Western Courier| November 11th, 2019 by The Western Courier

Opinions: Support veterans on Veteran's Day.

Sports: Men's soccer secures top seed in Summit League Playoffs.

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Monday, November 11, 2019 - Vol. 120 Issue 35

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SGA discusses search for new president

Colton Markey speaks to SGA.

By Marc Ramirez news editor During Tuesday’s Student Government Association meeting, Chair to the Board of Trustees Polly Radosh spoke to the delegation regarding the presidential search. Radosh started off by letting students know that the board needs to hear from them just as much as they need to hear from the board. The first question asked was what distinct skills should the next president of Western Illinois University possess? SGA President Colton Markey answered that the next university president needs to be student-centered and have demonstrated this in their past experience, especially with the diverse student body we have. Amber Shupe, College of Arts and Sciences Senator, added that the candidate should be open minded and have a want to listen and actively ask for advice. Casa Latina Senator added that the new president should continue to build upon what Interim President Martin Abraham is trying to accomplish and establish a more diverse and inclusive campus with an emphasis on social justice. The group was then asked what personal qualities they are looking for in the next Western President. Shupe suggested that they search for someone who has experience and/or ties to the university. “We hope we hire someone who does not see us as a stepping stone to another job,” Shupe said. When asked what priorities the Board of Trustees and the search committee should maintain during a search for the next president, the Casa Latina proxy stated that social justice is one of their top

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priorities. The Unity Senator Paul Copelard said that they should seek out someone who offers representation of diversity which is essential for them to have a vision for the future. Shupe also added that they should be able to balance high quality and low cost operations of the institution. Cecilia Langill, Graduate Studies Senator, voiced that they should be able to show the ability to make strategic decisions for the future. Markey included that they should have experience in outside academics and show a good combination of academics and student services as they are both equally important to a student’s success at Western. Inter-Hall Council Senator Dhalaboy Guilavoqui thought that the potential president should be someone who makes their own decisions. Director of Academic Affairs Araceli Villagomez said that it should be someone who is well-versed in academia and has knowledge of both the professor and student perspectives. Director of Student Services Ryan Homer vocalized his want for a candidate who recognizes our challenges and has insight and experience in those. Vice President Daria Levchenko stated that she imagines someone with vision transparency of our diversity who will explain and back up the decisions of the university. The crowd was then asked whether they favor a presidential search that is national, regional or internal, and why. Villagomez stated that she favors a regional and internal search because then they would have more knowledge about how Illinois government works along with the line of communication. Markey agreed with Villagomez but stated that with-

DEVON GREENE/ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Chairperson Polly Radosh speaks at the Board of Trustees meeting.

out National Academic Affairs, we may not get the diverse pool of candidates. When asked how many would favor a national search over a regional search, 16 voted in favor of a national search and four were in favor of a regional search. According to Radosh, numerous people from various constituency groups have suggested that the Board of Trustees appoint Interim President Martin Abraham as president with an initial 3-year contract. When she asked students in attendance their thoughts on this, Shupe responded that she does not know enough about what he does to fully support him. Copelard stated that he believes in Abraham but doesn’t believe that Western should limit themselves to just him. “He is open minded and will use students opinions in his actions,” Markey said when speaking about Abraham. “He is also very proactive in student activities. So, I would support his three-year contract, but I am not against a National Search.” Victoria Harmon, College of Fine Arts and Communication Senator, expressed her fear that hasty decisions might be made if someone else is searched for right now. She stated that she is in favor of hiring Abraham for three years and continuing to conduct the search during those three years. However, it was stated that if we were to hire him, we would not be doing another search, he would be the 12th president of Western and at the end of the three years, his contract would be up for renewal. Centennial Honors College Senator Kinsey Tiemann expressed that she felt that Abraham has created a more positive light in the me-

dia when portraying Western and that she wonders if we would be spending an unnecessary amount of time conducting a search when we have a candidate who can fill the position already. Copeland said that we should consider not making hasty decisions from the National Search, but also not hire Abraham out of convenience. Langill said that Abraham has built a lot of relationships but he seemed to have looked over the Graduate Studies offices. “From mine and my colleagues experiences here at Western, I believe it is an Undergraduate focused institution and I’m not sure I would encourage people to come here to do graduate studies not because of a poor relationships, but because I do not believe there really is a relationship,” Langill said. “Graduate students do not have a direct line of communication to the administration like the undergraduates do other than the Graduate Studies Senator position that was only made two years ago. I would like to see other things being done for other graduate students who have a different perspective than my own.” Radosh stated that graduate students have been a core of this institution for a very long time and that they will work on it. When surveying the room about who in attendance would vote for Abraham as the 12th President of Western, it resulted in a vote of 13-1-7. Langill asked what the process of hiring a new president was and it was explained that there is not a current process. However, it was stated that the university is currently gathering information by the December board meeting so

that we can determine a process. Langill asked what is the intended budget to be used when searching for the new presidential candidate. It was made known that it is an expensive cost; the University of Iowa spent $306,000 and University of Minnesota spent $260,000. It was also stated that a portion of the first year salary along with the cost of the search but the expense is not a reason to not find a good candidate. When it was asked what would be done if there are no applicants, Radosh answered that it would then be considered a failed search, meaning that they would then try again. Langill asked if the administration was planning to bring back those who applied before. The answer was yes, that they will send out letters suggesting that they reapply for a new position. “For that search, we were looking for a Provost which could eventually lead them to becoming President under certain circumstances,” Radosh said. “Typically, they have already found a job.” It was also made clear that if Abraham received the initial 3-year contract, he would be named the 12th President of Western. With this appointment, Western would be allowed to immediately begin the search for a Provost. Levchenko then asked if we are talking to others about hiring a new president. It was answered that yes, we are. Faculty forums have been held with the COEP, deans and directors, administrators, vice presidents and higher administrators. There have also been faculty executive council for the senate, faculty and civil service.

2 NEWS

Monday, November 11, 2019

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The Vitamin Lady looks for buyer By Devon Greene editor-in-chief

The Vitamin Lady is closing her doors at the end of November unless she finds a buyer by the end of the month. Cindy Mitchell has owned the 18 West Side Square residence since 1979 and has been a staple of the downtown community. Mitchell announced on Facebook on Nov. 5 that the business is available for purchase. “Vitamin Lady store is for sale. If anyone out there is interested, please come in and talk with me so I don’t have to close the doors,” the post read. In the same post, Mitchell announced that she had a potential buyer, but they could not receive the necessary loan from the bank in order to purchase the store. Mitchell is still looking for buyers so she does not have to close the doors. Mitchell has announced sales on Facebook on merchandise including 35 percent off on all salt lamps, clothing, food/tea items, all supplements, African baskets, gift baskets, essential oils, jewelry, crystal wind chimes, beauty products, laundry soaps, tarot cards and all gift items. The Vitamin Lady’s last day on the square will be Nov. 27.

DEVON GREENE/ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The Vitamin Lady's business has been open since 1979.

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Monday, November 11, 2019

NEWS 3

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Beginning Monday, Nov. 4, a section of University Drive (from Brophy Hall to Western Avenue) and a section of Western Avenue (to University Drive) will have one lane closed for street repair. Construction will last approximately two weeks weather permitting. Good at graphic design? Understand page layout? Know how to work the Abode Creative Suite?

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OPINIONS

In honor of Veteran’s Day, I would like to start by giving a big thank you to the women and men who have or are currently serving to protect this country. Thank you for the sacrifice of your time, energy and lives to ensure that we civilians continue to enjoy the rights and privileges of living in the U.S.A. Although taking moments like this to remember and thank veterans for their sacrifice and service on Veteran’s Day is important, it should not be the stopping point. There are many, many more

Monday, November 11, 2019

things we should be doing to honor and serve our veterans both today and every other day of the year. These things range from those we should be doing at the individual level to those we should be doing on a societal level. So, what are some of these ways we can show veterans our appreciation? At the individual level, a key way to show honor and respect would be to get to know the veteran on more personally. Don’t just treat them as another person you feel obligated to say “thank

you.” Ask them about their service (when they served, how long they served, what branch of the military they were in, what their role was, what countries they traveled to). It is also important to ask more general questions about them (outside of their service). What are their hobbies? How is their family doing? Obviously, you should try to stay away from questions and topics that would bring back traumatic memories or experiences, but asking them some of these general questions gives them the chance to tell their stories and feel seen. On a societal level, there are many things we should be doing year-round to show our appreciation for our veterans. It is heartbreaking

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to know that around 40,000 veterans are homeless each night, 9.4 percent of veteran women and 6.4 percent of veteran men live in poverty, and suicide rates are 2.2 times higher for veteran women and 1.3 times higher for veteran men (in comparison to non-veterans). As civilians, we should be doing all that we can to ensure that those who have sacrificed so much for us are properly taken care of when they return home. We should be supporting programs that help returning veterans to adapt economically, socially, mentally and physically to society. These programs include services that help veterans find fulfilling careers, that provide affordable housing, that provide accessible mental health

services and that provide assistance for veterans returning with disabilities. We can support these programs by electing leaders that actually care about these issues and by contacting our representatives to discuss these concerns. We can also support our veterans by volunteering or supporting local veteran serving organizations in our own communities. So, as you go about on this fine Veteran’s Day, be sure to say thank you to each and every veteran you meet. But more than that, show them the honor and respect they deserve. Learn about their stories and experiences. Fight for their rights, safety and well-being like they fought for yours. Because they did fight for yours.

The social impact of AirPods Clout is defined as influence or power, especially in relation to business or politics. Recently, clout has taken on another form: monetary value and social status. The lengths that some people will go to in order to gain clout is embarrassing. In recent years, Apple has introduced “AirPods,” which is a wireless bluetooth headphone set that allows you to make calls and listen to music without any type of cords attached to either the phone or the headphones themselves. While the intended purpose of AirPods is to listen to music without the inconvenience of getting tangled in the cords, younger generations utilize the technology for the sole purpose of proving that they can afford it. Apple is using the fact that our generation is so focused on having the next best thing before anyone else does as a way to entice the public to buy their

product. Our generation has become so materialistic, and "AirPods" are the perfect example of the effect that they desire to appear wealthy has on people. While it is socially encouraged to wear them in public, some people do not understand that there is a time and a place to wear them. An example of a bad time people wear them is while in a restaurant or out at a bar. I have seen people walking around at the bar with “AirPods” in. Is the music not good enough for you here and who are you trying to impress? People who do this look like fools. Walking to classes, working out or studying at the library are perfectly acceptable times and locations to use them. I think some people just get too carried away with trying to impress others, or maybe it is simply a fast fading trend to wear them in circumstances that do not warrant headphones. Ei-

ther way, if you do this please knock it off, you look foolish. Apple’s “AirPods” have such an impact on our generation that companies create and sell affordable knockoffs that look almost identical to the originals. Some foreign companies have gone as far as to make fake "AirPods" that do not even work. The British company ASOS, an online clothing store, literally sells a piece of metal that vaguely resembles an AirPod to consumers. Here is the kicker: it is a best seller! How absolutely insane is that? People will spend money on fake products just to create the illusion that they have a large amount of disposable income. I cannot begin to comprehend where people would even wear the fake "AirPods" that don’t even work. The lengths that some people will go to just to portray that they have money is ridiculous, and it just further exemplifies the notion that our current society has become extremely materialistic in comparison to past generations. Basically, people really will do anything for clout.

AirPods are some of Apple's best selling products.

AirPods are wireless bluetooth headphones.

FLICKR.COM

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a better version of yourself, somewhere deep within you, or is there? Netflix series Living with Yourself explores just that very concept. Layout by: Jimy Pierson

CONT. E.2

Written by: Tea Wheat

E2 EDGE

Monday, November 11, 2019

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“Living With Yourself” explores self concept The show follows Miles Elliot, who lives an ordinary life. Elliot goes to work early and returns late, but it isn’t long before viewers can tell that he is not living a very happy life at all, he is having issues at his job and him and his wife are struggling to have children. Elliot appears to be depressed and like he has lost all hope. It is one day after he is supposed to give a pitch, that he did not have prepared at all, that he noticed how perfect his co-worker Dan appears to be. Later that day, Dan explains to Elliot that he had gone to a spa and that ever since then, he feels like a new man,

like the better version of himself. Dan explains how you can only go to the spa if a past customer has recommended you, so he gives Elliot the information and urges him to go to the spa. Elliot, after returning home on this awful day, begins to think more and more about the card that his coworker had given him. Elliot decides to call the spa and is met with a very sharp voice on the other end of the phone telling him the price for the spa treatment and where it is located. Elliot, going out on a limb, pulls out his entire life savings and goes to the spa. From the

The popular show is now streaming on Netflix.

outside, the spa appears very gross and run-down, but on the inside, it is extremely high-tech and beautiful. He gives the men at the spa his money and begins his treatment. As the treatment is beginning, the two men begin to argue and fiddle with what appears to be a laughing gas tank, but soon Elliot is asleep. He then wakes up wrapped in saran wrap and buried in the ground. Somehow, he manages to dig himself out of the ground and out of the wrap. Elliot is naked wearing nothing but a diaper, but he begins to run through the forest where he woke up. He runs all the way to his house, barefoot and naked. When Elliot arrives at his home, he notices that something is not right, he grabs a bat and continues. He is then met at the bottom of the stairs by another Elliot. He is standing face to face with himself. The two go out into the garage and have a talk, and

upon neither of them understanding the situation they agree to return to the spa. Upon returning to the spa, it is made known to Elliot that the Spa treatment he paid over $20,000 to be cloned. The men at the spa had made a clone of the new Miles, including replacing all memories and knowledge the old Elliot had, and then had attempted to kill the old Elliot, which clearly did not work. The rest of the series follows the two men on their journey of living with themselves. This show has been well received by those who have watched it, receiving an 84 percent rating by the critic’s Rotten Tomatoes. According to Rotten Tomatoes, “Living with Yourself takes a minute to come together, but once it does it proves to be a clever rumination on identity driven by Paul Rudd’s impressive dueling performances”.

TVSERIESFINALE.COM

POPSUGAR.COM

Paul Rudd stars as two versions of his one character, Miles.

E3 EDGE

Monday, November 11, 2019

WesternCourier.com

Pat Sajak's road to recovery

One of America’s beloved game show hosts underwent emergency surgery this past week. Pat Sajak, the host of Wheel of Fortune, had surgery to correct a blocked intestine. Filling in for him while he is home and recovering, is longtime letter-turner Vanna White. Sajak’s surgery was so unexpected that the show’s taping this past Thursday had to be canceled. Sajak is the second game show host to experience

health issues within the past year, as “Jeopardy!” host Alec Trebek was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Since joining Wheel of Fortune back in 1981, Sajak hasn’t missed very many games. He has only missed four since taking on the hosting job in ’81. Sajak got into trouble a few years back, when he was recorded saying that he had hosted the show drunk before. In an interview with Dan Le Batard's

"Highly Questionable" back in 2012, Sajak was asked if he had ever hosted the show drunk. He replied that back when he first took over, the show was different. Because of this, he and Whitea would head over to a local Mexican restaurant and have margaritas before the final taping of shows. The backlash that Sajak received from this wasn’t good and he apologized after the interview was released. I’m interested to see how White does with hosting the show by herself. In popular culture, White is often made fun of for her lack of talking and just being a pretty face. While I don’t necessarily agree with those memes, I do agree that

she doesn’t really talk much on the show. It’s understandable, however, because if she did talk, she would slow the show down and they are very organized at the studio. But, because of her lack of interaction with the contestants, I am curious to see how she will do. She knows what she’ll be doing but knowing what to do is often very different from doing it. I think she will do just fine, but we will have to wait and see until the first tapings of her hosting air. Sajak is one of the most iconic television hosts of our time, and whether you like him or not, this news sucks. I remember watching Wheel of Fortune with my parents every night and would get enamored with each and ev-

ery game. The best part of it all for me was Sajak. The way he worked with the audience and the contestants alike is amazing. Now he does it more subtly than the way I make it sound, but he knows how to do his job and he knows how to do it well. The game won’t be the same without him, even if it’s for a couple of weeks or months (no one is sure yet of his recovery timeline). So next time you are flipping around the channels looking for something to watch, don’t be afraid to tune in to Wheel of Fortune. Sajak might be back, or maybe you’ll see White holding strong and waiting for her cohost to return. Let’s wish for a speedy recovery.

ABC7NEWS.COM

The popular game show consists of solving word puzzles for cash prizes.

AOL.COM

COMPLEX.COM

Vanna White stepped in for Pat Sajak as the host during the show's 37th season.

Sajak and White began hosting together in 1982.

E4 EDGE

Monday, November 11, 2019

WesternCourier.com

The art of playing the long game Playing a long game in movies, TV., books, etc. takes a special skill. It also comes with a huge risk because many factors can derail your plans. I mean, how many shows have been canceled, leaving questions unanswered? Most of them you probably wouldn’t count as a long game, but still. Other factors could be a change of direction of the show for whatever reason and sometimes they just forget. Playing the long game means having a long-term plan or goals or doing things now that set up the future. It’s hard to tell what had been planned unless the writers reveal it later and what just happened by chance, so we aren’t going to worry about that. The

long game can be frustrating for a lot of people but the end result is sometimes the best part of the series. I will say that a lot of little hints of the long game here and there are probably just little Easter eggs or just something you can revisit in a story. This is something they do all the time in wrestling. It is very rare that they actually play the long game on purpose, at least over more than a year or so, due to a number of things that can happen, like injuries. An example of WWE using a revisit for a storyline was over the summer when WWE Champion Kofi Kington renewed his rivalry with Randy Orton using their rivalry in 2009 that never really paid off. There are a decent num-

ber of examples for the long game working. I wrote an article last semester of the series a Throne of Glass and one of the things I loved about it was things that were set up in the first book that weren’t revealed until the last one. The teasing of The Thirteen’s redemption was one of my favorite things, not only because I love redemption stories but because at first, the story revolving The Thirteen was boring but that changed quickly. Fairy Tail is very good at playing the long game. Things that are teased early are revealed over 100 episodes later and you might forget about it, but it is fun to look back and find those things. This is actually a good transition to Doctor Who that has both types of a long game. Doctor Who also had a problem though the River Song stuff that happened 2008-2015 was hit or miss as it was very confusing at times, and the long game with Amy Pond and

Clara Oswald had its moments, but it felt like they tried too hard to put it all together at the end as they ran out of time. It is fun to rewatch episodes of the show and catch things that you missed. Now for an example of the long game not working, I will say I am behind on Marvel’s Agents of Shield, but I know that the direction of the show changed a bit. Marvel didn’t own X-Men so they decided to go with Inhumans which was a nice change of pace. The first few seasons of the show built up this arc of the Inhumans and it was supposed to lead to the Inhumans movie that was planned as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. For whatever reason, that planned movie turned into a TV series that only lasted a couple of episodes. I believe that the Inhuman stuff is still a thing but it’s no longer the focus. The long game can be hit or miss but when it hits, it hits hard.

TVSERIESBOY.COM

Inhumans was originally set to be a movie, but ended up being a short series.

DIGITALSPY.COM

WWE Champion Kofi Kington was at the center of a rivalry that was never really resolved.

OPINIONS 5

Monday, November 11, 2019

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Rodney Reed awaits his execution

In 29 of the 50 states in the U.S., the death penalty is still used. Many advocates would argue for the death penalty as a measure to execute criminals who have committed heinous & unforgettable crimes. Well, in this instance a Texas prisoner, Rodney Reed, is slated to be executed on Nov. 20 for a murder he committed 18 years ago. However, new evidence may prove that Reed

may actually be innocent, but that’s only if he’s given the chance. In 1998, Rodney Reed was convicted of the rape and murder of 19 year old Stacey Stites, two years prior. When Reed was first questioned on his involvement with Stites, he initially denied knowing her, only to admit to having an affair with her. Even though Reed had people who testified on his behalf, the

forensic evidence found on Stites pretty much made the case locked against his favor, even though he claimed to have had sex with her two days prior to her murder. No more than 18 years later as Reed awaits his execution, more evidence has come out that has put his conviction at odds. For one, a person within the Stites family has admitted to knowing about the affair between the two individuals, and the most explosive admission comes from Stites fiance at the time, Jimmy Fennell. Fennell, who was incarcerated in the Stevenson unit is believed to have confided

in another inmate and flat out admitted to murdering Stites after learning about her affair with Reed. With all of this further information being revealed, it would be a tragedy if Reed wasn’t further reviewed. As a result of this, many celebrities as the likes of Kim Kardashian West, Rihanna, Meek Mill, Oprah Winfrey and more have lobbied Texas Governor Greg Abbott to delay Reed’s scheduled execution. Furthermore, 13 law enforcement members with more than 250 years of combined experience had filed a friend-of-the-court brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in

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favor of Reed. A petition in favor of Reed has surpassed two million signatures as it continues to grow. For those who argue in favor of the death penalty, I understand the argument of bringing heinous criminals to justice, but potentially wrongfully executing someone for a crime they may not have committed is not what justice is about. As of the publishing of this article, Reed is still scheduled for execution on Nov. 20. If you disagree, sign this petition: https://www.change. org/p/stop-the-executionof-rodney-reed and contact Texas Governor Abbot at (512) 463-1782.

Contact Allison Young

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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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2019 Fall Semester Editorial Board

Edge Editor - Marc Ramirez Editor-in-Chief - Devon Greene Opinions Editor - Allison Young

Monday, November 11, 2019

SPORTS

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Mid-season MVP award predictions Volleyball falls in Oral Roberts josh purnell courier staff

We are officially at the halfway point of the NFL season and so far, we have seen some impressive performances on the field. Some players are once again having another magnificent season so far and there are players who have sent a shock wave through the league. During the first half of the season, I’ve been changing my midseason MVP award ballot based on what I’ve been seeing each week. Every week it gets tougher and tougher because so many players have been amazing to watch. Now, I officially have my mid-season MVP award ballots. Some may not be a surprise and some may be a surprise, but here they are: 5. Joey Bosa, DE, San Francisco 49ers This might be ludicrous but I’m still waiting for the moment a defensive player wins Most Valuable Player. Last season, Aaron Donald was my number two pick behind Patrick Mahomes for MVP. The last defensive player to win MVP was Lawrence Taylor. Taylor won MVP in 1986 and led the league with 20.5 sacks. Bosa has been by far the best defensive player in the league and he’s only a rookie. His 8.5 sacks so far this year is part of the reason, the San Francisco 49ers are the number one team in the league with an 8-0 record. Defensively, the 49ers are ranked the No. 1 defense in the league and No. 3 team with the most sacks. If Bosa continues to have a Pro Bowl season like he’s having now, he will be unanimously the Defensive

Rookie of the Year. 4. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Carolina Panthers McCaffrey is the most dominant running back in the league right now and it’s not even close. This guy is a true highlight reel player. He can do it all and for the opposing defense, it’s scary to see. The fact that each opponent they face each week knows he’s the focal point of their offense and he continues to perform at a high level each week explains why he’s my mid-season MVP candidate. McCaffrey is currently second, leading rushing in yards with 881 yards. He is ranked No. 1 in rushing touchdowns with 10. McCaffrey also ranked No. 1 averaging 110.1 yards per game. There are eight games left in the season. If McCaffrey continues to play this way, don’t be surprised if he cracks the 2,000 yards mark by the end of the season. 3. Deshaun Watson, QB, Houston Texans I don't think there is anyone in the league that has a more impressive highlight reel than Deshaun Watson. This guy can do it all and the last thing a defense wants to deal with is a QB that knows how to throw and run the ball. Even when the defense pressures him, he has the ability to extend plays. This is why Watson’s sack rate went down from 10.9 percent to 7.6 percent. The Houston Texans' offense is currently ranked the third best offense in the league. Watson has 432 passing yards and 18 touchdowns. With a 107.1 passing rate, he’s only thrown five inter-

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ceptions so far this season. Last season, Watson threw seven interceptions mid-way through the season. Houston is currently fourth in the AFC conference with a 6-3 record. If Watson continues to play at a high level and create more highlight reel plays, we’ll be seeing Houston back in the playoffs. 2. Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens When Jackson was selected by the Baltimore Ravens with the 32nd pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, he told Deion Sanders he would deliver Baltimore a Super Bowl. That is one bold statement to make for someone that was drafted last in the first round. Absolutely nobody believes Jackson could play the quarterback position on a professional level, he was told to switch his position to a receiver, but he refused to do so. Jackson felt a lot of doubt coming from the league and that was okay with him. Since the 2019 season started, Jackson has been all about business, terrorizing every opponent the Baltimore Ravens' face. Every time I take a glance at him out there on the field, I feel like I’m watching Michael Vick. Their playing style is the same, the only difference is that Jackson is more accurate than Vick. The Ravens stand as the second team in the AFC conference. They are currently on a four-game winning streak and this past Sunday's game was probably the biggest reason he’s No. 2 on my list. Lamar and company beat the New England Patriots 37-20. New England, who has the best defense in the league, could not find a way to stop Jackson. Jackson’s numbers may not be the same as all the

other QB, but he is the clear-cut focal point of the offense and he is playing phenomenally. Jackson has 1,813 passing yards and 12 touchdowns. He rushed for 637 yards and five touchdowns. He is currently the leading rusher at the quarterback position. If Jackson continues to play this way, we’ll be seeing the Ravens in the AFC Championship. 1. Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle Seahawks Wilson is having the best season of his career so far. He’s literally carrying this franchise on his back and he’s been nothing but amazing while doing so. For a 5-foot-11 QB who looks calm and collected in the pocket under pressure, he seems to have figured out the game. He knows he doesn’t have the “Legion of Boom” anymore and so he took it upon himself to change his game and play like the franchise quarterback you are seeing upon your very eyes. With the receiveing core that absolutely any quarterback would have struggled with besides Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers, it is a sight to behold. His ability to escape the pocket and throw an accurate pass on the run is beautiful to watch. Wilson is currently third in the league with 2,505 passing yards and 22 touchdowns. He has thrown 200 out of 293 completions and only has one interception. The Seahawks currently stand as the No. 4 team in the NFC conference with a 7-2 record. They are ranked fourth in total offense and fifth in the league, averaging 27.1 points per game. The success of the offense is because of Wilson and being able to dominate at a high level with not one legitimate Pro Bowl offensive player on his team, is something magical to see.

By Zach Remelius courier staff

TULSA, Okla. — It was a tough battle, but the Golden Eagles of Oral Roberts prevailed against the Leathernecks in five sets. The first set went to the Leathernecks 25-23, highlighted by a six point run that put the Leathernecks in position to hold off Oral Roberts and take the early lead. In the second set, the Leathernecks had a chance to take a commanding lead as they led 21-18. However, the Golden Eagles went on a 7-2 run to even things up at one set apiece with a score of 25-23 once again. The third set was dominated by the Leathernecks early on. They led the set 8-1 after some strong team play. Oral Roberts battled all the way back and were able to tie the game at 16. The score was knotted up again at 20 but Western took the lead and won set three to take a 2-1 lead. The fourth set was a dramatic back and forth affair. After 13 ties and nine lead changes, Oral Roberts got back to back points and won set four to send the game to a fifth set. Funnily enough, each set of the game so far had ended 25-23. The fifth set was where things came apart for the Leathernecks. The Golden Eagles took four of the first five points and when the teams switched courts, ORU led 8-4. They took the next several points and ended up with a 12-4 lead before finishing off Western 15-7 to take set five and win the match three sets to two. Cassie Hunt set a new personal record with 41 assists in this game and Mariah Mitchell was also able to get a career high in kills with 24. Aubrey Putman also had a strong game with 10 kills and 11 digs. For Oral Roberts, it was the seniors that led the way. The four seniors combined for 48 kills in the match; the Golden Eagles as a team had 59 kills. CeCe Madison had a 21 kill, 17 dig performance for ORU. Sarah Thiessen led the game with 24 digs. Her performance was big in ORU winning the dig battle 92-85. The loss drops the Leathernecks to 6-20 overall and 3-10 within The Summit League while Oral Roberts moved to 7-20 overall and 3-10 within The Summit League after the win.

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Football drops to 1-9 Men's basketball after 36-point loss falls in home By Alex Staab courier staff

Fargo, ND — Western Illinois (1-9) had a tall task in front of them when they had to travel to Fargo, N.D. to take on the top-ranked North Dakota State Bison (10-0). The Leathernecks did all they could against the talented Bison squad, putting up a season-high for NDSU opponents with 21 points. Yet that still wasn’t enough against the Bison, as the hosts took this one, 57-21. The Leathernecks got the ball first in front of 17,441 hostile fans in the FargoDome. Western Illinois pushed the ball at least 18 yards down the field, but then threw an interception just 1:14 into the game. It didn’t take too long for the Bison to capitalize on bringing in the Western Illinois interception, when Adam Cofield found the endzone from a mere one yard out, adding the extra point attempt to make it 7-0 just about five minutes in. Western Illinois continued to move it further down the field, but couldn’t find a seam just yet, turning it over on downs the next time down the field, and once again, North Dakota State answered, taking it 46 yards downfield, ultimately ending in a 10-yard TD run with a failed point after, setting the score at 13-0 around the mid-way point of the opening quarter. Needless to say, the second portion of the first quarter wasn’t nearly as active as the kickoff, as no scores happened. On top of that, between NDSU’s most recent score and the end of the quarter, each team only got the ball once, with both sides working the clock. Now, the Bison saw the quarter run out on them, but that didn’t make a difference for them. NDSU found the endzone all of 1:27 into the quarter to make it 20-0. The second quarter saw a significant lack of scoring plays, but the Bison hit endzone turf once again, almost the identical point of the first quarter they had scored, 7:48

Kevin Johnson calls for his player to motion.

to be exact, and then it was 27-0. The Bison continued to establish consistency, one piece good for them, the other not so good. They scored yet again to make it 33-0, but failed to convert the point-after again. It took until 9:21 of the third quarter, but Western Illinois finally got on the board with a nine yard pass from Kevin Johnson to Clint Ratkovich, plus the Nathan Erickson kick, and although the Leathernecks had quite the comeback to make, at least putting points up on the board against a thoroughly talented NDSU team could be some kind of consolation, and the Leathernecks weren’t even done yet. Needing 75 yards to find the end zone, it was no problem for the Bison, who went right down the field and scored again to make it 40-7. However, the Leathernecks weren’t going down without a fight. They scored on the connection from Johnson to George Wahee from 17 yards to go with the Erickson kick and it was a 26-point game with 12:26 to go. This one started to get into ‘out of reach’ zone when the Bison scored on a singular 65 yard TD run by Jalen Bussey to make it a 33-point spread. Despite the deficit, there was one last positive in this one for the visiting Leathernecks. A 28-yard touchdown run by George Wahee and the Erickson PAT gave the Leathernecks their 21st point, the most points scored by an NDSU opponent this season. Even though Western Illinois did all they could offensively against the Bison, NDSU scored twice more, a field goal and 45-yard run to set the final score at 57-21 in favor of the home team. Western Illinois has a week to bounce back in practices before returning home to Hanson Field for Senior Day this Saturday, Nov. 16, with a 1 p.m. kickoff against the Salukis from Southern Illinois.

BECCA LANGYS/PHOTO EDITOR

opener to start 0-2 By Jacob VanZuiden courier staff

Saturday night’s showdown between the Western Illinois Fighting Leathernecks (0-1) and the Hatters of Stetson University (1-0) was a game where both teams showed plenty of grit and determination. The contest held in Macomb marked the first regular-season home game of the 2019-20 season for the Leathernecks, looking to carry over their strong play from a season ago at home (7-6 record at Western Hall last year; 2-14 away). After falling to Big Ten powerhouse Indiana in the season-opener by a score of 98-65, Western needed a strong showing against Stetson to get back on track. Perhaps the most interesting storyline from this matchup comes from starting point guard Kobe Webster, who was just 10 points shy of the 1,000-point milestone in his illustrious career heading into this one. The Leathernecks surely needed him and senior big man James Claar to have high-impact games to compete with the fortified frontcourt of Stetson. For Stetson, this was a game where they looked to make a statement after a commanding 84-26 victory in their first bout against Trinity Baptist. The Hatters, who feature an entirely new coaching staff this season led by head coach Donnie Jones, boast an impressive class of freshmen – all beginning with Mahamadou Diawara. Diawara, a 6-foot-10, 235 pound center from Bamako, Mali, is a prized four-star recruit and was ranked as the No. 179 prospect in the nation in the class of 2019. In his first game, the West African native placed second on his team in scoring with 10 points in the blowout. The first half of this contest was predominantly a defensive battle, as Western held a 31-26 lead heading into the break. For the Purple and Gold, it was none other than Webster who led the charge early on, sinking 4 of 11 shots to bring him to 999 career points. Claar was a force down low, swiping seven boards to go along with four points. The redshirt

MYANNA PERDUE

James Claar dunks inside Western Hall.

senior played a major role in a defensive statement by the Leathernecks, as the frontcourt held the Hatters’ big men to just 11 points in the first 20 minutes of play. For Stetson, it was a first half to forget. The Hatters went cold from the field, connecting on just nine of 27 shots. However, like Western, the team had a strong presence on the boards, gathering 22 rebounds of their own. Freshman guard Rob Perry was the team’s main source of offense, carrying a game-leading 11 points as time expired in the first half. Diawara surprisingly failed to make much of an impact, scoring just a single point as he struggled with foul trouble. Things finally began to heat up for the Hatters after the intermission beginning with a spectacular showing from Perry. Not only did he continue to lead the game in the point column, but he connected six three-pointers to give him an impressive 34 points. Diawara also found his groove, pouring in 12 second-half points in the paint, ending with 13 on the game. These two were the only Stetson players to end the match in double-figures. Unfortunately, Webster couldn’t get anything to fall in half number two, still sitting with 999 points for his career – something that ultimately led to Western’s demise. However, sophomore guard Zion Young provided the team with a much-needed spark, notching 24 points while knocking down 5-9 triples. Forward Ben Pyle (13 points) and guard C.J. Duff (11 points) were the only other two Leathernecks to score in doubledigits. It was a close, back and forth battle, but Western ended up falling short 75-77 as the game came down to the final seconds. It was a crushing loss for Western after leading for a majority of the game, dropping their record to 0-2 on the young season. They’ll look to bounce back in their next matchup versus the University of Tennessee – Martin on Nov. 13. This upcoming contest against the Skyhawks will mark the second of four straight home games for the Leathernecks held at Western Hall.

Zion Young receives the ball.

MYANNA PERDUE

Men’s soccer defies all odds to win fifth regular season title By Bradley Piros sports editor

GOLEATHERNECKS.COM

Ryan DeBois follows through while taking a shot.

BECCA LANGYS / PHOTO EDITOR

Tim Trilk dives to the ground to make a save.

TULSA, Okla. – The Western Illinois University men’s soccer team kicked off their season with an 11-game losing streak. They turned it around and went 5-1-1 in their last seven games of the season and 4-1 in the conference to secure a spot in The Summit League Tournament. On Saturday, the Leathernecks were given the task to take down the best team in The Summit, the Oral Roberts University Golden Eagles. The game had huge stakes on the line and Western was able to find a way to pick up yet another clutch win. With the dramatic 2-1 win, Western shares The Summit League regular season championship with Oral Roberts. Both teams ended conference play with a 4-1 record, but Western clinched the No. 1 seed in the tournament due to the head-tohead tiebreaker. Western won their fifth regular season title and it was the third time that the Leathernecks have shared it. It was no easy task either. Oral Roberts was nationally ranked as the No. 20/24 team in the nation. It was the first time Western beat a ranked opponent since 2008 when they took down the No. 17 Bradley Braves. Also with the win, Western now gets to host the 2020 Summit League Championships

right here in Macomb on John Mackenzie Alumni Field. The game against ORU played out to be pretty boring through 80 minutes. Both teams had their chances in the first half, but it was still even as ORU slightly outshot western 3-2 at the half. The second half, specifically around the 75th minute, things began to pick up. ORU rattled off four shots and had a corner kick within a seven minute span. In the 82nd minute, junior forward Ryan DeBois took a shot that won his team a corner kick. Junior defender Paul Kirdorf took the kick aimed towards freshman defender Kyle Owen. Owen headed the ball down to the feet of junior forward Daisuke Otsuka who scored the goal to make it 1-0 as he was falling to the ground. Oral Roberts had a couple of corner kicks and a few shots after the goal, but couldn't find the equalizer. Instead, Western doubled their lead in the 89th minute. Junior goalkeeper Tim Trilk picked up his first career assist when he punted the ball up field to senior midfielder Gimale Essacu who flicked it further up field to the feet of DeBois. DeBois stayed cool and put the ball away into the opposite corner for his eighth goal of the season. The scoring wasn’t done, however. In the 90th minute, ORU found the back of the net from The Summit League’s leading goal scorer Dante Brigida.

In the end, their comeback fell short as the Leathernecks defied the odds and picked up the 2-1 victory. The team now finds themselves back in The Summit League Tournament after missing out last year and is the No. 1 seed for the first time since 2011. The Leathernecks will face off against the No. 4 Omaha Mavericks in the first semifinal while No. 2 Oral Roberts takes on No. 3 Denver in the other. The winners will meet Saturday at 1 p.m. in The Summit League Championships. Omaha was Western’s one conference loss. It happened back on Oct. 5 when Western was handed a 3-1 loss. The Leathernecks fell behind 2-0 in the 60th minute before DeBois cut the deficit in half. The Mavericks sealed the deal in the 84th minute when they scored their third and final goal to send Western home empty handed. This time around, the game will be played on neutral ground, which could fair well for the Leathernecks. Western must build off their best win of the year and find a way to make it into that championship game on Saturday. Kickoff against Omaha will be this Thursday at noon from Denver. The second semifinal between ORU and Denver starts at 4 p.m. and the championship game begins at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16.

BECCA LANGYS / PHOTO EDITOR

Daisuke Otsuka jogs back towards the bench.

BECCA ;ANGYS / PHOTO EDITOR

Paul Kirdorf stays during practce.

focused

Women’s basketball bounces back after overtime loss to Mizzou By Michael Harms courier staff MACOMB, Ill. — The women’s basketball team secured their first win at Western Hall. After dropping a heated contest against SEC opponent Missouri, Western came back home and took on Culver-Stockton to notch their first victory. It was a slow start for the team, missing their two first shot attempts, and four straight free throws. Stockton took an early seven-point lead, and after a quick two and a half minutes of play, head coach JD Gravina was not happy. He pulled every single starter off the floor and let his bench run the rest of the first quarter. The team responded well going on a run of their own, creating multiple turnovers and starting the fast break. Stockton then made it a physical game, sending bodies down into the paint to stop Western from getting easy layups, but the fouls starting to pile up. Western was unable to take

advantage and went an abysmal 5-12 from the strip in the first half. The physicality of Western continued into the second quarter. Down 17-14 at the start, Olivia Kauffman led the charge with one goal in mind: get to the basket. That sparked a run for the Leathernecks scoring 10 straight in the paint, six from Kauffman, capped off with an Elizabeth Lutz three-pointer for Western to grab their first lead of the game, 27-26. Stockton responded themselves with a nine-point run but started to seem sluggish on the defensive end of the ball. The subs of Western came in and roared to life and grabbed a half-time lead, 36-35. With Stockton right on their heels, Western had a tough second half ahead. Gravina must have given the green light to the shooters at halftime because Western came out looking for big points. Five straight threepoint attempts later and Western still found themselves neck and neck with Stockton. The Purple and Gold kept the pace high and the pedal floored

as they dominated the third quarter with a 12-3 run, taking the lead for the last time. The last quarter proved a futile effort for the Wildcats to get back into it. They got the score to within three in the last few seconds, but never saw an opportunity to jump back into the lead. Kauffman ended with a game high 20 points and included seven assists and three steals to go along with her impressive offensive performance. However, it was Sam Pryor off the bench that made the most noise. After suffering a season long injury last year, Pryor returned to Western Hall in a big way, dropping 11 points from the bench and bringing a spark of offense that was needed many times over the night. The only concern from the team is the free throw shooting. Shooting 53 percent from the charity stripe is a recipe for losing, not winning. Now Gravina has a better idea of how to prepare his team moving forward. Their next game is on Tuesday against Illinois-Springfield.

Olivia Kaufmann guards the paint.

MYANNA PERDUE