Opinions: The Impossible Burger really isn't as healthy as you think.
Sports: Leathernecks on a four game losing streak.
WesternCourier.com
Monday, September 23, 2019 - Vol. 120 Issue 15
@WesternCourier
Leathernecks honor and support local Miracle Kid at Saturday's football game By Marc Ramirez news editor Leatherneck Country came to gether at Saturday’s football game, not only to show support for the Fighting Leathernecks, but to show support for Jace Skwara and Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. “Jace has been diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma at the age of 4 months,” Prayers for Baby Jace, a Facebook page created by his parents reads. “It started with a small bump on his back, which doctors thought was a fatty mass. After two more appeared, the doctors reviewed further and sent us to Children's Hospital in Saint Louis to have testing done. We found out that it was
cancer unfortunately.” The post was made Feb. 16, 2016. As of today, Skwara has beat and been cancer free for three years. Skwara and his family have developed a relationship with Western through Dance Marathon and through that, the three year old met his best friend, Leatherneck linebacker Tre Hendon. Hendon serves as a Co-Director of Family Relations for Western’s Dance Marathon and was able to team up with Leatherneck Athletics to have Skwara serve as an honorary captain at Saturday night’s game. He was announced at the beginning of the game with a brief description of his story, met the referees to do the coin toss and was able to hang out on
the sidelines until kickoff. The Leathernecks took on Tennessee Tech for Saturday's game. Both teams wore purple and gold. Purple is the ribbon color for neuroblastoma, the cancer Skwara beat and gold is the color for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. People are encouraged to help make miracles like the one experienced by the Skwara family happen by signing up for Western’s Dance Marathon event. Dance Marathon is a 12 hour event dedicated to dancing and fundraising money to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, hospitals that treat people like Skwara for free. People can sign up or donate at tinyurl.com/ WIUDM20.
Student Government passes legislation By Marc Ramirez news editor
COURTESY OF ALISHA SKWARA
Jace Skwara (top and bottom-left) was named Honorary Captain and posed with lineman Tre Hendon (bottom-right) after the game.
Following the guest speakers, Acting President Martin Abhram and Interim Vice President of Student Services John Smith, on Tuesday’s Student Government Association meeting, regular business was conducted in the University Union Capital room. Because quorum was not met the week prior, there were many appointments and bills that needed to be voted on. Along with the cabinet appointments of Ryan Homer, Kyle Ramlow and Alexis Williams-White to the positions of Director of Student Services, Attorney General and Director of Outreach, respectively, two students were appointed to CSAF, the Council on Student Activities Funds. Marc Ramirez and Kyle Ramlow were both appointed to the committee by Chief of Staff
Rachel Greene. “These students are genuinely interested in making the student voice heard,” Greene said. “They are both reliable, punctual and passionate about opportunities for student involvement.” These appointments were especially necessary because there needs to be student representation on this committee in order for it to meet quorum, meaning it can make decisions on student funding. CSAF is a group of six students and three faculty members who make decisions regarding allocations of the student activity fees. Along with the appointments, a bill was passed to make a statement in support of the homecoming committee’s decision to make royalty gender neutral. Additionally, Student Body President Colton Markey announced that the SGA Scholarship was live on Purple Post. Each year, the Student Gov-
ernment Association of Western Illinois University sponsors scholarships for deserving, involved and academically gifted students. The SGA scholarship is a $400 monetary award which is given to two students each semester. In order to receive the award, students must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.8, be in good judicial standing with the University, not be involved as a current member of SGA, complete the PurplePost application, answer a personal essay question and upload your current resume.
2 NEWS
Monday, September 23, 2019
WesternCourier.com
Community rallies for the Fallen Soldier 5K
CONAL DUFFYCOURIER STAFF
Students and community members gather at Western Hall to kick off the annual Fallen Soldiers 5K to commemorate those who've made the ultimate sacrifice.
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WC 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
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Monday, September 23, 2019
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Campus Crime Reports
Legend Cannabis
Alcohol by a Minor
Burglary/Theft
Fire Alarm
Other Report
NEWS 3 •On Sept. 13 at 12:45 p.m. a student reported at Mowbray Hall that earbuds, valued at $150, had been stolen from Olson Hall. The incident is under investigation. •On Sept. 15 at 12:30 a.m. the Office of Public Safety was dispatched to Thompson Hall for a report of a student who had been threatened with a weapon (air soft/BB gun). In addition, a female student reported that the offender (who is known to her) had battered her and also threatened her with the air soft/BB gun. The 17-year-old juvenile (non-student) was arrested at 1:13 a.m. by OPS and charged with aggravated domestic battery. He was transported to a juvenile detention facility in Galesburg. The juvenile has been trespassed from WIU. •On Sept. 15 at 6:34 p.m. three students in the Higgins Hall lot were judicially referred for drug paraphernalia. Karim McIntosh, 20, of 819 Thompson Hall, received a notice to appear Oct. 22 for a Macomb city ordinance violation for possession of drug paraphernalia. •On Sept. 16 at 3:55 p.m. a student called the Office of Public Safety to report the window of his vehicle, parked in Q-Lot, was shattered. The window was valued at $1,500 and the incident is under investigation. •On Sept. 16 at 4:09 p.m. an OPS officer found the window of a vehicle, parked in Q-Lot, was shattered. The window was valued at $1,500 and the incident is under investigation. •On Sept. 16 at 5:03 p.m. an OPS officer found the window of a vehicle, parked in Q-Lot, was shattered. The window was valued at $1,500 and the incident is under investigation. •On Sept. 16 at 4:51 p.m. a student called the Office of Public Safety to report the window of her vehicle, parked in N-Lot, was shattered. The window was valued at $1,500 and the incident is under investigation. •On Sept. 16 at 8:40 p.m. a student in Thompson Hall was judicially referred for cannabis and alcohol possession. •On Sept. 16 at 11:22 p.m. a Sodexo employee reported the theft of her wallet, valued at $30 and containing identification and a credit card, from her purse while she was working in the Corbin/Olson Dining area. The incident is under investigation. •On Sept. 16 at 3:22 p.m. a student in Lincoln Hall reported the theft of laundry, valued at $50, on Sept. 11 from a residence hall laundry room. The incident is under investigation. •On Sept. 19 at 5:22 p.m. Laderek Towner, 18, of Thompson Hall 1009, was arrested in the 1400 block of University Drive for possession of cannabis and manufacture/delivery of cannabis (30-500 grams). He was transported to the McDonough County Jail at 5:27 p.m. where he was lodged pending bond. At 5:28 p.m. Brandon Nevils, 18, of Thompson Hall 1319, was issued a notice to appear Oct. 22 for a Macomb city ordinance violation for illegal possession of cannabis (less than 10 grams) in the 1400 block of University Drive. •On Sept. 19 at 8:33 p.m. OPS and the Macomb Fire Department responded to a fire alarm in Thompson Hall for a cooking mishap.
Notice of Examination Macomb Police Department The Board of Fire & Police Commissioners of the City of Macomb, Illinois hereby gives notice that examinations will be offered to all eligible applicants to create an Eligibility List for hiring for positions within the Macomb Police Department. At time of application, applicants must be at least 21 years of age and no more than 35 years of age. Military veterans may extend the age limit one year for every year of active duty, not to exceed ten years. Applicants must have a high school diploma or equivalent; must have completed 60 semester or 90 quarter hours from an accredited academic institution; must possess a valid driver’s license. To move forward in the hiring process, applicants must pass physical and written exams, medical and psychological evaluation and background investigation; must have visual acuity 20/20 each eye corrected (minimum) with normal color vision and depth perception; must have good habits and be of moral character. Proof of U.S. Citizenship and if hired, McDonough County residence required.
STARTING SALARY as of 05/01/2019, $48,020.34 per year. Forty-hour work week with time and a half for all overtime. Application packets may be obtained at the Mayor’s Office, City Hall, 232 E. Jackson St., Macomb, Illinois 61455, Phone (309)-833-2558, or on-line at https://cityofmacomb.com/employment-listings/ All applications and attachments must be completed, signed and on file by 5:00 p.m., Monday, October 7, 2019. If submitting the application packet in the mail, it must be postmarked on or before the application deadline date AND received at the Mayor’s Office with five (5) calendar days of the deadline. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. Testing date is October 26, 2019. Applicants should report to Brophy Hall on Western Illinois University campus at 7:30 a.m. The City reserves the right to require reimbursement of training expenses on a pro-rata basis if an officer resigns within the first two years of employment. The City of Macomb is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer Minorities and women are encouraged to apply
4
OPINIONS
Monday, September 23, 2019
WesternCourier.com
The (somewhat) Impossible Whopper Alex Ourth Courier staff
Upon entering the Union last week, I quickly realized that any chance of satisfying my desire for Chick-fil-A was long lost. Being close to dinner, the line for Chickfil-A was far too long for my impatient brain to handle. Glancing around at my other options for food, my eyes fell upon the almost nonexistent line at Burger King. Better still, when browsing through the menu, my eyes fell upon the “Impossible Whopper.” I had heard about the Impossible Whopper from both the media and some family who had tried it. The idea of a Whopper made from vegetables and soy tasting exactly like a traditional beef Whopper had me intrigued. Don’t get me wrong, I’m by no means a vegetarian. However, I do strongly believe in the importance of reducing our meat consumption for personal and environmental health benefits. Thus, I needed to taste the sandwich for myself and determine if it was as great as the hype led it to be. After ordering and receiving my sandwich, I sat down and took a long glance at it. The sandwich itself looked almost identical to the traditional one, save for the lighter color of the patty. Bringing the sandwich to my lips, I took a big bite and amazingly it tasted just like a regular Whopper! Not only was the taste of the sandwich almost identical, but its texture was spot on as well. They had done it! As I savored the rest of my meal, I felt
excited about how these alternative patties could impact society. But as I learned more about the Impossible Whopper, some of its lusters began to fade. The first troubling detail I noticed was that the “Impossible Whopper” actually costed more than a regular one. Now, I know that an extra dollar in the grand scheme of things isn’t much, but why is there a difference at all? The sandwiches are the exact same size and come with the exact same toppings. So, the only real difference is the burger itself. How can vegetables and soy (things that we feed our animals) cost more than the animals themselves? The difference in costs could be due to the concept of economy of scale or expensive production processes. If either of these two reasons is the cause, there is hope that costs will go down as demand increases and production research improves efficiency. A third (and more disturbing) possibility is that either Burger King or Impossible Foods (the company making the beefless patties) are intentionally raising the price because they can market the product as “vegetarian” or “healthy.” It still baffles me that U.S. citizens often have to pay more for foods that are considered “low-fat,” “fresh,” “organic” or “healthy.” Access to quality, healthful foods should not be restricted from those with low socioeconomic status simply to increase the profits of corporations. Healthful
The Impossible Whopper is a new item on the Burger King menu.
foods should be the standard, not a luxury. The second concerning realization was that the “Impossible Whopper” wasn’t as healthy as I thought it would be. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised that a sandwich designed to taste like the original Whopper would come with similar health risks. Switching to a beefless burger does provide some major benefits, namely a high reduction of cholesterol and elimination of trans fats, but it still presents some major health concerns. The amount of sodium in the Impossible Whopper is higher than the traditional ones and contains 72 percent of the American Heart Association’s (ADA) ideal salt intake per day. That’s almost three fourths of one’s daily limit just from the sandwich itself (with French fries it’s over 100 percent). This is very concerning, as high salt intake is a major contributor to high blood pressure and heart disease. The Impossible Whopper also has almost identical levels of saturated fats as the traditional Whopper. It contains 11 grams of saturated fat, which is 84 percent of the daily suggested value (ADA suggests 13 g). As high levels of saturated fat are also associated with higher risks of heart disease, the Impossible Whopper is not a heart friendly choice. After reviewing the previous points, I would motion for a change to the sandwich’s name. The “Amazing” or “Incredible” Whopper would seem to be a more appropriate choice. It acknowledges the accomplishment of making a meatless patty taste like the original but doesn’t over-embellish it. Give me a sandwich that tastes as savory as a Whopper, is inexpensive and is relatively healthy and I will concede the title of “Impossible.”
FlLICKR
E2 EDGE
Monday, September 23, 2019
WesternCourier.com
The Jonas Brothers are “Burnin' Up” America On Saturday, Sept. 14, I had the amazing opportunity to attend the Jonas Brothers Happiness Begins Tour in St. Louis, MO. The concert took place in the St. Louis Enterprise Center and started at approximately 7:30 p.m. The Happiness Begins tour had two opening acts, Bebe Rexha and Jordan McGraw. McGraw is an upcoming singer/songwriter. While McGraw is the son of the television personality Dr. Phil, he has worked very hard to make a name separate from that of his fathers. His performance was engaging, fun and provocative at times, and overall McGraw was a great entertainer. Next to the stage was Bebe Rexha had a captivating performance that ended with her pulling two lucky fans to the stage. After two talented opening acts and partying with the DJ, it was soon time for the dynamic band to take stage. A video played on the panoramic screens lining the stage, showing the brothers as kids and then as adults. Before long, the Jonas
Brothers descended from high above the stage on a platform, getting the show rolling from the start with a song off the new album, titled “Rollercoaster.” Nick, Joe and Kevin were all wearing matching brightly-colored suits, in orange, blue and green. The energy both on and off the stage was infectious, and everyone in the arena was overjoyed with nostalgia and happiness that their childhood dreams of a Jonas Brothers reunion and tour finally came true. The show was full of old and new music from the Jonas Brothers and included singles from the time that the Jonas Brothers were split such as “Jealous” by Nick Jonas. Arguably one of the most impactful moments was when the Jonas Brothers slowed it down and took to the back stage for slower songs, and then some of their much older songs that only the “OGs” would remember. The entire arena was lit up by phone flashlights and light sticks as the song “Hesitate” rang through the air. Fans were
on their feet all night long, dancing and singing to their hearts content as they experienced the way the Jonas Brothers roll when on tour. The show was full of constant surprises for fans, such as videos that added to the concert experience and platforms that both descended from the sky and rose up from the ground. There were also lots of fireworks, air-dancers, paper confetti and last but not least, fire (yes, real fire). During the second to last encore song, “Burnin’ Up,” fire erupted from beneath the stage, flying high into the air. This was one of my favorite concert moments and is right up there with Taylor Swift’s “Fearless” tour when she sang in the rain. The Happiness Begins tour has received nothing but praise and high reviews from critics and fans alike. While the concert itself is a party, the story behind the Jonas Brothers’ break-up and reunion drives the tour home to the core. This concert experience was one of the best that I have ever had, from the ease of entering the Enterprise Center all the way to the heart that each performer left on the stage. It is needless to say that I wouldn’t hesitate to go to another Jonas Brothers concert.
The Jonas Brothers reunite on stage after years of hiatus.
J-14
WIKIMEDIA.ORG
E3 EDGE
Monday, September 23, 2019
WesternCourier.com
Is Pokémon heading in a different direction? When a “Generation” of
Pokémon ends rumors about Ash Ketchum’s place in the anime series are put into question at least the last few times. I genuinely fear that this might be the end of our favorite trainer as far as him being the main character. Last week in an episode of the anime aired in Japan (yet to be dubbed) Ash finally won a Pokémon League (even though the setup was different, and he has won the Orange League and Battle Frontier). A lot of fans rejoiced for the event that should have happened like three generations ago in the Diamond and Pearl series where he was at top form. So, what does this mean is Ash now a Pokémon Master, technically no but will that matter to the creators we will see. Rumors of changes like I said happen every time a generation ends at least since the ending of Generation four (Diamond and Pearl). It kind of did because someone thought it was a good idea to make Pokémon Black and White a reboot but not a reboot. The Black and White series (known as Best Wishes in Japan) is universally known as the worst series of Pokémon. They attempted to bring others in by treating Ash as still being ten years old and making him do the stupid things he did when he first started even somethings he wasn’t even dumb enough to do back then. Pikachu loses to a level five Snivy (Though he was sick at the time). Brock is no longer there, running gags erased, Ash is no longer a mentor to the next up and coming trainer and Team Rocket changed as well. The
Team Rocket change was a bit interesting as it was different, but a lot of the changes disappeared because of the Tsunami and Earthquake that resulted in a major arc being skipped and never mentioned again. It was just so bad eventually towards the end of the series Ash returned to form as they started to acknowledge all that he previously did and the return of Charizard reestablished him as being strong. The Best Wishes series almost ruined Pokémon for me. The next series everyone was back to form until the current series which went a completely different direction as far as what the objective is (though based on Ash winning a Pokémon League they must have gone back to the original format a bit). Previews for the next series have already been shown featuring the starters from all the regions bringing people to believe that this will be another format change and perhaps the end of Ash’s journey as we know it. This has happened frequently as they like to keep fans guessing before revealing Ash closer to the premier. Fans have been wondering if the new show will be based on the last couple of Pokémon movies which have been remade completely changing the story of Ash which I hated, why they never had movies connected to the current series I have no idea. Pikachu is obviously the star of the show so if I had to guess I would say Ash will be involved in some way shape or form. More information is set to be revealed at the end of the month as this generation of Pokémon winds down. Generation 8 is set to begin in mid-November. DEVIANTART.COM
E4 EDGE
Monday, September 23, 2019
WesternCourier.com
Seinfeld's Final Bow Every good thing must come to an end. It was announced Saturday that the sitcom Seinfeld, will no longer being airing on TBS. Seinfeld is a sitcom following the life of comedian Jerry Seinfeld. Throughout the show, the audience is introduced to Jerry’s friends: George, a bald man who works multiple jobs throughout the show and Jerry’s best friend; Elaine who Jerry dates at the beginning of the show, but their romantic relationship doesn’t work and the pair end up being friends for the rest of the show; and Jerry’s next-door neighbor, Kramer, who is an eccentric man who is constantly barging into Jerry’s apartment and is always getting into odd situations. These four consist of the core nucleus of the show. The friends constantly find themselves in situations that odd, embarrassing, and everything in between. Some of the more famous episodes of the show are "Festivus" and the "Soup Nazi." During Festivus, it is revealed that George’s father made up a new holiday when George was a kid. Instead of celebrating Christmas his family celebrated Festivus, a holiday that opposes Christmas due
to the materiality of it, as well as George’s father being cheap. The gang ends up celebrating this holiday one Christmas season after Kramer becomes very intrigued in it once George tells him about it. The Soup Nazi episode is a Seinfeld classic. Kramer tells the others about this great new soup place, and they decide to go check it out. Before they order, Jerry warns George and Elaine about the “Soup Nazi”, who is the owner of the soup shop. He is called this due to his nature and strict behavior that he commands in his shop. George ends up complaining about not getting some bread with his soup and continues to say something, causing the “Soup Nazi” to scream, “No soup for you” and take back George’s meal. Later on, Elaine ends up not listening to Jerry’s earlier advice and gets banned for a year. While trying to order soup, Elaine’s armoire was stolen and Kramer, who has befriended the “Soup Nazi”, is able to get a replacement from him. Inside are his recipes for his soup, which Elaine uses to destroy the “Soup Nazi” and his business. The show, which concluded back in May of 1998, had its
rights sold earlier Saturday to the cable station Viacom. This news comes days after Netflix managed to get the streaming rights to the series, snatching it away from Hulu, who currently has streaming rights. The show will start playing episodes on Viacom in October of 2021. Seinfeld will always be special to me. I remember watching episodes with my dad as we waited for dinner to finish getting ready most nights. And while I never really understood the jokes that were being made until I grew up, I could just feel something special about the show. I could never put my finger on it, but I just knew that this show was different. Now I can tell what was so special about the legendary sitcom. The show has so many realistic situations, heck even situations that are exaggerated but the lei person could see it happening, throughout the show that you can’t help but think it’s your life its following. That is something that is hard to find nowadays. Now when you put on a sitcom, it’s all very dramatic and elaborate, whereas Seinfeld was always simple and easy to understand. There will never be another Seinfeld and it’s a shame that the show’s rights were sold to a lesser cable channel, but the show will always live on. If you haven’t seen the show, please do and while it’s on TBS.
FIND US ON @westerncourier THE WESTERN COURIER Seinfield was one of the top rated shows of the 2000s.
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WIKIPEDIA
4
OPINIONS
Monday, September 23, 2019
WesternCourier.com
The (somewhat) Impossible Whopper Alex Ourth Courier staff
Upon entering the Union last week, I quickly realized that any chance of satisfying my desire for Chick-fil-A was long lost. Being close to dinner, the line for Chickfil-A was far too long for my impatient brain to handle. Glancing around at my other options for food, my eyes fell upon the almost nonexistent line at Burger King. Better still, when browsing through the menu, my eyes fell upon the “Impossible Whopper.” I had heard about the Impossible Whopper from both the media and some family who had tried it. The idea of a Whopper made from vegetables and soy tasting exactly like a traditional beef Whopper had me intrigued. Don’t get me wrong, I’m by no means a vegetarian. However, I do strongly believe in the importance of reducing our meat consumption for personal and environmental health benefits. Thus, I needed to taste the sandwich for myself and determine if it was as great as the hype led it to be. After ordering and receiving my sandwich, I sat down and took a long glance at it. The sandwich itself looked almost identical to the traditional one, save for the lighter color of the patty. Bringing the sandwich to my lips, I took a big bite and amazingly it tasted just like a regular Whopper! Not only was the taste of the sandwich almost identical, but its texture was spot on as well. They had done it! As I savored the rest of my meal, I felt
excited about how these alternative patties could impact society. But as I learned more about the Impossible Whopper, some of its lusters began to fade. The first troubling detail I noticed was that the “Impossible Whopper” actually costed more than a regular one. Now, I know that an extra dollar in the grand scheme of things isn’t much, but why is there a difference at all? The sandwiches are the exact same size and come with the exact same toppings. So, the only real difference is the burger itself. How can vegetables and soy (things that we feed our animals) cost more than the animals themselves? The difference in costs could be due to the concept of economy of scale or expensive production processes. If either of these two reasons is the cause, there is hope that costs will go down as demand increases and production research improves efficiency. A third (and more disturbing) possibility is that either Burger King or Impossible Foods (the company making the beefless patties) are intentionally raising the price because they can market the product as “vegetarian” or “healthy.” It still baffles me that U.S. citizens often have to pay more for foods that are considered “low-fat,” “fresh,” “organic” or “healthy.” Access to quality, healthful foods should not be restricted from those with low socioeconomic status simply to increase the profits of corporations. Healthful
The Impossible Whopper is a new item on the Burger King menu.
foods should be the standard, not a luxury. The second concerning realization was that the “Impossible Whopper” wasn’t as healthy as I thought it would be. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised that a sandwich designed to taste like the original Whopper would come with similar health risks. Switching to a beefless burger does provide some major benefits, namely a high reduction of cholesterol and elimination of trans fats, but it still presents some major health concerns. The amount of sodium in the Impossible Whopper is higher than the traditional ones and contains 72 percent of the American Heart Association’s (ADA) ideal salt intake per day. That’s almost three fourths of one’s daily limit just from the sandwich itself (with French fries it’s over 100 percent). This is very concerning, as high salt intake is a major contributor to high blood pressure and heart disease. The Impossible Whopper also has almost identical levels of saturated fats as the traditional Whopper. It contains 11 grams of saturated fat, which is 84 percent of the daily suggested value (ADA suggests 13 g). As high levels of saturated fat are also associated with higher risks of heart disease, the Impossible Whopper is not a heart friendly choice. After reviewing the previous points, I would motion for a change to the sandwich’s name. The “Amazing” or “Incredible” Whopper would seem to be a more appropriate choice. It acknowledges the accomplishment of making a meatless patty taste like the original but doesn’t over-embellish it. Give me a sandwich that tastes as savory as a Whopper, is inexpensive and is relatively healthy and I will concede the title of “Impossible.”
FlLICKR
6
Monday, September 23, 2019
SPORTS
WesternCourier.com
Volleyball swept at Tennessee Tech Tournament By Becca Langys photo editor COOKEVILLE, Tenn. — The Western Illinois University women’s volleyball team traveled to Cookeville, Tenn. to participate in the Tennessee Tech Tournament this past weekend. The Leathernecks played three games in total, spanning through both Friday, Sept. 20 and Saturday, Sept. 21. The Purple and Gold came home with three losses added to their overall record, making them 3-10 this season thus far. The women’s volleyball team was matched up with teams from three different schools including Tennessee Tech, Middle Tennessee and Southern Illinois University. The Leathernecks struggled to take down each of these teams, with games won/lost ratio of 4-9. The Tennessee Tech Tournament was the team’s final tournament of the season before conference play starts, and the Leathernecks are looking to improve upon their previous tournament to be successful during their upcoming Summit League matches. Offensively, the Leathernecks were led this weekend by
Sophomore right-side hitter Mariah Mitchell who raked up 32 kills, making her total kill count this season 107 kills. Another offensive leader on the court this weekend was freshman hitter Elle Shult who earned a total of 18 kills this past weekend. Shult is currently the third-ranking kill leader for the Leathernecks, having 58 total kills for the 2019 season. Defensively, freshman libero Gabby DePersio led the Purple and Gold with 50 total digs this weekend. DePersio continues to prove her abilities on the court as a freshman, outshining other defensive players on the team that are older than her. DePersio had two service aces this weekend as well. Another defensive leader on the court was freshman outsidehitter Aubrey Putman. Putman raked up 38 digs and seven blocks this weekend. Senior hitter Mackenzie Steckler also stood out defensively at the net, earning a total of 22 blocks this weekend. Steckler currently holds the largest amount of blocks for the Leathernecks this season so far, making her the block-leader with a total of 70 successful blocks. Steckler is a seasoned Leatherneck who
continues to dominate at the net and prove her presence on the court. The Purple and Gold have an entire season ahead of them to prove their abilities on the court, and their conference games are the perfect opportunity for them to do so. The 2019 women’s volleyball roster is full of both young talent and seasoned talent, and it is imperative that the Leathernecks figure out how to combine both skill-sets to pull out some wins this season. Both the seasoned athletes and the rookie athletes have strong volleyball skill-sets that, when combined, could be lethal. As the Leathernecks look forward, their next match will be held in Fort Wayne, Ind. against Purdue University Fort Wayne. The Mastodons currently hold a record of 6-8, meaning that they might be a challenge for the Leathernecks come to their next game day. The Leathernecks will be entering the match with a 3-10 record and are working to bring home a win to start out the conference strong. Be sure to tune in at www.goleathernecks.com to keep up with the Purple and Gold.
Gabby DePersio gets down for a dig.
BECCA LANGYS / PHOTO EDITOR
BECCA LANGYS / PHOTO EDITOR
Freshman Aubrey Putman sets the ball to a teammate.
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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! STC Investments now leasing for the 18/19 school year. We have 1-6 bedroom apartments/houses ready for you to call home! Check out our selection at www.stcinvestments.com. You can also find us on Facebook to see daily posts!
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Camp Randall: A Premier Destination Zach Remelius courier staff
This week I decided to forgo my usual top 25 and explain an experience. I am sure most can tell I am a college football junkie, most of my Saturdays start with ESPN’s College Gameday at 9 a.m. and finish with whatever Pac-12 game is on the docket late at night (looking at you Washington State-UCLA). However, after visiting Iowa last year, I created a list of the stadiums I wanted to visit with my best friend who is as big of a college football fan as I am. On the list are the big names, of course, LSU and Clemson’s “Death Valley” Kyle Field down at Texas A&M, the historic Rose Bowl and several others we wanted to see before it’s too late. On top of both our lists, though, was Camp Randall in Madison, Wis. So, over the summer we tried to figure out a weekend and decided to make a dream come true and go to the Wisconsin-Michigan game. Eleven a.m. kickoffs are never fun for tailgates, but the scene was outstanding. We got up at 7
a.m., got ready and headed out to walk around the town and take everything in. The people were friendly and there weren’t any hostilities with any of the Michigan fans. Being a massive fan of the SEC, this isn’t always a foregone conclusion, so it was nice to see. People everywhere were offering us food while throwing up a “W” for their Badgers. The tailgates weren’t centralized, but spread out all over the town and the restaurant/bar scene also had a lot of people just being genuinely awesome. After touring around for a little bit longer, it was getting closer to kickoff and it was time to head into the stadium. I’ve been to several college football stadiums but this was the biggest by far. The athletic department decided to promote this game as the big game it was nationally and the goal was to stripe the stadium with one section in red the next in white and so on. The student section would be the only thing different as they would all be in
white. The stadium gradually filled and initially, I was disappointed with the student section as they filled up their section rather slowly. Even by the time the first quarter was coming to a close, they were still coming in, but it was eventually filled. The Wisconsin band is as good as any, so the pregame festivities were enjoyable and not just a time waster to get to kickoff. The game started remarkably well for the Badgers. Jonathon Taylor carried the offense down the field and eventually punched it in for Wisconsin. The game wouldn’t get much better for the Wolverines in what ended up being a 35-14 loss. Another day fans can talk about what this loss means for Jim Harbough and the Michigan program, the total from Saturday’s game should be about Wisconsin. The defense looked fast and didn’t allow anything on the ground to the Wolverines. The offense was efficient on the ground and Jack Coan can make a third-down throw when he needs to. He also showed the ability to run a little bit as his 25-yard touchdown run right before halftime put Wisconsin up 28-0 and essentially ended the game. Jonathon Taylor went for 203 yards on the ground and two touchdowns.
The best running back in the country put up some numbers in a signature game and if he can keep doing that, there is no reason he shouldn’t be invited to New York for the Heisman ceremony. All in all, it was a good day to be a Badger fan as they throttled Michigan all game and the score was not indicative of how dominant Wisconsin was. The real reason Wisconsin was a destination was for the atmosphere. Eleven a.m. kickoffs don’t always parlay into the most hostile environments as the crowd doesn’t have as much time to partake in adult beverages and prepare for the game. That wasn’t the case here. Even with a good chunk of the student section empty, the crowd was loud for Michigan’s first drive. I couldn’t hear myself think. No one person was sitting and it only got louder as the stadium got a little more full. Four letter expletives were chanted by the student section at Jim Harbough and the Michigan football team and it kept up the whole game. A Wisconsin tradition has become to sing “Build Me Up Buttercup” by The Foundations at some point during the game. The cool part is the crowd sings along with the music and then when the
music cuts they keep singing. An entire stadium singing a 60s classic with no aid from anything, just 80,000 people having fun. The big tradition is “Jump Around” by House of Pain. At the end of every third quarter after a couple of promotions, the song comes out and the best way to put it is everyone goes nuts. It looks like a lot of fun on TV, but nothing can compare to it, in real life. Seeing how the Badger team gets into it especially since they were up so big, was a sight to see. The game winded down with the Wisconsin win and it was time to leave and head out to our evening plans. If you are a fan of college football, Camp Randall should be on your bucket list. It has everything you would want in a destination spot for the sport. There is nothing like it in the state of Illinois. The Illini and Northwestern have their moments but they can not compare to Madison on game day. The drive isn’t too bad and hopefully, you have a friend that will allow you to have a place to sleep. This was easily the most fun I have ever had at a college football game and I hope one day you all can share in my experience.
The NL Central and the dog fight to make the postseason I asked it in my last column and I’ll ask it again, is it October yet? Last time out, I was pleading the case for the Blues to go back-to-back, but now I’m ready to talk about the “Birds on the Bat.” That’s right, the St. Louis Cardinals are, as of writing this, 89-67 and three games ahead of the Brewers for first in the NL Central. They’re now seven ahead of the Cubs after sweeping them at Wrigley, clinching a postseason berth while doing so. The Birds have two three-game series left, one on the road at the Arizona Diamondbacks and the final regular season home series, once again against the Cubs. A month ago, I was a little worried that the Cardinals were going to choke and let Milwaukee and Chicago have their way with us. Boy was I wrong, and I have never been
so happier. The Cards played four of their best games of the season against the Cubs to win the series, one that felt very much like the playoffs. It might have well been a playoff series with how much was on the line. I knock on wood though. The Brew Crew has been playing out of their minds trying to catch up. They have won 15 out of their last 17 games, including taking two games from the Cards to win the weekend series that began Friday, Sept. 13. The Brewers no doubt have the easiest schedule from here on out. They wrapped up a series with the Pirates yesterday and will have the Reds and the Rockies, two teams that won’t be playing in October. The Cubs will have the Pirates, and the most anticipated series of the
year against the Cards. I’ll be home for that weekend, but I’ll be spending my hard earned money to go watch a Blues preseason game against the Washington Capitals instead. As much as I’d love to go watch the Cardinals put the Cubs out of their misery and hopefully clinch the division, those tickets are about three-times the price of hockey tickets. While this team isn’t coming back from last place in the league like another St. Louis team, they certainly weren’t looking like a lock in the playoffs until September started. The bullpen was a mess, hitting was inconsistent and the team was making silly mistakes. On the bright side, the team looked absolutely dialed in against the Cubs and seem poised to have another break out post season when everyone else counted them out; and here’s why. Let’s start off with hitting. Off-season signing, first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, had a rocky start to the season to say the least, but he slowly began to reach the numbers
that everyone thought he would. While he isn’t the team’s next Albert Pujols, he still has 31 homers to his name in 560 plus at bats. Along with him, the team has two other players closing in on the 30-HR mark, shortstop Paul DeJong (28) and left fielder Marcel Ozuna (29). It’s not all about going deep, though. The team has an average OBS of .322 while holding their opponents to .313. The batting average for the team is .246 to create a solid batting lineup, but nothing spectacular. Maybe batting hasn’t been the team’s key to success, but the pitching sure has been amazing down the stretch. Aside from a few hiccups, like Saturday’s game where the team walked a couple of runs in, the starting rotation have been pretty smooth. Jack Flaherty has been the best pitcher in the league the past 20 games. He leads the team with his 214 strikeouts and 2.96 ERA in 182 innings pitched. Dakota Hudson leads with his 16 wins in 23 games. Two of the other three starters, Miles Mikolas
and Adam Wainwright have positive records while Michael Wacha is 6-7. Carlos Martinez leads the relief pitching with 23 saves, the next being Jordan Hicks with 14. I could go a long time listing meaningless regular season stats, because once your in the postseason, those numbers really don’t matter. It’s just what you do from there on out. Now that the Cards are in, all is well right? Yes and no. The good news is we're in, but it would be smoothsailing if they held on to win the divsion. If they do, it’s looking like the matchup will be a first-round date with the Atlanta Braves and if they make it out of that, they’ll most likely have an even bigger task in the L.A. Dodgers. Baseball has my second favorite playoffs next to hockey, and hopefully I get to cheer on my team throughout a deep run. While the drama of just getting into the playoffs is good on it’s own, nothing compares to primetime baseball in October.
Football loses fourth straight after battling Golden Eagles and the elements
By Michael Harms courier staff
MACOMB, Ill. — The Western Illinois Leathernecks fell to the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles in a downpour, 24-38. The Leathernecks failed to pick up their first win of the season, dropping to 0-4 as the rebuilding Eagles have improved to 3-1 with their only loss to Texas Tech. The game saw a lengthy weather delay in the first quarter, and an injury to Leatherneck starting quarterback Connor Sampson. He has struggled this year, as the junior has had multiple interceptions in enemy territory and simply can’t find the winning recipe. He did not return to the game after his injury and opened the door for Kevin Johnson. The transfer from Richmond played seven games last year and accumulated over 1300 yards, going 90 for 164 and seven touchdowns. His opener at Richmond, he passed for 300 yards and two touchdowns in a playoff win. He also played for Richmond after an injury to the starter. Now at Western, his first performance included 159 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions and a 71.4 percent completion rate. The question begins who will start the rest of the season? Through three games, Sampson’s stat book reads as follows: two touchdowns, two interceptions, over 600 yards and a 56 percent completion rate. At 0-4 and only Missouri Valley Football Conference play up next for the Leathernecks, the need for improvement is obvious. Can Johnson be the differ-
ence maker Western needs to turn the corner? The defense allowed too many big plays early, mainly to star player Metruius Flemming. The true freshman out of Alabama has seven receptions for 165 yards, he led the team in both categories. Of course, it was the quarterback Bailey Fisher that was making the decisions. Fisher passed for over 300 yards and two touchdowns in Saturday’s contest. He also ran for over 100 yards and scored three touchdowns with his legs. With five touchdowns on the day, Fisher made it easy for his teammates to get the job done. On defense it was Seth Carlisle earning a game ball. The sophomore linebacker recorded three total tackles and two interceptions. Both interceptions were the first of his career. A career game for Carlisle, and a win for Tennessee Tech proves that they are on the right track. After going 1-10 last year, the Golden Eagles have tripled their win total this year and are competing at a high level. For Western, head coach Jared Elliot is moving in the wrong direction. After taking over for Charlie Fisher, he has a record of 5-10. Western missed the FCS playoffs last year, and things are not looking up. Elliot needs to find answers quickly to right the ship. Western begins conference play against Missouri State on the road in two weeks. The Bears are currently 0-3. Last year, Western beat Missouri State on the road 31-14. It’s never easy to win on the road in football and this year will be no different. Kickoff is 3 p.m. Oct. 5.
BECCA LANGYS / PHOTO EDITOR
Connor Sampson looks for a teammate down field.
BECCA LANGYS / PHOTO EDITOR
Demetri Royer makes a tackle at Hanson Field.