Western Courier | August 29th, 2018

Opinions: Mental health is important in college

Sports: Appreciating the small things in the NFL

Sports: Leathernecks have officially selected 2018 season captains

Wednesday, August 29, 2018 - Vol. 119 Issue 5

Macomb Police receive recognition during City Council meeting

WIU

Regional Vice President of the Illinois Chiefs Association Dan Ryan (left), presents Macomb Police Department with Tier 2 recognition and Dean Torreson (right) address EPA violations at Monday's meeting.

By Steven Barnum assistant news editor

The Macomb Police Department was officially recognized as a “Tier 2” accredited agency, which very few departments in Illinois can say.

Tier 2 accreditation is awarded when a department displays professionalism and excellence with policies and procedures that span from bulletproof vests to seatbelts. To recognize the Macomb Police Department for its Tier 2 accreditation, Mayor Mike Inman introduced Dan

Ryan to the podium. Ryan, the regional Vice President of the Illinois Police Chiefs Association and the Police Chief of Leland Grove, Ill., was pleased with Macomb’s agency.

“It’s my honor to be here tonight to present the department with accreditation,” Ryan said. “There’s only 28 agencies across the state of Illinois that are accredited.”

Macomb’s department has been accredited in the “Tier 1” category for nearly as long as it has existed, but reaching the next level is even

more impressive.

“It’s a great step for your department,” Ryan said. Also speaking at the meeting was Macomb Chief of Police Curt Barker, who gave credit to Lieutenant Jeff Hamer.

“Yes, I gave him guidance, but without Jeff we could not have managed to get where we are,” Barker said. The department will now proudly hang an accreditation plaque in their building.

On a lower note, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently issued a

violation notice to Macomb for two separate issues.

The violation says that levels of both pH and chorine are too high in the town’s water that travels to the lagoons. Inman stressed that the violation does not concern the quality of the water. The Public Works Committee, along with Public Works Director Scott Coker, believe they have a solution: installing a CO2 system.

“We presented this proposal to the EPA and they have said that it’s acceptable,” Coker said.

City Administrator Dean Torreson discussed the financial op-

tions for the project.

“This is an unexpected expense,” Torreson said. “We normally carry a cash reserve of $1 million, but with this expense our cash reserve could go down to $103,000.”

Another option would be to acquire a low-interest loan from the EPA, which the town has done in the past. “This is a fairly low dollar amount to borrow money on,” Torreson said.

Council page 3

ROTC hosts annual Welcome Back BBQ

By Marc Ramirez news editor

ROTC DEPARTMENT

The ROTC welcomes three new cadets into the program during their annual welcome back BBQ at Everly park.

Western Illinois University’s ROTC program has officially kicked off the start of the school year by welcoming back returning cadets and extending invitation to possible new recruits.

Older cadets not only come to throw a ball, some bags, or smash down on some great barbeque, they come to share the wisdom, knowledge and love they have for the organization that’s given them so much. A main purpose of the event is to get to know one another and learn about the more appealing aspects to ROTC. Kevin Dukes, junior MS3 cadet explains that you truly get a lot out of joining

the program.

“People don’t always realize that there are so many benefits joining the Western’s Army ROTC,” Dukes said. “ Job offers after college highlight the management and leadership skills you learn within the program. Also it looks amazing on a resume and not to mention scholarships.”

“Today is just a day to meet and greet everyone new who’s joining ROTC and make sure they’re comfortable,” sophomore MS2 cadet Nimit Zaveri said. “It’s important to make sure everyone feels like they’re apart of the family. We train together, go to school events together, and will be in the line of duty together so the connection needs to be there.

Although yesterday’s event was marked as a welcome back celebration, it quickly became more than that.

Three men officially participated in the swearing in and the oath of enlistment into the United States Army. Bryan Bajerski, Swayne Spargo and Zelehovitis Nicholas all recited the words of the oath to receive the title of “New Cadets within their respective MS Ranks.”

“When you decide to join the military you must take an oath of enlistment, basically the oath serves as a bounds for what you swear or attest to do as a US ARMY soldier such as always do your duties, respect the orders of your higher, and perform the actions to best of your abilities,” Zaveri said.

2

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

NEWS

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American Red Cross continues to have an emergency need for blood and platelet donors so we would like to urge all eligible donors, especially type O donors, to make an appointment today to donate to help overcome the summer blood shortages and help save patient lives. To schedule an appointment please contact Cadet Jennifer Lopez at jj-lopez2@wiu.edu or sign up in Union Concourse or at the Horrabin ROTC Desk.

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assistant news editor & news writers if interested please contact

Devon Greene

dj-greene@wiu.edu

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Sponsored by WIU ROTC The Western Illinois Office of Student Activities presents

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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

STAFF MEMBERS editor-in-chief Devon Greene DJ-Greene@wiu.edu news editor Marc Ramirez MA-Ramirez3@wiu.edu assistant news editor Steven Barnum SS-Barnum@wiu.edu opinions editor Mark Tolliver ML-Tolliver@wiu.edu sports editor Haley Richards H-Richards@wiu.edu assistant sports editor Bradley Piros BJ-Piros@wiu.edu edge editor Jonathan Lynch JJ-Lynch@wiu.edu copy editor Brie Coder B-Coder@wiu.edu

proofreader Alexis Lowe AL-Lowe@wiu.edu photo editor Becca Langys RE-Langys@wiu.edu assistant photo editor Sara Remar SE-Remar@wiu.edu production manager Jimmy Pierson JM-Pierson@wiu.edu business manager Faith Rucker F-Rucker@wiu.edu advertising manager Jacob Day JD-Day@wiu.edu adviser Will Buss WJ-Buss@wiu.edu

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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.

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Wednesday, August 29, 2018 Jimmy pierson/production manager

By Steven Barnum assistant news editor

Saturday, Sept. 22, Macomb will be hosting the Lodge and Libations Event at Horn Field Campus.

The event, which will be held for the fifth straight year, is sponsored by Horn Field Campus, Hospitality Management, Park and Tourism Administration and the Western Illinois University Department of Recreation.

The festivities will kick off at 5 p.m. and will focus on celebrating both new and existing partnerships and the successes and strengths of the educational department.

A short program at Horn Field Campus will take place at 6 p.m.

Refreshments, appetizers and a cash bar will be offered at the event, which first started in 2014.

It was in 2014 that Horn

City Council from front page

The system will cost $700,000 and must be implemented by Oct. 1, 2019; however, the town may benefit from completing the project sooner since the new system will be more efficient and will cut costs. The town had already planned on installing a new system in the distant future, but the EPA violation will push that plan to

Field officially became part of Western for 50 years. The event was designed to celebrate the anniversary, while also raising funds to construct an educational facility at Horn Field Campus. If fundraising numbers reach the end goal, the educational facility will be built outdoors and will occupy 92 acres.

Advertised as “an escape to nature just minutes from campus," the Horn Field Campus unit showcases the scenery, while also promoting responsibility when it comes to how people treat the environment.

On the grounds is a lodge that seats 50 people, a commons area that can be used for picnics and three cabins available for rent. If an individual or a group would like transportation out to Horn Field Campus, Durham School Services can be contacted at (309) 836-6806. Hy-Vee, Old Dairy, Jimmy Johns, Magnolias Restaurant and Sodexo Food Service are available for

food catering.

The cost to attend the Lodge and Libations Event is $10 per person but for children and students who are enrolled at Western, it’s just $5 per person. Monday, Sept. 17, is the last day that online registration will be available to the public. Horn Field Campus is located just one mile south of the town of Macomb at 985 China Rd. For those looking to attend the event, or even to get involved, HFC Program Director Mindy Pheiffercan be reached at (309) 298-4676 or at MJ-Pheiffer@wiu.edu.

If anyone is unable to attend the event, they are encouraged to text “Horn50” to the number ‘41444’ or by visiting wiu. edu/HFC. There is also the option of contacting Suzanne Woodward, who is the Director of Development of the College of Education and Human Services. Woodward can be reached at (309) 298-1690 or at S-Woodward@wiu.edu.

the immediate future.

Coker also presented the council with a preservation plan for Macomb’s roads.

A quantitative evaluation indicates that there are roads that don’t need to go through a complete reconstruction phase. The process would preserve the more moderate streets in town, specifically Lafayette Street, before the next construction season.

If the process is not adopted, moderate streets may decline in quality and cost more in

construction costs.

The process involves using cape seal, a chipped surface that lasts between five and seven years, which the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has started to use.

Coker calculated that the process will cost Macomb $300,000, but will also save money.

“There are 83 miles of streets in Macomb,” Coker said. “The reconstruction process would cost $24 million, but by doing the cape seal, it would cost one-third of that.”

NEWS 3

4 OPINIONS

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

WesternCourier.com

Be proactive with your mental health We have officially entered our second week of the semester, which means for most of us that the ball is now rolling.

The introductory phase of our classes are now over and it’s time for us to snap out of summer mode and into school mode. This transition can be stressful for a lot of people, myself included.

Getting used to our schedules and doing homework all while trying to maintain our social lives can bring stress factors that can make it difficult to stay focused throughout the year. But there is one simple solution that can make a difference in our student lives.

A suggestion I have for stu-

dents for a successful academic year is to use our WIU staff.

These people are here to guide us in the right direction and we should never feel too old to seek help. Especially when it comes to our mental health. In college, stress can quickly turn into anxiety or depression. It’s important that we acknowledge it and stop it before it becomes too serious. Talking to a counselor or social worker on campus could greatly reduce stress. They could help analyze your problems and put your life into perspective for you. Just having someone to vent to is enough to get a lot off your chest. The information you tell them remains con-

fidential and you don’t have to worry about anyone spreading your business.

My reason for emphasizing this topic is to make people more aware of the dangers and risks of mental illness. The more people that are knowledgeable of this issue, the better we can stop the mental health crisis in this country.

Just by simply educating the public and our youth about the dangers of mental illness, we can reduce the number of suicides, drug use and violent behavior. There's a heavy issue with an easy solution; talk.

Talk to someone who will listen and show you they care.

There’s nothing better than to be reassured that you are not alone. I find myself contemplating a lot about the future and where I will end up.

I wonder if I’ll get a good job or move out and get my own place. This point in our lives is all about change and transfor-

mation, and we have no choice but to push forward. Even if we’re still unsure where we’re going from here. Everything is all happening right now and it’s a bit intimidating.

We’re being forced to grow up, which requires adjustment and learning to be independent. We’re going through all of these changes while keeping up with assignments and deadlines. So, It’s always good to have someone to confide in, and talking to a social worker can help keep a person level headed. It’s never good to bottle up our emotions. I know that mental health is a substantial issue in our world today, especially when it comes to students. School is not always easy and we all hit low points sometime in our academic careers. However, there are people willing to help and who are here for our benefit.

Use them, and don’t let stress cause you to fall behind.

Adjusting to choices in Macomb When touring around Western I think one of the reasons I chose to come here was the small town vibe that I got, when I walked through the square.

Since I was born and raised in the city, Macomb was considered a small town for me. I wasn’t too close to places that we’re close to here. a walking distance away from at least two Starbucks or driving distance of 10 minutes just to go to my shopping mall full of at least forty clothing stores so moving to a town where the main store is Walmart. In order to eat some of my favorite foods like Chipotle or Panera, a trip that can take up to an hour has to be made.

Although Macomb may not have all the things city kids are used to like such as; shopping malls, skyscrapers, and multiple food places Macomb has significantly grown over the past years.

Macomb recently added a Starbucks and McAlister ’s which are pretty well known company’s.

Although students are thrilled with these small steps, it may not be enough.

Students are convinced that if Macomb were to get a Steak ‘n Shake or Chipotle that the enrollment rate would increase, due to the fact that students would have a varierty of places to eat from remind them of places they have at home.

Although I am completely not

against Macomb adding a Chipotle, there may be something that we need more of and that would be clothing stores.

I asked a few women where they buy clothes while they are living in Macomb and the most common answer is either they do all their shopping online, or wait until they go home to go clothes shopping.

I’ll be the first to say that this sucks, especially if you are like me who needs to try on clothes before buying them to make sure that it fits perfectly and looks flattering, which you can’t do if you shop online.

Online shopping may be easy because everything is right at the tip of your fingers. But waiting for shipping, wondering if the clothes you ordered will look good, or even if they fit correctly is not fun.

With that being said, can we all agree that although a Chipotle would be great addition to Macomb a few decent

Write for Opinions

clothing stores would be even better. Not only would these clothing stores create some peace for those people who are last minute shoppers for either gifts or an outfit for a special event, it would create more jobs for students and citizens in the surrounding areas. The addition of a few clothing stores near the area will definitely attract transfer students and seniors in high school when deciding where they would like to spend the next four years of their college career. They will be attracted to how convenient shopping will be, especially for the men and women since the nearest malls are about an hour away, if not more. Macomb is already a town that we all know and love, but there is never any harm with expanding the town to make students feel more at home, create more jobs and be as convenient as possible.

Contact Markayle Tolliver

ML-Tolliver@wiu.edu

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

@WesternCourier

OPINIONS 5

Budgeting in the dining hall centers

Many college students deal with hunger and sleep deprivation, so when either of them are compromised in any way it can then become an inconvenience.

During my first year as an underclassman, living in Henninger had its benefits of having some of the best food on campus in my opinion. The variety and assortment of treats and sweets were most appreciated. From the pasta station, to fried delights, and wings on Wednesday, I always found it difficult to choose my meal only to get the same thing every time. Of course, the downside was having to travel to a different dining hall on Friday and Saturday considering that Bayliss-Henninger’s dining center closed on Thursday.

So, of course I often found myself at Corbin-Olson for brunch and dinner.

Later when I became an upperclassman, I chose Corbin-Olson as my residence hall. Having the ability to control my air conditioning system, and the benefit of having the option of breakfast, brunch, and dinner right below me in the dining center was well worth it. Now, living off-campus I don’t have the luxury of a meal plan at my fingertips. However, when I heard that those options were no longer available due to budget cuts I couldn’t fathom the possibility. I remember how exciting it was to live in a residence hall whose dining center already featured those meal options, so I can understand a

student’s struggle right now.

With Illinois having difficulties handling their budget momentarily, institutions including students and faculty here at Western Illinois University continue to suffer. The circumstances are frustrating considering how much money students are having to come out of pocket for only to have to be penalized because our money isn’t properly being accommodate to our wants and needs is a bit inconsiderate. Western’s campus may not be as big as other institutions, but that doesn’t mean that students should have to travel each morning out of their way just to get breakfast at another residence hall especially for those who have early morning classes. In addition, convenient stores on campus have limited their hours and their supply which contradicts the purpose of a “convenient” store.

Yes, life isn’t fair, but this situation has surpassed fairness to

a different extent.

Change will forever be constant, yes, but that doesn’t mean that we should have to suffer because of it. Some may say that not having the option of having breakfast in the morning or having convenient store limitations isn’t that big of a deal considering that few people did eat in the morning. Then again, when we as students are paying semester after semester to attend school, meals should be made convenient to us whenever we want. Budgeting has honestly gotten out of hand in more ways than one, and until it gets handled properly situations like these will continue to be happen and be an issue.

College is supposed to be about student’s demand for what they want to do and be. If we’re already having issues pertaining to when and where we can eat throughout the day, who knows what’s next to be taken away from us.

Trump needs to cooperate with press

Donald Trump speaks to supporters at a rally.

WIKIMEDIA.ORG

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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Letters should not be more than 350 words in length. The author’s name and phone number must be included for verification purposes. Failure to include such information will lead to the letter being discarded. The WC staff will edit letters in cases of timeliness, obscenity length and grammer, and we do not guarantee publication of all letters.

2018 Fall Semester Editorial Board Edge Editor - Jonathan Lynch Editor-in-Chief - Devon Greene Opinions Editor - Markayle Tolliver

The press has a very vital and important role in our democracy and the press must play a crucial role in order for a democracy to grow and be healthy.

The press makes the citizens of the democracy aware of the social, emotional, financial, and political activities going on in the nation. Due to the media revealing loopholes and discrepancies in the government at large; it causes the government to be more honest and accountable. Due to the expansion of technology, we have full access to information within seconds. I believe that the press is currently doing a good job in fulfilling their duties even though journalists may be criticized.

A journalist's job is to gather information, organize it and report it whether they agree or not, whether they believe it’s true or not because that

is their job that they signed up for. Journalists are indeed doing their job and keeping in contact with citizens even when they are looked at as the bad guys. I think it is indeed highly important for the press and the president to have a mutually respectful relationship because the press is the pipeline between the president and the citizens, the press must follow up with the president, and as citizens of a democracy, we have grown to respect and expect the press to give us insight on the president.

The press is the mediator between the president, their job, family and how much the citizens know about the president's decisions. The press follows the president and make sure they know what is happening with the president, so they must be cordial with one another even if they do not

agree with each other fully.

As citizens of this democracy, we have grown to rely on the press to inform us on new and vital information we need to know about the president and government.

To have a more cooperative relationship with the president, I would advise the press to be respectful of his family, private issues and certain topics that the president wants to keep private. I would also advise the press to not pressure the president about certain ideas and issues; allow him to open up as much as he wants and provide whatever information he wants to send.

My advice for Trump on how to have a more cooperative relationship with the press is to respect the press and the different journalists. Trump needs to understand that the journalists are only doing their job and they must ask questions, interview, investigate and report to citizens. I would advise Trump to answer the press and journalists in a respectful and honest manner.

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

6 SPORTS

WesternCourier.com

Soccer

from back page

If Western wants to upset LA Tech, they’ll have to come right out of the gate with some strong offense, and even stronger defense. Whether that be defenders getting up into the attack, or midfielders coming back to defend a little bit more, some changes will need to be made.

They’ll be at home, on a Friday night, with their home crowd cheering them on. It’s up to them if they want to try

FILE PHOTO

Sean McGuire without pressure looking to pass the ball.

Football from back page

The quarterback, McGuire, out of Franklin, Wis., started all 12 games in 2017 had 2,852 passing yards with 25 touchdowns and a 64 percent completion rate. He is tied for the second most touchdowns in a single season at Western with 25 and his 154.1 passing efficiency ranks him at 12th in the FCS (Football College Series).

Another defensive standout, Fitzpatrick, has well earned the captain title. The O’Fallon, Mo. Native finished the 2017 season with 39 solo tackles, 57 total tackles, six breakups, two

forced fumbles, two quarterback hurries, and five interceptions. The five interceptions on the season ranked him amongst the top in the MVFC. He also received conference accolades, earning Second Team All-MVFC and Second Team Academic All-MVFC. The youngest of the five, Ratkovich, had an outstanding first season for the Leathernecks. Originally from Crete, Ill., he appeared in all 12 games finishing with 132 yards on 31 rush attempts, 233 yards on 11 kick returns, and 144 yards on 17 catches. He was named to the Missouri

Valley Football Conference All-Newcomer Team as well as had earned academic accolades as well.

Not only do these five players go above and beyond what is expected of them on the field, but off the field as well. It’s not an easy task to be exceptional at both, which is why these five spots were well earned.

This week, these five captains will get their chance to shine as college football has begun.

Western will open up their 2018 season on the road, playing Montana State University this Thursday. twitter: hayfourrr

CLASSIFIEDS

WC

For Rent

For Rent

Submit a classifieds ad to Micour@wiu.edu

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!

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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and turn their season around.

This win could easily jumpstart a comeback, especially heading into two more home games against the Milwaukee Panthers and Ball State University.

Western lost to both of those teams last season, but a win against LA Tech could give them the confidence boost they need to go on a run and win out their home stead.

Either way, Western looks to bounce back this Friday and at 5 p.m. on John Mackenzie Alumni Field. twitter: bradjp08

JOSH DEFIBAUGH/COURIER STAFF

Director of Soccer Eric Johnson talking to his players on game day.

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.

Looking for 2 roommates to share a 3-bedroom furnished house beginning in August for 2018-19. 10- to 12-month contract. New carpet, air, garage w/ storage, laundry. $300 each per month, plus utilities. Call Sharon at 309-338-3888.

The nicer apartments are going fast, excellent service- 24 hour emergency maintenance. Reasonable prices. Studio, 1-3 bedrooms, locations on/off campus available ‘18-’19 school year. Check us out at rentcollegepads.com. If interested, please call F & H Rentals 309/837-1705.

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.

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 Still have some nice large locations available at reasonable prices. Excellent service- 24 hour emergency maintenance. 1-8 bedrooms, locations on/off campus available ‘18-’19 school year. Pets at some locations. Check us out at rentcollegepads.com. If interested, please call F & H Rentals 309/837-1705.

Sports 7

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

@WesternCourier

Soccer shutout by Panthers

By Michael Harms courier staff

GOLEATHERNECKS.COM

Paul Kirdorf fully focused while striking the ball in a match.

MACOMB, Ill. — Western Illinois University did not impress in the first home matchup of the regular season. Playing in front of the home crowd the Leathernecks lost 4-0 against Milwaukee last Sunday.

The weather was hot and seemed to drain the energy out of Leathernecks before the ball even started rolling. In the first half the Leathernecks did not record a shot attempt. They did not generate chances and could not seem to get space near Milwaukee’s back line.

Through the first half the Leathernecks’ defense seemed to be able to put up a fight with senior defensive back Jamison Kozar leading the way. His tough and more importantly smart play kept the Panthers from getting many chances on goal.

It looked as if both teams would settle for a tie moving into halftime, but an opportunity presented itself for the Panthers. In the 44-minute the referees called a controversial foul around 27 yards out. Sophomore midfielder Vuk Latinovich took the free kick and put it to the right of the keeper to take a 1-0 lead before half.

Coming out of half the

Leathernecks lacked the necessary edge that is needed when playing down, and the Panthers pounced on that opportunity. In the 65th minute, redshirt sophomore, forward Alex Sykes stole the ball after miscommunication between sophomore defensive back Michael Howell and junior goalkeeper Tim Trilk and lobbed a ball over Trilk and into the goal for the second time of the afternoon.

With the Leathernecks down two, they needed to bounce back.

Freshman forward Xavier Brown was one of the few Leathernecks that never stopped working. He had hard tackles and an energy that inspired the Leathernecks to keep fighting.

Almost immediately after the second goal his energy got him into trouble, as he came at a tackle too hard and slid into a Milwaukee player in a dangerous fashion.

This earned Brown an early trip to the showers and the team played with only 10 men for the rest of the game.

Down 10 men and two goals, Milwaukee could smell blood in the water and never stopped attacking. Milwaukee tallied two more goals near the end of the game one coming from redshirt junior Josh Kaye and the other from senior midfielder Sean Holmes in the 84th minute. With

a 0-4 loss the season begins on a low note.

Some high notes from the game were the defensive playing in the first half. Milwaukee could not get around Western’s back line and find space. Without some small mental mistakes and more discipline not to foul this backline looks to improve the number of shutouts last season with just three.

A few players that looked sharp were sophomore Paul Kirdoff and freshman Cesar Cosio. Kirdoff played right back for the majority of the game and showed that he could get up and down the field quickly and create a ton of space for the Leathernecks. They seemed to enjoy Paul’s work ethic and hustle as they tried to generate most of the offense through him.

Cosio seemed to have fantastic ball control for his age. On multiple occasions he controlled the ball and directed it through multiple defensive players and found space to pass up the field.

He could make defenders miss, but more importantly does not turn the ball over. His play was a highlight in the loss and showed promise for the leathernecks moving into the rest of the season. Their next challenge will be this Friday against Green Bay at home.

Celebrating small things in the NFL It’s one of the best times of the year, the NFL season kicks off next week with a matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons.

As the NFL rolls back, we all read articles previewing the season and predictions of every team’s record for the year, but I want to celebrate the small things that make the NFL such a beloved sport around the world.

One of my favorite things to do over the season is trash talk.

Whether it be about someone else’s favorite team or about my fantasy team demolishing theirs, it provides me with an unhealthy amount of joy to be able to let them know that I was better than them for at least week.

I’m a fan of the New Orleans Saints and we’re finally good again, so I am salivating for the season to start so I can unleash the pent-up trash talk that I’ve been holding in since our soul-crushing loss against the Minnesota Vikings in the playoffs last year.

Speaking about fandoms, watching the antics that some fans put on throughout the

NFL season is another one of the things that I am most looking forward to. One of the fandoms that are the most notorious for ridiculous behavior are the fans of the Buffalo Bills, also known as the Bills Mafia.

The Bills Mafia went absolutely bonkers last season and one of the most consistent things that they did was jump and throw people through tables. For research, I looked up “Bills fans compilation” on YouTube and the videos I watched were magical. Large men were throwing women through tables, with consent of course. Guys were jumping off cars and school buses through tables and one of my personal favorites, preforming wrestling moves on flaming tables and catching on fire.

The highlight of the Bills Mafia in 2017 for me was when a fan threw an adult toy on the field during a matchup with the Patriots. The NFL is obviously about the players, but the fans always provide some of the most memorable moments of the season.

One of the more surprising things that I am excited about

are the Cleveland Browns. The Browns have been the joke of the NFL for decades and they probably still will be this year but there is actually hope in the Dawg Pound this year. They finally have a quarterback that is not a trashcan or Johnny Manziel. Tyrod Taylor is obviously not Tom Brady or Drew Brees but he’s a step above Uncle Rico or whoever they had under center last season.

The Browns defense looks like it should be fun next year with Miles Garrett running the trenches. My only hope is for the Browns to get at least three wins next year and not have the worst record in the NFL. Injuries are commonplace in the NFL and one of my favorite things is watching people rebound and tear up the league after their absence. The saddest injury for me last year was Deshaun Watson tearing his ACL in practice.

Watson rejuvenated the Texans on the offensive side of the ball with his dynamic play on the ground and through the air. Watson had proved himself to be one of the best rookies in recent memory and was among the running for rookie of the year even though he missed half the season.

A few other players I am looking forward to watch come back are Green Bay Packers’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Philadelphia Eagles’ quarter-

back Carson Wentz, and New York Giants’ receiver Odell Beckham Jr. The Packers were a mess without Rodgers at the helm last season and its completely understandable considering Rodgers is the most talented quarterback in NFL history. I lose my mind watching him play the game sometimes.

He makes passes that I think should be impossible whether it be fitting the ball in-between four defenders or pulling off clutch passes that 99 percent of the quarterbacks in the world wouldn’t be able to. Rodgers does two of my all-time favorite quarterback things.

First, his snap count that is a thorn in every defensive player’s side. Rodgers is a master of drawing a defender offsides and getting a free play for his offense. In three games last season, Rodgers forced eight offsides penalties which resulted in free plays and two touchdowns.

The second thing is his Hail Mary passes. Rodgers has three Hail Mary completions in his career. Rodgers completes the Hail Mary so much, I have begun to call it the Aaron Rodgers. The pass has everything going for it, the drama of a pass with no time left to either tie or win the game, the silence of the crowd as the ball flies through the air and the shoving match that occurs as

receivers and defenders jump for the ball.

Some of the smaller things that I am excited for are Carrie Underwood’s performance of the Sunday Night Football anthem, postgame outfits and Skip Bayless’ delusional rantings throughout the season.

Underwood has some iconic songs that I am elated to listen to anytime including, “Before He Cheats,” “Jesus, Take the Wheel” and “Cowboy Casanova,” but the Sunday Night Football song ranks among my favorites from the country music star.

Cam Newton was the king of the postgame outfit last season with strange hats, ascots, bowties and cubist shirts. I can’t wait to see what Newton brings out this year and to see if he can defend his throne.

Finally, Fox Sports personality Bayless is a massive Dallas Cowboys fan and he will do whatever he can to defend the franchise. He’s made some of the most outlandish claims over the years including the viral tweet from 2014 where he says that the Houston Texans will forever regret the day they didn’t pick Manziel with the first pick in the 2014 draft.

The NFL is storming back, and the teams and franchises make the league good, but it’s the small things that make it one of the greatest leagues in the world.

Football names their 2018 Captains

By Haley Richards sports editor

FILE PHOTO

Quentin Moon awaits the play for the Purple and Gold.

MACOMB, Ill. — This past week was a big week for five Western Illinois football players. Senior linebackers Riggs Baxter and Quentin Moon, senior quarterback Sean McGuire, senior defensive back Justin Fitzpatrick, and redshirt sophomore running back Clint Ratkovich were selected as the 2018 captains.

Any athlete knows that being named a captain is an honor that all players want to hold sometime in their career. Head coach Jared Elliott had some words of the new captains.

“First, they have earned the respect of their teammates and coaches by the quality of their character and who they are as men. These guys truly lead from the front. They all possess a selfless love for their teammates and put others first,” Elliot said. “They are passionate about Leatherneck Football and see that they are a part of something greater than any individual. Leaders make people better around them, and these guys all carry themselves with a positive

attitude daily that is infectious to others.”

Players who have earned the title will each hold a captain spot. Baxter originally from Thorntown, Ind. played in all 12 games in the 2017 season where he recorded 13 solo tackles and 33 total tackles.

He had one forced fumble and one interception on the season as well. Aside from his work on the field, he also excels in the classroom, receiving the Missouri Vallet Football Conference Commissioner ’s Academic Excellence Award in 2016.

Moon, from Indianapolis, is another standout linebacker for the Leathernecks. Last season, he finished with 39 solo tackles and 70 total tackles, had two sacks, a forced fumble, and set a career-high 3.5 tackles for a loss. On top of his stats, Moon was named Honorable Mention All-Missouri Valley Football Conference honoree as well as Honorable Mention Academic All-MVFC.

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Leathernecks look to stop LA Tech

By Bradley Piros

assistant sports editor MACOMB Ill. — The Western Illinois women’s soccer team will continue their four-game home-stand this Friday when they take on the Louisiana Tech Techsters. LA Tech comes in to this game with a 3-1 record, however they’ll be taking on the Missouri State University Bears tonight before they come visit the Leathernecks.

Western however, are coming off of a 4-0 loss to the University of Missouri-Kansas City in their home opener. It was a disappointing loss and brings their record down to 1-2. The Leathernecks were outshot 25-6 and watched as the Kangaroos put four goals past them.

They’ll be looking to bounce back against a red-hot LA Tech team and it’s not going to be easy. They have already scored 10 goals in their first four games, all of them coming at home.

MSU and Western will be their first two games on a three-game road trip.

Last season, LA Tech posted a terrific 8-1-2 record on the road, going 14-3-5 overall. This team knows how to win and frequently plays some tough com-

petition. Last year they played and beat the No. 5 seed in their conference, Old Dominion, 2-1.

Their final game of the season was against No. 8 seed Charlotte, and they lost 1-0 in the Conference USA semifinals.

The Conference USA is one of the toughest divisions for women’s soccer, and right now, LA Tech are sitting at first in those rankings, showing a 3-1 conference record.

Enough about LA Tech, how is Western going to stop their lethal attack? The Leathernecks have already given up five goals in three games, but also post one shutout against Northern Illinois University. So, they know how to keep teams scoreless, but if they want to do it against LA Tech, Western’s defense will have to be on point for the entirety of the match.

Often times, Western comes out a little flat footed and lets their opponent grab a goal in the first couple of minutes, which is what happened against UMKC. Once they go down, the Leathernecks are not typically the come from behind type of team.

Soccer page 6

Bianca Romay runs to help a teammate on defense.

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