THE
SHIELD ‘A REMARKABLE MOMENT ’
T h u r s d a y, S e p t e m b e r 1 5 , 2 0 1 6 | U s i s h i e l d . c o m | v o l . 4 7 i s s u e 5
Little info available regarding August robbery by sarah loesch editor@usishield.com @seloesch
Photo by jordan auker | The Shield
President Linda Bennett and USI alumni Cody Morris pass the torch at the Indiana Bicentennial Torch Relay.
Torch Relay includes university president, alumni by taylor o’neil hall tohall@eagles.usi.edu
The Indiana Bicentennial Torch Relay made its way through Evansville Saturday with 24 torch bearers from Vanderburgh County, all with differing ages and backgrounds. One of the torch bearers was the university president Linda Bennett. Another was Cody Morris, a university alum. “It was such an honor to be nominated,” Morris said. “It felt surreal. I was among community leaders that I’ve looked up to
for a while now.” He was the third person to handle the torch in the relay. “I even got to hand the torch off to Dr. Linda Bennett,” Morris said. “It was a remarkable moment (passing the torch to Bennett) in feeling that I was part of something big,” Morris said. “It was also very relieving given the fact that the torch itself was fairly heavy.” The event was part of Indiana celebrating its 200th year of statehood. To help do that, the torch relay is going through all 92 counties in Indiana. The relay began in the
‘I’m thankful for it everyday’ New men’s golf coach teaches new technique, team bonding by megan thorne opinion@usishield.com @MeganRThorne
Daniel Wyatt said he has always had a passion for instructing golf. “I never thought I would be a golf coach in my life for a university but t h e path l e d me in that direction,” Wyatt Wyatt said. “I’m thankful for it everyday.” Wyatt is the new head coach for the men’s golf team for the 2016-17 season. Wyatt said he was originally a golf teaching professional, when he was offered the coaching opportunity. “It’s awesome,” Wyatt said. “It’s something I was really looking forward to doing and I’m glad (the players) have allowed me to become a part of the team.” He said he has three upperclassmen that have been “tremendous leaders” and have been really receptive to the change. Wyatt said he really
wants to help the team with mental mindset when it comes to playing. “Our leaders are doing everything they can to help the team week after week,” Wyatt said. “We’ve worked on mental mindset and how to be able to control your nerves while on the golf course.” Grant Saylor, a sports management senior, said he has known Wyatt for the last five years, when Wyatt became his swing instructor at the Golf Academy. “He’s really great,” Saylor said. “He knows when to be social and when to take things seriously and he knows what we are doing to help us.” Saylor said he never felt that in previous years the team was able to bond due to strict practices. “With Wyatt we are becoming a lot stronger,” Saylor said “We are becoming a strong team overall.” Saylor said Wyatt is always involved when it comes to something they need to work on. “Everything he does to help, helps our team move up on the leadership and individually,” he said. Since Saylor has known Wyatt for five years, he said he feels like a friend is helping him instead of a coach to player divide.
wyatt, PAGE 7
state’s original capital, Corydon, and will make its way to Indianapolis. The torch ended its journey through Evansville at Old National Bank on Riverside Dr. with a closing ceremony. The ceremony included a performance from the Helfrich Park Stem Academy band and local singer Gina Moore who sang “Back Home Again in Indiana.” Mayor Lloyd Winnecke ended the ceremony by proclaiming Sept. 10 as Indiana Bicentennial Day and extinguishing the flame from the torch.
The university issued a Rave Alert Friday afternoon notifying the campus of an attempted robbery that occurred in late August. The alert told students that Public Safety had been notified Friday and that there was no immediate threat. The Shield reached out to Steve Woodall, director of USI Public Safety, and received no comment. Ben Luttrull, media relations specialist for University Communications, reached out to the Shield and said the investigation was being handled through the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Department and all questions should be directed to them. The Shield contacted Sheriff Dave Wedding about the attempted robbery, but without more information Wedding said he could not identify the incident in question. He said he could be reached again if more information was available. In a longer notification, titled Safety alert--attempted robbery, it said that the incident occurred along a walkway on the northeast side of campus and that the sheriff’s department had taken the description of two suspects. The alert said it seemed to be an isolated incident, but students are encouraged to travel in groups. That information was sent to Wedding who said he would look into it.
Study abroad completes fifth year by sarah loesch editor@usishield.com @seloesch
Daria Sevastianova is a big proponent of international education. The associate professor of economics has now been taking business students to Osnabrück, Germany for five year as part of The International Summer University collaboration. Sevastianova said when the program first started she couldn’t say if she saw five year into the future because it depends heavily upon the interest students have each year. “I like to think of it as a self-sustaining study abroad program,” she said. In the beginning the interest relied heavily on promotion Sevastianova would have in class, but now word of mouth is helping the program continue. The students who do join the program spend 3 ½ weeks studying at the University of Applied Sciences of Osnabrück, Germany - Hochschule Osnabrück as well as learning about different cultures. “First and foremost it’s an academic partnership,” Sevastianova said. “(Students) earn five credits, three of the five Photo courtesy of daria Sevastianova come from a business course of their choosing Students studying abroad in Germany take a weekend trip to visit Paris and the Eiffel Tower. Student’s weekends are and the remaining two are reserved for culture trips and most of their days are filled with academic classes.
study abroad, PAGE 4
The shield | September 15, 2016 | Usishield.com
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Outreach and Engagement offers SGA approves $3750 in grants students five new classes by nick leighty ndleighty@eagles.usi.edu
The Department of Outreach and Engagement is offering five new non-credit courses this semester. The classes being offered are Certificate in Business Writing, Certificate in Professional Business Skills, Certificate in Professional Presentation and Communication Skills, Microsoft Excel 2013 Certification Prep Level 1 and Roger CPA Review Program. Program Coordinator, Continuing & Professional Education Bill Groves said the department is always looking for classes that can teach students and community members valuable skills employers are looking for. Groves said the Excel classes being offered will prepare students to take a certification exam that will be an immense benefit. “If a student can pass that certification exam, it is a tremendous resume builder and will set them apart from other students,” Groves said. Employers are also looking for leadership, communication, teamwork, critical thinking and decision making skills in addition to Excel certification and these classes are a direct response to help students gain these skills. Ashley Watson, Marketing Coordinator for Outreach and Engagement said USI is also here to serve those who have graduated and found they need skills to build their resume, and
make sure the university can offer classes that are needed. “The overall mission for us is to make sure that we’re really building up our workforce in this area and I think we’ll find that many of our programs work toward that common goal,” Watson said. The university has always had a ten percent discount for students and
alumni registering for noncredit courses, but are now offering scholarship opportunities for five courses. Microsoft Excel Level 1, 2, 3, Microsoft Excel 2013 Certification Prep Level 1 and Certificate in Professional Business Skills are offered with the scholarship. “It’s part of that initiative that we’re providing that experiential learning
environment,” Watson said. “That we provide these opportunities for students and they can supplement their degree with these opportunities.” Students and community members can call in at 812-464-1989 or visit usi.edu/lifelonglearning to register. For more information, contact Bill Groves at whgroves@usi.edu or 812465-1117.
non-credit courses still available certificate in professional business skills
begins sept. 21
During the eight sessions we will cover communication skills, customer service, the professional image, conflict resolution, dealing with difficult situations, problem solving, teamwork and leadership. certificate in professional presentation and communication skills
begins oct. 27
Enhancing your communication skills can help every aspect of your life including personal relationships, professional confidence and social interpersonal skills. microsoft excel 2013 certification prep level I
begins Dec. 1
This software skills course is designed to prepare the participant to sit for the Microsoft Excel 2013 Specialist exam (77-420 Specialist). roger cpa review program
can enroll at anytime
Roger CPA Review is the acclaimed premier CPA Exam preparation program. USI students, alumni and community partners receive almost a $500 discount. This program is online only. Course descriptions provided by an University Communication press release
by riley guerzini rguerzini@eagles.usi.edu
The Student Government Association agreed to four of five grants totaling $3,750 in funds at last Thursday’s meeting. The USI honors program, Geology and Physics department, Student Alumni Association (SAA), Engineering Department and fraternity Phi-Delta-Theta all applied for grants requesting an overall amount of $11,550. All organizations received their requested grants at a significantly lower asking price except for PhiDelta-Theta, which did not receive any grant money. That decision was based on a SGA provision which state, “In most circumstances, these funds are meant to support events and activities that are available to students with no admission charge. These funds are not intended to support fundraising activities.” The fraternity was seeking a reimbursement for money spent on its 5K walk/ run to support Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) research. “The grant is to reimburse us for what we had to pay for with tithing and insurance and everything you should have with an event like that,” event coordinatr Zachary Floyd said. The admission provision, however, is unavoidable. “The typical stance that I’ve taken on these is this is student money, so your essentially making students be sponsors of that charity and if a student had a choice of what they would want their
money to go to, they might choose something else for their own personal initiatives,” financial officer Aaron McCullough said. The funding of the grant, comes from various fees including the student activity fee. Individuals or student organizations can apply for three types of grants through SGA, which are travel, student organization support (SOS) and start-up. Three organizations (USI honors, Geology and Physics, and Engineering) applied for a travel grant, while two (SAA and PhiDelta-Theta) applied for the SOS grant. The grant application is one of seven that students or organizations can submit over the course of the year. Each application deadline is the last day of every month through March, skipping December. Throughout the year, SGA is permitted to give nearly $43,500 for all three grants. In years past, the grant money has been broken down as $30,000 for travel, $12,000 for SOS, and $1,500 for start-ups. However, Mcollough said those numbers are not confirmed. “We are currently working on another grant, so the finalized numbers on those aren’t official yet because the new grant would pull from the other two grants,” he said. Students or organizations wishing to apply for a grant can go to the SGA office in the Student Involvement Center or print an application off from the SGA website.
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briefs
USI Security Incident Log 9/6/16 - 9/12/16 Property Damage - Other Parking Lot J 9/6/16 8:39 a.m.
Illness Report Jackson Bldg - 817B Jarrett Ln. 9/8/16 11:18 p.m.
Injury Report Physical Activities Center 9/6/16 4:31 p.m.
Illness Report 111 OʼBannon Hall 9/9/16 12:12 a.m.
Fire - Faulty Alarm Hendricks Bldg 9/7/16 1:01 p.m.
Fire - Alarm - Cooking Durbin Bldg - 908B McDonald Ln. 9/9/16 10:14 a.m.
Lost Property Report Non Campus - Private Property 9/7/16 6:08 p.m
Fire - Alarm - Cooking Branigan Bldg - 7952B OʼDaniel Ln. 9/9/16 2:03 p.m.
Illness Report Rice Library 9/12/16 2:07 p.m.
Traffic Accident Parking Lot A 9/9/16 3:41 p.m.
Illness Report Arts Center 9/12/16 2:50 p.m.
Fire - False Alarm (Construction or Other Means) 314 Governors Hall 9/8/16 8:27 a.m.
Fire - Alarm - Cooking Marshall Bldg - 928B Eckels Ln. 9/10/16 12:28 a.m.
Alcohol Offenses - Underage Possession Branch Bldg - 812B McDonald Ln. 9/12/16 8:52 p.m.
Fire - Odor Investigation 314 Governors Hall 9/8/16 8:27 a.m.
Fire - False Alarm (Pulled) Marshall Bldg 9/10/16 3:46 a.m.
Fire - Alarm - Cooking 115 OʼBannon Hall 9/8/16 10:22 a.m.
Illness Report Newman Hall 9/10/16 11:12 a.m.
Traffic Accident Parking Lot D 9/8/16 12:01 p.m.
Injury Report Parking Lot C 9/10/16 3:13 p.m.
Fire - Faulty Alarm Wright Bldg - 8116B OʼDaniel Ln. 9/8/16 8:00 p.m.
Alcohol Offenses - Underage Possession Marshall Bldg - 928B Eckels Ln. 9/11/16 9:51 p.m.
Fire - Faulty Alarm 311 Governors Hall 9/7/16 6:47 p.m.
Fire - False Alarm (Construction or Other Means) Marshall Bldg - 928B Eckels Ln. 9/11/16 9:51 p.m. Violation of University Policy Marshall Bldg - 928B Eckels Ln. 9/11/16 9:51 p.m. Traffic Accident - Hit & Run Parking Lot F 9/12/16 11:18 a.m.
Drug Offenses - Manufacture/ Possession of Paraphernalia Branch Bldg - 812B McDonald Ln. 9/12/16 8:52 p.m. Drug Offenses - Possession Branch Bldg - 812B McDonald Ln. 9/12/16 8:52 p.m. Suspicious Persons Parking Lot F 9/12/16 10:24 p.m.
Information gathered from USIʼs Public Crime Log, provided by USI Safety and Security.
Wellness Fair takes place Sept. 28 The annual Wellness Fair is open for students and employees who have a valid Eagle Access card. The fair will show different resources from over 50 vendors that the campus offers to people in terms of their overall health and wellness. There will be a ‘passport’ that can be taken around the fair to the individual tables and booths. At the end of the fair it an be entered into the Grand Prize Drawing. There will be free giveaways, a variety of screening and food. The event will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 28 in Carter Hall. For more information visit usi.edu/wellnessfair.
Student Veteran Association hosts first meeting The Student Veteran Association will meet at 2:30
p.m. Oct. 4th in the Education Center Room 0114A for its kickoff meeting. Veterans, veteran’s spouse, ROTC members or anyone with an interest in veterans affairs is welcome to join. The meeting will provide free food as members begin a strategic plan for the 2016-17 school year. For information about the organization visit studentveterans.org.
Rhythm Fest planned for Friday The Multicultural Center will be hosting a Rhythm Fest from 9 p.m. to midnight Friday in the Recreation, Fitness and Welness Center. Music will include a variety from reggae, hip-hop/ R&B, country and soul. The event will also be providing free food throughout the evening. Performers include Austin Peckham, DJ Demetrius, DJ Love and Zion. This is one of the new events the MCC is introducing this year. For more information
visit the usi.edu/multiculturalcenter or stop by their office in University Center East.
Zombie 5K to take place Oct. 22
The Brain Drain Zombie 5k wich is hosted by the Pott College of Science, Engineering and Engineerint Advisory board will start at 10 a.m. Oct. 22 at the Grimes Huas. The check in will begin at 8:30 a.m. The fee for the race is $25 per person and should be registered by Oct. 15. If there is a group of five or more the rate lowers to $20 per person. There will be also be a Brain Drain Zombie Blood Bash Expo where vendors from around the commnity will attend. The expo will end at 1 p.m. Late registration is available and more information can be found online at usi. edu/running/zombie-run. Questions can be directed toward Glenna Bower at gbower@usi.edu or by calling 812-464-1709.
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Features
The shield | september 15, 2016 | Usishield.com
‘Paying tribute’ Local authorities remember 9/11
‘Never a happy situation’
Photo by jordan auker | The Shield
Senior English major Henry Kathman (right) talks to his friend, junior psychology and English major Katie Biggs, while she honors her friend at the candlelight vigil Wednesday night.
TWLOHA holds annual suicide prevention vigil by Darrian breedlove dkbreedlov@eagles.usi.edu Photo by philip kuhns | The Shield
Memeber of local firestations, the Sheriff’s Department and the police department gather September 11 on the overpass above the Lloyd Expressway to remember the men and women who died during 9/11. The Perry Township Volunteer Fire Department started flying the flag 15 years ago. “It’s a good location,” fire chief Jerry Bulger said. “It’s a good place to be. It’s a lot of visibility.”
study abroad continued from Page 1 remaining two are from an intercultural seminar where they learn about Europe, Germany in Europe and some basic german conversation skills.” She said the academic element of the trip almost entirely consumes the weekdays. The students will also have scheduled work site visits where they learn about companies in German. Trips have included Volkswagen, the Environmental Protection Agency as well as copper plants and a paper manufacturing company. They also enjoy cooking and sporting activities throughout the week, but the weekends are when the cultural trips take place. The scheduled trips are to Berlin, Paris and Amsterdam, but Sevastianova said the attendees find their way to other nearby cities as well. There are some scholarships available for students, but Sevastianova said students interested figure out the financial part. “I think everyone knows it’s an investment in their future employability and their personal and professional growth,” she said. “It’s money well spent.” Sevastianova said the program is also a standout in terms of safety. “With the way the world is today it’s good to know its a very real, very safe
Photo courtesy of daria Sevastianova
The latest study abroad group travels to a paper company while in Germany. The groups often visit businesses around the area to learn more about international business.
study abroad program,” she said. Sevastianova said she views all of the students from the trips as her “USI family.” “It’s a really good opportunity just to watch their potential unfold,” she said. “They just really come out of their shells and really step up and do great.” Morgan Thewes, who graduated from the university in April with a marketing degree, said she definitely stepped out of her comfort zone when she at-
tended the trip. She was able to study with students from all over the world since the International Summer University invites more than just American students to study abroad. “They open up your eyes to looking at things you wouldn’t normally,” she said. Thewes said as soon as she was back home she wanted to go back and she worked with students here to tell them about the benefits of the program.
“It’s inspiring and and I had a wonderful time,” she said. “It helped me open up.” She said it was a great opportunity for networking and she still is in touch with all the students she studied with. She also keeps in touch with her professor who Thewes said she misses so much. “(My professor) made me want to go into the business world and work my butt off and be a professor at a university one day.”
Six students from Katie Biggs high school died of suicide. Biggs struggled to figure out how to live her life without those she had lost. She eventually found the To Write Love On Her Arms’ organization, which helped her learn to live with the deaths of her high school classmates. To Write Love on Her Arms is a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, selfinjury and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery. In the United States, suicide is the eleventh cause of death and the third leading cause of death among those between the ages of 15 and 24. Last Wednesday, the campus TWLOHA organization hosted its annual National Suicide Prevention Day Candlelight Vigil. The vigil is held to remember those who died due to suicide and those who struggle with it still. “When you lose somebody to suicide, that’s never a happy situation,” the vice president of To Write Love on Her Arms’ youth council said. “It’s tragic, it’s sad and it doesn’t eradicate the pain. It only spreads the pain to everybody else. People have to now reformulate their lives without that person in it.” The students hosting the vigil set out paper bags that anyone could take and
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write names or prayers in memorial to those who have been lost. Then as the light slowly disappeared from the sky, glow sticks were taken and dropped into the bags, which were lined upon the sidewalk so those who walked by could read the names and messages. TWLOHA does not limit its members to only those who have personally experienced the effects of suicide. The group is open to anyone who wishes to help or get involved. The councils president, Susan Hill learned aboutt TWLOHA from a friend who said it was supportive place. “I didn’t really know anyone, and so I went to a meeting and I noticed that everyone was already best friends with one another and I thought of how great that seemed,” she said. “...It’s really great and it’s changed who I am.” She said before joining the group she was shy and now she has found a group of supportive people. “I think that this event and more specifically, To Write Love On Her Arms, as a whole, helps people understand how they can reformulate their life without a certain person in it,” Biggs said. “It helps people learn to survive when faced with something so terrible.” To get involved on campus students can attend the meetings the youth council has Sunday evenings. Or to learn more information about the To Write Love On Her Arms organization and what they do, visit the TWLOHA website.
NEw content online daily
The shield | September 15, 2016 | Usishield.com
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REVIEW
The Night Of: More than a Miniseries
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One week a month The Shield will focus on reviewing a variety of mediums within entertainment.
‘Sully’ dreams high, splashes down In theaters now One wouldn’t expect a movie about a plane making an emergency landing in which nobody was seriously injured to make for a thrilling drama. Yet “Sully” tells the story of the worst 209 seconds in Chelsey “Sully” Sullenberger’s (Tom Hanks) 40 years of piloting in a way the viewer is kept on the edge of their seat. Once again Tom Hanks absolutely sinks into a role and delivers an impressive performance. His interpretation of Sullenberger as a quiet, attentive person serves as a perfect lead for this movie about the best of humanity. Director Clint Eastwood not only pulls off a tense plane crash scene in which the ending is already known, he has the gall to do it twice in the same movie. Despite the paragraphs to follow, it must be noted that Eastwood’s 70+ years of experience behind and
in front of the camera show in “Sully” with masterful framework, editing and direction. It would be easy to say “Sully” is a film about the price of being a hero. The movie is more about the weeks after Flight 1549 and how Sullenberger’s life changes. Yet some common Clint Eastwood-isms bubble up to the surface and can taint the experience if one isn’t ready. The main character is a
paper-thin embodiment of the American Dream, the National Transportation and Safety Board is presented as the film’s villain for questioning the decisions of a “hero”, and there are a couple of reporters so sleazy Buzzfeed would think twice about hiring them. All things considered, the film is definitely worth your time. It’s doubly worth your time with the relatively mediocre swath of films 2016 has had to offer. Too bad it’s a box office failure. Instead of releasing “Sully” at a time of year when it would have no competition and possibly make a profit, Warner Brothers made the boneheaded decision to release “Sully” the Friday before 9/11. Yes, the day of remembrance when Americans are known to flock to theaters and watch movies
involving New York and planes, including several nightmares and hallucinations in which Flight 1549 actually slams into buildings and explodes. After accounting for opening weekend gross and overseas numbers, “Sully” still has to make another ten million dollars before it can theoretically break even on the original budget. It seems we’ve officially entered that wonderful time of year when studios throw prestige movies out on any empty weekend so said films can be submitted to the Academy as soon as possible. It’s a sad existence when quality filmmakers have to differentiate between movies that will sell well (like Hanks’ upcoming “Da Vinci Code” sequel “Inferno” for all the popcornmunchers) and movies that are actually well crafted.
On HBO now As much as the justice system gets brought into discussion over and over again, HBO’s “The Night Of” is as much of a social commentary as it is entertainment. The story focuses on Nasir ‘Naz’ Khan (Riz Ahmed) as he awaits his trial, and how his life is changed once he enters a correctional facility for an extended period of time. “The Night Of” depicts many things, including how the saying “the slow wheels of justice” is in some cases a reality. The show covers a period of many months starting with the night of Naz’s incarceration, and ending with his trial. The show doesn’t just gloss over prison life, attorney fees and criminal investigations; it provides talking points for each one of those subjects and it goes over them with a detailed analysis. The shows’ premise is unique, yet it has been done before. One half focuses on what Naz must do to stay alive in prison and how his family is grieving over him being locked up. Whereas the other half of the show shows what his lawyers John Stone (John Turturro) and Chandra Kapoor (Amara Karan) must do to ensure that he gets out of prison. Without having watched the show, those aspects seem like the norm for any crime show; however it’s the way in which they are done that sets them apart. From the introduction all the way until the conclusion, the show builds a wall
around the ending, a wall that the viewer won’t know what’s behind until that moment comes and the show reveals it. The plotline is methodical in its delivery, and it has to be, considering there’s only eight episodes comprising the whole show. That’s why every episode has to be as jam packed as possible to accomplish everything that it wants to get done. The show is thought provoking; it isn’t some cheap crime show where the villain’s scheme is foiled, and the victims get justice, and the hero’s win, all within a single episode. “The Night Of” doesn’t tell the audience what to think, it shows them everything they need to know without holding their hands. That said, there is a disclaimer with this show. Like most HBO shows, it contains mature themes. The show is very dark, and anyone that isn’t prepared for that might want to think about avoiding it all together.
Rating 5/5
Rating 4/5
BY taylor o’neil hall
BY Gavin gaddis
Mischling offers memorable characters, lacks satisifying ending
After turning the last page of “Mischling” by Affinity Konar, I sat on my bed and stared at my wall, oddly unsettled. When considering the book’s premise---12-yearold twins Pearl and Stasha find themselves captive at the hands of Josef Mengele, Nazi physician known as the “Angel of Death”--“unsettled” is to be expected. However, the weird feeling I had after reading this novel in one sitting was not because of the atrocities in the depiction of Mengele’s Zoo---though this novel is not lacking in that aspect, and there’s no pleasure in reading of characters being crippled, blinded and deafened. I felt unsettled because “Mischling” had a pretty happy ending. It’s an unusual book in that there was so much life
Available on Amazon
found in such a dark setting. While Mengele prods and injects his subjects with evil, author Konar draws beauty out of his characters with artful wordplay. These glimmers of light in the darkness were bold undertakings executed well. The scenes set in my mind were simply gorgeous, as much as they could be.
I’m not saying that a book about the tragedies of the Holocaust cannot be both infused with hope and conclude with reunions and joyful tears. Modern articles detailing survivors finding lost loved ones aren’t hard to find. However, after the majority of the text, it felt jolted and unnatural. All through the book, I was rooting for Pearl and Stasha to maintain the special bond they had as twins. The book opens with Stasha’s narration connecting her profoundly to her sister, and Pearl’s narration of the next chapter further solidifies that foundation. In all of their hardships, one sister is trying to defend the other---either from physical harm in the camp or from the pain of knowing the truth. When one of them is hurt after Mengele’s experimentation, the reader
rarely learns about it from the injured herself, rather, it is the other sister’s observation or second sense. I wanted so badly for them to escape together and somehow live out their days, keeping their love strong no matter how hard the Angel of Death tried to push them apart. However, as I do with much literature set during the Holocaust, I felt I couldn’t realistically expect them to get a deserved happy ending. Everything during the first half of the book led me to believe the ending wouldn’t see both twins alive. During a poignant scene during that first half, Pearl utters the words “I love you” to Peter, a doctor’s messenger. Peter responds, “You’re just saying that to me because you think you won’t have a chance to say it truth-
fully someday, aren’t you?” When Pearl says yes, he utters it back, and it felt like an attempt at closure to an eventual tragic ending. The second half of the book follows the twins outside of the camp, separated, but alive. Pearl struggles with memory, and Stasha seeks vengeance against the doctor whose sadistic practices tore her life apart. In the second to last chapter, the twins are reunited. It’s what I had been rooting for the entire first half---they made it out, and they’re together. But I didn’t feel as happy as I thought I’d be. I felt more attachment to the characters when they were suffering than when they were together with the ending I wanted. I tried to distinguish what made me unhappy with this conclusion: perhaps it had been so long since I had
read a scene where Pearl and Stasha were together with their thriving bond despite a bleak background. Maybe it’s the lack of Konar’s more creative wordplay in the final chapter compared to the rest of the book. Or maybe it’s simply that none of the book before it played out in a way that made their reunion natural. I would recommend this book simply because of the beauty of Konar’s language. It creates a heartbeat within the otherwise dead setting of Mengele’s Zoo. I would argue his imagery and interesting metaphors heightened the novel from a simple story to a complex character study. The characters will stick with me for quite a while. The ending, not so much.
Rating 3/5 BY Gabi wy
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Opinion
The shield | September 15, 2016 | Usishield.com
‘The whitest ‘Don’t wait for calamity’ black guy’ Student discusses 9/11 experience by BRANDON COLE bscole@eagles.usi.edu
When the planes slammed into the Twin Towers 15 years ago, the country was at a standstill. Why does it take tragedy for us to come together as people, believe in God or even realize just how precious life is? I was a student-athlete at Cumberland College in Eastern Kentucky that day. Wrestling was my life. After getting dressed, I made my way downstairs from my dorm-room. People were huddled around the common-area television. I made my way over to investigate. An announcement was just made. No extra-curricular meetings will take place today. At first, I thought I had caught a break. I would have a day without wrestling practice and no responsibilities. As I made my way up to the crowd of people, my stomach dropped. There was a large building on fire. My school bag dropped to
the floor, as they replayed an airplane striking one of the twin towers. Then another plane smashed into the other tower. We we’re under attack. This was difficult for an 18-year old kid to process. I was six hours away from home, without a cell phone. The Pentagon was hit next. United 93 was headed to Washington. There were rumors, that plane was headed to the White House. Because of the brave people on that flight, they did not allow the hijackers to complete their mission. My roommate and several others were looking for answers. They showed me obscure predictions made by Nostradamus. Our resident advisor was in his mid 30’s. He was in the National Guard and everyone knew that he read his Bible often, but he was not often the center of attention. The RA saw the panic in our eyes. My roommate showed the RA what people were predicting. Obscure writings from Nos-
tradamus were circulating the internet. They could have been interpreted as what just happened. Things like World War III or the end of the world were being discussed. I will never forget the eyes of our RA. They were calm and he had his Bible close. He looked into a scared group of kids. He said that we should not look for answers in vague predictions. The Bible says there are certain signs that will come to pass before the end of the world. He told us that this was most likely not the end of the world, but we should always be ready for Christ’s return. The RA said that he would pray with us. We held hands. Not all of us knew each other, but it didn’t matter. We were brought together by this tragedy and we turned to God for protection and comfort. The world was in disarray, but there was a certain calming that took place in that moment. Today, people are sitting during the national anthem
at sporting events to protest the treatment of minorities in the country. Some people do not feel like the American anthem pertains and includes all. On Sept. 11, a whole team talked about not standing during the anthem. There are ways to protest that do not disrespect our flag, servicemen, country and unity. This act hurts my heart. There is definite division in this country. I’m reminded of an Abraham Lincoln quote. “America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.” Forget the hate and division. We are all Americans. Don’t take the bait. Stand for our country. Don’t wait for calamity to reach out to God. He’s there all hours of the day and night. Let’s all pray for unity in this country. Let’s stand for the national anthem and come together once again.
by osman bien aime orbienaime@eagles.usi.edu
Imagine a black kid, putting books into his locker, minding his own business when suddenly, another kid shouts, “Act your color.” This was nothing new to “the whitest black guy.” He had trouble fitting in as a teen. Deemed “too white” for most of the black kids because of how he spoke, and “too black” for most of the white kids because of how he looked. No matter who it was, it seemed universally agreed upon: “He’s ‘the whitest black guy.’” This label hovered overhead for years. He could never really be himself, that role was secondary to “the black kid who talks white.” Sometimes, he was seen as some hilarious oddity or an object of curiosity. “You’re so ‘proper’ and ‘normal’ for a black guy.” Other times, he was derided as someone who’d adopted their diction, and mannerisms as some sort of self-hating pushback. “The whitest black guy” was once called a “disgrace to black people” on the busride home from school. Our culture has these preconceptions of what a per-
son should be, based on how they look. We judge and categorize people of different races and ethnicities using the stereotypes we’ve constructed of them, because of how easy it is.. However, it completely disregards one’s individuality, employing a “label first, learn later” approach that’s best left in the previous century. It’s a foolishly shortsighted way of using what little we understand about one another to explain everything we don’t. When it fails and we’re too stubborn to adapt our understanding, too often do we resort to the type of labeling that created “the whitest black guy.” Race as a concept will never change, but that doesn’t mean our attitudes can’t. We can become a more inclusive, less judgemental society. We can grow out of our reliance on stereotypes and profiling. We can acknowledge that yes, we are all different, while refusing to let that affect the way we treat each other. If we can achieve that someday, then the years I spent as “the whitest black guy” will have been worth it.
Listen to yourself, THE Who needs SHIELD bullets when not the lyrics you have words Editorial Board
by Sarah rogers
sgrogers@eagle.usi.edu
by megan thorne opinion@usishield.com @MeganRThorne
When I was 11-years-old I was proud of my Jewish heritage. I thought it made me unique. When I was 12-years-old I became a victim of bullying and discrimination. My family and I just moved to a small town in North Carolina about four months beforehand. Everything was going great until we had to talk about our heritage. I stood up in front of my class and as soon as I started talking about my Jewish family, the class fell silent. I could feel their eyes burning into me, as if it was my fault I was different. That day, the bullying started. The town itself was very small, only 2,578 people lived there and everyone was white, southern Baptist and hated anyone outside of that type. Suddenly my friends turned against me, they would tell me that I needed to go to their church otherwise I was going to hell. But that was only the beginning. Everyday I would come to the lunch table and they would look at me and stare. Followed by comments that still haunt me today. “I wish Hitler killed your family.” “How come your family is the one that survived the Holocaust?” “You’re going to hell.”
“Wouldn’t it be interesting if the Holocaust happened again?” And then one day at lunch a comment that I never thought I would hear in my life left someone’s mouth. “Why don’t you play the hanging game?” Tears welled up in my eyes and I couldn’t speak. I asked myself how something so cruel and sadistic could leave a 13-year-old’s mouth. That day I wanted to play the hanging game. That day I wanted to end my life. The bullying continued as my depression was swallowing me. Every night I would lay down, their comments would swirl around my mind. I thought I had lost it all. But I survived. Suicide is not a joke or a game. It’s someone’s life. Almost nine years later thinking about this time makes me tear up and just because I’m older doesn’t mean the memories faded. Even today, people tell me discriminating comments about my culture or beliefs. And the words sting just as much as they did then. This week is world suicide prevention week. Please take into consideration what someone else may be going through, their past and their triggers. Sometimes people fight wars you know nothing about. Don’t be the final shot.
Periodically I come across songs I used to listen to in elementary and middle school. I sang the teenageangst-filled songs as if I knew what it was like to be in a relationship. Never having been in a relationship in those young years of my life, what I understood about relationships came from bands like Oasis, The Fray, Maroon 5 and Snow Patrol. These bands taught me relationships are complicated and impossible. They constantly sang about two people who wanted to get back together but for some unexplained, frustrating reason it just can’t happen. Racking my brain for a good song to listen to one night, I decided to bring back my favorite song from fourth grade. My sister had a CD player that she would turn on every night. We listened to the same mixed tape as we fell asleep in our bunk beds. It was then that I fell in
love with “Iris” by the Goo Goo Dolls. The depressing yet beautiful song told me early on all people are broken and incapable of handling their own issues and responsibilities. Songs like “Wonderwall” by Oasis reassured me that all I needed to do was find a boyfriend I could dump all my mental issues and insecurities on and he would gladly shoulder those along with saving me from myself. I hope you are mentally reading my tone of voice as good natured sarcasm. Because I am being completely sarcastic. According to WebMD, “Codependent relationships signify a degree of unhealthy clinginess, where one person doesn’t have self-sufficiency or autonomy.” As beautiful as the words “maybe you’re gonna be the one that saves me…” by Wonderwall might be, that type of relationship and mindset are extremely unhealthy. Shawn Burn, Ph.D., a Psychology professor at California Polytechnic State University, described
LETTER TO THE EDITOR POLICY 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.
illustration by philip kuhns | The Shield
a codependent relationship as one where both parties “depend on the other person for fulfillment.” Scott Wetzler, Ph.D., Psychology Division Chief at Albert Einstein College of Medicine developed a checklist of three signs of a codependent relationship. Are you unable to find satisfaction in your life outside of a specific person? Do you recognize unhealthy behaviors in your partner but stay with him or her in spite of them? Are you giving support to your partner at the cost of your own mental, emotional, and physical health? While no one can tell bands what lyrics they can and can’t sing, I think there is something to be said about the messages bands are giving young adults regarding relationships. Some unhealthy and abusive relationships can start from finding all joy and life in another person. When young adults feel their significant other is their only reason to live,relationships teeter on the abusive. Reason being they know their partner is not emotionally capable of leaving them. There is nothing wrong with being happy when you are in a relationship or wanting to be with your significant other all the time. The problem occurs when it goes from you WANTING to be with them all the time, to you being emotionally required to be with them all the time. Do not ever feel because of the music you listen to or the inability you might feel to walk away that being in an unhealthy relationship is normal. Do not ever feel like there is not a way out. Do not ever feel like codependency is not something you and your significant other can work out. Moral of the story: music is great but healthy relationships are greater.
Sarah Loesch Editor-in-Chief NOW HIRING News Editor Gabi Wy Features Editor
Megan Thorne Opinion Editor NOW HIRING Sports Editor NOW HIRING Chief Copy Editor Jessica Stallings Visual Editor
S ta f f NOW HIRING Special Publications Manager Brian Tenbarge Monica Smith Abigail Stanley Page Designers Philip Kuhns Illustrator NOW HIRING Chief Photographer Gavin Gaddis Community Engagement Manager
Sales & Marketing S ta f f Anthony Ross Sales & Marketing Director Olivia Meyer Business Manager NOW HIRING Marketing Manager Danielle VanHooser Layout & Design Coordinator Gavin Gaddis Circulation Manager Sam Anslinger Sales Consultant Burke Strong Sales Consultant Opinions expressed in unsigned editorials represent a consensus opinion of the editorial board
Sports
The shield | September 15, 2016 | Usishield.com
‘Come out on t p’
Program coordinator promotes benefits of intramurals By Sarah Loesch editor@usishield.com @seloesch
Photo by The Shield
The men’s rugby team huddles after a practice during their 2015 fall season. The team is setting their sights on a national championship this year.
Rugby sets sights on national championship by sarah loesch editor@usishield.com @seloesch
One of the first things Jordan Cravens did when he started at USI was join the rugby team. The senior knew someone from high school who was on the team and during a tabling under breezeway in the University Center he signed up. “Here I am five years later,” he said. Cravens, the president of the rugby club, said the sport was completely different than anything he had ever done. He wrestled and played baseball, but he never played football to have had previous experience with that type of contact sport. Cravens said the team atmosphere really helped draw him to the team. “It’s different than other sports,” he said. “It’s closer connected.” Cravens said he was never the best at making friends quickly in high school, but the entire rugby
wyatt
team was “extremely welcoming.” “I developed friendships here that I can honestly say I think I will have the rest of my life,” Cravens said. Junior Dave Lepp said he was drawn to the comradery on the team as well. “We have a pretty accepting group,” the vice president said. Lepp said rugby is probably the most fun wwwhe has had playing a sport. He said the easiest way to get involved is just come out and attend a practice. Cravens said one issue he has had to deal with so far is making sure that older players and new players
‘
are able to play cohesively. “As you can imagine it’s rough sport,” he said. “Tensions can get a little heated, sometimes it can be frustrating dealing with new players.” He said he will sit down with players and explain that everyone is transitioning right now and the best way to handle it is to help instead of criticize. So far it has been working well for the team, he said. The team’s focus will be on ending their season as national champions this year. Last year rugby made it to the National Small College Rugby Organization
(NSCRO) Final Four for the first time in the team’s history. It left the finals third in the nation and Cravens said this year the players expect to go back and win it all. The team is 2-0 this season having played Ball State University and Indiana University. Cravens said one issue the team has on the pitch is a tendency to “play down” to its competition. “It causes for a lot more stress and closer matches than we should have with lesser competition,” he said. “If we stay focused we should be able to come out on top.”
I developed friendships here that I can honestly say I think I will have the rest of my life. - Jordan Cravens Rugby club President
continued from Page 1
three years and it’s been interesting to see their personality differences. “Wyatt is a little bit more creative,” Tanriverdi said. “We switch up practice times and I like having the different
“He wants to become a friend and help,” Saylor said. “He wants to mature us as adults and in games too.” Kyle Tanriverdi, a finance junior, said he has been through three coaches in
options practicing, it’s nice as a player regardless of your sport to have that change.” Tanriverdi said he believes that golf is just as important mentally as it is physically, which he
said is his favorite part of Wyatt’s transition. “I think we have improved a lot,” he said. “Our new freshman are doing really well…and it can’t get much better than starting out
Scoreboard University of Missouri St. Louis
Sept. 9 2- 1
USI
Maryville University
Sept. 11 1-2
USI
with a victory and we should have good things to come in the spring…I think we will continue to improve and strive for better.”
Brandon Szachta started his first year with USI as the new program coordinator for intramural and club sports. He joined the staff June 1st and since then has been working with the Recreation, FitSzachta ness and Wellness Center to prepare for the intramural and club sport seasons. The Shield sat down with Szachta to talk about his transition into the position and any plans he has for the year. The Shield: What were you working as before you applied for the position in the RFWC? Szachta: I was a graduate assistant of recreation and student athletics at Lawrence Technological University. It’s a small school of about 4,000 students. I ran our intramural program and I was the game-day operation coordinator for all our athletic events. The Shield: Did you earn your undergraduate degree there as well? Szachta: I got my masters of business administration there. I worked for the university and they helped pay for my masters of business administration. I did my undergrad at Central Michigan University where I double majored in finance and sport management. The Shield: Are you from anywhere around either of those universities? Szachta: I’m from Clinton Township Michigan which is about 20 minutes north of Detroit. The Shield: Did you know what you wanted to do when you started to look for colleges? Szachta: No I really honestly didn’t know what I wanted to get into. I think
Grace Davis, a freshman on the women’s golf team broke the 36-hole tournament record at the Screaming Eagles Golf Classic this weekend. Davis won the tournament by one stroke and was tied for the lead with teammate Taylor How-
erton before her final round earned her the win.
Men’s golf places ninth
Despite playing a stronger second round the team was unable to gain any ground on the eighth place team Murray State.
Women’s soccer starts road trip
Oakland City University
Sept. 7 0-7
USI
University of Missouri St. Louis
Sept. 9 2 -0
USI
The men’s golf team placed ninth at the Murray State Univeristy Invitational. After the first round of the two-day tournament the team was ninth with a team total of 894.
Maryville University
Sept. 11 1 -3
USI
Upcoming Varsity Games
WOMen’s soccer
Women’s Tennis Kentucky Wesleyan College
Sept. 12 0-9
USI
Volleyball Trevecca Nazarene University
Sept. 13 3-0
USI
Men’s GOLF Sept. 12-13 Murray State Invitational 9th of 10 teams
woMen’s Golf Sept. 11-12 Screaming Eagles Golf Classic 2nd of 6 teams
it was probably around my sophomore year that I realized I wanted to work in sports. I played sports growing up, I’m a huge sports fan. I’m a Detroit sports nut, it’s actually probably more of an addiction. It’s probably not healthy.
I didn’t know what avenue I wanted to work in. A buddy asked me to apply to be an official. I never realized that campus recreation was something you could work in. The next year I applied to be an intramural supervisor. My boss there told me I should look as a career in campus recreation. The rest is kind of history.
The Shield: Did you play intramurals in college? Szachta: I was in a fraternity and we played every league. We were pretty competitive.
The Shield: Could you imagine a college career where you didn’t participate in intramural sports? Szachta: Probably not. What I love about intramurals is there are so many stressful situations in college, you have grades, exams, papers, boyfriend, girlfriend problems. The best part about intramurals is it’s kind of just an hour or a couple hours where you can have fun, be active. Have fun, that’s the biggest thing. That’s when you talk to students when they get there and they say ‘oh I have to go back and write a paper’ but they’re out there for an hour just having fun, relaxing and all that good stuff.
The Shield: Was there anything you had in mind you wanted to start when you first got here? Szachta: Probably not at the beginning. I knew it was a well-run program, that’s part of what attracted me to it in the first place. So I have done different things at my previous universities that I would like to implement once I learned the system. I’ve implemented some things with the intramural officials, trying to improve the system.
briefs Davis breaks 36-hole record
Men’s soccer
’
7
for the first time this season when it travels to Quincy University and Truman State University. Quincy was last years Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament champion. The women’s team will return to homefield in two weeks to play University of Wiconsin-Parkside.
The women’s soccer team will leave homefield behind
woMen’s Soccer
volleyball
woMen’s Tennis
Men’s soccer
5 p.m. Sept. 16 Quincy, IL Quincy University
7 p.m. Sept. 16 PAC William Jewell College
3:30 p.m. Sept. 16 Evansville, IN Hanover College
7:30 p.m. Sept. 16 Quincy, IL Quincy University
Noon Sept. 18 Kirksville, MO Truman State University
3 p.m. Sept. 17 PAC Rockhurst Univ.
11 a.m. Sept. 17 Evansville, IN Cedarville University
2:30 p.m. Sept. 18 Kirksville, MO Truman State University
woMen’s Golf
Men’s Golf
Men’s Tennis
MEn’s & Women’s XC
All Day Sept. 24- Sept. 25 Allendale, MI Gilda’s Club Laker Fall Invitational
All Day Sept. 26- Sept. 27 Chicago, IL Midwest Regional #1
All Day Sept. 16- Sept. 18 Indianapolis, IN ITA Midwest Regional Championships
10:50 a.m./11:30 a.m Sept. 16 East Lansing, MI Spartan Invite
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The shield | September 15, 2016 | Usishield.com
2016 Fall Job Fair For USI Students & Alumni
Wed. September 21, 2016 10 a.m.— —2 p.m. Carter Hall Connecting students with employers CareerLINK is the career fair for all majors at USI. Employers will be on campus to recruit students for full- me and part- me jobs and internships. Plan to a end for at least an hour and dress in professional clothing. Underclassmen can visit the fair to explore career op ons and network with employers. Upperclassmen bring several copies of your resume to share with poten al employers. Visit our website and watch your email for more details on how to prepare for CareerLINK and learn why YOU should a end!
Full-time jobs ♦ Internships ♦ Co-ops ♦ Part-time jobs ♦ Graduate Schools Presented by
Contact Career Services for help with your resume a few weeks before the fair! 812-464-1865
www.usi.edu/careerservices
September is Campus Fire Safety Month Follow these tips to stay safe in Housing & Residence Life • Know where fire extinguishers are and how to use them. • Even for a minor fire, immediately contact Public Safety at 812-492-7777 or activate the building alarms. • If a fire appears uncontrollable, IMMEDIATELY sound the building alarms and evacuate the building. If possible, aid others to safety and close all doors to confine fire. DO NOT LOCK DOORS. • Smoke is the greatest danger in a fire, so stay near the floor where the air will be easier to breathe. • Once outside, move to an assigned clear area away from the affected building(s). Keep streets and walkways clear for emergency vehicles. • If you become trapped in a building, place an article of clothing outside the window as a marker for emergency personnel. If there is no window, stay near the floor where the air is more breathable. Shout in intervals to alert emergency personnel of your location.