The Shield November 12, 2015

T h u r s d a y, n o v e m b e r 1 2 , 2 0 1 5 | U s i s h i e l d . c o m | v o l . 4 6 i s s u e 1 3

SGA to host regional conference

‘Humble’ helping hand Men’s soccer team serves meals at Rescue Mission

by gabi wy news@usishield.com @ShieldsterGabi USI’s Student Government Association will host the Student Government Coalition Conference Friday and Saturday, involving over 100 students from 10 institutions including IUPUI, Hanover College, Indiana State University, Eastern Illinois University and branches of IU. Ball State University started the conference and hosted it for the past two years, then decided to open up the opportunity to other institutions.

President Alexa Bueltel said she hopes the conference will network the university’s SGA with student governments from the surrounding region.

“We decided this would be not just a great opportunity to showcase our student government and what we do and accomplish, but also just our university as a whole because it’s such a great place to be,” she said, as quoted in a previous article by The Shield.

Bueltel said the conference begins 6 p.m. Friday with registration and networking in the Performance Center.

Welcoming, icebreakers and roundtables end at 9 p.m.

Registration begins at 8 a.m. Saturday morning, followed by a keynote presentation, breakout sessions, lunch, tours of campus and a closing session.

“I’m really excited to see it all come together,” Bueltel said.

Planning for this year’s conference has been in the works since summer, said conference committee member Morgan Fields.

The Nursing and Health Professions Representative said the Dean of Students Office and Student Development Programs helped with supplies, funding and finding a speaker.

SGCC, PAGE 3

24/7 campus lacks demand by gabi wy news@usishield.com @ShieldsterGabi Justin Kelly works best in the wee hours of the morning.

As part of the 2010-2015 Strategic Plan, the university pushed toward the goal of a 24/7 campus.

“The university should have (a 24/7 library), even if it’s a hassle,” the sophomore social work major said.

“There are more people, like me, who are up later. Some people work better at that time.”

Kelly lives in the apartments and said campus lacks food options when he’s up studying.

“For me, the most aggravating part is not having something to eat super late,” he said. “It would be awesome if the C-Store was open 24/7.”

Freshman history major Nick Engels said he had reservations about moving toward a 24/7 campus.

24/7 Campus, PAGE 3

View it online now

Photo by alyssa smith | The Shield

Senior defender Lucas Woodford, along with other members of the men’s soccer team, serves meals during the dinner service at the Evansville Rescue Mission Nov. 4. The team has volunteered at the Rescue Mission the first Wednesday of every month for four years.

by sarah loesch sports@usishield.com @ShieldsterSarah As the holiday season approaches, the awareness for community members in need rises.

The men’s soccer team, however, is aware of this need all year round as they serve meals at the Evansville Rescue Mission on the first Wednesday of every month.

The only months where the team can’t always participate are June and July when so many team members return to their hometowns. Even during these months local members try to get a large enough group together to serve.

Senior Lucas Woodford started this outreach program four years ago following his first season as a defender on the team, but this was not his first experience with helping the community.

“I had done something like this a few times with my family and their small group with church,” the sport management major said. “One time I was there and I was just like, ‘I wonder if this is something the soccer guys would be interested in doing?’”

Woodford doesn’t major in social services, but instead said his desire to help people comes from his family.

“I think it is just how I was raised with my parents and also my church background,” he said. “I’ve been going to church with my parents since I was born. They raised me as someone who looks out for others and wants to serve others as much as

12% of households struggled to put food on the table in Indiana.

16% of people are food insecure in Vanderburgh county.

2014 Hunger statistics

14% of households are food insecure in the U.S.

200,000 nutrious meals were served by the Rescue Mission.

Photo by alyssa smith | The Shield

Food insecurity refers to a persons lack of access to nutritional or safe food. These statistics come from feedingamerica.org and evansvillerescuemission.org.

possible.”

The next step for Woodford, after discussing the idea with the Rescue Mission, was to approach the team’s head coach, Mat Santoro.

Santoro said he knew the team could do more outreach and was pleased with the idea when Woodford asked him about policy regarding it.

“We wanted to do more (in the community),” Santoro said. “We were still kind of finding our way and (Woodford) came to us with this idea. It was an example of the leadership (Woodford) would continue to show during his time here.”

Santoro said the coaching staff looks for good character in men, not just talented athletes. He knew

Woodford would fit with the team well.

“He had a combination of humility and confidence,” Santoro said.

After Santoro was on board, the time came for Woodford to introduce the topic to the team.

“When I first introduced this with the guys, what I really wanted to get across was for them to realize how lucky they are (and)the opportunities we have to play soccer in college and come to a university like USI,” Woodford said.

Part of what drew Woodford to the university to begin with was the fact that he knew other players with a plan to attend. He also saw how close the team was on one of his early visits.

The team took Woodford’s idea and as a group were all on board.

“The reaction from the guys was great. They were all really excited to do something like this,” Woodford said. “A lot of the guys took the opportunity how I wanted them to, as an opportunity to feel thankful for what we have at USI.” One of the players who was on the original team Woodford approached was Logan Ball.

Ball met Woodford in eighth grade and said he has always wanted to help those around him.

Ball said he thought going to the Rescue Mission was a great opportunity to serve those less fortunate in the community. “(The team) didn’t look at (community service) for attention,” Ball said.

Rescue mission, PAGE 7

‘The Carrot and The Stick’ Campus Clarity holds rendered ineffective, completion encouraged

by Armon Siadat amsiadat@eagles.usi.edu Rachal Sperka started the required Campus Clarity course Nov. 2—five weeks after the original deadline.

Despite receiving an email from the Dean of Students Office stating there would be a hold on her account and she would be unable to register for classes if she didn’t complete it on time, Sperka said she never received a hold and is now enrolled in spring classes.

The junior nursing major is one of several students enrolled in spring classes who didn’t receive

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a hold on their account. “(When) I registered for classes I didn’t complete the course,” she said. “I don’t think students were doing it because they were getting knowledge out of it, I think they were just doing it because they were required to.”

She said most people she knows just kept clicking “Next” until they made it to the end of the course—something Associate Provost for Student Affairs Marcia Kiessling recognizes.

The amount of students that clicked through Campus Clarity just to avoid the account hold is unfortunate, Kiessling said.

“But if that was the only way we could even get them to look at that much, that’s better than

not having looked at anything,” she said. “I know some people just sort of complained about it—and I understand that, too—but others (through Yik Yak) kind of (supported) this approach (of adding a hold).”

Kiessling said the goal of Campus Clarity was two-fold.

“One was this educational effort to help create and maintain a safe environment for our students,” she said. “The other goal of it was to meet compliance regulations that are put forth to us by the Department of Education and Title IX, and that’s an important compliance regulation and so we really are required to do this.”

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Holds, PAGE 3

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SGCC continued from Page 1

Keynote speaker Stan Pearson II is a “bilingual speaker, motivational comedian, author and host,” according to the conference brochure. “(Pearson) is talking about leadership and five ways to lead with purpose,” Fields said. “Student Development

Programs gave us a bunch of websites where we could look up speakers. He’s supposed to be really funny and inspiring.”

His closing speech will take place 3 p.m. Saturday and is open to all students. “(As a committee), we figured out what the breakout

sessions were, where they would be and who was going to speak at each session,” Fields said. “We wanted them to be quality over quantity.”

Breakout speakers from USI include Fields, SGA Social and Cultural Representative Damien Burge, Faculty Senate member Jason Fertig

and Dean of Students Bryan Rush. Topics include recruitment and retention, conflict management and diversity.

“We opened up the breakout sessions to be presented by other schools, which is a really cool part,” Fields said.

“We wanted them to be good sessions where people learn a

by gabi wy news@usishield.com @ShieldsterGabi

Photo by alyssa smith | The Shield

Students gather in the forum and nibble on free popcorn for the screening of “Trainwreck” Saturday. Cinema USI shows the most recently released movies free of charge for all students, faculty and staff every Thursday and Saturday in Forum I.

sources, which are accessible any day at any time.

“We have growing online programs and student support services for online students,” she said.

Kiessling said the university has looked at class offering expansion in terms of more evening and online classes.

Sodexo expanded this semester to provide dining options on campus and through the C-Store up to 11:30 p.m.

The RFWC also expanded its hours to 1 a.m. during weekdays.

Kiessling said in the future, student organizations may be able to request rooms for events in the University Center past its regular hours.

“For that, we have to develop a process and infrastructure,” she said.

“Students would be able to request a room, and the student organization would have to pay.”

Even though students like Kelly would still like later hours for food and study space, Kiessling said the ratio of students in housing to the university as a whole doesn’t call for a true 24/7 campus.

“This isn’t to say that I’m against (a 24/7 campus),” she said, “but if (President Linda Bennett) were to look at all the things we need institutionally, it would be surprising if it came out on top.”

Holds continued from Page 1

Federal law requires any university receiving federal financial aid to have these types of programs in place for all students.

“How we do it is up to us,” Kiessling said. “We chose to do it through Campus Clarity. Now, this bit about the holds was a strategy to try to encourage and ensure that, number one, we met the letter of the law—which was to educate every single student on (situational strategies) —and two, that (students) would do it.”

Unlike many of the other Title IX education programs the university offers, Campus Clarity was branded a requirement so that the university can say they have educated everybody, she said.

“That’s why we put the hold on, because we needed some kind of consequence if you all just said, ‘Well, I’m not interested in this’ or, ‘I’m not going to do this,’—yet we have the Title IX regulation saying you have to do this as an institution,” she said.

Kiessling said the holds weren’t meant to motivate students, “but a motivation for the administration to help students want to do (Campus Clarity).”

It’s not the DOSO’s intent to make things difficult—its intent is to remove barriers, she said.

Approximately 80 percent of students, and around 90 percent of freshmen, completed the course by the original Sept. 25 deadline.

Despite the high original turnout, DOSO extended the deadline to Nov. 2 so students who hadn’t completed

work SGA has put into making the conference successful.

“I love how we had an idea, we had a goal and we accomplished it,” Fields said.

“It’s great when you’ve been working on something for so long and you finally get to see it happen.”

SGA addresses absenteeism

24/7 Campus continued from Page 1

“It might raise our tuition cost. My fear is that would go up. College is already expensive as much as it is,” he said. “Money talks first.”

Marcia Kiessling, associate provost for Student Affairs, started a 24/7 campus committee after the development of the Strategic Plan in 2010.

“I wanted students to be the main voice,” she said.

“We got really committed students and we met every other week for the full academic year. They came to all these meetings and we met two hours every time we met.”

The committee focused on student programming, facilities and transportation, gathering spaces, campus availability and services.

Kiessling said the university expanded library hours to 2 a.m. last December before finals, but currently does not feel the campus needs to literally be 24/7.’

“We don’t have the resources,” she said. “Perhaps really out in the future, but with 2,700 of 10,000 students living on campus, we don’t see a great demand for students or at a scale enough to support it.”

Kiessling said she hopes students will use digital re-

lot.”

She also worked on designing and ordering T-Shirts, lanyards and programs.

“I think this helps put USI on the map,” Fields said. “It’s awesome that we’re stepping up and doing this and taking the lead.”

She said she’s proud of the

3

Student Government Association issued four censorships at its Nov. 5 meeting, meaning that four members received formal warnings for absenteeism, or not fulfilling weekly SGA duties.

SGA members must complete two office hours per week in addition to attending each assembly meeting. Not meeting these requirements constitutes absenteeism, leading to censorship.

According to the bylaws of SGA, censorship is a “formal admonishment” and can be brought up by any member.

Vice President Liz Downard said the duty of censoring members falls under her office because she keeps the office hour records.

“Members have to submit their office hours by Friday of each week,” Downard said.

“If they don’t, I give them a week leeway, because life happens.”

She said a lot of the problem is miscommunication.

“When people are filling out their office hours, they fill out a form on OrgSync,” Downard said. “Most of this is just a situation of not using OrgSync properly.”

At the meeting, Downard brought up four cases of members to be censored before the general assembly.

“It doesn’t make them a bad member or that they’re not necessarily fulfilling their duties,” she said. “It just means that (they’re) not following protocol.”

After each member was brought up for censorship, President Alexa Bueltel then called for a vote.

“Censoring requires a majority vote of members present,” Downard said. “If a censor is not voted on by the

majority, it still serves as a warning, but the (general assembly) doesn’t agree with the person making the censor.”

Downard said she doesn’t enjoy bringing up censorship but needs to follow SGA bylaws.

“This is a formal warning not only for the person, but for the (general assembly), that this is something we’re looking really hard at,” Downard said.

She said members can contact her in any form to work out excused absences and avoid censorship. “(This issue) has not been as closely looked at or enforced by my predecessors,” Downard said. “Under Alexa’s administration, we have made a very serious point of following the bylaws because we are trying to do what’s right not only by our members, but the university as a whole.”

Downard said the fulfillment of office hours enforces that members be proactive about serving the student body and staying involved.

“A lot of the work we’ve put into SGA as of this point has been internal to ensure that we’re going to serve people properly,” she said.

“That’s why it sometimes looks like SGA isn’t doing anything external. It’s because we have to fix the problems we see internally before we can make external work.”

Bueltel never saw absenteeism as an issue in years past, but her administration is taking a different approach than those before.

“We’re basically laying the bylaws out and looking at them word for word and actually trying to follow them,” Bueltel said. “That way, we can set the example for future administrations.”

USI Security Incident Log 11/3/15 - 11/10/15 Fire - Alarm - Cooking 8045B OʼDaniel Ln - Ray Bldg 11/03/15 11:22 p.m.

Suspicious Circumstances University Ctr (West) 11/03/15 1:40 p.m.

Theft Rec. and Fitness Center 11/04/15 12:10 p.m.

illustration by philip kuhns | The Shield

it still had time to avoid getting holds placed on their accounts.

“We didn’t ever really want to put the holds on,” Kiessling said. “So we thought, ‘Well, let’s give another push so that we can give students a few more days before they get that hold,’ and they got holds then if they hadn’t done it.”

The students that hadn’t completed the course by the new deadline had holds placed on their accounts and were prevented from registering for spring classes.

“We put a hold on for a few days and then we lifted it because we don’t want to lose students,” Kiessling said. “But we needed to put that hold on.”

Kiessling said DOSO found that all but one of the students that received holds on their accounts already had additional pre-existing holds.

“There were other university processes that they needed to take care of,” she said. “So I think it’s safe to say that even though we put holds on, we were not a primary reason for why anybody couldn’t register—they had other things.”

The holds, however, were only placed on first-year students’ accounts.

Per university policy, first-year students automatically have “Freshman holds” placed on their accounts that prevent them from registering for their second semester of classes without meeting with their advisor.

“We did (put holds on) for the first three days of priority registration and we wanted to focus on freshman because we thought it was re-

ally important that first-year students got that information,” said Bryan Rush, dean of students.

The holds were lifted on Nov. 4—freshmen, however, weren’t able to start registering for second semester classes until Nov. 6, according to the university’s priority registration schedule.

“We didn’t really want to put holds on,” Kiessling said.

“We just needed to comply with the regulation and so forth.”

Stephanie Nordhoff said she rushed to finish Campus Clarity to avoid getting a hold on her student account.

“Campus said, ‘You have to do this by September something and if you don’t then you can’t register for classes,” the junior education major said. “It’s the only reason I did it.”

Nordhoff said she doesn’t think it’s fair that students who haven’t completed the course didn’t get holds on their accounts and were able to register for spring classes.

“That’s really sh*tty (that the holds weren’t enforced),” she said. “It’s really sh*tty that I had to make sure that I got it done so that I wouldn’t get a hold on my account and there are people that didn’t do that didn’t have holds.”

There isn’t a way to enforce the course’s completion by students who haven’t already done so and have registered for classes, Rush said.

“At this point, we’re trying to rely on the carrot and the stick,” he said. “We want it to be something the students see the importance of.”

Part of the Title IX re-

quirement is on-going education, Rush said.

“I think what you’re going to see is the on-going stuff throughout the year,” he said. “You’ll see some poster boards probably, and some flyers around campus (and) probably some educational emails will go out with reminders so that it’s on-going and not a one-time only scenario.”

Rush said DOSO plans on blanket emailing the entire campus Title IX resources, but “as far as active, handson training, we’re going to really focus on first-year students who are spending their first semester on the USI campus moving forward.”

The rollout of Campus Clarity this year was unique since it was the first year the university implemented this type of training, Kiessling said.

“This year, we had to do every single student,” she said. “Our target audience for here on out will be our new, incoming students because that’s who we went to educate.”

Kiessling said DOSO will always be interested in reinforcing and helping students through other outreach mechanisms—such as last week’s DOSO-sponsored Bystander Intervention program and National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week.

“All in all, we’ve done a really effective job of getting students—whether they liked it or not,” Kiessling said. “Hopefully they learned something, and hopefully at some point it’s going to help them.”

Criminal Mischief Baseball Field - Bennett Lane 11/04/15 12:10 p.m.

Illness Report University Ctr (West) 11/05/15 10:09 a.m.

Code of Conduct - Co-Habitation 909B Eckels Lane - Hanly 11/05/15 3:43 a.m.

Criminal Mischief Orr Center 11/06/15 8:45 a.m.

Alcohol - Underage Consumption Governors Hall - 1700 Rankin 11/07/15 11:32 p.m.

Criminal Mischief - Vehicle Parking Lot D 11/07/15 12:00 p.m.

Code of Conduct - Weapons Violation 81A Melton Ln 11/07/15 9:36 p.m.

Drugs - Possession 81A Melton Ln 11/07/15 9:36 p.m.

Alcohol - Underage Possession 81A Melton Ln 11/07/15 9:36 p.m.

Code of Conduct - Visitor Violation 909B Eckels Lane - Hanly 11/05/15 3:43 a.m.

Fire - False Alarm Rice Library 11/08/15 9:09 p.m.

Criminal Trespass 909B Eckels Lane - Hanly 11/05/15 3:43 a.m.

Criminal Mischief Rice Library 11/09/15 11:12 p.m.

Illness Report University Ctr (West) 11/05/15 8:14 a.m.

Property Damage Rice Library 11/09/15 11:12 p.m.

Code of Conduct - Tampering With 8813A OʼDaniel Ln - Wright 11/05/15 9:31 p.m.

Fire - Alarm - Cooking 933 University Ct - Chase Bldg 11/09/15 6:22 p.m.

Intimidation 932A Eckels Ln - Marshall 11/06/15 11:48 p.m.

Alcohol - Underage Consumption 923A Eckels Ln - Marshall 11/06/15 12:32 p.m.

Code of Conduct - Alcohol Violation 932A Eckels ln - Marshall 11/06/15 12:23 p.m.

Code of Conduct - Tampering With 923A Eckels Ln - Marshall 11/06/15 12:32 p.m.

Drugs - Manufacture/Possession of 923A Eckels Ln - Marshall 11/06/15 12:32 p.m.

Criminal Mischief Physical Activities Center 11/09/15 9:44 p.m.

Property Damage Physical Activities Center 11/09/15 9:44 p.m.

Drugs - Manufacture/Possession Hanly Building 11/10/15 12:37 a.m.

Drugs - Possession Hanly Building 11/10/15 12:37 a.m.

Criminal Mischief Whitcomb Building 11/10/15 1:00 a.m.

Criminal Mischief McDonald West Community 11/06/15 12:55 a.m.

Property Damage Whitcomb Building 11/10/15 1:00 a.m.

Injury Report Ruston Hall 11/10/15 1:36 a.m.

Fire - Faulty Alarm Governors Hall - 1700 Rankin 11/06/15 3:51 a.m.

Illness Report Ruston Hall 11/10/15 1:36 a.m.

Information gathered from USIʼs Public Crime Log, provided by USI Safety and Security.

Features Dancing for a cause

4

The shield | november 12, 2015 | Usishield.com

USI’s dance marathon raised $39,117.44

by Gabi wy news@usishield.com @ShieldsterGabi

Gabe Wittmer plays hockey, basketball, football and baseball, is eight years old and has been a Riley kid since before he can remember.

He stood off to the side of the RFWC Saturday with his mother, Peggy Wittmer, and gazed across the gymnasium at the inflatables.

“It’s pretty neat,” he said, holding fast to his mother’s hand at USI’s annual Riley Dance Marathon.

This year, the dance marathon participants raised $39,117.44 for Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis.

Peggy, an audiologist at Midwest ENT, said Gabe was diagnosed with a hernia of his diaphragm before he was born. Once born, scans showed that Gabe’s liver had gone up into his diaphragm.

He had surgical repair at Riley at the age of one week.

Thanks to Riley Staff, Peggy said she was able to take Gabe home after two months of intensive care.

While Gabe and his family walked toward the inflatables, a circle of students raised their fists and chanted, “FTK, FTK, FTK.” Girls in green tutus, necklaces and facepaint posed, once with lips pouted and then again with wide smiles.

They scrutinized their phones, shook their heads and decided to take another picture.

“Green team, are you

Photo by angela moore| The Shield

Junior exercise major Dylan Winklerr, senior marketing major Tyler Coffman and junior nursing major Rachal Sperka, dance for the kids during dance marathon on Saturday at the REC. Dance marathon is a 10 hour event to raise money for Riley’s hospital.

ready?” said senior finance major Terrance Lewis over the crowd. The students stopped what they were doing and an immediate reaction of cheering met his shout. The gym’s partition slowly lifted to expose a small stage.

Students sprinted forward in a swarm to the tune of “Eye of The Tiger,” and Lewis instructed the audience to sit down after another round of

“FTK” chants.

As the university’s Dance Marathon President, Lewis told the students about Ryan White, a thirteen-year-old boy who contracted AIDS from a blood transfusion. He was treated at Riley and died in 1990. Ever since, schools hold the Riley Dance Marathon in memory of his life and his struggle.

“FTK,” Lewis said. “It’s

‘For The Kids.’”

During a Riley Dance Marathon, participants stay on their feet for hours playing games, writing encouraging notes to current Riley patients, hearing stories about Riley patients and learning a line dance.

“Ryan wasn’t the last kid at Riley,” Lewis said. “That’s why we dance still today.”

The marathon lasted from

noon to 10 p.m. Each hour, an individual or a family helped by the Riley Hospital such as the Wittmers shared their testimonials.

Freshman photography major Taylor Webster waited in line to write messages on giant cards for current Riley kids.

“My brother is a Riley kid,” she said. “I’m writing different things for each kid.

There are a couple of them that I know.”

This is Webster’s third year of involvement with the Riley Dance Marathon.

“I started in high school,” she said. “I wanted to continue it in college. That was one of the biggest reasons I chose to come to college here.

Riley has helped us more than words can express.”

In the corner of the gymnasium stood a black ‘Inspiration Tent,’ a small enclosure filled with dim string lights and electric candles. Posters hung around the inside, some with success stories, some posters commemorating lives lost. Several students throughout the night spent time in the tent writing letters to families.

While heading the event, Lewis remembers his friend and Riley patient, Sarah Cohen.

“I met her in seventh grade,” he said. “She was terminally ill … she made me promise her that I would do (dance marathons) until I couldn’t.”

As a college senior, this is Lewis’ last year serving at a dance marathon.

“These children have much harder lives than us, and that’s an inspiration,” he said. “As happy and healthy as I am, I can still be unhappy.

These kids are kept happy by the staff of Riley. It’s cool to help them be an inspiration, and for me to be an inspiration for them.”

Connecting cultures Music festival features Spanish culture, female mariachi by amelia peterson agpeterson@eagles.usi.edu

Prompted by a roaring crowd calling for an encore in both English and Spanish, nine members of Mariachi Flor de Toloache walked back onstage to perform a final song for the night.

As the all-female mariachi band played “El Mariachi Loco,” the audience danced and cheered. Performer Sandra Soto Silva danced among the audience, moving up and down the auditorium stairs in a red and pink Folklorico dress.

This high-energy encore concluded the Global Crossroads Culture and Music Festival in New Harmony on Saturday. This year’s festival focused on Latin cultures, so the Latin Grammy-nominated band Mariachi Flor de Toloache’s performance highlighted the event.

The box office sold more than 200 tickets to the performance, Tina Schutte said, secretary and treasurer of Under the Beams, who ran the box office.

“We’re thrilled with the turnout. We had hoped to see a lot of people come for the performance, but this completely blew us away,” Schutte said.

Mariachi Flor de Toloache is not a typical mariachi band.

Not only is the band New York City’s first and only established all-female mariachi band, but the members also bring musical influences from their diverse cultural backgrounds.

“It’s like we’re all mixing a big pot, bringing our own pepper and our own ingredients, and we try to make the whole thing work out,” said Solange Prat, vihuelist for Mariachi Flor de Toloache.

Prat said having members from various countries and backgrounds allows their band to fuse mariachi with styles as diverse as jazz, punk, hip-hop, R&B and Salsa.

“We try not to be purists about genres,” Prat said.

Marilyn Castillo, guitarist for Mariachi Flor de Toloache, said the band’s name stems from the desire to reach out to audiences with music.

“Toloache is a very beautiful flower that grows in Mexico,” Castillo said. “This flower only blooms at night, and women there use it to make men fall in love. We’re trying to use music and everything we have to make (the audience) fall in love, too.”

Mariachi Flor de Toloache played from 7-9 p.m. in Murphy Auditorium. Before the performance, event attendees could enjoy activities such as food booths serving traditional Latin meals and desserts, a

Salsa and Tango workshop, live music onstage, art and mural painting, crafts for children and a Latino issues panel discussion.

Several people also set up booths dedicated to providing information about various Latino cultures.

Yolanda Delgado’s booth about Puerto Rico displayed traditional instruments made of gourds, maracas, dolls, art and native headwear.

“This collection is from family members who have passed away. Some items are 75 years old,” Delgado said.

“It means a lot to me.”

Posters filled with maps and pictures of people and items from Puerto Rico provided additional information about the various cultures of the territory.

“Puerto Rico is a melting pot,” Delgado said. “There are Indians, Spaniards and Africans…In Puerto Rico you could see a black person with green eyes, or a white person with really curly hair. It’s a very diverse place, which I think is wonderful.”

Another table, set-up by Veronica Caballero-Reed, displayed information about Mexico. Posters depicted famous Mexicans and juxtaposed ancient buildings alongside modern cities in Mexico.

Lotería, a Mexican chil-

zimride.com/usi

Photo by NAME NAME | The Shield

Two-year-old Alyson Sanchez picks out a sticker with help from 15-year-old Signature School student Maansi Asthana at a craft station during Global Crossroads in New Harmony Saturday. Global Crossroads was a daylong culture and musical festival filled with Latin food, music and art as well as a performance by the first in New York all women’s mariachi band, Mariachi Flor de Toloache.

dren’s game, sat on the table.

In this game, every player has a chart with pictures of animals and items. When a picture is drawn from a deck of cards, any player who has that picture on his or her chart sets a game piece on it. Whoever fills a diagonal, horizontal or vertical row first wins candy.

“Some people call it Mexican bingo,” Caballero-Reed said.

The booth also included

dark chocolate salsa that could be served over chicken with rice and decorated napkins used to keep tortillas warm on the dinner table, Caballero-Reed said.

“We’re trying to show everyone a little piece of Mexico,” Caballero-Reed said.

Puerto Rico and Mexico were only two of the many Latin countries celebrated through the Global Crossroads Culture and Music

Festival. During the closing concert, Mariachi Flor de Toloache tried to bring people from all backgrounds together, Prat said.

“Music should embrace people and make them come together,” Prat said. “Wherever you come from, whatever language you speak, (bringing people together) is our goal, and this is the inspiration behind our music.”

The shield | november 12, 2015 | Usishield.com

5

Locals buy empty bowls Evansville community makes 1,164 bowls

by Amelia Peterson agpeterson@eagles.usi.edu Alisa “Al” Holen couldn’t run the Empty Bowls event without the help of her volunteers.

The assistant professor of ceramics hosted Evansville’s fourth annual Empty Bowls event, which raised money for various charities Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Kirby’s Private Dining on Haynie’s Corner.

The event sold bowls made by university students, churches, Bosse High School students and other members of the community.

“Over 300 people from all over the community come in on Friday evenings and make bowls for about two hours,” she said. “Then my volunteers in my service learning ceramics courses trim up the bowls.”

Holen said she is a believer in handmade objects such as furniture, sculptures and pottery, but realizes not everyone can afford these items.

“Almost anybody can afford a $10 bowl,” she said.

“We can put a handmade object into their life and they can enjoy using it, eating from it and to me that starts a little addiction for a lot of people and that makes me happy.”

The first year Evansville

hosted Empty Bowls in 2012, the community made about 600 bowls, Holen said. This year the community made 1,164 bowls.

In addition to the amateurmade $10 bowls, this year the event also featured a ProBowl Room where professional potters sold their bowls ranging from $25 to $80.

“I can only get about 1000 bowls through the department and through the kilns in time for the event,” she said, “but this way we can increase our money without having to increase all the bowls.”

Money raised will help ECHO Housing Corporation open a community food pantry, said ECHO Housing Corporation case manager Kendra Shadrick.

“Some of the services we provide are permanent, supportive housing for families that have been chronically homeless, for veterans and for single individuals,” the USI alumni said. “We also provide affordable housing and community development for Evansville.”

Other services ECHO Housing Corporation’s branch Lucas Place provides include counselling services, referrals to services such as health care, tutoring for children and a pre-school, Shadrick said.

Photo by Curstain Yarber | The Shield

People from the community gather around Bosse High School’s table of student-made ceramic bowls during the annual Empty Bowls charity event at Kirby’s Private Dining Saturday.

Empty Bowls split the proceeds to United Caring Services and Patchwork Central.

“We help those who are homeless and those who are in transition,” UCS Strategic Board Member Paul Mat-

University to perform banned play

by Abigail suddarth

FASt FACTS

acsuddarth@eagles.usi.edu King Louis XIV of France banned “Tartuffe” after its first performance.

The theatre department will perform the comedy written by Moliere at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 19- 21 and at 2 p.m.

Nov. 22 at the Performance Center.

“It was banned because Louis XIV believed that there was a risk that people would come see it and not realize that some people can be very religious without behaving badly,” assistant professor of theatre Eric Altheide said.

Each of the play’s five acts run about 20 to 25 minutes with an intermission between Acts III and IV. The play depicts Tartuffe attempting to swindle religious aristocrat Orgon out of his home and money by pretending to act as Orgon’s religious adviser, the play’s director said. “(Orgon is described as) being very intelligent and loving,” he said. “But because he has become under the control of Tartuffe he has begun treating his family badly.”

Although Orgon promises his daughter Marianne’s hand in marriage to Tartuffe, Altheide said, Tartuffe develops a crush on Orgon’s wife El-

What: When: Where: Cost:

Tartuffe 7:30 p.m. Nov. 19-21, 2 p.m. Nov. 22 Performance Center $7 for USI students, $10 for USI employees, seniors and non-USI students, $12 for adults

mire, played by Enjoli Drake.

“Elmire is the quintessential wife, striving to protect her husband from himself,” Drake said. “Even if it is without his knowledge.”

While Orgon and his mother Madame Pernelle fall for Tartuffe’s tricks, the junior theatre arts performance major said, the rest of the family mistrusts him.

“My favorite part about playing this role, “Drake said,“is that I get to take my natural over dramatic tendencies and fit them within the context of this show.”

The cast began rehearsing on Oct. 19 and meets five days a week for four to five hours a day.

“My favorite part has been working with the entire cast,” theatre performance major Ashleigh Dulik said.

“They’re really funny and they’re fun to work with.”

Dulik, who plays Madame Pernelle, said her character

demands attention whenever she enters a room.

“She thinks that she’s the wisest and most devout, virtuous thing that ever was,” the freshman said. “But really she’s just old and bitter and she’s going to tell everyone what she thinks of them no matter how harsh.”

Dulik most enjoyed finding her character, she said.

“At first I thought it was just a character that wanted to yell at everyone and come in all big and crazy,” she said, “but really I found that she’s above everyone so she does not need to raise her voice to get the point across.”

Finding their characters was challenging and fun for all the actors, Dulik said.

“We all have run into finding who our characters truly are,” she said. “And characterize them in a way that makes sense and is also true to the text.”

tingly said.

The United Caring Service offers four services: a day shelter, a men’s night shelter, a women’s night shelter and transitional housing, he said.

A person may hold one of

those single unit apartments for up to 24 months while transitioning back into society.

Mattingly said he’s glad to be a part of a community of people who are willing to

help those in need.

“We need to reach our hands out,” he said, “to those who are less fortunate than us.”

REVIEW

‘Spectre’, the ghost of a good James Bond flick In theaters now If you want to see a good Bond movie this weekend, go rent “Skyfall.”

In “Spectre” (James Bond (Daniel Craig) screws up a secret mission—as the formula of most Bond movies dictates—and spends the rest of the film bouncing around the globe uncovering clues about a mysterious villain who’s pulling the strings behind a bunch of seemingly unrelated issues. Meanwhile, M (Ralph Fiennes) spends most of the movie with his brow furrowed.

Bond films generally follow a formula, to such a degree that this formula is one of the beloved features of the series. “Spectre” relies on this to a degree that the formula is almost directly discussed in the actual film.

The standard torture scene is taken in stride, Bond escaping without a scratch as per usual.

The big car chase scene is done at almost highway speeds, Bond could’ve ditched his expensive Aston Martin prototype for a Ford

Fiesta and have received the same results.

The super villain reveals his master plan in such a way Bond has plenty of time to save the world.

Somewhere within the bloated one hundred and fifty minute run time of “Spectre” is a pretty good film, but as it currently stands, I found myself wondering why this film exists.

The world isn’t at stake in “Spectre,” instead the big doomsday device just wants your search history. The big

bad mega-weapon is nothing more than the idea of plugging a bunch of different server banks together to offer the villain the ultimate Google search engine.

Oh, and the opening song

by Sam Smith is absolutely awful as a Bond introduction song. The series has prided itself on funky introductory songs in the past, but following up Adele’s awardwinning “Skyfall” intro with Smith’s wailing was a horrendous bad decision.

I get it, modern audiences are concerned about their online footprint and modern spy thrillers have to take the Internet into account if they wish to seem relevant.

Nuclear weapons and presidential assassination plots have been replaced with firewalls and SIM cards, and the genre is worse off for it.

As it stands, “Spectre” is a bloated re-hash of the main plot points in the last Bond film: “Skyfall.” In that way it’s a pale, overly-long ghost of a much better-executed film.

Rating 2.5/5

BY Gavin gaddis

May 7, 1969

April 2, 1971

March 8, 1991

The Shield is the first record of history at USI. As the university celebrates its 50th anniversary, The Shield looks back at events and issues we covered throughout the past five decades.

6

Opinion

The shield | november 12, 2015 | Usishield.com

Screagles Call Question: “What should replace the concert at Springfest?”

A full eight minutes| morgan falconer | The Shield

Name: Kyle Evans Major: Advertising Grade: Freshman Answer: “Chick-Fil-A”

Arabic, not ISIS

by Megan Thorne features@usishield.com @ShieldsterMegan Just because I am taking Arabic doesn’t mean I’m joining ISIS. Conversations involving this topic tend to go south as soon as I even mention the word Arabic. A series of questions quickly follow.

“Why would you want to learn that?”

“Are you joining ISIS?” “Are you a terrorist?”

“Is it scary?”

The answer to these ques-

tions is, “Absolutely not.”

But why should I have to justify my reasoning behind it?

My love for Middle Eastern culture started at a young age when I was looking through my great-grandmother’s passport with notes in Hebrew from passing through customs. I heard the stories about her traveling to Israel and helping people. I knew during some point in my life I would want to follow in her footsteps.

After watching the news recently, I can understand

why people might be skeptical of someone talking about going to the Middle East.

However, people could also say everyone in America is a part of the KKK and other white supremacy groups.

This goes beyond ignorance and becomes an issue of racism. Whether someone is joking around or even being serious, they never know who is listening.

After taking Arabic now for more than 11 weeks, I have a strong respect for the culture, religion and the region.

When I first came to the university I had my heart set on learning Hebrew—considering more than half of my family is Jewish. Out of the seven languages offered at USI, I was disappointed to find out it wasn’t even offered.

I figured if Arabic is, why not Hebrew?

Either way, I went into “Beginning Arabic” with an open mind. Within a few weeks I was fascinated by the beautiful language and the complexity of the letters.

I wanted to make it my

minor.

Yet again, I was disappointed.

At the university a student can take a major or minor in Spanish, French and German.

Latin offers an interdisciplinary minor in classical studies, and Japanese offers language courses through the advanced level. But, for Chinese and Arabic, a student can’t move forward.

I feel I should have the same opportunity to major or minor in a language that anyone else does, regardless of public opinion.

No shame Tough to give thanks in changing directions

by Morgan Falconer

mefalconer@eagles.usi.edu

by Vanessa Roach vrroach@eagles.usi.edu Choosing the ideal major is a major decision.

Somehow college students are expected to know what they are good at and want to do for the next 40 years straight out of high school.

I’ve changed my major, and I’m not ashamed. It was the best decision I’ve made.

Unfortunately, many students feel that switching majors is synonymous with “giving up.”

Sophomore Courtney Duckworth has switched her major twice.

“I was a nursing major, then changed to exercise science and now I’m changing to occupational therapy,” Duckworth said. “For some reason, I felt ashamed, like I had failed myself and my family, but I think I’ve finally found the right major.”

I am an English education major. Time and time again I’ve had people tell me that I need to go for science or math to obtain a job in English education. In response, I added a minor in science teaching over the summer.

I hated it.

I was stressed, miserable

and did nothing but study and work. I hated the long labs and realized I could never teach something I did not love.

After talking with my advisor, attending USI’s major and minor fair, crying on the phone with my mother and researching my options, I made a decision. I am now a psychology and English education double major. I’ve always had a fascination with psychology but never pursued it, because I didn’t want to be a psychologist. Turns out, it is useful for my degree, and I can even teach it.

There is no shame in changing a major for whatever reason. I pay thousands of dollars each year for my education, so I definitely want to have a career that is more than a paycheck. I won’t be showering in Benjamins anytime soon, but I am content that this career path will make me happy.

Changing a major is a relatively simple process and no one should be embarrassed, feel like they are “dumb” or believe they have failed anyone. Find your passion and do something you love and you will never work a day in your life.

THE

EAGLE EXAMINER

Have the new Ozzi containers affected your Loft dining experience?

I like them

31%

I dislike them

23%

What’s Australian about takeout boxes?

46%

13 people responded to this week’ s Eagle Examiner.

Check usishield.com and social media for this week’s poll.

“Oh, your friend’s pretty okay, for a black feller.”

“You can have your husband do that for you when you’re older.”

“People are gay because they have shoulder demons.”

Yes, these are things people said, and not just any people—my own family members.

Thanksgiving is coming up, and it’s going to be a rude awakening for everyone who’s been hiding out in the safe, politically correct bubble that is college.

Not only is college politically correct but people on campus are that way because they care to educate themselves. Students genu-

inely feel the way they come across. They typically aren’t hiding a whole host of horrible prejudices.

I’m sure family members are true to their word as well, but it would be better, most of the time, if they’d keep their opinions to themselves.

College keeps students in a friendly environment that fosters acceptance and tolerance. I like it here much better than the pit of racism and sexist comments that is my grandparents’ house.

Thanksgiving is like being ripped from my peaceful, friendly everyday life, and being thrown into a blender of judgemental remarks and conspiracy theories.

Not only do I have to memorize my future plans for the next ten years in order

to peacefully pass through every single damned conversation, but I also have to practically bite my tongue off not to interject every time someone comments about “those tricky Arabs.”

It’s painfully obvious that they aren’t like the nice people who attend my university. Trying to reason with them will only make things worse. Why should that be a problem, though. The whole family only gets together a couple times a year.

Even with all that it mind, it’s still exciting to see all of them. Spending time with relatives can be a chore, but it can also be fun. The most important thing, is to be prepared for whatever they’ve got in store.

Name: Matt Sucrink Major: Radio Television Grade: Junior Answer: “Comic-Con on the quad”

Name: Katie Wilson Major: Engineering Grade: Freshman Answer: “A concert”

THE

SHIELD Editorial Board Bobby Shipman Editor-in-Chief Gabi Wy News Editor Megan Thorne Features Editor Gavin Gaddis Opinion Editor Sarah Loesch Sports Editor Ellen Cooper Chief Copy Editor

Unauthorized

Advice

by Gavin Gaddis

Seeing red (cups) what really matters Starbucks has removed all Christmas-related artwork from their annual holiday season red cup, which has caused many people to accuse the coffee chain of attacking Christmas.

This news broke while I was literally knee-deep in things most people claim truly matter last Sunday.

Supposedly irreplaceable items: diplomas, cherished baby clothes and craft projects obviously made with great pride by small children littered the floor.

I see all of these things as I sweep them into a garbage bag without a second thought, an entire family’s heirlooms off to a landfill.

Excuse me if I have a hard time finding the deletion of snowflakes and reindeer from a disposable paper cup something worth any level of outrage.

No, I’m not an incredibly vindictive burglar. My family bids on salvage rights

for storage units at auction.

A unit can only go to auction with at least six months’ unpaid rent, so whatever we may find usually comes from three possibilities: the owner moved and left everything, the owner didn’t have cash or storage space to recover the items, or the owner died.

One thing that really sucks about this as a moneymaking venture is the fact that you have to see everything, not just the fancy stuff you see on “Storage Wars.”

Childhood photos lovingly arranged in albums, stained furniture set aside for a future re-upholstering project and hidden sex toys (you have no idea how much effort is put into effectively hiding sex toys in units, it’s like a perverted Easter egg hunt) are common sights.

I’ve held seven years of correspondence from an incarcerated father to his family, each letter containing an intricate drawing on the

back of the envelope as a gift to his daughter.

Those are gone now.

From what I’ve heard, some students on campus will miss a cartoon Santa Claus on the side of their morning latte, the last third of which will probably be thrown away because it cooled off during lecture.

Of course what actually matters to someone is subjective, the examples I have used in this article are things I feel many people can agree are important artifacts.

Before jumping on the next big internet outrage, I want you to ask yourself the following question: “Does this really matter?”

You’d be surprised at how many things don’t actually matter, in the end. High school love letters, favorite sweaters, I’ve thrown them all away.

Drop the cups.

Please.

Jessica Stallings Visual Editor

S ta f f Amanda Morrison Special Publications Manager Brian Tenbarge Page Designer Philip Kuhns Page Designer Alyssa Smith Chief Photographer James Vaughn Community Engagement Manager

Sales & Marketing S ta f f Jonathan Stilley Sales & Marketing Director Melia Rowland Business Manager APPLY NOW Marketing Manager Ashleigh Carroll Layout & Design Manager Ugurkan (Oguz) Akkaya Circulation Manager Robert Buhmann Sales Consultant McKenzie McCormick Sales Consultant Opinions expressed in unsigned editorials represent a consensus opinion of the editorial board

Sports

The shield | november 12, 2015 | Usishield.com

7

‘Perfectionist’ named Academic All-District

by Sarah loesch sports@usishield.com @ShieldsterSarah Madi Vellky used to play nurse as a little girl by putting Band-Aids on her baby dolls.

She also started to play soccer at age four. Now, in her senior year at USI, both soccer and nursing are a major part of her identity.

“I looked at a bunch of different schools,” the forward said, “and when they would sit me down in their office they would tell me they don’t allow their soccer players to be a nursing major.”

Vellky said it wasn’t an option for her to pick another major, even though she understood the reasons why coaches didn’t allow it.

She said once clinicals start, players might miss practices and if that happens they won’t be allowed to play.

“I am going to school for school,” she said. “I don’t know why I would pick a school that doesn’t allow that.”

Vellky was named Division II Women’s Soccer Academic All-District IV for the second time in her playing career at the university after the team’s last game of the season against Bellarmine University.

To qualify for this honor

an athlete must have at least a 3.3 GPA and be a starter or important reserve on the team.

Vellky fulfilled both those requirements with her 4.0 and her position as starting forward.

At age 12, soccer became a consistent and constant part of Vellky’s life, she said she played year round with a couple weeks of break in the summer.

Vellky said her family required she and her siblings play a sport throughout high school.

Both of her sisters played soccer, but while they moved on to other sports she started to show a passion for the game.

“I’m kind of a rough and tumble kind of girl,” Vellky said. “I wasn’t the girly girl, and soccer is definitely not a girly-girl sport.”

Just as she had a passion for soccer, Vellky first connected to the “passionate part” of nursing before she understood any of the technique.

When she was in middle school a close family friend suffered brain swelling after a car accident.

“I would read her care pages,” Vellky said. “The mom would talk about the nurses and their care.”

Vellky said this made her realize how important the nurses were in the process.

“There (are) a lot of different ways to help people,” she said, “and nursing was the one that fit for me.”

Recruits come to Vellky now and ask her advice about the nursing program and she tells them all the same thing.

“If you are going to do both nursing and soccer, you have to want it,” she said.

“It will be one of the hardest things you’ve ever done.”

Vellky said there will always be a team dinner or event she has to turn down because she needs to study.

“No one wants to say no to the fun part of college,” she said. “Academically, you have to make sacrifices.”

Vellky said despite the stresses and toughness of the program, she wouldn’t change it for anything.

Head coach Krissy Engelbrecht said she would describe Vellky as a perfectionist.

“She’s never been one we had to worry about (academically),” Engelbrecht said.

“Sometimes she is a little hard on herself.”

Vellky said she thinks a lot of nurses are perfectionists because they need everything in order, but she also finds this trait comes alive on the

Photo by Isaac Williams | The Shield

Senior forward Madi Vellky dribbles down the field during a game against Quincy University Oct. 18. Vellky recently was named Division II Women’s Soccer Academic All-District IV by the College sports Information Directors of America for the second time in her USI career.

field.

“I always want an explanation in soccer,” she said.

Engelbrecht said rather than telling Vellky to work harder, she would have to remind her to relax.

“She likes to ask a lot of questions,” Engelbrecht said.

“She’s a very self-motivated person.”

The coaching staff stresses the importance of academics for players and aims to have

the entire team above a 3.5 GPA. Engelbrecht said if players want to accomplish things after college they need to have a good academic record.

Vellky graduates in May and said her graduation plan is a work in progress.

She said senior year is used to fine tune passion and see what specialty of nursing works best for her.

Though she found she en-

joys pediatrics, the neonatal intensive-care unit and critical care, nursing isn’t a profession where the rest of her career is decided as soon as she graduates.

“Basically what I’m looking for after graduation is to find a job I’m happy in,” Vellky said. “I don’t think I can hate what I’m doing if I’m (in) nursing.”

ended up where they have been unable to provide food for themselves and shelter,” he said. “We just want to help them as much as possible to get back on their feet.”

Ball said each time they go it is a humbling experience that puts his own life in perspective.

“They are people just like you and me,” Ball said. “They are just struggling right now.”

Both Woodford and Ball graduate in May but neither are worried about the status of the outreach program once they leave.

Woodford said he thinks Coach Santoro will keep a good hand on the program

and many of the upcoming team leaders understand the importance of keeping the program going.

Santoro said despite Woodford and the other seniors graduating this year, he knows their leadership will help the team continue successfully on the field and in community service.

“We do develop an emotional attachment to these guys and a part of us never wants them to leave,” Santoro said. “The guys on the team, they will go on, but the leadership and legacy that they leave by being good students, good leaders and great people makes a difference.”

Rescue Mission continued from Page 1 He said it was a way to help and serve others and the team didn’t look at it as a project.

The team members are expected to be at the Rescue Mission serving meals on that first Wednesday as long as the player does not have an academic conflict.

When new players join the team it is made clear serving meals at the Rescue Mission is a part of being on the team.

Woodford said no one on the team is forced to go, but they have never had a problem with a player being unwilling to participate.

“The guys are willing to go. It’s never an effort, it’s

never pulling teeth, it’s never a worry that people won’t show up,” Santoro said.

Santoro said leadership goes both ways on a team.

The players have to take the opportunity to be leaders just as the coaches do.

“This isn’t something they were told to do,” Santoro said. “It’s where their hearts are.”

The bonding during community service helps the team both on and off the field, but Santoro said what they do at the Rescue Mission means more than winning a game.

“It’s all about when those people give a smile and a thank you and you see that

Want to help ?

What: Evansville Rescue Mission Where: 500 E. Walnut Ave. Contact: (812) 421-3800 happiness on their face,” he said. “That’s everything, that’s the reward.”

The team has created relationships with people at the Rescue Mission, but Woodford said no one pushes for information or names.

“We’ve come to notice some people aren’t happy with the situation they are in and maybe aren’t proud of the fact that they have to

reach out for help like this to get meals,” Woodford said.

“So, we like to let them just be who they are while they’re there. We just want them to feel as comfortable as possible.”

Woodford said the group does not want people to feel like they are there to judge them.

“Unfortunately for some of them, their situations have

8

The shield | november 12, 2015 | Usishield.com

The Verbal Commitment

By Sarah Loesch

Band ‘nerds’ need recognition, too

I looked out the window of the Grimes Haus and with what little light was provided, saw a rainy fall night.

It was cold when I got there and I could only imagine the temperature continued to drop as the night went on.

In the rain and cold I could see members of the USI pep band moving equipment and instruments down from the bed of a pick-up truck.

This is the groups usual Monday night routine once pep band season begins and the members dutifully work together to quickly prepare for practice.

Apparently, much like

the U.S. mail, pep is an area which is delivered rain or shine.

During interviews with pep band members that evening and through the conversations happening around me, I got the vibe the group does not feel entirely appreciated on campus.

A couple different areas were mentioned and seemed like legitimate concerns.

First, the Grimes Haus, which is past the university baseball fields, is their practice space.

Student members may have to walk there in the dark to and from practices, which brings up legitimate safety

concerns, even on USI’s campus.

What really got me was the reason they practice in the Grimes Haus-the group is too loud to practice on campus without disturbing other groups.

The group is technically a part of athletics, which in my mind begs the question, “Why aren’t they practicing in the PAC?” There is no way they can be considered too disruptive for the PAC-it’s a gym. All day teams spend practice time there running drills and game scenarios. I wouldn’t believe for one second it doesn’t get loud in the PAC.

Another concern was the lack of representation for the group on campus.

Most of the members simply stumbled upon the group or were approached by people who were already members.

The group’s marketing comes from inside. Often word of mouth is their only means of recruitment.

One member even said everything done with instrumental music is “hush hush,” no one is really saying anything about the pep band who performs at every basketball game.

This is an under recognized, hard-working group on campus.

Members don’t get recognition, they don’t get paid and they don’t get class credit.

This year, show a little more appreciation for the group.

They may not be on the court to score the winning shot, but they are boosting the morale of the crowd. The pep band is an essential part of the game experience.

Students may not be cognizant of that, but I guarantee they would have that “something’s missing” feeling if the group didn’t show up.

scoreboard men’s basketball Nov. 8 88 - 81

women’s basketball Nov. 7 69 - 46

Volleyball Nov. 6 1-3 Nov. 7 0-3 Nov. 10 1 -3

men’s cross country Nov. 7 NCAA II Midwest Region Championships 2nd of 31 teams

women’s cross country Nov. 7 NCAA II Midwest Region Championships 5th of 30 teams

briefs tered the GLVC Tournament for the first time since 2012, but they lost in the first round of the tournament to Rockhurst University.

Weinzapfel earned AllGLVC Josh Weinzapfel earned All-GLVC third team honors after the end of the 2015 men’s soccer season.

Weinzapfel is a senior midfielder and he led the team with 16 points and six goals during his last season.

He also had four assists.

With his senior season included, Weinzapfel scored 34 points through both goals and assists.

This was the first time since 2012 a men’s soccer player earned this honor.

The men’s soccer team en-

Basketball heads to Vegas Men’s basketball will travel to Las Vegas for their next two games.

The team had an exhibition against Illinois State University, but the games in Vegas will mark the start of the regular season.

The team will compete in the D2 Vegas Showdown against the University of

Findlay and Lake Superior State University.

This is the fifth trip to Vegas for the Eagles in a regular season. Their last trip was in the 2002-03 season.

The first time the team made the trip to Vegas was in December 1994. It started a win streak that lasted for 14 games.

Cross Country heads to nationals Both the men’s and women’s cross country qualified for the NCAA II National Championships.

The women’s team fin-

ished fifth during the NCAA Division II Midwest Region Championships with two of their runners finishing in the top 20.

Sophomore Emily Roberts and and senior Jessica Reeves finished fifth and 16 respectively.

Roberts recorded a 20 minute and 37 second finish and Reeves finished in 21 minutes and 38 seconds.

The men’s team finished second out of 31 teams and junior Chase Broughton finished ninth to propell the team.

Both senior Johnnie Guy and junior Noah Lutz, usually standouts on the course, battled flu-like symptoms during the race to finish 22nd and 26th.

Upcoming Games Men’s basketball

woMen’s basketball

8:30 p.m.

Nov. 13 Las Vegas, Nevada University of Findlay

2 p.m.

Nov. 14 Huntsville, Alabama The University of Alabama in Huntsville

6 p.m.

Nov. 14 Las Vegas, Nevada Lake Superior State University

6 p.m.

Nov. 17 PAC Midway College

Winter Break December 16 - January 7

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Housing and Residence Life closes at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, December 16, 2015. Residents who have not received approval to stay late or stay during winter break must leave 24 hours after their last final fin or by 6 p.m. on December 16, whichever comes first.

If you have a late afternoon or evening final on Wednesday, y, December 16, 2015, you can wait to leave leav by noon on Thursday, December 17, 2015. However, you must submit ubmit the online stay late request form.

Request deadline eadline is December 11, 2015.

2 Students ents who are living in housing in the fall 2015 and are re returning for spring 2016, do not need to move m their heir belongings; they only need to leave by 6 p.m. on December 16 and may ma return on or after January 8, 2016.. It is recommended recommen that residents not leave valuables es in their apartments or residence halls during winter ter break. br The USI campus including the Housing and Residence Life office will be closed R (Decemberr 24, 24 2015 through January 3, 2016) and there will be limited University staff available.

Students not returning for the spring 2016 semester need to complete a contract cancellation as well as follow the proper check out procedures.

During winter break University staff will be checking the apartments and residence hall rooms. University personnel may enter for maintenance purposes.

NOTE: Residents with permanent residences in Vanderburgh, Warrick, Posey, Gibson, Henderson (KY), White (IL), or Gallatin (IL) counties are not eligible to stay after the December 16, 2015, deadline.

Find everything you need to know about winter break online at www.usi.edu/housing/2015-fallclosing-information. Residents will also receive additional information via their resident assistants, email, and social media.