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T h u r s d a y, F e b r u a r y 2 3 , 2 0 1 7 | U s i s h i e l d . c o m | v o l . 4 7 i s s u e 2 4
SGA elects new president
Library unveils strategic plan Additional popular fiction, lower level main focus
by Riley Guerzini news@usishield.com @rguerzini
The Student Government Association elected Christina Lutes as the organization’s new president following the resignation of former president Ashley Wright three weeks ago. Interim president Ashlyn Jones will step down and re-
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Being an economics major, I love making decisions, especially the big ones. -Christina Lutes SGA President
turn to her duties as executive vice president. Lutes will serve as president for the remainder of the semester. Lutes, a junior economics major, started as a Romain College of Business representative last year before becoming the associate vice
Lutes
president of University Affairs this year. “I had some people that were pushing me to run, and I thought I could fit the bill very well because I already attend SGA events or make SGA events,” she said. Lutes said former AVP of University Affairs Damien Burge instilled in her the confidence to pursue her goals. “Being an economics major, I love making decisions, especially the big ones, and I think this new role will bring that out in me,” she said. “I’ve always wanted people to look up to me and appreciate some of the work that I’ve been doing.” She said she gained experience from her time running a babysitting company along with her involvement in organizations like the Habitat for Humanity, but withdrew from these activities to spend more time on SGA.
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illistration by philip Kuhns | The Shield
The Rice Library announced their new strategic plan for 2017-2021 last week. Among the plans are the addition of more popular fiction titles, increased faculty outreach, expanding the uses of the lower level of the library and replacing part-time staff with full-time staff.
by riley guerzini news@usishield.com @rguerzini
The Rice Library released its strategic plan for 2017-2021 last week focusing on four objectives: collections, services, spaces and staff. The strategic plan is the library’s second, the first one was set for 2010-2016 and was one of the last objectives of the previous library director, Ruth Miller. “I was really happy and thankful that that was in place,” current Director of Rice Library Marna Hostetler said. “It was very helpful as I was interviewing and preparing to come work for the library.” One objective for the strategic plan is the addition of more popular fiction books.
The collection of over 500 titles will be loaned to the Rice Library through the Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library. Hostetler said the library will have a year-long trial run before making any permanent decisions. “We are going to see how it goes,” she said. “We will track the numbers and see if people like it.” Another objective for the library is further outreach to faculty, including space for faculty receptions. “We are hoping to hire a librarian who will work on scholarly communication issues, and this person will work closely with faculty on things like retaining author rights when they publish articles.” Hostetler said. “Libraries are changing, but publishing is changing very quickly and
rapidly, so this is part of that transition to digital that we’ve been seeing for some time now.” The strategic plan also includes expanding the use of the lower level of the library. Hostetler said the library is looking to keep the lower level open until midnight year-round, as it currently closes at 9 p.m. Hostetler said this will open up more study space in the library, but she is hesitant to keep it open until 2 a.m. like the rest of the library due to safety concerns in the lower level after midnight. “There is a known war for study rooms on the second, third and fourth floors, so if you leave it open until midnight, I don’t think there will be as much of a problem with people fighting for study rooms,”
SGA, PAGE 3
library student worker Joycelynn Witherspoon said. “I think the biggest problem currently is the study rooms and study spaces. I think with the new BookIt! System, it hasn’t been as much of a problem, but just having more study spaces would be very beneficial.” The last objective of the strategic plan is replacing part-time staff with full-time staff. Hostetler said the change would not happen until fall of 2017. She said the idea was also implemented into the first strategic plan. There are currently 10 part-time staff working at Rice Library. “I think it will be a lot easier for the communication between library staff,” Witherspoon said. Hostetler said the plan will continue without any
Library. PAGE 3
Alumni faring differently since graduation
Photo courtesy of Taylor Hall
Graduates sit during the 2016 spring graduatin ceremony and listen to an address. The university holds two graduation ceremonies each academic year.
by Taylor O’Neil Hall Special to The Shield
Teddi Rausch accepted an internship in Indianapolis last month and was told to look for a place to live. The next day the company told her the position had been offered to someone
else because she wasn’t moving fast enough. Rausch, who graduated with a degree in international studies in December, said instead of interning at the LegisGroup where she would be under the guidance of professional lobbyists, she is now working
at what she describes as a “boring” job. “I’m working at the Evansville Country Club trying to save up money because I don’t have a bunch, and I need to start paying my [student loan] interest off,” she said. “I haven’t completely given up. I’m
just kind of taking a little bit of time to actually chill out.” The unexpected turn Rausch’s life took in the span of two days could serve as a cautionary tale for future college graduates who expect to have a job waiting for them after
graduation. “I thought I was set and ready to go and pursue my dreams to get to work in the Statehouse and get to work directly with politicians,” Rausch said. “I guess that’s where you find heartbreak sometimes is when you have to rethink your whole life when you didn’t think you would have to. No matter how much time you’ve put into it.” Even though some of her sorority sisters from Alpha Sigma Tau found jobs in their fields right after college, Rausch said she avoids comparing herself to them because it would cause her to be mad at herself for not having the same pace as other people. Rausch said she doesn’t feel like the university prepared her for a job in her field, but she gives credit to Career Services for giving her the interviewing skills necessary to be hired for a job outside of her field of study. Rausch said if she could give any advice to current undergraduates, it would be for them to plan ahead and make multiple plans because she feels that’s where she went wrong in the time leading up to graduation. “I think before you graduate you need to have plans a, b, c, d, e,” Rausch said. “I feel like that’s where I
lacked because everything fell [through], and I was hesitant to do something else because I was thinking ‘what’s going on’ and I had to take time to collect.” Though Rausch’s life since graduation hasn’t gone the way she had hoped, that doesn’t mean all USI alumni are faring the same way. Some, like Nick Mathis, don’t have to worry about the next few letters in their plans. Mathis, who graduated with a degree in engineering in 2015, said he doesn’t have any complaints since graduation. He’s married, and has a house and a job as a process engineer at a Fort Wayne company called Colwell which makes paint chips for hardware stores. The whole process of finding a full-time job in his field took him around six weeks, once he started looking. Until he found a job, he spent his time working at the campus bookstore and Azzip Pizza, Mathis said. He said he began searching for a job by applying online, but none of the jobs he applied for ever materialized. After receiving no replies from the places he applied to online, he started applying in person so that the employers would be able to associate his face with his resume.
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The shield | February 23, 2017 | Usishield.com
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The shield | February 23, 2017 | Usishield.com
‘Help is real, hope is real’ Counseling Center provides programs, assistance
864,950 people attempt suicide each year.
Alumni
00:38
That breaks down to one person every 38 seconds. Infographic by Abigail Stanley | The Shield
According to the national statistics gathered by Emory University, 864,950 people in the United States attempt suicide every year. That is one suicide attempt every 38 seconds.
by sarah rogers Special to The Shield
Reeling from personal loss, broken friendships, depression and the transition of coming to college for the first time, Katie Biggs decided she no longer wanted to live. The junior psychology and creative writing major was a freshman when she was clinically diagnosed with depression. “I decided to go to the suicide awareness candle light showing event on an impulse,” Biggs said. “It was the one-year mark of my friend’s suicide.” Biggs wrote the name of her friend on one of the lamps and finally came to terms with the fact that she would never be able to see or talk to her friend Gavin again. “I realized if I didn’t fix my own issues and confront my depression, someone would be standing here staring at a bag with my name on it,” she said. Biggs started attending counseling sessions at the university Counseling Center the following month. In response to the growing number of college students who attempt suicide, the University of Southern Indiana seeks to provide resources for students who have suicidal ideations, in hopes of preventing future suicides. Thirteen percent of the 476 students who utilized the university Counseling Center in 2015-2016 reported a history of one or more suicide attempts, according to the statistics gathered by the Counseling Center. Dean of Students and chair of Care Team Bryan Rush said the program has evolved into what it is today through the last four years. Rush said they receive five to ten
reports every week. Counseling Center Director Thomas Longwell said the university Counseling Center trains student leaders, teachers and public safety officers how to respond to students who show signs of suicidal thoughts or behaviors through the Care Team. “[A Resident Assistant] could notice one of their residents is acting different,” Longwell said. “It might seem like a minor thing, but a teacher could have reported something similar of the same student.” Longwell said once substantial evidence for a student is compiled, members of the Care Team are prompted to respond in a thoughtful way. “A teacher might ask how the student is doing, if everything is okay and if they need anything,” Longwell said. “We remind them we are here for them, and we schedule them for an appointment to see us in the Counseling Center.” Longwell said once in the office, they talk about whether the behaviors are temporary or if they are consistent. If everything seems fine they will schedule the student for another appointment to make sure nothing has changed. “If students are suicidal, we go through with them specific people they can talk to. We have them call family members, call friends to make sure they know what is going on,” Longwell said. “We encourage them to stay with someone for a couple of days until the suicidal thoughts pass.” According to the national statistics gathered by Emory University, 864,950 people in the United States attempt suicide every year. That is one suicide attempt every 38 seconds. “Suicide, at the core, is helpless-
ness,” Longwell said. “It is helplessness, and it is emotional pain.” The Counseling Center has been required to respond to the growing number of students who come to the Counseling Center for help. According to the statistics gathered by the university Counseling Center, the number of students served in the 2015-2016 school year went up 41 percent from the 20142015 school year. Biggs said she has watched the Counseling Center improve through the four years she has been receiving counseling. “They have been better about getting the word out there,” Biggs said. “I see them at involvement fairs now when in the past I did not.” According to the statistics gathered by the university Counseling Center, the number of outreach programs in 2015-2016 went up 99 percent from 2014-2015. Biggs said the first time she walked into the Counseling Center was “incredibly nerve-wracking.” “I waited in the bathroom until the halls were clear so no one would see me walk in,” Biggs said. Biggs described speaking about her issues for the first time as a “beast” she was forced to face. “It lives under your bed and it encapsulates you,” Biggs said. “When you finally pull it out from under there you realize it’s not as scary as you thought it was.” Biggs said that through the counseling she has received at USI, she has been able to “see the light even when her depression paints the sky black.” “Help is real,” Biggs said. “Hope is real, and your story is real.”
Traffic Accident - Hit & Run McDonald West Apartments 2/15/17 5:18 p.m. Illness Report University Center West 2/15/17 7:21 p.m. Fire - Alarm - Cooking OʼDaniel North Apartments - Welsh Building - 7848A Mahrenholz Rd. 2/15/17 7:51 p.m.
and Schutte Parking Lot 2/17/17 5:40 a.m. Illness Report Science Center 2/17/17 9:38 a.m. Illness Report Residence Halls - Newman Hall 1600 Rankin Ln. 2/17/17 11:44 a.m.
Illness Reports Newman Hall - 1600 Rankin Ln. 2/16/17 12:32 a.m.
Illness Report Residence Halls - Ruston Hall 1818 Rochelle Ln. 2/17/17 4:31 p.m.
Code of Conduct - Co-Habitation OʼDaniel South Apartments - Jennings Buildings - 8011B OʼDaniel Ln. 2/16/17 10:55 a.m.
Injury Report Recreation Fitness and Wellness Center 2/17/12 10:10 p.m.
Intimidation Ceramics Studio 2/16/17 1:28 p.m. Criminal Mischief Arts Center 2/16/17 5:!7 p.m. Property Damage - University Arts Center 2/16/17 5:!7 p.m. Illness Report OʼDaniel North Apartments - Craig Building - 839A Worthington Ln. 2/17/17 2:21 a.m. Code of Conduct - Failure to Comply McDonald East Apartments - Clarke and Schutte Parking Lot 2/17/17 5:40 a.m. Code of Conduct - Parking Violation McDonald East Apartments - Clarke
Traffic Accident- Hit and Run Campus Housing- McDonald East Apartments- Clarke and Schutte Parking Lot 2/17/17 11:37 p.m. Illness Report Campus Housing- McDonald East Apartments- Matthews Building 2/18/17 3:38 a.m. Suspicious Circumstances Campus Housing- McDonald East Apartments- Matthews Building 2/18/17 3:38 p.m. Code of Conduct- Co-Habitation Core- Parking Lot A 2/18/17 5:29 a.m. Code of Conduct- Parking Violation Core-Parking Lot A 2/18/17 5:29 a.m.
Campus Housing- Religious Life Office 2/18/17 5:51 a.m. Code of Conduct- Parking Lot Campus Housing- Religious Life Office 2/18/17 5:51 a.m. Fire Alarm- Cooking Campus Housing- OʼDaniel North Apartments - Townsend Building 2/18/17 1:32 p.m. Illness Report Physical Activities Center 2/18/17 2:47 p.m. Illness Report Physical Activities Center 2/18/17 5:00 p.m. Criminal Mischief Campus Housing: Parking Lot O Traffic Accident Campus Housing- OʼDaniel South Apartments- Bigger Building 2/20/17 1:06 p.m. Drug Offense- Manufacture/Possession of Paraphernalia Campus Housing- McDonald West Apartments- Durbin Building 2/20/17 7:23 p.m. Drug Offenses Campus Housing- McDonald West Apartments- Durbin Building 2/20/17 7:23 p.m. Code of Conduct- Parking Violation Core- Parking Lot C 2/21/17 2:29 a.m. Suspicious Person(s) Core- University Center West 2/21/17 4:44 a.m.
Code of Conduct- Co-Habitation
Information gathered from USIʼs Public Crime Log, provided by USI Safety and Security.
job in his field, he said if he could have done anything differently while in school, he would have studied harder. “I had one semester that I called the black hole semester,” he said. “I got too involved with extracurriculars along with everything else. I slacked off on all the bookwork that semester and I ended up having to retake a few of the classes. It was a good lesson, though. Life is about balance, you have to make sure you do what you need to first and focus on the fun stuff later.”
continued from Page 1
Lutes said she hopes to improve SGA by making applicants wait a couple of weeks before being chosen for their position and connecting with other SGAs across the state. “I just need to keep my eyes open for different things,” she said. Lutes said she will be in contact with the executive board to see what has been
Library
worked on and what they are still working on. “I think the most pressing matters will come to me as time goes on,” she said. “Whenever you have a position, you only look at your position, so I’m planning on getting into the office next week and really digging into what they were doing and everything that was going on.”
continued from Page 1
“I think the library is good at listening to student feedback,” Witherspoon said. “I think the higher-ups in the library are really lis-
tening to us in terms of what we want. They are way beyond some of the other libraries that I’ve worked in.”
briefs
USI Security Incident Log 2/15/17 - 2/21/17
continued from Page 1
“It turns out that a few places I did apply to online didn’t really check their online services very often,” he said. “So they had already filled the positions by the time they got back to me. I actually got this job by knocking on the door and seeing if they had anything.” Mathis acknowledged his experience is uncommon since it can take some people over a year to find a job in their field, especially when they’re looking for their dream job right after college and won’t settle for anything less. Even though Mathis has a
SGA
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Broshears announces new director of Pott College Advising and Resource Center Assistant vice president for academic success Michael Broshears named Heather Rush as director of the Pott College Advising and Resource Center Feb. 13. Heather Rush served as coordinator of programs and services in University Division Advising along with being an academic advisor. She is also the wife of Dean of Students Bryan Rush. As director, Rush will head the academic advising program for Pott College.
University Alumni trip to Central, Eastern Europe set for late June The university Alumni Association is offering alumni and their families a trip through five countries in Central and Eastern Europe as part of the Alumni Travel Program. The 14-day trip will tour cities in Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary and Poland. It will take place from June 17-30. The alumni will explore Germany’s capital city of Berlin, tour the Hradcany Caslte in Prague, the Schoenbrunn Palace in Vienna and the Wawel Castle in Krakow. The cost of the trip is $4,969 per person plus taxes. Any proceeds from the Alumni Travel Program will fund scholarships for USI students.
Producer from Popular Science to keynote High School Media Day
Jason Lederman, an associate producer at Popular Science magazine, will give his keynote address “How to Make Social Media Your Career” at High School Media Day Feb. 24. As the former social media editor for the magazine, Lederman doubled the magazine’s Twitter followers to over one million, tripled its Instagram followers to over 21,000 and grew its Facebook page to over three million likes. Lederman will give his presentation “Creating Successful Social Media Strategies: Listen Before You Post” at 7 p.m. on Feb. 23 in University Center East room 2217 as part of the College of Liberal Arts 2017 Social Media Symposium.
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Features
The shield | February 23, 2017 | Usishield.com
Expo promotes ‘eating and learning together’
Photos by JORDAN AUKER | The Shield
Tania Machonisse hands out food to people as they walk by the Mozambique table at the International Food Expo last Friday.
by TAYLOR O’NEIL HALL tohall@eagles.usi.edu
Students and faculty filed through the doors of Carter Hall Friday as the smells of the International Food Expo filled the air. The International Club hosts the yearly event, and it serves as a way for students from the 23 countries represented to offer a taste of traditional cuisines from their homelands to attendees. This is true for international student Bastian Grau. Grau, originally from Germany, is a graduate student pursuing a master’s degree in sports management. He said he’s lived in America for six months and his friend from the language lab convinced him to participate in the International Food Expo. He also wanted to answer questions people may have about what German cooking is. “I know that a lot of people are curious about different food and German sausages. I thought this was a good opportunity to show it,” Grau said. The dish Grau brought to the Expo was currywurst, something he spent over seven hours making, but he said the time was worth it because of the positive reception of his cooking. Loc Duong from Vietnam said the International Food Expo helped him during his first year in America because he didn’t have any Vietnamese
friends. Duong is in the public administration master’s program and said this was his second time going to the event. “Here I can show Vietnamese culture,” Duong said. “These are special pancakes in Vietnam, many people love it, and it shows Vietnamese culture because we are a fish country. Many people [from Vietnam] like fish; they like seafood.” Duong said this year he had help preparing the food, unlike the first time he attended the event. He said he and his friends spent around 10 hours making pancakes and fish sauce for the Expo, which was difficult because of class and other responsibilities. Joel Tshite, a sophomore electrical engineering major who’s originally from Ghana, also participated in the Expo for the second year in a row. “I really love it here. This is one of the best events we have on campus in the International Program,” Tshite said. Tshite said he hopes once people see the similarities in the foods’ different cultures around the world, with any luck, it will lead to a new curiosity about those cultures. “I have to come and make food for the people. I have to come and make people know what we eat,” Tshite said. “Because once you have a taste of what other people eat, you have an idea [of their culture]
and maybe you can be interested if you like the food.” Tshite said yam and spinach stew, the dish he and the other students from Ghana prepared for the Expo, isn’t their favorite, but they wanted to provide a new dish this year because they made their favorite dish, jollof rice, for last year’s event. President Linda Bennett, who attended the Expo, said she thinks the Expo is a way for the international students to “extend their hands” to the rest of the student body. Bennett said she doesn’t look at the Expo as being put on by the university. “The event is put on by the students wanting to welcome each other,” Bennett said. “Food is a big part of it. When you sit together and eat together, you learn together.” There is no accurate record of when USI’s first International Food Expo took place because the university doesn’t have one, Heidi Gregori-Gahan, Assistant Provost for International Programs and Services at USI, said. She said the Expo began at least 25 years ago and has grown much since then. “When I started working here the event had 200 people attending it,” Gregori-Gahan said. “Now there are over 600 people going to it, and we usually sell out all of our tickets.” The International Food Expo featured dishes from 23 countries prepared by the university’s international students.
Arabic instructor spreads acceptance by Gabi Wy features@usishield.com @GabiCWy
Mervat Odeh can single-handedly write, photograph, print and distribute a newspaper in the midst of chaos. “[In Palestine] it was a really hot war zone,” the Arabic instructor said. “Some days there would be no power, but we would still have to publish. We would literally hand the paper to people; we were doing everything.” Odeh said she takes her experiences and applies them to her work now as an instructor.
“I let my students see what I teach, and then I encourage them to see it from different aspects,” she said. “When you’re in investigative journalism, you have to see the story from different ways. I want my students to know I am not their only source.” Odeh grew up in Palestine, which she said was “nice, but hard.” “Living there, you have to not give up, because every day is a hard day,” she said. “You don’t know if you’re going to make it to tomorrow or if you’ll ever see your friends again. Home has a different definition there than a roof
over your head.” Odeh also starred in a movie and a play in Palestine. “The movie was a love story,” she said. “Everyone was doing movies about the war, and we wanted to get away from that. I enjoyed it.” After graduating from college and graduate school in Palestine, Odeh decided to pursue a second master’s degree at the university, uprooting herself from Palestine to Evansville. “School here changed how I think of the world,” she said. “Everything around the world is our
business.” Odeh said she teaches that concept to all of her students. “I like to teach my students that nothing should be called weird,” she said. “We should learn our differences and celebrate them regardless of who we are.” Currently, Odeh is proposing the creation of a new class, “Introduction to Arab Cultures,” for next semester. “I’ll be teaching it in English, which will open up the culture for more people who are interested in learning,” she said. Odeh said she loves see-
ing the growth in her students as they learn about her and other Arab cultures. “I see students graduate, and that’s how I feel like students can change the world,” she said. “The light at the end of the tunnel really does exist. You can make people care about things they never cared about before.” Jake Fayed, a junior psychology major, said he could see himself moving to the Middle East and pursuing a life within the Arab community. “[Taking Arabic classes with Odeh] has impacted me because it’s such a
unique language,” he said. “I’ve been able to meet students on campus and speak Arabic with them.” Fayed has taken Arabic with Odeh for four semesters. “She’s not only the nicest teacher I’ve had,” he said. “She’s one of the most sincere people I’ve ever met. She really does care a lot about her students.” Fayed said Odeh, with all her experience and her caring teaching style, is a role model. “She forgets about herself and thinks of others,” he said. “She’s inspiring.”
The shield | February 23, 2017 | Usishield.com
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REVIEW
Similarity a good thing in new Japanese video game In stores now “Nioh” on the surface appears to be a clone of another popular Japanese game series, “Dark Souls.” Both games have similar mechanics such as a summoning feature that allows players to call for help from other players when necessary and a shrine system that functions the same way bonfires do in the Souls games. These games also possess comparable levels of difficulty, and are notorious for almost-sure-to-kill-you boss fights that are as satisfying to complete as they are stressful. There’s even a message that comes up when the player dies that seems like something from a Souls game. Where the games differ is in the content they provide. By opting to start a new game, the player becomes William, a western man who winds up fighting demons, or “Yokai,” in feudal Japan. There is an endless mission system within “Nioh” that ensures hours upon
hours of content for each player to complete. This includes base missions, submissions and the remarkably intense “twilight missions” which add even more difficulty to an already facepunchingly-difficult game. The highs of the game are the massive “Diablo”-like loot system of an incalculable number of weapons, armor drops that all vary slightly in stats and abilities and the replayability of the missions from the mission hub.
Those features along with the enemies and bosses all demand a tactical approach unless the player wants to die a horrible, untimely death. The lows are the overused area layouts repeated multiple times throughout the game, in particular, the deserted town overrun by either bandits, Yokai or both. The other down point for the game is its story. Following along with the convoluted story is the real challenge behind the game. There are a lot of similarities between the games, but that doesn’t mean “Nioh” is a cheap knockoff in any way. The game only borrows some of its mechanics from another successful game in the same genre without trying to mimic every aspect. The “Dark Souls” series may have been the inspiration for “Nioh,” but the game is a stand-alone title any fan of brutally challenging RPGs should try.
University play tells ‘important story’ Through a coming-of-age narrative and passionate performances, “Crumbs from the Table of Joy” felt genuine. The story of “Crumbs” follows teenager Ernestine Crump (Jesmelia Williams) and her family as they navigate Brooklyn as an African-American family in the 1950s. As Ernestine grows, Williams portrays her progression beautifully. There was a distinguishable moment within the play when Ernestine’s spirit broke free, and Williams gave it her all. Another standout performance came from Kenyana Trambles playing Ernestine’s Aunt Lily. Trambles was confident, strong and present as the self-aware Lily, and she infused every line with life. To be quite frank, the play was a little dull before Aunt Lily made her appear-
ance halfway into the first act, a testament to the energy Trambles brought with her entrance. The performance wasn’t flawless. There were little quirks such as awkward line delivery and several dropped objects, but somehow, those imperfections contributed to
sympathy I had for the characters as they went through life’s difficulties. Gerte (Hannah Michelle) provided an interesting contrast as a German woman who marries Ernestine’s father. She kept a consistent accent throughout the performance, and while lively and perky most of the time, Michelle provided an emotional and heartfelt performance as the family struggles to accept her character. The play tells an important story of a minority family dealing with race relations while also dealing with its own inner turmoils. “Crumbs from the Table of Joy” gracefully addresses relevant issues with believable performances from the five-person cast. The viewing was most definitely worthwhile.
Rating 4/5 BY gabi wy
Gervais gives giggles in ‘Life on the Road’
Rating 4.5/5
Now streaming on Netflix
BY Taylor O’Neil Hall
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If secondhand embarrassment were a currency, Ricky Gervais would be the richest man alive. “Life on the Road” is a fictional documentary following David Brent, the painfully awkward manager from 2000’s original British version of “The Office.” Gervais revisits his iconic character as a sales representative selling cleaning products, a step down from his regional manager position a decade prior. The film picks up with Brent gearing up for a big tour with a band he’s constructed out of various acquaintances, including a talented rapper Dom Johnson (Doc Brown). As with most things involving David Brent, the initial proposition is far sexier than reality. His “tour” consists of renting a tour bus and hotel rooms every night over a two week
Rating 2.5/5
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period to visit eight different venues. Unfortunately, all eight venues are within two or three hour’s drive from each other. During the final leg of the tour, Brent asks why his lead guitarist isn’t in his hotel room, only to be told, “He lives four miles away from here; he’s sleeping at home.” As with every character
BY Gavin Gaddis
Anna & the French Kiss offers ‘light-hearted’ read Available on Amazon As a person who isn’t very big on romance novels or Nicholas Sparks movies, when it comes to contemporary reads, I do not have much experience. While I can say that I have read some great contemporaries in the past, recently I haven’t picked up anything that isn’t fantasy or manga related. Until now. Just on the brink of Valentine’s Day, I had a yearning to pick up a fluffy and cutesy read. I ended up picking “Anna and the French Kiss” by Stephanie Perkins to try out, and it did not disappoint. Despite its cheesy title, this light-hearted book was so much fun to read. The story is about a girl named Anna who suddenly gets sent away to France by her father to study abroad, which sounds great, except Anna is not too happy about the timing. Upon leaving her hometown of Atlanta, she has to leave her best friend, a great job, and the boy she’s been
crushing on. However, what Anna didn’t expect to find in France was Etienne St. Clair, a perfect boy who quickly becomes her best friend and slowly steals her heart. The only problem is that he is taken, and Anna might be too, if anything becomes of her crush back home. The whole synopsis and title sound totally cheesy, but reading the book gave me a
Rating 4/5 BY darrian breedlove
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Gervais plays on television, David Brent has a heart of gold underneath his rough exterior. Of course, it takes quite a while to overcome the rough exterior. Just as he was in “The Office,” David Brent possesses none of the mental stopgaps that cause a normal human being to realize they are being incredibly stupid. As the accidentally insulting, racist, homophobic and sexist comments stacked up, my roommate and I had to get up and walk around to offset the pent-up secondhand embarrassment we’d collected. “Life on the Road” won’t break any sales records and most certainly won’t change anyone’s impressions of Gervais as an actor, but for fans of the original “Office” this serves as a saccharine ending to the David Brent story with a few good jokes along the way.
lot of nice, warm feelings, and it was the kind of story I was looking for after my long marathon of fantasy reads. It was a quick and simple read, and it had me laughing and stressing out and happy throughout the whole story. It proved that home doesn’t have to be a place; home can be a person in your life. It also taught that love doesn’t have to be rushed, and that life is about making mistakes and learning from them to improve in the future. All in all, I really enjoyed “Anna and the French Kiss.” It was nice to read something that has opened my eyes to a genre I haven’t experienced much and has peeked my interest to find and read more contemporary stories. If you are looking for a short, fluffy read to chase away the rainy days or something that will also open your mind to the contemporary genre, then I definitely recommend this novel.
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Opinion
The shield | February 23, 2017 | Usishield.com
Major shaming by Bailey Meenach bemeenach@eagles.usi.edu
thank you, politics | philip kuhns | The Shield
Everyone has a voice by Osman Bien Aime orbienaime@eagles.usi.edu
“Stay out of politics.” It’s a phrase that I’ve noticed more and more in the last several months. It always seems to be directed toward some celebrity who’s made a vague remark on the political climate, or has blatantly taken a side on some current event. “Every week, my buds and I would get together to watch ‘Dude, Where’s My Car?’ and I just want you to know that my Blu-Ray has officially been thrown in the firepit! Stay out of politics, Ashton Kutcher!” I just have one problem with this attitude. It carries an air of ignorance toward a celebrity’s humanity. It is all too easy to perceive celebrities as being completely walled-off from the rest of the world. Posing vainly at red car-
pet events, buying houses that cost the GDP of a small country and giving their children ridiculous names, it isn’t hard at all to discard a celebrity’s opinion as trite and meaningless. “What do they know, lording over us from their summer homes in the Caymans? What can they tell me about my country?” Well, the thing is, they can tell us quite a lot. Celebrities are people, just like us. Their lives aren’t all premieres and photoshoots; they are feeling the effects of the political climate every bit as acutely as we are. Their lives and the lives of those they care about are affected by politics. In that regard, they are no different from you or I. When Meryl Streep devotes a portion of her acceptance speech to discussing the importance of
preserving free press, or when Leonardo DiCaprio urges people to educate themselves about climate change, understand that these words are not coming from some disconnected rabble-rousers. When there is darkness, a light must shine upon it. Thank heaven that sometimes those lights can shine from the highest levels of society, because we don’t always pay attention otherwise. We all have a place in politics; we all have a right to stand up for what we believe in, no matter how much money we make or how many Twitter followers we have. And if all you have to say to someone taking that stand is “stay out of politics,” just know that you’re the type of person who needs to stay out of politics.
Awards season not for politics by Grace Poynter ghpoynter@eagles.usi.edu
Men and women love to see the different gowns and risque outfits that musicians and celebrities wear to the Grammys and the Oscars. Recently, the 59th Grammy Awards show aired. Being the first award show of the year, most didn’t know what to expect. With the election season coming to an end, most celebrities used social media and other ways of letting the public know their personal opinions on the candidates at the time. Honestly, I do not think it is their place. Especially considering the awards season is upon us, which means millions
of people will come together to see what these so-called celebrities have to say. Within the first 10 minutes of the Grammys, it got political with Jennifer Lopez letting the world know that it’s more important to come together now more than ever and take a stand. The first point I have to make about celebrities getting political is they don’t attract everyone, and with products they have to sell and endorsement deals they must make, their goal is to attract as many people as possible. Second, people watch these shows not to hear what they should be doing. They want to watch music and the entertainment. During the Grammys, musicians would get up on stage and disrespect the
current president just because of personal dislike. If you feel the need to make your voice heard, do it in a fashion in which people are willing to listen and ready for what you will say. People don’t need to hear it when they’ve come expecting something else. The most important lesson I was ever taught was you don’t have to like the president, agree with his actions or want to meet him, but you should always respect him. There is a time and a place for voices to be heard, but lashing out and going off topic on important nights when people are waiting to hear if they’ve received one of the biggest awards of their career is not one of them.
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“Do you want fries with that?” “Are you really wasting your parents’ money on that?” “You don’t really need to study do you?” “You wouldn’t understand. You’ve never taken hard classes before.” I have heard every single one of these statements and more during my college career, and frankly, I am sick of it. I am a communications major. I pay tuition. I go to class. I take tests I actually do study for, and I spend hours at a computer screen writing papers just like a pre-med or law major. I put in the time and effort, and all I see in return are snarky comments that leave me feeling almost ashamed to be going into my field of study. I don’t understand why “major shaming” is a thing. I understand that I am never going to be a doctor or a lawyer, and I am okay with that. I can’t handle the sight of blood. If you asked me to prove someone innocent that is guilty of murder, I would probably cry. Neither of those careers are for me, and they aren’t the only majors that find success in
life. We all have a talent we were gifted with to change the world. Some people are gifted in the medical field; others are gifted in working in electricity, construction, communication or leadership. The world needs all of these different people to function. If every single college student went to school for medicine, then we would have no use for the field at all, because everybody would be able to heal and help themselves. However, we wouldn’t have clean water, mechanics or cooks. As Miranda Lambert would say, “‘Cause ever since the beginning, to keep the world spinning, It takes all kinds of kinds.” I am not at all saying that the medical field isn’t important or that it is an easy career path to pursue. I am saying shaming a major is completely unnecessary and needs to stop. In kindergarten, we learned the Golden Rule. Dr. Seuss said, “Be who you are, and say what you feel. Those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter won’t mind.” Let’s go back to kindergarten, and allow people to celebrate being original and genuine.
Professor problems by Sarah Rogers opinion@usishield.com @suruhgrace
As far as instructors and professors go, the students here have it pretty good. For the most part, students express high praise for those who have taught them. However, majority of professors are not the issue. The issue resides with the small percentage of professors whose names are said with the accompaniment of an eye roll or exasperated sigh. The issue lies with professors who prompt responses such as: “I’m so sorry” and “I feel your pain.” Students assume when they come to college, paying an arm and a leg for higher education, they will receive professors who match the dollar amount. Students assume they will receive professors who grade fairly, teach efficiently and wish for them to succeed. These bright eyed 18-year-olds step onto campus with high expectations, assuming their success is only dependent on how hard they work. The problem with this expectation is that their success is just as dependent on their professor as it is with them. Let it be clear professors who assign difficult work or expect students to meet deadlines are not the ones in question--professors who are unhelpful, unrealistic or unclear in what their expectations are. The same professors who seem to expect students to
know how to do everything in their class as flawlessly as they would. Forgetting, of course, they have a Ph.D. in the subject, while students are trying to understand new concepts. It is not emphasized enough how crucial a good professor is for the success of students, and how detrimental a bad one is. These detrimental professors treat students’ questions and confusion as an inconvenience. What good does that type of response do for students? Bad professors push students to give up on asking questions to avoid being treated as if they were stupid. Bad professors push students to give up on pursuing a certain major. Bad professors push students to give up on higher education altogether. Professors should be cultivating a love for learning in students, a love for their major and an excitement to step into the real world— degree in hand. Professors should not cause students to lose their confidence in their ability to graduate because they don’t understand everything in their first semester of college. It doesn’t matter how many scholarly articles a professor has published, how smart a professor is, or how highly esteemed they are in the academic community. A professor has done nothing for students if they have not shown they care.
SCREAGLE CALL Question: “How do you feel about the dining hours on campus?”
Name: Mychelle Christian Major: Health Services Grade: Senior Answer: “It’s inconvenient sometimes, but for the most part I am satisfied.”
Name: Eric Dyer Major: Radio and Television Grade: Sophomore Answer: “It’s convenient for me because I have mostly morning classes and that’s when stuff is open.”
Name: Savannah Patterson Major: Marketing and Economics Grade: Freshman Answer: “It’s inconvenient for students with night classes. How are you supposed to eat?”
THE
SHIELD Editorial Board Sarah Loesch Editor-in-Chief Riley Guerzini News Editor Gabi Wy Features Editor Sarah Rogers Opinion Editor NOW HIRING Sports Editor Megan Miller Chief Copy Editor Abigail Stanley Visual Editor
S ta f f NOW HIRING Special Publications Manager Now Hiring Page Designers Philip Kuhns Illustrator Megan Thorne Chief Photographer Gavin Gaddis Community Engagement Manager
Sales & Marketing S ta f f Now Hiring Sales & Marketing Director Jenny Pike Business Manager NOW HIRING Marketing Manager Danielle VanHooser Layout & Design Coordinator Gavin Gaddis Circulation Manager Tessa Holcomb Sales Consultant
usishield.com/work-for-us Opinions expressed in unsigned editorials represent a consensus opinion of the editorial board
Sports
The shield | February 23, 2017 | Usishield.com
7
Sophomore takes first at last indoor meet
Photo Courtesy of Photo Services
Almustapha Silvester, a member of both the track and field and cross country team, participates in a cross country meet.
by Sarah Loesch editor@usishield.com @seloesch
The men’s track and field team ended its indoor regular season with the Depauw Classic. Three individuals placed first at the classic including sophomore runner Almustapha Silvester. Silvester, a junior engineering major, finished the 800-meters in 1:59.23, marking his best time of the season. The Shield spoke with Silvester to learn more about his plans for this year.
The Shield: Did you participate in more events during that time? Silvester: I just ran the 800 meter dash.
The Shield: When did you first get involved with track and field? Almustapha Silvester: I first started running track in 8th grade because I missed the deadline to sign up for rugby. I did it because my friends were in it.
colleges. But USI had engineering and two of my teammates came here to run. The Shield: Do you have a particular event you like the best? Silvester: I mainly do the 800. It’s just the one I’m most familiar with.
The Shield: When did you realize you wanted to participate in track and field at the collegiate level? Silvester: I don’t really know, I guess like as I was competing at more and more big meets.
The Shield: What kept you in the sport? Silvester: I was good at it. My first year in middle school I almost broke the school record. It was kind of based off the times I was running, based off school records.
The Shield: Were you expecting your best time of the season to come from this last meet? Silvester: Yeah, I kind of needed to run fast to qualify for conference. It was just something I had to
The Shield: Did you look into running anywhere else? Silvester: I looked at like probably three or four
do if I wanted to run next weekend. The Shield: Was the preparation for this event different than others? Silvester: I ran less mileage and had a recovery day. The Shield: Do you have any goals for the rest of the season? Silvester: Just place as high as I can in conference. The Shield: How are you feeling about the switch to indoor season?
Scores
Silvester: I think I will like the atmosphere more. I like the track itself. It’s easier to run on an outdoor (track) than an indoor. It’s easier to run faster. The Shield: How are you feeling overall about the team this season? Silvester: I think it’s going pretty well. We have a bunch of guys in conference that have the potential to score and even win. I think as a team we are doing pretty good.
Upcoming Games Men’s and Women’s Basketball
Women’s Basketball
Men’s Baseball University of Tampa
University of Tampa
University of Tampa
Feb. 14 5-3
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Feb. 18 10-11
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Feb. 19 15-7
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University of Illinois Springfield
Feb. 16 57-90
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McKendree University
Feb. 18 67-81
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Quincy University
Feb. 16 57-85
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McKendree University
Feb. 18 48-70
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Feb. 14 0-3 1-6
University of Evansville
Feb. 19 6-1
Men’s Track and Field
Feb. 18 1-8
Depauw Classic 6th of 11 teams
Feb. 19 0-9
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Women’s Track and Field Depauw Classic 3rd of 9 teams
Feb. 25-26 All Day GLVC Indoor Championships Indianapolis
WoMen’s Tennis
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Feb. 25 5 p.m. University of Charleston Evansville Tennis Center
Baseball Feb. 24 1 p.m. Wayne State University USI Baseball Fields
Women’s Tennis
Men’s Tennis USI
Men’s and Women’s Track and Field
Softball University of North Alabama
Men’s Basketball
Truman State University
University of Illinois Springfield
Feb. 23 7 p.m./5 p.m. Bellarmine University Louisville, Kentucky
USI
Feb. 25 4:30 p.m. Notre Dame College USI Baseball Fields
Softball Feb. 24-26 Midwest Region Crossover
Men’s Tennis Feb. 25 2 p.m. University of Charleston Charleston, WV Feb. 26 7 a.m. West Virginia Wesleyan Buckhannon, WV
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The shield | February 23, 2017 | Usishield.com
DO YOU SEE GRADUATE SCHOOL IN YOUR FUTURE?
2017 - 2018 Housing Renewal Select your space March 21 - 31 Apply and contract before March 21 to receive earlier room selection appointments. Current residents don’t miss out on the chance to pick the room you want (as available). If you do not choose your room in March, you will be able to select a room in June after freshmen and transfer students.
Step 1: Apply Fill out the application under the Housing tab in myUSI for the 2017-2018 academic year to let us know you are interested in living on campus. The application includes a $50 fee that is paid online.
Step 2: Contract Do not wait! Sign your contract as soon as you apply! The contract includes a $200 pre-payment for the 2017-2018 academic year. *IMPORTANT NOTE* A housing contract is for the full academic year. (fall and spring)
Step 3: Select You will receive a selection appointment via your USI email. Room selection will be March 21 - 31! Questions? Visit www.usi.edu/housing/housing-applicationcontract/fall-2017spring-2018-contract/