Edge: Prince's legacy lives on in new song.
Opinions: Kanye supports Trump.
Sports: Track and field sets personal bests.
Monday, April 30, 2018 - Vol. 118 Issue 84
Nicholas Ebelhack editor-in-chief
Western Illinois University President Jack Thomas has been listed as a finalist in another university's search for a new president, this time at Tuskegee University in Tuskegee, Ala. as of last Friday. According to a news release from Tuskegee University’s office of communications, public relations and marketing, Thomas is among two finalists that have been recommended by the university’s Board of Trustees and Presidential Search Committee. The news comes after Boise State University announced that Thomas would be visiting their campus as well as a finalist in their search for their next president. Thomas visited Boise State on April 26. According to Vice Chair of the Tuskegee University Board of Trustees Norma Clayton, the talent offered by both Thomas and his fellow finalist, Wagner college Provost Lily McNair, is appreciated in their search. “In today’s higher education environment, recruiting candidates
of such extraordinary caliber like Dr. McNair and Dr. Thomas required our committee to work both deliberatively and confidentially,” Clayton said. Thomas, after Boise State University’s public announcement of his candidacy, released a statement in regards to his current job search. “Because of my 10-year tenure as president and provost at Western Illinois University, which has been the most rewarding of my career, I have recently been contacted by search firms and nominated for a number of positions,” Thomas said. “This is clearly an indication of a national respect for Western and its accomplishments, even during these difficult times.” Those difficult times haven’t been unnoticed. In his interview at Boise State University, Thomas was asked by Boise State Associate Professor of History Leslie Madsen-Brooks about unrest at Western regarding the recent strike authorization vote from the University Professionals of Illinois Local 4100 chapter and the faculty vote of no confidence in Western’s administration. “We went two years without
receiving a state appropriated budget, and then we finally got a budget in the third year back in July, and it was 10 percent less than what is was the previous year,” Thomas replied, giving background to Western’s recent financial struggles. Thomas then continued to speak on the Western’s financial matters over the last few years, which he said resulted in the subsequent votes of no confidence and a strike authorization. “We have been put into a predicament, so what do you do, do you keep your university or do you fold, and my board encouraged me to keep the university and that’s what we did,” Thomas said. “There was a vote of no confidence in the entire administration but not just me, no one was named, which was symbolic to try and get the contract approved, and recently that had a vote to strike, but that hasn’t happened yet and now we are just that close getting an agreement.” Tuskegee University is expected to vote on it’s next president on May 11, and intends to release a public statement that same day with it’s decision.
Nicholas Ebelhack editor-in-chief The Western Illinois University Board of Trustees will meet this morning in the University Union Capitol Room at 8 a.m. for the first of their monthly meetings. At March 23’s meeting, the Board voted to increase their meetings from quarterly to monthly discuss matters pertaining to the university in a more timely manner. On the agenda, Interim Provost Kathy Neumann will provide an update regarding dual high school credit, an update on employer online degrees and certificates ready for the upcoming fall semester and a report on additional degree programs that will be ready next semester. Additionally, Vice President for Quad Cities and Planning Joe Rives will also present at the meeting on active military online degrees and certificates that will be available for the upcoming fall semester. Board of Trustee’s Chair Cathy Early and President Jack Thomas are also expected to give
their remarks. Following reports, a motion to convene to closed session is on the agenda which states that the members me be considering matters pertaining to personnel, collective bargaining, litigation and real estate. The University Professionals of Illinois Local 4100 chapter, which has been in contract negotiations with the university since December of 2016 and in federal mediation since the fall semester, has created a Facebook event asking it’s membership to attend the meeting in numbers. UPI members, please turn out to the BOT meeting to let the Trustees know that we're watching,” reads the post. “Our jobs hang in the balance.” In a joint press release from UPI and Western last week, the two groups said that they are close to finalizing the specific language contained within the contract but would not disclose any details until language has been approved by both sides following the April 23 mediation session, which members of the UPI and campus community marched to in solidarity.
Calle Murray celebrates Latinx culture
The Western Illinois University Campus Community came together to celebrate Latinx culture at Calle Murray, filled with music, games and food.
NICHOLAS EBELHACK/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
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Monday, April 30, 2018
NEWS
WesternCourier.com
Distinguished Alumni
to be honored at
Commencement By Leah Murphy courier staff
Saturday, May 12, at Western Illinois University’s Spring 2018 Commencement Exercises in Western Hall, the outstanding accomplishments of Western alumni Steven E. Nelson and Margaret W. Wong will be recognized in Western Hall. Nelson will be recognized at the 9 a.m. ceremony and Wong will be recognized at the 4:30 p.m. ceremony. Nelson and Wong will both be receiving the Distinguished Alumni Award for 2018. This award, given since 1973, recognizes alumni who have brought credit to WIU and themselves through exceptional professional accomplishments and meritorious service at the national, state and local level to ensure the continued excellence of Western. Nelson, a 1977 health sciences graduate, is a semi-retired investor, founder/co-found-
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
er and former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of several successful healthcare services and information technology companies. He has extensive experience in the healthcare industry, including entrepreneurial, development, consulting and executive management experience. Nelson began his health care career in 1983 with Republic Service Bureau, Inc., a nationwide hospital auditing company. Under Nelson’s leadership, the company expanded into several other areas of health care cost containment before being sold to a Washington D.C. investment group. In 1990, he founded Medical Bill Review, Inc. and Preferred Payment System, Inc., and in 1999, Nelson founded Health Network Systems, LLC. In addition to serving as chair and CEO of several companies, Nelson has served on the Board of Concentra Preferred Systems (now Viant, Inc.) and IntelliClaim, Inc. and co-
founded and actively served on the Board of Directors of two additional healthcare services and information technology companies, ClariCon, LLC and CearHealth Strategies, LLC. Nelson is also an active private investor in the biotechnology, consumer cloud, maritime defense and healthcare and wealth management industries for various early to mid-stage companies. Nelson, and his wife, Debra, have contributed numerous gifts in support of Western and he is actively involved with his alma mater, the Leatherneck football and the Alumni Association. Wong, a 1973 biological sciences graduate, is an attorney and the founder of Margaret W. Wong & Associates, LLC in Cleveland. Wong was born in Hong Kong and moved to the United States in 1969 with her sister Cecilia, a 1973 Western graduate. Wong received a law degree in 1976 from the University of Buffalo
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
Jimmy pierson/production manager
Law School. She began her law career in 1977 as chief legal counsel for the City of Buffalo, NY. Wong founded her own firm in 1978 with one desk, specializing in immigration law. Today, her practice includes 15 attorneys and 40 staff members with offices in seven major U.S. cities. Wong has helped thousands of people coming into the United States to become permanent residents, advance their education and pursue career opportunities. Wong has won numerous awards and recognition for her work, including the Social Diversity Award from Kent State, the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in May 1998, a highly coveted award, U.S. News & Report’s “Best Lawyers in America,” and the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association Trailblazer Award. The Ohio Supreme Court has appointed Wong as a charter member of the Continuing Legal Education commission
for Attorney. She is also the author of her own book, “The Immigrant’s Way.” Wong has contributed numerous gifts in support of Western, including four awards to support the WIU RISE, Research Inspiring Student Excellence, Program in biology. She is also a member of the College of Arts and Science Advisory Board and received the College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Alumni Award in 2014. Wong was also the keynote speaker at the 15th Annual Centennial Honors College Pre-Law Symposium. She is a member of the Cleveland State University Foundation Board, the Tri-C Foundation Board, the State of New York at Buffalo Foundation and the Law School Board. Wong is an adjunct professor of immigration law at Case Western Reserve University Law School and serves as President of the Federal Bar Association Cleveland Chapter.
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•On April 18 at 2:10 p.m. OPS and the Macomb Fire Department responded to a fire alarm in Bayliss Hall. No smoke or fire were found and no injuries were reported. •On April 18 at 11:36 p.m. one student in Thompson Hall was judicially referred for possession of cannabis and paraphernalia. •On April 19 at 1:25 a.m. Jairo Ruiz-Acuna, 23, of 236 W. Elting St., was arrested on Pierce Street for driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol and illegal possession of a controlled substance. He was transported to McDonough County Jail at 2:51 a.m. where he was lodged pending bond. •On April 19 at 1:46 a.m. Luke Glynn, 20, of 405 Thompson Hall, was issued a notice to appear May 29 for a Macomb City ordinance violation for illegal consumption of alcohol by a minor on Western Avenue. •On April 20 at 5:40 p.m. Cyrus Goines, 22, of 324 W. Elting St., Apt. B, was arrested in the 600 block of North Johnson Street for driving with a suspended license and for a McDonough County warrant for failure to appear. He was transported to the McDonough County Jail at 6:51 p.m. where he was lodged pending bond. •On April 20 at 11:56 p.m. Karion Vaughn, 18, of 216 Henninger Hall, was issued a notice to appear May 22 for a Macomb city ordinance violation for possession of cannabis less than 10 grams. •On April 21 at 1:05 a.m. non student Kristi L. Pierce, 41, of Bushnell, was issued a notice to appear May 22 for a Macomb city ordinance violation for open alcohol in a vehicle in the 1500 block of West Jackson Street.
Monday, April 30, 2018
•On April 21 at 10:42 a.m. a student reported at Mowbray Hall that her cell phone, valued at $810, was stolen from a counter area in the University Union. The incident is under investigation. •On April 22 at 1:55 a.m. one student near the Wetzel Park area was judicially referred for suspicion of cannabis. •On April 26 at 3:26 p.m. Zaria Armstead, 20, of 923 Thompson Hall, was arrested in Thompson Hall on a McDonough County warrant for criminal damage to property. She was transported to the McDonough County Jail at 3:31 p.m. where she was lodged pending bond. •On April 26 at 4:55 p.m. Candis Pena, 20, of 923 Thompson Hall, was arrested in Mowbray Hall on a McDonough County warrant for criminal damage to property. She was transported to the McDonough County Jail at 4:57 p.m. where she was lodged pending bond. •On April 26 at 5:38 p.m. Katrina Keller, 19, of 932 Thompson Hall, was arrested in Mowbray Hall on a McDonough County warrant for criminal damage to property. She was transported to the McDonough County Jail at 5:41 p.m. where she was lodged pending bond. •On April 26 at 7:10 p.m. Brian Jackson, 21, of 413 W. Chandler St., was arrested in the 800 block of West Pierce Street on a McDonough County warrant for failure to appear. He was transported to the McDonough County Jail at 7:18 p.m. where he was lodged pending bond. •On April 26 at 7:27 p.m. OPS and the Macomb Fire Department responded to a fire alarm in Browne Hall. No smoke or fire were found and no injuries were reported.
NEWS 3
Monday, April 30, 2018
4 OPINIONS
WesternCourier.com
Kanye West has betrayed his fans
Everyone has already suspected that Kanye West was a bit of a nut job. There was the time where he interrupted Taylor Swift’s speech at the 2009 VMAs. As well as his behavioral outbursts during public interviews with people like Sway In the Morning and Ellen Degeneres. He even proclamined himself to be a living god, giving himself the name “Yeezus.” Through all of his crazy antics, West’s fans continued to stay loyal and supportive of him. But after being M.I.A for a couple of months, he came back
with some news that no one was expecting, not even for someone like West who is already unpredicatble. West revealed his political preference last week when he posted a photo on Twitter of him and Donald Trump. West was wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat that he let Trump sign himself. West fans were not only outraged, but felt a sense of betrayal. As someone who has had so much impact in the rap game, it was mind boggling to see him siding with Trump, who is the epitomy of who West once rapped about when he
was in his right mind, or at least somewhere close to it. The problem is not necissarily the fact that he has sided with the Republican Party. He, as well as anyone else has the freedom of political expression. The real problem is that West is behaving as a hypocrite. His rap lyrics send a message of black pride and tells stories about the oppressive circumstances in which he grew up in. Now, he has made the decision to be a Republican. It pretty much feels like everything that West has ever done or said was a lie, and he upheld a false image throughout the majority of his music career. Other black artists such as John Legend, Snoop Dogg, and Chance the Rapper all had very much to say about West’s revelation. Each per-
son had a different outlook on his decision. West tweeted a screenshot of a text messase that Legend sent to him. In the message, Legend informed West that his fans are so hurt because of how influential he is to the hip-hop legacy, and that Trump’s racist antics should not be supported by someone as important as him. “So many people who love you feel so betrayed right now because they know the harm that Trump’s policies cause, especially to people of color,” Legend said. But West stood firm on his beliefs. It seems like the only thing that hasn’t changed about him is his stubborness. Snoop Dogg also commented on a funny instagram post that depicted West and Trump posing as a married couple, saying that the two are meant for each
other and that the movie “Get Out” is really starring West. However, Chance the Rapper, who, like West, is from Chicago, spoke in his defense. He said that not all black people have to be Democrats. But the point is not that West is a Republican, it’s that he had us fooled for so many years, thinking he was on board with the Black Power movement. He has now turned his back on the very people he once had so much compassion for. Everyone is entitled to their political preferences, but they should all live up to them. Trump, in no way, shape or form, has intentions on uplifting minorities. Not only has West betrayed his fans and his fellow rap comrades, but he has betrayed the black community as a whole.
You should be proud of your parents College is hands down one the most expensive things one can spend in their lifetime. Whether it is community college, or a four year university, it can really add up. The costs can be overwhelming, and this could even be why some people choose not to go to a four-year university at all. Coming to a four-year university, I noticed a lot of times people get teased for having parents that are able to help them pay for college. This is weird because I would love it if my parents were able to help pay for a four-year university. I myself, as well as many other students are struggling to get through college day by day, year-by-year, so putting someone down because their parents can help pay for them is crazy. Just because your parents can help you pay for college
doesn’t mean you are stuck up or spoiled. And just because your parents can’t help you pay for college doesn’t mean you’re poor or unfortunate. There are many different students with different backgrounds, so to make that assumption is quite unnecessary. There are also different types of students. Some students don’t not even want their parents to help pay for their college tuition, because they don’t feel like they’ve earned it. There are some students that could never wish their parents that much financial debt. Even if their parents are well-off, paying thousands of dollars could affect you in the long run. Accepting the money your parents give you for college does not make you spoiled, it honestly shows that you care. As to the opposing side, just because your parents can not
help put you through college doesn’t mean that you’re poor. Honestly some parents just can’t afford to help put their kids through college because of the type of school they are attending. For example, League schools can cost over $100,000 by the time you graduate. Rich or poor, some students would not want that financial burden on them, or their parents. Another huge reason why some students might not want their parents to pay for them is because they are adults, and should be able to pay for themselves. It’s great to know that you went to a four-year university on your own with no help. Just because you parents can’t help doesn’t mean that you are broke. When you go to college you are starting to become an adult. You have to learn how to grow up. Being able to take financial responsibility for yourself is a huge milestone. Going to a university and paying for it by yourself, can help you better prepare for the real world. No matter what the situation is the overall goal is to get a degree.
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.
Letters & Local Forum Policies E-mail letters to the Editor and Local Forum messages to micour@wiu.edu. 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 Spring Semester Editorial Board Editor-in-Cheif - Nicholas Ebelhack Edge Editor - Baylee Bryntesson Opinions Editor - Ryan Zurek
Prince releases music from beyond the grave
Monday, April 30, 2018
By: Conal Duffy
Prince may have passed away,but he has a new simgle out called “Nothing Compares 2 U.” This may be recognized as a Sinead O’Conner song released in 1990, but Prince recorced it in 1984. He performed it many times live. Listening to Prince’s version, its different than the Sinead O’Conner version in a couple ways. First, Sinead’s vocals are moreintense, and Prince’s version sounds more like his style.
CONT. E.2
JIMMY PIERSON, PRODUCTION MANAGER
E2 EDGE
Monday, April 30, 2018
Small town singer big time voice
JIMMY PIERSON, PRODUCTION MANAGER
If you’ve never heard of Josie Dunne, trust me - one day you will! Josie Dunne was born in LaGrange, Illinois. Even though she is only 21 years old, her musical talent outshines some that are much older than her. As expressed in an article by the Chicago Tribune, Dunne’s musical influence falls back on her parents Motown and soul tapes she would listen to, as well as the current hits of today. Listening to Dunne’s music it is no surprise that these were her influences growing up, as her sound is something extremely authentic. Dunne attended Lyons
Township High School (as did I) and performed at school functions such as the all school assembly where over 4,000 students and faculty members watched her shine doing what she loved. In addition to playing at school events, Dunne also played at local bars and restaurants in the Chicago suburbs. In addition to playing outside of school, Dunne also helped craft songs for famous performers such as Kelly Clarkson. It is no surprise that many alums of Lyons Township watch as Dunne paths her way to stardom- well, at least I know I have been!
Since graduating from Lyons Township High School Josie Dunne has grown her fanbase on social media outlets like Facebook and Instagram, where she often covers hit songs in her own unique and creative style. Dunne has performed at numerous colleges, sports events, and has even been played on Radio Disney! Currently, Dunne has two songs released on Spotify, “Old School” and her newest release of just a few days“Good Boys.” “Good Boys” is a song that gives much needed attention to the boys out there in the world that may not be tall, dark, and handsome – but are still unbelievably attractive in their own ways. This song has already surpassed 27,000 listens on Spotify. Though, both
Prince
O’Connor’s song pops up, and in the small text it says “Songwriter: Prince Rogers Nelson.” Prince is the person who wrote the song. Prince died in April 2016, which means we’ve lived two years without a legend. You could say the lyrics in this song mean a lot to you if you are a huge Prince fan. It’s awesome to get a new Prince song. Similar to when we got several new Michael Jackson songs after he died with the posthumous album “Xscape”. It seems Prince’s “Nothing Compares 2 U” is a “posthumous” release as well. As a side note, I’ve heard a lot of people say that they
haven’t listened to “XScape,” because they don’t know what it’s all about. The album contains many previously unreleased songs that were recorded in the 80s and 90s. I just thought I’d clear that up so that you may be interested in listening to the album. This new single adds to the Prince discography an original song. O’Connor’s version and Prince’s are equally good and will be remembered forever. The video the song accompanies contains footage of Prince and his band, The Revolution, practicing while dancing. Prince is wearing high heels while dancing and
from E1
Prince recorded his version in the Flying Cloud Drive Warehouse in Eden Prairie, Minnesota in 1984, according to the official YouTube video by the official Prince channel. The song is a sad song about loss. The lyrics are about losing someone you love and how it feels to be without them. “It’s been seven hours and fifteen days Since you took your love away. I go out every night and sleep all day Since you took your love away.” If you Google the lyrics to “Nothing Compares 2 U,”
of these original songs by Dunne show her unique style, beautiful talent, and ‘old soul’ as some may say. With the release of her music video for her second single “Good Boys” just two days ago, Dunne has already reached over 8,000 views and has received an endless amount of positive feedback. “Why isn’t she famous yet?” one Youtube comment read. Which brings up a good question- why isn’t she? Dunne’s unique style and raw talent sets her apart from even the most successful musical artists of today. As Dunne expressed in an interview with the Chicago Tribune, “I always want to tell a story and be true to my experiences and be as authentic as I can in my lyrics” and this is extremely clear through the soul of her music. singing. There is a part where he does the splits really quick and comes right back up. This move requires a lot of skill. He also grabs the microphone and is still singing into it while doing the splits. This is why Prince was a legend. His dance moves were cool and so was his music. My favorite albums by him are “1999” and “Purple Rain.” You should check out the song “D.M.S.R.” on the album “1999.” Prince also made the music for the 1989 Batman movie. The 21st century is a serial killer when it comes to celebrity deaths. The memories of these musicians will live on in the hearts of music fans. Legends never die!
WesternCourier.com
E3 EDGE
Monday, April 30, 2018
Vox Machina
WesternCourier.com
origins
JIMMY PIERSON, PRODUCTION MANAGER
Evan Williamson
staff writer
“Vox Machina Origins” is a sixpart series that tells the tale of how the characters in Campaign 1 of the hit Internet series Critical Role meet and eventually become a team. Those that are fans of the show a.k.a Critters will enjoy seeing more of the heroes of the first campaign, which ended Oct. 12, 2017, and see who they were before becoming the saviors of their world. Those unfamiliar with the show will still be able to enjoy it, as it doesn’t require any previous knowledge of the universe that the story takes place. The first issue starts off at a decent pace as a swamp port town appears to be
JIMMY PIERSON, PRODUCTION MANAGER
For a long time now, many people have fought over what exactly a well-established book is and what it looks like. Some argue that books are supposed to take you on an adventure and take you away from reality. Others think that a good book must have some type of climax with a very strong resolution. Whatever the case may be, we all know which type of books we like and which ones we don’t. On April 19, the editors of GQ wrote a very loathsome article called “21 Books You Don’t Have to Read.” This article takes every book we have ever loved, and just destroys its original content. The baffling part was that the
cursed. It is here that we meet our first pair of heroes Vax’ildan, a half-elven rouge, and twin sister Vex’ahlia a half-elven ranger. They had been hired by someone in the town to find out the cause of the curse. As they make their way through the swamp arguing like most brother and sisters do. Vex discovers something odd about the swamp water. After a little skirmish that leaves Vax injured the twins meet a peculiar...squirrel!? Yes, in a brilliant way of introducing another main character. The half-elven druid Keyleth who had beast-shaped into a squirrel introduces herself to the twins.
She helps heal Vax and we learn that she is also interested in the water of this town. It turns out that the town wasn’t cursed, but the water was poisoned. Leaving the “strange person” behind. The twins get information to determine their next course of action. Vex uses her charm to get info from the suspect. When that doesn’t work the twins wait and follow him to his supplier. The twins take out a group of assassins that were tasked to kill them. While the twins try to determine their next move, Vax suggests they find the druid that they met earlier as the issue ends. The rest of the series is just as good, the second issue introduces Scanlan Shorthalt a gnome bard and Grog Strongjaw a goliath barbarian. They are the comic relief and it made the story more entertaining to read, it even has a part in it that points
back to the events of the first issue. The second issue also introduces another character named Tiberius Stormwind (from Draconia) he is a Dragonborn Sorcerer. The second issue had more comedy and some little Easter eggs for people who have seen the show. The third issue adds some interesting elements to the story. It also includes action and comedy and the thing I liked about this issue is that the main characters finally meet up. The fourth issue includes a little summary of the events so far. You start to see the relationships between the main characters evolve. The issue has more drama and it ends on a cliffhanger, but not before dropping a huge Easter egg at the end that got me really excited. The fifth issue kept me on the edge of my seat not only because I was excited to see Vex’s bear Trincket
but you also start to find out what is going on. At the end of the issue, the heroes finally come to a mutual agreement and start to plan out how they are going to help out the village. The final issue had it all action, comedy and drama. I liked it but there were things I didn’t understand, and it might require me to reread the series. I also didn’t like that they still have two characters to introduce but that’s at a later point. The series ends on a cliffhanger, but I think it is popular enough to get a continuing series. At the end of the day, it was great to see the characters that people have fallen in love with again. I really hope they continue to write what happened before their home game of Dungeon’s and Dragons, and all the adventures they had prestream leading up to episode 1 of “Critical Role.”
article
classic books authors recommended books that were not relatable to the original book whatsoever. This is one of those articles you’ll have to read on your own time, but until then I’ll highlight the books that stood out to me the most. The first book on the list that made me yell out why was “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger. Now before I get into all the details, I know that this book is despised by many people, trust me I know I have had conversations about this book before. I have never disliked the book. Yes, Holden Caulfield was an entitled brat, but let’s be real for a second, how many people do we know in our lives who act like him? Many of us do! You know Caulfield is
a well-made character, because everyone talks about him so much. Anyway, the reason the GQ editors didn’t think it’s an important book to read is because “it is without any literary merit whatsoever. Why waste adolescents’ time?” They recommend reading a book called “Olivia,” which is about a young girl in England who is sent to a France boarding school. She falls in love with her teacher, and her teacher falls in love with her, but doesn’t show it upfront, but is equally in love with her. Here’s where I have a problem. Haven’t we seen many cases where teachers fell in love with their students? And what happens, they go to jail! I know “The Catcher in the Rye” doesn’t have a sickly love story like that in its book. The second book, a series that caught my attention was The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R Tolkien. This is what the editor’s thought of the series. “While Tolkien’s Lord
of the Rings books are influential as exercises in world building, as novels they are barely readable. It never seemed to me that Tolkien cared about his story as much as he cared about rendering, in minute detail, the world he built.” What they recommend to read is the Earthsea Series by Ursula K. Le Guin. The series centers on a world of islands surrounded by an uncharted ocean. If I wanted to read a series about islands and uncharted oceans, I’d just borrow another students oceanography and topography textbooks. I don’t think this series is as “precious” like Gollum is to us in The Lord of the Rings Series. Now this last one might strike a nerve with anyone who is religious. The third book that I was in awe that they had on their list was the Bible. They had the audacity to say the following things. “Overall it is certainly not the finest thing that man has ever produced. It is repetitive, self-
contradictory, sententious, foolish, and even at times ill-intentioned.” They instead recommend reading a book that begins a series called “The Notebook” by Agota Kristof. This first story of three, tells the tale of young twins who live with their grandma in a small Hungarian town during the last two years of WWII. The twins are immoral, and like to lie, blackmail, kill and stand for the most unethical things known to man. Saying this story is better than a sacred text like the Bible, is causing for a war to break out yet again here in America. It’s pretty sad when Atheists comment on the site and other media platforms, defending the Bible by saying that it’s apart of history, and it’s important to many different types of religions. Yes we live in a country where freedom of expression is granted to us, but didn’t these editors go just a little too far?
E4 EDGE
Monday, April 30, 2018
WesternCourier.com
JIMMY PIERSON/ PRODUCTION MANAGER
Just recently, the 2017 Billboard’s Female Artist of the Year has come back into the limelight and the teenage girl in me could not be happier. Ariana Grande took us all by surprise a little over a week ago when she made a surprise appearance at Coachella to perform her brand-new single, “No Tears Left to Cry.” After listening to it non-stop for the past week, I can say that all of my tears (of joy) are finally gone. The 24-year-old pop and R&B
singer has not been active on social media since her last post back on Dec 31, 2017. It was in that last post where she said, “see you next year,” with a sneak peak of a short video clip to possibly one of her upcoming songs. This was obviously Grande’s way to inform us that she was in the making of some new music for her fourth studio album since Dangerous Woman, which was released back on May 20, 2016 and has since received Platinum
Certification from the RIAA. Dangerous Woman took on all spans on genres from pop to R&B and even some reggae. I would not be surprised if this fourth studio album plays along the same lines as Dangerous Woman or her other two studio albums. Since the release of “No Tears Left to Cry,” Grande has been keeping us all updated on what she has been up to. The pop singer has been non-stop posting on all of her social media accounts with graphics from new music video for “No Tears Left to Cry” and even behind the scenes footage! If we dig deeper into her newest song, we can find traces of what Grande
stands for and what others should stand for, too. One line from the song states, “They point out the colors in you, I see ‘em too And, boy, I like ‘em, I like ‘em, I like ‘em.” When Grande mentions these colors, she is talking about people’s true colors or characteristics. She wants no more than for everyone to love and not hate for who others are no matter their race, color, sexuality, and so much more, especially after experiencing the horrific incident on Manchester Arena during her Dangerous Woman Tour in Manchester, England. On Saturday, Grande tweeted out, “r.e.m” and some possible
lyrics to her next song she plans on releasing. This got all of us thinking of who or what she has up her sleeve next. Then, she posted to her snapchat story the definition of REM sleep, which ties right along with those lyrics she tweeted out that day. I am sure that I speak for a lot of people when I say that these teasers and hints are killing me! On the plus side, Ariana Grande will be taking over The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon this Tuesday, May 1 not only to perform “No Tears Left to Cry,” but to be part of the entire hour show. Maybe then we will find out what else Grande has in store for us this year; stay tuned!
Want to write for EDGE? Contact bm-brynteson@wiu.edu
@WesternCourier
Monday, April 30, 2018
Fame is something that many people admire, but the harsh reality of what these stars go through is not something to be ignored. With fame comes a lot of stress, pressure and hardship that many of us regular citizens will never experience in our lives. On April 20, 2018, the Swedish musician, Avicii, was found dead in a luxury farmhouse in Muscat, Oman. At first the cause of his death was unknown, but over the
ger relief charity, Feeding America. The year after, Avicii donated another million to a Swedish aid organization, Radiohjälpen. When asked in an interview about his generosity, Avicii responded, "I discovered when I started making money that I didn't really need it. When you have such an excess of money you don't need, the most sensible, most human and completely obvious thing is to give to people in need." In 2016, Avicii stopped touring when the stress of his work began to become too much. Avicii turned to alcohol, which caused his friends and family to become concerned that he was overdoing it. It even went as far as
OPINIONS 5
Fame brings a lot of stress past 10 days his family started voicing out some of the issues Avicii had been facing and it was recently confirmed his death was a suicide. Avicii, real name Tim Bergling, has been spoken highly upon since his recent death. He has been said to have had a very giving soul and his personality just simply wasn’t made to be in the entertainment business. In 2012, Avicii donated his entire $1 million earnings from his tour that year to the hun-
him suffering acute pancreatitis, in part due to excessive drinking. Along with the alcohol, it is said that Avicii suffered many mental health issues as well. When asked to report on Avicii’s death, his family said, “Our beloved Tim was a seeker, a fragile artistic soul searching for answers to existential questions.” They even went on to say, “Our son was not made for the business machine he found himself in”, Instead, “he was a sensitive guy who loved his fans but shunned the spotlight.” This draws us to the question, is it healthy the amount of stress and pressure we put on the entertainment business? Mental health is a ma-
jor issue in our society that has long been ignored. The recent school shootings have drawn attention to the issue, but the suicides in our celebrities should also be of concern. Just yesterday I was scrolling through Twitter when I came across a tweet that read, “Avicii’s death confirmed as suicide, which means everyone will care about mental health for a week then forget about it until another celebrity kills themselves and the cycle continues.” Mental health isn’t an issue to be ignored, and if we want the best for our general health of our people, then it is eventually going to have to be addressed.
Peace talks in Korea are a good sign
In a surprising move last week, North Korean Leader Kim Jong-Un crossed the border into South Korea for a meeting between the leaders. In an incredibly rare move by Jong-Un, he proposed officially ending the Korean War and shutting down their nuclear test site according to the New York Times. He was the first North Korean leader to go to the southern end of the peninsula in the country’s history. Jong-Un seemed to completely flip his views during these talks, saying that North Korea did not not have a need for nuclear weapons and would be willing to make a deal with South Korea and the U.S. to destroy the existing sites as long as the U.S. promises not to invade the country. The U.S. has made it clear in recent months that while not the first option, they would not be afraid to use military force against North Korea if it
came to it. That could potentially be what led the North Koreans to finally give up and give in to the U.S.’s demands. North Korea also had increased sanctions placed on them that may have also been the final push. While North Korea has made promises like this before in the past and has gone right back to testing nuclear weapons, this time feels different. The North Koreans asking to formally end the Korean War is a new aspect in these negotiations as they went from ready to end the cease-fire to ready to end the war. North Korea also seemed willing to allow the U.S. and South Korea to help facilitate the removal of the nuclear test site which could be a promising sign. There is a chance they have other nuclear test sites we’re not aware of though. Still, the end of a war that my grandpa served in seems promising. The real question though and
why there is so much speculation about these talks is that this came out of nowhere. The sanctions and military threats were nothing new to North Korea and they seemed unphased throughout. Missile tests went on even after those events first started happening. So what changed? It could be a lack of resources, sanctions may have started affecting the country more than they expected. With no real strong allies, North Korea has to get most of their resources internally. Missiles and nuclear weapons also require a lot of energy and resources to produce, forcing North Korea to either perfect their weapons or give up. It looks like North Korea chose the later. While there is a lot of this situation that needs to play out. Whether threat of force or lack of resources, it looks like the Korean peninsula could become more stable very soon. Hopefully this time North Korea will be genuine and actually make the effort to improve relations and not put us on the brink of World War III. It’s a step in the right direction, but hopefully the step is in good faith.
SCNP.COM
Monday, April 30, 2018
6 SPORTS
Tennis
from back page
BECCA LANGYS/PHOTO EDITOR
Josh Kirby jumping over hurdle at track practice.
Track
from back page
Meanwhile, on day one of the Kip Janvrin Open on Thursday, junior Jasmine Swanagan and Olson placed eighth and 10th in their respective events. Swanagan posted a 44.19meter hammer throw and Olson recorded a 14.44-meter attempt in the shot put. Friday saw some more top10 results at the same invite, which was also the last day for several of the Purple and Gold members to compete before heading back to the Drake Relays. Junior Darius Patterson, sophomores Josh Kirby and Abigail Richter placed second in the 100-meter dash, 110-meter hurdles and 3,000-meter steeplechase. Additionally, freshman Victoria Adesola came in sec-
ond in the triple jump (10.49 meters). She also competed in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 15.66. Sophomore Michael Rinella set a new personal best in the pole vault with 4.45 meters. Saturday concluded the Drake Relays. Teaming up in the sprint medley relay, senior Raytoria Richardson and Brasseur ran 200 meters each, Stennis added 400 meters of her own and freshman Hailey Tranchitella clocked in the final 800 meters. They finished with a time of 4:07.84. Brown ended the weekend with a 11.73meter effort in the triple jump. With such a pleasing, yet hardworking season, Western will wrap up its regular season schedule at the Northern Illinois Huskie Classic next Friday, May 4. Twitter: boxin_briecoder
Things didn’t look that good when they had back-to-back loses versus the University of Omaha Mavericks and the University of South Dakota Coyotes, both times losing 5-2. They were of course able to bounce back and beat the South Dakota State University Jackrabbits and the Oral Roberts University Golden Eagles both times 6-1. They secured the four seed in the Summit League Championships, meaning they would face the University of Denver Colorado Pioneers. Head coach Mirko Bjelica was very proud of his side as it was their first tournament appearance in four years. “We did what we had to this weekend in order to make the Summit League Tournament. The girls did it in singles again, excellent effort from everyone in the lineup,” Bjelica said. Western qualified for the tour-
WC
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nament with two matches left. They were supposed to play the Pioneers and then finish their season at home against the Quincy University Hawks, but that wasn’t the case. The match against the Pioneers got rained out and postponed. So, with that, the Leathernecks would go on to celebrate senior day against Quincy. The team said goodbye to three women who each played their part to get them where they were. Maria Bessmertnaya, Courtney Lubbers and Cary Milanes all said goodbye in the 7-0 win at home. The match against Denver would get made up though, a few days before the tournament where Western was swept 7-0 against their first opponent in the tournament. With the last match of the season in the books, the Leathernecks still finished a positive 10-7, and were ready to turn themselves around in the Summit League Championships. Western went out in the first
Courtney Lubbers awaits the ball in tennis match.
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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.
round 4-0 to the team that have beat them four years in a row. The four- time reigning Summit League Champions made easy work of the Leathernecks, coming out strong to grab the doubles point. Both doubles teams dropped 6-1 for Western, with the freshman Bjelica sisters Mary and Ana teaming up and sophomore Laura Ballesteros with Milanes. After three straight singles losses, the Pioneers clinched the match to end the Leathernecks’ season. Things aren’t all bad though, as two returning players were both named All-Summit League honors. Ana Bjelica along with Natalia Bravo earned the status after successful seasons for them in singles and in doubles. So, with all that it’s goodbye for now, but the Leathernecks have a lot of great talent returning next year, and look to return to the Summit League tournament even stronger. Twitter: bradjp08
JOSH PURNELL/COURIER STAFF
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For Rent Available now: Close to campus, clean studio apartments, excellent condition, reasonable rent, and partly furnished. Ceiling fans and a/c. Professionally maintained. No pets. Semester leases offered. Call 309 837 4369 and leave your phone number if not there. Email: MandKhousing@gmail.com ALL APARTMENTS - ALL INCLUSIVE Get control of your budget. Know exactly what you are spending each month. Each apartment includes free a/c, free heat, free electricity, free water, free cable tv, free hi speed internet, and free off street parking. Laundry on site. No noise policy. Bus stop across the street. Close to campus. Well maintained. Studios are $460/mo, One bedrooms are $620/mo. Call Doug at 309-255-8179 for an appointment. Westen Investments still has affordable 1-4 Bedroom Apartment/Houses available. Be sure to check out our website (www.westeninvest.com) to see our available listings, and call our office at 309-833-5995 to schedule a showing. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to win prize giveaways! APARTMENT FOR RENT: FOR QUIET PERSON. ONE BEDROOM APARTMENT FOR RENT LOCATED AT 314 West Carroll ST Macomb, Ill 61455. Available end of August 2017-new carpeting yearly lease SMALEST FURNISHED IN MACOMB $345.00/month - HEAT & AC INCLUDED private entrance, off-street parking included call for appointment309-837-4748 or 255-5075 woodburning fireplace, ask for Paul. For Rent: Little Swan Lake, 30 min from campus. 2br, 2bth, heated double car garage with work area. $600 per mo. (309) 335-2206 after 6:00 pm, may leave message anytime. Spacious 3 Bedroom Upper in Duplex close to campus and Jackson St. All utilities furnished and appliances Includes cable and internet 18/19 school year $375.00 per Br Ph 309 255 8086 Please leave message 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
Monday, April 30, 2018
@WesternCourier
NFL draft induces pandemonium “With the first pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns select Baker Mayfield, Quarterback Oklahoma.” This was just the beginning of the pandemonium after Roger Goodell introduced the new Brown, Mayfield on Thursday night. The former walk-on not once, but twice, was this year’s Heisman trophy winner, and is now walking into a mess in Cleveland. The Browns are 1-31 in the last two seasons, and have picked their leader who can hopefully get them over the hump, and finally last as a quarterback in a Browns uniform. It was a little bit of a shock because no one thought he would be number one until 24 hours before the pick. He brings in great talent and great motivation into the organization. But a lot of questions have been asked with his leadership. He’s been scrutinized after being arrested last summer, and his on-field antics. People are concerned that he will end up like Johnny Manziel. Manziel showed more concerns, and
Mayfield is a much better locker room leader than him. Of course it’s a reach when you pass up on a player like Saquon Barkley, but it’s a passing league and Browns went for their guy. That’s not the only pick Cleveland had that night, and they didn’t have to wait long before they got their next guy. At number four they got cornerback Denzel Ward from Ohio State. When and where the Browns got him was a shocker. defensive-end Bradley Chubb from North Carolina State, and defensive-back Minkah Fitzpatrick from Alabama, who I think was the best corner in the draft, were still available. The Browns could have easily traded back and still pick Ward, and they would’ve got more for it as well. But this pick proves why they are trash, and have only won a single game in two years. The New York Giants got a generational talent with running back from Penn State, Barkley at the number two spot. This will put him on the same offense with Odell Beckham
Jr… I know scary, right? They also added to their depleted offense line, adding guard Will Hernandez from UTEP. They did pass up on a quarterback, but they still have Eli Manning, so they decided to at least wait awhile until they get their franchise QB. Jets got quarterback Sam Darnold out of USC at number three. He’s personally, my favorite QB in the draft. Two years ago he took over a 1-3 team and lead them to a 10-3 season, winning the Rose Bowl. Going into last year’s season, Darnold got a lot of hype rightfully so. But with poor offensive line play, Darnold committed a lot of turnovers, questioning his play. He still threw for over 4,000 yards and 26 touchdowns. I’m very excited to see how he turns out at the next level. Broncos added Bradley Chubb at number five. All you need to know is that Chubb and Von Miller will be playing on the same defense. At six the Colts got guard Quenton Nelson from Notre Dame. Andrew Luck will finally have someone to give him some time to throw. The Bills traded up to number seven to pick QB from Wyoming, Josh Allen. Allen will be a project to work with
that’s for sure. In his senior year, he only won seven games in a very weak conference. Bills made the playoffs last, but traded quarterback Tyrod Taylor to the Browns this offseason. Allen won’t be forced to produce right away, and might even be a backup for a while. The Chicago Bears picked up the best linebacker in college football last year at number eight. Former Georgia Bulldog, Roquan Smith. Smith has all the intangibles to be very successful for a log time in this league. He led his defense to the national championship game last, only to fall short to Alabama. This is a big addition to a defense that was top-ten in the league last year. The 49ers picked up tackle Mike McGlinchey from Notre Dame. A very smart pick from GM John Lynch. This will give his talented QB Jimmy Garoppolo some time to throw in the pocket. Even though they won six games last year, this is a lot of expectations from this young team, and this will certainly help them. The Cardinals drafted QB Josh Rosen from UCLA at number 10. Rosen was very frustrated that he went 10th overall. He said that there were nine mistakes in front of him, and he’s never been more motivated
in his life until now. An attitude the Cardinals need, after Carson Palmer retired during the offseason. This wraps up the very entertaining top-10. The rest of the round was very exciting, as linebacker Tremaine Edmunds and safety Derwin James went at 16 and 17 falling because of all the quarterbacks that went. The Baltimore Ravens traded with the Eagles to get Lamar Jackson at number 32 to close out the first round. One of the biggest and emotional moments of the draft was Shaquem Griffin being drafted at number 141 in the fifth round to the Seattle Seahawks. I had to mention him because Griffin was on the 13-0 UCF (National Champ) team. Griffin does not have a left hand and will be playing in the NFL. He will be the first player to do so in the history of the league. Who knows how his career will go. But his dream came true, and he will be playing alongside his brother Shaquill Griffin. This draft saw five quarterbacks drafted in the first, a QB who said there were nine mistakes in front of him, and the Browns being the Browns. Nevertheless, at the end of the day, there were 256 lives that have been changed forever after this weekend.
Softball loses series against Jackrabbits By Haley Richards sports editor
Haley Duwa winds up for the swing.
ANGEL STRACK.COURIER STAFF
MACOMB, Ill. – The Western Illinois softball team faced South Dakota State University in their last home series of the season this weekend. The Leathernecks lost the series and move onto 17-27 on the season. The double-header on Saturday was split, the Jackrabbits won the first game by a score of 13-3 and the Leathernecks won the second game 4-3. Junior pitcher Emily Ira received her first conference loss of the season in game one. South Dakota State got an early lead of 2-0 when two RBI singles plated junior outfielder Lyndsey Crist and junior infielder Baily Janssen. Junior infielder Hailey Duwa stepped up offensively for the Leathernecks and tied the game at 2-2 in the fourth inning after she hit a home run to left center field. It was the fifth inning when the Jackrabbits began to pull away and scored
11 runs which Western Illinois could not come back from. The Purple and Gold needed three runs in the fifth to avoid the run-rule, but unfortunately, could not make it happen. Ira went 2-for-2 at the plate in 4.2 innings of pitching and surrender five runs and nine hits. She had five strikeouts on the game. In game two of the day, the Purple and Gold came out ready to rally. Freshman pitcher Abby Carlin recorded the win in the circle with junior catcher Sidney Bottino behind the plate. This was Carlin’s second win of the season and first Summit League win. She pitched a total of 5.1 innings and had three runs against her. Western scored one run in the first inning when sophomore infielder Halle Hollatz flied out, allowing sophomore outfielder Jasmine Lara to come home. It was not until the fifth inning that more runs were scored. Back-to-back singles from Lara and freshman outfielder Ashley Minyard put those
two of first and second. Senior infielder Kelsey Marlow then bunted to advance the runners, as she was thrown out. Duwa walked leaving the bases loaded with Hollatz up to the plate. Hollatz hit a single to left, bringing Lara in. Bottino, up next, singled bringing in more runs for the Purple and Gold. South Dakota tried to come back by scoring two runs in the sixth inning but that wasn’t enough. Senior pitcher Brooke Stulga ended the game in the circle and picked up her first save of the season for the Leathernecks. The game on Sunday was senior day for the Purple and Gold. Stulga, Marlow and senior outfielder Sam Ralphs and Rachel Beatty were honored at the game. The final score of the game was 13-3. Western Illinois will continue their Summit League stretch next weekend against North Dakota State in Fargo, N.D. Their first game is set for Saturday at noon. Twitter: hayfourrr
Necks have record-setting weekend By Brie Coder copy editor
GOLEATHERNECKS.COM
Michaela Busch throws javelin at home meet.
DES MOINES, Iowa — Since Wednesday, the Western Illinois track and field teams have yet again added many more accomplishments to their season. The Leathernecks engraved their new marks and times during the four-day competition (Wednesday-Saturday) at the Drake Relays, hosted by the Drake University Bulldogs. Several of Western’s other star athletes also competed on Thursday and Friday in the Kip Janvrin Open, in Indianola, Iowa. Sophomore Michaela Busch just couldn’t be stopped in the heptathlon events, as she took third place on Wednesday and Thursday. She set a collegiate best in the 100-meter hurdles (14.90) and in the 200meter dash (26.25), while placing fourth in both the high jump (1.63 meters) and shot put (10.33 meters). Busch’s overall total points in these events were 4,805. Head coach Diane Wholey was quite proud of Busch and her accomplishments
this weekend. “I am very pleased with Michaela Bush's performances in the heptathlon over the past two days,” Wholey said. “Michaela handles the transitions between events very well, and it worked in her favor. She finished in third place and as the No. 2 collegian. There were other hepts from our conference competing, and she stayed ahead of all of them which is tremendous as we get closer to the conference championships.” Continuing with the Drake Relays, Friday had impressive new stats for both individual field events, and group track events. For the field events, freshman Nick Olson threw 52.63 meters in the javelin, as well as senior Jasmine Brown jumped her way to 5.61 meters in the long jump. The final highlight from Friday was in the women’s 4X400. Sophomores Megan Reed and Bo Brasseur, as well as Busch and senior Jamieria Stennis clocked in at 3:58.63.
Track page 6
Tennis wraps up their season By Bradley Piros courier staff
DENVER, Colo. — The Western Illinois University women’s tennis team concluded their season over the weekend when they went down in the first round of the Summit League Championships, but let’s take a look back on the entire season and how they got there. They started off their spring season with a 7-0 sweep over the University of Green Bay Phoenix, but then lost their next two matches to cross state rivals Eastern Illinois University and Bradley University, 7-0 and 4-3 respectively. They bounced back though to beat St. Francis 9-0. The next day they were up against the Illinois State Redbirds and dropped the match 4-1, but once again bounced back the next day to beat St. Ambrose 8-1. The Leathernecks then lost two straight against the Drake University Bulldogs and Colorado State, but then went on their longest win streak of the year with four consecutive victories.
They started that run against the Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Cougars 5-2. They then had a fantastic comeback win over the Missouri State Bears in their home opener. The Bears would take an early 2-0 lead in that one, but after winning four straight singles matches they were able to bounce back and win the match 4-3 in front of their home crowd. Western continued to win against the University of Maryville back on the road 6-3. They were then scheduled to play the University of Illinois-Springfield, but it was rained out. They did however win out over the Southeast Missouri State RedHawks 4-3. At this point in the season the Leathernecks sat at 7-5, which was just fine for their standards. They would have liked to win a couple more on the road. Western now starts facing Summit League foes to determine if they would make the tournament.
Tennis page 6
Natalia Bravo braces herself for the ball.
JOSH PURNELL/ COURIER STAFF