THE
SHIELD
T h u r s d a y, D e c e m b e r 1 , 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 6
‘BLAZE THE TRAIL’ Students prepare mini satellite for orbit
Photo by megan thorne | The Shield
After putting on protective gloves, John Siepierski, a senior engineering major, Adam Will, a junior engineering major, electrical emphasis and Kegan Miller, a senior engineering major, mechanical emphasis, observe the 10x10x30 cm. aluminum frame for their miniaturized satellite the CubeSat. The team members have to wear gloves so their fingerprints don’t affect the instrumentation. Siepierski, the team leader, said they are planning to have it ready for NASA before Halloween in 2017.
by riley guerzini news@usishield.com @rguerzini
Bryan Mitchell said he needs sleep after helping design USI’s first-ever miniaturized satellite. Mitchell, a junior mechanical engineering major, is in charge of the power subsystem, which generates power throughout the satellite, also known as CubeSat. The official satellite name is the Undergraduate Nano Ionospheric Temperature Explorer (UNITE). The team consists of engineering students with mechanical and electrical backgrounds and three physics students. There are currently 11 members working on the CubeSat project. The team is divided into three categories: spacecraft, instrumentation and ground support equipment. There are 13 total subsystems with cooperation between them. “It’s a wonderful opportunity,” he said. “It’s something that you dream about. It’s not an opportunity that
Journalist analyzes media, election
just jumps on you at every single moment.” Mitchell said he wasn’t a part of the original startup team, but joined it immediately after he received an email over the summer. “This is always something I’ve always wanted to try,” he said. The project officially began Aug. 23 after the team was assembled and is expected to be finished no later than 18 months from the official start date, being ready to launch into orbit by early 2018 at the latest. Mitchell said, however, they would like to have the satellite finished and sent to NASA by December 2017. Once the satellite is completed, the UNITE team plans to send it to NASA who will then either send it as a cargo mission to the international space station for deployment or send it as a secondary payload on a commercial launch vehicle. The objectives of the CubeSat are to conduct space weather measurements in the lower ionosphere with a plasma probe, measure exterior and interior temperatures of the spacecraft and track orbital decay.
by gabi wy
opinion@usishield.com @suruhgrace
features@usishield.com @GabiCWy
Rain drops raced down the freshly washed windows as the chatter filled room hushed to an expectant silence. Brad Byrd, lead news anchor for Eyewitness News, cleared his throat and thanked the room of 20 people for taking the time to hear him speak. Byrd began by explaining that even though social media has the power to do great things in the world, it has a dark side. “I do not know everything when it comes to journalism and the media,” Byrd said. “Especially after this election, I have been forced to reevaluate my knowledge and my understanding of our political system.” Byrd’s speech was to debrief the recent election and how the media’s projections were so off. “How many of you have heard about the 1948 Chicago newspaper headline?”
Carter Hall won’t be Carter Hall Dec. 1-4. Instead, Madrigal Feaste attendees will walk into a Renaissance-style Baron’s Hall, immersed in a fifteenth-century royal feast with the university Chamber Choir. For the 47th annual Madrigal Feaste, sophomore Beronica Ricketts will portray a Jester. “The three jesters are the laughing stock of the kingdom,” the graphic design major and Chamber Choir member said. “We have different skits that we do, such as acting out the 12 Days of Christmas as the choir sings it.” Ricketts said it’s easy for her to get into character, which she’ll need to do as she interacts with the audience during each night’s feast. “I have a bubbly, open personality, and me and the other jesters are always joking around with each
Byrd
byrd, PAGE 3
satellite , PAGE 3
Feaste transports community to Renaissance
by sarah rogers
Byrd asked. “The headline came after the presidential race between Dewy and Truman. Truman won the election, yet the Chicago newspaper released a story with the headline: Dewy defeats Truman.” Byrd explained how the aftermath of this recent election is similar to the 1948 election in some ways. “We were not even close when it came to projecting who would win this election,” Byrd said. “Where did we go wrong?” Kelly McBride, an ad-
Mitchell said there have been problems along the way including a high-altitude balloon test flight. “It didn’t go entirely according to plan, but we always learn from our experiences,” he said. “There are bound to be errors or unfortunate circumstances going forward” He said there is $10,000 of funds allocated from the budget for various problems during design and fabrication. The project is funded by a $200,000 grant from NASA’s Undergraduate Student Instrument Project (USIP). The USIP grant requires that all members of the team are undergraduates and the team be multidisciplinary, which means it cannot be composed of just one set of majors. Senior engineering major John Siepierski said they have received smaller grants from the Indiana Space Grant Consortium and the university endeavor grant to help fund the GPS system, which they added to the CubeSat.
Photo by The Shield
The royal court sings during the 2014 Madrigal Feaste in Carter Hall.
other,” she said. Ricketts said Madrigal Feaste is a bonding experience for the Chamber Choir, and she wants it to also be memorable for the audience. “I think they’re really gonna like it,” she said. “I
want them to come back every year.” It’ll be junior Kyle Leadingham’s third year participating in Madrigal Feaste, this year reprising his role as the Chamberlain. “I greet people and tell them the rules of feast-
ing,” the radio/television major said. “(Playing the Chamberlain) is amazing, and he’s a cool character to be. The baron’s hall is his manor.”
madrigal feaste, PAGE 4
The shield | December 1, 2016 | Usishield.com
2
PUZZLES
For weekly puzzle solutions visit usishield.com/puzzles
Stay connected Editor-in-Chief
812/464-1682 editor@usishield.com
The Shield at USI
Newsroom
Twitter @usishield
812/464-1645 news@usishield.com
Sales
@usishield
812/464-1870 sales@usishield.com
Snapchat usishield
The Shield is the student publication of the University of Southern Indiana. The Shield is a memeber of ACP and ICPA. First copy is free. Additional copies of The Shield are 25 cents.
Work for the Shield Apply online at USIshield.com/work-for-us
Read The Shield every Thursday
COSMETOLOGY & ESTHETICS Financial aid available for students who qualify CLASS START DATES: Cosmetology - Jan 9th, Feb 6th Esthetics - July 3rd www.tspaEvansville.com
Call Now: 812.437.8772 5545 Vogel Road Evansville, IN 47715 admissions@tspaevansville.com
BE CREATIVE CHANGE YOUR LIFE ENROLL NOW
For more information about our graduation rates, the median loan debt of students who completed the program and other important information visit www.tspaevansville.com
zimride.com/usi
RECOGNIZED BY REDKEN FOR
EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION
News
The shield | December 1, 2016 | Usishield.com
3
byrd continued from Page 1 Kelly McBride, an administrative assistant in the college of Liberal Arts said she was interested in attending the event because of her close work with social media. “Listening to an insider view of journalism is fascinating,” McBride said. “I think my biggest take-away from today is that social media is constantly evolving. It is it’s own beast. I don’t think social media is inherently good or bad; it is capable of whatever we use it for.” Byrd spent part of his
speech discussing the rolesocial media, especially Twitter, played into the false projections of the winner of the election. “Not to sound like Trump, but it was huge,” he said. “Especially because of the way journalists used Twitter. It has become all about getting the information out there the quickest. So much error occurs when journalists don’t slow down and evaluate what they are posting.” Byrd said the biggest errors come from multitasking.
“For student journalists, I have a few pieces of advice,” he said. “Take a deep breath and focus on one thing at a time. Be careful what you post on social media. Fact check.” English instructor Jim Hunter said he came to the event because of his personal relationship with Byrd. “I was a little surprised how media centric this talk was,” he said. “Well, maybe I wouldn’t say surprised. I think I was more appalled.” Hunter revealed he is
not on any social media platform. “I get my news the oldfashioned way,” he said. “If that means I get my news a little slower than I would if I were on Twitter or Facebook then that’s fine with me.” Byrd left the audience with the challenge not to take information on social media for face value. “If you are getting the bulk of your information off social media,” Byrd said. “you need to fact check.”
techniques, ensuring appropriate documentation, configuration management, and I was also the thermal engineer for the project,” he said. “I developed the preliminary thermal model and I’m going to be passing that off to our next thermal engineer.” The UNITE team just recently completed its concept design review Nov. 17, which demonstrates to NASA that the project is feasible, reasonable and they have identified various risks and appropriate mitigation strategies. The next deadline for the team is Feb. 24, when the preliminary design review is due. That review is a more detailed design with finalized selections of hardware and more developed software. This will be the first time the team works with the actual hardware. Siepierski said the CubeSat will launch into orbit anywhere between 325 and 425 kilometers. The height of the orbit will affect the
orbit time as Siepierski said at 425 kilometers, the orbit could take as long as a year, while if the satellite is launched at 325 kilometers, it could take only 80 days. “Ideally we would like to be deployed pretty close to our mission region because we don’t want to have a situation where the spacecraft has been deployed but by the time we actually start doing science, a lot of the people will already be graduated,” he said. Siepierski said he is excited about the future of the project even though he will not be able to directly work on it after he graduates at the end of the semester. “This project has definitely been one of the most valuable learning experiences of my entire education,” he said. “We have a really great team of really smart and motivated people and it’s been an absolute pleasure to work with those guys and learn alongside them.”
satellite continued from Page 1
“The purpose of it is to fund projects that will first of all give undergraduate students some hands-on project experience for an actual science mission with real flight hardware,” Siepierski said. “I guess you can say that the general objective of USIP is to develop a workforce that can be prepared to enter the aerospace industry after graduation.” Siepierski said two similar CubeSat missions have been conducted in the ionosphere, but theirs is different because they are taking plasma measurements below 400 kilometers and during solar minimum. Solar minimum is the lowest period of solar activity in the 11-year cycle of the sun. Siepierski said he expects significant differences in data compared to the CubeSats that traveled in solar maximum. “There’s never been anything quite like this at USI before and so it’s also exciting to blaze the trail of bringing this sort of project
to USI,” he said. “To be able to work on an actual space mission with real scientific contributions even before I graduate from undergrad is really fortunate for me.” Siepierski said he attended a small satellite conference in Logan, Utah over the summer before the team began work on the CubeSat. “It was a great experience just to get a feel for the industry and get advice from CubeSat teams that have been doing this for a while now,” he said. Siepierski, the current team leader, said the team meets formally four hours every week in regularly scheduled class time Tuesdays and Thursdays. They also meet outside of class in informal settings, sometimes for eight or nine hours at a time. “As team leader, I have been directing the efforts of each subsystem team, implementing system engineering tools and
Suspicious Circumstances On Campus - Bent Twig Outdoor Education Center 11/15 12:43 a.m.
Criminal Mischief McDonald West Apartments Saletta Building - 924A Eckels Lane 11/18 9:43 p.m.
Code of Conduct - Deception/ Falsification/Misrepresentation McDonald West Apartments Durbin Building 11/15 7:59 a.m.
Fire - Alarm - Cooking McDonald East Apartment - Willard Building - 970 Varsity Drive 11/18 11:00 p.m.
Violation of University Policy Orr Center 11/15 8:44 a.m.
Fire - Alarm - Cooking 313 Governors Hall 11/19 11:14 p.m.
Illness Report Health Professions Center 11/15 11:07 a.m.
Fire - Alarm - Cooking OʼDaniel South Apartments Boon Building - 8027A OʼDaniel Lance 11/20 4:07 p.m.
Theft from Vehicle McDonald West Apartments Durbin Building 11/15 1:40 p.m. Traffic Accident Parking Lot M 11/15 3:05 p.m. Fire - Alarm - Cooking OʼDaniel South Apartments Noble Building - 8057A OʼDaniel Lane 11/15 6:51 p.m. Injury Report OʼDaniel South Apartments Noble Building - 8057A OʼDaniel Lane 11/16 12:46 a.m Fire - False Alarm - Pulled Science Center 11/16 5:49 p.m. Fire - False Alarm (Construction or Other Means) OʼDaniel North Apartments Bowen Building - 827A Crawford Lane 11/16 10:35 p.m. Suspicious Person(s) Education Center 11/17 2:39 p.m. Fire - Alarm - Cooking OʼDaniel South Apartments Boon Building - 8029A OʼDaniel Lane 11/17 10:05 p.m. Injury Report Bent Twig Outdoor Education Center - Outdoor Restrooms 11/18 5:57 p.m.
Fire - Alarm - Cooking University Center East 11/20 5:44 p.m. Found Property Report Parking Lot B 11/21 5:00 a.m. Lost Property Report Business and Engineering Center 11/21 2:35 p.m. Fire - False Alarm (Construction or other means) OʼDaniel South Apartments Boon Building - 8024A OʼDaniel Lane 11/21 5:57 p.m. Fire - False Alarm (Construction or other means) OʼDaniel South Apartments Boon Building - 8025B OʼDaniel Lane 11/21 11:02 p.m. Incident Report (Information Only) OʼDaniel South Apartments Noble Building - 8060B OʼDaniel Lane 11/22 7:08 a.m. Incident Report (Information Only) OʼDaniel South Apartments Boon Building - 8026B OʼDaniel Lane 11/22 8:48 a.m. Fire - Alarm - Cooking McDonald West Apartments Saletta Building - 912B Eckels Lane 11/22 6:41 p.m.
Code of Conduct - Traffic Violation McDonald West Apartments Ralston Building 11/23 4:11 a.m. Code of Conduct - Disruption - Class Health Professions Center 11/23 8:43 a.m. Fire - Faulty Alarm Support Services Center 11/23 2:37 p.m. Theft OʼDaniel North Apartments Leslie Building - 7900A Mahrenholz Road 11/27 3:39 p.m. Illness Report Science Center 11/28 8:35 a.m. Drug Offenses - Drugs - Incident McDonald West Apartments Durbin Building - 905A Eckels Lane 11/28 11:29 a.m. Incident Report (Information Only) McDonald West Apartments Durbin Building - 905A Eckels Lane 11/28 3:34 p.m. Harassment University Center West 11/28 9:38 p.m. Dating Violence University Center West 11/28 9:38 p.m. Stalking University Center West 11/28 9:38 p.m. Welfare Check Residence Life Office - 839 Pruis Lane 11/28 10:52 p.m. Illness Report McDonald West Apartments Branch Building - 800A McDonald Lane 11/29 3:40 a.m.
Information gathered from USIʼs Public Crime Log, provided by USI Safety and Security.
could you put an ad in this spot?
by riley guerzini news@usishield.com @rguerzini
With rising membership over the course of the semester, SGA released its remaining budget for the year, keeping in mind the cost of its new members. SGA President Ashley Wright said she is pleased with the participation for the 2016-17 SGA. “There has never been more than (about) 30 people,” she said. Wright said she was especially pleased with the full University Court, which includes the chief justice and six associate justices. SGA currently has 53 members with 11 available positions with the maximum number of members being 54. “It doesn’t mean that we can’t add or we can’t take away,” Wright said. Wright said SGA has worked to solve this problem by combining multiple positions into one. “Having a full SGA is a really good thing for us to accomplish, but each seat in here is a really expensive seat,” financial officer Aaron McCollough said. McCollough said mem-
bers receive polos, T-shirts, name tags, name tents, trips and training procedures, fall retreat, fall banquet and office benefits, which can amount to over $100 in student money for each representative. SGA’s internal budget is $18,236.20, which includes Officer Development, Office and Administration and Salaries according to SGA’s remaining budget report. “Adding this many more people could push us into the red and that does definitely start pulling from external money,” he said. The external budget totals $51,622.43 of which $40,650 is utilized for grants. There are three types of grants including travel, start-up and Student Organization Support. The Travel grant is the most heavily funded one with $27,150 allocated from the grant total. McCollough said he wants SGA to be selective with its members and efficiency should be the key, not membership. “In our constitution and bylaws we can’t write a quality-amendment,” he said. “A small delegation can meet the same requirements as a large delegation.”
briefs
USI Security Incident Log 11/15/16 - 11/26/16
SGA focuses on membership, budget
Multi-business owner to participate in speaker series Chairman and founder of Academic Partnerships and Whitney University System Randy Best will give his presentation “Entrepreneurship-A Way of Life” Tuesday, Dec. 6 at 10:30 a.m. in university Center Room 2217. Best, the founder of over 100 privately and publicly held companies, founded the two higher education companies to increase access through technology and expand post-secondary education through technology. Best will speak as a part of the Romain College of Business Entrepreneur’s Perspective Speaker Series, which highlights connections between entrepreneurship and education.
McCutchan Art Center to showcase Efroymson Bridge Year Fellow The McCutchan Art Center/ Pace Galleries will feature the work of university alumnus Jenna Rueger. Ruegar, a fellow of the competitively funded award program The Efroymson Bridge Year Fellowship, pieced together photographs, fabric designs and digital products from the past year for the exhibit. The fellowship is fund-
ed through the Efroymson Family Fund of the Central Indiana Community Foundation. The exhibit will be open from Wednesday, Dec 7 to Jan. 16, 2017. A free public reception for Ruegar will be held Dec. 7 at 7 p.m.
Commencement Ceremonies set for Dec. 10 Two Fall Commencement ceremonies will be held in the Physical Activities Center (PAC) for 595 students. The morning ceremony at 10 a.m. will be for Pott College of Science, Engineering and Education and the College of Nursing and Health Professions. The College of Liberal Arts and the Romain College of Businss will hold commencement at 1 p.m. A graduation reception will be held on the first floor of University Center East following each ceremony. The reception is sponsored by the university Alumni Association and is free for graduates, guests and university faculty and staff. Doors will open one hour prior to each ceremony.
Indiana Governor awards Historic New Harmony Director with Sagamore of the Wabash Governor Mike Pence gave director of the uni-
versity’s Historic New Harmony Connie Weinzapfel the Sagamore of the Wabash award, one of the highest awards in the state, at Historic New Harmony’s Advisory Board meeting in November. Weinzapfel, a 1978 graduate, said she was surprised by the award and praised New Harmony for giving her the opportunity to receive the award. Weinzapfel was appointed director of Historic New Harmony after serving 11 years as director of the New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art. Other recipients of the award include John Gregg, David Letterman and Jeff Gordon.
Shakespeare lecture to take place today
The College of Liberal Arts and the Department of Performing Arts is bringing Matt Wallace to Campus today at 6 p.m in the USI Performance Center. The event is free and open to the public. His lecture will be titled “Shakespeare Behind Bars” and will discuss the power reading Shakespeare has over prisoners. He was the artistic director for the outreach effort which took place at the Luther Luckett Correctional Complex located near Lousivill, Kentucky. “Wallace’s work provides a compelling narrative that underscores the value of the arts at all levels of our society” said Eliot Wasserman, professor of theatre and chair of USI’s Performing Arts Department in a news release.
Become a sales consultant usishield.com/work-for-us
4
Features
The shield | December 1, 2016 | Usishield.com
One novel, one month Students join in National Novel Writing Month by GABI WY
features@usishield.com @GabiCWy
Photo by Jordan auker | The Shield
University students enjoy the holiday lights that brightened up the quad after singing Christmas carols during the 26th annual Lighting a Tradition November 23. Students, family, friends and alumni participated in the ugly sweater contest, cookie decorating and holiday card making. Participants were able to donate hats and scarves to a local shelter, sponsored by the Student Alumni Association.
madrigal feaste continued from Page 1
Photo by The Shield
The royal court gives a toast to the crowd during the 2014 Madrigal Feaste in Carter Hall. This year the event will enter its 47th year.
To become the Chamberlain, Leadingham develops a thick Irish accent and speaks with a regal tone. “As the audience eats, we’re singing to them,” he said. “No matter what, they’re interacted with. The jesters play games with them and I pick audience members to dance.” Leadingham said the preparation for Madrigal Feaste started in October, and it’s the Chamber Choir’s biggest fundraiser
of the year. This year, the funds will pay for the choir to travel to Poland and participate in a music festival. “As we’ve been working together, we’ve come together as friends and teammates,” he said. Sophomore political science major Clay Steenbergen, playing Lord O’Connor, also said Madrigal Feaste is a bonding experience for the choir. “The extensive time we spend together preparing for
Madrigal has really made us have a family feel,” he said. Steenbergen said switching from being a college student to a Renaissance lord is a lot of fun for him. “It’s a switch of the mind,” he said. “I tweak certain gestures and mannerisms to get into character.” After all the preparation, Steenbergen said he hopes attendees come to Madrigal Feaste with an open mind. “I always hope they get
something out of it, whether that be a laugh or a smile,” he said. “Good memories are my number one thought.” Like Ricketts, he hopes people keep coming back. “(Madrigal Feaste) is a really great way for us to be able to reach out to the community, and for them to know us,” he said. “It brings people together.”
After participating in National Novel Writing Month, Sam Morris has no trouble writing essays for school. “With four page papers, I write more than that in a day now,” the senior English major said. “Even ten page papers are pretty easy.” Every November, NaNoWriMo participants tackle the same goal--write a full-length novel, or 50,000 words of original content. They bond through nanowrimo.org’s discussion boards, where writers can bounce ideas off of each other, learn more about others and challenge each other to write more. Morris’ novel’s genre is fantasy, but he said it’s different from most fantasy that exists. He pulled from his own experiences in the Air Force translating Arabic. “Fantasy is usually set in a European world,” he said. “What I did was design my own Arabic fantasy. Instead of dragons and Christianity, I used Islam to create a unique feel.” This is Morris’ second year participating in NaNoWriMo. He finished last year at 51,000 words, and this year, even after the month is over, he wants to reach 80,000 words with his novel. It’s a challenge for him as he also juggles working full-time, attending classes and raising three children. “I find myself in class writing down mythology (for my fantasy world),” Morris said. “It’s fun to go down these rabbit holes, and it’s hard to snap back sometimes.” As of Nov. 29, he had 46,779 words. “I really enjoy doing NaNo,” Morris said. “I’ll keep doing it until I fail.” Morris is one of a diverse group of students participating in NanoWriMo. The Student Writers Union gathered every Tuesday this November in the Rice Library to work on their novels. Some of the student
writers decided to make their novels connect with a common theme. “We’re doing this collaborative novel mix,” sophomore Maggy “M” Moore said. “We’re writing about a writer’s utopia and exploring utopian society.” The communications major said the idea sparked during the Student Writers Union’s retreat in New Harmony. About ten of the members are collaborating in the utopia concept. “We write separately, but we’ll try to tie it together somehow,” Moore said. It’s Moore’s first year attempting NaNo, but she said it certainly won’t be her last. “I’ve learned time management,” she said, “and I’ve definitely gotten closer to people in the Student Writers Union.” Senior English education major Lauren Abney said this year’s group of NaNoWriMo participants at the university are the most productive she’s ever seen. “A lot of people are focused and staying on task,” she said. “It’s more serious compared to previous years.” Abney is writing a young adult novel with dystopian and utopian themes. It departs from her usual work, as she considers herself more a poet than a fiction writer. “I’ve already been published with poetry,” she said, “but seeing a larger piece of fiction published would be amazing.” While she’s a participant now, Abney would like to incorporate NaNo into her future career. “When hopefully I’ve figured out the whole process of NaNo, I hope to take it into my future classroom to do with students,” she said. As for now, Abney said the participants she writes with help each other become better writers. “NaNo is communal and a lot of fun,” she said. “It’s competitive, but we encourage each other, we support each other, and we push each other past what we think we can do.”
1,000 hours un-scene by TAYLOR O’Neil HALL tohall@eagles.usi.edu
Sunday, Nov. 20, marked the completion of the University of Southern Indiana’s production of “Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play.” The final showing took place in the Performance Center three days after the show premiered Nov. 17. What the audience didn’t see on stage was the array of students that helped refine the production from behind the scenes and the 1,000 hours worth of work they put into the play. “I would approximate 1,000 man hours over three weeks. This does not include the rehearsal time for the actors,” said Paul Weimer, the Resident Scenic Designer in the Performing Arts Department as well as an assistant professor of theatre at USI. For four consecutive days, the audience was given a three-hour show. “The running time is 2:30:00 plus two 15-minute intermissions for a total of
three-hours,” said Weimer. Within those three-hours, the audience was also given the chance to witness the cast of USI students transform into characters from the play. Students Cameron Ward and Craig Belwood took on multiple roles throughout the show. Outside of the cast, there are eight different student labs that serve a function throughout the production of each play and are comprised of theatre majors and minors, Kevin Grey, facilities coordinator of the Performance Center, said. “Essentially I run the day-to-day operations of the theatre and take care of scheduling events,” Grey said. “I also work as the resident sound specialist, mentoring students in sound lab, providing sound designs for shows, or helping student designers.” All the labs have one thing in common: the amount of time that each student must dedicate to them.
“If you’re taking them as a course, which is called theater lab, you must do six hours a week, on top of three weekends a semester, and strike, which is when you tear down the sets and put things back in the shops after the final performance is over,” said Mikala Sisson, a senior minoring in Theatre Arts, current member of the props lab and a former member of the sound lab in 2015. Each of the eight labs offers its own unique task for the students to complete, such as paint lab where the students take part in painting the sets. “My responsibilities in the paint lab are to obviously paint the sets based on what the designer has given us,” said Aimee Bonnet, a senior theatre major who has been a member of the paint lab since last year. “I specifically mentor and guide the other students in their learning of technique and style in order to have a cohesive product. I am also
given the liberty to give suggestions on how to approach the design.” Bonnet’s responsibilities as a member of the paint lab differ from someone working in the props lab or the sound lab. “As a member of the props lab, I put together or take apart a massive amount of props. Basically, I’m expected to make a prop out of what they give me so that it matches what’s expected as the prop in the script,” Sisson said. “In the script, they will give you how to lay out the set, and you can adjust accordingly.” She said it is the same with props. The ultimate goal is to match the design to the script. “My responsibilities in sound lab are assisting the sound designer in whatever they need to get done,” said Ashley Allen, a junior majoring in theatre who has been a member of the lighting, props and sound labs during her time at USI. Being a member of one
of the labs is a way for the students that aren’t pursuing acting while at USI to still take part in the production of a show. “I am first and foremost a performer but, I also have a background in art. Being a part of paint lab allows me to still explore and channel my creativity in that area. It is amazing to know that we are the ones creating the visual atmosphere for the audience and actors. It gives a sense of accomplishment when everything ties together and I know I had a part in the final product,” Bonnet said. Even though the students that work towards getting the play ready for the night of the showing aren’t directly praised by the audience once the show is over, they still receive recognition from their peers. “I do feel like I get enough recognition for my contributions on the plays. We are all very aware of everyone’s contributions and make sure that each is
appreciated and supported. Theatre is a family” Bonnet said. No matter what aspect of the production each student is a part of, they all have their own reasons for wanting to be in the theatre department. “I have been in productions (not here at USI) where stage managers have been rude to actors and treated us as such,” Allen said. He said not having to memorize lines helps him give 110 percent to his work. “It’s kind of cool to be a part of something and it’s a good lesson into what goes into a show, and how many people it takes to build a production,” Sisson said. “I like working behind the scenes, because it makes me feel like I’m a part of the end production, even though I’ll never actually be on the stage.”
The shield | December 1, 2016 | Usishield.com
5
International Extravaganza highlights diversity
Photo by jordan auker | The Shield
Left: All of the representatives from different countries and cultures line up to show off their nation’s flag. During this event, there were multiple booths open to everyone so they could recognize and experience all the different activities and events that can occur in the country. Top right: Kenneth Zaldivar, a sophomore exercise science: pre-track to physical therapy major from Honduras said he chose the university because of the “great staff and campus.” Bottom right: Dilek Ocak, a first semester graduate communications major, represents Turkey’s flag. Ocak traveled from Istanbul to come to the university because of the “great staff and beautiful campus,” she said.
REVIEW
‘Mr. Burns’ lacking crucial spark
Mr. Burns: a postelectric play is, in a word, problematic. Set mere weeks after a virus wipes away most of humanity, “Mr. Burns” opens with several survivors sitting around a campfire reminiscing about an episode of “The Simpsons,” distracting themselves from fears of nuclear fallout. After surviving and establishing a world in which acting troupes wander the wasteland performing old television episodes from memory to other survivors, the play jumps ahead 75 years, showing a third act comprised entirely of a twisted fairy tale version of the fan favorite “Simpsons” episode based on “Cape Fear.” Adorned in freakish primal masks vaguely resembling “Simpsons” characters, the future survivors tell a twisted interpretation of the apocalyptic event intertwined with “Simpsons” mythology. As bizarre and unforgettable a visual as the final act may be, the first act slides by at a sluggish pace. Because of many supposedly dramatic pauses I found myself having to mentally tune back into the actors’ speech instead of listening to the chorus of metallic groans that quietly
‘Fantastic Beasts’ enjoyable but lacks substance In theaters now
she was still genuinely sobbing as the cast stood for their curtain call. Special commendation should be given to Nicholas Smith, whose work on the lighting was nothing short of spectacular. Smith’s magic created the most impressive use of the Performance Center I’ve seen: harnessing the color changing lights of the room’s walls to display low-resolution news broadcasts. filled the theater from the audience awkwardly shifting in their seats. It says a lot about the writing quality of a play involving “The Simpsons” when the only gags that genuinely got laughter from much of the audience were lifted in their entirety from an episode of “The Simpsons,” while jokes created entirely by the play would nearly create a wooshing sound as they flew without a single titter. Which created an awkward atmosphere when the actors delivered powerful performances. I didn’t know how to handle watching something engaging blossom out of a boring scene. One actor, Aimee Grace, seemed to delve so deep into portraying the tragic post-apocalyptic version of Bart Simpson
BY gavin gaddis
With such jaw-dropping moments as Smith’s light show, it’s obvious the problematic nature of “Mr. Burns” is not the crew’s fault. They did their damndest to put on a good show while the show seems hell bent on being avant-garde, even to a selfdestructive degree. “Mr. Burns” feels more like a play one would catch for next to nothing in an east coast university town, written and produced by a post-grad who thinks they’re the next Lin-Manuel Miranda. An experiment, something to see and move on from as soon as you leave the door. Much like an early episode of “The Simpsons,” I don’t think much will remain in my memory banks except the dark twisted visages of the characters.
I wanted to love this movie. A film within the Harry Potter universe, but a different era and country set “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” to explore the magic millions love without messing with the established setting of the original series. However, I left with more questions, not a new story. Perhaps that can be solved with the other planned installments in the “Fantastic Beasts” series, but I’m a bit exasperated to think about watching four more of these movies. Ex-Hogwarts student and magizoologist Newt Scamander, played by Eddie Redmayne, arrives in New York with a briefcase of magical creatures. Those fantastic beasts escape from the bag, and Scamander must corral them all back into the bag with as little havoc wreaked as possible. That seems to be the plot of this movie, but it’s not. Whilst Scamander is gathering his beasts and meeting characters we somehow don’t have enough time to see develop in a two hour movie, there’s other, dangerous supernatural happenings taking place in New York. Caught in tensions with Muggles, or NoMaj’s as the U.S. wizards dubbed them, the American Ministry of Magic tries to pin the disasters on Scamander’s escaped beasts. The real threat in the plot comes from something
we’ve never seen in the Harry Potter universe before---the “Obscurus.” Without going into major plot details, an “Obscurus” develops when a child born with magic represses his or her powers, creating an uncontrollable dark entity that, according to Scamander, usually kills children before age 10. However, that made me ask, “Why isn’t the Obscurus more common? Why isn’t disaster happening all over the world?” After all, Harry Potter didn’t find out he was magical until he was 11; thus, he had to repress it to seem normal. He wasn’t the only child like that. If my previous point is too stickler or particular for the average movie-goer who might have really enjoyed the film, I understand. However, one of the strengths of the seven books and eight Harry Potter films was the continuity of the universe. The world was so well-established in Rowl-
Rating 3/5 BY Gabi wy
ing’s imagination, and fans learned parts of it along with the students at Hogwarts. This movie lacked in that world consistency. I was constantly trying to wrap my head around new ideas while also taking in new characters we know either nothing or very little about. While unfamiliar characters like Tina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston) and Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler) have incredibly endearing moments, swoopy aerial camera movements and comical beast-chasing replaced character development time. Oh, and there’s a plot twist at the end that lacks the substance to pay off. It wasn’t a bad movie. “Fantastic Beasts” is animated incredibly well, making the magical creatures that don’t exist look pretty real. The plot is interesting enough to be an enjoyable watch, and there’s plenty of comic relief with the creatures. We even got to see Redmayne perform a notso-seductive mating dance with a rhinoceros-like creature. However, there was too much expectation riding on this movie for me, and, I’m sure, other fans. I know J.K. Rowling wrote the screenplay herself, but perhaps it should have been left at the end of the last Potter film. Even so, like an addict going for the lower quality stuff because the good’s run out, God knows I’ll go see the rest of this darned series.
6
Opinion
The shield | December 1, 2016 | Usishield.com
Illustration by Philip Kuhns | The Shield
BookIt! abused by sarah rogers
opinion@usishield.com @suruhgrace
Shaking the rain off my hood, I made my way up the stairs of the library and into the study room I had reserved. I caught the eye of my friend whom I planned to meet to study with as we made our way into the two-person room. “I cannot believe it,” junior special and elementary education major Whitney Mosier said as she plopped her oversized backpack on the ground. “What happened?” I asked. I looked up and adjusted my glasses that had slid partway down my nose. “Oh, nothing happened,” Mosier said. “But when we were walking into our study room did you not notice three of the four group study rooms only had one person in them?” I admitted I had not paid attention, but I continued to think about what
she said long after we both began our work. Mosier’s observation reminded me of comments other USI students have made regarding study rooms; comments such as it is not fair that one or two people can take up a study room intended for six or more people. “Study rooms are intended for people to study as a group and discuss their work,” Mosier said. “It does not make any sense that one person can take a study room. Why do they need a study room? The rest of the library is full of tables they can do their work independently at.” I could not help but agree with Mosier’s logic. I think the study rooms are an ingenious idea: giving groups of people a place where they can study and talk without disturbing other people in the library. Yet, I think that luxury is being abused. Recently, the USI library created a program called Book It. Book It allows
students to reserve study rooms in advance so they know for sure they will have a place for their group. Yet, the program has no way of seeing if more than one person will be using the room; creating a problem of a single person reserving an entire study room all to themselves with little difficulty. In the words of my high school brother: “This is why we can’t have nice things.” I disagree with that statement to the extent that I think we can have nice things if we use them in the way they are intended to be used. To put it simply, if you are planning to go to the library alone, be courteous and don’t reserve a study room if it is only for yourself. Save the study rooms for groups of friends who want to study together. We have nice things, my fellow students. Let’s keep it that way.
THE
Think about Hartke by brandon cole
bscole@eagles.usi.edu
Drinking has become a rite of passage in America, but if people are not careful that choice can impact their life and others. Three members of the Rinehart family from Newburgh had their lives cut short because of the actions of one young man who chose to drink and drive. Ruth (74), Sophie (17) and her father David (46), passed away on that day. Josie (18) was the only Rinehart survivor. Their Honda Civic sat on the side of the road after hitting a deer around 3:22 a.m. Mason Hartke, a 19-yearold Jasper resident who was
visiting friends in Bloomington, chose to drink and then get behind the wheel of a Chevy Colorado. Before the Indiana State Trooper could make it to the scene at 3:59 a.m., Hartke’s truck slammed into the small car at a speed exceeding 70 miles-per-hour. Hartke broke his arm in the wreck and will face a laundry list of charges, including three counts of operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing death and three counts of reckless homicide. Two hours after the wreck took place, Hartke blew a 0.16 which is twice the legal limit. Hartke had his whole life ahead of him. No doubt this night of drinking will detour
his future plans. Josie will no longer get to hear her father lead worship service or spend time with the members of her family that died that day. People have the right to do what they want, but not everything is beneficial or constructive. “No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.” 1 Corinthians 10:23-24. I am not telling you that you cannot drink, because I don’t try to push my beliefs on others, but that verse in Corinthians really struck me hard after reading of David’s death. Certainly we live in a society where we are free. We have the right to do as
we please-for the most part. However, not every action bears positive fruit or leads down a positive path. Before committing to an action that is self-pleasing, ask yourself if it may harm another. If you choose to drink, do it responsibly. Always have a designated driver before the night begins. Also, remember that not everyone drinks alcohol. Being able to say no to peer pressure builds character. We are in the holiday season. Christmas is around the corner and then New Year’s Eve. Many people will engage in drinking alcohol and this means there is a high likelihood that someone on the road may be impaired
at some time during your travels. Don’t increase your odds of heartache by making it you. I want you to think about the Rineharts, but also of Hartke. You have to be careful with freedom. Not all of your choices may be beneficial or constructive. I wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year. I also pray that you keep it safe and think of others. Please don’t drink and drive. Call 911 to report possibly impaired drivers. Keep it safe. I hope to see you all again on campus after the holidays.
SHIELD Editorial Board Sarah Loesch Editor-in-Chief Riley Guerzini News Editor Gabi Wy Features Editor Sarah Rogers Opinion Editor NOW HIRING Sports Editor Nigel Meyer Chief Copy Editor Jessica Stallings Visual Editor
S ta f f NOW HIRING Special Publications Manager Abigail Stanley Page Designer Philip Kuhns Illustrator Megan Thorne Chief Photographer
A Pence perspective by gracie poynter
ghpoynter@eagles.usi.edu
3:32 a.m. Nov. 8 was the last time the Pence family woke up without the knowledge that their brother, uncle or son would be the 48th Vice President of the United States. Election day has to be one of the most newsworthy days in American History, but for me it was personal. Mike Pence, Governor of Indiana and Vice President Elect, is my uncle. Traveling to New York City Election Day was nothing short of hectic. From flying into Newark, traveling on train into the city and walking 20 blocks to meet up with other members of the Pence family along with other Trump/Pence support-
ers later that night. My first thought was to take a nap, it was going to be a long night. Unfortunately, my aunts and uncles had a different plan and decided to take a quick trip to Trump Tower. From there we walked back to our base camp and hid ourselves for the remainder of the afternoon. CNN and Fox News were constantly on our TV screens as we lounged around. Twenty-one other Pences were present that evening. I was surrounded by cousins, aunts, uncles and my grandmother. My grandmother had arrived with my Uncle Michael and his family later on in the day on what is called “Trump Force 2.”
The moment they finally arrived to the Hilton in NYC, they made their way up to be with other members of the Pence family before the hectic night began. My family and I exchanged final hugs before the big news came, shared laughs with each other and cried a little about how proud we were no matter the outcome. We prayed, he answered a phone call from Trump himself, hugged us all and departed for preparations. My cousin Emily and I did quick errands in downtown New York for the family, ate and got into our black-tie outfits. The entire time, it was surreal to think that I was dressing up to watch my uncle become a leader of
the United States and hopefully be put on a list of men that I had grown up learning about in history. I put on all my required badges and was escorted to a VIP viewing room to wait. A couch away watching with my family was, Rudy Giuliani and other important figures that I know have been supporters since the beginning. Hours pass by, and we won Florida, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas and other crucial states. Once we got confirmation that we had officially won Florida we were shipped off to a different area where we awaited the final result. Screaming, shouting, hugging and crying circulated the room. My mom was hugging her brothers
and my grandmother was hugging her nieces and nephews. Pence later walked in from the balcony and looked at his family and cried. My uncle, Mike Pence, had become the 48th Vice President of the United States. He would be put into history books, move to Washington DC, and serve next to Donald J. Trump in the White House. No doubt that Uncle Mike will continue to make us all proud. My day ended at 4:32 am Nov. 9 with puffy eyes, proud hearts and a box of pizza.
Gavin Gaddis Community Engagement Manager
Sales & Marketing S ta f f Anthony Ross Sales & Marketing Director Olivia Meyer Business Manager NOW HIRING Marketing Manager Tessa Holcomb Sales Consultant Danielle VanHooser Layout & Design Coordinator Gavin Gaddis Circulation Manager Opinions expressed in unsigned editorials represent a consensus opinion of the editorial board
Sports
The shield |December 1, 2016 | Usishield.com
Conference Commences
Men’s Basketball 4-0 The men’s basketball team will head into conference play 4-0 including the team’s win against longtime rival Kentucky Wesleyan University. That win was the last game the Eagles played before having some time off before the game today. Right now the team is averaging 89.3 points per game with 35 rebounds. The team has two team members who have received player of the week honors so far this season. Sophomore guard Alex Stein took the honor after the team’s victories during the GLVC/GLIAC Challenge. He is currently averaging 23.5 points per game and leads the team in assists. Junior Jeril Taylor earned the first player of the week accolade of his career after the wins during the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic. He is currently leading the team in three-point field goals and steals. After the team’s win against Kentucky Wesleyan Stein said Taylor was the best scorer he has ever played with. “He is a heck of a player,” Stein said. “It’s incredible what he can do with the ball in his hands.”
by Sarah loesch
editor@usishield.com @seloesch
The men’s and women’s basketball teams start Great Lakes Valley Conference play today in Leb-
anon, Il. Both teams start the conference facing McKendree University. The McKendree men’s team will head into the game 2-2 and the women’s team is 4-1. The men’s team is tied
7-7 in its overall series with the McKendree team. The women’s team has it’s past four GLVC openers and are 10-7 overall for conference starts under head coach Rick Stein.
Leading averages per game
23.5 points
6.5 rebounds
3.5 three-pointers
Women’s Basketball Leading averages per game
5-1 The women’s basketball team 5-1 after losing its last game against Michigan Technological University this past Sunday. The women’s team is averaging 84.3 points per game and 46.3 rebounds. The team’s defense has helped propel it to the five wins of this season, with the team averaging 12 steals and 5 blocks per game. Assistant coach Randa Dallas said at the beginning of the year the team would utilize its full court press defense throughout the season. “I think our full-court pressure is going to be a great defense for us,” she said. “The girls believe in it. It brings a lot of intensity to the game.” The Eagles have held three of its opponents to under 50 points, including The University of Alabama in Huntsville which it held to seven points in the second half. The Eagles have also had two games this season where they have eclipsed 100 points including the season opener where they scored 108.
14 points
7.8 rebounds
3.2 assists
@seloesch
Follow on Twitter for live coverage of men’s and women’s home games.
7
8
The shield | December 1, 2016 | Usishield.com
Scores
Upcoming Games WOmen’s Basketball
WOMen’s Basketball Dec. 1 5:30 p.m. McKendree University Lebanon, IL Dec. 3 1 p.m. University of Illinois Springfield Springfield IL
Wayne State University
Nov. 20 44-106
USI
Florida Southern College
Nov. 18 94-108
USI
Hannibal-LaGrange University
Nov. 22 37-83
USI
Kentucky Wesleyan College
Nov. 19 81-85
USI
Young Harris College
Nov. 26 41-81
USI
Nov. 27 79-61
USI
Michigan Technological University
Men’s Basketball
men’s Basketball
men’s Cross Country NCAA II Championships 13th of 32 teams
WOmen’s Cross Country
Dec. 1 7:30 p.m. McKendree University Lebanon, IL Dec. 3 3 p.m. University of Illinois Springfield Springfield IL
NCAA II Championships 5th of 32 teams
briefs Women’s tennis signs early player The women’s tennis team will add Anna McDonald to the 2017-18 roster. McDonald is from Tallahassee, Fl. where she is a four-time letter winner. “Anna will be a great fit for my team next fall,” Porter said in a news release. “She brings strong tennis skills and a super-pleasant disposition, plus a real desire to continue improving
Now hiring Sports Editor
her tennis. I believe she will thrive in a fun, competitive team environment.” She was the Big Bend Player of the Year in 2014 and has made two appearances in the semi-finals of the state double tournament.
Women’s basketball signs new recruit Imani Guy signed a national letter of intent with
the women’s basketball team for the 2017-18 season. The forward out of Columbus, Ohio was named a three-star recruit according to ESPN.com. Audrey Turner, a center, and Emma DeHart, a guard, are also early signers with the Eagle’s team.
Women’s cross country fifth place at NCAA Championships
The women’s cross country team ended the NCAA Division II Women’s Cross Country Championship with the best finish it has ever had. Junior Emily Roberts placed fifth individually for the second-consecutive year. She ended the race with a time of 20 minutes 35 seconds. Senior Jessica Reeves finished ninth with a time of 20 minutes 30.40 seconds.
Grow skills in: writing communication Interviewing
usishield.com/work-for-us
Housing Closes Wednesday, December 14, 2016 Housing and Residence Life closes at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, ay, December 14, 2016. Residents who have not received approval to stay late or stay during ring winter break must leave 24 hours after their last final or by 6 p.m. on December 14, whichever comes first.
WEDNESDAY A FINA FINALS If you have a latee afternoon or evening final oon Wednesday day, December 14, 2016, 016, you can wait to leave for winter break b by noon on Thursday, hursday, December 15, 22016. 6. However, est form.. you must submit thee online stay la late request
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: RAs will be conducting room inspections to ensure all residents have left housing. Students who are discovered living on campus without authorization may face disciplinary action along with an additional $300 fine. USI maintenance staff will be conducting room inspections during winter break checking thermostats, weather radios and fire extinguishers. Room inspections will take place December 15-23 and January 3-6. Any resident violating a Housing and Residence Life and Food Service contract policy could have their extension immediately revoked and face disciplinary procedures.
REQUEST DEADLINE DEA
NOTE:
Deadline ine to request to stay la late or stay over is Friday, December cember 9.
Residents with permanent residences in Vanderburgh, Warrick, Posey, Gibson, Henderson (KY), White (IL), or Gallatin (IL) counties are not eligible to stay after the December 14, 2016, deadline.
RESIDENTS NOT OT SSTAYING DURING WINTER T FOLLOWING PRIOR TO BREAK MUST DO THE ECE DECEMBER 14, 2016: Clean their apartment/suite thoroughly, Unplug all electrical appliances, except for stoves, dishwashers, and University-provided refrigerators, Remove any belongings from a vacant spot in the apartment/suite so that new residents can move in for the spring semester, Turn heater to LOW, Remove all perishable food items from cabinets and refrigerators. * Residents not returning to housing for spring 2017 should remove all personal items, clean their space and officially check out with their RA
Find everything you need to know about winter break online at www.usi.edu/housing/2016-fallclosing-information. Residents will also receive additional information via their resident assistants, email, and social media.