screen it’s incredibly satisfying. himself feels Cuphead very powerful because of a combination of tight controls and simple mechanics. He feels just strong enough to be a worthy challenger to the daunting task, but does not feel overpowered. He’s fragile, and there’s no way to regain health so you

need to be deliberate with every jump, duck and dash. If there is one significant problem that “Cuphead” suffers from, it’s the co-op mode. Cuphead by himself is at a fair disadvantage, but when paired with Mugman the player has too much of an advantage. While the screen is more cluttered with two players, Cuphead and Mugman can revive each other, taking away from the challenge. This may sound a bit macabre, but you need to really be invested in not dying. In co-op, that sensation is lost. But regardless of challenge, the game’s shining feature is the aesthetic. The surreal style makes for a dynamic visual experience, every color pops against the background and allows for the gameplay to succeed in a cluttered envi-

ronment. What makes the artwork succeed even further was the decision to stagger the framerates between the animation and the gameplay. While the gameplay runs at 60 frames per second, the animation runs at 24, similar to what a 1930’s cartoon would be. Combine this with an original jazz soundtrack and small details like the voiceover that comes before each level, “Cuphead” is an immersing experience. With plans to be extended through expansion packs including additional boss fights, “Cuphead” will likely be receiving awards throughout the end of 2017 as one of the best games this year. For only 20 bucks, it an essential for any PC or Xbox One player ’s library, and it’s easy to see how it’s sold over one million copies in just over two weeks.

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Monday, October 16, 2017

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OPINIONS 5

Attendance policies limit independence

WIKIPEDIA.COM

Throughout high school, many of us were bombarded by the opinion that college professors don’t care if you come to class. “It’s your responsibility” professors would say, “you’re an adult now.” Let me tell you, I was quite surprised during syllabus week when most of my professors said attendance was required. Don’t get me wrong, I planned on going to class anyway but I was shocked. All through high school it was banged into my head, by both teachers and social media, that college professors don’t care. Not in the sense that they don’t care about their students, but in the sense that we are supposedly independent adults now, so if we want to waste our money skipping class and messing around, they were going to let us.

My syllabus week shock begs the question, “should attendance to classes be mandatory?” To me, it seems like a clear no. Before coming to college, we are told over and over again that we are going to be on our own. If we are supposed to be independent, shouldn’t we as students be free to make our own mistakes? If we want to piddle around wasting our time, we should be able to. As we all know, skipping class comes with consequences of its own. Obviously, if you don’t come to class, you won’t know the material or the homework and won’t do well on exams. That in itself should be punishment enough, having additional punishments for missing class is unnecessary. Let me be clear that I am in no

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way condoning or encouraging skipping class. We students pay a hefty sum of money to be here, and it is true that every time you skip a class, you are throwing away part of the money used to pay for that class. My point is that — even though I don’t recommend it — students should be able to make the choice of whether or not to waste their time. As stated before, skipping class alone brings on its own consequences without losing attendance points. Continued missing class will be reflected in that student’s grade, so having additional attendance points is unnecessary and can take away from regular classgoers with a legitimate reason to miss. Thus, I must say that college professors having required attendance in their classes seems opposite of the evolution we as college students are supposed to be making. We freshmen are coming from a high school environment into a college one, and college

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classes requiring attendance is so — for lack of a better term — high-school-ish. If you want young adults to learn to be independent, they must be allowed to make their own mistakes. I’ll repeat myself once again,

I’m not saying skipping class is a good idea. I’m making the argument that if we are as independent and we’ve been being told for years we would be, we should be free to make the choice without additional penalties.

Monday, October 16, 2017

6 SPORTS

Football

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To begin the fourth quarter, Western’s offense continued to roll as Acklin began to heat up. Acklin Caught only two passes on the Leatherneck drive, but they were to be big catches for his team. Acklin finished off the 11-play 80-yard drive for Western with a 26-yard touchdown pass. Missouri State scored their first touchdown of the second half after driving down the field with the clouds beginning to hover overhead. The Bears’ running game was essential on the 9 play 75-yard drive as they opened with a 40-yard rush from freshman running back Myron Mason. Missouri State only passed on one play before junior running back Nick Masoner scored a 9-yard touchdown to shrink the lead to 35-30 with only 8 minutes left in the game. Western’s next drive resulted in a punt before giving

the ball to Missouri State. However, they were unable to get the next drive going before a severe thunderstorm hit Hanson Field, causing a delay. The delay lasted for an hour and 39 minutes before the teams took the field to finish the game. Head Coach Charlie Fisher saw the importance of the break to talk to and focus his team. “When we first came in the locker room, I think we were in a little bit of shock.” Fisher said. “Our team felt like we were behind and the first thing I did was remind them who was ahead. A big chunk of our season was on the line right here. Once that shock wore off, we as a staff and team did a great job of regrouping.” “The last thing I said to them in the huddle before breaking it down, we always break it down with a ‘Hoo-rah’ I said ‘Trust each other and believe in each other and finish the fight.’ That’s been our motto

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all year.” The Leathernecks came out and finished the fight after the break. Missouri State was unable to get any offense going on their first drive and attempted to convert on 4th and 14, which they failed. The Leathernecks struck quickly with two rush plays for McShane breaking a 39 yard run up the gut to push the lead to 42-30. The Bears’ next drive ended very similarly with a failed fourth down conversion. Western also gave the fans déjà vu with a 29-yard touchdown run from Norris on the same play that McShane did on the previous drive. Norris’ touchdown was the final touchdown of the day and gave the Leathernecks a 49-30 win for their first home victory of the season. Western will be heading to face the North Dakota State university Bison next weekend on Saturday 21. Twitter: @devonseasofrhye

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For Rent

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1 & 2 bedroom apartments, new $250 signing bonus on 10 and 12 month leases. Two blocks from campus. Bus stops nearby. Free water, garbage and parking. Laundry onsite. Clean, well maintained and secure. Call Ted 309-837-5600 or visit markertrental.com. Spacious 2-5 bedroom homes for rent. 10 month lease available. Great locations, close to bus stops, plenty off street parking, all new windows, AC, energy efficient furnace, hardwood and ceramic tile floors, free washer/dryer. Well maintained (24 hrs.) by local landlord. Call 309-255-1233. Houses for Rent 2016/2017: A&D Real Estate has several 3, 4 and 5 bedroom houses for rent, all with at least 2 bathrooms, recently rennovated and located close to campus. Call for a tour or visit our website at www.wiucollegerentals.com. Local landlord with a focus on clean and updated housing with personal service for your college housing needs. 309-313-1122. FALL INTO SAVINGS with Charleston Boulevard Apartments! Now offering SPECIAL RATES through Dec. 2017! Call for specific details 309-833-4545!. NICE, CLEAN, WELL MAINTAINED 1 TO 6 BEDROOM HOUSES FOR 2016-2017 Our houses have hard wood floors, ceramic tile, central air, washer and dryer and are close to campus with plenty of parking. We offer a ten month lease so you don’t pay for the months you aren’t here. Please call 309-255-1959 for a showing. Now showing for 2017 & 2018 year 2, 3, and 5 bedrooms homes all close to campus. Call 309-331-4565. Westen Investments has only two 4-Bedroom brich houses available. Call our office at 309-833-5995 to schedule a showing! We will show to 2-3 person groups as well!

LARGE STUDENT RENTALS 5 and 6 Bedroom Homes are still available!! Ask for our $1000.00 Discount program! Firsrt come first serve for the last large homes that are open for the fall. NICE, CLEAN, WELL MAINTAINED 1 TO 6 BEDROOM HOUSES FOR 2017-2018 Our houses have wood floors, ceramic tile, W/D, central air, and are close to campus with plentry of parking. We offer low rent and a 10 month lease to save you money! Call 309-255-1959 for a showing. Small 1BR apt near campus and downtown. All utilities included. (Electric, Water, DISH, Garbage) $500/month, $300 deposit. Available immediately. Also have 2BR, you pay electric. $600/month, $350 deposit available September 1st. Please contact 309-255-4367 for a showing. CLEAN, REMODELED, AND WELL MAINTAINED HOUSES AND APTS FOR RENT IN GREAT LOCATIONS. UTILITIES PAID FOR APARTMENTS. RENTING NOW FOR FALL 2017. ALSO RENTING TWO APTS FOR SPRING 2016. CALL JASON AT 309-221-3985. Timbercrest Apartments 1587 Riverview Drive Now showing 1 & 2 Bedroom Units. Very clean, close to WIU campus with bus stop in front of building. Washer/dryer available in most units, all other appliances included, FREE INTERNET, ceiling fans in every room, pet friendly. All units have off street parking and private decks overlooking campus. Both 10- and 12-month leases are available. Openings for Summer 2017 and school year 2017/2018. Deposit required. Phone (309)833-3192 and leave message. Westen Investments has just one 3-Bedroom ALL UTILITIES INCLUDED (Water, Sewer, Trash, Gas, Electric, and Internet) Apartment left! That’s right you just pay for rent, and the rest of it is on us! Call our office at 309-833-5995 to check it out.

RATES $5.50 per issue (open rate) $4.00 per issue (campus rate)

For Rent Available now: Close to campus, clean studio apartments, excellent condition, reasonable rent, and partly furnished. Ceiling fans and a/c. Professionally maintained. No pets. Semester leases offered. Call 309 837 4369 and leave your phone number if not there. Email: MandKhousing@gmail.com ALL APARTMENTS - ALL INCLUSIVE Get control of your budget. Know exactly what you are spending each month. Each apartment includes free a/c, free heat, free electricity, free water, free cable tv, free hi speed internet, and free off street parking. Laundry on site. No noise policy. Bus stop across the street. Close to campus. Well maintained. Studios are $460/mo, One bedrooms are $620/mo. Call Doug at 309-255-8179 for an appointment. Westen Investments still has affordable 1-4 Bedroom Apartment/Houses available. Be sure to check out our website (www.westeninvest.com) to see our available listings, and call our office at 309-833-5995 to schedule a showing. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to win prize giveaways! APARTMENT FOR RENT: FOR QUIET PERSON. ONE BEDROOM APARTMENT FOR RENT LOCATED AT 314 West Carroll ST Macomb, Ill 61455. Available end of August 2017-new carpeting yearly lease SMALEST FURNISHED IN MACOMB $345.00/month - HEAT & AC INCLUDED private entrance, off-street parking included call for appointment309-837-4748 or 255-5075 woodburning fireplace, ask for Paul. Bartender Wanted. Looking for a fun, outgoing person to bartend in a small town atmosphere. No experience necessary, will train. Flexible hours, nights and weekends. Only 20 minutes from Macomb in Blandinsville, IL. Contact 2 Doors Down at 309-652-3611, or Anne at 309-221-3945, or stop in during business hours for an application.

Sports 7

Monday, October 16, 2017

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Men’s soccer team falls to Crusaders By Haley Richards courier staff

The Western Illinois University men’s soccer team dropped a home contest against Valparaiso University Crusaders this past Thursday by a score of 5-2. The Leathernecks are now 4-7-0 on the season while the Crusaders are 7-5-1. Due to rain, the match was played on Western’s exhibition field to ensure the game field did not get torn up. The Purple and Gold were able to get on the board first with a goal from junior defender Angelo Amato. Just nine minutes into the game, senior midfielder Amadeo Carbon played a ball in the box while Amato was able to get his head on for a goal. However, the Leathernecks were unable to keep the momentum going as the Crusaders scored just five minutes later. “We had a chance in the first half when we had it going, and we didn’t score. We got the one, but we had six opportunities right in the first half when Armel was really on fire,” said

Director of Soccer Eric Johnson. “We had those chances, and didn't score. And boom, then they come back and that's the game.” In the 23rd minute, a foul on the Crusaders allowed for a free kick outside the box for senior forward Alejandro Pacheco, who nearly found a goal when the ball hit the crossbar. A minute after, a foul on the Leathernecks gave the Crusaders another opportunity to score. Sophomore midfielder Adan Janes then buried a free kick set at 24 yards out. With a score of 2-1 at half, there was still hope for the Leathernecks. Senior forward Armel Kouassi crossed the ball to senior forward Drew Whalen, who dove and headed the ball just wide of the net. The Crusaders then wasted no time before scoring another goal ten minutes into the second half. At the 73rd minute mark, Whalen scored off a pass from senior defender Ben Fiddes. This was Whalen’s eighth goal of the season, and now he has scored in six straight matches. Whalen now leads the Summit League in goals scored.

Two Western goals were not enough to get past the Crusaders. Two more goals late in the second half put the Crusaders at five goals. “We had a group of guys that played well today, but we had another group that did not play well. And it takes more than a group, you need the whole team,” Johnson said. “Good finishing by the Crusaders, poor finishing by us and some poor moments defensively leads to 5-2. Not what we wanted at home, but we’re going to have to regroup. We've got Omaha coming up, so we’ll reground and get after that game.” The Leathernecks now have a good break before conference play starts back up again. Still ranked first in the Summit League, Western will travel to Omaha for their next matchup. The University of NebraskaOmaha men’s soccer team is 7-3-2 on the season. The two ties were both conference games. The Mavericks sit at fifth in the conference not yet seeing a league win. This match is set for Saturday, Oct. 21 at 2 p.m. Twitter: hayfourrr

Drew Whalen watches on defense in a home game.

of good. The Golden Knights are the first NHL expansion team to start off their first season 3-0. Vegas played the first two games away, first visiting the Dallas Stars winning 2-1 and then moving on to play the Arizona Coyotes beating them 2-1 in overtime. But what broke the record was their emotional home opener to make it three in a row. With the mass shooting at the Mandalay Bay hotel still fresh in people’s heads, you could imagine that it was a heartfelt night for the city and its new team. They were set to play the Coyotes again, this time at home as a four goal first period lead them to win the game 5-2, breaking the record. These next couple of games didn’t break any records but they were still entertaining to the neutral fan. Personally, I am a St. Louis Blues fan, so I naturally hate the Chicago Blackhawks, but I’ll be the first to admit that they smacked the Penguins. I might not like the Blackhawks, but I especially don’t like the Penguins. I really just don’t like them because of how good they

are, as well as their new following of typical bandwagon fans who follow the champions around. It was the most onesided game we’ve seen so far, this season. Long time player Brandon Saad was welcomed back to the team as he had left the Blackhawks for a couple of years. He went on to score a hat trick, because I guess those are pretty common these day. This helped his team completely run through the Penguins, leading them on to a massive 10-1 win. Continuing on, a new arena has opened in Detroit. Last year, the Redwings had to say goodbye to one of the most iconic arenas in NHL history, the Joe Louis Arena. This historic building was where they won many of their Stanley Cups, among many other great memories and events. It was replaced by the new $863 million Little Caesars Arena; and yes, you read that correctly. Nearly a billion dollars put into a new arena, the most expensive of its kind, is now the Redwings new home. They look to keep the tradition going and hopefully bring the cup back home to Detroit sometime soon. The team broke in the new arena with a win of course as they played the Minnesota Wild and won 4-2. Now that the league is back in the full swing of things, these

are some upcoming games you should look out for. Tomorrow night, Austin Mathews and the Toronto Maple Leafs head into Washington D.C. to visit Ovechkin and the Capitals. Both teams are tearing it up right now, especially their star players. Moving on to Wednesday Rivalry Night, there are two impressive match ups. The Maple Leafs will head home to play the Redwings, and the Blackhawks will visit St. Louis and the Blues. Detroit and Toronto played in the Centennial Classic last season at Exhibition Field in front of 40,00 fans, where Mathews scored the overtime goal to win the game 5-4 for the Leafs. A rivalry that dates back to the 1920’s is never one to disappoint. Lastly, my favorite rivalry in sports, Blackhawks vs. Blues. Both of these central division foes are having great starts, but getting these early points in the division are crucial, and did I mention these two teams don’t like each other? Expect the likes of Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane to keep it entertaining for the Hawks, while Vladimir Tarasenko looks to keep his goal scoring up and lead his side to victory in front of his home crowd. I know I’m looking forward to this one, and you should be too.

JOSHUA DEFIBAUGH/ COPY EDITOR

NHL stars shine in season start

The NHL is back for the season, and it is definitely back with a bang. We’ve seen some spectacular games already and some records being broken, and it’s only the first week. This is just a preview of what is yet to come, but what exactly happened? First things first: Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals scored not just one, but back-to-back hat tricks in his first two games of the season, a league first. The Capitals opened their season against the Ottawa Senators, where Ovechkin, 32, led his team to tie the game at 4-4 with a third period hat trick. He absolutely went off to tie the game up and force it into overtime where his side got the win, but he wasn’t done here. The following game, his team played the Montreal Canadiens, where Ovechkin was on fire yet again, this time scoring four goals, lifting his team up to the 6-1 win for their home opener. This wasn’t the only record broken, though. It turns out that new team in Las Vegas is kind

Necks storm back against Bears

ANGEL STRACK / PHOTO EDITOR

Steve McShane bounces a carry to the right side during a win against Missouri State Saturday afternoon. McShane finished the day with 155 yards rushing and a touchdown.

By Devon Greene

assistant sports editor The Western Illinois University football team took on The Missouri State University Bears on Saturday and came out on top with a 49-30 win after a tumultuous day on Hanson Field. The Bears took the first possession of the day and capitalized early with a sevenplay, 93-yard drive. It was apparent early that senior wide receiver Malik Earl was on the way to a big day. Earl recorded two catches for 39 yards on the opening drive. However, senior running back Calan Crowder put Missouri State on the board with a 38-yard rushing touchdown. Western responded quickly and found the run game that they’ve been missing all season. Junior running back Steve McShane had not had a 100yard rushing game all season before Saturday’s matchup against the Bears. McShane was expecting to get plenty

of carries on a day where the weather threatened to rain all game. “All week, we were talking about how it was supposed to rain,” McShane said. “And we were all ready to run the ball against Missouri State who average over 200 yards a game. We knew what we had to do.” McShane and sophomore running back Max Norris combined for four carries on the opening drive and racked up 27 yards. The running game proved to be essential in opening up the playbook for the offense. Junior quarterback Sean McGuire found junior tight end Adam Conrady wide open off a play action play for a 21yard touchdown pass to tie the game up in the first quarter. After a punt on the Bear’s next drive, Western’s offense also stalled, resulting in an attempted punt from Adam Fellner from the Western 24-yard line. Redshirt freshman wide-receiver Rickey Nichols went untouched on the punt attempt, blocked the kick and returned it for

a touchdown. Western has faced mobile quarterbacks all year against the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, the University of South Dakota Coyotes and again against the Bears. Sophomore quarterback Peyton Huslig gave the Leatherneck defense problems over the entire game with option plays and scrambles. The Bears offense utilized quick passes and screen plays often to get the ball to their star receiver, Earl. Missouri State showed their creativity on offense with a double reverse that placed the ball in Earl’s hands and left him wide open for a 30-yard touchdown run, giving the Bears a 21-7 lead over the Leathernecks. The Leathernecks have found themselves fighting back from large deficits in the past three weeks, and they have been able to find their groove with their backs against the wall. McShane and McGuire both have theories on why they have been able to thrive under pressure.

“I never doubt my team and in big situations like that we know we have to finish, I never doubt them and we know we have to finish.” McShane said. “Honestly, to me, I think we like pressure and we like being in those situations and we know we can come through. It’s just part of the game.” McGuire praised the experience of the Leatherneck team as they continue to fight back from deficits in hostile and home environments. “We’ve been in that situation a couple of weeks now and there’s never a need to panic when that happens,” McGuire said. “We’re comfortable in every situation and I feel we’ve been in every situation you can be, in football.” Western began to fight back from their 14-point hole on their next drive as Norris broke off a big run for a 29yard touchdown. Sophomore kicker Sam Crosa was unable to make the extra point and left the Leathernecks down 8 at halftime. Western came out of halftime

firing on all cylinders. McShane started off the Leatherneck drive with an 11-yard rush. McGuire then found redshirt freshman running back Clint Ratkovich with a 21-yard pass to advance into Bears territory. McGuire and junior wide receiver Isaiah LeSure finished off the yard with a 43-yard deep pass in the end zone. LeSure also caught the two-point conversion pass to tie up the game at 21 in the third quarter. The Bears recorded a field goal on their next drive and gave them a three point lead before Western’s next drive. The Leatherneck running game continued to reward the offense as senior receiver Jaelon Acklin decided to get involved with the running game. Acklin ran a reverse and was able to squeeze past the Bears’ secondary for a 61-touchdown for the final score of the third quarter, placing the Leathernecks up 28-24.

Football page 6