Sports: Women's basketball sets sights on weekend double-header.
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Opinions: Western needs to embrace pets.
Friday, January 24, 2020 - Vol. 120 Issue 48
Gov. JB Pritzker signs bill allowing students to vote during school days By Devon Greene editor-in-chief
Students in Illinois will now have the ability to vote during school days. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed a legislation that will allow students from across the state of Illinois to be excused from school for two hours to vote in a primary, general, special or any election. The bill also includes any election in a primary, general, special or any election in Illinois at which propositions are submitted to a popular vote. The bill states that any student has the right to be excused to vote on a day which early voting is offered during hours designated by the school. Students will not be penalized for missing any classes during their scheduled two hours when going to vote. Pritzker and the Illinois General Assembly gives credit to two high schools from Calumet City, Ill. in the pursuit of this bill. The General Assembly and Rep. Nick Smith say that Thornton Fractional North High School and Thornton Fractional South High School brought the idea to Senator Elgie Sims who then worked with Smith and the General Assembly to make the idea come to fruition. “The advocacy of the students in my district convinced me I had to sponsor this legislation, and their passion helped get it over the finish line,” Sen. Sims said. “Sign-
ing this plan into law broke down a barrier that has long made it difficult for them and other students throughout the
Gov. JB Pritzker speaks at an event. state to vote. Hopefully, this new law will excite Illinois students and encourage them to take their civic duty as voters seriously.” Pritzker commended the students who pushed for the law on Wednesday. “With this new law, our vot-
Sports on Page 7: Predicting the outcome of WWE's Royal Rumble.
ing-eligible young people will have the freedom to fit voting into their school day without fear of repercussion for en-
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gaging in the very civic education we should all be proud to encourage,” Gov. Pritzker said. “The young people who advocated for this legislation recognized how important it is not only to vote, but to make the act of voting as accessible for all who can vote
as possible.” According to the United States Census Bureau, citizens in the age from 18 to 29 have had the lowest rates of voter turnout since the 1980s. In the 2016 election, only 46.1 percent showed up to vote in the presidential election which was the highest since 2008 when 51.1 took to the polls to vote in the race. The participation from the 18-29 year-old age group in 2008 was the second highest in 16 years when 52.2 percent exercised their voting rights in 1992. However, those rates still pale in comparison to the turnout rates of the age groups 30-44, 45-64 and 65 and older who have never dropped below 50 percent. Rep. Smith hopes that this bill will encourage students to exercise their voting rights in order for their values to be represented at the polls come election time. “Voting is one of the most important civic responsibilities we will hold in our lifetime,” Smith said. “It’s important that we work to encourage young people to vote by removing barriers that could restrict them from making it to the polls. Providing an opportunity to briefly leave school during an Election Day grants our young voters a chance to have their voice heard when they may not be able to make it to the polling booth otherwise.” The new legislation, Senate Bill 1970, will take effect on June 1.
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Victim Services to offer training course By Devon Greene editor-in-chief
The Western Illinois Regional Council (WIRC) is offering a Crisis Intervention Training course for those interested in volunteering to work with surviviors of domestic and/or sexual violence. Victim Services provides services from staff members who have dealt with cases of domestic violence and sexual assault. They offer emergency services, advocacy, counseling, professional training and public education. The course is a non-credit course but will cover all training needed to work or volunteer at Illinois sexual assault crisis centers or domestic violence agencies. The class will be taught by Victim Services staff who have experience in the field and will take place in Macomb on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., starting on Feb. 25. The course will cost $100 for students and community members and $150 for working professionals. Deadline to register is Feb. 20 at noon but class size is limited they will determine who they accept by determining who is willing to give a year's commitment to thier 24-hour crisis line. The organization is also looking for volunteers for events that occur throughout the year, including April's Sexual Violence Awareness Month. Those looking to register can do so by calling Victim Services at (309) 836-2148.
Opinions on Page 5: Consider donating blood and save a life today.
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Friday, January 24, 2020
NEWS
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Ag Expo and School of Agriculture celebrate anniversaries By Devon Greene editor-in-chief
The Ag Mech Club will hold its 50th annual Farm Expo in Western Hall on Feb. 8-9. This expo is important not only for the Ag Mech Club, but for the Western Illinois University School of Agriculture as well. The school will be celebrating their 100th anniversary since the split between the agriculture and biology curriculum that occurred in 1920. School of Agriculture Director Andy Baker is excited to honor those who have helped build the program in the last century. “We hope to attract as many alumni as possible to attend this very special event to help us celebrate 100 years
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
of agriculture at Western Illinois University,” School of Agriculture Director Andy Baker said in an interview with University Relations. “We will be recognizing several distinguished alumni at this event, as well as raising funds to support several different projects within the department. Our strong alumni base has helped sustain the growth in our department and will be the foundation for the next 100 years of agriculture at Western Illinois University.” The night of celebration will begin at 5 p.m. on Feb. 8 with a cocktail hour and will end with a dinner at 6 p.m. in the Union Heritage Room. Western Illinois alumni, Cliff Becker will host the night’s
festivities. Becker is the senior vice president for the Farm Journal, which is a media company that serves the crop, livestock and produce retail markets. The Ag Expo will begin on Saturday at 9 a.m. and end at 5 p.m. in Q-lot with various events that are free and open to the public. Entertainment for children will include bouncy houses, face painting, balloon artist and caricatures which will also be free. The Expo will conclude its final day starting on Sunday at 10 a.m. and end at 4 p.m.. Businesses who are looking to participate in the expo can find a link to register on the WIU Ag Mech Farm Expo Facebook page.
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The Western Courier is published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays during the regular school year, excluding holidays, finals week and semester breaks. The WC updates the website weekly during the summer. All content reflects the editorial discretion of the students operating the newspaper and must be interpreted as unofficial university communication. While every attempt is made to determine the validity of advertising contained herein, the advertising in the WC is not to be construed as endorsements of any specific products or services. The WC assumes no responsibility or liability resulting from the content of paid advertisements. Subscription price is $36 per year mailed third-class bulk rate from Macomb. The WC is printed by The Galesburg Register-Mail in Galesburg, Ill.
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Friday, January 24, 2020
NEWS 3
Colchester voters petition to allow alcohol sales By Devin Brooks NEWS3 reporter
COLCHESTER, Ill. (NEWS3) – It could soon be up to voters in Colchester to decide on whether to change the ordinance that prohibits the sale of alcohol in town. This move comes after a Colchester Finance/Audit/Legislative Committee meeting Tuesday night. Committee members and aldermen Will Terrill, Ronnie Clark and Eric Haines all agreed to recommend the change of a ‘dry town,’ that’s been in place for decades and last voted on 47 years ago. Colchester City Attorney Mariah Wallace said a petition will be required before it would be allowed on the ballot. Wallace said at least 25 percent of registered voters, meaning at least 225 people must sign the petition. Wallace said, if placed on the ballot, the ordinance would read, “Shall the sale at retail of alcoholic liquor continue to be prohibited in the City of Colchester, McDonough County, Illinois?” If residents vote to allow the sale of alcohol, Wallace said
the city council would then discuss drafting various ordinances about issuing alcohol licenses for businesses, hours of operation and other restrictions decided by the council. Some aldermen have expressed interest in holding town hall meetings to hear from the community. Residents would vote in the upcoming November general election if there are enough signatures on the petition. The committee also discussed ordinances to allow cannabis-related businesses and ATV usage. Wallace said pot lounges, craft growers, cultivation centers and dispensaries would be a cannabis-related business option in Colchester if the city council approves it. “We want to set ourselves up, so if someone would choose to open a business, we would be able to cover our backside,” Clark said. “I want to keep it open for us to have that, because it might not happen tomorrow, it might be 10 years from now, but at least it’s there for us to be able to do that to generate revenue for our town and citizens,” Haines said.
Terrill asked anyone in the public to comment about the cannabis ordinance, a resident said she was glad the committee feels the sale should be kept open in case anyone is interested in setting up shop. Plus, she mentioned the revenue cannabis could bring into the city. The town could vote to collect up to a 3 percent sales tax from marijuana sales, but that has not been discussed yet by the committee. Another major topic discussed, was if the town should allow the usage of utility vehicles, such as an ATV, UTV or golf carts. Wallace said if the council allows utility vehicles, it will be up to the council to decide to implement a fee, require drivers to obtain a license and set restrictions like driving on certain streets. The council also could vote to set an age limit to operate the vehicles. The ordinances will be placed on the agenda for discussion by the city council at the Monday, Jan. 27, Colchester Committee of the Whole meeting before a final vote is scheduled on Feb. 3.
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2020 Spring Semester Editorial Board
Edge Editor - Rachel Greene Editor-in-Chief - Devon Greene Opinions Editor - Allison Young
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OPINIONS
Friday, January 24, 2020
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Western needs to become pet friendly Being a college student is not only exhausting, but it can also be lonely at times. If students are not commuting, there is a high chance that they live far from home and it could be difficult to travel often. Homesickness can be extremely hard to handle especially when the amount of stress from schoolwork is unbearable. According to an article on HAP Balanced Living, over
30 percent of college students experience low-level homesickness and 69 percent of first year college students experience severe homesickness. Being away from close family and friends is very difficult to do especially at this young of an age. Most students have spent their whole lives living with family and are unable to adapt easily to living on their own. I believe that Western Illinois Uni-
versity should allow students to have pets on campus or in the dorms due to this issue. It is a proven fact that interacting with animals decrease levels of stress and loneliness. It increases humans’ feelings of social support and can boost your mood. Although some students may have allergies due to animals, I think if Western had pet free dorms and pet friendly dorms that would solve this problem. If the school designated specific halls for animals, this would give incoming students the opportunity to choose whether they want to live in an animal friendly area. If this option didn’t work, the school could also have pet friendly floors in dorms and pet
free floors. Western Illinois already does a great job with being pet friendly by having therapy dogs in the campus library. The school does this to help students with their stress and uses it as an opportunity to take a break from studying. The university already offers this therapy, I do think that we need to take this issue another step further. Allowing pets in specific dorms would help students feel more at home and reduce the amount of stress. I believe if the university does this, it could increase overall grades and grade point averages of the student population. If students are receiving better grades in classes, that would have a great outlook on potential students
and help Western with their recruiting process. Some pet friendly colleges include Stephens college, Eckerd college, University of Northern Colorado and University of Idaho. Even though Western will consider requests from individuals with disabilities under this policy, I think that all students should be allowed to have an animal if needed. The students of Western Illinois University could implement this change if we all sign a petition and fight to allow all pets on campus. I feel that if Macomb campus became pet friendly, the results for homesickness, stress and loneliness would improve students' overall well-being and school performance.
ter and more receptive to the world around you than you were yesterday. I guarantee that doors will start opening because other conscious people pick up on your conscious behavior. The faster you learn how to do this, the quicker these advantages will be available to you. Ever wonder why older people seem like they have so much to say and their “wisdom” always seems to catch up with you? It may be because they see the obstacle in front of you and want you to be able to jump over it instead of hitting it like they probably did. Experience is something all of us college students need at some time or another. Rarely do we hear people tell us that we need to be conscious of others. Just having a conversation with someone is not the answer. Listen to what someone says do your own research and if it still seems wrong, don’t do it. In the end, you are the main character of your own story. You can try to take the whole world on by yourself whether you know you are or not. Just know when you get knocked down, someone probably told you jump.
Writing goals down in a planner can help keep them in order.
Becoming a more conscious person Everyone has things they like and goals they want to accomplish. Even if some of these goals are similar or the same on the surface level, people will accomplish their goals in their own way. What is even more unique about people is that people define goals differently. One might think that being successful means having their own business while another thinks it means having a family. Both of these are great for society and the economy, but the goal is simply success. If these two people talked to each other, they would certainly argue that their definition is better than the other. Now, a little banter never hurt anyone, especially if both individuals listen to each other. After the conversation, these two people have gained an invaluable asset from one another. Knowledge from someone that does not think exactly as you do can expand your mind and maybe even your
capabilities. With the right attitude, both of these individuals can incorporate the other ’s mindset. The business owner may be able to finally expand to customers he was previously neglecting while the family person can start a business focused on family products or counseling. This example is very straight forward, but sometimes just listening to another person with different viewpoints can give you a boost you didn’t know you needed. If it sounds that simple, why can’t we all just do that? I think it is because we can be selfish people and close ourselves off to others. If you decide to be a conscious person, then it will be a constant battle. You will be challenged emotionally, physically and mentally. At any given time, you can decide how you respond to the things around you. The more excuses you make, the longer you will be in that circumstance. Make the decision now to be bet-
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OPINIONS 5
Friday, January 24, 2020
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Do your part, save a life
Since 1970, in an effort to increase the number of blood donations in the winter season (a time when blood donations are normally low due to increased illness and severe weather), January has been deemed National Blood Donor Month. This emphasis to increase awareness of the value of blood donations is critical for maintaining the nation’s blood supply. This supply is vital for patients around the country requiring blood transfusions, including those who undergo certain surgeries, experience a traumatic accident or have certain cancers and blood diseases. In total these patients require approximately 36,000 units of red blood cells, 7,000 units of platelets and 10,000
units of plasma daily. Although the number of blood transfusions have decreased over time as treatment processes have become more efficient, there is a continuous concern that the supply won’t always meet the demand. The continuous demand for blood donors is due to a variety of factors, including that only 38 percent of the population is eligible to donate and that blood components have a very limited shelf life (42 days for RBC and five days for platelets). However, the issue is further exacerbated in that of the population that is eligible to donate, less than 10 percent of these people donate each year. Additionally, as 60 percent of the blood donations re-
ceived are currently by people over the age of 40, there is concern that there won’t be enough donors in the future when the current donors age out. So why do a majority of people (including myself) not take the time to contribute to such a harmless and life-saving act? For some, the fear of needles acts as an inhibiting factor. For others, it is the time constraint. Many young people believe they are too busy to dedicate an hour out of their day to donate blood. Still for others, there is a lack of awareness on the importance of a steady blood supply on the overall health of the nation. Luckily, there are many things that we can do to overcome some of these barriers. For those who are afraid of needles, some tips would be to bring a friend or supporter with you when you go to donate. That way they can be a source of comfort for you when your anxiety starts to go up. Another tip is to not
look at either the needle or your arm during the donation process. A final suggestion is to continuously remind yourself that the discomfort experienced is short lived (in reality only eight to 10 minutes), but the satisfaction of knowing your donation could save up to three lives is long-lasting. For those who have difficulty finding time to donate, a tip is to plan the process into your schedule ahead of time. Many of the blood donation organizations now post their schedules of when and where they will be hosting a blood drive far in advance. This gives people additional time to make arrangements in their schedule for the approximately one-hour process. Another way to help save time is to know what information and items you should bring with you to speed up the registration process. Some registration processes can now be completed online beforehand in order to help people get in and out
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more quickly. Being well-hydrated and fed before donating may also help to reduce the time it takes to recuperate after your donation. The key to addressing this concern is proper preparation. You just have to find the motivation to do it! So, as the last few weeks of January unfold, consider doing your part to support National Blood Donor Month. If you are someone who is excited and ready to donate, there will be a blood drive at Western on Feb. 14 in the MAC gym from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This should serve as a great way for students to demonstrate their desire to serve their communities! And if you are already a regular donor, congratulations! Your job is to spread the word about the importance and feasibility of donating blood to your friends and family. Because in the end, it is all of our jobs to ensure that the nation’s blood supply continues to support the public’s health.
Contact Allison Young
AN-Young@wiu.edu
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Friday, January 24, 2020
SPORTS
Track and field set to face a few in-state rivals By Michael Harms courier staff As the indoor track and field season starts to hit the midseason stretch, the Western Illinois University team will look to the University of Illinois for their next opportunity for improvement. The meet begins Friday with the heptathlon and pentathlon with a number of in-state rivals competing including Illinois State, Eastern Illinois, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and the host. Western is coming off an early season meet at Missouri University up against some SEC competition and will look to stay tough against their rivals. Western will not see any competitors in the first day of the meet. Early Saturday morning, the first Leathernecks will compete in Women’s weighted throw. Despite having four athletes competing, all eyes will be on Carissa Tinsley who finished in the top 10 at Mizzou. She will also compete in the shot put and discus. The competition on the men’s side will come from Illinois who is ranked No. 15 and looking to dominate their home field. Distance runner Logan Lommel, who placed third at his last event, is going up against Fighting Illini Jon Davis who just ran his sec-
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Bo Brasseur participates in the long jump event.
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ond sub-four-minute mile. Lommel, who has never run sub four, will look to place against some of the toughest competition he will see all year. The toughest competition on the Women’s side will come from Louisville. They are ranked No. 20 and the outstanding favorites at the Illini invitational. Star Leatherneck Bo Brasseur will look to leap forward against star student-athletes. She will be participating in the long jump, and possibly the 400-meter dash. Look for her to challenge herself at this meet and test her barriers. Another Leatherneck to watch will be Tia Dorshorst participating in pole vault. She placed second at the Missouri Intercollegiate meet and will face even tougher opponents at Illinois. She set her personal record with her last attempt and will look to go even higher next time. Look for an interesting uphill battle for Dorshorst in what should be an exciting day. Western Illinois has tough competition at this meet. Making the podium at any event will be a wonderful accomplishment for the team. This will be an opportunity to see the local competition and see where they stack up. Knowing that Summit League opponent University of South Dakota is currently ranked No. 23 on the men’s side is worrisome for Western’s chance come March.
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Tia Dorshorst get a running start before her pole vault.
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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.
LARGE STUDENT RENTALS 5 and 6 Bedroom Homes are still available!! Ask for our $1000.00 Discount program! First come first serve for the last large homes that are open for the fall.
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!
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.
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!
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.
Employment Opportunites For Early Childhood, Teaching and Education Majors - Part-Time or Full-Time Work. Monday though Friday 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Have your weekends and evenings free. Gain valuable experience with children 0-12 years for your resume. We are open year round. We are looking for mature, dependable adults that enjoy working with children between the ages of 0-12 years old. Must pass a physchical exam and an extensive background check. Preference given to those submitting transcript with 60 study hours of college education and 6 study hours of child development. Applications can be found on our website at www.CatchAStarLearningCenter.com
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.
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For Rent Available now: Close to campus, clean studio apartments, excellent condition, reasonable rent, and partly furnished. Ceiling fans and a/c. Professionally maintained. No pets. Semester leases offered. Call 309 837 4369 and leave your phone number if not there. Email: MandKhousing@gmail.com ALL APARTMENTS - ALL INCLUSIVE Get control of your budget. Know exactly what you are spending each month. Each apartment includes free a/c, free heat, free electricity, free water, free cable tv, free hi speed internet, and free off street parking. Laundry on site. No noise policy. Bus stop across the street. Close to campus. Well maintained. Studios are $460/mo, One bedrooms are $620/mo. Call Doug at 309-255-8179 for an appointment.
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Friday, January 24, 2020
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! No, I’m not talking about Christmas. No, I’m not talking about pitchers and catchers reporting in less than 20 days. I’m not even talking about the upcoming Super Bowl. I’m talking about WrestleMania season! This Sunday, live from Minute Maid Park in Houston, the Road to WrestleMania kicks off with the Royal Rumble. Each year, 30 superstars compete for a chance to Main Event WrestleMania in a title match by competing in the Royal Rumble match. For those of you who don’t know, the Royal Rumble match is an over-the-top battle royal featuring 30 men or women, with a championship match at WrestleMania on the line. Two wrestlers begin the match and then another competitor runs in every 90 seconds. Of course that 90 seconds is WWE’s way of saying, “roughly 90 seconds, but we are going to send these guys out whenever we really feel like it.” The best part about this payper-view is the unpredictability. The Rumble match has been known for its surprising returns, shocking eliminations and the unpredictability of never knowing who is going to end that match pointing at the hanging WrestleMania sign at the end of the night, claiming their stake in the main event of the Granddaddy of Them All. Predicting who is going to win the Royal Rumble is almost always impossible. There have been a few instances (John Cena in 2013, Batista in 2014, Roman Reigns in 2015) where it is clearly obvious who the WWE is trying to push down our throats. However, as a fan it is still fun to try and guess leading up to the match who will win. In this article I am going to break down my top three male superstars, from Raw and Smackdown, who I think it makes the most sense for them to win the men’s Rumble match this Sunday. There is no specific order for who I think is most likely, this will be solely based on what, to me, would make the most sense. Let’s start off with superstars from Monday Night Raw. If a Raw superstar is the last one standing this Sunday, they will go on to face Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania. Coincidentally, Lesnar himself is entering number one in this year ’s
to sit and reconsider my options. Recently returning John Morrison was my first top pick to win the Rumble, but now he seems to have rekindled with his former tag team partner the Miz to feud with the New Day (in which I am in no way upset about) and basically removed himself from consideration. The same thing happened with Sheamus, who returned from an extended absence due to injury at the beginning of January. The WWE haven’t seemed to fully go all in on Sheamus enough to make fans believe he could win the Rumble. With all that being said, here are my three picks from SmackDown who have the strongest chances of winning the Royal Rumble. Topping the list is Roman Reigns. Reigns has been stuck in a feud with 2019 King of the Ring winner King Corbin for what seems like an eternity. This Sunday (hopefully) marks the last of his encounters with Corbin in a falls count anywhere match at Minute Maid Park. It makes so much sense for Reigns to win the match for several reasons. One being that after his match with Corbin, Reigns could be seen as an underdog as he battles exhausted or even “injured” from his previous match making him a hero if he wins. It also makes sense down the line. Whether “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt or Daniel Bryan come out of their championship match as the winner, Reigns would have a spectacular WrestleMania bout with either of them. It would make the most sense if Wyatt remains champion after Sunday. Wyatt and his Fiend character have been unstoppable since making their debut, and Roman just seems like the one that the WWE is pushing to topple the evil regime of the Fiend. To be honest, Reigns is the only surefire pick I have from SmackDown. The Blue Brand has been very tag team heavy, with all of its other singles stars caught up in some other storyline that wouldn’t make sense for them to leave to win the Rumble. With that being said, I am not ashamed to admit that I have absolutely no intuition or gut feeling on who is winning the Rumble match this year which makes me excited. I, like most, fans cannot wait until this Sunday to see who comes out on top. Who will outlast 29 other superstars and etch their name in history with a main event title shot at this year ’s WrestleMania? The excitement is in the air as the Road to WrestleMania nears. The first stop is this Sunday in Houston at the Royal Rumble.
Royal Rumble because he thinks that no other superstar deserves a title shot. The first highly touted Raw superstar to win the Rumble is former UFC Champion Cain Velasquez. Last we saw Velasquez, he got his bell rocked by Lesnar at Crown Jewel back in November. I, unlike many who consider Velasquez to be the favorite to win, don’t believe this is the case because that makes too much sense. What will most likely happen is Velasquez will either be a surprise entrant, or he will interfere and eliminate Lesnar from the match. Whatever happens, we will most likely see these two face off at WrestleMania for the title belt (which makes predicting Raw superstars that much harder). Second on the list is Samoa Joe. Joe is one of those superstars that debuted and was red hot but never fully got that push to be champion. He has faced many champions, including Lesnar himself, but has always fallen short of reaching the ultimate prize. Joe has recently returned from an injury and teamed up with Kevin Owens to rival Seth Rollins and his crew on Monday Nights. While removing Joe from that storyline may change things up a bit, it provides the perfect opportunity to set up a mustsee Rollins vs. Owens match at WrestleMania and gives Joe that opportunity to main event a title match at the biggest pay-per-view of the year. Whoever it is that dethrones Lesnar of his championship, they will highlight 2020 as the top guy of Raw and possibly even into 2021. If there is any one of my top three who I can see that happening with, it’s Joe. Last up from Raw has to be Drew McIntyre. The Scottish sensation has been tearing it up for a while now and the crowd is really behind him. He’s a heel that is so easy to hate that people are actually starting to like him. Since returning to WWE from his hiatus, McIntyre has never really cooled off. Fans have been dying to see him with a championship on the main roster and if there is any time to give him a shot, now seems to be that time. Up until the end of December, I had a few people from Friday Night SmackDown who I saw as favorites to win the Rumble. With recent storyline changes and a possible WWE Universal Championship change at the Rumble, I had
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Brock Lesnar awaits his challenger for the WWE Championship.
Roman Reigns talks to the WWE Universe.
Samoa Joe stares down his upcoming opponent.
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Women’s basketball hits the road for weekend double-header
By Alex Staab courier staff
After an exciting 75-61 win over a quality Oral Roberts team this past Saturday, the Western Illinois women’s basketball team (10-9) (4-2) will head westbound for a league game on Friday. The series starts with a Friday night tilt against the Mavericks of Omaha. Omaha finds themselves struggling to this point of the season, having been picked eighth (second to last) in The Summit League, and totaling a (6-12) (1-4) record to this point of the season. The wins to this point of the 2019-20 campaign for the Mavericks come against Peru State, Morgan State, Mississippi Valley State, UMKC, Graceland and Oral Roberts. Interestingly enough, though, despite the sub-.500 overall record, Omaha is (5-4) inside Baxter Arena. Although they don’t have a player averaging 10 or more points per game, they are led by junior guard Clair Killian, who averages a team-high 9.5 points per game, scoring 12 in their road loss to
Denver on Saturday. The Mavericks split the rebounding efforts efficiently, with nearly half of their roster averaging 4.8 rebounds or more per game. They nearly beat a physical Denver team in that category on Saturday, falling just short, 46-43. Western Illinois got back over .500 with their win against Oral Roberts. Olivia Kaufmann continues to pace the scoring attack at 16.8 points per game, and on top of that, her 21 points against the Golden Eagles qualifies for the seventh time she’s broken the 20-point plateau this season. With Evan Zars being the lone player in Friday’s game grabbing over 10 rebounds per game, expect that to come to the forefront perhaps even more than it does in other games. Zars had an even 10 boards against Oral Roberts. Redshirt freshman Carla Flores has really stepped up in place of injured redshirt senior Annabel Graettinger, proving herself to be an excellent distributor of the ball, totaling a team-high three assists in the win over Oral Roberts. Western Illinois leads the all-time series against the
Mavericks, 14 games to four. The Leathernecks have won the last nine meetings, with the last Omaha win coming on Jan. 3, 2016 by a score of 79-66. Recent notable games in this series include a 97-57 trouncing in the 2017-18 season and a +100 point performance, when the Leathernecks won 103-68 during the same season. The last two meetings since those high-scoring affairs have both had lower-scoring final scores, but a high number of points still saw their way to the scoreboard, with Western Illinois sweeping last year ’s series by scores of 78-70 and 79-67, respectively. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. central time from Omaha, Nebraska’s Baxter Arena. Western Illinois student RJ Larson will have the radio call via the Leatherneck Sports Network for those that would like to tune in live. Western Illinois will have another road game at North Dakota on Sunday at 2 p.m., before returning home to Western Hall for an exciting weekend series against South Dakota State (Jan. 30) and North Dakota State (Feb. 1).
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Elizabeth Lutz looks to make a pass.
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Olivia Kaufmann jogs back to play defense after making a basket.
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Evan Zars stands tall as she plays defense.
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Annabel Graettinger makes a move toward the inside.
Leathernecks look to improve in North Dakota By Jumique Philips courier staff
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Kobe Webster goes up for a shot.
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Zion Young gets back into the play.
It’s been a tough season for the Fighting Leathernecks. They have a disappointing record at 5-11 and are eighth in The Summit League behind North Dakota who currently sits at seventh and has a record of 8-12. Western plays better at home, as they’re 4-6 on their own court and 1-5 on the road. The leading scorer is junior Kobe Webster who averages 15.8 points a game and has been the leading scorer for two of the last three years. He’s been the boost for Western that they need on offense. North Dakota senior Marlon Stewart has been their leading scorer this season, chipping in 17.2 points a game. This will be an interesting matchup between two point guards who can really put the ball in the hoop. The Leathernecks have a better play at home and shoots at least 50 percent from the field as a tea. This game against ND, they will need their four main scorers, who all average double digits, to contribute: Webster (15.8 points per game), Zion Young (14.4 points per game), Ben Pyle (13.1 points per game) and C.J. Duff (10.1 points per game).
Pyle shoots the best from field at 44 percent and 45 percent from three, so he will be a vital asset towards the Leathernecks winning this game. This game will eventually come down to defense, who can force turnovers and stop possession after possession. Western averages more points per game than ND at 76.4 and 75.5, respectively. ND holds their opponents to 73.8. Western gives up 80 points per game to their opponents, they have to tighten up on defense because ND have four players that averages and can put up double figures numbers: Marlon Stewart (17.2 points per game), Filip Rebraca (13.5 points per game), De'Sean Allen-Eikens (13.3 points per game) and Kienam Walter (10.5 points per game). This is an even match between the two teams who can both rack up points around the same averages. The Leathernecks will have keep the Fighting Hawks underneath 75 points, so they will have a better chance of winning this game, however if the Fighting Hawks do the same to the Leathernecks, they can come out victorious as well. Both teams will have to go into this game emphasizing defense.
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Ben Pyle takes the ball up court.
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C.J. Duff looks for a play call.