Sports: Men's hoops win on senior night faceoff
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Opinions: Will America choose Bernie Sanders this time?
Monday, February 25, 2019 - Vol. 119 Issue 59
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Western community helps dog mascots celebrate birthdays
By Karla Foster
courier staff Some might say a birthday party for your dog may seem a little off or weird. However, when you are the school mascot, or the heir to be the school mascot, a big birthday party is a privilege and a moment that you will never forget. The weekend saw a humongous platter of cupcakes with purple and yellow frosting, a big birthday card with hundreds of guests crowding around the two dogs that we all know and love: Col. Rock III along with his cousin Ray. In honor of both of their birthdays, WIU went all out to celebrate. Even though Ray’s birthday has technically passed (Feb. 14), Rocky’s is not until March 3. Their trainer, however, decided to combine both the already-celebrated birthday and upcoming birthday for the two on Friday at the Union food court. Crowds of students, faculty and staff came around the two excited dogs to wish them a beloved “Happy Birthday,” pick up a cupcake and take a picture with the dogs. Students were really happy to see the dogs smiling faces in the Union last Friday. The mascots’ current owner and trainer, Joe Roselieb, also seem to be really excited for the big birthday bash as any proud owner should. Roselieb is also the Director of Residential and Auxiliary Facilities at Western
Illinois University. The celebration of the “real” Rockys began in the 1950s. During that time, there was a name choosing for the new pup, and Col. Rock was chosen. Even though the dogs aren’t technically from the same blood line, they are related as cousins. Even though they are both well trained, that doesn’t mean the two dogs couldn’t get a little silly, it was their birthday after all. There was no interview needed in order to see how happy and excited the two dogs were about their wonderful, special and big birthday. The two tried their hardest to stuff their adorable faces in the cupcakes, but don’t worry, they were able to get some of the delicious treats. They had to learn to share, after obeying the trainer and consenting to a few students who wanted to share the light that these two got, myself included. It’s not often that you can take a picture with the school mascot. Sadly, Col. Rock III is on his way to retirement, and his cousin Ray will take the job. As for right now, the dogs are alternating between games and events. “Rocky is taking retirement really well,” Roselieb said. “He likes to sit in the window sometimes and just sunbathe, he also helps with Ray’s training.” Hopefully Ray can fulfill the legacy that he is destined for. Until then, both dogs will enjoy their time being the faces of Western Illinois University.
Joe Roselieb poses with Col. Rock III on Western's campus.
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Edge: For fans of “The Bachelor”, this week’s episode is the one that has been anticipated the most for the entire season, whether they realize it or not. Read more on Page 7
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NEWS
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Monday, February 25, 2019
Professors share terrorism research By Steven Barnum news editor
A Western Illinois University professor showcased his latest research in a recent terrorism-focused seminar. Dean Alexander is the Director of the Homeland Security Research Program and a professor in the School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration (LEJA) at Western. He helps lead a program that is one of the largest minors Western offers, with more than 190 students involved. Before his time as an educator, Alexander held consulting and legal positions for Global Homeland Security and investment companies. His worldly perspective gave him enough material to write and publish six books. His experience in international business was the inspiration behind several of them, but terrorism has been his focused topic as of late. With his latest research regarding terrorism, Alexander has found enough information to write his newest book: “Family Terror Networks.” To provide a foundation for the theme of his book, Alexander studied examples from 118 different terrorist incidents. These case studies
allowed him to find similarities within recruitment strategies. Specifically, his research looks at the frequency of terrorism recruitment success with family members compared to the success of different methods. When it comes to attacks like on Sept. 11, 2001 and the Charlie Hebdo incident in 2015, Alexander found that family played a key role. Brothers were prominent in orchestrating the attacks in both of these examples, adding to the evidence that shows that brothers make up 26 percent of radicalized terrorists. Fathers and sons are another common partnership in terrorism recruitment, but husbands and wives are the most often family connection at a rate of 31 percent. “Without a doubt, you can see there’s some propensity in these particular cases,” Alexander said. Alexander explained that radicalization may also occur through ideologies in politics, economics, social life or religion. This is especially true with the popularity of the Internet, which brought together the couple who committed the San Bernardino, Calif. shooting in 2015; however, radicalization is significantly more success-
ful within families according to Alexander. “It’s much easier to recruit someone that’s in your home,” he said. “You can block a caller on your phone and refuse to acknowledge someone who knocks on your door, but it’s way harder to say no to someone in your family.” Dr. Niyazi Ekici also shared his research during Friday’s seminar. Ekici is an assistant professor in the School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration at Western and he shares the passion that Alexander has for studying terrorism behavior and recruitment. Ekici found several different obstacles that prevent both the quantity and quality of terrorism research. One, researchers haven’t yet come to one conclusion on the definition of terrorism. With about 10 different proposed definitions for the subject, it creates an initial level of confusion and disagreement on what exactly to research. Two, terrorism is tough to conduct research on because it is a dangerous and secret act that researchers don’t consider it worth it to explore so closely. Because of these dangers, as much as 80 percent of all research found on terror-
ism is not based on observation. Instead, Ekici said that most research is based on the psychology behind terrorism and most research on the responses and prevention in terrorism is absent. Ekici also found the connections between terrorism recruitment and family members. He explained that you are six times more likely to join a terrorist group through friends or relatives than through other people or methods. Friends and family members are also five times more likely to convince you to join an organization that uses extreme terror. Through these discoveries, he is able to explain 50 percent of terrorism recruitment strategies. “When you see a terrorist, you have to look at their friends and relatives as potential members as well,” Ekici said. While comparing two different large terrorist organizations, Ekici found stark demographic differences. About 30 percent of the members in the leftist group are women, compared to only one percent in the rightist group. This is directly related to a difference in ideology and the opinion on diversity. With age, the leftist group typically recruits members
who are between 22 and 28, while the rightist group tends to recruit those closer to 30 years old. Ekici said that the leftist group prefers to recruit college students, which explains why their members are younger. This also shows a preference for more education. Ekici discovered that the leftist groups chooses the most highly-educated members to lead the organization. Although religion seems to affect terrorism at times, Ekici doesn’t believe that we should view the two ideas as a correlation. “I always say that people become terrorists, not religions,” he said. “This is why I don’t say ‘Islamic terrorists or Christian terrorists’.” Overall, both Alexander and Ekici agree that education and job status are two of the most important indicators in determining the likelihood of radicalization. For those interested in Alexander ’s book, it will be released next month. Alexander will also organize another seminar on Saturday, March 9 in room 121 of Stipes Hall. The event will include a discussion from Junaid Afeef, J.D., the Director of Targeted Violence Program at the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority.
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WC Located on the third floor of the Heating Plant Annex on the south end of campus across from Sherman Hall. Mail: 1 University Circle, WIU, Macomb, IL 61455 Phone: 309-298-1876 Fax: 309-298-2309 Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays E-mail: micour@wiu.edu Member: Illinois College Press Association, National Association College Press
STAFF MEMBERS editor-in-chief Devon Greene DJ-Greene@wiu.edu news editor Steven Barnum
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opinions editor Allison Young
photo editor Becca Langys
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sports editor Bradley Piros
assistant photo editor Sara Remar
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assistant sports editor Chris Bean
production manager Jimmy Pierson
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edge editor Marc Ramirez
business manager Faith Rucker
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copy editor Brie Coder
advertising manager Jacob Day
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JD-Day@wiu.edu adviser Will Buss WJ-Buss@wiu.edu
PUBLISHING AND CIRCULATION
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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Monday, February 25, 2019
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Campus Crime Reports
Legend Cannabis
Alcohol by a Minor
Burglary/Theft
Fire Alarm
Other Report
NEWS 3 •On Feb. 16 at 5:10 a.m. OPS and the Macomb Fire Department responded to a fire alarm in Garwood Hall. No smoke or fire were found and no injuries were reported. •On Feb. 16 at 5:56 a.m. nonstudent Jacob Myers, 22, of Abingdon, IL, was arrested in Garwood Hall on felony charges of disorderly conduct (unlawful transmission of a fire alarm) and criminal damage to state supported property. He was transported to the McDonough County Jail at 5:59 a.m. where he was lodged pending bond. •On Feb. 15 at 4:11 p.m. a student reported the theft of his wallet from Morgan Hall between 1:45-3 p.m. The incident is under investigation. •On Feb. 16 at 3:13 p.m. a student reported the theft of her clothes, valued at $75, from the Thompson Hall laundry room between 4 p.m. Feb. 15 and 1 a.m. Feb. 16. •On Feb. 16 at 6:50 p.m. one student in Tanner Hall was judicially referred for theft in Thompson Hall.
•On Feb. 17 at 2:56 a.m. Daniel Nnawuchi, 20, of 729 Olson Hall, was issued a notice to appear March 26 for a Macomb city ordinance violation for illegal consumption of alcohol by a minor in the 400 block of West Adams Street. •On Feb. 17 at 9:19 p.m. Ta'lor Coleman, 22, of 201 Wigwam Hollow Rd., was arrested at the intersection of University Drive and Murray Street for driving without a valid driver's license. She was transported to the McDonough County Jail at 9:22 p.m. where she was lodged pending bond. •On Feb. 18 at 5:46 p.m. a student in Tanner Hall was judicially referred for theft. •On Feb. 19 at 12:33 p.m. a University employee reported the theft of a camera, a tripod, a case, two microphones, a microphone cable and batteries, valued at $7,000, from the third floor of Sallee Hall. The incident is under investigation. •On Feb. 19 at 3:03 p.m. two students in Bayliss Hall were judicially referred for fighting.
NOTICE OF EXAMINATION MACOMB POLICE DEPARTMENT
The Board of Fire & Police Commissioners of the City of Macomb, Illinois hereby gives notice that examinations will offered to all eligible applicants to create an Eligibility List for hiring for positions with the Macomb Police Department. At time of application, applicants must be at least 21 years of age and no more than 35 years of age. Military veterans may extend the age limit one year for every year if active duty, not to exceed ten years. Applicants must have a high school diploma or equivalent; must have completed 60 semesters or 90 quarters hours from an accredited academic institution; must posses valid driver’s license. To move forward in hiring processes, applicants must have physical and written exams, medical and psychological evalutions and background investigations; must have visual acuity 20/20 each eye corrected (minimum) with normal color vision and depth perception; must have good habits and be of moral character. Proof of U.S. Citzenship and if hired; McDonough County residency is required.
STARTING SALARY as of 05/01/18, $47,078.76 per year. Forty-hour work week with time and a half for all overtime. Applications packets may be obtained at the Mayor’s Office, City Hall, 232 E. Jackson St., Macomb, Illinois 61455, Phone (309) 833-2558, or on-line at: https://www.macombpolice.com/application-requirements/ All applications and attachments must be completed, signed and on file by 4:30 P.M., Tuesday, March 12, 2019. If sumbitting the application packet by mail, it must be postmarked on or before the application deadline date AND received at the Mayor’s Office within five (5) calendar days of the deadline. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. Testing date is March 30, 2019. Applicants should report to Brophy Hall, on the Western University campus at 7:30 A.M.
The City reserves the right to require reimbursement of training expenses on a pro-rata basis if an officer resigns within the first two years of employment. The City of Macomb is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer Minorities and women are encouraged to apply.
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OPINIONS
Monday, February 25, 2019
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Will America feel the “Bern” in 2020?
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As political figures are beginning to emerge from the shadows to announce their candidacies for the 2020 election in the last few weeks, one name was missing. Bernie Sanders, the 2016 presidential election candidate turned social icon, gained quite a following among young people, the Internet and many activists. The Vermont Senator recently announced that he will once again campaign for the presidency. While many supporters seemed ecstatic at the news, some Democrats call the announcement irresponsible, arguing that due to Sander ’s Liberal and far-left views, he should run as a third party candidate and not divide the Democratic vote. While it may be true that Sanders is more of a Socialist than a Democrat, it also seems as if younger Democrats tend to agree with his views more than they agree with the views of a “typical” Democrat. Some may call his plans for free college, healthcare and tax hikes for the rich insane plans, but these appeal to the younger generation that is currently going into immense debt and struggling to afford basic healthcare. The dilemma for Sanders may be the other candidates who have joined the race, most notably Elizabeth Warren and Kamala Harris. While Warren may not have the social media following that Sanders does, she does share many of his Liberal views and makes promises to reform the economy and Wall Street. Her Liberal views may
steal some Sanders fans away and make it more difficult for him to win the primary, but his views are also better tailored to those who would rather see a revolution than slight changes. Harris, on the other hand, is a more typical Democratic candidate, which may steer some older, more traditional Democrats away from Sanders. She is a younger candidate than Sanders and Warren is 54-years-old, which may suggest less experience but also may appeal to younger voters. Besides the official frontrunners, a likely frontrunner remains unannounced: Joe Biden. Biden may follow the closest to Sanders in terms of social media following, with memes of him and his best friend Barack Obama still circulating years after their term in the Oval Office ended. With his experience in the White House, the backing of the Obama family and his popularity among both young and old voters, Biden could prove to be strong competitor for Sanders. So, which candidate can most realistically turn the White House back to blue? Are Sanders supporters still living in a fantasy? Many believe that a vote for Sanders risks turning more conservative Democrats to Republican voters, but many fully believe in his promises and are willing to take that risk. Regardless, the Democratic primary is going to be a whirlwind of a race and will decide the fate of the country in perhaps one of the most important presidential races this country has ever seen.
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Jordan Peele reboots
The trailer for Jordan Peele’s reimagining of the iconic TV series “The Twilight Zone” is out. In it we see images of an unsettling universe. They are all quick cuts. Some notable actors are in this.
CONT. E.2
Written by: Conal Duffy Layout by: Jimmy Pierson
E2 EDGE
Monday, February 25, 2019
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Twilight Zone reboot is on the way man says, “Life sometimes goes like you don’t expect it to” to a woman in a restaurant, followed by Peele looking at the camera in a subtly frightening way. It feels like
Adam Scott keeps seeing the same number everywhere he goes in the episode “Nightmare at 20,000 feet”. Steven Yeun “Walking Dead” puts on a hat. Kumail Nanjiani from 2017’s “The Big Sick” asks his wife where their dog is, but she responds, “We don’t have a dog.” Tracy Morgan asks someone at a bar, “Are you happy with your life?” John Cho is in an episode where a kid runs for president. This series looks promising because Jordan Peele is a mastermind when it comes to horror films. I am all for a new generation getting a new Twilight Zone experience. My favorite Twilight Zone episode from the original series was the one where a pilot from 1917 gets lost in time and ends up in 1959. This episode, titled “The Last Flight,” was filmed on location at Norton Air Force Base in San Bernardino, Calif. and aired on Feb. 5, 1960. The original Twilight Zone had a large cultural impact. There is a classic rock song by Golden
Earring about the show called “Twilight Zone”. Also, the classic prog-rock band Rush sang about it on their song “The Twilight Zone” on the album “2112.” At the end of the trailer, a
he’s staring right into your soul. I went back and found “The Twilight Zone” on Hulu and rewatched some of it. I started with the first episode, where a man wanders
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through an empty town, wondering why nobody is around. Every so often, something near him makes a sound or does something, like a telephone ringing. But when he picks it up, nobody is on the other end. It’s just a recording of the operator. This episode is followed by the one about a man who is visited by a man named Mr. Death. I hope they remake some of my favorite episodes and more. It would be cool to see original ideas for episodes in this series. I saw “Get Out,” a movie made by Peele. There’s an upcoming film made by him called “Us” about a family who meets their doppelgängers. I googled what movies he’s also made, and it looks like he’s going to be making “Toy Story 4.” He’s also made the recent film “BlacKkKlansman.” “The Twilight Zone,” reimagined by Jordan Peele, will be on CBS All Access on April 1. This might be a let-down for some because CBS All Access is a subscription service apart from Netflix and Hulu. People feel they don’t want to pay for yet another subscription service. But I believe “The Twilight Zone” will make paying for CBS All Access worth it.
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Jordan Peele has strayed away from comedy since his directorial debut in 2017.
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E4 EDGE
Monday, February 25, 2019
Time for hometowns in “The Bachelor”
For fans of “The Bachelor,” this week’s episode is the one that has been anticipated the most for the entire season, whether they realize it or not. This week, Colton will be heading to the contestants hometowns, as he goes to meet their families. Hometown week is extremely intense and important, because meeting the parents is a big deal. Additionally, this week has been much anticipated from a preview clip where Colton jumps over an extremely large and tall fence, to escape the drama and tension that he faces as the Bachelor. Many questions surround this clip such as; why is he jumping the fence? Where is he when this happens? And, what is the final push that causes Colton to take this measure? Both Colton and “The Bachelor” creator Mike Fleiss say that this scene takes place during the hometown visits. So far on “The Bachelor,” it has been made apparent that no one is playing around. Colton has had no problem sending girls home that he either feels have ill intentions, or whom he cannot see a future with. In addition to this, the girls have been just as honest – leaving the show if it is too much or if they do not feel that Colton is right for them. With only four women remaining from the original 30: Caelynn, Cassie, Hannah G. and Tayshia are the lucky ladies who get to bring Colton home to their parents. Caelynn is a 23-year-old from
North Carolina, who was Miss North Carolina 2018 and runner-up for the Miss USA 2018 pageant. She has a degree in broadcast journalism. Additionally, she is a strong advocate for sexual assault survivors. Caelynn and Colton have an undeniably close relationship, though she has been involved in quite a bit of drama on the show. Will her connection with Colton overcome the drama that has affected her in the past? Cassie is a 23-year-old speech pathologist from California. Cassie’s connection with Colton has been captivating. She has managed to avoid any drama until the last episode, where she was targeted as “not being ready for marriage,” though Colton has not yet doubted his connection with Cassie. Will his confidence continue through out the hometown visits? Hannah G. is a 24-year-old content creator from Alabama. She has worked in both photography and modeling, and even appeared in music videos for celebrities like Darius Rucker and Thomas Rhett. She was the recipient of the first impression rose. Was this first impression rose an indicator of a future marriage for Hannah G. and Colton? Tayshia is a 28-year-old phlebotomist from California. Tayshia and Colton have also built a strong relationship throughout the show, though last week she expressed concerns about some of the other women still on the show, particularly Cassie and Caelynn; though Colton trusted his “gut” and kept both ladies despite Tayshia’s input. Could this affect Colton and Tayshia’s relationship going forward into the hometown episode? Tune in to this week’s episode of “The Bachelor” to find out what brings Colton to his breaking point and just how Colton’s visits with the families of Caelynn, Cassie, Hannah G. and Tayshia turn out.
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E4 EDGE
Monday, February 25, 2019
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Filming wraps on Star Wars: Episode IX That’s a wrap for filming for “Star Wars: Episode IX.” Filming for the iconic franchise finished last Friday. Many of the cast and crew took to social media to express themselves about the end of the saga. Director J.J. Abrams was the one to break the news that the filming was being finished when he tweeted, “It feels impossible, but today wrapped photography on Episode IX. There is no adequate way to thank this truly magical crew and cast. I’m forever indebted to you all.” Abrams directed the first
two movies in this trilogy of the saga, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” and the latest one, which came out in 2017, “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.” John Boyega also tweeted about the end of filming. Similar to Abrams, Boyega is sad that his time has come to an end with the “amazing” cast crew. Boyega also thanked Abrams personally in his tweet saying, “JJ thank you for making my dreams come true.”Boyega has been a key cast member for the final trilogy as Finn, a stormtrooper
Star Wars Trivia
turned rebel. Episode IX will be the final film in the “Skywalker saga.” The saga consists of the original trilogy, Episodes IV-VI, the prequel trilogy, Episode I-III and the final trilogy VII-IX. Each of these films follow the events surrounding the Skywalker family, a family who is strongly force sensitive, and their adventures fighting the “Dark Side.” However, since the new trilogy has come out, Disney has been adding other films to the franchise as well. They released “Rogue One,” a film that covers the actions that occurred leading into Episode IV, as well as “Solo,” the origin story for the smuggler from the original trilogy, Han Solo.
“The Last Jedi” left everyone on edge. There was a lot of outrage that the film didn’t give enough details about a multitude of topics. The film didn’t go into detail about who Rey’s parents were, which was something that was built up and was expected in the film. The Last Jedi also didn’t explain who Supreme Leader Snoke was and his origins. These two topics were highly expected to be revealed but weren’t leaving fans upset with the results. The new film is set to take place a couple years down the line from where The Last Jedi left off. The film left off with Luke dying and the force being awakened in other “nobodies.” One major takeaway from
The Last Jedi was the fact that you no longer had to be a “somebody” to become a Jedi. The last shot in the film showed a young slave boy using the Force to pick up a broom. The reason for this being the parentage of Rey. Finding out that she had no significant parents led to that theme being carried through the rest of the film. Many viewers missed this the first time watching the film. Star Wars has been a really popular film saga throughout the years. As the saga begins to wind down and come to a close, fans are just hoping that things end on a high note, as well as answer their questions. The countdown to Dec. 20 starts now!
1. When was the first Star Wars movie released? A. 1978 B. 1977 C. 1979
2. How many total Star Wars movies exist? A. 9 B. 5 C. 12
3. Who came up with the Star Wars theme music? A. John Carpenter B. John Williams C. Hans Zimmer
Answers:
1.B
2. A
3. B
It’s time for free college tuition Being an in-state Illinois resident, attending Illinois State University and living oncampus can cost quite a penny. The total cost of tuition and attendance is $29,008. With the same circumstances and stipulations, attending the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is $15,054. It is time for college tuition to be free! When people want a college degree, their goal is to advance their knowledge and create goals and fulfill on them so that they can find their dream job. For some others, graduating college is just another small milestone with higher degrees to come. Presently, the high cost of higher education begins to deter many individuals from pursing their dream of a college degree. In today’s society of education, a bachelor ’s degree is becoming more and more common and with that said, bachelor-level tuition should be free. Having a free college education would result in student debt rates being low. With free education, students will have a clean slate coming out of college and can start focusing on making money to achieve milestones. Milestones that many want to pursue after college are buying a house, car, getting married and even starting a family. These milestones will be great accomplishments
once students are financially stable without student loan debt. Free college tuition would greatly benefit and aid the economy as a whole in regards to more people being in the work field. More people in the work industry means more successful people. The more people we have working means more revenue brought in that will benefit the greater good in the economy. With more entering and graduating from college, they can receive a high paying job to support themselves and their families. More job placements will increase productivity in the work field. Businesses with more workers can produce and sell more goods and services, which will increase revenue, fueling jobs and economic growth. Free tuition at institutions would be a turnon to many students who weren’t planning to attend. It can also motivate students to go for higher education. There are many in-state institutions that are providing very low tuition fees for in-state students. I think this is becoming more common around the board because many students are branching out from their home state schools. I understand there may be the counter argument about how college will be funded and paid for. With the free tuition, that will be the only aspect of college that will be free. If your grades and academic accomplishments meet a certain GPA, you will be awarded free tuition. Free tuition will leave the student to pay for their room, meals and other fees. Also with this idea, taxes from the citizens will also help pay costs that the state will be losing from the free tuition opportunity.
Student textbooks alone often cost hundreds of dollars per semester.
Student debt is now the second leading debt category in the nation.
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False crime reports are inexcusable
A story that’s been in the news a lot in the last month is the case of the alleged assault of Jussie Smollett in Chicago. Earlier reports have said that the actor and singer was assaulted, had chemicals poured on him and a noose put around his neck by two masked men who supposedly made comments similar to President Donald Trump and his supporters. This led to an almost month long investi-
gation by the Chicago Police Department where persons of interest were found, but Smollett said his attackers were of a different race. Smollett also brought up the attack to gain sympathy and attention. It later turned out the persons of interest found by CPD were the actual assaulters but were working with Smollett. Smollett was recently arrested and charged with falsifying a police report, which
is a felony. Many of his previous supporters have now come against him with this new information. There is just so much wrong with this whole situation. First off, false reports and false allegations are one of the worst things you can do to get a message across. There may be support in the beginning, but the truth will come out sooner or later. This also hurts everyone who has an actual case and has been an victim. These situations do really happen to people and some of them may not be believed or listened to. Since this guy is a celebrity, he was listened to and action was taken just to
Editorial Policy
The editorial views of the Western Courier shall be confined to this editorial and are to be separate from news coverage otherwise noted. The editorial presented is based on the ideas and views of the WC editorial board.Columns are the opinions of the columnists alone and should not be construed as the opinions and beliefs of the WC staff as a whole.
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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.
2019 Fall Semester Editorial Board
Edge Editor - Marc Ramirez Editor-in-Chief - Devon Greene Opinions Editor - Allison Young
find out that the whole attack was planned. If you want to make a statement and help a situation, help the actual victims, don’t pretend you are one. You could use your power and stance as a celebrity to help bring support and attention to actual victims of hate crimes and assaults. As bad as it sounds, he made actual victims less believable for some people. There are so many better ways to take a stand and use your status for good, but you just used it for more sales and more tickets sold, and that’s just not right. The other problem with making a false report is that the police have to investigate it and
that takes time and resources away from other victims and pursuits of actual criminals. This is why filing a false report is a felony. Chicago is not exactly a low crime city, sop there are other cases the police could have been looking at the day that Smollett made up this story. The fact that this guy was a celebrity and had a national platform for the implications of the alleged assault, the police department obviously had to put enough, if not extra resources towards this investigation. This fictitious scenario has caused a whirlwind of controversy, all because Smollett wanted attention.
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Monday, February 25, 2019
Sports
WesternCourier.com
Women's tennis swept by Bradley University Braves By Bradley Piros sports editor
PEORIA, Ill. – The Western Illinois University women’s tennis team traveled to take on the Bradley University Braves on Saturday. They were swept 4-0, with most of the matches not being finished. The Leathernecks were heading into Peoria full of confidence, coming off a 7-0 win against the St. Ambrose University Bees last Friday. Western didn’t allow a point in doubles play. Sophomore sisters Mary and Ana Bjelica teamed up in the No. 1 spot while junior Laura Ballesteros teamed up with freshman Megan Tagaloa in the No. 2 spot. Both matches ended in one set, 8-0. Ana was in the No. 1 singles spot, winning in two sets (6-1, 6-0). Her sister Mary also won in two sets (6-1, 6-1) in the No. 2 spot. Freshmen Camryn Rossa and Tagaloa won their matches, with Ballesteros rounding out the day with a 6-0, 6-0 sweep. Western had a week to practice and headed into the match against Bradley full of confidence. They knew it would be difficult and can use this as a learning experience in the end. It was again the Bjelica sisters in the No. 1 doubles spot, and after going down 5-2, the match was never finished. Ballesteros and Tagaloa teamed up again and fell, 6-2. Freshman Anouk Maajong teamed up with Rossa but were shutout 6-0 to end doubles play. Ana was in the No. 1 singles spot again, but this time around lost in
two sets 6-1 and 6-0. The biggest blow was Maajong getting retired 4-0 after going down with an injury. That gave the Braves a 2-0 lead. Mary played a set and a half losing 7-6 (4) and 3-1. Ballesteros also didn’t finish her match, losing 6-0 and 5-2. The Braves clinched the match when Tagaloa went out in two sets (6-3, 6-4). The final singles match was Rossa, however it was also unfinished (6-3, 0-1) “That was a much more competitive match than the final score shows. It was also encouraging to see our numbers three, four, five, and six play so hard,” head coach Mirko Bjelica said in an interview with WIU Athletic Communications after the match. “We will continue working in order to prepare better for our conference matches.” The Leathernecks only have two more non-conference matches before starting Summit League play over spring break. Those two matches are this weekend against the Quincy University Hawks on Friday and the Illinois State University Redbirds on Saturday. Western will look to turn themselves around and gain some momentum heading into their conference matchups. If you’re looking to catch the Leathernecks in action, their next home match is March 20 against the University of Missouri-St. Louis. That match against UMSL starts at 2 p.m. Till then, the Leathernecks will turn their attention to Quincy and ISU this weekend. The match against the Hawks starts at 5 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. Saturday against the Redbirds. Twitter: bradjp08
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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. Houses for Rent 2016/2017: A&D Real Estate has several 3, 4 and 5 bedroom houses for rent, all with at least 2 bathrooms, recently rennovated and located close to campus. Call for a tour or visit our website at www.wiucollegerentals.com. Local landlord with a focus on clean and updated housing with personal service for your college housing needs. 309-313-1122. FALL INTO SAVINGS with Charleston Boulevard Apartments! Now offering SPECIAL RATES through Dec. 2017! Call for specific details 309-833-4545!. NICE, CLEAN, WELL MAINTAINED 1 TO 6 BEDROOM HOUSES FOR 2016-2017 Our houses have hard wood floors, ceramic tile, central air, washer and dryer and are close to campus with plenty of parking. We offer a ten month lease so you don’t pay for the months you aren’t here. Please call 309-255-1959 for a showing. Now showing for 2017 & 2018 year 2, 3, and 5 bedrooms homes all close to campus. Call 309-331-4565. Westen Investments: Leasing season has officailly begun, and we’re showing properties now! 1-5 bedroom houses close to campus are ready to be leased for this upcoming school year! Call our office at 309-833-5995 to schedule an appointment! Stay updated with us on Twitter @Western_Invest 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!
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. 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. 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: Are you looking for an apartment? We are now showing our beautiful 1-3 bedroom apartments for this upcoming school year! Don’t like paying for utilities? Ask about our ALL UTILITIES options, and be sure to check out our website (westerninvest.com) to see our listings! Schedule an appointment with us today at 309-833-5995. 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.
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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. 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. 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.
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Sports 7
Monday, February 25, 2019
NBA playoff and MVP race heats up The All-Star break has passed in the NBA, and for me that only means one thing; real basketball games are about to commence. It’s no secret that NBA players play their best basketball after the All-Star break. For some, they’re trying to get their team into the playoffs, and for others, they’re trying to make sure their teams get the highest playoff seed possible. With threefourths of the season behind us and the trade deadline passed, each team’s roster and rotation is set. The playoffs are near and even LeBron James has declared himself “activated.” Let’s take a look at the leagues and predict the 16 playoff teams, as well as the season’s most valuable player. The Western conference once again has proven that it’s the best conference the NBA has to offer. The No. 1 seed right now is the back-to-back champions Golden State Warriors. They will likely end in that slot. The Denver Nuggets currently sit at two and the Oklahoma City Thunder come in at three. Both teams were playing stellar basketball before the break so I can see them ending in those spots as well. Portland Trailblazers, Houston Rockets and the Utah Jazz occupy the next three spots. The Rockets, lead by James Harden, are finally getting healthy and should jump the Trailblazers in the standings for the fourth seed, Portland will end up as the fifth seed and the Jazz will end up taking the sixth seed. The seventh and eighth seed will come down to the last game of the season just as it did last year. San Antonio Spurs are currently the seventh seed; I have no idea how Greg Popovich continues to get this team to win given the talent discrepancies, but he does. I have all the faith in “Pop” that he will get his team to the playoffs again despite not having a starting caliber point guard. The Los Angeles Clippers own the last seed in the West, but they traded
their best player (Tobias Harris) to the Philadelphia 76ers at the trade deadline. They don’t seem too focused on winning this year; the trade of Harris proves that. Their minds have
there this year. For that reason alone, I believe he will carry the young Lakers to the playoffs before being eliminated in the first round for the first time in his career at the hands of the Warriors. The Eastern conference is a lot less complicated; in fact, my prediction is that the eight teams that are currently in the playoffs now will be the eight teams there at the end of the season. The Milwaukee Bucks are the No. 1 seed and the Toronto Raptors
shifted toward trying to land Kwahi Leonard this summer in the free agency. Without a quality star player, it’s near impossible for them to remain in that spot the rest of the season. Either the Sacramento Kings who currently sits at nine, or the Los Angeles Lakers who follows them at 10 will take the last seed. James has made the playoffs 13 straight years; it would be extremely weird to not seem him
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are the No. 2 seed. A game and a half separate them, and while the race will remain close throughout the season, I think the Bucks will remain at the top with the Raptors being the runner up. Indiana Pacers are currently the No. 3 seed, but their All-Star shooting guard Victor Oladipo is out for the year with a quad injury. Without Oladipo they are going to end up as the fifth seed, getting passed by the
76ers who will finish third and Boston Celtics who will end up in the fourth spot. Brooklyn Nets are the current sixth seed and will end there, thanks to the play of there first time all-star D'Angelo Russell. Detroit Pistons will end behind them followed by the Charlotte Hornets in the last spot. If these predicted standings hold true there will be plenty of exciting playoffs matchups to watch for. Now that the best 16 teams have been spotlighted, let’s shift gears to the best players. The MVP award will come down to three players; last year’s winner from the Rockets Harden, “the Greek Freak” Giannis Antetokounmpo from the east leading Bucks and Paul George from the Thunder. “The Greek Freak” got off to a early lead and is averaging 27 points, 12 rebounds and six assists this year, but Harden and George have come on strong since. Harden has scored at least 30 points in 31 straight games, the second longest streak in NBA history, averaging a league high of 36 points per game. He also averages seven assists and seven rebounds. George on the other hand, is having a career year after surprisingly staying with the Thunder last summer. He is averaging a career high in points (28.7), rebounds (8.1) and assists (4.2); those numbers and his team's success should definitely get him plenty of votes. When the smoke settles I think it will be “the Greek Freak” taking home the award. Yes, Harden is having a great year, but he won it last year. Antetokounmpo’s stats are better than George’s and his team will likely end the year with more wins, and because of that Antetokounmpo will pick up his first MVP award. As far as the other individual awards predictions: Rookie of the Year will go to Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks. Defensive Player will go to Rudy Gobert from the Jazz. The Sixth Man of the Year will go to, Domantas Sabonis from the Pacers. Lastly, Most Improved Player will go to Russell from the Nets. As for the coaches, Mike Budenholzer from the Bucks will be awarded Coach of the Year.
Greg Naumann named coach of the year By Jacob Vanzuiden courier staff
At the most crucial point of the season, they delivered. This year ’s Summit League Championships turned out to be a memorable one for the Western Illinois swimming and diving teams, smashing multiple school records and bringing home plenty of hardware in return. At the event held in Sioux Falls, S.D. beginning last Wednesday, the Purple and Gold turned in four school records, four bronze medals and 22 all-time marks. Day one was a good indicator of how the rest of the event would unfold for the Leathernecks, beginning with a superb performance from the men’s relay team. The group composed of Brennan Bladel, Chance McQuigg, Samir Almhiemid and Adam Peterson. They finished with a time of 1:30.47, good for a bronze medal and third all-time in WIU’s record books. Both the men’s and women’s 800-yard freestyle medley
teams kept their foot on the gas. The men placed second in the event with a time of 6:45.95, while the women’s relay touched the wall at 7:48.14, good enough for third. For Peterson, day two of the championships is a day he won’t soon forget. In the 50-yard freestyle, he notched a time of 20.83. This broke his own all-time mark along with the school’s, giving him the top spot in Western’s record books. Peterson was also a driving force for the men’s 200-yard relay team, paving the way for a time of 1:22.78, the second-fastest time in program history. Garret Kemp and Phillip Kudela also managed top-10 all-time finishes in the 100-yard butterfly and 500-yard freestyle, respectively. While the Purple and Gold just barely missed out on three different bronze medals in day two due to fourth-place finishes. In day three of the event, the men’s 400-yard relay placed fourth with a time of 3:20.14, but the difference between second and fourth place was less than one
second. Both South Dakota and South Dakota State touched the line at 3:19.18. In the 100-yard backstroke, Bladel was back at it again, moving to second on Western’s all-time list with a 49.96 mark. Erica Hagen replicated his performance in the 100-yard breast stroke, also moving to second in Western’s record books. Each of these individuals placed third in their events. The fourth and final day of the event saw no shortage of Leatherneck dominance. The 100-meter individual medley awarded both McQuigg and Hagen with bronze medals, finishing with times of 51.64 and 58.72 in their respective heats. Bladel, in the 200yard backstroke this time, collected a medal after finishing in third. The impressive freshman Peterson added his second school record in as many days with a fourth-place finish in the 100-yard freestyle. This team has undoubtedly crushed this year ’s expectations, but it may not have been possible without the captain of their ship, coach Greg
Naumann. Naumann was elected as the 2019 Men’s Swimming and Diving Coach of the Year, which comes to show the impact he made on his athletes this season. The first-time award-winner took a very humble approach when speaking on the topic. "Men's Coach of the Year was unexpected," said Naumann. "There are so many deserving coaches in the Summit League that I am truly honored to be recognized by them. The team is the only reason why something like that would happen. They challenge me to be a better coach to help make them better." With another season in the books, Western Illinois will say goodbye to 10 seniors: Amanda Schaefer, Erica Hagen, Dana Kaftan, Samir Almhiemid, Drake Steirman, Seth Brady, Colin Parker, Chance McQuigg, Phillip Kudela and Marissa Purdum. All will be remembered for their impact as a Leatherneck and are wished the best of luck in their future endeavors.
Men's basketball top Oral Roberts on senior night By Brendan Reidy courier staff
MACOMB, Ill. The Western Illinois Leathernecks (9-18) defeated the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles (10-20) this past Saturday. “You always want to send your seniors out with a win,” said coach Billy Wright after the victory. This game was the last one for seniors Brandon Gilbeck, Otis Dortch, Ryan Maas and Jordan Hughes. These players had tremendous Leatherneck careers, and their teammates made sure their last home game was a memorable one. The atmosphere was spectacular for sending out the four senior Leathernecks. It was arguably the biggest game of their career at Western. Their playoff hopes were on the line, and they had to win against the up-and-coming Oral Roberts to basically clinch the No. 8 seed in the Summit League Tournament, pending a University of Denver loss. The game got off to an extremely slow start and the game was highlighted by the Leatherneck defense early on. Western Illinois started the game on a 12-0 run, and the Golden Eagles did not score their first bucket until the 12-minute mark of the first half. It was an all-around team effort as the Purple and Gold had five players in double figures, but the big story of the night was Hughes. He had one of the best games inside the Western Hall. As a player who hasn’t had his name out there as the other players have,
he came to play on senior night. He dropped 10 points off the bench and delivered down the stretch when his team needed a crucial rebound. I had the chance to talk with Hughes before the matchup, and I asked him what his favorite moment was during his time at Western. He said, “probably beating Wisconsin on the road my freshman year. You couldn’t have asked for a better way to start.” However, after Saturday’s big win, he now may have a new favorite memory. Western Illinois had a tough matchup against Oral Roberts but simply outplayed them to get the victory. The Leathernecks shot 43 percent from the field and 39 percent from downtown. The offense was evenly distributed throughout the score sheet, but if you were at the game, you know Webster was the X-Factor. He dropped 13 points, added six boards and five assists. In the biggest games, he always comes to play. For the Golden Eagles, Emmanuel Nzekwesi was their go-to guy. He was making his return from injury, and lit up the stat sheet. He had 15 points to go along with 13 rebounds. The Leathernecks are on the road for two games against Denver and South Dakota State to wrap up their regular season campaign. If all goes to plan, Western Illinois will play in Sioux Falls, S.D. over spring break. With the Leathernecks beginning to heat up, anything is possible come March, and the Purple and Gold have some unfinished business come tournament time. Twitter: breidytv Brandon Gilbeck goes up for a layup against St, Mary's.
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Women's basketball fall in back and forth shootout By Taylor Jordan courier staff
Annabel Graettinger lines up a free throw inside Western Hall.
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MACOMB, III. – The Western Illinois (12-15, 8-6) women’s basketball team fell short in a fast-paced shootout 92-85 to Oral Roberts University (16-12, 9-6) on Saturday. Western honored the only senior on the roster, Taylor Higginbotham, before the game. “They (Oral Roberts) hit big shot after big shot,” head coach JD Gravina said. “It’s not a fluke. Even with the way they shot it, we were in the game. Tying the game up late says a lot about our fight, but we did not shoot the ball well in the second half and to beat a team that goes 20-for-37 from three, you have to shoot well. At the end of the day, they made a few more than us.” The Golden Eagles took the lead in the first quarter by nine points after a Jordan Gilbert jumper put Western behind 16-7 with 6:10 left. From the 3:52 mark to 1:13 lasting in the opening quarter, the Leathernecks boarded up a 10-0 run capped off by a Higginbotham three-pointer from the right wing for a 26-22 advantage. After trailing 26-25 after one, Oral Roberts obtained a multiple possession lead again in the second quarter at 49-41 with three minutes to go in the half. The
Leathernecks fought to go on an 11-3 run and tie the game 52-52 as Danni Nichols threw up a layup. Sarah Garvie hit a three-pointer to give the Golden Eagles the lead 55-52 at halftime. Oral Roberts began to pull away in the third quarter, but the Purple and Gold responded. Western dug out of a 60-52 hole at the 7:29 mark to take a 66-65 advantage on a Grace Gilmore shot in the paint with 2:13 left. A backand-forth battle arose as Elizabeth Lutz sunk a triple to help the Leathernecks go ahead 69-67 before Garvie answered with another three that gave them the lead. The Golden Eagles took the third quarter, 70-69. Both teams exchanged blows in the final quarter of the game. Annabel Graettinger drained a trifecta from the right side to knot the game at 85-85, but Oral Roberts ended the game on a 7-0 run. The Leathernecks and Golden Eagles made 30 shots from beyond the arc. Graettinger led Western in scoring with 16 points while Higginbotham and Nichols each scored 15 with eight rebounds. Olivia Kaufmann added 13 points with a teamhigh of four assists. The Leathernecks travel to Denver this Thursday to kick-off their final road swing of the season against the Pioneers. Tip-off begins at 2 p.m.