Opinions: Jack White Back with new music.
Sports: Women's basketball needs a UConn upset.
Monday, March 25, 2018 - Vol. 118 Issue 69
Sports: Soccer takes on Indian Hills.
Students shave on St. Baldrick's Day
By Nicholas Ebelhack editor-in-chief
The Western Illinois University Board of Trustees voted unanimously Friday to keep 2018-2019 student costs level with 20172018 rates, establishing zero percent increases on tuition, student fees and room and board for incoming undergraduate and graduate students. Although passed, Trustee Lyneir Cole expressed concerns during discussion that not raising the technology fee would hurt Western as other universities continue to improve, citing some of Western’s outdated technological infrastructure. Budget Director Matt Bierman responded, saying that although raising fees would be helpful it could impact revenue. “We need to increase all of these fees to keep up with other campuses, the problem though is that we have to balance that with declining enrollment that might occur,” Bierman said. “One of the things that the student cost task force has studied is that for every percent we raise costs we
are going to lose a percent in enrollment, so that’s the conundrum that we live in, and that’s why this revenue conversation as a tuition and fees driven institution is difficult.” Cole suggested finding other ways to bring in revenue dedicated to technological improvements, as it would affect students being attracted to the university.
“”
“We need to increase all of these fees to keep up with other campuses, the problem though is that we have to balance that with declining enrollment” -Matt Bierman
Budget Director
“I’m more concerned about the ability to provide the technology, and I’m sure that there are ways to utilize some student funds to increase technology,” Cole said. “I bring children down here every year and the first thing they say is that the technology isn’t up to par, we need to bring it up par. That affects our enrollment on a regular basis.”
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BECCA LANGYS/PHOTO EDITOR
Western Illinois University students and campus community members participate in St. Baldrick's Day hosted at Tanner Hall Sunday. The yearly event asks for people to raise money and then shave their heads in support of cancer research and awareness through the St. Baldrick's Foundation.
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Monday, March 26, 2018
NEWS
WesternCourier.com
JIMMY PIERSON/PRODUCTION MANAGER
By Marc Ramirez assistant news editor
The Department of Theatre and Dance will be presenting “Avenue Q," a puppet production on April 4-8 in the Hainline Theatre. The Hainline Theatre, located in Browne Hall, will begin the show at 7:30 p.m. on the 4-7. On April 8, the production will show a matinee at 2 p.m. The show is free to all Western Illinois University students with valid student ID. Tickets are $15 for the public and $13 for senior
citizens, Western employees, and the public. “Avenue Q’” is a Tony Award-winning Broadway show featuring over 20 puppets all created by students at Western in class taught by Rebel Mickelson, Western’s Costume Shop Manager. The show, considered to be an adult version of “Sesame Street," is a musical production about a recent college graduate making moves to the Big Apple and living in a shabby apartment on Avenue Q. The production cast
includes three live actors along side the many puppets. Together Princeton, the main character, and his new found friends struggle in New York to find jobs, dates and their mere purpose in life. Theatre and Dance Professor DC Wright will be directing the Western production. Earlier in the semester, the production class had the opportunity to attend a workshop with Broadway puppeteer Rick Lyon. Lyon was a creator of one of the puppets used for the original Broadway show and
has worked along side Jim Henson, known as the man behind the Muppets. “Avenue Q” first aired in 2003 at the Vineyard Theater; it’s edgy humor and references to “Sesame Street” made it more appealing to a younger, more hip, audience. The show had a quick uptake, winning the Tony “Triple Crown” for Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book. The show became an upset to ”Wicked” and propelled over 3,000 performances. This ranked “Avenue Q” at the 24th longest running show in
broadway history. Since the show does refer to sex, drinking and surfing the web for porn, many parents question what's an appropriate age to bring their children to the show. According to avenueq.com, the performance is great for teens since it's about everyday life, which they will soon become part of. However, it is up to the parent’s discretion about how mature the attendees are. Tickets can now be purchased by visiting, bit.ly/2HXQUii.
JIMMY PIERSON/PRODUCTION MANAGER
Steven Barnum
assistant news editor On Friday, April 13, the McDonough County InterAgency Council will be hosting a conference revolving around trauma care. Last month, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution that recognizes the importance of how to care for individuals who are struggling with trauma. Wisconsin Representative Mike Gallagher, introduced House Bill of Resolution 443.
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The event, which is open to the public free of charge, will kick off at 11 a.m. Social service agencies from the local area will be showing tabletop displays, while also offering information about trauma research. Next, a discussion on cognitive development and the effect of trauma can be heard from 1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. The discussion will be hosted by Jeanne Koehler from the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. Running from 1:45 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. will be a discussion
on how to make schools and neighborhoods more informed on trauma. Jill Reedy, from the Macon/Piatt Regional Office of Education, will be leading the conversation. At 2:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m., the president of Chaddock, Debbie Reed, will be offering advice on how to help kids who are dealing with trauma. Picking up from there, a panel discussion on the best tactics for counselors, teachers, nurses and policemen to use to combat trauma will take place until 4 p.m.
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
Rounding out the conference will be several “breakout sessions," which will run for roughly one hour. Among those sessions are presentations from West Prairie School District Superintendent Carol Kilver, Western Assistant Professor of Psychology Kristy Keefe, and Western Counseling members Terri Schaffer and JoAnn Bloomberg. The conference’s sponsors include the Western Illinois University College of Education and Human Services, We s t e r n ’ s
Department of Health Sciences and Social Work, the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs at Western, the McDonough County InterAgency Council, the Regional Office of Education and the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. All events will take place in room 78 of Horrabin Hall, except for the tabletop displays, which will be in Horrabin Hall gym. To find more information on the conference, visit wiu.edu/ coehs/iac2018
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“The most tangible one is WiFi, especially in library,” Gradle said. “I work in the Library at the Honors College and I have trouble connecting with WiFi, and if you are a student visiting campus, first of all it’s difficult to get synched up with our network and secondly depending on where you are on campus whether or not you have WiFi is questionable.” “We have funds that we can use or that we could have used for something else,” Cole said. “I’m just saying that in order for us to recruit appropriately, we have to understand the battle we are in. We are not in a battle just with us, we are in a battle with the whole state and with other states, and if we don’t come up on technology we are going to continue to lose.” Prior to discussion on student costs, President Jack Thomas gave his opening remarks to the board and those in attendance. “Together, we have kept this university progressing, even while being criticized externally as well as internally,” Thomas said. “We have spent a great deal of time advocating for our university in Springfield and finding creative ways to keep the university moving forward in financial crisis.” In his remarks, Thomas noted that it is imperative to restore confidence in the state of Illinois in order to combat falling enrollment across institutions of higher education in the state, mentioning that all public universities with the exception of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have seen declining enrollment since 2011 at a similar rate. He also urged for Western and University Professionals of Illinois to reach an agree-
Monday, March 26, 2018
ment to their prolonged contract negotiations. In a similar vein, during the public comments section of the meeting, College of Business and Technology (CBT) Development Director Becky Paulson spoke on UPI relations with the CBT. “I am embarrassed that other faculty members say that the College of Business and Technology does not teach critical thinking, and that it can only be achieved through a liberal arts degree. I’m disappointed when I hear that some of the UPI leadership believe that unit B faculty members don’t deserve respect and should be eliminated, and that business, engineering and similar programs are simply vocational training. “Yet the UPI is supposed to respect and represent its members. At a time when we should all be working together in the best interest of everyone, and certainly with the best interest of the students in mind, it appears that 120 members of the university’s faculty have lost sight of why they are here, who they should be serving, and who they should be giving their time and attention.” Among other news, Vice President for Advancement and Public Services Brad Bainter said that there will be potential for campus community members to have their ashes placed at Western as their final resting place, and that a brick can be purchased at the Rocky Memorial Plaza to have a person’s name placed on the campus. Bierman updated the Board on state funding, saying that all FY 17 funds have been received and that 9.3 million is still expected over the rest of the academic year for FY 18. The board unanimously voted later for a resolution asking for the state to restore full funding to higher education following a decrease in funding over the last decade.
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Monday, March 26, 2018
4 OPINIONS
WesternCourier.com
The system failed Aniya Day For Mickhal Garrett, Child Protective Services had failed his daughter, who was tragically killed at the hands of her own mother. The tragic story of 4-year-old Aniya Day, is flooding the media after she was found unresponsive by paramedics in Euclid, Ohio last week. Emaciated, bruised and burned, was the cause of this child’s death. Her mother, Sierra Day and her boyfriend, Deonte Lewis were the suspects of Aniya’s death. This left Aniya’s biological father, Garrett, with a grieving heart. But is the blood of
innocent Aniya Day on the hands of CPS, the judicial system or by society itself? With a bit more precision and effort by CPS, Aniya’s death could've been prevented. Yet, I believe that our social ignorance on gender roles is the underlying issue. This tragedy, along with many others of its kind is a direct result of the system’s bias towards mothers, when it comes to fathers trying to gain custody of their children. Garrett filed for custody back in December, when he wrote in his report that he truly
Editorial Policy The editoral views of the Western Courier shall be confined to this editorial and are to be separate from news coverage otherwise noted. The editoral presented is based on the ideas and views of the WC editoral board.Columns are the opinions of the columnists alone and should not be construed as the opinions and beliefs of the WC staff as a whole.
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2018 Spring Semester Editorial Board Editor-in-Cheif - Nicholas Ebelhack Edge Editor - Baylee Bryntesson Opinions Editor - Ryan Zurek
believed his child’s mother was being physically abusive to their daughter. This goes to show that sometimes the mother may not be fit to raise even their own child, leaving the father as the one person suitable to do so. I feel that society doesn’t give father ’s enough credit, when it comes to their caretaking abilities. Granted, there are a lot of fathers who run from their parental responsibilities, leaving the mothers of their children to raise them all by themselves. But those fathers who actually are in their children's’ lives are often overlooked and underestimated. Fathers are just as important in their children's lives as their mothers are. The fact that women physically carry their children doesn’t neces-
sarily make them the better parent. Studies have proven the judicial beliefs that mothers are better parents than fathers. Simply because they believe that father ’s can’t be nurturing parents if they work outside the house. It is normal for a woman to pursue her own career outside of the home in order to provide for their families. Gender roles are no longer in play, and men can take care of their children just as easily as a woman can. Father figures are essential in a child’s life, and the consequence of society’s ignorance is taking the lives of innocent children such as Aniya, who was obviously looking for a way out. Father ’s are forced to pay child support, but aren’t
seen as good enough to raise their own children. It seems that people think that men are only good for providing resources to their families, which is utterly wrong and unfair to those who are genuinely trying to be in their kids lives. A man’s financial situation should never be the determining factor as to whether he is a suitable parent. They deserve to be recognized for their virtue rather than their pocket change. My heart goes out to Garrett, who grieving over the senseless death of his daughter. Hopefully people will begin to recognize the importance of fathers in the lives of children, and we will begin treating them more like parents and less like donors.
dia and online forms of communication, some people may not see the need to go out as much and socialize with other people. The issue with that is you don’t get the same health benefits talking on social media as you do in person. Social interactions stimulate the brain more and increase hormones such as oxytocin that help you feel better about yourself. Some people may not need social interactions as much as others but everyone needs it from time to time. So get out with friends and just hang out every once in a while. The university throws multiple events a year that are good for just getting out for a few hours and having a good time. Along the lines of social health is something that is also important and can be a lot more detrimental if left neglected, sexual health. While usually if there is a major issue in this department it’s a lot more apparent, it’s still something that’s regularly ne-
glected. The biggest issue here are STDs or STIs, which according to the CDC were on the rise in the U.S. in the last year. Many people don’t think that it’s still possible to transmit or contract one of those infections even with the use of contraception. Especially since most forms of contraception focus more on the pregnancy aspect than sexual diseases. Something left out of most health curriculums is the morning after pill. If you are active or are looking to be active again, you should get tested to see if you have any issues and to prevent spreading it to someone else, even if you did use protection. Ignorance is not bliss. If you do have an infection and don’t know about it, it could get worse and some STIs and infections like HIV can have huge life effects if left untreated. The negative stigma you might have or feel about getting tested is nothing compared to if you have something and let it go untreated. While the price of these tests can be a reason to scare you away, luckily the university is here to the rescue. The university will be providing free testing in the upcoming weeks. So stay healthy and stay happy.
Western can help you stay healthy One of the great things about going to a bigger university like Western is the free perks and services that come with it. Like many universities, Western is big on giving its students the opportunity and the resources to keep themselves healthy. The Rec Center is free for students and is very generous in their hours of operations to promote physical health. Counseling is offered and available for mental and emotional help for students who need it. The issue is that most students (and some people in general) stop worrying about their health. With such a heavy focus on physical and mental health, people tend to forget health aspects that may not be reocurring or troublesome but are still important. For starters, social health is something that’s rarely addressed because it’s not an issue for most but it can be something people struggle with. Especially with the increase in social me-
Monday, March 26, 2018
Jack White’s new album is, well, Jack White
By: John Benedeck
The White Stripes entered the music industry in the late ‘90s fronted by Jack and Meg White. They conjured hits like “Seven Nation Army” and “Fell in Love with a Girl” and won three “Best Album” Grammys. The rock duo had it all. They were dirty, mean and mighty unclean, but controversy and relationship issues tore the group apart. They declared hiatus in 2011. That’s when Meg was out, and Jack was in.
E2 EDGE
Monday, March 26, 2018
WesternCourier.com
Don’t judge a movie before you’ve seen it When a lot of people go to movies, they expect way too much. When people watch the previews, they ask other people who have seen it already, they read many reviews and a lot of times become disappointed because the review is bad. People are especially disappointed in remakes of movies. I agree that usually the original is better, because without the original there would not
be a movie. But a lot of times when there are remakes of movies, they’re super similar to the original movie. I understand why people look up reviews for movies. People don’t like paying for stuff that they don’t think that they would like. It’s also understandable because people watch trailers to see if the movie is even interesting or they look up stuff to get a general synopsis of
the movie. Those are all great reasons to look up reviews of movies. If one is interested in a movie, they should go see it for themselves. Everyone’s opinions differ from one another, so it’s not very relevant to ask someone what they thought of the movie because your outcome could be completely different. Yes, some people can read people better than others, and could guess if one would like the movie or not, but when it comes down to it, it’s up to you to go see the movie and determine whether you like it or not. It is great to hype movies up
White
White’s “Lazaretto” featured obscure musical aspects such as the extraterrestrial Theremin, and a dueling fiddle solo. It was industry changing and took the alternative universe by storm. White moved from alternative progressive, to mainstream alternative rock master. Then, along came “Boarding House Reach.” After a four-year stint of staying out of the limelight, White came back with a 15-song electronic chronicle. I could say something editorially cliché like, “Each track brings something unique to the table,” but I can’t seem to find words to describe the album. It sounds like White was trying to fit aspects of White Stripes, Muse and earlier solo works into the album. “Abulia and Akrasia” begins
with the eerie droning fiddles like in “Lazaretto,” but then drones on in a whiny monologue with virtually no meter. On the other end of the spectrum, literally, is “Everything You’ve Ever Learned.” This opens with an ominous voice-over with digital sampling in the background then breaks into White Stripes-esk big drums and guitars. This album is chaotic; it can compare to a mental breakdown. Which, I believe, was intentional. Of course it was intentional, it’s Jack White. White is widely known as a pop-social outcast, as he avoids excessive media distractions and mainstream matters. On “Conan” back in 2015, White expressed his strong disapproval of cell phones at his con-
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Jack White began his solo career with “Blunderbuss” which received five Grammy nominations. He was soaring. Things took off beyond expectations with 2014’s powerhouse “Lazaretto.” The single alone hit top-ten charts across the world and was on Billboard’s Top 200. The album itself was Billboard’s number one album as well, which is no surprise. White’s revolutionary modern-day big band style made it possible for big sound. The White Stripes were a punkstyle small band that featured bigamp guitar riffs. This appealed to the angsty music crowd on the tail end of the grunge age.
and to be excited for them, after all movies are made to entertain us. But that excitement can get you into trouble. Hyping up a movie too much can get you into trouble because you could end up very disappointed. Usually in the trailers they put all the important scenes in there to hype the movie up and make it look like it’s the number one movie in America. They do that because trailers are attention getters and it hooks the audience so they are ready to go see the movie. A lot of times, what you see in the trailer is the big “awe” moments. Trailers are usually around thirty seconds to a minute and a half certs. He even stopped a show to call out a fan filming him with their phone. On the side, White upholsters furniture in his back woods Tennessee cabin, and does not allow his children to have mobile devices. Some would say he is old fashioned, I would say he is simply, Jack White. The description is lazy, as it is self-descriptive, but there is no one else on the market like this guy. “Lazaretto” brought White immense fame and mainstream popularity. His four-year hiatus and release of “Boarding House Reach” seems to be his protest to the conformist billboards and music industry. Ergo, “Boarding House Reach” is White’s answer to his fame.
Want to write for EDGE? Contact bm-brynteson@wiu.edu
or so, so obviously it’s going to look exciting. The director and producer are trying to get the movie advertised out there enough so people can come and see it, but at the same time they don’t want to give every single detail away, although they usually do. Trailers are a blessing and a curse. With that being said if one goes to the movies with an open mind, the outcome might be different. If you expect less, you’ll never be disappointed. So when one goes to a movie they should just go to see what it’s about, check it out, and not expect too much. They might actually enjoyed themselves.
E3 EDGE
Monday, March 26, 2018
WesternCourier.com
The Fastlane to JIMMY PIERSON
Evan Williamson
staff writer
The Road to WrestleMania is now in the Fastlane as the final SmackDown Live event before WrestleMania and the final exclusive event (minus the regular weekly events) took place March 11. I’m going to be honest, the way that this event was promoted, how randomly the matches were put together, and knowing what the final Mania card was most likely going to be, I thought it was going to be terrible. The thing about an event happening when the match card for WrestleMania is pretty much all but known, it makes certain matches meaningless. For example, in 2016, the WWE had an event exclusively on the WWE Network called “Roadblock.” The main event was Dean Ambrose versus WWE Champion Triple H.
Everyone knew that Roman Reigns was going to main event WrestleMania and beat Triple H for the WWE Championship so there wasn’t going to be anything huge happening. Likewise, at Fastlane, the main event matches, the women’s championship match, and the WWE championship match respectively weren’t going to impact WrestleMania at least for the most part. The night started off with Shinsuke Nakamura versus Rusev. There was no doubt that the number one contender for the WWE Championship was going to win, but it was a great match. It went back and forth and it showed us that Rusev could be a main event competitor. Rusev has been a mid-carder for a while now, but after seeing the program he put on with
Nakamura I have no doubt that Rusev will be champion soon. I am putting it out there now; Rusev will win “Money in the Bank” in June. It’s a testament to Rusev and Nakamura that they were able to take a match that had no implications whatsoever on WrestleMania, but it still kept the fans interest. The next match was Randy Orton versus the Glorious Bobby Roode in a match for the United States Championship. This match was a good back and forth match that would definitely garner a WrestleMania preview. Orton won the match in dramatic fashion and captured the U.S Title which is the only championship to elude him. I was a little upset at first but then thinking about Orton (a future Hall of Famer) becoming a Grand Slam Champion, makes sense and its obvious that a rematch will take place at WrestleMania. It would be great if Roode won back the title. The only problem is it looks
like Jinder Mahal will be involved making it a triple threat match. The problem with brand exclusive PPV events is that its difficult to fill up the card (this is why they are going back to dual brand PPV events). One example was a random tag team match between Becky Lynch and Naomi versus Natalya and Carmella. I’m all for giving more superstars opportunities within reason. I was actually very surprised that the match was as good as it was. The tag-team championship match between the New Day and the Usos ended in a no contest after both teams were attacked by another team. The main event matches I thought would not go over well. The SmackDown Live Women’s championship match was very good despite the fact that Ruby Riott will most likely be out of the title picture till after Mania. After the match, the women’s royal rumble winner Auska showed up and challenged
Charlotte to a match for the title at WrestleMania which will be an awesome match. The final match of the night was the six-pack challenge for the WWE Championship. There was no surprise on who was going to walk out champion, but it was still an entertaining match. At the end of the event, SmackDown Live Commissioner Shane McMahon cost both Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn the championship, which will most likely have WrestleMania implications for the three of them. AJ Styles retained the WWE Championship making the dream match between Nakamura and Styles at WrestleMania. I believe this event was a lot better than the Elimination Chamber a couple weeks ago. It goes to show you that you can’t judge an event by its match card. WrestleMania is just a few weeks away and as the Road to WrestleMania continues, the match cards are looking great.
E4 EDGE
Monday, March 26, 2018
WesternCourier.com
The Driver Era: a new era of music
JIMMY PIERSON
baylee brynteson Entertainment Editor @bayleeBrynteson
The Driver Era is a new band that has appeared on the music scene. They only have one song, but it is one that will make you wish that they had an album. The Driver Era is a rebranded version of the band R5, which included a former Disney Channel star, Ross Lynch, his three siblings, all with names starting with the letter R and Ellington Ratliff. Ross, Rocky, Riker and Rydel Lynch started the band called
R5. In 2009 the band became popular among a younger female crowd. They released songs such as “Forget About You” from their “Louder” album, “Smile” from their “Sometime Last Night” album and many more songs that accrued them a huge following. Up until this year they were R5, but not anymore. R5 has transformed into an edgier, more electric version of its self
with the rebranding to The Driver Era. Ross and his brother Rocky Lynch have spearheaded this operation as writers, performers and producers of most of the tracks put out by the new band. Like most young stars, eventually you change your image, and because Ross started out as a Disney star, changing his image to go beyond his Disney characters was a big deal. Ross started his acting career on the Disney Channel show “Austin and Ally” where he played Austin, an extroverted musician and singer. Ross has shown that his passion for music wasn’t only just for the show, with his many
musical escapades he was able to introduce his fans to a new side of himself that they didn’t get from the Disney show. With a new sound, comes a new image. The Driver Era’s debut single “Preacher Man” was released March 16, and it is a totally different sound to anything R5 ever put out, and that’s a great thing because they are a completely new band. The Driver Era has a very unique sound that makes you want to get up and dance around the room. There is energy in this one song, which shows that whatever else they have coming, is going to be amazing as well. “Preacher Man” is a very
upbeat song with a deep meaning. It’s the kind of song that you just play on repeat once you hear it because it makes you move. The music video for “Preacher Man” was released on March 22, and it adds so much depth to the song. It also gives a glimpse into what The Driver Era can do and how creative they are. There are more songs to look forward to like “Afterglow” and “Flexible,” but there hasn’t been any word on when they will be coming out. They are definitely a band to watch out for. Their sound is new and exciting, and the talent is through the roof. Once you start listening to them you will be addicted.
@WesternCourier
Monday, March 26, 2018
Recently I have done something that seems to be impossible to anyone in the 21st century and that is go a day without technology. Yes, all technology. I gave up my phone and laptop meaning I had no access to any social media like Twitter or Facebook. The reason why I wanted to give this little experiment a try is because a few days before I gave all that up, I had a
weeks without things that she wouldn’t think would affect her life too much but then learns how dependent she is on those things. It all started off as a competition because my mom was convinced that I wouldn’t be able to do it so naturally I took on this challenge. The first thing I learned to do was to set up an alarm clock on an actual clock. I know that sounds silly but since I gave up my phone I wasn’t able to set up an alarm to wake up like I do every night to make sure I don’t over sleep. Turns out setting up an alarm clock on an actual clock is harder
OPINIONS 5
Take a break from technology very interesting conversation with my mom. She said that as the years went on she started giving up things for short periods of time to see how different life would be without it. She said that she’s become so dependent on things that were considered luxuries when she was growing up and so she often gives up things that she didn't have 30 years ago. She told me that she tries to go a few hours, days or even
It's ok to have a drink once and a while
When one thinks of a college student, a common thought is that a lot of students binge drink. Binge drinking can be defined as the consumption of an excessive amount of alcohol in a short period of time. This is super common from the college age range. Yes that is true that teens and early adults drink a lot, but that’s part of the college experience. Binge drinking is obviously not something healthy to do, and can lead to much bigger problems down the road. However not all college students drink, myself included. I only drink about 1-2 times per week depending on the week. I know some students who go out most days of the week, and I know some students who never go out. It all just depends on the person. Some people like to just drink socially. College can be super stressful and some
people just need a drink to relax and get their mind off of things. Having a few drinks here and there is not the end of the world. There’s worse things you can do/put in your body, like drugs for example. They are illegal for a reason, but alcohol is not. Going to the bars and meeting up with friends, having a drink with a meal, having a wine night with your girlfriends is very common amoungst college students. There is nothing wrong with having a drink once in awhile. It becomes a problem when it turns into binge drinking, but not everyone in college is a binge drinker. No one should be ashamed for relaxing and having a few drinks. I for one am not ashamed. If you are of age, and you’re drinking responsibly, then there is no problem at all. Going to house parties, going to the bar, going to food
places that serve alcohol and other social environments, are just a few ways that college students can drink. As long as people are still doing what they came to school to do, it is not really a problem. Putting alcohol before extracurricular activities and school is a huge problem. Alcohol should not be your top priority, school should, otherwise there is no point in going to college. The moment you rely on drinking for your happiness, is the moment you realize you are in a negative situation. But if your are drinking responsibly, it should never get to that point. It is easier said than done and it honestly just depends on the person. No one should be talked down at for choosing to drink during college, because that is part of the experience. It is not out of the ordinary to drink, and if the person drinks responsibly, then there is not an underlying problem. If one wants to drink in college and make it part of their experience, they should. There is nothing wrong with wanting to explore and be apart of the college experience.
than it seems since I was woken up by my mom instead of my clock because I set it up for p.m. instead of a.m. So the first experience I had without technology was a disaster but I had the entire day ahead of me. That same day I had an appointment at the dentist and when I got there I was told to wait until I was called. Naturally I wanted to take out my phone and scroll through my emails, go on twitter, or play a game but I specifically left my phone at home. Soon after that I had my epiphany moment. I realized that most of us grew up using technology as
either a way to keep busy, stay connected, stay distracted or in some cases learn. We take little things like a connection through media to our friends for granted, abusing our privileges and becoming addicted to it all. Letting go of it for awhile and seeing what it would be like if we constantly weren’t able to have these luxuries, opens up our eyes and lets us realize what we really have and how lucky we are to have it. The point of giving up something so small for a few days or even hours, is to take everything in life that is given to us, and appreciate it a little more than we give it credit for.
Monday, March 26, 2018
6 SPORTS
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Soccer
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ANGEL STRACK/COURIER STAFF
Tim Hansen clears the ball.
Track
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Grant Kaiser sprints during his race.
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1 & 2 bedroom apartments, new $250 signing bonus on 10 and 12 month leases. Two blocks from campus. Bus stops nearby. Free water, garbage and parking. Laundry onsite. Clean, well maintained and secure. Call Ted 309-837-5600 or visit markertrental.com. Spacious 2-5 bedroom homes for rent. 10 month lease available. Great locations, close to bus stops, plenty off street parking, all new windows, AC, energy efficient furnace, hardwood and ceramic tile floors, free washer/dryer. Well maintained (24 hrs.) by local landlord. Call 309-255-1233. Houses for Rent 2016/2017: A&D Real Estate has several 3, 4 and 5 bedroom houses for rent, all with at least 2 bathrooms, recently rennovated and located close to campus. Call for a tour or visit our website at www.wiucollegerentals.com. Local landlord with a focus on clean and updated housing with personal service for your college housing needs. 309-313-1122. FALL INTO SAVINGS with Charleston Boulevard Apartments! Now offering SPECIAL RATES through Dec. 2017! Call for specific details 309-833-4545!. NICE, CLEAN, WELL MAINTAINED 1 TO 6 BEDROOM HOUSES FOR 2016-2017 Our houses have hard wood floors, ceramic tile, central air, washer and dryer and are close to campus with plenty of parking. We offer a ten month lease so you don’t pay for the months you aren’t here. Please call 309-255-1959 for a showing. Now showing for 2017 & 2018 year 2, 3, and 5 bedrooms homes all close to campus. Call 309-331-4565. Westen Investments has only two 4-Bedroom brich houses available. Call our office at 309-833-5995 to schedule a showing! We will show to 2-3 person groups as well! STC Investments now leasing for the 18/19 school year. We have 1-6 bedroom apartments/houses ready for you to call home! Check out our selection at www.stcinvestments.com. You can also find us on Facebook to see daily posts!
On the men’s side freshman Nick Olson recorded Western’s best finish of the day as he reached second in the javelin throw (46.19 meters). Sophomore Josh Kirby and senior Josh Thomas both competed in the 110-meter raced and finished fifth and seventh respectively out of 15 total competitors. The final two PR’s came from freshman Jace Norman and junior Darius Patterson in the 200-meter run with
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.
Nearing the end of the game both teams had a few more opportunities to take the lead but the game remained scoreless. No matter the outcome, these spring games allow the team to prepare for the upcoming fall season. After losing some seniors, some new players were able to see the pitch in this match. It is a good opportunity to work out any miscommunications before the games actually matter. This first match was just one of the seven spring games that is scheduled for Western. None of these games will count toward anything but are just friendlies that allow the players to get more game experience. Their next game is set for April 7, at home against Central Methodist University. CMU is an NAIA school from Fayette, Missouri. Twitter: hayfourrr times of 22.77 and 22.68 seconds respectively. This meet was only individual meaning there were no relay events. Western will look to start getting on the podium more and picking up those valuable points to start winning meets. They have another chance to figure things out and find their feet this weekend when they head down to Southeast Missouri. The Leathernecks only home meet will be April 5-7 as they compete in the Lee Calhoun Memorial and continue their outdoor season as it begins to take full swing. Twitter: bradjp08
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For Rent Available now: Close to campus, clean studio apartments, excellent condition, reasonable rent, and partly furnished. Ceiling fans and a/c. Professionally maintained. No pets. Semester leases offered. Call 309 837 4369 and leave your phone number if not there. Email: MandKhousing@gmail.com ALL APARTMENTS - ALL INCLUSIVE Get control of your budget. Know exactly what you are spending each month. Each apartment includes free a/c, free heat, free electricity, free water, free cable tv, free hi speed internet, and free off street parking. Laundry on site. No noise policy. Bus stop across the street. Close to campus. Well maintained. Studios are $460/mo, One bedrooms are $620/mo. Call Doug at 309-255-8179 for an appointment. Westen Investments still has affordable 1-4 Bedroom Apartment/Houses available. Be sure to check out our website (www.westeninvest.com) to see our available listings, and call our office at 309-833-5995 to schedule a showing. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to win prize giveaways! APARTMENT FOR RENT: FOR QUIET PERSON. ONE BEDROOM APARTMENT FOR RENT LOCATED AT 314 West Carroll ST Macomb, Ill 61455. Available end of August 2017-new carpeting yearly lease SMALEST FURNISHED IN MACOMB $345.00/month - HEAT & AC INCLUDED private entrance, off-street parking included call for appointment309-837-4748 or 255-5075 woodburning fireplace, ask for Paul. For Rent: Little Swan Lake, 30 min from campus. 2br, 2bth, heated double car garage with work area. $600 per mo. (309) 335-2206 after 6:00 pm, may leave message anytime. Spacious 3 Bedroom Upper in Duplex close to campus and Jackson St. All utilities furnished and appliances Includes cable and internet 18/19 school year $375.00 per Br Ph 309 255 8086 Please leave message
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Monday, March 26, 2018
The University of Connecticut Huskies have dominated women’s basketball for what seems like eternity, so when March Madness rolls around, it hard to get excited for the women’s tournament when it feels like UConn is going to win every year. But even when a team as dominate as the Huskies reign over their sport, we’re forced to look and enjoy other players and teams. One of the most fun players I’ve seen in this tournament is a sophomore coming from the University of Oregon, Sabrina Ionescu. I’d never heard of her before the tournament and hadn’t heard of her until New York Times’ best selling author and leader of the “FOH Army” Shea Serrano, started praising her on Twitter. Ionescu has been one of the standout players of the tournament and has set the tone for the Ducks as they have marched along to the Elite Eight. Ionescu opened up the tournament with a tripledouble against the Redhawks of Seattle University. Her path of destruction continued in the next game against the University of Minnesota Gophers where
Aggies game against DePaul University. The freshman displayed no fear and put up her highest shot total of the season at 30. She sank 19 of them and scored 37 points in the shootout but her last three were by far the most important. With the Aggies down by two with a little over 10 seconds left on the clock, Carter snatched down a rebound and dribbled up the court. Two defenders were standing up at the three-point line and Carter snatched both of their souls with a quick double between the leg dribble which freed her up to go for the game winning three-point shot. The shot fell and the raw, visceral reaction that came from Carter can only be described as a human nuclear bomb. She turned around and punched the air with such ferocity that a slight “ouch” could be heard from the wind. She stomped her feet on the court so hard that it is a miracle that the floor didn’t snap in half and create a new fault line. But one of the most miraculous parts of the play was that the game wasn’t over yet. There were still 2.8 seconds left on the clock and Carter couldn’t have cared less. Luckily, DePaul called a timeout and she wasn’t caught off-guard during her celebration and the Aggies went on to win the game. The Fighting Irish eliminated Carter and the Aggies, but we can bet that she will come back next season even better
Sports 7
Hoping for a UConn upset in March she dropped 29 points, nine assists and seven rebounds. The University of Central Michigan was the most recent victim of the Ionescu super tornado as they fell 83-69, with the sophomore forward falling only one rebound shy of another triple-double. Ionescu is averaging 21.3 points, 10 assists and 8.7 rebounds through the first three games of the tournament and has captivated the nation as we hope for another team that could dethrone the Huskies. Oregon has looked the part so far. They are one of the highest scoring teams in the nation, averaging 82.6 points per game, only 6.7 points behind UConn. Oregon has their toughest matchup tonight as they face the Fighting Irish from University of Notre Dame. Notre Dame has been tearing through their competition so far and has only come close to dropping out in their last matchup against Texas A&M University. Texas A&M were able to stay so close due to another one of the standouts of March Madness, freshman sensation Chennedy Carter. Carter star has shined as bright as anyone’s in the tournament so far, and it shone the brightest in the
and ready to dominate the tournament in 2019. Finally, the number one player in the nation. A’Ja Wilson of the University of South Carolina. Wilson is a 6-foot-5 forward and has averaged a staggering 22.9 points, 12.0 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game this season. She can also dunk which gives me hope that she will decide to dunk on the 6-foot6 forward, Azura Stephens of UConn in their matchup tonight. Wilson will need to put together the best game of her career if she wants to lead the Aggies over the Huskies in the Elite Eights. She has performed up to expectations in the tournament so far, recording a double- double in all three of their games so far but the Huskies are a different animal. Their chances don’t look great at beating Geno Auriemma and the juggernaut in Connecticut but with the number one player in the country, they can’t be counted out completely. Upsets are quite common in March, and in the women’s tournament, every single spectator outside of Storrs, Connecticut wants to see that one team who can take down that dynasty. Mississippi State University revitalized the entire world in 2017 when Morgan Williams snapped UConn’s 111-game win streak on a midrange buzzer beater. We can only hope that chaos rules supreme once again and one of these teams can take down the dynasty in Storrs.
Baseball loses in 12-inning marathon MACOMB, Ill. – Western Illinois' baseball team hasn't played a 12-inning game since the 2015 season. The outing resulted in a 9-4 victory over South Dakota State, and ironically enough, Friday's (March 23) Summit League opener between the two also went the distance. Down to their last out, the Leathernecks loaded the bases with two batters hit by a pitch and a single up the middle, before dropping the ballgame, 6-3. Western tied things at 3-all in the bottom of the eighth on an RBI-single by CJ Schaeffer and a wild pitch, and the score remained locked for the next 3.1 innings until a 3-RBI triple by Landon Badger. Ian Koch received the start-
ing nod for the Leathernecks and pitched 6.1 innings with seven hits, one earned run and a career-high eight strikeouts. In relief, Alex Dorethy and Colan Borchers combined for 2.2 innings and allowed just three hits while striking out four. SDSU's starting pitcher Brady Moxham retired 18 straight before Deion Thompson's leadoff single in the eighth. He recorded a one-out double in the next inning and was left standing at third base to force extras. Both Thompson and Schaeffer recorded two hits on the day. The remainder of their double header was cancelled due to snow in the forecast. GoLeathernecks.com
Nolan Ard sails a ball to the infield.
GOLEATHERNECKS.COM
Necks tie with Truman State
By Haley Richards
assistant sports editor MACOMB, Ill. – The 2018 spring season kicked off for the Western Illinois men’s soccer team this past weekend. The game was initially set for Saturday but after inclement weather was rescheduled to Sunday. The Leathernecks took on the Bulldogs of Truman State University and tied 0-0. Truman State is a Division II team from Kirksville, Missouri. The Bulldogs went 4-12-1 in the 2017 season. The Leathernecks went 5-10-1 in their regular season. The game was played on the turf of Hanson Field because the grass on the John Mackenzie Alumni field was not in good condition due to the rain from Saturday. Despite the game being friendly, both teams came out very competitive. Most of the match was an even battle between the Bulldogs and the Leathernecks. The game remained 0-0 for the first half as neither team could find the back of the net. The Purple and Gold had many chances to score throughout the half, but almost all of the shots
on goal were to the hands of the opposing goalkeeper. Just minutes in the start of the second half, the Leathernecks were putting the Bulldogs under lots of pressure, keeping the ball in their offensive half. About 10 minutes into the half, senior defender Orsy Gonzales had a low shot that just nearly missed the goal but the shot went wide. Junior goalkeeper Tim Hansen was in goal for the Leathernecks the whole game. He had a few saves throughout the match but was not put under too much pressure. Both teams managed to put together some good series of passes but seemed to have trouble finishing the ball. As the second half continued, the game got physical as many fouls were called. With about 15 minutes left, sophomore midfielder Paul Kirdorf took a free kick right outside the box. The ball was chipped back post but unfortunately, was not able to be finished.
Soccer page 6
Paul Kirdorf dribbles past a defender.
JASMYNE TAYLOR/COURIER STAFF
Track and field with new PR's in meet Bradley Piros courier staff
MIchaela Bush makes her way through the hurdles.
GOLEATHERNECKS.COM
CARBONDALE Ill. – The Western Illinois track and field teams headed down state to take part in their first outdoor event of the season against the Southern Illinois University Salukis. The meet included seven personal bests for Western and a Leatherneck all-time mark. Summit League Preseason Athlete to Watch Michaela Busch (sophomore) had a pair of those personal bests in the javelin with a mark of 101’ 10.25” (31.04 meters), and in the 100-meter hurdles (15.5 seconds). She also found herself on the podium with a first-place finish in the high-jump (5’ 5” or 1.65 meters). That mark tied her for ninth place all-time for Western. She managed to do all that in some relatively terrible conditions. "The weather was less than ideal, cold, wet, breezy at times, and we had a bit of a hard time managing through it in some events. There were some shining moments though," said assistant coach Nick Maas. Nothing is worse than a windy and cold track meet. However, the conditions didn’t matter as five Leathernecks set new personal bests.
This was Westerns first meet in a little over a month, so the main goal was to get back into the swing of things. "The goal of the first meet of the year is to get outside and bust off the rust after a break between seasons. How a team will react to the elements are always an unknown. We definitely need to work in that area. However, the team and coaches are eager to get better in week two,” Mass said. Continuing on, freshman Amelia Peterson led the way in three events. She was the Leathernecks best hope in the triple jump (11.18 meters) and the long jump (4.98 meters). She also raced a 13.12 in the 100-meter dash. Three other women captured best finishes as freshman Victoria Adesola marked 10.56 meters in the triple jump, sophomore Abigail Richter recorded a time of 4:57.02 in the 1500-meter race and sophomore Nicole Beebe in the 5000-meter run (18:09.71). Beebe finished seventh out of a whole 22 athletes that ran that event. Not only did she finish close to the best, but she also recorded her personal best.
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