Thursday, December 5, 2013 ■ Vol. 44 Issue 15
THE
SHIELD
River City Sound pg. 4
5 Best Places to Study pg. 5
www.usishield.com
TXTBookRental reopens its doors
Senate to vote on HJR-6 statement By JAMES VAUGHN News editor
Photos by CALEB RILEY/The Shield
By CALEB RILEY Staff writer Students who preferred TXTBookRental to USI’s Campus Store are in luck. The West Side store reopened its doors Monday. When a deal went through at the beginning of the year, thenowner Alex Beaver decided to close up shop and sell it with the expectation that the new owner would do as they wished, and liquidate all of the books. Ethan Michael swept in and bought the building at the last minute. Manager Will Bader stayed with the store. “Nothing has really changed
in the store, but we are planning to make changes starting next semester,” Bader said. “We want to try and make the process of
Current store hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., weekdays 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sunday *The hours will change next semester. renting more streamlined and get books out to more people who need them.” Previous customers have been receiving emails about the reopening.
Junior business administration major Mariam Hope plans to utilize the store again. “It’s relatively cheaper and closer,” Hope said. “That’s the advantage of going.” She shopped TXTBookRental every semester, except this one. She said she saves about $300 by doing so. However, she is concerned about the state of the store because of the closure. “They closed all of the sudden before,” she said. Bader said they plan to do more advertising once they get completely up and running next semester. He said there was a decent resurgence of customers Monday,
How will senators vote?
even though the store isn’t completely back on its feet yet. They BOOKS on Pg. 3
Community remembers retired professor, Shield adviser By JESSICA STALLINGS Staff writer Ronald ‘Ron’ Roat died of natural causes Thanksgiving Day at his home in Ludington, Mich. That’s how the author, former journalism professor and longtime adviser to The Shield would have wanted the lede written, 2007 graduate Amelia Hooper said. She remembers Roat explaining to her Basic Reporting class how a journalist should cover deaths. “I specifically remember him calling the phrase ‘passed away’ as fluffy language that journalists should never use,” Hooper said. “People die. They don’t pass away, pass on or fly into heaven.” Hooper said she loved his nononsense style of teaching and signed up for a class with him each year she attended USI. “My favorite class without a doubt was Editorial Writing,” Hooper said. “He would take a relatively hands-off approach, letting us argue our points using our own perspectives, research and assumptions.” She said she liked Roat’s honesty. He was fair even if what he said was brutal at times. “He didn’t expect perfection, but he expected honesty and the ability to learn and grow from mistakes,” Hooper said. “He put more focus on how I rebounded from my mistakes than the actual errors themselves, and that was a lesson I’ve carried with me ever since.” Hooper said she and Roat kept in touch off and on over the years, but there is plenty she will miss about him. “He had a great, witty sense of humor,” Hooper said. “His explanations simply made sense, but he’d love to hear an argument against it anyway, even if just for conversation’s sake.” Roat earned a bachelor’s de-
Photo courtesy of Chad Tew
Ron Roat worked as The Shield adviser from 1987 until 1996.
gree in journalism from Michigan State University and a master’s from Oregon State. He served as a reporter, editor or columnist at nine newspapers in Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia and Indiana. He joined the USI faculty in 1986 and became adviser to The Shield in 1987. He was also the program coordinator of the print and online journalism sequences. He retired from the university in 2007. Laura Buchanan, 2007 graduate, said she liked Roat instantly. “He always had an air about him that was so pessimistic, but on the inside he was so loveable and willing to crack a joke, especially at others’ expense,” Buchanan said. “His dry wit was always so attractive to the other students and me.” She said Roat never sugarcoated anything, and she learned so much about writing from that approach. “If he thought something didn’t work, he told you so, and if it were stupid, he said it was, right to your face,” Buchanan said. “At the same time, if you did very well, he didn’t hesitate to tell you that, either.” Buchanan said she remembers
one day in particular when he told her Editorial Writing class to stop writing “bullsh*t.” “I took it personally, so I stepped up and said, ‘You better tell me what your idea of bullsh*t is – that way I know, because I know your definition is different than mine,’” Buchanan said. “He replied, ‘Oh, but you write bullsh*t so well.’” That was “so Ron,” responding with an insult that was mixed with a compliment, she said. He was very frank, but everyone loved him for that. “In the professional world, your editor will often say, ‘I like this, this is good’ or ‘This is bad, remove it.’” Buchanan said. “But I survived Roat. I can take the heat, tell me what you really think.” Communications Department Chair Wayne Rinks said he first met Ron when he interviewed at USI in 1991. He remembers his strong personality best. “He had this really loud, somewhat boisterous laugh, and it was pretty infectious,” Rinks said. On Sept. 11, 2001, he became a lot closer to Roat. “We were sitting in our offices three doors down from
each other and I heard Ron say, ‘Oh my God, you have to come here’ and we saw that an airplane had crashed into the Trade Center,” Rinks said. “Ron was a pilot and he said, ‘How the hell does a plane hit the World Trade Center’ and as we were standing there watching, the other plane crashed.” Rinks said Roat was, in his opinion, an excellent author of crime novels. “I was never understanding why he didn’t make it bigger in that field,” Rinks said. “I really thought Ron was a great writer, particularly with his crime novels. I was just totally impressed.” He said he will miss Roat’s experience as a journalist, too. “He had encountered so many of the same situations and kinds of individuals and stories,” Rinks said. “His experience in that area was very valuable. It was valuable to the students and also to those of us that were his colleagues.” Brittany Evans, Roat’s only daughter, said her father was not shy about his opinions and you always knew what he thought about things. “He was very opinionated but had a giant heart and once you got to know him you would definitely see that,” Evans said. “He came off as rough around the edges, which he was, but the inside was really good.” She and Roat had plenty to bond over, and they were similar in a lot of ways. “We bonded about movies and television a lot,” Evans said. “Something serious would be going on, and we would be talking about what happened on the X-Files.” She and Roat also bonded over their love for cats. “He loved his cat,” Evans said. “He thought he was funny and he talked about him like he was a person. I got that from him.” Evans said her father loved to ROAT on Pg. 3
The Shield is a designated public forum.
The Faculty Senate will decide whether or not to make a public statement opposing House Joint Resolution-6 (HJR-6) Friday. The 14-member body failed to come to a consensus at its Nov. 22, meeting regarding its stance on the amendment that, if passed, would permanently define marriage as a bond between a man and a woman and would remove protections under current Indiana law for same-sex couples. After more than half an hour of deliberation, senators were split down the middle. The senate tabled the discussion, requesting Assistant Professor of Philosophy Garrett Merriam, who introduced the topic at the Nov. 8, meeting, and Vice Chair Jason Fertig collaborate on a statement.
The student publication of the University of Southern Indiana
The Shield asked senators Monday how they were going to vote. Chair Mary Hallock Morris said she would vote to make a statement opposing HJR-6. But other representatives weren’t as sure. “I’ve given it a lot of thought - I have mixed feelings,” said Peter Cashel-Cordo, economics professor. “I’m undetermined.” Assistant Professors of Health Services Frank Ward and Ethel Elkins were undecided as well. “I have no idea what the resolution will say at this point,” Elkins said. Merriam said he and Fertig will present a pair of resolutions to the senate Friday. One will reaffirm USI’s and the senate’s commitment to diversity and equality, but maintain that it is not the senate’s place to weigh in on political matters. The second will oppose HJR6, encourage the administration to do the same and acknowledge the “controversial nature” of the resolution, but hold that it is contrary to the faculty, staff and student’s best interests. “I am confident that one of these two resolutions will pass,” Merriam said. “I honestly do not know which of the two - time will tell.” He said individual faculty members are encouraged to use their voice as they see fit, and some are.
Stand-in planned for Friday:
Assistant Professor of Psychology Amie McKibban organized “Stand by me, and I will stand by you: Opposing HJR-6,” which will take place at 2 p.m. Friday in USI’s free speech zone, located between the Orr Center and University Center East. Students and faculty who attend the event will stand armin-arm silently as senators make their way to the UC to decide on a public statement. McKibban said her goal is to create a visible sign of support, not a loud protest. “When an issue is perceived as being controversial by higher administration, there is always that perceived threat of repercussions,” McKibban said. “The HJR-6 on Pg. 3
Additional copies of The Shield are 25 cents
Page 2
The Shield - December 5, 2013
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Page 3 - The Shield - December 5, 2013
News Briefs Priority deadline for MLK tickets The Multicultural Center will host the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Memorial Luncheon at 11 a.m. Jan. 20 in Carter Hall. The priority deadline for students to purchase tickets before they are made available to staff and faculty is today. The guest speaker for the luncheon this year is actress and six-time NAACP Award winner Jasmine Guy. For more information about the luncheon, contact the Multicultural Center at 812-465-7188.
Fishhook launch to be held today USI’s Fishhook Literary Magazine is holding a launch party for the release of its fifth publication from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. today. There will be readings and faculty-led discussions with seasonal treats like sugar cookies and hot chocolate. The launch party will be held in the UC Conference Center room 2217.
Human Rights Day programs USI will observe International Human Rights Day with two programs Dec. 9-10. This year marks the 65th anniversary of theadoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations.McSamuel Dixon-Fyle, professor of history at DePauw University will present “Africa: The Continent that Human Rights Forgot” at 6 p.m. Dec. 9, in Kleymeyer Hall in the lower level of the Liberal Arts Center. A screening of the documentary “War Don Don” about the special criminal court hearing for Sierra Leone will be shown at 3:30 p.m. Dec. 10, in Kleymeyer Hall. A panel discussion focusing on human rights will follow the screening.
USI Security Incident Log 11/20/13 - 12/3/13 Illness Report
Drugs – Incident
Liberal Arts Cr
Ruston Hall – 1818 Rochelle
11/20/2013 3:52 p.m.
11/24/2013 4:43 p.m.
Closed
Closed
Property Damage – University
Lost Property Report
Security Bldg
Broadway Sports Complex
11/21/2013 7:45 p.m.
11/25/2013 12:44 p.m.
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Fire
Alcohol – Underage Consump-
Security Bldg
tion
11/21/2013 7:45 p.m.
Clarke Lane
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11/26/2013 12:25 a.m. Closed
Traffic Accident Religious Life Office
Alcohol – Public Intoxication
11/21/2013 8:13 p.m.
Clarke Lane
Closed
11/26/2013 12:15 a.m. Closed
Incident Report (Information Only)
Theft
Health Professions Ctr
Rec. and Fitness Ctr
11/21/2013 9:02 a.m.
11/26/2013 1:32 p.m. Closed
HJR-6 continued from Pg. 1 their voices at universities,” she said. “Students definitely hold more power than anyone else at this university, so I would like to see them show up in large numbers.” Senior Amber Seibert will lend her arm Friday by participating in the stand-in. “I can see it making a difference if for no other reason than to show that there are people in our largely conservative community who are willing to stand up for human rights,” Seibert said. “How will administrators know how we feel unless we have a way to tell them?” The English education major has watched other Indiana universities and other states come out in support of same sex marriage in the news. “It’s been frustrating to live in a state and attend a college where there has not been progress in that area,” Seibert said. “Ultimately, the university is here to serve students. They should be making decisions based on what is best for their constituents.” She believes in giving everyone equal rights and in separating church and state. She said her passion for the issue can be summed up with one of her favorite quotes from Martin Luther King Jr.: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
stand-in on Friday is not only going to allow us to stand beside students and students to stand beside us within that safe environment. It’s also going to allow us to make a statement that the silence of our administration and the possible silence of Faculty Senate doesn’t necessarily represent the many voices that do oppose HJR-6 here.” McKibban, who directs the tri-state area’s Safe Zone initiative, said it’s both a personal and a professional issue for her. “It falls in line with the work I do in my scholarship and the work I do for the community,” she said. “If we don’t stand up for ourselves and those who can’t stand up for themselves, who will? This is very much a same-sex marriage issue, but it’s also much more than that it’s standing up so that we, as taxpaying citizens, can ensure that our constitution isn’t being used inappropriately, and to me that is everyone’s civic duty.” McKibban doesn’t think it should be left to the Faculty Senate to take a stand. “I think it’s higher administrations place to take a stand,” she said. “Given they have remained silent, I am pleased the Faculty Senate is at least considering the idea of opposing (HJR-6).” She plans to attend the Faculty Senate meeting Friday and encourages others to do so, too. McKibban said the issue affects students just as much as it affects faculty. “I oftentimes don’t think students realize how much power they have in
Nov. 22, debate: On one side, senators understood why the university should stand with Freedom Indiana, a coalition of Indiana businesses,
News
groups and individuals formed to defeat HJR-6. Potential lawsuits – the university offers benefits to faculty in domestic partnerships. If enacted, the bill would alter the state constitution to prohibit any future legislatures from passing a law that would allow same-sex couples to legally marry or one that would allow any legal protections for civil unions or domestic partnerships. Some senators suggested HJR-6 goes against the university’s mission statement and its strategic goal to increase diversity. Indiana University, Purdue University, Ball State University, DePauw University, Wabash College and Butler University have come out against the proposed amendment. “If colleges in Indiana are opposing this, it makes more sense to stand with them than to be silent on the issue,” Merriam said during the Nov. 22, meeting. “I don’t have a crystal ball, but I can say with great confidence that this is the way the country is going – this is the way the world is going.” On the other side, members agreed it is not a public university’s place to make a political statement, and they questioned what purpose it would serve. “It gives fuel to the sense that somehow all of the institutions of higher learning are hard-left, bleeding, blue liberals,” said Brandon Field, assistant professor of engineering. “Our statement won’t make – functionally – any difference.” Fertig was strongly
against the Faculty Senate taking a stance, arguing that it’s not a gay tolerance debate, but rather a samesex marriage debate. He recommended the Senate leave the decision to the President, whom in most cases, has made the official statement on behalf of the universities. “I just don’t feel comfortable doing it,” he said. “It gives me the creeps.” He said making a public statement would make it hard for the university to recruit conservatives and religious people. “There will be some people who will be put off by this,” Merriam said. “But in terms of simple recruiting, we will be better off being opposed to the amendment than we will be being silent.” At the last meeting, Merriam asked members to talk to faculty in their respective colleges about it. The senators brought back varying results. There was no consensus within the Pott College of Science, Engineering and Education, according to Field and Associate Professor of Biology Rex Strange. According to three representatives, faculty members in the College of Liberal Arts agree the Senate should take a public stance against HJR-6. “I would not expect a consensus,” Merriam said. The proposed amendment will be placed on the 2014 general election ballot. It will be discussed in the Indiana General assembly’s legislative session in January.
do that as a kid. It was nice to just watch him do what he really liked.” Roat was excited about
ally close and she misses talking to him every day, she said. “He was always really good with advice because he was very smart and had quite a bit of life experience,” Evans said. “In any situation, he would have advice that usually turned out to be right, and I’m finding out that after he is gone there are a lot of things that I have to deal with that I wish I could ask him about.”
ROAT continued from Pg. 1 write and read, and he never forgot his love for teaching. “He was always teaching,” Evans said. “During normal dinner conversations he would say, ‘So, did you know what happened in World War II in this battle?’ and then he would talk about it for 15 minutes.” She recalls his love for flying and how it was a huge part of their life.
“One of his first words was airplane,” Evans said. “A couple years ago he rented a plane in Hender-
I survived Roat. I can take the heat, tell me what you really think. -Laura Buchanan ‘07 Graduate son and just the two of us went up, and it was really fun because I never got to
his newborn grandson, Coleman. Evans and Roat were re-
Injury Report Broadway Sports Complex
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BOOKS continued from Pg. 1 expect more customers to show up after final exams to sell items and gather books for next semester. “The fact that we are staffed by students who
might be taking the same classes as our customers and are willing to work with our customers to find them what they need is what makes TXTBook-
Rental a good alternative to other vendors,” Bader said. “There is no wait for your book to show up in the mail.” The original business
will remain intact, and there is no foreseeable closure.
11/26/2013 8:33 a.m. Alcohol – Furnishing to a
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Minor University Blvd
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Students track shuttles with app By JESSICA STALLINGS Staff writer
Fire – Faulty Alarm Craig Building
Alcohol – Incident
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University Ctr (East)
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Illness Report Security Bldg
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Theft Governors Hall – 1700 Rankin
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Information gathered from USIʼs Public Crime Log, provided by USI Safety and Security. Crime Log Key • Case suspended: No suspects listed, no leads. No follow up investigation unless new information arises. • Case cleared: The incident is resolved, suspect was identified and will be adjudicated appropriately. • Case pending: On hold, awaiting new information. • Violation of University Policy: Violation of the Studentʼs Rights and Responsibilities. • Failure to comply with a university official: Any university official, from an area coordinator to a security officer. *Residential entry: Someone walked into the residence. This is different than burglary because burglary is entering with intent to commit a felony.
Students know exactly where the campus shuttles are thanks to a smartphone app and a partnership between the university and Metropolitan Evansville Transit System (METS). The DoubleMap app can be downloaded for free on Apple and Android devices. It is also available online at doublemap.com for PCs, laptops and tablets. Once downloaded, users can view all routes or select the ones they wish to track. The app uses Google Maps and identifies not only the shuttles, but the user’s location. DoubleMap presents campus shuttle routes in blue and METS west connection routes in red. Users can click on specific stops to see an estimated time of arrival. Clay Roth lives in a
campus apartment and uses the app three to four times a day. “I pay close attention to it when I’m about to go to class from my apartment,” Roth said. The radio and television major said he likes how it’s real-time and shows exactly where the bus is. “As soon as it’s a stop away, I head out to the closest bus stop and wait maybe 30 seconds versus waiting for 10 minutes, being late for class, cold and not knowing where the bus is,” Roth said. Public Safety Staff Sergeant Brian McWilliams said DoubleMap provides students with a useful tool for time management. “Knowing where the buses are on campus and when one will arrive at your stop means students don’t have to wait at a bus stop any longer than necessary,” McWilliams said.
He said there is a lot to like about the app. “From an administrative standpoint, I like the tools the DoubleMap program provides – detailed bus location history, time between stops, etc. – that allows USI Public Safety and METS to investigate reported issues or problems and correct them
when necessary,” McWilliams said.
The app includes a dashboard feature, which is used by USI’s Office of Public Safety to add special announcements, such as weather delays, cancelations, changed routes and other information that might affect riders.
Scan the QR code to download DoubleMap.
Features
Page 4 - The Shield - December 5, 2013
University prepares for 44th annual Madrigal Feaste
By ARIANA BEEDIE Features editor
One of the university’s oldest holiday traditions kicks off this week. The 44th Annual Madrigal Feaste will be held at 7:30 p.m. from Dec. 5 to Dec. 7 and at 1 p.m. on Dec. 8. Guests will sit in Carter Hall, which will be transformed into a 15th century medieval dining hall to celebrate the oldest music tradition on campus. Dan Craig, music professor and choir director, leads the event for his 24th year. “We have the royal guests, the artisans guild and then all of the company from across the land, which would be the tristate area,” Craig said. The feaste stages an actual royal dinner featuring members of the royal party, jesters, choir members and other theatrics. The event lasts two hours and includes a five course meal, featuring popular royal dishes from medieval times. “This is a progressive meal. Each item is processed in with song, dance and merriment,”
Craig said. “Our jesters run about the room playing pranks (and) telling jokes while the choir sings inspirational and beautiful music set in this era and beyond.” Each year, performing arts students audition for different parts in the madrigal feaste. “A madrigal feaste is a madrigal feaste. It works like a ritual,” Craig said. “The music is different and there are those pieces you have to do at every feast, like ones used to introduce each item.” This year the choir, composed of members of the women’s choir and the chamber choir, will stand in two separate groups, adding a different element of song to the mix, calling it double choir. “They sing the same piece of music but you echo back and forth between the two,” Craig said. “There will be times when we will take the entire group and spread (it) throughout the room so that the entire room will be filled with music around you.” It’s similar to the renaissance version of Dolby
Surround Sound, he said. Music featured from choirs in this event will also be performed in Ireland when the choir travels there. “To do cori spezzati music in the cathedrals in Ireland, it’s really special,” Craig said. “To have concert-goers experience that sound in a cathedral that rings for eight to 12 seconds is really special.” Along with the theatrics of the feaste, the Society for Creative Anachronism will stage a sword fight to occur during all three nights of the feaste. A new group will also play traditional Irish music before the event begins. “The feaste just stands as a community icon. To this day, I totally believe it is the best way for anyone to begin the holiday season,” Craig said. “All you have to do is show up. You create a sense of fellowship, you’re brought wonderful food and you’re treated like a member of a large family.” It’s a great way to build community and a great way to end the year, he said.
Best places to study on campus
Group Study Rooms:
For students that need to work on projects with others, study rooms in the library are perfect. The rooms come equipped with a table, chairs and a whiteboard to interact with other students. Located on the second, third and fourth floors of the library, these areas work for students who want to talk at high volumes and work for long periods of time.
Fourth Floor Quiet Room: This room calls for complete silence, and serves as a great place for students to focus and get down to business. Placed on the fourth floor with an almost aerial view of campus, the quiet room works as a study area but also a sleeping area. The room is adorned with comfy leather chairs, as well as tables and chairs. There are a variety of way to utilize this room. Many students take time to go to a quiet area to nap between classes or to read a quick passage from a book.
Photo courtesy of Photo Services
Members of the choir preforms classical songs for last year’s audience.
EVENT ALERT The Housing and Residence Life staff will host a Thanksgiving dance, giving students the chance to give to charity and celebrate before the holidays. The Thanksgiving Semi-Formal will be held Nov. 22 in Carter Hall. Students are asked to bring a canned food item or $1 for entry to the dance. The dance begins at 8 p.m. All proceeds from the event goes to Tri-State Food Bank to help families and locals in need. Jessica Hearne, McDonald West Apartments Area Coordinator, said there haven’t been Thanksgiving events like this in the past. “We hope people dress up and have a good time,” Hearne said. The event, sponsored by McDonald West Resident Assistants, is a semi-formal dance which requires attendees to dress appropriately. “We don’t want to turn anyone away,” Hearne said. “Whatever they define as nice.” Free food and beverages will be provided at the event.
Starbucks:
According to David Burkus, of creativitypost.com, the background noise in coffee shops helps maintain creativity and focus. Our campus coffee shop does just that. Located next to the library entrance and close to multiple parking lots with a corner view of campus, Starbucks soothes coffee lovers across campus with a variety of coffees and pastries.
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Fireside Lounge:
Photos by CALEB RILEY/The Shield
Students sit, eat lunch and talk with friends before heading to class. Others grab a quick bite to eat, and take time to study while eating. The Fireside Lounge is the place to go for a comfortable studying place. Fully equipped with blue couches alongside tables and chairs. A fireplace, located near an entrance of the lounge, adds a cozy feel to the space.
Page 5 - The Shield - December 5, 2013
Features
USI student uses hip hop as inspiration By ARIANA BEEDIE Features editor Kyle Stallings, 24, creates a different kind of sound inspired by classic beats and choice samples. “The kind of music I make, I would just define as left field, jazz-influenced music,” Stallings said. “It was really inspired by early 90s hip hop.” The computer information systems major
became acquainted with other local artists, such as Brett Siler and Jesse Gallamore, who inspired him to make music. “I grew up around Evansville, so my musical beginnings started with playing odd shades of rock and roll,” Stallings said. “When I started making music at home and recording it, it led me to artists like J. Dilla (and) Madlib and things just got weirder.”
Stallings acquired a lot of music equipment, causing him to want to learn more about how they function. He was also curious about artists and which instruments they use. “I got my first sampler and I got it with the intention of loading up weird sounds on it, but I started seeing what you could actually do on it,” Stallings said. “That led me to find that there was
Photo courtesy of Kyle Stallings
a whole other world of people making beats.” Stallings started expanding his method of creating music by searching record stores for potential samples to give his songs a lot of variety. “I started discovering I could go to the record store and dig up things and make these guys be in my band,” he said. That’s how sampling records developed, and playing with synthesizers just fell into sequence and helped create his method, Stallings said. Performing under the name “Ewokie Talkie” for the past two years, Stallings alone gained a large following by playing shows around Evansville. “I really started playing out in other areas like Indianapolis and Bloomington,” Stallings said. “Two years ago, me and some friends had a residency at a bar on the West Side.” Playing at those shows was never exactly what Stallings wanted to do because of the difference in his personal sound. “Essentially, I play live with a mini control-
“The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” The second installment of “The Hunger Games” trilogy improved upon its predecessor in a few pivotal ways. “Catching Fire” begins with 74th annual Hunger Games victors Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark adjusting to life after unknowingly sparking rebellion in Panem with their controversial victory. Now a beacon of hope for the districts of Panem, they must lull their riotous hearts at the command of President Snow. Katniss fears that her unwanted pedestal may lead to the endangerment of her family or all-out war in Panem, making her every move crucial. Unsuccessful, Katniss and Peeta become targets of the Capitol and are thrown back into the Hunger Games arena once again to compete against surviving victors in a ploy to eliminate uprisings in Rating 3/5
the districts. “Catching Fire” was able to develop characters more thoroughly than “The Hunger Games,” due the introduction of complex characters, as well as the actors who played them. Older and more substantial characters in “Catching Fire,” such as the other victors, aid Katniss’s story arch and create flavorful intricacies that bring the story to life. The film spent more time delving into the lives of its characters, helping us to better understand their actions just before throwing them to the wolves, or ravenous monkeys. “Catching Fire” displays a flawless formula of complex story development followed by relentless action, terror, tricks and mysteries culminating in its puzzlingly spectacular finale. The only downside to
this franchise is its inability to truly entangle us in Katniss’s complicated psyche, as the novels by Suzanne Collins do. A mindless movie-goer might criticize the movie for being long and boring until the hunger games action sets off, but if one goes into “Catching Fire” with a thirst for the true nature of story-telling they will exit quenched.
By BOBBY SHIPMAN, Staff writer
ler, and I have all of my tracks and I basically cut everything into bits to where I can arrange it on the spot,” Stallings said. “It’s different every time, and I don’t get bored that way.” It’s kind of monotonous sometimes, he said. Another concept behind Stallings’s music is improvisation, which is a key tool when performing live. “I like the idea of improving things,” Stallings said. “That’s where the jazz thing comes back.” Stallings received his first guitar at the age of 13 and began writing songs. He even joined a band to learn how to play. “There was a three to four year period of me just experimenting with guitar pedals before I started listening to hip hop in high school,” Stallings said. “There was a gradual move towards it which is cool because with my sound, I don’t discriminate on anything.” Sometimes the sounds come out great, while other times they don’t come out well at all, he said. Stallings was featured
on tracks with two artists on a compilation from Brainfeeder Records. “I got to be on a compilation out of Chicago with Jeremiah J, Act Right and a bunch of other producers,” Stallings said. Stallings also opened for Lapalux on his first North American tour in St. Louis. “This past year has been the best year for me,” he said.
Xbox One The Xbox One, the successor to the Xbox 360, is a next-generation console that is innovative, highpowered and designed to be the all-in-one device that is a culmination of all the living room needs one would want. But there are hiccups that undermine this utopian all-in-one device. At face value, the Xbox One is significantly bigger than not only the PlayStation 4, but the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 as well. The design isn’t the most beautiful piece of technology, but the variations in the tones of black used on the console’s chassis do make it easy on the eyes. Bundled into the $499 console is the Kinect 2.0, an interactive camera that mirrors the design of the Xbox One and is one of the centerpieces of the consoles innovativeness. Making use of a microphone built into the Kinect, a player can now use voice commands to navigate the console’s many interfaces. For example, a player Rating 4/5
can simply say “Xbox Snap” and a sidebar is “snapped” right next to a movie or game. This allows the user to seamlessly jump from game to application with the use of simple voice commands. The downside to the voice command system is that a user has to say an exact command to jump from one task to the next, which means commands have to be memorized to use the function to its highest potential. It’s something that takes getting used to. The Kinect recognizes voices well, but it can take a couple of tries to make a command work. When jumping from task to task, there can be lag when playing a game which is an issue that needs to be fixed. It’s worth noting that it’s not a constant problem. While seamlessness is the principle Microsoft is going for,
there have been several times that I’ve been unwillingly thrown back to the Xbox Home Screen for some unknown reason – it can be annoying but it is rare. Games look gorgeous on the new console, but are less crisp than the PlayStation 4 due to the technology, which is used in both consoles’ hardware that makes the Xbox One come up short in that regard. Call of Duty, Assassin’s Creed and other non-console exclusive games will be graphically less powerful on the Xbox One. Overall, the console is an appealing piece of hardware and future versions of it will certainly fix the discrepancies that it suffers with at times – hopefully.
By ROBERTO CAMPOS, Staff writer
Opinion
Page 6 - The Shield - December 5, 2013
THE
Let’s celebrate something SHIELD else besides Christmas Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Shannon Hall editor@usishield.com News Editor James Vaughn news@usishield.com Features Editor Ariana Beedie features@usishield.com Opinion Editor Jessie Hellmann opinion@usishield.com Sports Editor Zane Clodfelter sports@usishield.com Chief Copy Editor Rachel Marquart copy@usishield.com Visual Editor Zach Rothenberger visual@usishield.com
By BOBBY SHIPMAN Staff writer Christmas is the most ridiculous holiday Americans celebrate. Every December, across the United States, herds of consumers frazzle themselves with all-night shopping and brutal brawls, all to save a dime on gifts that will probably be returned or re-gifted. The act of reciprocity goes back thousands of years. Many cultures give and receive gifts as a way of building relationships amongst their village, tribe, etc. Christmas takes this peaceful tradition to a level of obsession and vio-
lence that extracts the enjoyment. To be honest, my family has always exchanged simple gifts to keep the holiday focused on what it is truly about, which severely irritates me in and of itself. All of this hoopla arises to commemorate the birth of a 2,000-year-old baby. Whether you believe in this character or not, we can all agree that his contributions to society are outdated. I am shocked that we don’t get more seasonally stimulated by recent altruist’s like Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela or Mahatma Gandhi. Arbor Day is a sweet, simple holiday where we
pay tribute to the beings that give us life by planting their saplings and continuing the cycle of life. Think about it, you have your reciprocity: tribute to something that gives us life. And, just like Christmas, there are trees. Only in this case we are planting them not chopping them down. Realistically I do not see a future for Arbor Day as a mainstream, commercialized holiday-which is probably a good thing. All I ask is that people, this December, take a step back and truly put into perspective what has got them all a tizzy. Maybe this year we can spend more time giving and less time taking.
Give students a voice By JAKE TAPLEY Staff writer Now, I could talk about HJR-6, or about how the university and their elected board has been unable to reach a consensus thus far, but I won’t. Instead, I would like to focus on the students who have been sharing or supporting the Facebook event page “Stand by me, and I will stand by you: Opposing the HJR-6.” I have received several invitations and notifications about this page and have noticed that each time I visit it, the amount of people who put “Going” or “Maybe” as their event status has increased. The page now has more than 150 people who fall under one of these categories. Even still, there are other people who may not be able to make it to the event on Friday who have made sure to express their support in the comments section of the page. Whether or not this is truly representative of the student population at USI, it is at least trying to be. It is giving the students a place to have a voice and stand up for what they believe in. Regardless of what the panel decides at the meeting on Friday, these students will know what they stand for. They won’t need to be represented because what they are doing is representative enough. Honestly, if the university wants to represent its students and faculty properly, why doesn’t it just make Facebook groups? It seems to generate quicker results.
Staff Page Designer Jessica Stallings Copy Editor Armon Siadat
Sales and Marketing Staff Sales and Marketing Director Jacob Ewers sales@usishield.com Business Mangager Melia Rowland business@usishield.com Marketing Manager Megan Lambert marketing@usishield.com Sales and Marketing Consultant Amber Nevels Jon Stilley sales@usishield.com
Contact Us Editor-in-Chief 812/464-1682 Newsroom 812/464-1645 Sales 812/464-1870 usishield.com facebook.com/theshieldatusi
@usishield
Jessie-isms: By JESSIE HELLMANN Opinion editor
Letters to The Editor The Shield accepts original, unpublished letters for all of its readers. Letters should be no more than 250 words, signed and have a telephone number for verification. The editor reserves the right to edit for length, style, and grammar. Pieces will appear in The Shield online. Letters can be submitted online or via e-mail.
“@jessiehellmann: I just faxed something, guys. #21stcenturyaccomplishments” Let me give you a little bit of a background. As I’m soon to be unleashed from this education institution with a diploma that somehow says I’m qualified for a job, I’m searching for employment and combing through lots and
still exist? After a nearly 30 minute battle with a fax machine that involved the ancient devise emitting concerning and potentially abnormal noises, I finally had my resume faxed to the potential employer. Then I stared at the fax machine dumbfounded. First of all, how do these things work? One of my fellow Shieldsters asked if that same piece of paper was being sent to D.C., somehow flying through
airwaves. Secondly, how am I supposed to know they received my resume? There’s no handy Facebook notification that tells me when people have read the message. Call me a privileged millennial, (actually, please don’t), but shouldn’t employers who are supposed to be embracing technology to better attract consumers use that same technology to attract employees?
No, I don’t want to fax you my resume or print out pounds of paper and send it across the country. Email is so easy. I don’t see how more people aren’t taking advantage of it. Not only is it more environmentally friendly, it’s simply more convenient for everyone involved. So let’s give a final ode to the fax machine, which once served a purpose, before we switch to the 21st century.
USI needs more weekend events for students
Guest Commentaries
By BRENNA WU Staff writer
Signed opinions represent the views of the author and not the views of this newspaper.
USI has a ton of student activities around campus. Students can join clubs, participate in athletic intramural sports, or even join leadership programs to help further USI’s de-
Opinions expressed in unsigned editorials represent a consensus opinion of the editorial board
lots of job postings. I’ve been swimming in copies of my resumes, article clippings, cover letters, pictures of myself - anything a potential employer could look at to determine whether or not I’m worthy to work for their media outlet. Different newspapers require different materials sent to them in different ways. The other day I was asked to fax a resume. I repeat, fax a resume. What? Fax machines
What are fax machines?
velopment. Yet, I am starting to find that USI offers very few events on the weekend for students to participate in. Free films are held on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, but nothing really gets the students more involved.That being said,
The Shield is now hiring!
I believe this is one of the reasons why students feel the need to go home on the weekends. USI needs to start offering more than just movies on the weekend. USI could maybe look into having more activities in the PAC or RWFC once or twice
a month.Or maybe USI could do events with fraternities and sororities that involve more students. USI could even do a fair every so often to remind students of what is available to them on campus. These little ideas are just the beginning of hav-
- Visual Editor -Sports Editor
ing more weekend student activities. With more activities on the weekend, students will find more reasons to stay here and enjoy the campus and all it has to offer. Students definitely need more than just a film on Saturdays to keep them in town.
Print an application online at www.usishield.com or stop by the office in the lower level of UC East.
Page 7 - The Shield - December 5, 2013
Sports
Joergens legacy lives on through his tournament
Photo courtesy of Photo Services
Gavin Schumann goes up for a shot during Saturday’s game against IU Southeast.
By ZANE CLODFELTER Sports editor No. 11 Southern Indiana didn’t need any additional motivation after falling behind by 20 to IU Southeast in their final game of the Bill Joergens Memorial Classic on Saturday. After all, the game USI found itself in carries the name of one of the university’s biggest supporters. “Bill’s love for our university, his love for the athletic department- he’s the one that helps make this possible,” USI Head Coach Rodney Watson said. “We will always be in debt to him.” Joergens was an athlete back when USI, then called Indiana State University-Evansville, formed the athletic department and sanctioned teams. He played on the university’s first basketball team in the late 1960s and, eventually, chaired the USI Varsity Club. When Joergens died from complications involving cancer in April 2005, he left a major portion of his estate to the
basketball program. The estate funds the Classic and a scholarship fund to aid basketball players who have used up their eligibility. “Bill made a huge, generous contribution to the program that allows us to bring teams in,” Watson said. Since the Classic began in 2007, the Eagles have only lost once. The team that was in the Classic on Saturday, gave the Eagles (4-0) all that they could handle. The Grenadiers (5-3), a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) school, raced out to a 42-22 lead 15 minutes in, after Jake Simpson capped off a 9-0 IU Southeast run with a threepointer. USI was able to stay in the game, despite the hot shooting of IU Southeast early, thanks in large part to senior forward Aaron Nelson and junior guard Gavin Schumann. In the opening stages, the Eagles pounded the ball inside to Nelson, who made the most of his scoring oppor-
tunities. “It’s not good for us to get down like that. We don’t like being down like that,” Nelson said. “Whatever it takes to get it done.” Nelson finished with a double-double, 28 points and 13 rounds, while shooting 11-17 from the floor in 31 minutes of play. “My teammates set me up in good positions to score and that is what we tried to do,” Nelson said. “We are big. We had a big size advantage.” As IU Southeast turned its main focus to the point, that freed up Schumann to help provide late game heroics in the final minutes of the game after the Eagles had trailed by 10 at the half, and by as many as eight points with four minutes left in the game. After Nelson converted two free throws to pull the Eagles to within five, at 82-87, Schumann scored including the final seven points and the eventual game winning three-point play with seconds left in the game. Schumann scored 16 of his team-high 25 points in the second
half. “We knew the middle drive was guard-able. We decided to kick the ball out to the wing and then bring it into the middle,” Watson said. “It wasn’t a greatexecuted ball screen, but the action went the right way and (Gavin) just made a tremendous basketball play.” Schumann said he followed the game plan established by his coach.
“Get the ball to Aaron or get to the rack. That was coach’s game plan,” Schumann said. While the Eagles cherished the comeback victory over IU Southeast, they appreciated the contributions from Joergens eight years ago even more. “We would love for him to be here,” Nelson said. “He’s a wonderful person, we love him.”
Results Friday:
BU 88 IUS 75 USI 94 King 72
Saturday:
BU 84 King 71 USI 89 IUS 87 (USI 13-1 all-time in the Joergens’ Classic)
Photo courtesy of USI Sports Information Department
1971 - 1972 team, Joergens is in the bottom row and second from the right.
Inside-look at Eagles’ volleyball star By MEREDITH HARRIS Staff writer At 6-foot-2, Abbey Winter uses her height to gain an advantage on the volleyball court, and family genetics play a big part in it. Winter is one of a line of tall people in her family. Her father stands at 6-foot4, her mom at 5-foot-11, and her brother measures in at 6-foot-4 as a sophomore in high school. “Every time I would dive for a ball, my teammates (would) make fun of me because I’m so tall,” the sophomore pre-social work major said. “It’s just so awkward.” Winter is ranked in the top five blockers in the nation and has Academic All-Great Lakes Valley Conference Honors. Winter is a hard worker,
which lead her to be one of the top five blockers in the nation, Head Coach Leah Mercer said. Her height is an advantage because it makes hitting and blocking easier, Winter said. “In high school, my friends used to call me ‘Tree,’” Winter said. “Everyone in high school used to call me that.” Although her USI teammates occasionally call
her ‘Tree,’ they usually call her “Winty” because of her last name, she said. Some people may be intimidated by her height. “I’m not really sure, but I hope so,” Winter said. Winter used to play basketball in high school. “Every time I’m out in public everyone always asks me if I play basketball,” Winter said. “And I say no, I play volleyball. I don’t understand why they always ask me that.” Winter quit basketball her junior year of high school to focus on volleyball. “That way I can concentrate on one sport and not have to worry about another one,” Winter said. As a volleyball player, she enjoys meeting new people, getting blocks, cheering with her team-
mates and watching her team succeed. “Well, I’ve been playing since the fifth grade. So ever since then, I have loved the sport,” Winter said. In addition to her love for the sport, Winter also loves her major. Her favorite class this semester is introduction to social work because she finds it interesting to learn about the different types of social workers and what they do. Winters believes the statistics in regards to how many children are abused and homeless are interesting and plans on making that her focus after she applies to the social work program this spring. When not focusing on her academics, Winter likes to spend time with
her teammates and watch scary movies and chick flicks or hang out at the library. “We hang out on the court, obviously,” Winter said. “And off the court we’re always together. They’re like a family to me.” It’s not just her fellow players that she considers to be like family, however. She likes the coaching style because they don’t get too mad and yell at the girls, but they tell her how to fix her mistakes. Mercer said sometimes she feels like a surrogate mother to the volleyball team. “(To) this group, especially,” Mercer said. “We’ve gotten so close this year.” Mercer has watched Winter grow in the past
year. “She’s become a lot more confident in herself, which is huge,” Mercer said. “She came in with the ability. She’s gotten physically stronger there over the past two years, just knowing that she can, knowing that she is one of the best at this level and believing in herself has done a lot for her.” Winter’s confidence has paid off. She was selected as the first USI volleyball player to earn All-Region honors since Danielle LaGrange in 2011. Winter leads the GLVC and ranks third nationally with 1.43 blocks per set. Her play this season has been key to the Eagles’ run at the NCAA II Midwest Region Tournament. The tournament begins Dec. 5 in Allendale, Mich.
The Shield - December 5, 2013
Page 8
QLauren &A with DeShaney By DENNIS MARSHALL Staff writer Lauren DeShaney, a two-time Academic All-GLVC recipient, not only finds success in the classroom but also on the volleyball court. The junior kinesiology major from Appleton, Wis., hopes for a deep run into the postseason. The Shield: How did the regular season go? Lauren DeShaney: We had an awesome season. We went 15-3 in conference and 24-8 overall, having 5 players receive GLVC All Conference Awards and Coach Mercer getting the Coach of the Year. The Shield: How did you become such a great volleyball player? LD: My dad taught me ever since I can remember, and he coached me through middle and high school. It takes practice and dedication to play a competitive sport for 12 years. The Shield: What is your favorite part about volleyball? LD: It’s hard to pick a favorite part… but my favorite part is getting kills at critical points during a game. The Shield: What is the best memory from this season?
beating Lewis on their home court during conference. We stopped their home winning streak and had control of the game the entire time. The Shield: Why did you choose it over other sports? LD: It was the first sport I played, and the only sport I looked forward to practicing. The Shield: What made you want to come to USI? LD: When I came on my visit, I really liked how new the campus was and how big the dorms were. And being from Wisconsin, Indiana was a lot warmer throughout the year. The Shield: What are your plans after college? LD: I’m applying to physical therapy graduate schools in Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota. The Shield: Did the team live up to your expectations this season? Why or why not? LD: Our team had high expectations from everyone because we had many experienced players returning. We didn’t make it as far in the conference tournament as we would have liked, but we have been very successful this year.
LD: The best memory from season was
Upcoming Events: Men’s Basketball Dec. 7 vs. Kentucky State (3:15 p.m. CDT)
Women’s Basketball Dec. 5 at Kentucky State (5 p.m. CDT) Dec. 7 vs. Bluefield State (1 p.m. CDT)
Sports Briefs Guy posts top-10 finish as Eagles place 11th at NCAA meet Southern Indiana sophomore Johnnie Guy finished with a ninth-place showing at the NCAA II National Championships. No. 7 USI settled for an 11th-place finish out of 32 teams on the field. Guy, who becomes the Eagles’ 18th cross country All-American with the performance, finished the 10-K race in 30:36.3 as he posted the school’s first top-10 individual finish since Ben Kapsoiya finished third in 1998. The All-American honor is the third for Guy, who won a pair of All-American awards at the 2013 NCAA II Outdoor Track & Field Championships last spring as a freshman. USI had a tough loss when junior Tyler Pence fell. He was unable to complete the race, despite being in the top 20 with 400 meters to go. Pence completed the first 5k in 15:09.80, good enough for 21st-place at the halfway mark. Johnnie’s twin brother, Josh, was USI’s second finisher as he finished in 51st place with a 10k time of 31:30.10. Freshman Noah Lutz was 94th, while junior Eric Scheiber finished 111th. USI finished with 323 points, 11 away from a top-10 finish and 136 away from fifth-place Chico State. Junior Trent Nolan and sophomore Cody Stone were 122nd and 158th, respectively, to round out the Eagles’ participants. Adams State University won the team title with 54 points, while Midwest Region foes Grand Valley State University and Ferris State University finished second and 10th, respectively. Adams State junior Tabor Stevens won the individual title with a time of 29:50.10. USI, which won its ninth straight Great Lakes Valley Conference title last month, begins the indoor track & field season Dec. 7 when it competes at the UIndy Invitational in Indianapolis, Ind.
Eagles take on Ashland in NCAA Tourney opener The Southern Indiana volleyball team will take on Ashland University in the opening round of the NCAA II Midwest Region Tournament at 4 p.m. CST Thursday in Allendale, Mich. USI (24-8) enters this week’s eight-team regional as the No. 5 seed and is making its third trip to the NCAA II Tournament in the last three years - its fifth overall. The Eagles last qualified for the national tournament in 2011, after making it for the first time in 2002. If USI wins its opener against Ashland, the Eagles will play the winner of the Grand Valley State University-Truman State University match in the semifinals at 6:30 p.m. Friday. The championship match is slated for at 6 p.m. Saturday.
Watson goes for 100th win on Saturday No. 11 Southern Indiana, is hosting a former Great Lakes Valley Conference foe, Kentucky State University, Saturday at the Physical Activities Center. Tip off is scheduled for 1 p.m. The Eagles will be hosting KSU for just the second time since they left the GLVC in1995-96 for the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. USI is 16-3 all-time against KSU, and had a 15-3 record against KSU during GLVC action between the 1989-90 and the 1994-95 seasons. In addition to looking for a victory, the Eagles also are hoping to get Rodney Watson his 100th win as a head coach. Watson, who is averaging nearly 24 victories per year, is fourth all-time at USI in victories with 99.