Opinions: Parents can be entitled too.
Sports: Consider paying student athletes.
Sports: Baseball falls in back and forth game with ISU
Wednesday, March 28, 2018 - Vol. 118 Issue 70
Unopposed candidates answer to students at debate
NICHOLAS EBELHACK/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Candidates (from left to right) Madison Lynn, Justin Brown, Grant Reed and Doni Purifoy answer questions from student at the 2018 SGA debate unopposed.
By Marc Ramirez courier staff
During Tuesday’s special session of the Student Government Association, student officials gathered to host the annual SGA Debate. In the University Union Capitol Room, four students gathered for the debate; all however, running unopposed. Among the four was current
Chief of Staff Justin Brown, running for the position of Student Representative to the Board of Trustees. Two main positions Brown has held on campus this academic year would be the SGA Chief of Staff and University Union Board Vice President of Finance.
SGA
page 3
Council talks Los Tapatios liquor license By Steven Barnum assistant news editor
City Administrator Dean Torresson speaks on budgeting for the year.
Present in the public comment section during Monday’s City Council meeting were the incoming owners of the anticipated restaurant at 1319 East Jackson Street in Macomb. The council continued the ongoing discussion about the application submitted to be awarded a liquor license. While the hours will likely remain the same, you can expect to see a change in the menu when the restaurant opens next month. Los Tapatios will fill a building left vacant by Guadalajara, which recently announced it would be closing its doors. As part of a routine mea-
sure, the city let everyone within 500 feet of the building know that an application for a liquor license has been filed. As of now, those individuals have made no concerns or signs of disapproval. A background check has also been cleared, which indicates that the restaurant is another step closer to being granted the license. Bids for the 2018 Street Improvement Project on North Randolph Street were received. According to Public Works Director Scott Coker, the project will be broken up into different sections. Ranging from Calhoun Street to University Drive, three bids are being discussed. Hein Construction made a bid of $205,745, while Laverdiere
Construction offered to do the job for $214,500. A combination bid of $522,000 was made by Gunther Construction. All three bids are over the engineering estimates, with Gunther Construction’s bid running 25 percent over the estimate. Thus, the city will look to negotiate. “We will meet with Gunther (Construction) on Wednesday and work through how we can reduce the cost for the bid,” said Coker. City Administrator Dean Torreson discussed the budget for the 2018/2019 year. The budget, which is unlikely to undergo any changes, could be approved at next week’s meeting.
Council page 3
2
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
NEWS
WesternCourier.com
UUB concludes “Best Week Ever�
JOSH PURNELL/COUIER STAFF
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Wednesday, March 28, 2018
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Campus Crime Reports
BOT
from front page
Legend Cannabis
Alcohol by a Minor
Burglary/Theft
Fire Alarm
Other Report
•On March 20 at 10:59 p.m. OPS and the Macomb Fire Department responded to a fire alarm in Tanner Hall. The alarm was activated by a cooking mishap and no injuries were reported. •On March 21 at 11 a.m. a 17-year-old juvenile in Mowbray Hall was charged with misdemeanor battery in connection with March 3 altercation in the Thompson Hall dining center. The case was forwarded to the McDonough County Juvenile Probation Office. •On March 22 at 12:15 p.m. a student came to Mowbray Hall to report fraudulent charges, totaling $109.03, on her student identification card. •On March 22 at 10:22 p.m. two students in Corbin Hall were judicially referred for fighting. •On March 22 at 10:32 p.m. a student in Thompson Hall reported being struck by his roommate. The incident is under investigation. •On March 22 at 10:44 p.m. a student came to Mowbray
Hall report her flash drive missing from Garwood Hall. •On March 23 at 1:25 a.m. Makayla Fuller, 20, of 740 Olson Hall, was arrested for unlawful consumption of alcohol by a minor. She was lodged in the McDonough County Jail at 1:55 a.m. pending bond. •On March 23 at 12:10 p.m. a student in Olson Hall reported that his backpack valued at $1,500, was stolen from his unlocked room. The incident is under investigation •On March 23 at 3:14 p.m. a student reported that her student ID was left on a counter in a dining center, and when she returned it was missing. She later discovered fraudulent charges of $226.27 had been made on campus. The incident is under investigation •On March 24 at 1:21 p.m. a student reported at Mowbray Hall that her shoes, valued at $60, had been stolen from outside of her Tanner Hall room sometime overnight. The incident is under investigation.
City Council
The survey shows that lowvolume users in Macomb paid much less than lowvolume users in comparable towns, while high-volume users in Macomb paid much more than high-volume users in comparable towns. Ultimately, the proposal was rejected because the system does not appear to favor high-volume users or penalize low-volume users. Among items that will be discussed at next week’s meeting are lifting the restriction on parking on Normal Street between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m., and amending an ordinance on handicapped accessibility on Washington and Randolph Streets.
from front page
Specifically, Macomb is counting on $26,455,000 in expected revenue, while spending $25,676,000. “On paper, we have a balanced budget,” Torreson said; however, he also made it known that the city has a $200,000 deficit in total funds. One way to bring in more money is the change to the debt service fee, where residents will see a monthly increase. Referencing resident Dana Walker’s previous proposal, Torreson shared results from a 2015 survey.
“I believe that the experiences I have had working with administration will give me the upper hand in dealing with them next year,” said Brown. Brown trusts that by working with the University Union Board he has gained many strengths to aid him in this position. He has learned and will continue to learn many different university policies and procedures, as well as making sure event planning is up to university guidelines and regulations. He has also been in the room through various discussion that current Student Representative to the Board of Trustees Wil Gradle has brought up. The Student Representative to the Board of Trustees candidate also ensures to work with all students while working in this position by making students voices heard at Western Illinois University. While holding the Chief of Staff position, Brown has been able to appoint 30 students to various committees and councils on campus to get the student voice heard. “One thing I am very passionate about is making sure students voices are heard, and I will do this in many ways while also hosting regularly published office hours in the Student Organization Center,” said Brown. “I will also go
NEWS 3 to organizational meetings, which I can successfully do because we have a diverse number of student organizations that represent many different students on campus and get concerns that way.” Next to the podium was Grant Reed. The current Student Government Association President up for reelection began speaking on how he wishes to continue his work as SGA President. “Momma didn’t raise no quitter,” said Reed. “There were a lot of things I was able to start with SGA this year that I would like to be able to continue to build on because I do think they are valid initiatives that we should be undertaking.” Reed believed that this year was a great learning opportunity although he did think it was also a bit of a difficult transition. The current president however thinks it would be very beneficial to stay in his current leadership position because it would be helpful in growing the association as a whole. Reed also finds himself to be a qualified candidate through his leadership role serving Co-Director of Homecoming. Purple and gold runs deep for Reed so he believes that that passion also serves as drive to continue to better Western Illinois University as a whole. With this the candidate looks back to the four core values of
Western and reflected on the social responsibility of being the association president. "Social Responsibility goes back to the roots of the word, ranging from making sure you are an informed and involved citizen to being a civically active adult,” said Reed. The third candidate to reach the podium was Madison Lynn. Lynn served as the 20172018 Director of Academic Affairs and is in the running to be the 2018-2019 Vice President of the Student Government Association. Lynn sees herself as a worthy candidate for the position as her previous cabinet position entailed her to act as the student representative to the faculty senate. “This unique opportunity awarded me the chance to speak very frequently with administration and faculty on important issues facing our campus,” said Lynn. “I think this opportunity in particular really qualifies me for this position in particular because I understand a lot of the faculty power-structure, meaning who to go to with certain problems.” Assuming elected, Lynn plans to continue her active office hours. Next year Lynn hopes to go to each organization within the Student Organization Center frequently to ask for areas in need of improvement around campus to improve on campus life as a whole.
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
4 OPINIONS
WesternCourier.com
Parents can be entitled too Parents of most recent generations seem to think that they are doing their children a favor by simply fulfilling their roles. They expect to be praised and credited for doing their parental duties. However, feeding, clothing and housing their children are all parental fundamentals. Even though different households obtain different morals, I feel it is wrong to hold a person accountable to commend their parents for doing what they are supposed to do.
Growing up in any household, I’m sure we have all been told the same things. Our parents reminded us constantly of whose house this was and who was paying the bills in that house, even if it was completely obvious. In my opinion, it is not our job as sons and daughters to salute our parents for taking care of their responsibilities. Showing appreciation is one thing, and we should all appreciate our parents simply because there are many people in the
world who, unfortunately, had to grow up without any parental figures. But at the end of the day, a parent’s job is to take care of their children until they get to a point where they can do it for themselves. For a parent to rub their dominance in their children’s face is not only inconsiderate, but it can be damaging. We didn’t ask to be brought into this world. I don’t feel that kids, adolescents or young adults should be shamed for simply receiving the care that they deserve. My point of this article is to let parents know that it takes time for us to stand up on our own two feet. Especially as college students, with managing our academ-
ics and extracurriculars, as well as the constant stress of being away from home, we seek support from our parents and guardians. Though they work hard and pay bills, a mutual understanding must be made between both parties. We are trying too. School is stressful. Social life is stressful. Life itself is stressful. Parents must understand that we all have to play our part. The worst thing for a child, or anyone for that matter, is to feel like they’re not doing enough. It is not our time yet to be the provider. What’s more important is us growing up and finding out where we fit into society. For now, parents need to be patient and supportive. It will all
pay off in the end. We should all love our parents. Not only for what they do for us, but because they had a choice to either leave or stay. I know parenting isn’t easy, and a lot of circumstances can make it even more difficult to achieve. A good parent should never go unnoticed, but it’s not fair to expect a reward for a responsibility that you chose to take on. Though many of us are not yet able to pay bills or own a home, our only way of showing our gratitude is by going down the right path and making something of ourselves. That, in itself, is enough to show our parents how thankful we are for all that they’ve done.
Corporations cause climate change According to a report by CNN, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is now three times the size of France. It is estimated that 20 percent of the huge, swirling garbage clump in the Pacific Ocean is debris from the 2011 Japanese Tsunami. But most of it is from garbage carelessly or accidentally dumped into the ocean. This is the largest pollution effort by humans. Climate change is real, and pollution is a huge problem. But don’t blame yourself for the problems. It’s large corporations that should be blamed for destroying our planet. A study that was published on Friday, March 23, 2018, in Scientific Reports by a team of scientists from The Ocean Cleanup Foundation, along with six universities and an aerial sensor corporation, discovered that the size of the garbage patch is 1.6 million square kilometers. That’s twice the size of Texas. While you may be contributing to the pile of garbage, you don’t control who creates
the items that contribute to the garbage. We need to be more aware of how these companies dispose of their waste and how the excess products we don’t need affect the environment. The people that run these corporations will try to tell you that the people are contributing to climate change when in fact, it’s the corporations that make the biggest impact. You drive a gasoline-powered car, but you have no control over whether or not the CO2 comes out of it. You may have a choice of whether or not the car you buy is gas-powered or electric, but aren’t electric cars more expensive? This system we live in is controlled by those who have the most money. We should be questioning when they say that we are the cause of global climate change. We don’t have a choice whether or not we are harming the environment. The environment has already been harmed. We’re just the consumers. Consum-
ers have a choice whether or not they influence the economy, so the fate of the Earth may be in our hands if we choose to stop buying from these corporations. It’s a dilemma. We as consumers can choose to stop supporting these companies, but no one is going to do that. The companies that pollute the most are the most influential to the planet’s changing climate. The top companies that pollute the atmosphere are American Electric Power, Duke Energy and Southern Company, according to a report by Forbes. In their article titled “America's 20 Worst Corporate Air Polluters,” they say that American Electric Power emits 130 million metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. This accounts for two percent of the annual total carbon dioxide that is put into the atmosphere. Duke emits 127 million tons and Southern Company emits 118 million. These companies are responsible for most of the electricity generated in America. But they should be blamed for climate change, not the average person. So don’t beat yourself up because you drive a car, and don’t think about your carbon footprint too much.
Editorial Policy The editoral views of the Western Courier shall be confined to this editorial and are to be separate from news coverage otherwise noted. The editoral presented is based on the ideas and views of the WC editoral board.Columns are the opinions of the columnists alone and should not be construed as the opinions and beliefs of the WC staff as a whole.
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2018 Spring Semester Editorial Board Editor-in-Cheif - Nicholas Ebelhack Edge Editor - Baylee Bryntesson Opinions Editor - Ryan Zurek
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
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OPINIONS 5
Prioritize our Letter to the Editor national security
Drawing a definite line to determine what is more important between our privacy and national security is very debatable. Our privacy is being able to keep our internet and web access to ourselves without the government being able to infringe upon it. Our national security is having adequate armed security that will keep this country safe; on the borders, in the air, in the water and on land. In our present world, everything is online and we have access to any information at the tips of our fingers. When we are locked out of certain internet sites, we can go to the ‘cloud’ to retrieve that information. This current age of technology has also been the age of counter-terrorism. These two ideas are very important and vital in determining what is more impor-
tant. Both our privacy and national security is very important and we need both, but our national security as a country is the most important. Privacy is important to keep your information to yourself and national security helps the nation keep its sanity in regards to safety. Our national security and national armed forces are the most vital and should be kept important. National security lowers the risk of terrorism events like 9/11. As stated earlier, our privacy on the internet is already being stalked and looked upon by the government. When random scam callers, bill collectors and companies call to ask for money, it shows our information is being shared. When we have data breaches in great big corporations like Target Inc, we as citi-
zens of this country should see that our right of privacy is limited. Due to our government already infringing upon our privacy rights, we need to boost up our national security. The most important job of our government is to secure the general welfare of their citizens. Security is a common good that’s promised to all Americans and it must outweigh any personal concerns about privacy. Under our national security, we have and need surveillance, which is secretly watching private activities. In the new era of technology, security agents help monitor against terrorism. Tighter security controls at airports and borders will help prevent attacks and losses of life. Such measures could include more intrusive scanning, body searches, watch lists, etc. In addition to their deterrence effect, they will enable officials to stop attacks as they are happening. Therefore, we as a country need to focus on our national security.
Dear University Community, Western Illinois University is more than a diverse collection of people, programs, departments, and buildings. It is an academic community that is held together by successful people who strive to achieve common goals. Like any great team, its members understand the need to put aside individual agendas, build each other up, and stick together during difficult times. While there are select individuals who choose to continually disparage this University, most people recognize that our faculty and staff provide world-class education and learning experiences for our students. To continue to build upon this greatness, we need to support one another, our University, and our local communities, and all that we accomplish together. In February, we held town hall meetings in Macomb and the Quad Cities focusing on the positive things taking place at Western. We had great attendance at these events, and I would like to thank those faculty, staff, students, and community members who participated and who asked thoughtful questions and brought forth creative ideas. We took detailed notes, and are reviewing how to implement the ideas shared, such as highlighting more academic programs on the website,
sharing and celebrating the diverse nature of our University, and promoting Western. We will not deviate from our mission, which is to provide access to an affordable and world-class education through continued support of research, critical thinking, creativity, and faculty and staff development. Western Illinois University is moving forward, and we need each member of our University community and our local communities to be a part of our forward movement. Our students are the lifeblood of this University. We are here because of our students. We affect their lives for the good and our impact will resonate across generations. It is our people who make this University great, and we cannot lose sight of that. To paraphrase Theodore Roosevelt, “It is only in this way, by all of us working together in a spirit of fellowship, by each doing his/her part for the betterment of him/herself and of others, that it is possible to solve the tremendous problems with which...we are now confronted.” Together, we will keep this University progressing. We will be even stronger and better together. Sincerely, Jack Thomas President
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
6 SPORTS
WesternCourier.com
Track
from back page
Ross Smetzer with his eyes on the finish line during his distance run.
Baseball from back page
After a pitching change for the Leathernecks, Dorethy came in and threw out six straight batters in two scoreless inning against the Redbirds. After two singles and an error early in the bottom of the fourth, the Leathernecks were back in the game tying it up at 3-3. Montgomery came up to bat with a runner on third and hit his crucial sacrifice bunt giving the Leathernecks the lead for the first time during
the game. Unfortunately for the Leathernecks, this would be the last run scored in the game. A pair of runs in the fifth and three in the sixth gave the Redbirds the lead and they did not look back. The bats fell silent for both teams late in the game and the final score after nine innings was 8-4. The Leathernecks face the Tigers of Missouri University Wednesday at 3 p.m. here at Alfred D. Boyer Stadium. Twitter: thefluffy66
GOLEATHERNECKS.COM
Drue Galassi heads to third base.
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1 & 2 bedroom apartments, new $250 signing bonus on 10 and 12 month leases. Two blocks from campus. Bus stops nearby. Free water, garbage and parking. Laundry onsite. Clean, well maintained and secure. Call Ted 309-837-5600 or visit markertrental.com. Spacious 2-5 bedroom homes for rent. 10 month lease available. Great locations, close to bus stops, plenty off street parking, all new windows, AC, energy efficient furnace, hardwood and ceramic tile floors, free washer/dryer. Well maintained (24 hrs.) by local landlord. Call 309-255-1233. Houses for Rent 2016/2017: A&D Real Estate has several 3, 4 and 5 bedroom houses for rent, all with at least 2 bathrooms, recently rennovated and located close to campus. Call for a tour or visit our website at www.wiucollegerentals.com. Local landlord with a focus on clean and updated housing with personal service for your college housing needs. 309-313-1122. FALL INTO SAVINGS with Charleston Boulevard Apartments! Now offering SPECIAL RATES through Dec. 2017! Call for specific details 309-833-4545!. NICE, CLEAN, WELL MAINTAINED 1 TO 6 BEDROOM HOUSES FOR 2016-2017 Our houses have hard wood floors, ceramic tile, central air, washer and dryer and are close to campus with plenty of parking. We offer a ten month lease so you don’t pay for the months you aren’t here. Please call 309-255-1959 for a showing. Now showing for 2017 & 2018 year 2, 3, and 5 bedrooms homes all close to campus. Call 309-331-4565. Westen Investments has only two 4-Bedroom brich houses available. Call our office at 309-833-5995 to schedule a showing! We will show to 2-3 person groups as well! STC Investments now leasing for the 18/19 school year. We have 1-6 bedroom apartments/houses ready for you to call home! Check out our selection at www.stcinvestments.com. You can also find us on Facebook to see daily posts!
Kirby came in at fifth (15.16) and Thomas in seventh (15.27). Finishing up the personal bests were the 200-meter dash competitors. Junior Darius Patterson came in at 22.68 and freshman Jace Norman at 22.77. Meanwhile in Missouri, the Redhawks are practicing and preparing to outshine the Purple and Gold. Their goal is to be the hometown champions in this upcoming event. Last Saturday, the Redhawks competed in the Al Schmidt Bulldog Relays in Starkville, Tennessee. Like the Leathernecks, several men and women on the Southeast Missouri team had high finishes and new regional records. In the 1500-meter run, senior
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.
Eilish Overby had a fifth place finish with a time of 4:51.82. Junior Rachel Hutchcraft placed ninth in the women’s 5000-meter run, finishing in at 18:16.63, which makes it 52nd best in the region. In the men’s division, graduate student Chris Martin placed first in the men’s triple jump reaching 15.65 meters in the final round. Martin currently sits third in the regional rankings with this triple jump mark. Sophomore Jonathan Engelking placed fourth in the men’s javelin with a throw of 67.72 meters. He remains in eighth place in regional rankings after his performance this last weekend. These are just several of the Redhawks that the Leathernecks will have to watch out for this weekend. The events begin this Friday at 9 a.m.
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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
Sports 7
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
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It's time to pay student-athletes
As this school year continues to speed past us, it has come to my attention that more and more individuals have started to debate on whether or not collegiate athletes deserve to be paid for their participation in certain collegiate sports. To start out this debate on a logical note, we must realize that it is virtually impossible for collegiate athletes to maintain an outside job when they have practices, games, study tables and other responsibilities. Anybody who argues that collegiate athletes should be able to juggle a job on top of their sport has clearly never witnessed the schedule of a collegiate athlete. Between 5 a.m. practices, classes, team meetings and games, there is no realistic time that these athletes can set aside to maintain a job. With that being said, people who oppose the payment of college athletes often argue
that collegiate athletes usually receive hefty scholarships and therefore don’t really need to be paid extra for their sport. Sure athletes may receive large scholarships, but these scholarships do more than just cover tuition, travel expenses and athletic fees, they also provide the athletes with money to live off of. So now stands the question, why aren’t these athletes being paid back for the money that they make for their organizations and leagues? Collegiate athletes across the country are faced with a dilemma that has been an ongoing problem for these individuals for quite some time now: payment. Athletes who have chosen to participate in collegiate sports are oftentimes streamed on ESPN, included in video games, used in commercials for their selected sports, and yet don’t ever receive a check
for these different mediums of exploitation. The NCAA argues that paying college athletes would remove the amateur nature from the game, making it more about the money and less about the sport. It seems very convenient, however, that the organization making billions of dollars off these collegiate athletes would want to withhold payment from such athletes. One can only ask, does the NCAA really care about keeping the game amateur? Or are they just maintaining this stance so that they end up with more money in their own pockets? To give an example, let us look at the phenomenon that is currently the highest talked about topic in collegiate sports, March Madness. Last year, the NCAA made over $1 billion during the March Madness tournament, none of which would be paid back to the players. The NCAA receives high amounts of revenue between merchandising, ticket sales and more, while the student athletes never receive a dime for their play in these tournaments. Without the participation of these collegiate athletes, there
would be no tournament, and therefore it is only fair that the league begins to consider payment options for these athletes who make billions of dollars for the NCAA. The athletes participating in this tournament walk away with nothing more than the experience, some free apparel and maybe an injury or two, while the league walks away with more money in their pockets. When looking at collegiate athletics from a football standpoint, it is even more disappointing to find that these players are making such large sums of money for their regulatory organizations and are continuing to receive no cut of the money that they help make. College football makes the NCAA approximately $3.4 billion a year. People pay to watch these players go out and endanger their bodies, so why wouldn’t these players get a cut of the money that is being earned directly because of their performances? Reggie Bush, former NFL player and previous star of the USC football team, agrees with this point. “You know the way I look at it, especially for football, they're putting their bodies
and livelihoods on the line. Just like we are, even at the professional level,” Bush said. “Just to say that college education is enough when the universities are making so much money off the athletes. They're selling your likeness. Selling your jerseys, bobbleheads, whatever else, blankets, whatever else they can sell, while you are there for those 3 or 4 years.” Bush feels that collegiate football players should be compensated for all the money they make for the league and their schools, which is only fair considering just how much revenue they make for the NCAA. Just as it works in basketball, sports fans across the country pay tons of money to watch their favorite football teams play while the players, who ultimately attract the fans, receive nothing to compensate for that. So the bottom line is simple, if collegiate athletes are making your organization billions of dollars, it only seems fair that they receive a cut of this revenue. When will the NCAA stop withholding money from their athletes?
Tennis continues to take on the Summit By Bradly Piros courier staff
Mary Bjelica swings her racket in a singles match at home.
GOLEATHERNECKS.COM
MACOMB, Ill. — The Western Illinois women’s tennis team heads back to the courts tomorrow afternoon as they take on the South Dakota State Jackrabbits in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Western isn’t in the best condition right now. They have had a two-game losing streak, which started on St. Patrick’s Day weekend against Omaha and South Dakota. They are going to try and bounce back and get their first Summit League win. The Jackrabbits are also on a losing streak. Sitting at 0-13 on the season, they are hungry for their first win. Western will seize the opportunity and hopefully get the win to jump start a dramatic ending to the season. Last time out for the Leathernecks was against the University of South Dakota Coyotes, when they were defeated 5-2. This loss dropped Western down to an even 7-7 on the season and moved USD up to an even 8-8. The Coyotes came right out of the gate and took the doubles point and then defeated sophomore Laura Ballesteros in the No. 3 singles spot to take an early 2-0 lead. Freshman Ana Bjelica won in two sets (6-2, 6-4) in the No. 5 spot to get her side on the board and cut that lead in half. USD won the next three con-
secutive singles matches to take the lead to 5-1. Freshman Mary Bjelica was able to finish out her singles match in the No. 6 spot and won in all three sets (4-6, 7-6, 10-8). Last time out for USD was a 7-0 loss against the University of North Dakota. Once again, that was their 13 th loss in a row and their fourth loss being shut out completely. Western is more than confident that they can bounce back and get this win. “We fought again, but came up short against a very good South Dakota team,” said head coach Mirko Bjelica. “We have a week off to regroup and hopefully make a comeback in league play.” After another week of practice for both sides, everyone is eager to take back to the courts. After this match against USD, Western will continue on towards the Summit League Championships, as they travel to Oral Roberts University this Saturday, and then take a twoweek break before heading up to Sioux Falls, South Dakota to take on the University of Denver Pioneers. Western’s final home match will be on April 21, at 9 a.m. when they take on the visiting Quincy University Hawks. Until then, the Leathernecks look to get back to their winning ways and hopefully get on a hot streak to finish out the season. twitter: bradjp08
Track ready to ride momentum
By Brie Coder copy editor
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — After their first successful outdoor meet of the season last Saturday, the Western Illinois track and field teams are ready to keep the momentum going, as they take on the Southeast Missouri Redhawks at the Joey Haines Invite this Friday and Saturday. Last Saturday, the Leathernecks traveled to Carbondale, Illinois and competed in the Southern Illinois Invite. The Purple and Gold came out with seven personal records as well as Leatherneck all-time marks. Sophomore Michaela Busch set the bar high for her competitors, as she competed in three individual events, which placed her with high marks and new records. Busch won the high jump event with a 1.65 meter mark. Because of this high score, she is tied for ninth highest finish in Western’s record book. Her second personal best came in the javelin with 31.04 meters. The final event she was in was the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 15.53.
Freshman Amelia Peterson was right behind Busch, as she competed in three events this past weekend. She led her team in both the long jump (4.98 meters) and triple jump (11.18 meters). She finished off strong in the 100meter dash clocking in at 13.12. More personal records were made by the women's division. Freshman Victoria Adesola landed at 10.56 meters in the triple jump. Sophomores Abigail Richter and Nicole Beebe both had impressive times in their running events. Richter came in at 4:57.02 in the 1,500-meter run, and Beebe came in at 18:09.71 in the 5,000-meter run. Out of 22 female athletes in the 5,000meter run, both Beebe and Richter placed in the top-ten. In the men’s division, freshman Nick Olson captured the best finish of the day with a second place javelin throw of 46.19 meters. Sophomore Josh Kirby and junior Josh Thomas placed in the top-ten in the 110-meter hurdles. Patterson came in at 22.68 and freshman Jace Norman at 22.77.
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Josh Kirby sprints away from his competition.
GOLEATHERNECKS.COM
Leathernecks fall prey to Redbirds David Koier courier staff
Steve McShane winds up his swing.
JASMYNE TAYLOR/COURIER STAFF
Macomb, Ill. — The Western Illinois Leathernecks baseball team lost on Tuesday to the Illinois State Redbirds, 8-4. Sophomore pitcher Matt Walker scored the win today for the Redbirds while redshirtfreshman Alex Dorethy was the losing pitcher. The Purple and Gold are now only 3-15 on the season, scoring their last win against the Saints of Maryville University last week. This win brings Illinois State’s record to 8-11. The bats didn’t seem to be hot for the Leathernecks as the Purple and Gold were only able to put up 8 hits to Illinois State’s 10. The Redbirds seemed unsuccessful with runners on base as they left 9 runners on base during the matchup. Leading the Leathernecks offensively were sophomore right fielder Drue Galassi and junior first baseman Bailey Montgomery. Galassi came into Tuesday’s game with a .167 batting average but ended up going two for four with an RBI bringing his average up to a .192. Montgomery went into the game with a .333 team leading batting average. He went one for three with an RBI and a sacrifice bunt. Montgomerycurrentlystillhasa.333 batting average.
The first inning was pretty silent from both sides as the teams accumulated for only two hits. The second inning was quite uneventful as well as both teams went three up three down keeping the game tied scoreless. It wasn’t until the third inning when business finally picked up. The Redbirds started off the innings with a pair of singles and a walk to load the bases. Another single by sophomore Jordan Libman scored the first run of the game. A sacrifice fly later and the Redbirds jumped to a 2-0 lead. Senior Noah Sadler scored an RBI as he reached first on a fielder’s choice. A pop fly to right field sent the inning to the Leathernecks with the score 3-0. Two early outs made it seem like the Leathernecks weren’t going to be able to score. Freshman designated hitter Caleb Jacobs brought the Leathernecks hopes up with a two out single to right field. Junior outfielder Steve McShane put the Purple and Gold on the board with a triple that scored Jacobs shortening the Redbirds lead to 3-1. A single by Galassi later and the Leathernecks were only down 3-2.
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