Western Courier| April 27th, 2018

Sports: Will the Knights take it all in their first season?

Opinions: Tau Theta Tau at Syracuse shows Greek Life problems.

Sports: Baseball takes down SIU-E.

Friday, April 27, 2018 - Vol. 118 Issue 83

Western tech used in county jails CAIT program used in inmate education

The McDonough County Jail has implemented the iPathways program developed at Western Illinois University to assist in inmates looking to pass the GED exam.

By Marc Ramirez assistant news editor

The Center for the Application of Information Technologies (CAIT) at Western Illinois University has recently started a program that would allow inmates in county jails to expand on their education while incarcerated.

Nicholas Ebelhack editor-in-chief

Students from Professor of Sociology and Anthropology Patricia Anderson’s ANTH 215 clas, Fantastic Archaeology, completed a large scale replica of a Nazca hummingbird geoglyph this past weekend between Currens and Thompson halls.

The geoglyph, which measures 83 meters in length, is only 10 meters shorter than it’s Peruvian counterpart, which measures 93 meters from the tip of it’s beak to the end of it’s tail feathers.

Students began work at 7 a.m. and finished in the early afternoon. According to a press release from university relations, in order to construct the massive image,

The program, i-Pathways Oasis, gives inmates the opportunity to prepare for, and obtain, a high school GED through a secure system. This educational technology is already being offered to those serving time in the McDonough County Jail. iPathways curriculum director Kathy Olesen-Tracey believes a high school equivalency exam is worth taking.

“Once an individual has a high school equivalency diploma, the opportunity to advance in training and secure sustainable employment becomes an option,” Olesen-Tracey said.

In February, members of the United States Senate Round Table praised the program, which helped its rise to notoriety. One inmate in the McDonough County Jail has already passed the GED exam, and

according to McDonough County Sheriff Rick VanBrooker, that’s a giant step in the right direction.

“Education opens doors, and this program has the potential to turn around some lives,” VanBrooker said. Spoon River College will now allow that inmate to join their welding program.

VanBrooker partnered with i-Pathways Project Manager, Brandon John, who have helped

maintain Illinois’s GED pass rate, which is the highest of any state in the country. The state has saved over $1 million because of that high pass rate, and numbers like that make the program even more valuable, according to CAIT Director Paul Sweet.

Tech page 3

a baseline was made that ran the length of the bird, followed by using perpendicular lines to lay out the remainder of the geoglyph.

Anderston stated that the project was a testament ot the difficulties the Nazca people may have face.

“This hands-on activity was chosen to allow students to envision some of the challenges facing the Nazca people in creating the enormous geoglyphs that cover parts of the Nazca Plain in the Palpa region of Peru, South America,” Anderson said. “Also, it addressed the question of whether or not the Nazca people needed help from extraterrestrials.”

Nazca page 3

WIU GIS

Aerial photo of the Nazca lines created by Western Illinois University students outside of Currens hall.

2

Friday, April 27, 2018

NEWS

WesternCourier.com

adopt second grade classroom Jimmy pierson/production manager

By Marc Ramirez assistant news editor

Macomb School District’s Adopt-A-Classroom program paired a group of second graders with the Western Illinois University’s Agriculture program. On Tuesday they visited the livestock center and greenhouse.

Anna Mercer and her 19 students from Lincoln School visited and participated in many activities ranging from

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

learning about and growing plants to having hands-on experience with livestock and machinery. The second graders also had the opportunity to have a hayrack ride around the School of Agriculture to visit various parts of the program.

Mercer’s class was given the chance to brush claves, pet and shear sheep, climb on tractors and learn about baby pigs with the help of the agriculture students. This hands on interac-

tion and teaching about agriculture to younger children brought a newfound perspective on education according to senior agriculture science major Will Taylor.

“It adds value and a passion for agriculture advocacy,” Taylor said. “It's fun to interact with the kids and see their passion for animals and agriculture grow.”

Senior animal science major Mikaela Fringer had a similar experience, she said she

STAFF MEMBERS editor-in-chief Nicholas Ebelhack NA-Ebelhack@wiu.edu assistant news editor Marc Ramirez MA-Ramirez3@wiu.edu assistant news editor Steven Barnum SS-Barnum@wiu.edu opinions editor Ryan Zurek RP-Zurek@wiu.edu sports editor Devon Greene DJ-Greene@wiu.edu assistant sports editor Haley Richards H-Richards@wiu.edu edge editor Baylee Brynteson BM-Brynteson@wiu.edu copy editor Brie Coder B-Coder@wiu.edu

proofreader Valerie Clemens VN-Clemens@wiu.edu proofreader Alexis Lowe AL-Lowe@wiu.edu proofreader Tacuma Venzant T-Venzant@wiu.edu photo editor 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 Patryk Mazur P-Mazur@wiu.edu adviser Will Buss WJ-Buss@wiu.edu

enjoyed the experience of teaching younger students.

“Teaching the younger generation is a stepping stone to teaching at a higher level someday,” Fringer said.

Over the course of the year Western Aggies have visited Lincoln school and worked with the students on agriculture related projects according to agriculture instructor Jana Knupp. She says students in the program have taught the second graders how to plant

seeds, food production and livestock lessons.

“The WIU School of Agriculture enjoys the opportunity to connect with the community and educate them about agriculture,” Knupp said.

The Western Illinois University School of Agriculture, the Hoof and Horn Club, the Collegiate Farm Bureau chapter and Western’s Ag-Vocators organization were all sponsors of the event.

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Nazca

from front page

Lime marker machines were ran across the strings in order to embed the bird into the grass. The markers and cords were then removed after to reveal the image.

Senior English major Molly Cameron said that the project helped her understand the content from the class and with her classmates.

“It was great to have the opportunity to work together to create something we learned about in class, and seeing the finished product from the drone was really satisfying,” Cameron said.

“It was definitely a process of learning, and you can see in the geoglyph that we got better at it as we went along.

Overall, I'm glad we had the opportunity for some practical application of the con-

Tech

from front page

The program’s success is 18 years in the making; it was developed in 2000 with the help of the Illinois Community College Board, where it served adults who had trouble earning GEDs in the past. Since the high school equivalency program requirements are always changing, i-Pathways Oasis has had to adapt in order to meet standards. Even with the changes made over the years, the program has served over 30,000

Friday, April 27, 2018 cepts from class, especially in such a fun way.”

In rememberance of Earth Day, which was April 22, the lime outline of the hummingbird was designed to fade after the next rain and fertilize the grass.

The project was the capstone to a semester ’s work, which included readings and lectures about the Nazca line animals in addition to poetry and textiles. The most logical conclusion drawn from the line’s existence is that the symbols were designed to relate to agricultural and fertility rather than extraterrestrials.

ANTH 215, Fantastic A rc h a e l o g y : Ancient Astronauts, Shape Shifters and Bigfoot, is offered each spring at Western Illinois University for a general education credit at the Macomb campus. adult learners in Illinois alone, while also making its way to jails in Michigan and Nevada.

The program will not only be implemented in more prisons across the country; remote tribal communities in states like Alaska, which lack internet access, will soon be given the opportunity to complete the program.

For Olesen-Tracy, it’s not just about the program reaching a national level that makes it successful. “It’s the personal successes, such as the one in McDonough County, that make the project so meaningful.”

NEWS 3

Friday, April 27, 2018

4 OPINIONS

WesternCourier.com

Syracuse isn't the Greek life norm

Fraternity and sorority life is a large part of many students’ college experience. I myself am involved in a sorority on campus and I find it to be absolutely wonderful.

However, a fraternity at Syracuse University has recently brought a lot of negative news coverage on Greek life.

The Theta Tau chapter at Syracuse University in New York is currently under a lot of scrutiny about recent videos that were released of their members. The first video is primarily of the men mak-

ing racist and anti-Semitic comments. A few days later, a second video was released of the men making fun of the disabled. This video even went as far as pretending to perform sexual acts on a person in a wheelchair.

Over the past weekend, Syracuse University has taken legal measures and permanently expelled the Theta Tau chapter from being an organization on their campus. Eighteen members were also removed from class earlier this week and have begun the disciplinary

proceedings by the university.

The students were removed from class as a precaution measure due to the response of outrage from the other students at the university. Last Wednesday, the students flooded to a Town Hall meeting to get the attention of the universities administration requesting them to take action against the Theta Tau chapter. This movement eventually led to the decision to permanently expel the chapter. Along with the town hall meeting, students have been having large marches and picketing throughout campus to show their disgust with the Theta Tau fraternity.

The Theta Tau house has even been placed on 24 hour-a-day protection by the universities police department.

In response to all of this, the Theta Tau chapter has opened up to press claiming that the videos were a part of a skit done by their pledges to poke fun of one of their active brothers. They apologized by saying, “We cannot apologize enough for the pain, sadness and fear that this has caused.” According to a statement by one man from the fraternity, "The new members roasted him by playing the part of a racist conservative character" he said. It was a satirical sketch of an uneducated, racist, homophobic, misogynist, sexist, ableist and intolerant person. The young man playing the part of this character nor the young man being roasted do not hold any of the horrible views espoused as a part of that sketch."

Although apologetic as a chapter, five of the 18 men under investigation have opened up lawsuits against Syracuse University claiming that the school has "branded them as racist, anti-sematic [sic], sexist and hostile to people with disabilities.”

Being a member of Greek life here on our own campus, I find it very upsetting to see another organization behaving this way. It not only puts a negative viewpoint on fraternity and sorority life, but it is also very upsetting to all of the types of people targeted in their videos. I hope the situation in Syracuse gets sorted out, and I hope that all of our Greek organizations here on campus continue to be positive images of the Greek community.

Letter to the Editor Two interesting articles appeared in the April 23, 2018, edition of the Courier, a frontpage article by Nicholas Ebelhack and a page 4 letter by Ken Speegle. Both articles concerned the ongoing contractual dispute between UPI, the union representing the faculty, and the administration charged with the solvency of the University. The administrative side, faced with an as yet uncorrected loss in student population, just 8,599 total students across the Macomb, Quad Cities, and online campus enterprises, seems primarily focused on fiscal savings. The faculty side has a different view, instead, asking for raises, creating the crux of the nearly 18-month long contract negotiation battle, which as of April 20, 2018, has resulted in faculty voting to support an intent to strike that could take place during “dead week” and semester finals.

A few pertinent points need to be made. For the past three years, all employees without union representation have received 0% in raises. While non-negotiated Civil Service personnel have been exempt from furloughs, except for a few at the end of FY16, all other non-union personnel, including administrative staff and support professionals making more than $40,000/year have also been forced to take unpaid furloughs beginning the last three months of FY16. In FY16, the mandatory furloughs were especially painful

because they had to be taken over the three months of April-June, resulting in roughly a 6.0-28.8% reduction in pay during that period, with higher salaries being impacted at the higher levels. At the same time, UPIrepresented faculty received a 2% annual increases, boldly refusing at the December 2015 Board meeting to concede anything to resolve the impact of lack of State budget. FY17 and the current FY18 again saw mandatory furloughs for administrative staff and support professionals, but less painful by requiring fewer days and being spread across the entire year. Again, depending on salary level, these furloughs represented a 2.1-3.1% reduction in salary for both years. The lesser impact resulted from Western's UPI recognizing that faculty at other state public universities were participating in budget cuts, leading WIU faculty to accept a 2-year period of 3.0% salary reduction. Western remains the only state university mandating furloughs for all administrative staff and support professionals.

Moving forward into FY19, which begins July 1, 2018, the lower financial support received from the State legislature combined with smaller tuition revenue generated from a declining student population, has reached a critical tipping point. The administration is asking for a permanent faculty salary reduction, an effort that should help offset a loss

of faculty positions. UPI is requesting salary increases, claiming that Western faculty are underpaid compared to other public universities within the state. Rather than accept the UPI picketing language, I chose to look at cold, hard documented evidence. The Illinois Board of Higher Education provides a sortable and downloadable list of all FY17 (last year’s) salaries for all academic ranks: full professors, associate professors, assistant professors, instructors, and lecturers, for all 12 Illinois public universities supported in-part by Illinois tax dollars. If you analyze the data, you will find results I found quite interesting. Base FY2017 Full Professor salaries as per IBHE: Chicago State University, $84,221; Eastern Illinois University, $89,996; Governors State University, $103,340; Illinois State University, $92,168; Northeastern Illinois University, $81,148; Northern Illinois University, $83,392; Southern Illinois University Carbondale, $83,367; Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, $82,538; University of Illinois Chicago, $129,900; University of Illinois Springfield, $93,347; University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, $138,768; and Western Illinois University, $102,335. So out of 12 state universities, WIU is 4th highest, nearly $16,000 over the average of the remaining eight ($86,879) and above the overall net average $98,409 for full professors from

all 12 schools.

Of the 8,599 total WIU enrollment for Spring 2018, the Spring 2018 senior class has 2,695 students, most of whom would be expected to graduate before Fall 2018. If the Fall 2018 new freshman remains constant, rather than continuing to decrease, only some 1,206 new freshmen and 823 new transfer students will replace graduating seniors. Incorporating the 67.8% retention of new freshmen and 79.4% retention of new transfers reported in the WIU Fact Book, Fall 2018 holds little hope of achieving the 9,441 composite total in Fall 2017, more likely being in the 8,000 student range, considering graduate students to remain even. How the University can sustain itself comes down to the desire of the administration to cut costs, but save jobs, or UPI’s desire to increase faculty salaries that most likely will result in the loss of jobs for lower-paid, non-tenure track instructors and lecturers. It is an ethical dilemma, but one that should be considered with real data, not extremism. I hope that Western’s students have learned during their higher education careers to seek evidence, not follow blindly, as a steep precipice confronts us.

Tere North, Macomb IL Former WIU faculty and administrative support staff

Editorial Policy The editoral views of the Western Courier shall be confined to this editorial and are to be separate from news coverage otherwise noted. The editoral presented is based on the ideas and views of the WC editoral board.Columns are the opinions of the columnists alone and should not be construed as the opinions and beliefs of the WC staff as a whole.

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2018 Spring Semester Editorial Board Editor-in-Cheif - Nicholas Ebelhack Edge Editor - Baylee Bryntesson Opinions Editor - Ryan Zurek

@WesternCourier

Friday, April 27, 2018

Finals are right around the corner and it is the most stressful time of the year.

For me the spring semester tends to be a lot harder than the fall semester. April is also the busiest month of the year because that’s when all the assignments are due. Students always think that they are going to complete the assignments before the due date but that’s never the case.

As April slowly approaches and comes to an end all the

nights, anxiety and many more things. My first two years of college I struggled with this, but this semester I feel a lot more confident with my finals, because I’ve learned to make study guides. Not every professor gives a student a study guide for their classes, so the best thing to do is to make your own. You shouldn’t start your study guide too late, a few weeks into the semester is fine, but do not wait till April. The best way to do this is to write down what you think is important every time you learn something, and when the test comes, you have something to study.

Don’t throw it away. Keep it

OPINIONS 5

Prepare early for your finals assignments pile up. On top of all the assignments due, finals are just a week later.

Having numerous assignments, while stressing over studying can be overbearing for some. Some might not even have time to study for their finals because they are too worried about their assignments. This is something that needs to change.

Cramming is never a healthy thing to do. It can be stressful, cause countless sleepless

Enjoy your summer break With summer right around the corner, it’s important that we don’t waste this precious three-month break that is if you won’t be graduating in May. Of course, it’s typical and recommended for us as students to get summer jobs, and or an occupying internship, but is that all you would want to do after two semesters of hard work, because I sure would hope not. Let’s vow to find something intriguing yet responsible to do for summer break.

Now, I’m not saying go out and try to get arrested or anything crazy, but try something that keeps you occupied and opens your eyes to new wonders of the world. I may sound a bit cliché, but it’s about time that we try to go beyond the standard norm this break.

Most students go back home and work their hard-earned positions from previous jobs which is perfectly fine, however how about saving up for part of the summer just to travel or to do something you’ve never done before. It doesn’t have to be traveling across the country, but maybe take a road trip, or travel to a new town. Then again, if traveling to South America is a part of your dream, then make it happen. All I’m saying is you only have one life to live so enjoy it.

As another option, there are crafts such as pottery, or art.

Not everyone can imitate Picasso, but how fun would it be to at least try to a certain extent. Besides doodling during class lecture when trying to focus, take those stick fig-

ures and hearts to a bigger canvas. Take up pottery and make something so original and artistic that when someone sees it they have to look sideways just to view it, making its creativity pure.

Summer is about trying new things, allowing your mind to wonder beyond imagination and making dreams reality.

So, after visiting an art museum or two, or sitting in on a couple of art classes you never know, you could be calling yourself an artist one day.

Also, there’s the simple possibility of meeting some new friends to enjoy the summer with. Yes, many of us are so used to our introverted ways, but take the chance and step out of your comfort zone for once to just live a little. Just like heart-felt summer romances, friendships are relationships too and being introduced to a healthy and positive circle of associates can be just what you need to start the summer off right.

Friends give each other ideas when their brains are on a hiatus and that’s one of the best ways to limit boredom.

Just remember no matter who you meet, friends that nap together stay, together.

There are so many more ideas out there, and if you let you mind sort through the possibilities, a great summer is what’s in store for you.

Just please don’t stuff your face with your favorite snacks and movies this summer while it passes you by. Before you know it you’re setting your six alarms for the fall semester again.

and add to it every test, and by the time finals come, you have your own study guide to prepare with. This can be beneficial because even if a professor ends up giving you a study guide, you’ll be more prepared for the final, because you might not cover the same topics your professor did.

That may be easier said than done, but it really could pay off in the end. Studying little by little is a lot better for you than studying a lot with a little bit of time. Cramming is not worth it because when you cram you’re not actually learning the material, you’re trying to memorize it for a short amount of time. One

could argue that they do that for their general education courses that do not factor into their major, but you won’t really learn anything in the end by doing that. A study guide might not be for every person, but it is just a step. Anything to avoid procrastination and cramming is beneficial to one’s education because in the end they are taking initiative and wanting to learn, wanting to retain and wanting to keep that in their memory.

The simple solution to acing your finals is to not cram.

Studying little by little, having a positive outlook and not staying up all night before the exam is how you could potentially ace your finals.

Friday, April 27, 2018

6 SPORTS

WesternCourier.com

Softball from back page

The Leathernecks lost the second game by a score of 2-0, and got swept in their two-game series.

Despite the loss, Western Illinois can use this series to help them prepare for South Dakota State University this upcoming weekend and for North Dakota State University the

JOSH PURNELL/COURIER STAFF

Drue Galassi prepares to take a ball from the pitcher.

Baseball from back page

Montgomery was proud of their performance.

“It's nice having our young guys come in and get some innings like Jack,“ said Mongomery. “He came in and started the game really well. It's really good when we

just work together and play good baseball.”

Western entered the ninth looking for its second shutout of the season, but could not keep it so. With a man on second and third Jordan Ross singled bringing in two for the Cougars. The game ended one at-bat latter with a final score 8-2.

Star of the game goes to Drue Galassi, who went 3-3 with one walk and one triple. His offensive performance helped bring in two runs and showed the Cougars what Leatherneck baseball is all about. Up next to face the Leathernecks is the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles in a three game road series starting on Friday.

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!

.

following weekend. These two series’ will decide whose team will be in first place in the Summit League Standings going into postseason play.

The Leathernecks sit atop the Summit with an 8-1 record, but still have a challenging road ahead. Missouri may have won the series, but the Purple and Gold will pick up the pace in the near future.

Twitter: brendanreidyII

JASMYNE TAYLOR/COURIER STAFF

Emily Ira holds up her hand to show there are two outs.

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

Friday, April 27, 2018

@WesternCourier

NHL's Knights Looking Golden

If you were going to ask any sports fan, hockey or not, at the beginning of the hockey season if the Las Vegas Golden Knights were going to make the Stanley Cup playoffs they would say “not a chance.” If you asked them if they thought the Knights would sweep the Los Angeles Kings in four games in the first round of the Playoffs, they would walk away laughing in your face without even answering. Why, you may ask? This is the first season that the Golden Knights are in the NHL after the league agreed to create an expansion team for this season.

Expansion teams do not have a strong track record of being successful in their first few seasons, let alone their inaugural season.

In terms of winning percentage, Las Vegas has the best in their inaugural season among the other three major sports in the United States. Winning percentage is calculated by taking the number of wins in a season divided by the total number of games played in that season. Winning 51 out of their 82 games this season, the Knights ended the regular season with a .621 winning percentage.

The highest winning percentage by a team new to the MLB was the 1961 Los Angeles Angels who only won 43.5 percent of their games.

In the NBA the 1967 Chicago Bulls were new and couldn’t make a splash, only winning 40.7 percent of their games. And finally, when the Carolina Panthers first showed

up in the NFL in 1995, they were only able to win 43.8 percent of their games. So, in terms of percent of games won in an inaugural season, it’s easy to say that Las Vegas has blown all the other expansion teams out of the water.

Compared to the expansion team history in the NHL, the Golden Knights top some of the lists there as well. The lists in question are the best z-scores (standard deviations relative to average) for point percentage and goals per game differential by NHL expansion teams between the years 1968 and 2018. First, I will mention the z-score for point percentage. I must note that the scores I give for the Knights are midway through the season. The z-score for the Golden Knights in point percentage is a +1.73. Not only does this z-score top the list in this category, but it’s also the only score on this list that is positive! The next best score by an expansion team is -0.06 by the Florida Panthers in 1994. Moving on to a similar situation on the goals per game differential list, the score for the Knights is +1.28 while the next best team is again the 1994 Florida Panthers at an even 0.00. It is safe to say the Golden Knights have proven to the NHL that they are the most successful expansion team that the league has seen in the last 50 years, and they are not looking to mess around.

Stepping away from the statistics for a second, the Las Vegas Golden Knights are historic in other ways.

The NHL has seen many expansion teams over the years. From all the way back in 1942 when the league only had six teams, it grew over the next 58 years expanding its team total to 30. 2000 was the last year that the NHL saw an expansion with the introductions of the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Minnesota Wild. In 2016, it was announced by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman that there would be an addition of a franchise in Las Vegas that would begin play in the 2017-2018 season. This team, who would later be named the Golden Knights, made history by being the first major professional sports team to be located in Las Vegas.

Many other franchises soon followed suit as the Oakland Raiders of the NFL were able to get a vote passed in 2017 to approve their move from Oakland to Las Vegas as soon as the 2020 NFL season.

The Knights have paved the way for an entirely new sports market in Las Vegas as I’m sure with these two major moves to the city, other sports will soon follow.

The Las Vegas Golden Knights in this writer’s opinion is the most successful expansion franchise that we have seen in the four major North American sports. Their efforts this season and postseason have rocked the sports world and the Knights are not looking to slow down. After sweeping the Los Angeles Kings in the first round, the Golden Knights face off against the San Jose Sharks in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

After all the success sports fans have seen, there is only one question to be asked: will the Las Vegas Golden Knights be the first expansion team in history to win a championship in their inaugural season?

Marc-Andre Fleury stops the puck for his old club

WIKIMEDIA.COM

Tennis to take down the Pioneers

By Bradley Piros

assistant sports editor

Mary Bjelica returns the ball

JOSH PURNELL COURIER STAFF

MACOMB Ill. — The Western Illinois women’s tennis team heads cross-country to the Stapleton Tennis Complex in Denver, Colorado to take part in the Summit League Championships. This will be Western’s first trip back in four years, and they absolutely feel like they can come out on top.

It’s a semi-final one match play in to the championship, and the matchups are as followed: Western (No. 4 seed) will go up against the top seeded Denver Pioneers, while the No. 2 seeded Omaha Mavericks will face off against the No. 3 seed in the University of South Dakota Jackrabbits.

It will be one tough task ahead to take down the home team, especially after not meeting this season because of a rain out. The element of surprise will certainly be in effect during this matchup. The two sides have played each other in seasons past though, as Denver swept the Leathernecks 7-0

last year, and 6-0 the year before that.

Needless to say, the Leathernecks are coming into this matchup with a chip on their shoulder, and really want to make a statement in the tournament. They haven’t been in this position in four years, so they don’t want to mess things up now.

Western really wants to take down the Pioneers, and to do so, they’re going to have to come out strong.

Thankfully, they are pretty good at doing that and they have the team to do it this year.

Mary and Ana Bjelica have been tearing it up together in duos, as the freshman sisters have been making their dad, as well as head coach Mirko Bjelica very proud. Mary is currently on a 12-match win streak and leads the team in wins with 13 on the season.

In the No. 1 doubles spot is senior Courtney Lubbers and sophomore Natalia Bravo. This duo has combined for five wins, and has been a force to deal with, that the Pioneers will definitely not see coming.

The three seniors, Lubbers, Maria

Bessmertnaya and Cary Milanes have come up clutch all season, and were celebrated on senior day against the visiting Quincy University Hawks.

They won that contest 7-0 in only their second home meet of the spring season.

Western finished the regular season 10-7 and 3-2 in conference. They lost to the three other teams in the tournament, so it’s going to be a little tough.

Denver is coming into the match full of confidence as they finished the season 17-4 and 4-0 in conference.

Either way, it doesn’t matter what they did in the regular season. Both of these teams want to win the Summit League Championship and clinch a berth in the NCAA Championships, but they’ll have to get past each other if they want to make it there.

The match is set to start at 10 a.m. today and if they win they’ll play again tomorrow in the finals at 11 a.m. It won’t be easy, as they have yet to beat these three teams, but the Leathernecks will not go down without a fight.

Twitter: bradjp08

Leathernecks manhandle Cougars

By Michael Harms courier staff

JOSH PURNELL/COURIER STAFF

Alex Dorethy on deck for the Purple and Gold.

MACOMB, Ill. — Western Illinois did not let the Cougars even come close winning by a score of 8-2.

For the second time this year the Leathernecks went up against the Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Cougars and got a dominating win increasing their record to 10-22.

Western got an early lead in the first on some luck. After there was one man on, starting freshman pitcher Brett Taucher walked one, then after an error Western scored on one unearned run. This started the day poorly for the Cougars and it didn’t get better. They escaped in the second inning getting one out on an attempted steal and two strikeouts that kept WIU from scoring. Then the bats for Western could be silenced no longer.

Western took advantage of the Cougars lack of pitching depth and went at the first reliever.

After Taucher was relieved by sophomore A.J. Johnson they became more aggressive.

It started after junior Bailey

Montgomery was walked, redshirt freshman Alex Dorethy singled down the line to put two men on base. Then two batters got hit by pitch bringing in Montgomery for a two-run lead. Then with the bases loaded junior outfielder Drue Galassi singled to the right-side scoring two more. On a fielder’s choice Western scored one more and after the third inning Western was up 5-0.

Freshman Jack Carberry had a decent start not allowing any hits and no runs but was pulled in the third after his third walked batter. The pitching remained strong for WIU and after five innings gave up no hits.

Surprisingly this great pitching was from most of Western’s younger athletes. Carberry is a freshman, Jace Warcentien who pitched two innings and only allowed two hits, is also a freshman. These two started the game off perfectly for the Leathernecks keeping them in the lead and in control.

Baseball page 6

Softball falls in double-header

By Brendan Reidy courier staff

MACOMB, Ill. — The Western Illinois Fighting Leathernecks faced off against the 23rd ranked Missouri Tigers in a doubleheader on Wednesday. The Leathernecks fell to the Tigers in both games. Western lost the first game by a score of 7-0, and the second game by a score of 2-0.

It was not the outcome Leatherneck fans wanted, but this non-conference matchup is going to prepare them for arguably their toughest part of their schedule.

The first game against the Tigers was a rough one.

Western Illinois was riding a hot streak into Wednesday’s game, and things were looking good for the Leathernecks who had their ace, Emily Ira, on the mound for the first matchup. However, it was an off day for the star pitcher. She started off the game strong, but then struggled the second time around against the Tiger lineup. The Tigers were firing on all cylinders as they kept on getting run after

run. The Leathernecks failed to enhance their runs against the Tigers. Eventually, the Purple and Gold pulled Ira late in the game, and they replaced her with Payton Abbot. However, the barrage did not stop, and the Leathernecks could not find a way to stop the Mizzou offense.

Western Illinois lost the first game by a score of 7-0.

The second game was a nailbiter till the end. It was a pitching duel between Brooke Stulga and Madi Norman.

Both pitched complete games, but Norman was backed with a clutch run. Stulga had her best performance of the year.

She pitched seven innings, and only allowed two runs on four hits.

However, her performance was not enough as Norman put up a very similar stat line only giving up four hits, but no earned runs. Missouri was one of the few teams this year that contained the Leatherneck offense this season.

Softball page 6

Payton Abbott sets up for a bunt.

ANGEL STRACK/ COURIER STAFF