Edge: The 2018 Golden Globes set the bar high.
News: Multicultural center will host MLK day.
Sports: Women's basketball blown out 8448 in South Dakota.
Monday, January 22, 2018 - Vol. 118 Issue 46
Trump protestors call for impeachment
ISAIAH HERARD/NEWS EDITOR
The Macomb campus community exercises their First amendemnt right to peacefully assembly and demand the impeachment of President Donald Trump on Saturday at Chandler Park.
By Isaiah Herard news editor
Citizens of Macomb gathered to protest President Donald Trump and demand he be impeached from the oval office on Saturday. According to Wise, filling out the paperwork and kickstarting her right of freedom of speech and the right to peacefully assemble was a simple,
time sensitive process. “The paperwork was just a small issue,” Wise said. “I filled out a form answering who, what, when, and where the rally was all about then it was circulated by the City Clerk’s office to various offices. I was notified that the request was approved.” Orchestrating the event was Paula Wise, who sincerely believes Trump is the most
incompetent, belligerent and bigoted president she has endured in her lifetime. “I believe that Trump is an incompetent president,” Wise said. “He doesn’t seem to understand the complexity of the office itself or of the individual issues we as a country are facing.” According to Wise, Trump not only ignores the sacred history that comes with being
the President of the United States, but she also believes he is turning nations against us; nations that once pledged allegiance to the U.S. “He seems to think that the bullying techniques he employed to get the nomination — name calling, lies, and innuendoes — and to win the election are useful in dealing with world leaders,” Wise said. “He is turning off
our former allies around the globe. I believe he needs to be stopped before he drags us into a nuclear war.” Many U.S. citizens believe Trump has no emotional attachment toward the people, but would rather use the presidency for power and monetary benefits to feed his ego.
Protest page 2
JIMMY PIERSON/PRODUCTION MANAGER
By Isaiah Herard news editor
The Found at Nostalgia, a boutique for people who love handmade home décor and custom-made product lines has announced the store will be closing on Saturday, Feb. 17. Located at 129 N. Randolph St. since April of 2016, store owner Shannon Duncan decided to close the curtain at Nostalgia to sacrifice for the greater good of
her family. “It was very hard, but we made the decision to close down around the holiday,” Duncan said. “For Thanksgiving we didn’t get to be with any of our family and me, my husband and my son that works in the store have a hard time getting away and it’s just not a fit for us. When we started the store, I don’t think we realized it would be that much distance between us and our families. A native of the Chicagoland
area, Duncan said she has no family in Macomb and her emotional attachment to her family and the desire to be more involved in her children’s lives calls for her to resign as owner of The Found at Nostalgia. “We don’t have any family here in town,” Duncan said. “My son will be going to college in the next year and we want to be able to have the opportunity to go and visit him. My daughter is involved in multiple sporting activities and it makes it hard to
go support her. My husband travels a lot so it’s often just me that’s here in town and it just doesn’t fit our lifestyle the way we anticipated.” Interests are looking to purchase the business however; the owner of the building is looking to expand her lines and fill the void. “I don’t know if there is something that would actually buy the business because they would have to find a different location,” Duncan said. “There are some spaces on the square that are avail-
able, but it comes down to rent and cost effectiveness. It remains to be seen what will happen there in terms of someone buying it and continuing it.” Duncan served as a Macomb city planner for 15-years. Due to her previous title as city planner and her current ownership within the square, she has built a bond with the community so strong they are her second family.
The Found
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2
Monday, January 22, 2018
NEWS
Mia Blankenship courier staff
In honor of Black History Month, Western Illinois University’s Gwendolyn Brooks Multicultural Center will be hosting its annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration on Thursday Jan. 25 in Horrabin Hall Theater at 5:30 p.m. The celebration is held annually by the Cultural Center and is used to highlight and discuss current matters of race, discrimination, and equality as they have appeared in recent years. This year's theme is “It is Our Business
WC
to be Bothered: Testimony and Witness at the Doorsteps of Activism." From the name, it seems that this year’s celebration will bring into discussion the bystander witnesses and the responsibility such people hold in the movement to end discrimination. McKinley E. Melton, an Assistant Professor of English at Gettysburg College, has the honor of presenting the keynote speech. Melton received a Career Enhancement Fellowship for Junior Faculty from the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation, was a 2015-16 postdoctoral fellow at the Fox Center for Humanistic
STAFF MEMBERS editor-in-chief Nicholas Ebelhack NA-Ebelhack@wiu.edu news editor Isaiah Herard IA-Herard@wiu.edu assistant news editor Emily Stieren EN-Stieren@wiu.edu opinions editor Ryan Zurek RP-Zurek@wiu.edu
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
Inquiry at Emory University, and has also been a visiting assistant professor of literature at Hampshire College. Given background in higher education, Melton’s keynote speech promises to be a fascinating presentation on the power that bystander testimony has in modern day activism and how that power can be used. For those who are interested in learning more about activism and witness testimony while still the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration is free not only to students and employees of Western, but open to the public as a whole. In addition to the Jan. 25 cele-
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 Pedro Avila PJ-Avila@wiu.edu assistant photo editor Becca Langys RE-Langys@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
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bration, the Gwendolyn Brooks Cultural Center will host Nikki Giovani at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 5. Giovanni is an American activist and educator, as well as a writer and a poet. Her speech will be the keynote of the Cultural Center’s Black History month celebration, and will be held in the University Union Grand Ballroom. Giovanni has been faculty at Virginia Tech University since 1987 and has since been named a University Distinguished Professor. Giovanni’s writing and activism has won her no small number of awards, which includes multiple awards from the NAACP, the Ladies Home
Journal, and four “Woman of the Year Awards” from Ebony Magazine. When examining the impressive credentials of this year’s keynote speaker, as well as the home-hitting relevance in today’s cultural and political climate, this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration is shaping up to be a fascinating intellectual performance. The WIU Black History Month presentation is open and free to the public. For more information about either presentation, contact the Gwendolyn Brooks Cultural Center at (309) 298-2220 or email GBC-Center@wiu.edu.
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. The WC is printed by The Galesburg Register-Mail in Galesburg, Ill.
COPYRIGHT 2017
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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Monday, January 22, 2018
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The Found
from front page
“I definitely care very much about this community, I want to do whatever I can to support it,” Duncan said. “I know a lot of businesses have been closing and I hate to be someone that’s contributing to that. That is very hard for me.” According to Duncan, The Found has been a healthy business and she is humbled and grateful for the Macomb campus and community’s support. “We’ve been very thankful for the community’s support,” Duncan said. “It’s
been sad when I’ve had regular customers come in and talk about how they’re disappointed we’re closing.” Duncan added to her sentiment with her “family first” slogan, believing the intangible virtue of loyalty to her family is more important than all tangibles. “For me it’s always been family first,” Duncan said. “I continue to want to be supportive of the community and I haven’t decided if I would be looking for another job that would-be part time. I’d like to volunteer more and give back. We do want to be givers of the community and be participants, but it definitely was not an easy decision.”
Protest from front page
Wise said over the course of his brief presidency, Trump has showed his belief and advocacy in racism, sexism, discrimination and prejudice. Trump’s discriminatory nature is the primary reason Wise decided to act on what was causing her to be disgruntled and assemble the community of Macomb for a rally. “He shows much evidence of racism and sexism,” Wise said. “Horrible qualities for someone in his position.” Trump has been accused of ordering “all the black (employees) off the floor” of one of his casinos during his visit;
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NEWS 3 proclaimed “laziness is a trait in blacks” and “not anything they can control; demanded Jews “in yarmulkes” replace his black accountants; told Bryan Gumbel, former co-host of NBC today that “a well-educated black has a tremendous advantage over a well-educated white in terms of the job market.” The goal Wise sought to accomplish through the march was to raise awareness and create a sense of urgency. She acknowledged Macomb is a small town, however all things great start off small. “My goals for the march were to raise awareness of concern and frustration with Trump,” Wise said. “I want to make people realize that voting is the route to change.”
Monday, January 22, 2018
4 OPINIONS
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JIMMYPIERSON/PRODUCTION MANAGER
Syllabus week is officially in the books for the 2018 Spring Semester. It’s no secret that the first thing most college students look at when first receiving a syllabus is the attendance policy. While every syllabus will say that attendance is mandatory and expected, the actual enforced policy varies from professor to professor. Over time, it appears that graded attendance is becoming more common as professors and departments are starting to crack down. Professors have penalties for students missing too many (too many being very subjective) classes.
There are some professors who reward good attendance, but those guardian point average angels are few and far inbetween. We all know why these policies exist, but do they really help students? The goal of graded attendance policies is simple; get students to show up to class. Students showing up to class equals more time learning, which equals better understanding, which equals better grades. So if we never miss a class we’re going to get an “A” right? Probably, hopefully, but no guarantee. There’s more than just class attendance that determines how you do in a class, but
now attendance is becoming an actual factor in that calculation. The point of grades is to show and demonstrate understanding of the subject matter, not the level of will power required to get up for an 8 a.m. class. Some people are happy to have participation grades because they see it as free points, all you have to do is show up. But some situations beyond just lack of interest or willpower prevent you from attending class such as illness or other circumstances beyond your control. Just this past week my car decided not to turn off for me ten minutes before one of my classes. Things happen, and in these cases classes with graded attendance become worrying as you may end up using your freebies early in the semester and are forced to attend class
battling pneumonia and the black plague, while trying not to fail an introductory course you’re pulling an A in. Which not only worsens your condition, but could get classmates, professors, and anyone else you run into sick as well. We’re currently going through a bad flu season which only shows how bad too much exposure can be. Besides health reasons, there is also the fact that sometimes the classroom isn’t the best learning environment for a particular student in a particular class. If a student better understands the subject matter from the textbook or another outside source than the methods the professor uses to instruct, why should the student be forced to attend class where he will most likely either zone out or get more con-
fused? This is particularly relevant in Gen Ed or introductory courses that may not be involved or related to the students major and career plans. Students learn best through a variety of different methods, there is no one way to learn. While the professor is an expert on the material, they may not instruct in a way that makes sense for some students. Unfortunately “teaching method” is not a category of information yet on Rate My Professor, you don’t know until you show up for class. Attending class is important, don’t get me wrong. You should be going to class, I mean you’re paying for it. Students just shouldn’t be penalized for not attending class. Missing the material should be penalty enough. Don’t add insult to injury.
the School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration (LEJA), the School of Computer Sciences, and the department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration. Under this proposal, a student majoring in LEJA would not be allowed to minor in Homeland Security and a Computer Science major would not be able to minor in Information Systems. A related proposal by these faculty members suggested allowing students to minor in their same major department if they wish, but requiring those students to complete a second minor outside of their major department in order to graduate. These propos-
als would effectively limit student choice, and would likely require students to stay at the University longer than necessary – all while the students rack up debt from additional unwanted semester hours. As students and their families are paying for the degree and education they wish to receive, putting additional limitations on student choice at a time of declining enrollment is not only harmful to the students, but is harmful to the University as a whole. Illinois is currently the second largest exporter of students in the United States, and policies such as those identified in this proposal would result in even more students fleeing to other Universities. As WIU should be taking student opinion into consideration, especially in mat-
ters such as this, I would strongly encourage students (especially students in the affected departments) to take action. The Faculty Senate will be discussing this matter further at their meeting on Jan. 23, 2018, in the Union Capitol rooms at 4 p.m. The discussion will occur as old business toward the end of the meeting. I would highly encourage students to attend this meeting in order to take a stand against this proposition. If you are unable to attend, please send an email with your thoughts to mmlynn@wiu.edu to be shared with the Senate. In matters such as these, we mustn’t let the student voice be stifled.
Letter to the Editor
WIU Students As the Student Representative to the Faculty Senate and the Council on Curricular Programs and Instruction (CCPI), I am urging students to respond to recent discussions held by the Faculty Senate. The Faculty Senate is a voting committee comprised of several professors from each academic college. During Fall 2017, CCPI, a sub-committee of the Faculty Senate, has been reviewing the definitions of “Terms Related to Academic Programming.” Much of the discussion revolved around the definition of a minor. CCPI has essentially proposed keeping
in place minor selections as we currently know them – students have the freedom to choose the minor they would like to complete, so long as the major department does not restrict it and the minor does not overlap more than one course (up to 5 hours) with their declared major. However, some faculty members are not happy with maintaining this flexibility, and are proposing a change to this definition that would essentially prohibit students from choosing a minor that is housed within the same department as their major. A few of the programs impacted by this proposal include
Madison Lynn Director of Academic Affairs Student Government Association
January 22, 2018
Page 1
Girl Power at The 2018 Golden Globes FLICKER.COM
Two words: Girl. Power. The 2018 Golden Globes was a force to be reckoned with. Many Hollywood Elites came together in Beverly Hills, California to start the award season off right. If you watched the Globes, you would have noticed that many if not a majority of the guests were wearing black. This was not in memoriam; this was part of the Times Up movement, standing up and speaking out for women who have been sexually harassed in the workplace. Starting off the award show, Seth Meyers did not hold back. He made a lot of jokes about the harassment scandals from these past few months. Right off the bat he started with, “Welcome
This leads me to Winfrey’s acceptance speech. Winfrey was the first African American Female to receive the Cecil B. DeMille Award. This award is given to someone for “outstandladies and remaining gentle- ing contributions to the men…” From there, most world of entertainment,”and of his opening was mak- that was what Winfrey ing jokes about how the has done. Like most of the night, men in the business were Winfrey’s speech was about the dwindling. His monologue Time’s Up Movement. lasted close to 13 minutes There were many memorable but had many viewers and attend- parts in her speech. ees laughing. There was one part that had One moment that stood out among everyone talking though, at the rest of his jokes, was when he the end of Winfrey’s speech she addressed Oprah Winfrey. said, “So I want all the girls Winfrey was being honored watching here, now, to know later in the night for the that a new day is on the Cecil B. DeMille Award. horizon! And when that new Meyers mentioned that in day finally dawns, it will 2011, he made some jokes be because of a lot of about our current President, magnificent women, many which people said that is what of whom are right here in made him want to run. Meyers this room tonight, and some then joked about how pretty phenomenal men, Winfrey could never be fighting hard to make sure president and Tom Hanks that they become the couldn’t be Vice President. leaders who take us to
the time when nobody ever has to say “Me too” again.” This quote from Winfrey herself, has the media talking about if that was her way of saying she might run for office in 2020? Winfrey’s longtime partner, Stedman Graham, said she WOULD run for President in Los Angeles Times’ article. Stedman supports the idea but said, “It’s up to the people.” The 2018 Golden Globes had many amazing television and movie nominees this year. Sterling K. Brown was the first African American to win Best Actor in a Dramatic TV Series for his role in “This Is Us.” “This Is Me,” won for Best Original Song in The Greatest Showman. “Big Little Lies” also won many awards, one being Best Miniseries or TV Film. There were many well-deserved winners this year. The next award show is the Grammys on Jan. 28 on CBS.
Want to write for EDGE? Contact bm-brynteson@wiu.edu
E2 EDGE
Monday, January 22, 2018
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WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Vans Warped Tour is a music festival that journeys crosscountry each summer. The music festival is branded by its accepting and carefree atmosphere, which anyone who has attended attests to. Founded by Kevin Lyman in 1995, Vans Warped Tour has impacted the music industry in more ways than are imaginable. Warped Tour has been known for showcasing upcoming artists in genres such as rock, punk, metal-core, electronic, and hip hop. The musical performances at Vans Warped Tour allow fans to meet the perform-
ers, get autographs, and take photos. Vans Warped Tour not only highlights up and coming musicians, but also takes select YouTubers on tour with them. Warped Tour creates a strong community for those who attend, and its impacts over 90 non-profit organizations each summer. To Write Love on Her Arms and Feed the Children Now, along with many other non-profits, were supported graciously by the Warped Tour community. To Write Love on Her Arms is one of the primary charities supported by
fans and the Warped Tour community. This foundation focuses on establishing hope and providing help to those that struggle with any form of mental health concerns. This non-profit, and the other non-profits supported by the tour, make a strong impact on many world-wide. On Nov 15, 2017 , it was announced to the public that Warped Tour would take its final country-wide tour this coming summer, 2018. Kevin Lyman, the founder of Warped Tour, reflected on the impact of Warped Tour, and looks forward to a possible 25th anniversary celebration summer of 2019. The Warped Tour communities, along with many people involved in the music
industry, have heavy hearts due to the news of the end of Warped Tour. Warped Tour has become iconic throughout the 23 years it has toured the United States, and its end has been very hard on the entire community. It was never blatantly stated why Warped Tour would come to an end this summer, but it is implied through Lyman’s statement that the festival has reached what seems to be its full potential, and has accomplished what was envisioned when the tour was first established. The cities and tour dates have been released for summer 2018, and the Warped Tour community is anticipatory of what this final tour will bring.
As the winter months quickly pass by, fans are consistently trying to think of what artists and Youtubers may take the final cross-country trip. Rumors of leaks as well as “Dream Line-ups” have begun to flood the web, with talk of a possible My Chemical Romance reunion on this summer’s tour. Lyman also hinted at what this summer’s lineup may look like, “You’re gonna see a big mix of bands I felt really embraced the Warped Tour lifestyle.” Though, Warped Tour will be making its final cross-country journey this summer, it’s legacy and impact will live on for years to come- and the final tour will undoubtedly be one to remember.
E3 EDGE
Monday, January 22, 2018
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“Wonder” Is Out Of This World WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
“Wonder” is an honest portrayal of adolescence and youth culture; the struggles of parenting, and a refreshing take on acceptance and prejudgment. The film tells the story of August “Auggie” Pullman, a 10-year-old boy who was homeschooled by his Mom in an upscale neighborhood in Brooklyn. His Dad is an eccentric, laid-back man who encourages him to follow his dreams. Auggie dreams of one day becoming an astronaut and to make something of himself. Besides being homeschooled, his
extreme facial deformity seemingly sets him apart from the other 10-yearolds of New York. The conflict begins when Auggie’s parents decide it is time for him to attend mainstream school. Not surprisingly, he is apprehensive about it. He wears a space helmet when out in public to hide his face (or his feelings), so reluctance is not hard to believe. He, like other young kids, is self-conscious. While the movie does tackle his strife and how August deals with bullying, the plot flips the tables to the perspective of his family and friends. It was
an astonishing turn that, in all honesty, kept me on the edge of my seat. I was pleasantly surprised. The film presented the situations and stories of Auggie’s sister, Via, his close new friend, Jack Will, and his sister’s friend, Miranda. Each of these parallel story lines gives the viewer a sense of sympathy and understanding actions. While each character affects Auggie in both positive and negative ways, the exposure of backgrounds allows viewers to warrant behaviors for themselves. There have been many films about characters with disabilities and deformities. Most of them offer a single perspective: how people first responded to the character, and how they come to accept them.
“Wonder,” offers that, and so much more. The unique approach to real life is a reminder that “everything is not always as it seems.” I am sure we have all heard of that theme before. This film amplifies it and hits you hard with it. It is a weapon the film uses to convict its viewers. It is also offered as a tool for viewers to use to appreciate differences. The only drawback taken from the movie is such a far cry, it can certainly be disregarded: the acting. Jacob Tremblay, Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson, and Izabela Vidovic all perform flawless and heart-wrenching roles. Others like Bryce Gheisar who plays the antagonist Julian, act in almost a Vaudevillian manner making his role virtually unbelievable.
Nonetheless, “Wonder” is more than just a box office film with popular actors. It is a lesson and important depiction of how young kids should and should not act towards people with disabilities. It further emphasizes the amazing mind that Auggie possesses, despite his physical abnormalities. He is kind, he is witty, he is intelligent, and he is Auggie. Fortunately, along with millions of other patrons, I loved this film and urge everyone to see it. Learn from it. Take its premises literally, and, as the film so firmly points out, “We carry with us, as human beings, not just the capacity to be kind, but the very choice of kindness.”
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E4 EDGE
Monday, January 22, 2018
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Pitch Perfect 3 Hits a High Note Buckle up kiddos because you’re in for a ride. The Bella’s go on a journey around the world for one final hurrah. If you were skeptical about going to see the new, and last edition to the Pitch Perfect franchise, I wouldn’t blame you. The way I see it; the first one was the best, second one did not live up to the hype, and the third one was right in the middle. “Pitch Perfect 3” definitely was a great way to end the Bella’s story line with giving us all closure. As always, the movie focuses most of its attention on Beca and Fat Amy. But our Bella favorites: Chloe, Aubrey, Emily, Cynthia,
and Lilly are still around. Stacie makes an appearance at the beginning and end of the movie, but her character did not have a big role in the last edition. The movie takes place three years after we last saw the Bella’s in their graduation gowns. They are all for the most part, working in the adult world. Like most, they are more than excited to escape the real world and get back together with the girls at the Bella’s “reunion.” Dressed up in their Bella attire, ready to sing again, come to find out they were just there to watch the current Bella’s
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perform. Saddened by the events during the night, Aubrey comes up with a plan to go perform at the USO, a concert for the troops. The girls wanting to relive their college lives are all in for the trip and fly out to Spain, to find out that the best band gets to open for none other than DJ Khalid. Chloe excited about the competition finds the man of her dreams once they arrive on the Air Base. As for Fat Amy, the man of her nightmares finally finds her. The movie does have more than one story line, which is refreshing from the typical “we have to win this competition” movie they are known for. As always though, the movie is very funny and is worth the watch. They have rock, rap/EDM, country and pop genres this time around so there is
music for everyone. “The Pitch Perfect Sound track” wouldn’t be the same without the traditional Riff-Off. On the sound track there are spin-offs of hit songs such as “Toxic” by Britney Spears, “Ex’s and Oh’s” with a country twist, “Cheap Thrills”, and “Cake By the Ocean.” I would give the movie an 8 out of 10. I love a good comedy and I am a fan of the Pitch Perfect franchise. Also, if you don’t want to see a long movie, don’t worry it is only an hour and a half long. The movie is rated PG-13, but it is a good time waster, and great movie to just go out and watch with friends and family. If you are someone who likes Rotten Tomatoes’ ratings, the movie was rated a 31% but the audience rated it a 52%.
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Monday, January 22, 2018
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OPINIONS 5
Anti-vaxxers are more than crazy In the wake of this year ’s particularly bad flu season, my thoughts have been on the anti-vaxxer movement. While most sane people I know dismiss this movement as a bunch of lunatics, I believe that simply disagreeing with them is not enough. These people are actually dangerous, and if allowed to grow their movement unchecked, will become a menace to society. What responsible citizens need to do, is to call these people out, spreading the truth in the face of lies, if not to convince them to change their mind, then to con-
vince bystanders not to join their movements. By far the most common argument presented by the anti-vaxxers is that vaccines cause autism. There are a huge amount of flaws in this argument. First and foremost, they simply don’t! This idea started about 20 years ago when a scientist published a paper linking the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine to autism spectrum disorders. However, a subsequent investigation of that research found that the original author had manipulated the evidence, and that the original claim was false.
But the damage was done, and celebrities such as Jenny McCarthy and others began campaigning for restrictions on vaccines. But the lunacy of this idea goes beyond the falsehood that vaccines cause autism. There is also the implied idea that somehow, having autism is worse than the huge range of horrible, painful, and deadly diseases vaccines protect against. What does it say about a person when they hold the position that dying of diphtheria is a preferable alternative than being differently abled? It would be difficult to exaggerate the horror of these diseases. It is easy enough to google pictures of the times where hospitals would be full of dying children because of an outbreak of polio.
Today, thanks to vaccines, we are lucky to live in times where a healthy infant can be expected to grow to adulthood. Anti-vaxxers are trying their best to take that away, and the scary thing is, they are starting to succeed. The measles had been declared eradicated in the US in 2000, but over the last three years, multiple outbreaks have been recorded, the majority of the victims being unvaccinated children who had no choice in the matter. This is also true of both the mumps and whooping cough. But anti-vaxxers are not only a danger to themselves and their children. M a n y people go unvaccinated not because they believe it will give them autism, but because they are immunocompromised, and physically
unable to receive the vaccine. They rely on other people around them to be vaccinated, and not be carriers of any diseases. A resurgence of unvaccinated people puts them at risk. Anti-vaxxers are not just some fringe group that can be laughed at for a couple of cheap jokes. They are dangerous, and it is becoming increasingly important to recognize that. We as everyday citizens can help mitigate this danger not only by getting ourselves and our children vaccinated, but by helping to ensure that these dangerous ideas do not spread. Educate yourselves and others around you, and yes, if it comes to it, be that person on Facebook that calls out other people’s shenanigans. Remember, lives could be at risk.
Be careful with antibiotics
One major health concern that is facing the US nowadays is the overuse of antibiotics. A major consequence of this overuse is the creation of superbugs, or antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria infections. These infections are much harder to cure, and oftentimes can be more deadly. The way this works, in simple terms, is that colonies of bacteria are exposed to an antibiotic, which kills the majority of the bacteria. However, some of them slip through the cracks because they are slightly more resistant, and end up breeding a whole new colony of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Obviously this is an overview of what happens, and the actual details of what goes on is best left to a biology professor. But there are some things that a regular student can do to help prevent the spread of these superbugs. First and foremost is to fin-
ish your antibiotics when they are prescribed to you. If you take the first couple rounds of medicine and start feeling better, not all the bacteria is necessarily gone. There is likely still some lurking about that isn’t completely immune to the medicine, but just a little bit stronger against it. Finishing your whole prescription is going to ensure that these tougher bugs don’t go on to breed a whole new generation of superbugs. It is also important to stop demanding or taking antibiotics every time you get sick. This type of medicine is only effective against bacteria. Viral infections, such as the common cold, are simply immune to antibiotics. Taking a friends leftover antibiotics when you have the cold will not only not help you, but also increase the risk of a drug resistant strain, for the reasons above. But there is a much larger
issue at play here. Livestock in factory farms are given huge amounts of antibiotics, and antibiotic laced food, even when they are not infected. They do this as a cost cutting measure, as taking the time to diagnose every animal that is sick and prescribing a specific medicine to each is more expensive than a blanket method of giving all of them medicine. However, there are costs to this practice that do not directly affect these companies. The cost is the creation and increased risk of superbugs. According to the CDC, about 22 percent of drug-resistant bacteria can be traced back to this practice. In order to reduce this, we should call and write to our legislators, and let them know that it is important to have a set of laws regulating the use of antibiotics in livestock farming. But as mentioned before, there are many ways we can prevent the spread through our own practices. Public health is an important part of civic duty, and it is vital that each of us considers the effects of our actions
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2018 Spring Semester Editorial Board Editor-in-Cheif - Nicholas Ebelhack News Editor - Isaiah Herad
Edge Editor - Baylee Bryntesson Opinions Editor - Ryan Zurek
Monday, January 22, 2018
6 SPORTS
Swim and Dive from back page
Three other Leathernecks recorded second place finishes including junior Amanda Schaefer in the 1000-free (11:15.94). Winkel came in second in both the 100-back (1:03.38) and the 200-back (2:20.34). Lastly, Purdum was barely beaten in the 50-free with a time of 25.13 seconds. A variety of Leathernecks placed on the podium throughout the day, however they still fell short. After the meet, head coach Naumann was foucused on the road ahead. "Our next couple of meets will be a little rough with the travel schedule out to Omaha and Vermillion, but we should see some even better racing from the team at both meets." Naumann said. It gets a little tough for Western coming up as they have back-to-back away meets. On Friday, the Leathernecks head out to Nebraska to take on the University of Omaha Mavericks in a dual meet and right after that they have to go straight to South Dakota for their meet with the Coyotes. They’ll also finish their regular season on the road up against the University of Iowa on Feb. 2. Until then, Coach says that we should see some good racing from his side, as he’s pretty confident heading into the latter portion of the season. The meet against Omaha is this Friday and is set to start at 4 p.m. Twitter: bradjp08
Wowen’s Basketball from back page
The Purple and Gold will take on Denver University this Wednesday in Western Hall. Denver is currently 12-9 on the season and 3-3 in conference. They sit at fifth out of the eight teams in the Summit League. There are nine more games left for the Leathernecks and only one of those is a non-conference opponent. This year the Summit League women’s basketball championship will be held March 3-6 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Twitter: hayfourrr
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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!
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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.
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For Rent Available now: Close to campus, clean studio apartments, excellent condition, reasonable rent, and partly furnished. Ceiling fans and a/c. Professionally maintained. No pets. Semester leases offered. Call 309 837 4369 and leave your phone number if not there. Email: MandKhousing@gmail.com ALL APARTMENTS - ALL INCLUSIVE Get control of your budget. Know exactly what you are spending each month. Each apartment includes free a/c, free heat, free electricity, free water, free cable tv, free hi speed internet, and free off street parking. Laundry on site. No noise policy. Bus stop across the street. Close to campus. Well maintained. Studios are $460/mo, One bedrooms are $620/mo. Call Doug at 309-255-8179 for an appointment. Westen Investments still has affordable 1-4 Bedroom Apartment/Houses available. Be sure to check out our website (www.westeninvest.com) to see our available listings, and call our office at 309-833-5995 to schedule a showing. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to win prize giveaways! APARTMENT FOR RENT: FOR QUIET PERSON. ONE BEDROOM APARTMENT FOR RENT LOCATED AT 314 West Carroll ST Macomb, Ill 61455. Available end of August 2017-new carpeting yearly lease SMALEST FURNISHED IN MACOMB $345.00/month - HEAT & AC INCLUDED private entrance, off-street parking included call for appointment309-837-4748 or 255-5075 woodburning fireplace, ask for Paul. For Rent: Little Swan Lake, 30 min from campus. 2br, 2bth, heated double car garage with work area. $600 per mo. (309) 335-2206 after 6:00 pm, may leave message anytime. Spacious 3 Bedroom Upper in Duplex close to campus and Jackson St. All utilities furnished and appliances Includes cable and internet 18/19 school year $375.00 per Br Ph 309 255 8086 Please leave message
Sports 7
Monday, January 22, 2018
@WesternCourier
Leathernecks dominate another meet
By Brie Coder copy editor
CHARLESTON, Ill.- The Western Illinois University Leatherneck men and women’s track and field teams took third in the John Craft Invitational hosted by the Eastern Illinois University Panthers on Saturday, Jan. 20. Head coach Nick Maas was quite ecstatic to see both teams come together for the event, and how each competition builds up the team’s strengths for the upcoming invites ahead. “Another good meet for the Leathernecks with most of the team in action. Every meet for us is to build to the next and eventually gear up for the championship season in late-February. Our women's horizontal jumpers had a dominating performance led by [Jasmine] Brown and [Amelia] Peterson once again. Our throws team continues to set personal bests every week. We had scoring contributions from a lot of areas today. Next weekend we'll get on one of the best tracks in the nation at Iowa and our sprints group is excited to run on a banked track.” For Western, the women’s division started off strong, and remained strong in all the com-
petitions. Senior Jasmine Brown had several second place finishes in both the long (5.45m) and triple jump (11.87m). Behind Brown was freshman Amelia Peterson, who finished in third in the long jump with a mark of 5.34m. Peterson also placed fourth in the triple jump at 11.03m. Sophomore Michaela Busch finished third in the high jump at 1.57m. Concluding the field events, freshman C’Andria Campbell who set a personal record in the throws with 12.15m, with a fourth place overall. In the running events for the women’s division, freshman Hailey Tranchitella received a first place win in the 600-meter with a time of 1:41.29. Senior Jamieria Stennis took second in the 400-meter dash at 1:01.07. Stennis along with, Tranchitella, senior Raytoria Richardson, and sophomore Abigail Richter competed in the distance medley. The four ladies placed second. Following behind their teammates in the distance medley was Busch, sophomores Nicole Beebe, Rachel Hilton, and Jacey Roper, with a fourth place win. Not only were the women placing high in the track and field events, so was the men’s division. It began with freshman Jace Norman placing
fourth in the high jump at 1.95m. Freshman Elliot Gongora took fifth in the high jumps as well. Another freshman that set a personal best, Nick Olson, placed fifth in the throws with 14.91m. Rounding up the field events was sophomore Michael Rinella. Rinella also set a new personal record in the pole vault at 4.24m, which earned him third. The sophomore has now added two straight third place finishes in a row. Sophomore Josh Kirby would kick things off for the running events in the men’s division. Kirby won first place in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.52 seconds. Freshman Dylan Smerillo took fourth in the 200meter dash. Smerillo also took part in the distance medley with freshmen Cayson Frerichs, Corey Moody, and sophomore Ross Smetzer. The four men placed third. Taking fourth behind the other four in distance medley was senior Grant Kaiser, junior Lucas Lingle, sophomore Justin Montalto, and freshman Quintin Thurman. Overall the Purple and Gold had a great weekend. The team will be practicing and preparing for their next away meet at the Black and Gold Premier next Saturday, Jan. 27, in Iowa City at the University of Iowa.
Angelica Strack/staff photographer
Justin Montalto waits for his next event.
Necks fall to Summit League leaders
Kobe Webster dribbles ball down the court as he looks to find a teammate.
Pedro avila/photo editor
MACOMB, Ill. – Three Leathernecks finished in double-figures Saturday night, stamped by a career-high 19 points from Isaac Johnson, but it wasn't enough as the Western Illinois University men's basketball team fell 98-70 to the two-time reigning Summit League champions South Dakota State. Kobe Webster recorded 17 points and C.J. Duff added 16, while Brandon Gilbeck finished the evening with eight points and eight rebounds. "When it was 22-22, we were doing some really good things but we kind of got anxious on the defensive end. We had guys that were out of position. We did not do a really good job, particularly in transition defense," said head coach Billy Wright. Webster scored the first nine points of the contest to push the Leathernecks up, 9-6, with 16:32 on the clock in the first quarter, and the teams went back-and-forth
through the midpoint of the frame before stalling at a 22-all tie (10:28). The deadlock marked the final of the game as the Jackrabbits pressured for a 7-0 run. The visitors ended the half with a 44-30 lead. While limiting WIU to 14 points in the first 10 minutes of the second half, the Jackrabbits tacked on 30 on the opposite end of the floor. SDSU capped the game shooting 50 percent from the floor (33-for66), which included a 50 percent effort from beyond the arc (14-for-28). After shooting 37.1 percent from the floor (13-for-35) in the first half, the Leathernecks turned up the heat in the latter period to shoot 51.9 percent (14-for-27). Western continues its conference stretch with a pair of road tilts at Denver (Jan. 25) and North Dakota State (Jan. 27). The game times are 8 p.m. and 2 p.m., respectively. GoLeathernecks.com
Monday, August 21, 2017
Necks blown out in South Dakota By Haley Richards
assistant sports editor BROOKINGS, S.D.-- The Western Illinois women’s basketball team were on the road this past Saturday to take on South Dakota State University where they fell by a score of 84-48. The Leathernecks move to a season record of 14-6 and a Summit League record of 4-2. The Jackrabbits are now 16-4 on the season and 5-0 in conference play. SDSU is currently second in the Summit League but fortunately, the Purple and Gold will get a chance at redemption early next month where they will face the Jackrabbits once again. "You have to play at a very high level to compete against them at Frost Arena, and unfortunately today we were far from perfect," said head coach JD Gravina. "It seemed like everything we did was a struggle." South Dakota State came out with an early lead, but senior guard Emily Clemens shot a 3-pointer to close out the first quarter putting the score at 12-12. With the start of the
second quarter, the Jackrabbits increased their advantage to 34-18. By halftime, they managed to score 12 more moving the score to 46-23. Western Illinois was not able to come back from the deficit and took their second loss of conference play. However, the season is far from over and there are still Summit League games to be played. Clemens led the Leathernecks with 16 points, three rebounds, and three assists. She also hit a total of three 3-pointers in the game and recorded her 62nd career double-digit scoring game. Senior guard Morgan Blumer, junior guard Taylor Higginbotham, and sophomore guard Sam Pryor all had eight points in the game. As far as the conference standings, Western Illinois is still in third. The University of South Dakota takes the one spot at 6-0 in League play. Clemens currently sits at second in the conference standings with 16.8 points per game. Right behind her is Higginbotham with 16.3 points.
Women’s Basketball page 6
Clemens dribbles and surveys the defense.
PEDRO AVILA/PHOTO EDITOR
Swim and dive sink at home By Bradley Piros courier staff
Leatherneck swimmer backstrokes in a relay.
GOLEATHERNECKS.COM
MACOMB Ill. – The Western Illinois women’s swim and dive team took back to the pool for the first time in about a month in a half. The last time the Leathernecks were in competition was back on Dec. 2, when they were edged 123-81, on senior day, to the Truman State University Bulldogs. Returning to Brophy Hall, Western hosted a dual meet with the visiting University of Northern Iowa Panthers and fell short 187-102. The Leathernecks didn’t get the results they had wanted, but head coach Greg Naumann was confident in his team saying, "Despite having some very difficult workouts the past couple of weeks over winter break and this past week, they are looking like their racing strategies and technique are starting to come around.” They may have lost, but a couple of ladies did reach the podium in their respected events. Junior Erica Hagen earned her first win of the day in the 100-breast with a
time of 105.26 seconds, more than five seconds before the other competitors. She continued on with her dominance in her other specialty event, the 200-IM. She placed first with a time of 2:17.18 and her sophomore teammate Miranda Mathus came in right behind her (2:17.31). Going back to the 200-breast race, Hagen shined yet again, this time coming in second, with a time of 2:31.78. Mathus also picked up a pair of second place finishes in the 200-free (1:59.32) and the 100-fly (1:01.53). Hagen wasn’t the only Leatherneck coming in first throughout the day; as junior Dana Kaftan won the 200-fly with a time of 2:23.53, followed by her senior teammate Amy Borgstede (2:27.22). Hagen also led her team to victory in the 200-medley, as her, Miranda Mathus, Taylor Winkel and Marissa Purdum touched first with a time of 1:50.78.
Swim and Dive page 6