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T h u r s d a y, O c t o b e r 2 0 , 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 1 0
CELEBRATING DIVERSITY Global Crossroads highlights various cultures
FAFSA changes to benefit students by sarah loesch editor@usishield.com @seloesch
Photo courtesy of ERIN MCCRACKEN Merris
Three members of Funkadesi perform on stage. Funkadesi houses members of various cultures and showcases it throughout its musical diversity.
by Megan thorne opinion@usishield.com @MeganRThorne
Although Neeru Tindoni was born and raised in London, England she never lost her Indian roots. Tindoni has been dancing since she was young and has always incorporated her North Indian culture into her dance. “(Dance) is a natural part of the Indian culture,” she said. “You can’t avoid it.” Tindoni will perform with PNM Dance Group during the Global Crossroads Culture and Music Festival on Saturday from 1 - 7 p.m. USI’s’s Historic New Harmony and Under the Beams have collaborated since 2014 to produce the festival. This year’s main focus is on Indian Culture but will showcase other cultures as well. Tindoni’s group will have 58 dancers performing from age three to 60. “We just formed the group together,” she said. “ It’s been a few years and it’s been wonderful. It’s a beautiful thing to see the little kids dancing and the range of diversity in the group.”
The dance students will be performing different Indian dances focusing on Bollywood, folktales and a North Indian folk dance. “We will all be dressed in different types of Indian dresses,” Tindoni said. “We’ve been practicing for a couple of months now.” Tindoni said she has been working with their dance teacher, Pachi and Monica, the group’s dance official, to help pull the show together. “We also design backdrops so people can see what India is like,” she said. “I designed a silk safari backdrop and sewing it all takes weeks to put together. It will give people an idea about India.” She said the three of them work hard to try and get the kids registered and to practices. “It’s been very challenging working with 3-year-olds,” Tindoni said. “But everyone will be going ‘aw’ when they see them because they look adorable in their full Indian costumes. It will give everybody something to look at that they haven’t seen before.” There are 29 states in India and 22 official languages all of which Tindoni wants
to try and feature on Saturday. “A lot of people might not be aware India is a beautiful and colorful country that celebrates different religions and festivals,” Tindoni said. “I’m hoping through this that we are able to show diversity, it’s not one type of music and one type of thing… when they see it on stage showing different fashions, cultures and foods, they see another side of India.” Tindoni said she hopes people are able to learn about India through their performances, especially about Bollywood. “I’m excited that we can show a range of colors and show the range of India with colors and food,” she said. “It’s a beautiful thing because a lot of people wouldn’t have the chance to see it.” Tindoni said dance is incorporated with everything they do in India, from weddings to movie theaters. “Every party incorporates dance,” she said. “You can’t escape it.” Erin McCracken Merris, community engagement manager for New Harmony said a lot of people in the community will be participating in the festival, so they can share their heritage and culture.
Global crossroads, PAGE 4
Social and Cultural committee kicks off Alcohol Awareness Week by riley guerzini news@usishield.com @Guerzwinski
The Student Government Association General Assembly passed a $57 extension to the Alcohol Awareness Week budget Thursday. The original budget, which allotted $250, could not cover expenses for the purchase of hotdogs, buns, advertisements, a slushy machine rental and a grill according the Resolution 1617. M. “It was a little bit difficult for me not to go over just to feed people for one day on the quad,” Assistant Vice President of Social and Cultural Issues Christina Lutes said. The Social and Cultural Issues committee partnered with sorority Delta Zeta, fraternity Phi Delta Theta, and the Activities Programming Board to raise awareness for
It’s estimated that each year
1,825 699,00 97,000
college students die from alcohol-related unintentional injuries*
college students are assulted by another student*
college students report experiencing alcohol-related sexual assult or date rape*
*college students - students that fall between the ages 18 - 24 Information provided by the National Institute on Alchohol Abuse and Alchoholism
the dangers of using and abusing alcohol. “I think alcohol in moderation is OK for college students, but when you put others in danger I think that then it definitely needs to be addressed,” she said. Lutes said her committee’s goal is to try to put a positive spin on issues that may be difficult for people to handle. She said she reached out to Van-
derburgh County officers like Sheriff Dave Wedding and Deputy Brian Spradlin to talk about their experience with alcohol accidents and give students a taste of what it’s like to be under the influence with a field sobriety test. “I think some students would be surprised that some incidents do happen in the morning, when people think that they are sober,” Lutes said. alcohol awareness week, PAGE 3
Watch for the fall 2016 edition of
This year the start date to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid moved to an earlier date. As of Oct. 1 students were able to fill out the application, a date three months earlier than previous years. In the past students were able to begin filing FAFSA Jan. 1 and the tax returns from the previous year were used. Now the tax returns from two years prior to filing will be used. Students filing for 2017-18 aid will use their 2015 income. Mary Harper, director of student financial assistance, said the changes will benefit not only new and prospective students, but continuing students as well. She said it will give students more time to prepare finances for college. “I think it is a very positive change for students,” Harper said. “I think it will encourage more students to file their FAFSA.” FAFSA also can impact sources of aid that are not federal. Harper said she believes more students file and be eligible for state aid. Students who are 21st Century scholars should not be affected much by the new dates, but Harper said it could help them as well. The March 10 deadline for 21st Century scholars will be the same. Harper said in the latest data she has, from the 201516 aid year, 75 percent of students received some sort of aid. She said the financial aid office has received some calls about the changes, but it has mostly been from new and prospective students. Harper said the office sent an email out to students so they would be aware of the changes. The website also offers a section with answers for any questions students may have about the process. “We’ve been proactive in encouraging early filing,” she said. Harper said students should visit the financial aid website for more information regarding FAFSA and the filing process.
New library program offers students group study options by riley guerzini news@usishield.com @Guerzwinski
The library leadership committee launched the new group study room scheduler, Bookit! Sept. 26. The program is available on the USI website under the library tab, with link son both the top of the page and on the side. Students must first register on Book it! In order to be able to reserve a room. Once an account is established, students can then create reservations for the rooms they want
for two or more people. Rooms are available for up to two hours a day and six hours a week and students can make reservations up to 30 days in advance. “We recommend that you put some kind of vague information in there like Nursing study group for example, so that others in your group can see your reservation and know where to go,” Director of Library Services Marna Hostetler said. Hostetler said she saw the Bookit! Program in use at the University of Evansville library and thought it was the simple reservation program she was looking for.
BOOKIT, PAGE 3
on stands now!
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The shield | October 20, 2016 | Usishield.com
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The shield | October 20, 2016 | Usishield.com
Campus to host gubernatorial debate by sarah loesch
FASt FACTS
editor@usishield.com @seloesch
What: When: Where: Cost:
The university will host the third and final gubernatorial debate 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Performance Center. Tickets for the event are all reserved, but students, faculty and staff still have the opportunity to watch the debate in Carter Hall through a live stream. All three candidates will participate in the
Gubernatorial Debate Watch Party Tuesday @ 6 p.m. Carter Hall Free
debate, Democrat John Gregg, Republican Eric Holcomb and Libertarian Rex Bell. The focus of the debate will be on health and social issue. Mizell Stewart III will moderate the debate. He
alcohol awareness week She recalled her own experiences with alcohol as a reason why Alcohol Awareness Week is important to her. “I grew up around IU and my dad actually owned apartments on campus at IU, right across from the football stadium,” she said. “Coming here is a lot safer. Girls don’t just drunkenly walk around campus and get stolen, which happens all the time at IU.” Lutes believes that alcohol is not as big of a problem on campus as it is at the University of Indiana, but said it is still something that needs to be addressed. “I gave a flier to one of my past teachers and she said that students come to her classroom drunk in the mornings and in the afternoon and that hit me hard,” she said. “I was like, ‘Oh my goodness I had no idea.’” The speaker at Tuesday’s event, Charles Brown, was the father of Evansville teen Logan Brown, who was killed by a drunk driver in 2014. He spoke about his experiences with alcohol and drunk driving and how he uses those experiences to motivate change in the community. “We had the initial shock factor that really made an instant change within the community, but once the shock went away, it kind of has been a slow process within our lawmakers and within legislation,” he said. Brown said the process of reducing
is the vice president of news operations for Gannett and USA Today Network. Question for the debate can be submitted through the Debate Commission’s website www.indianadebatecommission.com.
drunk driving incidents can be boiled down to four parts; community, law enforcement, judicial system, and legislatures. “We still treat it (drunk driving) as an action instead of a choice and until we get to a point where we are treating a death caused by a drunk driver as a choice, as no different than a guy picking up a gun and shooting somebody, then it’s tough to make it,” he said. Involuntary manslaughter while driving under the influence of alcohol in the state of Indiana is only a class 5 or class 4 felony depending on prior history, while in other states like Kentucky, it is classified as first degree murder. “I think we have a long way to go, but we are starting to see some progress. I think that there’s also an opportunity to do a better job enforcing the laws. Brown believes awareness is key to changing the perception of drinking and driving in Evansville and society. “The awareness is instrumental to the whole entire change. We always understood that drinking and driving was bad, but we never totally evaluated the whole entire outcome,” he said. “It’s a community effort. We have seen some good things coming and we do see change, but we also realize that we have a long way to go.”
10/13/16 - 10/19/16
Suspicious Person(s) Clarke Lane 10/14 12:16 a.m. Traffic Accident - Hit & Run Campus Housing - McDonald West Apartments - Hanly Building - 911A Eckels Ln. 10/14 12:14 p.m.
Fire - False Alarm (Construction or other means) Campus Housing - Residence Halls - 103 OʼBannon Hall - 1720 Rochelle Ln. 10/15 8:13 p.m. Welfare Check On Campus - Campus Housing Residence Life Community Center 10/16 11:20 p.m.
Lost Property Report Liberal Arts Center 10/14 2:59 p.m.
Welfare Check On Campus - Campus Housing - OʼDaniel North Apartments Leslie Building - 7912A Mahrenholz Rd. 10/16 3:34 p.m.
Fire - Alarm - Cooking OʼDaniel North Apartments Leslie Building 7912B Mahrenholz Rd. 10/14 5:49 p.m.
Injury Report Campus Housing - Residence Halls - 308 Governors Hall - 1700 Rankin Ln. 10/16 9:49 p.m.
Drug Offenses - Drugs Manufacture/ Possession of Paraphernalia Campus Housing - McDonald Lane 10/14 8:13 p.m.
Suspicious Circumstances Campus Housing - Residence Life Office - 839 Pruis Ln. 10/17 5:05 a.m.
Drug Offenses - Drugs Possession Campus Housing - McDonald Lane 10/14 8:13 p.m. Illness Report Campus Housing McDonald Lane 10/14 8:13 p.m. Fire - Faulty Alarm Campus Housing - OʼDaniel North Apartments - Bayh Building 10/15 7:14 p.m. Code of Conduct - Tobacco Smoking Campus Housing - Residence Halls - 103 OʼBannon Hall - 1720 Rochelle Ln. 10/15 8:13 p.m.
continued from Page 1
She also said the idea for implementing the program came from feedback the library received in the annual fall survey conducted by the Office of Planning, Research, and Assessment (OPRA). “Every year that we have taken part in that survey, we have gotten many responses from students saying that they would like to be able to schedule study rooms,” she said. Hostetler said one of the biggest problems since the launch of the new program was students using their non-USI email accounts. “You have to use your USI email account,” she said. “We are working on getting an authentication piece set up, so it won’t register unless you use your USI email, so once you’re logged in it
will take you right in.” Though the Bookit! Tool is only three weeks old, Hostetler said she has noticed a problem with individual students being in the reserved rooms. “We know it is a problem with individuals in the rooms and that is a big reason why we put the individual study carrels in on the fourth floor and I think that’s helped, but it still was an issue,” she said. Romain College of Business Representative Bradley Flittner said he experienced an issue with being kicked out of the room he was studying in. “You can just walk into a room and say you reserved it. There is nothing to nothing to say that you did it, so I was just very tired of having to pick up my stuff and move
to a different room,” he said. “If there was a way to kind of make it more legitimate, like if you had to sign in at the library front desk or get a sticker or something, I think that would be better.” There are 12 individual study carrels on the fourth floor of the library that are not currently available on Bookit! But are first-come, first-serve. The library has 30 group study rooms that are available on the Bookit! System. Hostetler also plans to set up a tutorial on the library homepage to get students more familiar with the program. “I would encourage people to give it a try and work with it and see what they think,” she said.
continued from Page 1
USI Security Incident Log Alcohol Offenses Alcohol Clarke Lane 10/14 12:16 a.m.
BOOKIT
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Fire - Faulty Alarm Campus Housing - Residence Halls - 314 Governors Hall - 1700 Rankin Ln. 10/17 8:26 p.m. Illness Report Education Center 10/17 9 a.m. Traffic Accident Parking Lot J 10/17 4:13 p.m.
20 QUESTIONS Election edition
There are 20 days left until the general election. Until Nov. 8 The Shield will answer a question a day that concerns how, where and when to vote. Like The Shield on Facebook for the next question.
Q: A:
How do I find a vote center? In Indiana eligible voters have the option to vote at any designated voter center in their county. Vote centers were a success in the Indiana pilot counties, Wayne, Tippecanoe and Cass, making it an option to be done throughout the whole state. This change came in 2011 after the Indiana General Assembly passed two acts which made vote centers an option for all Indiana counties.
For students voting in Vanderburgh county possible vote centers can be found at vanderburghgov.org/index.aspx?page=3229 There are two vote centers within 10 minutes of campus: New Bethel Southern Baptist & St. James United Methodist
Theft Non Campus - Private Property - Other 10/17 7:50 p.m. Fire - Alarm - Cooking Campus Housing - OʼDaniel North Apartments - Branigin Building 7954B OʼDaniel Ln. 10/17 8:29 p.m. Missing Persons Campus Housing - McDonald West Apartments - Branch Building - 812A McDonald Ln. 10/18 10:00 a.m. Injury Report Performance Center 10/18 2:16 p.m. Theft Campus Housing - Residence Halls - Ruston Hall - 1818 Rochelle Ln. 10/18 2:28 p.m. Traffic Accident Parking Lot G 10/18 3:12 p.m. Illness Report Campus Housing - Residence Halls - 207 Governors Hall - 1700 Rankin Ln. 10/19 1:19 a.m. Illness Report Campus Housing - OʼDaniel South Apartments - Noble Building 8062B OʼDaniel Ln. 10/19 3:51 p.m.
Fire - Alarm - Cooking Campus Housing - OʼDaniel South Apartments - Bigger Building -8077A OʼDaniel Ln. 10/17 4:34 p.m. Code of Conduct - Disruption Roommate Dispute Campus Housing - Residence Halls - 211 Ruston Hall - 1818 Rochelle Ln. 10/17 4:53 p.m.
Information gathered from USIʼs Public Crime Log, provided by USI Safety and Security.
briefs Family Weekend begins Oct. 22 The annual Families Weekend will begin Oct. 22 and last through the 23. Throughout the wekeend friends and family are invited to visit campus and see firsthand what life is like. Visitors will have the chance to meet other families, enjoy campus activities, meet President Linda Bennett and have photos taken with Archie. Events like Painting with USI, Cooking and Culture and Empty Bowls will be options for families. The events require individual registrations. All of the activities can be seen at http://www.usi.edu/ family/families_weekend/.
MPA program to host networking event The MPA program will cosponser the Indiana Chapter of American Society for Public Administration’s Fall Newtworking Event at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 27 in the Traditions Lounge. The event is free and open for the public. President Linda Bennett will speak at the event about relationships between higher education and the state government. Refreshments will be served and attendees can network with members of the INASPA board. For more information, contact Matt Hanka, associate professor of political science and director of the MPA Program, at 812-461-5204 or mjhanka@usi.edu.
Poetry reading set for 2 p.m. today The Department of World Languages and Cultures is set to host poet Pedro Larrea for its Multilingual Poetry Reading at 2 p.m. today in Kleymeyer Hall. Larrea has written three poetry collections and has been invited to read at places like the Granada International Poetry Festival. He received his doctorate in Spanish literature from the University of Virginia where he then taught Spanish language, culture and literature. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Dr. Manuel Apodaca Valdez at 812-228-5038 or at mdapodacav@usi.edu.
4
Features
The shield | October 20, 2016 | Usishield.com
Student makes directing debut by Sarah Loesch
editor@usishield.com @seloesch
Enjoli Drake will make her directing debut as she presents “In the Red and Brown Water” as this year’s student directed fall production. The Shield spoke with Drake to learn more about her first experience directing and the production. The Shield: How did the opportunity to direct a play come about for you this year? Drake: Well I’ve been a theater student for about four years now, my department has always been about us making our own opportunities. I felt like this was my time as a senior to take over the reigns, instead of just being an actor. The Shield: What made you choose this production? Drake: I heard of the play at a theater competition. I really liked the monologue that was presented. It also has a lot of opportunity to use multiple students.
Photo by daniel yates | The Shield
The Shield: Was there anything about the play’s content that stood out to you? Drake: The play deals with some of African urban culture. I’d been interested in that since I started reading the Drama High book series in high school. After I figured ‘there has to be a reason I read that book series, and this play.’ It’s a sign to me that this play is going to mean something to other people as well as myself.
Clifton Jett Jr. a theatre major speaks to Kenyana Trambles during rehearsal for In the Red and Brown Water Monday evening in the Art Center.
The Shield: Did you have people in mind for the parts or did students audition? Drake: We had to have auditions, there wasn’t necessarily an inkling as to who would play the parts. I made sure students auditioning maybe read another work of the playwright or watched a production of the play. As rehearsals started it became more in-depth and everyone wanted to know more about the play. There was a thirst for knowledge. The Shield: Have there been any bumps
The Shield: What’s it like to go from actress to director? Drake: It’s definitely extremely different to be on the opposite side of the table. It’s definitely a collaborative process. It was so healthy for me to step out of the actor role. I feel like when I go back into acting I will know the process even better.
in the road for the production yet? Drake: It’s been a smooth process, we’ve been rehearsing for about two months. It’s been great we’ve had such a long opportunity. The students are so into it and are so thirsty to know more. I never want to say ‘stop asking questions.’ And they all ask, ‘how can I know more, how can I learn more.”
The Shield: Do you see yourself directing as a career after graduation? Drake: I feel like I need to be in all
Flowers on the Lake highlights victim stories
Photo by Jordan Auker | The Shield
The annual Flower’s on the Lake event took place last Thursday at Reflection Lake. Students and community members gathered at the event, put on by the USI Sexual Assault and Gender Violence Prevention Group and the Albion Fellows Bacon Center, to hear the stories of domestic assault victims told by university students. After hearing those stories attendees made a silent walk from the front of the Liberal Arts building to Reflection Lake. There they sprinkled flower petals across the lake in remembrance of victims and survivors of domestic assault.
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aspects, but if I were to have my choice I would 100 percent want to be an actor for the rest of my life. The Shield: When did you start acting? Drake: Acting wasn’t always in the plans. I used to think I would go into medicine. I joined show choir in high school and people questioned why I wasn’t in theater. You kind of get bit by the bug. I did a lot of high school and community productions. When it came time to go to college I thought ‘I don’t know if I can give up theater.’ This is what makes me happy. The Shield: Have you ever second guessed your decision to pursue theater? Drake: I feel like that’s kind of part of the acting process, you get down when you go through a period without being
cast as often. It’s part of being an artist, you’re always second guessing things sometimes. It just kind of happens that way. You just have to ignore that, ignore your own doubt. Responses are adjusted for length and clarity.
FASt FACTS What: In The Red and Brown Water When:
Oct. 27-29 at 7 p.m.
Where:
Mallette Studio Theater (Lower Level of Liberal Arts Building)
Cost:
Free
The shield | October 20, 2016 | Usishield.com
REVIEW
Glass Menagerie proves ‘heartbreaking and compelling’ As author E.A. Bucchianeri once said, theatres are curious places. Theatres are also wonderful places. They have the ability to transport people into the lives of fictional characters. USI certainly does not shy away from performing intriguing plays that have the ability to do so. From October 13th to the 16th, USI’s Theatre department displayed the performance of “The Glass Menagerie”, a production written by Tennessee Williams and directed by Elliot Wasserman. The show consisted of solely four characters. Samuel Garrison portrayed Tom, Tamarea Kramer portrayed Laura, Ashleigh Dulik portrayed Amanda and Austin Tenbarge portrayed Jim. “The Glass Menagerie” is a story of a small family living in a St. Louis apartment in the year of 1937, consisting of a mother frantic to marry off her disabled daughter and who constantly argues with her son who dreams of becoming a writer. Despite the small number of characters, the story was written and carried out in a way that made the plot easy to grasp. Especially so, due to the raw emotion with which the actors bringing these characters to life displayed on the stage. The actors did a great job slipping
into their character’s shoes. It made it feel as though you were truly witnessing the events of this family’s life right in front of you, and it made you feel empathetic to the character’s emotions. The plot of the story is not a very happy one. In fact it is quite sad and distressing, with a few humorous moments here and there. But the cloudy and gray atmosphere surrounding the story is what made it realistic. One of the things I liked about the story was that it introduced this family that was not in a very good place, and it made us think that the characters would all get a happy ending because of how much they suffered. The ending proved that things do not always end with rainbows and sunshine. It showed that sometimes life can be mer-
ciless. It showed that sometimes pushing and pushing for something simply won’t do. Sometimes, you have to make sacrifices. The production not only offered excellent acting and plot lines, but also great displays of costume, set design and sound management. The costumes transported you back to the 1930s, and the setting of the family’s small apartment was very simple and displayed a feeling of loneliness that did a great job with symbolizing the inner conflictions the characters were feeling. As for the sound effects, it gave off the same tone as the costumes: it transported you back to the old days, and set the mood for the story at just the right moments. “The Glass Menagerie” was compelling and heartbreaking. It struck you with sadness and hope, and empathy for the fictional characters who suffered so much within its story. My favorite part about the production would have to be the actors, because they became their characters in order to provide a perfect understanding of what utter raw emotions the distressed family had gone through. In stories such as this the characters are the most important part, because they are able to strike many feelings that you may not have experienced before.
Rating 4/5 BY darian Breedlove
‘The Midnight Sun’ isn’t setting On iTunes
“The Midnight Sun” is the second full-length studio album from Scottish musician C Duncan and it was self-recorded and selfproduced like his first album. The title and theme of “The Midnight Sun” were both inspired by an episode of The Twilight Zone with the same name. By using The Twilight Zone as his muse, Duncan is able to create something inescapably eerie with his sophomore album. It begins with the first track “Nothing More” as it sets a tone that most of the other songs on the album mimic all the way until the 11th and final track “Windows.” The second track on the album “Like You Do” is haunting in its own way by telling the narrative of
someone dealing with depression. The song was inspired by someone close to Duncan that was coping with depression. Of all the tracks on the album, most of them follow in the footprints of the lead track by keeping the theme of eeriness. The only aberration from the norm is “Other Side” which feels more uplifting and sounds similar to a Tame Impala song. The music is eerie, but not depressing. “Windows,”
the closing track, is heavy with piano and, at the beginning of the song, it feels like something that would be sung at a funeral. It’s somber, like nearly all of the other tracks on the album. It is a constant struggle within the album for which aspect of the song is going to stand out more, the vocals or the melody. Most of the time, the sound of the music is stronger than the artist voice, which makes it challenging and uninviting for the average listener. The vocals on the album may be at times difficult to make out. Also, this certainly isn’t the most accessible of albums for the listener in terms of lyrical quality, but the sound the music itself produces is chillingly mellow at all times.
Rating 4/5 BY Taylor O’neil hall
‘Mascots’: Furry fluff
Once again Netflix has succeeded in delivering its subscribers an exclusive experience that looks awesome at first but turns out to be merely above-mediocre in the end. “Mascots” is a mockumentary that follows the lives of several people who are passionate about being mascots at sporting events, depicting their preparations and eventual performance at a world mascotting competition. Along with the usual stable of actors director Christopher Guest has on speeddial (Parker Posey, Fred Willard, John Michael Higgins, Jane Lynch), a smattering of mildly famous comedians are worked into the mix with varying degrees of success. On the one hand you have people like Chris O’Dowd, who delivers a solidly funny performance as a bad-boy hockey mascot. On the other you have unfortunate casting decisions like Zack Woods, a character actor desperately trying to break free of his label of “Gabe from ‘The Office’” by taking comedic roles in which he plays the
Streaming on Netflix
exact same character. Above and beyond some flaccid casting choices, “Mascots” suffers from what I’ve dubbed George Lucas Syndrome. While there is plenty of evidence Guest is capable of making a stellar comedy, nobody bothered to remind him of that during the creation of this middle-of-the-road entry. While previous films in this unofficial series of Guest’s have reveled in allowing talented comedians to improvise deliciously awkward interactions between eccentric characters, “Mascots” seems to think it can lean on the idea that
Rating 3/5 By gavin paragon
people take mascotting seriously and get laughs every time. The final act of the film is mainly comprised of seeing various mascots perform their routines in front of judges, occasionally cutting backstage to show some characters interacting. In a better movie we would get brief glimpses of what is happening on the stage to both establish there is a contest happening and possibly show some weird moments out of context for quick jokes. Meanwhile this supposed mockumentary crew would be following the frantic preparations and reactions of the contestants. Instead, we get to see several fake mascots do mildly amusing things for five minutes apiece, then the character every audience member knows will win the contest does indeed win the contest. If you want a funny, quirky fake documentary to enjoy one lazy afternoon, dig up “A Mighty Wind” or “Best in Show” as they’re far superior Guest films. “Mascots” isn’t a waste of time, but it most definitely isn’t a first choice.
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International club to host murder mystery night by sarah Loesch editor@usishield.com @seloesch
After becoming close friends with an international student from Nepal, Cailan Walters found her place in the international club. Now the junior social work major has been in the club for four years and has become the group’s social coordinator. “International students have been some of my closest friends,” Walters said. As social coordinator she helps plan events like the club’s International Horror Story which is set to take place in Oct. 28 in Carter Hall. The event will be a murder mystery show based upon the asylum season of American Horror Story. “(International club officers) are playing patients in a psych ward,” Walters said. “Some are doctors and psychiatrists.” One person will “die” during the event
and attendees will have to figure out who the killer was. There will be cards given out with information regarding all of the characters and notes can be taken throughout the event to help people make their decision. If the card lists the right name for the killer the card will be entered into a drawing for a $100 gift card. Walters said in the past she feels the events hosted by international club have been successful and that’s important for people to understand what international club is. “I think it’s cool when we have events like this,” Walters said. “It’s just good that people are able to see that they can be a part of this club too. It’s not just international students.” Walters said the club does have more international students than American students but that’s part of why they want to encourage more students to join.
FASt FACTS What: When:
Oct. 28 from 7-10 p.m.
Where:
Carter Hall
Cost:
Free
International Horror Story
global crossroads
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“The Southern Indiana region isn’t know for being fairly diverse,” Merris said. “There’s a large Indian community of 10,000 in Newburgh and the Latino population is growing as well. It’s important to learn who your neighbors are, learn how to bridge those gaps and come together as a community and celebrate each other’s heritage.” The festival will feature award-winning world music band Funkadesi. The band blends Indian (Bhangra, Bollywood and Folk), Reggae, Funk and Afro-Caribbean music for a festive, virtuoso experience of cultural unity. “This year we decided to have a more global focus and not encompass one specific region but to have differences from various cultures,” Merris said. The festival will feature foods from different cultures, including Indian, Caribbean and Latino. “I don’t think people think about this area being a very diverse place but there are a lot of cultures and different cultures that
live here,” she said. “Maybe not in the high percentages a larger city has but we do have a lot more than people are aware of. This festival is just one way of showcasing and learning about that and learning about the people that live and work in our community and make up that diverse population.” Merris said one of the university’s main goals is to have more of a global presence. “Our international students aren’t from a couple of different countries they are from many different cultures around the world,” she said. “They are coming to USI to study and we felt instead of singling out one culture or group as a university we are having to celebrate more on this region and more on our global outreach.” Merris said this is a great opportunity for people to have a different cultural experience from one they experience on a normal day to day basis. “Despite all the rhetoric due to the election we
are coming together as a community from different areas to accept have fun and get to know each other better,” Merris said. “It’s a wonderful way to bring together a lot of different people and that’s how we get stronger. When we come together despite our differences to make a better community and region we get stronger.” For a schedule visit h t t p s : / / w w w. u s i . e d u / news/releases/2016/10/ global-crossroads-festivalcollaborates-to-bring-international-culture-to-newharmony/ There will be a shuttle to and from campus The event is free part from the concert that night. You can purchase tickets at https://www. eventbrite.com/e/2016global-crossroads-culturemusic-fest-concert-tickets-27398349200 The band Funikidazi will perform at 11:45 a.m. on Friday, October 22 to perform for USI students and faculty at the Rice Plaza Amphitheatre.
6
Opinion
The shield | October 20, 2016 | Usishield.com
rush hour | philip kuhns | The Shield
‘Responsibility to respond’ Student encourages compassion for victims of rascism by Sarah Rogers sgrogers@eagles.usi.edu
Last Wednesday, Cornel West spoke in Carter Hall about identifiable issues of our generation. West spoke against racial inequality, xenophobia, prejudice and homophobia. It was clear many members of the audience personally related to West’s words and they shared their stories of overcoming such obstacles. While West’s words filled me with compassion and re-
solve, I admit there was an undercurrent feeling like I was an imposter in a room filled with people who had suffered so much. I am from Crawfordsville, Indiana. I graduated with 133 kids, only one of whom was African American. The biggest police action I ever saw was when little Billy went 60mph down a 30mph back road. I never saw the inequality West spoke of. My little town was a utopia of people who couldn’t
care less what you looked like or where you were from. We all drank our Polar Pops and watched grass grow in peace. I never saw the xenophobia, the prejudice, the homophobia. However, many people have never known a world where these issues did not dominate their streets. Even though I might never have had to personally deal with these issues, I still have a responsibility to respond.
Just because you haven’t seen the issues first hand doesn’t mean they don’t exist. Those of us who were fortunate enough to live in a town devoid of such horrors have a responsibility to respond to what so many others are going through. First and foremost, we need to realize that even though we might not see the issues, they still exist. We need to realize that even though all the cops we know in our town are good, there are still bad cops who
abuse their power. We need to understand that we cannot fully understand what someone else has gone through. Listening to so many stories of struggles in Carter Hall, I felt connected to people I had never even met before. West stood on the stage nodding and listening as audience members asked how they could change a system that seemed so set in stone. West told us to have the courage to break the status quo.
He told us to keep pushing the boundaries that threatened to keep us shackled. Most importantly, West reminded us to always stay compassionate with those who are suffering. So for those of you who have gone through so much hardship in your life, I offer compassion. And for those of you who are like me, offer compassion wherever it is needed.
THE
Dear Learning to lead SHIELD Donald Trump Editorial Board
by brandon cole
bscole@eagles.usi.edu
by Megan Thorne Opinion@usishield.com @MeganRThorne
Dear Donald Trump, As a journalist, I am supposed to have an objective view when it comes to talking and writing about politics. As a journalist, I am not supposed to expressively take sides. As a journalist, it is my job to provide the news and the truth to those who wish to be involved. But this isn’t about politics and I am more than a journalist. I am also a young woman and as a woman your comments disgust me. You were caught saying that you can grab women by the genitals and because you’re a star they let you do it and “you can do anything.” You then claimed those comments were just “locker room talk.” But it’s not, it’s sexual assault and it’s a big deal. According to rainn.org every two minutes an American is sexually assaulted. 1 out of every 6 American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime. According to justice.gov sexual assault is any type of sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the recipient. So, when you were say-
ing that you just “start kissing them. It’s like a magnet. Just kiss. I don’t even wait.” That by default is assault, considering you aren’t giving women a chance to give or deny consent. Private conversation or not, many people agree this topic isn’t one to joke about. I know for a fact I don’t find it funny. Every day I watch the news I see headlines say more women are coming forward about what you have done to them. And every day I see that, so do girls younger than me and victims. Our presidential nominee sexually assaults women and is still allowed to run? For one, it’s illegal and discriminatory to women everywhere. How are we supposed to look up to a man that thinks we are just put on this world to compete in beauty pageants and flaunt our bodies? But the main issue is you can’t even apologize. Instead you brought up Bill Clinton and claimed he has said worse to you on the golf course. But you see Trump, he is not running for presidency and you are. As a journalist, I implore you to make an educated vote during this election. As a woman, I implore you to cast your vote with women’s rights in mind.
After deciding to go back to school to finish my RN-BSN, I have decided to apply for my Master’s in Science in Nursing Management and Leadership. Through class and clinical I am learning what kind of a leader I want to be , but also attributes that I want to keep away from. At USI, we learn how to excel in our chosen paths. That is a given, but theory only goes so far in the real world. Investigate internships. Time is scarce at college. You have to study, take exams, write papers and figure out who you are as a person. Still, stepping out in your actual field and seeing what the professionals do on a daily basis is important. This semester I have had the good fortune to follow thea director of an emergency department. He has taught me lessons that I cannot learn in the classroom. I have learned organizational and meeting skills. I also know what kind of leader I do not want to be when I graduate from the master’s program. An experience I witnessed while on another shadowing opportunity taught me an important lesson. A patient’s family member called the medical facility and complained about the patient’s treatment at the hospital. The patient’s family member complained the patient did not receive pain medication while in the facility. She then said that her fam-
ily member never gets taken care of when she comes to the facility in question. I tried to put myself in the manager’s position. He probably receives complaints like this from timeto-time. I am sure it is easy to get desensitized to certain situations. Next, I put myself in the role of the patient who gave her permission for her family member to speak on her behalf. She was obviously upset and felt that she could not adequately represent herself. Was she in pain? In all reality, only she could answer this question. The manager put the family member on hold and called the nurse who cared for the patient. He asked the nurse why no pain medicine was administered. The nurse said there was no one present to drive the patient home. The patient said there was someone, but could not present the driver to the nurse. The supervisor told the family member it was policy to not give pain medicine that could impair a patient’s ability to transport home unless they have a driver with them at the time of treatment. As he hung up the phone, he looked at me and said, “They are simple, man.” He laughed. This rubbed me wrong. Yes, the manager was technically right, but could he have explained it better? Could he have offered to readmit the patient, if still in pain, with the driver present? If you are in leadership and you cannot explain things to a ‘simple’ person, then you are too
smart for your own good. The director of my current clinical gave me some valuable advice. When faced with a problem, I should never initially take anyone’s side in an argument. People are going to not like me at times in the role I have chosen. That is okay. I have to be able to separate myself from the situation and interview both parties, objectively. The patient may be uneducated or in the wrong. Education, empathy and explanation can sometimes remedy this problem. The employee may be the problem. They could have not taken the patient seriously when the complaint was made. The employee may have prejudged the patient. This is why protocols exist. Nurses need to treat every patient the same, regardless of their background or ability to pay. Always keep in mind that the patient is there for a need. They may have mental issues, pain or a multidimensional problem. It is important to keep an open mind and investigate all possibilities. Peering into the world of leadership has reminded me how important it is to be humble. Instead of looking at actions and complaints as an in irritant, ask yourself why the behavior is happening. Take advantage of USI’s opportunities for job shadowing and internships. This is where you learn to put your theory into practice.
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Sports
The shield | October 20, 2016 | Usishield.com
7
‘In it for the team’ Women’s basketball prepares with ‘strong’ seniors by sarah loesch editor@usishield.com @seloesch
The women’s basketball team doesn’t have a set starting lineup, but Head Coach Rick Stein hopes all five seniors are competing for the spots. “All five of our seniors certainly have a chance to compete for a starting spot and at the very worst, minutes,” Stein said. “I really believe we have 13 players like that.” The team will transition from having no seniors on the team during the 2015-16 season to five for the start of the 2016-17 season. Forward Hannah Wascher will join guard Tanner Marcum, forward Tasia Brewer, center Ruta Savickaite and guard Kendyl Dearing as the senior working toward that starting spot. “We’re just going to come in here and practice everyday and if you get a starting spot, you get a starting spot,” Wascher said. “But I definitely think that we are practicing hard so it could be a possibility.” “I think we have a really strong senior class,” Stein said. “Not only as players but as people.” Stein said the group really cares about the team and what’s ahead for them as the season progresses. “They are in it for the team and not themselves,” he said. “When you have a group like that, a group of seniors who cares about the team, you have a real chance to have some success...Their mindset is team success and how we’re going to get there.” Wascher has seen a growth in team chemistry this year and that has led to better communication. “I just think this year we are able to go out there and have fun and know about people,” she said. “We are going know to where she is, and know how she passes, and how they
play.” She said practices for the team have been strong so far. “We are definitely all on board. Last year we wouldn’t focus on the next play and we would dwell on what had happened and it definitely gave us some setbacks last year,” she said. “We all have bought in, we all agree with it so it definitely is going over pretty well.” Stein said he has seen a competitiveness in workouts and practices that he hopes carries over into games. The team worked hard to make sure it came into the season more prepared than it did last year, Stein said. “I really like the way our group has come in this year,” he said. “Our fitness, our strength, our intensity, our level of play coming in into our preseason has been very good.” Stein said it remains to be seen if the team can be in contention for championships, but he hopes the work ethic and drive he has seen so far continues. “What I want us to do is come in everyday and focus in on what makes us a better basketball team and then do it,” he said. Wascher said one focus for the team is focusing on the next play and not dwelling on previous plays. “You miss a layup – next play or you get beat on defense – next play,” she said. “We have to focus on that next play not what happened.” Stein said the team will face tough non-conference competition to start the season but that it will prepare them for that opening week in December when conference play begins. Wascher said the team has worked hard to develop over the past year and there has been a lot of effort throughout the offseason to get better. “In our conference especially,
Photo by The Shield
Members of the women’s basketball team huddle before a game at the start of the 2015-16 season. The women will start the 2016-17 season Nov. 6 when they face Butler University in an exhibition.
anything can happen on any given day,” she said. “But after looking at the games and the teams that we
play I think we are going to have a pretty successful season.”
Transfer aims for championship
cially the new guys so we can get acclimated to everything.
by sarah loesch editor@usishield.com @seloesch
The Shield: How did the opportunity to come to USI present itself? Washington: I guess just playing good basketball at my old school. Coach Gant came and saw me in open gym. We talked and I took my visit. I just feel like this is the best place for me and I feel like I made the best decision.
Junior Marcellous Washington will begin his first season with the men’s basketball team in less than two weeks. The 6’1” guard transferred to USI after playing basketball for two years at Sinclair Community College. There he averaged 10.5 points and 5.5 assists per game. The Shield spoke to Washington to find out his goals for the season and how his transition has been.
The Shield: Is there anything in particular that made you feel that way? Washington: Honestly my uncle. He’s the head coach at Morehead State, he told me about the University of Southern Indiana and how good the program was. I tested the waters and he was right.
The Shield: Have you and Coach Watson discussed what your role will be this year? Marcellous Washington: Definitely. My role will definitely be pushing the ball and getting guys who can score the ball. I’ll be really picking up the defensive intensity and just really pushing the ball. That’s my main role. The Shield: How has your transition to the team been? Washington: The transition has been good as long as I stay at the pace coach wants me to play at. I’m all ears right now because I’m new to the team. The Shield: How does USI’s team differ from the team you were with last year? Washington: From the junior college level and the NCAA level, guys are faster and stronger. In junior college you might have some
Photo by Jessica Stallings | The Shield
Junior Marcellous Washington (far right) talks to his teammates at the 2016 media day. The guard will begin his first season with the Eagles Nov. 1 when the team travels to West Lafayette to face Purdue.
guys who are fast sometimes, but now everybody is at least close to being the fastest guy all the time. The Shield: After being with the team how are you feeling for this season? Washington: I feel like we are going to have a good year. I feel like we have a lot of talent from the first man to the last man. I feel like
if we all buy in and do what coach tell us to do there’s no question we should win a conference championship. The Shield: Has that been discussed as the goal? Washington: Winning is the ultimate goal. Conference championship first, national championship second. I feel like we can definite-
ly do that this year. The Shield: How has the transition been for the rest of the new players? Washington: It’s been good. Everybody is just listening. Bobo is a good leader, Jeril is a good leader, Cortez is a good leader. They all have been here before. Listening to them really helps us out, espe-
The Shield: How has the coaching staff been? Washington: The coaching staff has been great. They get after me sometimes which is good. I’m loving it, every step of the process. I’m just enjoying it.
The Shield: Is there anything at the end of the season you would like to say you accomplished? Washington: I would honestly love to say I helped the seniors win a championship. I want to bring the program to another championship. But I definitely want to play for my seniors. It’s their last year, last go around. I want to make it the best for them.
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The shield | October 20, 2016 | Usishield.com
8
Scoreboard Men’s soccer Oct. 14 1-1
USI
Missouri Univ. of Science Oct. 16 and Technology 2-2
USI
Drury University
WOMen’s soccer Oct. 14 0-2
USI
Missouri Univ. of Science Oct. 16 and Technology 3-1
USI
Drury University
briefs Men’s soccer aims for home field The men’s soccer team will enter into the final gaames of its regular season this week. They have the chance to earn a first round home match for the GLVC Tournament depending on how
Oct. 14 3-0
USI
Alderson Broaddus University
Oct. 14 0-3
USI
Tiffin University
Oct. 15 3-0
USI
woMen’s Soccer
Men’s Cross Country Oct. 22 Conference Crossover 2nd of 14 teams
woMen’s Cross Country Oct. 22 Conference Crossover 3rd of 13 teams
Midnight Madness set for Friday Midnight Madness will start at 9 p.m. Friday in the Physical Activities Center. Midnight Madness marks the opening of Division II men’s and women’s basketball season. The annual event is spon-
sored by USI Athletics, Archie’s Army and the Recreatio, Fitness and Wellness Center. In the past the event has drawn a crowd of close to 1,000 students and community members. The event will start at 9 p.m. and the introduction of the men’s and women’s basketball teams will start at 9:30 p.m.
Upcoming Games
Volleyball Northwood University
the weekend games go. This would be the first time since 2003 that the Eagles have had home field to start the tournament. Right now the team is led in scoring by freshman forward Eric Ramirez and junior midfielder Kyle Richardville who are tied with 19 points each. Both also have a team high of three game-winning goals.
5 p.m. Oct. 21 McKendree University Lebanon, IL Noon Oct. 23 University of Illinois Springfield Evansville, IN 5 p.m. Oct. 26 Bellarmine Unviersity Evansville, IN
volleyball
men’s Cross Country Oct. 22 GLVC Championships Rolla, MO
men’s golf Oct. 31- Nov. 1 Trevecca Nazarene University Gallatin. TN
7 p.m. Oct. 21 Saint Joseph’s College Rensselar, IN 2 p.m. Oct. 22 University of Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN
WoMen’s cross country Oct. 22 GLVC Championships Rolla, MO
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apply online at usishield.com
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• Before, during and after preparing food • Before eating food • Before and after caring for someone who is sick • Before and after treating a cut or wound • After using the toilet • After changing diapers or cleaning up
after a child who has used the toilet • After blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing • After touching an animal, animal feed or animal waste • After handling pet food or pet treats • After touching garbage
Learn more about handwashing. www.cdc.gov/handwashing/
Men’s soccer 7:30 p.m. Oct. 21 McKendree University Lebanon, IL 2:30 p.m. Oct. 23 University of Illinois Springfield Evansville, IN 7:30 p.m. Oct. 26 Bellarmine University Evansville, IN