Opinions: Reality TV is ruining us.
Sports: Lebron James proves why NBA has loyalty issues.
Sports: Basketball prepares for Oral Roberts.
Friday, February 2, 2018 - Vol. 118 Issue 51
‘The new norm’
Facilities looks to tackle deferred maintenence
By Nicholas Ebelhack editor-in-chief
Just over a year ago, in the heat the Illinois state budget impasse, it was announced that facilities management would be looking at over $400 million in deferred maintenance projects for the foreseeable future. Now, under a new director and with appropriations in place, Western Illinois University’s maintenance staff is preparing to tackle what has been described as a “mountain” of work by Director Ken Griffin. “One of the plans that the Vice President for Administrative Affairs is looking for is for me to develop a plan, how are we going to tackle this monstrous load of deferred maintenance that has come about because we have been through many years where we have been through either underfunding or no funding,” Griffin said. “We are blessed
this year to have a budget but it’s not the full budget that we asked for.” According to Griffin, there are a number of projects to address deferred maintenance in different stages of development include work on the university’s piping, air conditioning and roofing, to which Superintendent of Building Maintenance Troy Rhoads spoke on. “We have to look at roofs, those are a significant issue that we have to take into consideration. We also have to look at putting a new chiller in Thompson,” Rhoads said. “We have been operating off of a temporary chiller there for a while now and we have to start looking at replacing that in the next year.” That chiller would remove approximately $1-2 million in deferred maintenance once installed, however Rhoads said that facilities management needs to think in the long term
in order to sustain progress. “We don’t want to look at the cheapest way to replace that chiller, we want to look at the best way and what is going to be useful in the long term rather than the first initial cost,” Rhoads said. “We have to look at the lifelong cost because that chiller should last us another 25 to 30 years.” Griffin added that this is the outlook facilities management will need to maintain throughout each of their upcoming projects. “Every significant maintenance and repair project we do we see as an opportunity to address deferred maintenance so that we can reduce our future expenses so that they don’t further get away from us,” Griffin said.
Facilities page 3
Facilities management looks to replace a chiller in Thompson Hall (left) as they begin to tackle hundreds of millions of dollars in deferred maintenence. Cleanup continues at the Higgins Hall demolition site (bottom), which facilities managment oversees as some of the deferred maintenence is completed.
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Friday, February 2, 2018
NEWS
By Marc Ramirez courier staff
On Feb. 10th-11th, the 2018 Agriculture Mechanization Club will be hosting their 48th annual Farm Expo in Western Hall. Jana Knupp, Adviser and Vice President of Advertising, says of their 285 registered vendors there are a variety of items on display. “There will be vendors ranging from Agricultural products like livestock, feed, and equipment that a producer would use as well as seed and chemical, to more type of houseware so cabinetry and woodworking,” Krupp said. This number seems to be continuously growing in efforts of students in the Ag Mech Club to ensure the success of their yearly expo.
Facilities from front page
One of those factors includes what it will cost to maintain the new equipment, which is a pressing concern as facilities management looks to fill re-opened positions and negotiate with current staff. “There are a handful of positions that we anticipate refilling,” Griffin said. “We are also in negotiations with our union, we are in discussions with them as to how do we approach that staffing need, and those are taking place right now in these upcoming weeks.”
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“This is the largest student-run farm show in the nation, so our students are really in charge of going out and finding the vendors,” Krupp said. This doesn’t only benefit the students in the Ag Club by allowing them to attend conferences and buy new equipment for the shop. “It's a really good experience for students to work in sales, cold calling, and negotiating with those vendors,” says Adviser Knupp. Vice President of Expo Operations, Amber Hoener, is in charge of vendors at the expo, keeping records up to date, and confirming that vendors have paid for booths. Being that agriculture is one of four Signature Programs offered within the College of Business and Technology, one could imagine what draws these mer-
chants to the Farm Expo. “We’ve had people who have been there for 15+ years,” Hoener explains when asked how they receive so many vendors to attend the event. Knupp agreed with Hoener’s experience. “We’re fortunate enough to have a strong relationship with many of them so that they come back year to year,” Knupp said. “We have introduced what we call research row, and that is research that our faculty and students have worked on “We will have a demonstration there of hydroponics, so growing plants with water and no soil, so people will be able to see it there in action.” This year the event has expanded and has added what is called a Kids Corner, consisting of activities to entertain young children such as a bouncy house
A lean staff, as described by Rhoads, but one that impressed Griffin as he began to visit Western. “One of the good thing reemphasized is that I was surprisingly impressed with the quality of staff, of people, here, not just that I work with but those in other departments as well,” Griffin said. “I was really impressed with how sharp, intelligent, and dedicated they were, and over these last few days I have realized that has been an accurate impression.” As facilities management looks towards the future, they understand they will need to make con-
servative moves for the foreseeable future. “I feel a lot more confident and comfortable that we are going to work this thing out, I think that is a common thread,” Rhoads said. This is our new norm, this is our operating capacity, this is our staffing capacity and we have to recognize these things in our new normal.” Projects will be announced and complete through the next year, as facilities management looks to start making progress towards hundreds of millions of dollars of work. We can overcome this, we can work through this.
STAFF MEMBERS editor-in-chief Nicholas Ebelhack NA-Ebelhack@wiu.edu opinions editor Ryan Zurek RP-Zurek@wiu.edu sports editor Devon Greene DJ-Greene@wiu.edu assistant sports editor Haley Richards H-Richards@wiu.edu
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
edge editor Baylee Brynteson BM-Brynteson@wiu.edu copy editor Brie Coder B-Coder@wiu.edu proofreader Valerie Clemens VN-Clemens@wiu.edu
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and a bunch of agriculture-related activities, one being a tractor pull called Tot-Rod Pedal Pulls. This appeals to younger attendees as it is a pedal tractor that sits low to the ground, children will pedal with weights attached to the back, testing who is the strongest by seeing who can pedal the furthest, declaring that child the first place winner. The Kids Corner will also include a kiddie pool filled with corn and agriculture-related toys. The show will have booths of farm machinery, sales and services companies, management companies, emerging technology, livestock and crop supplies, structures, and new cars and trucks, showcasing the different components that agriculture consists of. As well as farm toy shows and crafts on the second-floor Kids Corner. According to Hoener, the show
has become one of the hallmark yearly events at Western. “A lot of people really do know about it, I never realized how many people actually did,” Hoener said, “I think we’re going to have five to six thousand people.” When asked about how people know about the Expo Show Knupp further said that the club has been successfully promoting the event. “It’s a lot of advertising, so I've actually been in charge of advertising this year so we are doing a lot of radio and newspaper ads, as well and interviews and press releases, this year we are doing more of a digital campaign.” The Ag Mech Club has also implemented geofencing in the Macomb, Peoria, and surrounding areas to help spread the word of the event.
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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.
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By London Rivers courier staff
Asiah Thurman, a Western Illinois University sophomore from Broadview, Illinois, was announced as one of the grand prizewinners for Sodexo’s recent national sweepstakes. Sodexo is a global organization providing services in health care, energy and resources, schools and more. However, to gain students attention here at Western, Sodexo campus services here in the resident dining halls sponsor and promote
Friday, January 2, 2018
two national sweepstakes a semester. Students from 600 different colleges and universities all over the nation under Sodexo services including Clark University, the University of Denver, and New Mexico State University, participated in the EAT TO THE BEAT “Can’t Beat That” Sweepstakes. The sweepstakes were to heighten flavor in the dining halls and to pay respect to well-known music and song lyrics recognizable to the students. The concept allowed the students to recreate traditional menus from the dining halls,
by incorporating song lyrics as the theme. The idea was to introduce the students to innovative ways of perception through the combination of music and food. The sweepstakes for the fall semester ended on Nov. 27, with 10 grand prizewinners, 10 first place winners, and five-second place winners awarded. As a grand prize winner, Thurman was awarded a pair of Beats Studio Wireless Headphones and a JBL Pulse Wireless Speaker, as well as recognition from Western. The first-place win-
NEWS 3
ners received a Beats Pill Plus Wireless Speaker and the second place winners received a $100 Best Buy gift card. Anna Filson, the marketing manager for Sodexo at Western Illinois University here in Macomb, said that Western has awarded at least four students within the last 10 years. “It’s fun, it’s easy to enter, and even though it’s nationwide it’s clear that anyone could win,” Filson said. Sodexo has also created the Stop Hunger Foundation, a non-profit organization funded to help lessen childhood
hunger in the United States. Sodexo looks forward to more winners in their current sweepstakes contest, Air, Land, or Sea. A sweepstakes where six randomly selected winners will get the chance to receive a Panasonic Toughbook 54, an Apple MacBook Air and a 500-dollar Apple gift card, or an iPad Pro 9.7 with a life proof case and a $500 Apple gift card. With Sodexo’s reception from this nationwide promotion, students are sure to line up, in hopes of submitting their entry for the next sweepstakes.
Friday, February 2, 2018
4 OPINIONS
The media plays such a large role in our lives. It's starting to make me question whether it is beneficial or if it is just hurting us in the end? Almost anywhere you see people with smartphones in their hands, and children half my age with their faces glued to their tablet screens. It's very strange to me how important these devices are to us humans. It has dawned on me how many
times a day we spend watching TV, or even reading gossip on social media about people we don’t even know. We are all in tune with other people’s lives, yet we don’t seem to pay attention to what is around us. It has always shocked me how the media implements what an ideal body should look like or even a lifestyle. As someone who was exposed to the media as a young girl, it has
caused me to compare myself to others. Think of how many people influence us on how we're supposed to look. There are several factors that cause this. The toys and dolls that we used to play with as kids gave us an unrealistic expectation on how people are supposed to look. It negatively impacts our self-esteem later on in life since we’re exposed to these expectations, and it continues to as we get older. We do not realize how easily our minds adapt to what is around us, therefore it is essential to think about what is important
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to us, and not focus on the unrealistic expectations. Recently, reality TV has become extremely popular to watch. These series showcase the lives of many different celebrities-actresses, athletes, models, etc. I find this form of “entertainment” pretty ridiculous. The fact that these shows cause people to become so wrapped up in other people’s lives can be alarming, it's hard to imagine a life without some of these shows since they do play a large role in some people’s daily lives. I believe watching reality shows of other people's lives, especially of those who are rich
and famous, skews a person’s view on realistic expectations for themselves. Social media is also partially to blame because of how people feel the need to post everything that goes on in their daily lives. Becoming obsessed with the idea of everyone seeing what you do in your daily routine and needing to impress others, is a common problem that many seem to face everyday. It stems from watching unrealistic lifestyles on TV and expecting to live just like them when in reality, they are people just like us.
Friday, February 2, 2018
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OPINIONS 5
Go West is the Growing up isn’t easy best bet for all
Go West has been a lifesaver to us all in one-way or another. Sometimes it’s a ride to class when it’s raining, or when you’re struggling on crutches, or even a late-night cruise home from your favorite bar on the square. Go West is a wonderful resource that Macomb provides and I believe it is highly underappreciated. After doing some research online, I learned that the Go West transit is the only unlimited access bus system in the state of Illinois. Since there is no fare fee, this makes Go West a wonderful resource not only for all of us students, but also for the community members of Macomb as well. According to Western's website, in May of 1998, WIU students voted 78 percent in favor of adding a fee to our tuition in order for a bus system to be implemented. Go West began with just three busses, and on their first day of operation in 1999, they had 1,200 riders. In the first year alone they had a total of 648,891 riders. This may seem like a lot but when compared to the 1,363,690 riders they had in the 2016-year that number has more than doubled. Throughout the years, Go West has grown to now having over 30 busses and 19 different routes available. Their wide variety of routes and bus times makes transportation nearly as easy as it can possibly be. In the last 10 years alone they have made even more improvements. After Im-
plementing GPS systems on all of their busses, riders can now track their bus locations online or even through the Go West app. Each bus stop is also equipped with a sign that has a texting number on it so you are able to text and get the exact location of your bus. I personally love the app and how you are able to actually track where your bus is and see it approaching your location in real time. On the app the symbol representing the bus will even turn into a square when the bus is stopped at a location, and a triangle when the bus is in motion. Having Go West in Macomb not only offers transportation to us students and the community, but it also offers many jobs. Go West employs community members as well as offering a program for students to get experience working on the busses. The students work as security mostly on weekend nights and that is a wonderful opportunity especially for students wanting to go into a law enforcement career. My first semester of college I attended a university that didn’t offer bus services. When I came to Western Illinois University, I was beyond grateful to find out that Macomb offers the Go West transit. Whether you are a fan of public transportation or not, we can all admit that we are very lucky to have the Go West bus services here in Macomb.
Editorial Policy The editoral views of the Western Courier shall be confined to this editorial and are to be separate from news coverage otherwise noted. The editoral presented is based on the ideas and views of the WC editoral board.Columns are the opinions of the columnists alone and should not be construed as the opinions and beliefs of the WC staff as a whole.
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2018 Spring Semester Editorial Board Editor-in-Cheif - Nicholas Ebelhack News Editor - Isaiah Herad
Edge Editor - Baylee Bryntesson Opinions Editor - Ryan Zurek
As college students who are on their own for the first time in our lives, we’ve most likely all hit the point where we don’t know how to adult. Naturally we look for someone who is more adult-ish than you. However, when I call my parents who are the most adult people I know, they inform me via lecture that I am an adult now. I don’t see the problem with wanting your mom to schedule doctors appointments for you because you hate the anxiety that rushes through your body at the first dial tone and the second and basically the whole time until they hang up. It is the same feeling you got as a child in the grocery store line when your mom had to run back in the store for an item she forgot. The feeling that stayed with you as you slowly put the items from the cart onto the conveyor belt as you impatiently waited for your moth-
er ’s face to reappear next to you before the cashier spoke to you. That feeling is constantly in the back of my mind as I navigate through this new life that I have been thrown into. The life of adulthood. How is it that once a person hits a certain age everything seems to require payments? Suddenly simple tasks such as walking,talking,breathing, and eating feel like such a task. I did not ask for bills to pay, or to get a job just to fill my cabinets with enough food to hopefully last the rest of the month. My pride is scolding me to not ask for help from those around me, but my stomach is begging me to reconsider my independence. When my family and friends call to check in on how I am doing I just want to break down and cry about how overwhelmed I feel. Instead I keep my head along with my pride held high and respond with a generic
“I’m fine”. In reality I am far from feeling fine. I had this plan that by the time I finish school I would have a career in the field of my choosing, a husband, kids and a fish to remind me that the journey was worth the struggle. However, as the days go on, reality seaps farther in and that plan is becoming more of a dream. Now don’t get me wrong, adulthood is not all bad. The freedom that comes with adulthood is great. Chores are not mandatory, and the only person you need permission from is yourself. Sometimes it would be nice to have someone hovering above you to remind you how important the right amount of sleep and nutrition is. Sleep is always my go to solution for any issues that are thrown my way. Whether the problem is boredom, academics, anxiety, or just plain old procrastination, sleep is always the answer in my book. So the next time that my parents call and they ask how I am, my tears will be ready to go as I inform them that I am taking a temporary leave from adulthood.
Wednesday, January 31, 2018
6 SPORTS
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Men
from back page
Webster places 5th in the Summit League with 80 total assists for the season. Averaging four assists per game, Webster likes to show that not only can he score, but he can also share the love with his teammates. Following Webster is Ancrum with 46 assists (2.3 per game) and junior guard Delo Bruster with 35 (1.8 per game). Leading Oral Roberts in scoring is Nzekwesi, with 320 points on the season just trailing Webster. Following behind Nzekwesi is senior center Albert Owens with 274, and redshirt sophomore forward Javan White with 244. Oral Roberts can boast that they have the Summit League
leader in assists on their squad in the form of sophomore guard Sam Kearns who claims the Summit League assist crown with 107. White and Nzekwesi are two of the best rebounders in the Summit League, each of them appearing in the top five for the statistic. White takes the number two spot with 210, also appearing in the same position for rebounds per game withis Nzekwesi 8.8. He has control of the number four spot with a total of 176 rebounds in the season. Nzekwesi also appears in the number five spot in the Summit League for rebounds per game with 7.3. The Leathernecks face off against the Golden Eagles this Saturday at 2 p.m. at Western Hall. Twitter: thefluffy66
Women from back page
A positive sign for the Golden Eagles is the fact that the Leathernecks give up the most rebounds per game in the Summit League. This will lead to a much needed second-chance opportunity that could kick-start the offensive unit who has had problems all season. Western also had their offensive deficiencies in the first matchup between these two teams. The Purple and Gold only managed to find double digit performances from Higginbotham and senior forward Olivia Braun. They shot only two percent better from the field at 36.4 percent and recorded 14 turnovers. The Leathernecks should
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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.
find another tough task in their second matchup with the Golden Eagles this season. They hold the secondplace position in the Summit League behind the University of South Dakota Cougars in points allowed per game at 58.9. They are able to do this due to their ability to contest shots and lower their opponent’s field goal percentage, where they rank number one in the Summit League with 30.4 percent per game. Expect another defensive showdown in a low scoring, physical game between the two conference foes in a matchup that could loom huge in determining the Summit League standings. They will play Saturday at 2 p.m. in Tulsa. Twitter:devondeadlysins
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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. For Rent: Little Swan Lake, 30 min from campus. 2br, 2bth, heated double car garage with work area. $600 per mo. (309) 335-2206 after 6:00 pm, may leave message anytime. Spacious 3 Bedroom Upper in Duplex close to campus and Jackson St. All utilities furnished and appliances Includes cable and internet 18/19 school year $375.00 per Br Ph 309 255 8086 Please leave message
Sports 7
Friday, February 2, 2018
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Leathernecks dive into action
By Bradley Piros courier staff
MACOMB, Ill. – The Western Illinois swim and dive teams head back to the waters this afternoon as they head over to visit the University of Iowa Hawkeyes. This will be their final regular season meet, and everyone’s last attempt at bettering their times before the Summit League Championships. Last time out, the Leathernecks had a rather lack luster meet as both the men and women dropped to the University of South Dakota Coyotes in a dual meet. The men lost 92-191 and the women fell 103-177. Both teams are trying to bounce back and finish their season strong with this meet against Iowa. For the Hawkeyes they were up against some tough Big Ten competition including Ohio State University and the University of Madison Wisconsin, when they competed in the Shamrock Invitational, hosted by the University of Notre Dame. The men’s team finished 3rd, while the women placed 5th over the three days. These two teams have some
history between them, as this will be the seventh year in a row that these two square off. In 2014, the Leathernecks got the best of the Hawkeyes. Last year however, both the men and the women fell short. The men lost 145-58 and women lost 161-49. Western wants to rebound off these last couple of defeats, so expect them to give Iowa a hard time. Looking to help do that is a couple of key players from both the men’s and the women’s team. For the men you have sophomore Brenna Bladel, recording some impressive times in the 100 and 200meter back, with career bests coming in at 52.09 seconds and 1:53.20 respectively. His times placed at 7th and 10th in the Summit League. Following in his footsteps is junior Chance McQuigg in the 100 and 200-meter breast clocking with times of 57.06 seconds and 2:11.56. Continuing on with the men’s side is sophomore Connor Owens, who also competed in the 100 and 200-meter breast. His times were at 59.76 seconds and 2:07.25 respectively. Owens also competed in the 500 and 1000-meter free, with recording times of 4:45.07
and 10:07.94. Moving over to the women’s side is freshman Erica Hagen who competed in the 100 and 200-meter breast, coming in at 1:03.33 and 2:21.55. These times put her at 5th and 7th in those races. Also, for the women is sophomore Miranda Mathus in the 100meter free and 200-meter IM, with recording times of 53.44 seconds and 2:10.71. Sophomore Taylor Winkel competed in the 100 and 200meter back, coming in at 59.78 seconds and 2:11.38. Freshman Marissa Purdum participated in the 100-meter free, with a time of 53.59 seconds. Lastly is freshman Amanda Schaefer, who competed in the 1000 and 1650-meter free. Schaefer came in at 11:15.43 and 18:27.76, putting her at 13th and 20th place in the Summit League. In the end, most of the Leathernecks are coming in at terrific times and are more than capable of beating Iowa this afternoon. It’s the final stop on the way to the Summit League Championships and Western is looking to finish this season out strong. The meet today is set to start at 4 p.m. in Iowa City, Iowa. Leatherneck swimmer competes in backstroke event. Twitter: bradjp08
FILE PHOTO
NBA has a loyalty problem
Lebron James takes the ball down the court.
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As NBA trade season reaches its most chaotic week, we’re reminded of some of the trades that changed the history of the NBA forever. Snake, traitor, cold, faker. These are the words uttered to LeBron James as he made his infamous decision to join the Miami Heat in 2010. These were also the words uttered to Kevin Durant who decided to leave Oklahoma City and join the dream team, the Golden State Warriors. Thank you and good luck are the words uttered to Isaiah Thomas, and Blake Griffin, as their front office traded them to a different organization after no such problems existed. The general managers of those organizations believed that making those trades would allow them to have the most successful teams in the future. However, why don’t these general managers receive feedback when they trade a player that is so beloved, even in times when they promised the player they would try and keep him for his entire career? This is employment for a gen-
eral manager, not a game. A general manager’s job is to make the team successful, and provide a salary income to their players. Their priority is not to make these players feel safe or happy in their environment. The employers of these players evaluate their performance, and decide who should stay on the team and who should be traded. Griffin had a large and extensive contract that the Clippers traded for future cap space and draft picks. Their plan is now clear to go through the draft and fight for the impressive free agents over the summer. Detroit clearly wanted to sell more tickets, so they got a player that can bring in more wins, monstrous slam dunks, and highlight plays night in and night out. These players might as well just be a peg in the machine for the general managers and owners, but James thinks that they owe these players some loyalty. The Clippers signed Griffin to a five-year, $73 million contract. Although he did not make the All-Star team this season he is
still making more than some of those players who were selected to the team. Owners and general managers run a business, and NBA players know and understand that they have to perform well to continue having a job. Even the Philadelphia 76ers’, Joel Embiid’s contract has strings attached if he gets a major injury. He cannot get injured to get the full amount in his contract, and yet LeBron still seems confused as to why these businessmen will trade a player without skipping a beat. All of this talk about loyalty and the criticism of general managers wouldn’t be too much of an issue if LeBron didn’t say that he would be willing to go to the Warriors if they could offer him a max deal. On Tuesday, James said that he would be willing to hear an offer from Golden State if he could get a max deal and that is not okay. Imagine making an alliance with your enemy, do you expect your friends to be understanding of that? Of course not, they don’t understand it and they would be mortified. The King might take his talents to the Bay, and showcase just why a snake is the correct comparison to someone who disrespects his fans that helped make the big star that he is today.
Monday, August 21, 2017
Necks hope to sweep Golden Eagles By David Koier courier staff
FILE PHOTO
Kobe Webster eyes the defense as he dribbles up court.
MACOMB, Ill. - The Western Illinois Leatherneck men’s basketball team looks to improve their record this Saturday afternoon against the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles. Western, who is in last place in the Summit League with a 1-6 record in conference play, has been on a 3-game losing streak scoring their last win on Jan. 17, against the Fort Wayne Mastodons. Oral Roberts, who are also low in the conference totem pole, have a 3-4 conference record, and are looking to continue their twogame winning streak against non-conference opponents. The Leathernecks came up short in the last meeting with Oral Roberts losing by a score of 81-66 in favor of the Golden Eagles. Senior small forward Dalan Ancrum led the Leathernecks in points scored that game with 25 points accompanied by one rebound and two assists. Leading Oral Roberts in the previous matchup was sophomore forward Emmanuel Nzekwesi, who scored 17 points going 8-18 from the
field with one three pointer. The Purple and Gold are leading both offensively and defensively because of junior center Brandon Gilbeck, who tops the Summit League in shooting from the field with 67.1 percent. Gilbeck also boasts 244 points, 156 rebounds, and 56 blocks this season leading the league in the latter statistic. Gilbeck set a program record in the previous matchup against Oral Roberts with his 150th career block. Another shining star for the Purple and Gold from an offensive standpoint was freshman point guard Kobe Webster. The Indianapolis native has been a dominant force for the Leatherneck squad leading the team in points scored with 16.6 per game. Webster leads the team in total points as well with 332 points putting him 9th in total points scored for the Summit League standings. Following Webster in points scored for the Leathernecks is Ancrum with 281, and Gilbeck with 244 of his own.
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Men’s basketball looks to stop losing streak By Devon Greene sports editor
The Western Illinois University women’s basketball team is ending their two-game road trip in Tulsa, Oklahoma in a matchup against the Oral Roberts University Golden Eagles. The Golden Eagles hold a 13-8 record this season and a 4-3 record in Summit League, which is good enough for a fourth-place spot behind the Leathernecks. Western Illinois and Oral Roberts have matched up once this season on Jan. 6 with the Purple and Gold coming out on top with a 56-49 win at home. The Leathernecks hold a strong road record this season, winning seven of their four games. But they find themselves going up against a team that maintains a similar home record of 6-3 at the Mabee Center. Senior forward Faith Ihim is the Golden Eagles leading scorer this season, averaging 14.2 points per game. Ihim had major problems with Western’s defense in the first matchup, only scoring 4 points, and
shooting 20 percent from the field. Ihim’s number one problem this season has been turnovers where she leads the Summit League with 70 total turnovers on the season. Leatherneck star guard Emily Clemens trails Ihim by only one with 69 turnovers. Oral Roberts only had three scorers in double figures on route to one of their lowest scoring outputs of the season. They only managed to shoot 34.5 percent from the field. The Leathernecks should expect more of the same as they have proved to be a defensive powerhouse this season. Clemens is a mile ahead of the competition with 74 steals this season. The closest competitor to her crown is her teammate, junior guard Taylor Higginbotham with 54. Transition and fast break points have been a focal point of the Leatherneck offense all season and they will look to do the same against the Golden Eagles.
Women
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Olivia Braun looks for an open teammate on the baseline
ANGEL STRACK/COURIER STAFF