Western Courier | March 23rd, 2018

Opinions: It's time for stricter gun control.

Sports: NFL free agency moves shake up the league.

Sports: Softball shutout

Friday, March 23, 2018 - Vol. 118 Issue 68

SGA candidates make introductions

By Nicholas Ebelhack editor-in-chief

GOLEATHERNECKS.COM

Student Member to the Board of Trustees candidate Justin Brown (top) and President candidate Grant Reed (bottom) participate in the Student Government Association's candidate meet in greet at Western Illinois University residence halls .

The Western Illinois University Board of Trustees will meet today at 8 a.m. in the University Union Capitol room for their quarterly meeting to consider items such as tuition rates for FY 19 and the 2018-2019 cost guarantees for the fall semester ’s incoming students.

Per the proposal, the recommendation being made is a zero percent increase in both undergraduate and graduate tuition and fees for FY 19, remaining at $284.70 per credit hour for new undergraduate students and at $323.64 per credit hour for new graduate students.

The agenda also includes a proposal for the board

to call for “the immediate restoration of fair and predictable funding to Illinois public higher in general and Western Illinois University in particular. ” In addition, items pertaining to room and board/housing rates, student fees and student health insurance fees for FY 19 are also to be presented. The recommendation proposed is a zero percent increase across all student fee categories.

The meeting will also consist of reports from the Higher Learning Commission, the President’s Executive Institute and Facilities Management. Vice President for Quad Cities and Planning Joe Rieves is also expected to present the quarterly update for “Higher Values in Higher Education.”

TOMORROW AT CHANDLER PARK

By Steven Barnum assistant news editor

Frustrated by a lack of action on preventing gun violence, hundreds of thousands of people are expected to participate in rallies on Saturday,

March 24.

The ‘March for Our Lives Organization’ has planned marches in over 800 cities around the world, according to vox.com. The main march will take place in Washington, D.C. at noon, though times will vary

depending on location.

To join the movement, local residents don’t have to travel outside of Macomb. A rally at Chandler Park is scheduled to take place at 10 a.m.

The rallies, which will encourage lawmakers to put politics

aside in favor of safety, are designed to continue the push for gun control. This movement is in response to the string of recent incidents like the Valentine’s Day mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland,

Fla., where 17 students were gunned down.

People can also contribute to the movement by making a donation at marchforourlives. com, which has received pledges from celebrities like George Clooney and Oprah Winfrey.

2

Friday, March 23, 2018

NEWS

By London Rivers courier staff

Sodexo Campus Services at Western Illinois University, is hosting its annual Stuff the Bus, Get off your Cans Food Drive.

After 10 years of involvement, Sodexo is teaming up with Loaves and Fishes, and the Western Illinois Regional Council-Community Action Agency food pantries to help generate awareness for this honorable cause. The cause is to help collect non-perishable canned goods that will be divided between these two organizations.

There will be smaller events leading into the official Stuff the Bus event. On March 24 and 25, Sodexo is also co-

WC Located on the third floor of the Heating Plant Annex on the south end of campus across from Sherman Hall.

Mail: 1 University Circle, WIU, Macomb, IL 61455 Phone: 309-298-1876 Fax: 309-298-2309 Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays E-mail: micour@wiu.edu Member: Illinois College Press Association, National Association College Press

sponsoring the annual Prairie Egg Hunt that will be held at the Lakeview Nature Center here in Macomb from 1-5 p.m.

The event will be held to benefit Loaves and Fishes, and the Western Illinois Regional Council-Community Action Agency food pantries.

The participation cost is $5, or $3 with two donated canned goods, and there is no registration required.

Spring into Action, formally known as Trick the Town, is taking place from April 2-5.

During this event, 36 volunteer groups are assigned a section of the town, where they place a bag with a note attached to every house in Macomb, informing residents about the event and encouraging them to donate.

On April 7, volunteers will return to residential homes to collect any donations provided for the cause, where they will be stored in a designated area until the day of the event. Feed the Hungry Games is another small event that will take place April 2-5.

This event is a competition amongst the residence halls.

Donation bins will be placed at each dining center on-campus including, Thompson, Corbin-Olson, BaylissHenninger, Tanner, LincolnWashington and Grote.

The bins will be arranged by residential floor in each residence hall, and the floor with the most donations will be eligible to win a pizza party.

In addition, Buffalo Wild Wings is hosting a fundrais-

STAFF MEMBERS editor-in-chief Nicholas Ebelhack NA-Ebelhack@wiu.edu assistant news editor Marc Ramirez MA-Ramirez3@wiu.edu assistant news editor Steven Barnum SS-Barnum@wiu.edu opinions editor Ryan Zurek RP-Zurek@wiu.edu sports editor Devon Greene DJ-Greene@wiu.edu assistant sports editor Haley Richards H-Richards@wiu.edu edge editor Baylee Brynteson BM-Brynteson@wiu.edu copy editor Brie Coder B-Coder@wiu.edu

proofreader Valerie Clemens VN-Clemens@wiu.edu proofreader Alexis Lowe AL-Lowe@wiu.edu proofreader Tacuma Venzant T-Venzant@wiu.edu photo editor Becca Langys RE-Langys@wiu.edu assistant photo editor Sara Remar SE-Remar@wiu.edu production manager Jimmy Pierson JM-Pierson@wiu.edu business manager Faith Rucker F-Rucker@wiu.edu advertising manager Patryk Mazur P-Mazur@wiu.edu adviser Will Buss WJ-Buss@wiu.edu

WesternCourier.com

ing event sponsoring specialized coupons for the cause on April 9 from 4 -10 p.m. where 15 percent of the proceeds will go to Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry.

The official Stuff the Bus event will be held on April 11 from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. A bus will be sitting in Sherman Circle from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. for donators to drop off products to be packed with the donations collected for the cause. The donated items will be sorted on-site of the event to be delivered to Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry at the First Presbyterian Church on 400 E. Carroll St. here in Macomb, Illinois at 5 p.m.

Also, tables will be set-up outside of Wal-Mart, Hy-Vee and County Market in the

morning from 8 a.m.. until 8 p.m. Jackson Street Market will also collect donations from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Anna Filson, Sodexo Marketing Manager, said, “It’s a good way for Western to interact with Macomb and its residents to shine a good light on the students.”

With Western Illinois University being the heart of Macomb, it’s always refreshing when we can come together for such a beneficial cause.

“I like the interaction. It’s a good cause,” Filson said.

Volunteers are still needed, so if anyone is interested please contact Anna Filson at anna.filson@sodexo.com, or visit wiu.edu/dining for a volunteer form.

PUBLISHING AND CIRCULATION

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The Western Courier is published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays during the regular school year, excluding holidays, finals week and semester breaks. The WC updates the website weekly during the summer. All content reflects the editorial discretion of the students operating the newspaper and must be interpreted as unofficial university communication. While every attempt is made to determine the validity of advertising contained herein, the advertising in the WC is not to be construed as endorsements of any specific products or services. The WC assumes no responsibility or liability resulting from the content of paid advertisements. Subscription price is $36 per year mailed third-class bulk rate from Macomb.

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No reproduction or reuse of material is permitted without written consent of the WC. All rights reserved. To request permission to reprint any material from this publication, please contact Nicholas Ebelhack or Will Buss at 309-298-1876.

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Friday, March 23, 2018

St. Baldricks returns Sunday

By Marc Ramirez assistant news editor

Tanner Hall is set to host their annual St. Baldrick’s fundraiser this Sunday.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Tanner Circle will be filled with participants from Western Illinois University and residents from the Macomb community.

St. Baldrick’s is a foundation that is completely volunteer-driven and raises charitable funds to donate to funding research grants for childhood cancer. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation donates more money to this purpose than any other organization outside the United States government.

During the event, participants are challenged to shave their heads, volunteer time or donate to provide hope and relief to families of infants, children, teens and young adults fighting childhood cancer. The organization also promotes its beliefs that all children should be able to grow up and turn their dreams into a reality.

"I have enjoyed being part of St. Baldricks for the last three years," said Mia Calderone, a Western resident assistant and former St. Baldrick's "shavee." "I shave for those who don’t have a choice. Everyone should consider donating to this event, whether that be time, money or hair."

According to stbaldricks.

org, people are encouraged to donate to this organization because they invest your gift wisely. Monetary gifts are not given to just one hospital, but dispersed throughout researches at hundreds of institutions worldwide.

The foundation believes it is important to fund the most promising research regardless of where it takes place; therefore every cent benefits children everywhere.

Worldwide, a child is diagnosed with cancer every two minutes. Of those children, one of five will not survive; however, researches that take part in St. Baldrick’s efforts are constantly sharing their discoveries, knowledge, and techniques with one another.

Therefore, findings of any project funded by the organization can be applied anywhere, giving all patients the best treatment possible closer to home.

Last year, the Western community was able to raise $11,225 to fund research for childhood cancers. This year, the volunteers hope to surpass last year ’s amount and raise $12,000. The efforts to do so are currently underway with current donations amounting to $8,285. So far, the top team in donations is Chi Omega sorority with a total of $1,660. Participants are encouraged to continue donating until fundraising closes, which is the day of the event.

NEWS 3

Friday, March 23, 2018

4 OPINIONS

WesternCourier.com

We need better gun control During the first 11 weeks of the new year of 2018, the United States has had a total of 17 mass school shootings that were publicized; the total of shootings equal out to about 1.5 shootings a week. This number of 17 shootings (which comes from CNN Website) includes shootings from elementary schools to colleges/universities all across the U.S. As we have seen in the past three months, people’s lives have been in danger because of an armed shooter. On Jan. 20, 2017, while our country inaugurated a new president, there was a school shooting in North

Carolina where a football player was shot to death. On Jan., a 15-year- old student shot 16 people, who were 15-year olds, and now faces two charges of murder and 12 counts of first degree murder. On Feb. 14, in Parkland, Florida, a 19-year -old armed man shot and killed students and staff with a rifle gun at Stoneman Douglas High School, murdering at least 17 people. On March 20, in Lexington Park, Maryland, there was an armed student at a local high school who shot two other people before a school officer fired a shot back and killed him.

This news brings pain, sorrow and frustration to school communities, neighborhoods and families. And it is time for immediate change with gun control.

It is time to stand up and take action against our present laws in this land on gun violence. This country is currently enduring a war on guns. We need to write our aldermans, governors, state representatives and Congress members to seek change in our political world with guns. It’s easier to get assault weapons because of its loose rules. There are many gun dealerships and stores that allow people with criminal backgrounds to gain access to guns. There are too many young and mentally ill people in the world who have easy access to assault weapons. But we need to make amends to

the current law and set stricter rules for gaining guns.

Educational institutions are intended to be places of safety and learning. Students and staff should feel comfortable coming to school everyday.

We as a country need more safe school communities to continue to educate our future generation of leaders. It is time that we begin to have armed security on campus at all educational institutions, as well as reliable security protections on school grounds, it’s time that schools and local police departments connect with others for security connections and alliances. Having more armed security in our educational institutions is a great place to start. Armed security can use their training and learning to protect the school grounds and take down the armed sus-

pect. School security at our institutions are very needed and helpful.

Our current political leaders need to listen to students, parents, families, teachers security, and police officials on why we need to change gun laws. We need laws that will cause people to go through a thorough background search to make sure that people are capable mentally and legally to own, carry and use guns.

We also need to have laws that will cause gun regulation, training, safety classes and gun license renewal. These few proposals will assist in people with gun license to stay up to date with a gun training, gun safety and new gun laws.

We as a country need to have hope and assurance in making sure owners are well-qualified to conceal.

Racism is still a problem today Growing up I never had to deal with racism or inequality in any form. I went to a school that was predominately white students.

When I learned about the Civil Rights Movement we only focused on Martin Luther King Jr. or Rosa Parks. I learned about racism and how prevalent it used to be, but until I came to college I never realized how active it still is. As someone who is accepting of everyone, I still wonder why people are seen so differently when in reality we could not be more similar. Ensuring future equality for people of African descent will consist of educating our youth and peacefully protesting.

Like I mentioned, I was unaware of everything going on surrounding racism. In the classroom, I was never taught that only 58 percent of African American students graduate high school. I did not learn that the average wage for a full time working African American woman is $33,780 a year, compared to ‘all women’ in the U.S. making $38,097.

I also did not learn that one in every black male could go to prison.

Therefore, I believe that educating our youth is a valuable way to ensure future equality for African Americans. If we educate our youth that racism still exists, they could be the ones that break the cycle.

If I knew how different an African Americans’ life is, I would have been less stereotypical. As much as I would like to deny it, I cannot.

As a child not knowing any better I always thought that most black people were “bad” even though my parents told me they were not.

It pains me to say such a thing now, because almost all my friends are from African American descent, and are the best people I have ever met. I want the best for everyone and I think that the world needs to see a change. But we also cannot just sit around waiting for a change to come.

Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can

do that.” This quote is very powerful because I think Dr. King was saying that no matter how much hate we experience in our lives, the only way to get rid of hate is to show love.

Dr. King encouraged peaceful protesting because he did not want to create more attention for blacks, he wanted to prove that no one would just back down when things got hard. I think that Martin Luther King, Jr. was a very wise man for this. I think in today’s world, peaceful protesting would go a long way.

If people followed in Dr. King’s footsteps we would slowly see a difference. Although it is unfortunate that we still must peacefully protest about racism, we would have a much stronger system than they had during the Civil Rights Movement. What I mean by this is that the protests would not only be led by black individuals; it would be led by Caucasians, Asians, Hispanics and many other races. And with these different forces coming together, peaceful protests show maturity and strength; in my eyes this is more effective than any other type of protest.

I would love to see a change in this world and will do anything it takes to make sure everyone is seen as equal individuals.

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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Letters should not be more than 350 words in length. The author’s name and phone number must be included for verification purposes. Failure to include such information will lead to the letter being discarded. The WC staff will edit letters in cases of timeliness, obscenity length and grammer, and we do not guarantee publication of all letters.

2018 Spring Semester Editorial Board Editor-in-Cheif - Nicholas Ebelhack Edge Editor - Baylee Bryntesson Opinions Editor - Ryan Zurek

Friday, March 23, 2018

@WesternCourier

OPINIONS 5

Your mental health is important Mental health is a subject that may be difficult to discuss for some but it is essential in today’s society to be educated and aware. As a child growing up, mental health was rarely ever brought up in the K-12 school system. The only time I personally could recall discussing anything related to the subject was when I took AP psychology my senior year, this I feel is a problem.

Children and adults all over are affected by mental illnesses and it is time we start

focusing on this matter in school. It is important to educate children about mental illnesses and help them better their understanding of how it may affect their peers and even their families. Not only is educating people on mental illnesses essential, but it is even more important to pay attention to those who do suffer from these conditions.

People with a mental condition can be helped in school to do better, make friends and help them reach their full

Don’t get too stressed out As college students, we can at times lose ourselves in our academics and extracurricular activities that we forget to take care of ourselves. When I came to college as a freshman in 2015, I was beyond excited for the new adventures that I would endure.

Growing up, I enjoyed school along with the hard work that came with it. The newfound stress from school was harder for me to manage because I didn’t have my parents around to support me anymore. Fast forward to now, I’m a junior in college and being overwhelmed has become so constant that I find myself having the urge to cry almost every day.

We as college students spend most of our time constantly stressing about things that we can’t control while trying to limit our thoughts of wanting to drop out of school. We are often sleep deprived and sometimes in need of just a simple hug from somebody that cares about us to ease our worries. Regardless of whatever struggles that we individually find ourselves having to undergo, it’s important that we take care of ourselves, and find ways to keep ourselves feeling good regardless of life’s obstacles. It’s okay to take a personal day and rest. This gives us a chance to relax our mind and bodies from the day’s hardships.

Not having the proper amount of sleep each day can add up and cause stress, which could increase our chances of being sick. I’m not encouraging anyone to skip class. However, our

health comes first.

Also, maybe take a break from studying or homework and hang out with some friends or have a date by yourself.

I find nothing awkward about attending a movie or dining out alone. It uplifts my spirits from my hectic everyday challenges.

At times, I often find myself phoning a family member or a friend just to get that feel of home that I miss. Staying busy can also limit the amount of time we overthink ourselves into anxiety or depression.

I used to be so devoted to school that I wouldn’t miss a day of class even if my professor made it optional, but now I realize the effects that improper self-care can have on my wellbeing. I have always been someone who longed for stability and comfort, and I thought coming to college would give me just that, but I realized that I could only acquire them if I practice having them.

However, now that I am closer to graduation and moving further into adulthood, I now understand that I must take the time to properly care for myself in every way possible to ensure balance throughout life itself by the time that I graduate.

It’s expected for us to lose ourselves in what’s considered the stressful years of college, but it should not be expected for us to lose ourselves throughout life’s struggles.

Life doesn’t get easier, and we can’t control what’s out of our control, but we can control how in control we are if we set aside time for self-care.

potential. Emotional health is something that people should be more open about and teaching them at a young age can promote this. Some people may feel that experiencing certain emotions is not normal but it needs to be addressed that it is normal.

School can trigger many different feelings and it is not always a pleasant experience for everyone. Growing up, many people may feel that bullying played a large role for this reason. People bully for many different reasons, their own issues can be one of them-if we focus on children who do suffer mentally, it can help avoid the need to bully their peers. Bullying does affect children growing up as it

can make them think certain ways that they shouldn’t, such as lowering their selfesteem and create a negative image of themselves. It is amazing how powerful the mind is and how certain thoughts can take over one’s judgement and perspective, therefore it is important to create positivity within ourselves. Those who are bullied on a daily basis can easily fall behind in school and find it difficult to do well and focus on their academics and extracurricular activities. It is important to teach children to be open about how this can affect them and that there are ways to receive help and find solutions.

Mental health can be af-

fected by not only peers but school by itself. Many students have felt that they have had to sacrifice their mental health in several ways for school. Whether it is putting stress on themselves or putting off sleep in order to finish homework, school should not come before mental health.

I think teachers, counselors and administrators should take into consideration that mental health can be greatly affected by things pertaining to school work and school itself. I feel that many people can be affected positively if schools start to focus on educating and paying attention to mental health for students currently and students in the future.

Friday, March 23, 2018

6 SPORTS

WesternCourier.com

Softball from back page

Following South Dakota, the Leathernecks will head back home to face Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne. The Mastodons are ranked third in the Summit League and hold a record of 12-19.

Currently, Western Illinois is sitting at the bottom of the conference standings. Only four of the six teams will make it to the conference tournament in Fargo, North Dakota. The Summit League championship is set for May 5-12.

In last year’s tournament, the Leathernecks fell to the two top seeded teams in the conference championship. They ended their Summit League play tied in second, with a record of 11-7.

Twitter: hayfourrr

ANGEL STRACK/COURIER STAFF

Hailey Duwa stands talking to her coach.

Baseball from back page

JASMYNE TAYLOR/COURIER STAFF

Johnathan Fleek winds up at the plate.

CLASSIFIEDS

WC

For Rent

For Rent

Submit a classifieds ad to Micour@wiu.edu

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!

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.

He is coming off a great performance against North Dakota State and has already received the pitcher of the week award from the Summit League. Another pitcher the Leathernecks will need to lean on against SDSU will be Colan Borchers. Borchers leads Western Illinois in ERA with a 1.35, and is their best relief pitcher. If their dominance in pitching can continue throughout the Summit League, they should have no problem closing out this series and climbing up to the Summit League standings.

Twitter: BrendanReidyII

RATES $5.50 per issue (open rate) $4.00 per issue (campus rate)

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

Friday, March 23, 2018

@WesternCourier

A month full of bracket busting basketball The final 16 teams in the NCAA tournament has been a surprise to everyone who has watched so far. We have already seen a number 16 seed get its first win over a number one seed in tournament history, followed by another one seed losing in the second round.

However, even with the rocky road thus far the tournament has not been as wild as most think, actually it has been rather normal. Outside of the University of MarylandBaltimore County Raiders taking down the number one overall seeded University of Virginia Cavilers, the tournament is taking its normal course. We have seen doubledigit seeds make runs to the Sweet 16 in recent years. The University of Syracuse Orange punched a trip to the Final Four as a 10 seed in 2016.

This year tournament has already being criticized for

not having a dominant team to begin with, so the current drama was expected. With the Sweet 16 upon us, the talented teams, just like every other year will began to take over. It means the team that deserves to move on will shine bright and most likely advance. No one else can sneak through the cracks because bad teams do not exist at this point of the tournament.

The University of Loyola Ramblers entered the tournament as an 11 seed, neither them or the seventh seeded University of Nevada Wolfpack will play in this year ’s Elite Eight, making them just one win short of winning their region. If you think for one second either of these two teams are not worthy of the position they are in, you are mistaken. The Ramblers had to beat two Power Five conference teams to get to this point and will

have to beat another in the Elite Eight if they happen to get pass the Wolfpack.

Nevada on the other hand is loaded with former Power Five players. Kendall Stephens, Cody and Caleb Martin who are their three best players, all transferred into Nevada from Power Five schools. Since they all have played amongst the better competition, they are not afraid of anything which is one of the main reasons I believe they will advance over Loyola.

The Orange are the second of two double digit seeds still alive in the tournament. Jim Boeheim, their coach, has a 7-1 record in the tournament as a double digit seed, the only lost coming from the 2016 Final Four. That should tell you all you need to know about the ‘Cuse.

Although they do play Duke University Blue Devils next I think they have a chance.

Duke beat them by 16 points in the regular season however I see something different in the Orange.

Boeheim only goes six deep in their rotation and they

don’t score many points but their defense is stout and they never stop attacking.

Ultimately I think Duke is in trouble and will fall to the Orange. Don’t be surprised if you see Boeheim lead his team to another Final Four appearance.

Outside of Loyola, Nevada and Syracuse made it past the first weekend of action, which is good for other teams as well. West Virginia University Mountaineers and the Clemson University Tigers are five seeds, but both have had 25 plus win seasons this year. Clemson may fall to Kanas University Jayhawks, but WVU has the fire power led by senior point guard Jevon Carter, to eliminate number one seeded Villanova University Wildcats.

Florida State University Seminoles and Kanas State University Wildcats are nine seeds, but both are dangerous. FSU has the deepest rotation left in the tournament and they are playing a Gonzaga University Bulldog team that have struggled their way to this point. This could be an

interesting game but FSU will steal another victory and advance to the Elite Eight.

KSU on the other hand takes on University of Kentucky Wildcats, who might just be the most talented team left on their side of the bracket. UK is rolling and will continue to roll against KSU. The last two match-ups of the Sweet 16 are pretty even.

Texas A&M University Aggies take on the University of Michigan Wolverines, while the third seeded Texas Tech University Red Raiders will play two seed Purdue University Boilermakers.

These two games can go either way, but with Purdue starting center Isaac Hass out, I think Tech will get the win.

Michigan will try to keep the Big Ten championship chance alive with a win over Robert Williams and Texas A&M. All those picks could be wrong. My bracket is busted just like everybody else’s. With that being said just sit back grab a beverage of your choice and enjoy the last couple weekends of college basketball this season.

Track and field transitions to outdoor season

By Bradley Piros courier staff

Michaela Busch jumps over hurdle in event.

GOLEATHERNECKS.COM

MACOMB, Ill. – The Western Illinois track and field teams look to get things started on the right foot this weekend after a rather disappointing end to the indoor spell about a month ago.

Now it’s time to transition back outside to finish off the latter half of the season.

While some of the venues these athletes travel to are usually far more comfortable and nicer than most boring outdoor tracks, everyone runs better times outside. Take it from me, a previous 4x800 runner, something about being inside with all the dry air makes it a little harder to breathe and results in some slower times.

With that in mind, the Leathernecks definitely did not perform to their normal standards at the Summit League Indoor Track and Field Championships. The men finished last out of five teams (20 points), while the women finished sixth out of seven teams (16.5 points).

A couple athletes did shine that weekend though, one of them being sophomore Michaela Busch in the field events. She had Western’s best finish in the meet, com-

ing in fourth place in the high jump with a mark of 5' 4.50" (1.64 m). For the men, freshmen Elliot Gongora and Jace Norman each earned personal bests with an identical mark of 6' 4.75" (1.95 m).

Continuing on to track events, freshman Hailey Tranchitella, sophomores Megan Reed and Abigail Richter, as well as senior Jamieria Stennis teamed up in the distance medley and recorded their best time of the year (12:24.48), as well as the seventh fastest time in school history.

Other than that, a couple of other athletes came in with some personal bests, but didn’t end up getting their team any points, resulting in an overall lower finish as a team. In the end, no one was stopping North Dakota State University anyway, not even their rivaling Jackrabbits of South Dakota State University could put a stop to them.

Scouting Southern Illinois University; their last time out was at the NCAA Championships, but they seemed to have performed better at the Missouri Valley Conference Championships also about a month ago. The men finished third with 105 points while the women fin-

ished fourth tallying 90 points.

The Illinois State University Redbirds topped the field all around against their seven other competitors.

Overall the SIU Salukis earned 14 top-three finishes thanks to some spectacular individual efforts. Be on the lookout for Shafiqua Maloney as she scored a spectacular 26 points, reaching the podium three times. She also won the 400-meter dash which was the programs best finish in 22 years.

In field events Josh Maier and Ricky Hurley each scored 14 points to help lift their team up as they are also a couple of athletes to watch. Also keep an eye out for MVC (Missouri Valley Conference) Most Outstanding Field Athlete, Isaac Ingram in the weight throw. It was the third straight year he has won that award.

Field events are scheduled to start at 10 a.m. Friday morning with track events following shortly after. If you want to catch the Leathernecks at there one and only home meet, it will be April 5-7 as they host the Lee Calhoun Memorial. Until then, expect a great meet between the two sides as Western looks to learn from the fall season, and start off even stronger than before in the spring.

Softball falls in shutout

By Haley Richards

assistant sports editor PEORIA, Ill. – On Wednesday, the Western Illinois softball team took on Bradley University, and fell by a score of 12-0, which now puts them at 7-23 on the season.

The Braves are now 12-14 overall in their season.

Bradley started the game with intensity and took an early lead of 9-0 after two home runs, an RBI single up the middle, and three RBI doubles in the first inning.

Western was able to get two players on base when Rachel Beatty and Ashely Minyard were both walked. Unfortunately, they were left stranded on base. The Braves then got another three runs in the bottom of the third.

The only hit of the day for the Leathernecks was a single to right field in the second inning by sophomore infielder Halle Hollatz. Freshman infielder Dom Mannerino had her first career start as a Leatherneck, and Madison Boone had her third career start.

Junior Megan Lotarski, freshman Abby Carlin and junior Payton Abbott all got a chance

in the circle for Western. Ira currently sits at fifth in the conference with a run average (ERA) of 3.45 and is third in the conference standings for strikeouts at 87.

After this past game, senior outfielder Sam Ralphs still leads the Leathernecks offensively with a .421 batting average. Sophomore outfielder Jasmine Lara is behind her with an average of .345 and junior infielder Hailey Duwa at .321. Lara also sits at fifth in the conference for batting average.

The Purple and Gold will now begin their Summit League plays, with their first stop in Vermillion, South Dakota. They will face the University of South Dakota in a two-game series March 30-31. The Coyotes are currently ranked fifth in the conference and have an overall record of 10-20.

Last year, Western won the three-game series against South Dakota. The first game of the series they won by a score of 9-4, the second game they lost 15-4 and won the last game 9-8.

Softball page 6

Rachel Beatty holds strong at second base.

JASMYNE TAYLOR/COURIER STAFF

Baseball looks to keep rolling Brendan Reidy courier staff

Bailey Montgomery follows through on a swing.

GOLEATHERNECKS.COM

MACOMB, Ill.-The Western Illinois Leathernecks will square off for their second conference series against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits this upcoming weekend. The Leathernecks are currently 3-13, while the Jackrabbits are currently 2-17. The two Summit League teams will play at Alfred Boyer Stadium on Friday at 1 p.m.

The Leathernecks have the upper hand in this matchup, and they are currently coming off a win against the University of Maryville. The Leathernecks defeated the Saints by a score of 4-3. The game came down to the wire as the University of Maryville tied the game up at three a piece in the bottom of the eighth inning. However, it did not take long for the Purple and Gold to answer right back.

The Leathernecks answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the eighth inning securing the victory. Bailey Montgomery, who had 3-3 with a walk and 3 RBI’s, highlighted the game. The junior was involved in every scoring play and connected on what would be the game winning bunt.

Western Illinois will look to

carry this momentum into their series this weekend against the Jackrabbits who have been struggling so far this season.

Josh Falk who is hitting .309 with 12 RBI’s leads the Jackrabbits.

South Dakota State University is a very weak offensive team, and they will need to lean on their top three hitters to defeat the Leathernecks this weekend.

However, the Jackrabbits have one of the strongest bullpens in the Summit League, and are the led by Bret Barnett. Barnett has an outstanding ERA of 1.93 and has appeared in seven games thus far. If the Jackrabbits want to win this series they will have to lean on their top three hitters and the incredible bullpen to get them the victory.

The Leathernecks are a very well rounded team, and do not necessarily need to lean on just one person. However, in order for the Leathernecks to secure the victory this weekend, they will need to follow in the shadows of their team pitchers.

Ryan Dunne has been spectacular so far for the Purple and Gold.

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