The Shield March 21, 2013 by The Shield

In this Issue Post season outcome pg. 7

Vol. 43 Issue 25

Alum named VP at Holiday World p. 5

Thursday, March 21, 2013

THE

SHIELD www.usishield.com

Community members clash over potential rezoning eld

By ZANE CLODFELTER Staff writer Louis Carroll, who has lived near the USI campus off the Lloyd Expressway with his wife for 50 years, can remember when IN-66 heading west was just a two-lane road. Now Carroll is arguing against a possible commercial rezoning he said would disrupt the tranquility to the residence where he has lived for half a century. “We welcomed the university,” Carroll said. “One thing we don’t need is the expansion of more commercial properties.” Carroll said it is clear what the situation is all about. “I think it’s greed and not need for this rezoning,” he said. “As you know, it’s a road that doesn’t need more traffic.” The commissioners disagreed, approving the rezoning for commercial use for land located near the Eagle Village apartments south of the Lloyd Expressway. The four-acre area sits on Felstead Road. “We need a tax base, and we need jobs,” Board of Commissioners President Marsha Abell, RDistrict 2, said. “It brings construction jobs.” The decision by the county commissioners was met by a chorus of “boo”s in the room from residents who live in the neighborhood off of Felstead Road, with 73 residents signing a petition urging the commissioners to keep the area zoned as residential property. As Abell tried to get the “boo”ing under control, she told the audience she didn’t disrupt the speakers who were there on behalf of the residents, prompting a resident to yell back, “You are disrupting our lives.” Local developer Dan Buck said the property sits in a unique place, which makes it difficult for it to be used as residential properties. “With student activity and the Lloyd Expressway, it would be hard to build as residential,” Buck said. “Billboards on the property aren’t allowed either because it’s a scenic route along that stretch of the highway.” USI’s Vice President for Finance and Administration Mark Rozewski spoke on behalf of the university and echoed the sentiments felt by neighbors who opposed the rezoning of the property, citing empty storefronts along the Lloyd Expressway one mile east of the site in University Park. “This might be the very first time USI came here with an opinion about something,” Rozewski said. “There are already substantial vacancies.” Rozewski warned that if “spot-zoning” continues along residential or agricultural land it would “cannibalize any existing retail operation.” Buck told the board that he plans on having 53 lots in the four-acre space along with a planned apartment complex that will complement the commercial property.

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Old Town offers a new take on an old profession some fun and afterwards you feel like you want to go out on the town, not a place where you want to take a nap,” Goodman said. Not quite a barbershop, not quite a salon - USI The Evansville native opened the shop in Janualumni Nick Goodman stands at the cash regis- ary after moving back to Evansville from Portland, ter in an establishment he dreamed of creating, a Ore., two and a half years ago with his wife to purplace where he could offer the sue his dream of creating his service of cutting hair in an own business. old Americana atmosphere. “Older Evansville was a A place called Old Town. huge influence of mine when Located on Second Street coming up with this shop,” in Downtown Evansville, Old Goodman said. Town rests in the historic part “Throughout college I did a of the city it tries to replicate. lot of restoration work on all “When envisioning Old of these houses downtown and Town I was shooting for a I always wanted to own one of place that men and women can these houses. I’d find old picfeel comfortable in, and we’ve tures of these houses for restogotten that reaction from our rations and really got a feel for customers so far,” Goodman, how amazing this city was in owner of Old Town, said. back in the day.” “The feel of this this place is Goodman purchased one of very old Americana, ... a kind those houses he always want-Nick Goodman of mom and pop shop feel ed to own and decided to not with a splash of rock ‘n’ roll.” only use it as a home to start Old Town owner Goodman greets a walk-in his family but also as the loclient and invites him to take cation for Old Town. He used a seat in an antique barber’s his carpentry skills to restore chair. With clippers in hand the house in the image of older and The White Stripes playing in the background, Evansville to pay homage to it. he begins to give the client the Old Town experi“Old Town is like a vinyl record - it’s vintage ence. and is the best quality you can get,” Allie Lowe, “I want Old Town to be a place where you had OLD TOWN on Pg. 3 By ROBERTO CAMPOS Staff writer

The feel of this this place is very old Americana, a kind of mom and pop shop feel with a splash of rock ‘n’ roll.

SGA elections kick off Monday By: JAMES VAUGHN Staff writer Students aren’t seeing much competition in the Student Government Association (SGA) elections which start Monday. SGA’s current Executive Vice-President Brian Anslinger is going head-to-head with sophomore health administration major Travis Dickison for the only contended position. “It’s healthy to have com-

petition,” Anslinger said. “By having two or more candidates, it gives students the chance to weigh their options and choose the best candidate.” Anslinger was voted in during the fall semester, so his role was a little hectic, he said. He said he brings a lot of experience and knowledge to SGA. His position, more than any other, is about supporting the rest of the SGA positions and he’s really gotten to know the

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members, he said. “The level of involvement among officers is phenomenal,” Anslinger said. “The people that we currently have in SGA are some of the highest caliber I have seen on campus.” If he wins, he plans to continue to focus on changes in housing, such as the visitation policy, he said. “It really depends on what the needs of the student body are,” Anslinger said. “More than

anything else, this is about supporting the student body and the legislators.” He said he plans to continue to push for SGA recruitment because he wants more student representation. “If we can get more students involved, we have better representation of those students’ needs and we can respond more quickly to them,” Anslinger said. He’s learned a lot in his position and has spent the year fine-

The students publication of the University of Southern Indiana

tuning it, he said. “I’m very dedicated to SGA being the voice of the students,” Anslinger said. “Our main focus should always be, ‘How can we enhance the lives of the students?’” He said he firmly believes the university is the students. “If it’s between students and the university, I’m leaning toward students,” Anslinger said. He’s planning to spend some SGA ELECTIONS on Pg. 3

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Page 3 - The Shield - March 21, 2013

News Briefs

OLD TOWN continued from Pg. 1

News

Rope Walk Reading Series The RopeWalk Visiting Writers Reading Series will host writer Chloe Caldwell at 5 p.m. on today in Traditions Lounge in UC East. Caldwell is the author of many essays including “Legs Get Led Astray” and is the founder and curator of the Hudson River Loft Reading Series. The event is free and is open to the public followed by a reception and book signing. For more information call Nicole Reid at 812/464-1916.

USI Disability Week USI will host Melissa Stockwell, U.S Army veteran and paratriathlete, in “From Baghdad to Beijing and Beyond” at 6:30 p.m. today in Forum II. Stockwell will speak about her experience in the military and her journey from being wounded to a Paralympic athlete. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Glenna Bower at gbower@usi.edu or 812/465-1265.

Safe Zone Training Student Safe Zone Training is at 9 a.m. Saturday in Carter Hall. This is an interactive workshop for students to be comfortable, productive and happy regardless of sexual orientation or gender. Students will become allies and learn how to be visible in various sectors of the Tri-State community. Breakfast will be provided, and it is a free event. Seats are limited, register online at http://www.usi.edu/opra/ Surveys/safezone_student13.htm. For more information, contact Amie McKibban at armckibban@ usi.edu or 812/465-1222.

Photo by JIMMY PYLES/The Shield

Old Town hair stylist Anna Iaccarino cuts a customer’s hair. Iaccarino was a student of owner Nick Goodman when he taught at the Salon Professional Academy.

3 Students awarded interships Three Shield staff members each received a 10week paid HSPA Pulliam Internship for the summer. Sophomore James Vaughn and Juniors Shannon Hall and Jessie Hellmann will serve at daily newspapers near their hometowns. Only 10 students are given this opportunity each year in the state.

USI Security Incident Log 3/13 - 3/19 Fire – False Alarm OʼBannon Hall 3/13/13 1:37 a.m. Closed Photo by JIMMY PYLES/The Shield

Drugs – Manufacture/Possession of OʼBannon Hall 3/13/13 1:37 a.m. Closed False Reporting – Incident Parking Lot B 3/14/13 12:16 a.m. Closed Illness Report Childrenʼs Center 3/14/13 4:20 p.m. Closed Injury Report Forum Wing, Administration 3/15/13 12:25 p.m. Closed Illness Report 815A McDonald Lane 3/15/13 1:20 p.m. Closed Theft 827A Jarrett Lane 3/18/13 4:49 p.m. Closed Incident Report (Information Only) Oﬀ Campus 3/19/13 8:15 a.m. Closed Injury Report Health Professions Center 3/19/13 9:40 p.m. Pending

Information gathered from USI’s Public Crime Log, provided by USI Safety and Security.

Crime Log Key * Case suspended: No suspects listed, no leads. No follow up investigation unless new information arises. * Case cleared: The incident is resolved, suspect was identified and will be adjudicated appropriately. * Case pending: On hold, awaiting new information. * Violation of University Policy: Violation of the Studentʼs Rights and Responsibilities. * Failure to comply with a university official: Any university official, from an area coordinator to a security officer. *Residential entry: Someone walked into the residence. This is different than burglary because burglary is entering with intent to commit a felony.

USI student Ethan Broerman gets his hair cut by Old Town hair stylist Brooke Slaton.

beauty school student, said. “It’s a place that helps give life back into Downtown Evansville and reflects the rich history that it has.” While renovating the house and working with the city to convert his business into a legal operating establishment Goodman taught at Salon Professional Academy. While teaching there he taught two students, Anna Iaccarino and Brooke Slaton, who now work for him at Old Town. “Nick was a great teacher and was a mentor for me during cosmetology school,” Iaccarino said. “When I found out he was opening this place, I immediately wanted to work for him and was surprised and extremely happy when he asked me to come work for him. He’s a very inspiring person, and you’re always learning from him when you watch him work.” For Slaton and Iaccarino, the success of Old Town lies with the “one team” mentality that has been established in their work environment. “We’re all one big happy family here, and we all want what’s best for each other and for the shop,” Slaton said. “Nick and his wife take care of [Anna and me] and make this place a family environment. That family environment quality is something that really makes this unique and special.” Old Town is located on 400 SE Second Street in Downtown Evansville and appointments can be made by calling 812-449-0706. “I just want everyone to feel at home when they’re here,” Goodman said. “This is my home and I want everyone to come in and make themselves at home and feel comfortable.”

SGA ELECTIONS continued from Pg. 1 time in The Loft where he will be available to any students who might have questions or would like to chat and get to know him, he said. “I have some personal ideas and agendas, but you know what, my personal agendas and views aren’t what this job is about,” Anslinger said. “The students have always got to be a priority, and that’s how I’ve tried to do this position.” Both candidates are confident in a victory. Dickison said he likes the competition. “It’s really annoying that nothing else is being contended,” he said. “It’s good that the students are going to have a legitimate choice. The person who is elected will have the mandate to actually work, as opposed to somebody who is just a body filling an office.” Dickison has been an SGA representative for two years and a member of various committees, including acting as chairman of the Technology Committee. Organization rights, student life, student rights and SGA reform are the issues he plans to focus on if he wins, he said. “The biggest part of my campaign is organization rights because I believe student life is fostered by the stu-

dents,” Dickison said. “Giving organizations more rights will create a better student life - not hiring more administrators to do that kind of stuff.” For SGA reform, he plans to evaluate officer duties and make sure that each precisely describes what an officer is supposed to do. Dickison has a Facebook page for his campaign - facebook.com/candidatedickison. There is a banner hanging outside University Center East and “Elect Travis Dickison” is written in chalk throughout campus. Tuesday, he said he had spoken to five organizations and had eight more scheduled. He said he’s bringing projects and initiatives forward that are actually going to get done. “I could be bragging about the iPads and shuttles and things like that that I’ve worked on, but it’s always about moving forward,” Dickison said. “I’ve finished this, now what’s the next thing?” SGA Chief Justice Adam Brothers said elections will open Monday at 8 a.m. and close March 29 at 11:30 p.m The Election Committee is planning to set up portable voting stations on campus Wednesday. They will be giving away election T-shirts, tumblers and SGA pens.

@usishield @usinews @usishieldsports

Life & Culture

Page 4 - The Shield - March 21, 2013

Franklin St. welcomes new cafe By ARIANA BEEDIE Staff writer Boasting a combination of art, coffee, food, spirits and music, PG Cafe and Gallery, a new cafe on Franklin Street, had its grand opening Friday and is creating much buzz in the community. Owner Todd Huber created PG because it was a place he wanted Evansville to have when he was young. “I came back to Evansville wanting to create a place to have people play shows,” Huber said. Located on Franklin Street, PG fits right in with other local shops that have been making much progress. Huber shares the property with Tin Man Brewery because of prime real estate and family values. As a matter of fact, the two Franklin business owners are brothers. “We started building about a year ago,” Huber said. “There’s not a lot going on in Evansville, and this was a prime location.” The grand opening was a complete success, with a lot of interested locals observing the art, enjoying the refreshments and

showing lots of excitement for this new Franklin Street business. “We sell beer and wine upstairs so it can be 21 and under downstairs,” Huber said. “We also have food.” Many locals came specifically for the music and art. Local artists submitted artwork to be displayed during the opening, and local musicians debuted new music and helped solidify PG’s grand opening. Lightmares, a local electronic jazz group, drew in many fans. “I came because I heard Lightmares is playing,” Jayson Harry said. Sitting by himself, he took in the art and his surroundings and was content. The art was beautiful, he said. Justin Sala, the front man of Lightmares, was honored to play at the opening event. “I was surprised at the design,” he said. “The brick wall interior was an amazing touch.” Patricia Hoskins, who lives on Franklin Street, said the cafe was needed on the street. “It was the one thing that was missing,” she said.

Photo by SHANNON HALL/ The Shield Main: Patricia Hoskins, who lives on Franklin Street, eats a bacon brown sugar waffle with a cup of house-blend coffee at PG Cafe and Gallery Wednesday morning. She said she is impressed with the coffee. “I’m not a coffee fanatic, but I may become one after this,” Hoskins said. Left: A server prepares coffee behind the bar. PG serves breakfast and lunch. Pieces of art cover the front of the shop varying from abstract to quaint pictures. Coffee/Tea: 7:30- 3:30 p.m. Breakfast Menu: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. Lunch Menu: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. Night Menu (during evening events): 6 p.m. to close

Hoodie Allen “Crew Cuts” The newest release by Hoodie Allen, unveiled late February, is possibly his most accessible and versatile to date. In fact, the mixtape entitled “Crew Cuts” feels much more like a fully-fleshed album than a mixtape, which is something the independent hip-hop artist mentions in the song “Reunion.” At the young age of 24, Steven Markowitz, better known as Hoodie Allen, has already grounded himself in a very distinguishable style that combines elements of rap, hip-hop, and R&B to create a smooth sound that isn’t afraid to get a little rough around the edges. One thing that makes “Crew Cuts” feel like an album rather than mixtape is its aspect of balance. It balances consistency with diversity, so that each song feels like a distinctive part of a collective whole, and humor with seriousness, so that it has an “rollercoaster” feel, covering a broad spectrum of human emotion. The opening track, “Let Me Be Me,” is a great introduction to the mixtape, acting as its preface and foreshadowing its purpose – encouraging artistic expression and exploration. The song “Fame Is For Assholes,” featuring rapper Chiddy Bang, is ridiculously catchy and will likely be stuck in your head for several days after your first listen. In my opinion, this single should be receiving mainstream radio attention. The middle of “Crew Cuts” drags a little bit with songs like “Long Night” and “Two Lips,” but the momentum isn’t lost. This fresh take on multifaceted hip-hop music is something I’m sure we will see more of from Hoodie Allen in the future. And hopefully, it’s contagious. Rating: 3.5/5 stars By: JAKE TAPLEY, Staff writer

Tomb Raider

For a lot of people around my age, when we think of Lara Croft, we think of those Angelina Jolie movies that were far less than up to snuff. We didn’t get to enjoy the game’s heyday on the original PlayStation because we were too young to know what a PlayStation was. Good news for us - Crystal Dynamic’s new “Tomb Raider” reboot provides players with an action-packed experience that is visceral and gives people a reason to revisit this virtual icon. This origin story follows a young Lara venturing out on her first expedition, eager to uncover mysteries that surround an old Japanese legend regarding the Sun Queen Himiko. What starts of as an innocent expedition quickly turns into Lara’s worst nightmare as she finds herself shipwrecked on an island of murderers. This innocence is personified through Lara, who quickly realizes that she must do whatever it takes to survive - that she will have to kill and push herself to her limits to survive. What thrusts “Tomb Raider” into the realm of greatness is the strength it harnesses through narrative. The story told through Lara’s transformation from upcoming archeologist to the full-fledged Tomb Raider who can take anything is fully realized throughout the course of the game. Her development as a character is fascinating and creates an addictive experience that makes it hard to put down. It’s what makes this game a must play and separates it from other action/adventure juggernauts. “Tomb Raider” is a refreshing reboot to this icon, much in the same way that Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy is for Batman. That being said, the multiplayer component leaves much to be desired and is a mere blemish on the face of an otherwise near-perfect experience.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

By: ROBERTO CAMPOS, Staff writer

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Page 5 - The Shield - March 21, 2013

Life & Culture

Snow at Holiday World USI alum to assume VP position at amusement park By ROBERTO CAMPOS Staff writer

Photo courtesy of Eric Snow

USI graduate Eric Snow is now the Vice President of Marketing, Sales, and Guest Entertainment at Holiday World in Santa Cluas Indiana. Besides his 16 years of experience at Holiday World, Snow also served as a marketing intern for the Indianapolis Colts.

When Eric Snow graduated from USI in 2003, he knew he wanted to work in the amusement industry. Snow was 16 years old when he stumbled upon an opportunity to work at Holiday World as a ride operator. His seasonal job would evolve into a marketing internship and eventually a request from Holiday World to work as Director of Admissions. Recently, Snow has been elevated to Vice President of Marketing, Sales and Guest Entertainment for the company that gave him a taste of the industry he enjoys so much. “It’s an honor to be able to work in a field and for a park I really enjoy,” Snow said. “Once I started working at Holiday World I fell in love with the amusement industry. And I’ve been able to use what I’ve learned in school through internships and classes, and throughout my career to help guide a park that means a lot to me to where it’s going in the future.” During his time at USI, Snow belonged to various clubs and activities that that revolved around his fields of study: public relations and marketing. Tak-

ing advantage of opportunities provided to him by the school, he frequently sought out the advice of his professors. “I took advantage of all the knowledge that my professors Bob Jeffers and Peggy Shields could provide,” Snow said. “It’s not just asking questions in class. It’s making visits to their offices, asking questions about career advice, what they know. The teachers know what it will take to get you a full-time job once you leave college.” He said the education he received at USI was critical, but he had to push himself, too. “Just as important, I also made sure that I was putting myself out there, looking for different opportunities and creating a network of people I can rely on,” Snow said. After graduating, Snow went to work for the Indianapolis Zoo’s marketing and sales department. Besides receiving internship experience from Holiday World, Snow also served as a marketing intern for the Indianapolis Colts. “Internships are valuable opportunities for students to gain real world experience,” Snow said.

“There’s nothing like getting real world experience while getting the educational foundation as well. USI has the resources to assist students to find these opportunities that will put them a step ahead of other graduates come graduation day.” Snow has always had a passion for the amusement industry, and after 16 years, it is as much a labor of love as it was when he was a ride operator. “There’s no better place to work than for a business where you’re all about making a fun environment and experience for guests who are looking to escape the real world for a day,” Snow said. It was Snow’s dedication to leadership that made him stand out from the other candidates, said Paula Werne, Holiday World’s director of communications. “Several different people at Holiday World contacted Eric because of our experience with him throughout the years when he worked for us,” Werne said. “I think that’s a testament of how highly we thought of him. He’s a passionate leader and we knew he would be a good addition to our full-time team.”

Nursing program continues to improve with DEU

By ARIANA BEEDIE Staff writer

The Dedicated Education Unit (DEU) teaches nursing majors how to adequately care for patients in a hospital setting. St. Mary’s nursing staff collaborates with nursing students to carefully prepare them for a job the nursing field. A DEU is an area of the hospital dedicated to only one school of nursing, said Susan Siebert, nursing instructor and DEU liaison. “On a DEU, only one school of nursing gets that

unit,” Siebert said. “The beauty of it is the nurses can better know what level the student is on.” St. Mary’s nurses, otherwise known as Clinical Teaching Partners (CTPs), teach two students at a time over the course of a semester. The students work with the same CTPs to develop a relationship for better completion of the required 60 clinical hours. “It’s a different model of clinical education,” Siebert said. “The nurses take over the teaching role and the faculty is a re-

Requirements for DEU pilot - Junior standing - Two medical/surgical courses - Apply via Blackboard during second medical/surgical course source for the CTPs.” The required hours involve two days per week, eight hours per day. “This semester is the pilot program,” Siebert said. “For right now, we have second-semester juniors, but next semester we will allow first-semester juniors in the program.”

The original DEU was created in Australia in the early 2000s. The University of Portland took the idea and became the United States version of what a DEU is supposed to be. “Our DEU here at USI was set up and formatted to Portland’s,” Siebert said. The DEU is a more im-

proved way of immersive learning for nursing students. “I found with the old model that if you weren’t doing great, you really didn’t get a lot of attention from the clinical instructor,” junior nursing major Meagan Cobb said. A main focus of having a DEU is to improve the relationship between students and CTPs. “Me and another student were paired one-onone with a nurse on this unit who wanted to teach, had a lot of experience and was a good nurse,” Cobb

said. “So we worked her schedule and followed her, which seems like a lot with class on top of it, but it really is what they do in the real world.” Cobb said she loved the experience because she became very comfortable with the nurse she was working with and also learned a lot. “I feel like the DEU gave us more attention and time to ask questions,” junior nursing major Ashley Marshall said. “I think the structure of the USI nursing program is constantly improving.”

Opinion THE

SHIELD Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Jimmy Pyles editor@usishield.com News Editor Jessie Hellmann news@usishield.com Life & Culture Editor Shannon Hall lc@usishield.com Opinion Editor Jake Tapley opinion@usishield.com Sports Editor Zane Clodfelter sports@usishield.com Copy Editor Alexandra Everley copy@usishield.com Visual Editor Kelsey Turner visual@usishield.com

Staff Page Designer Danielle Waninger Copy Editor Megan Huber

Sales and Marketing Staff

Page 6 - The Shield - March 21, 2013

Think sexism is dead? Try again By ALEXANDRA

EVERLEY Copy editor If you think sexism isn’t evident in daily life, take a few seconds to look at at the social media responses to the Steubenville rape trial verdict. The case involved two boys, 16 and 17, who raped, took pictures of, and video-recorded a drunk, unconscious 16-year-old girl. The two boys were on a winning football team in their small town, and their coach helped cover up the incident. In response to the verdict, which will likely jail the boys until they turn 21, people on social media have resorted to blaming the victim and “slut shaming,” and some news media have portrayed the boys sympathetically, since the verdict will ruin the boys’ futures in professional sports. Here are examples of some of the tweets. “Be responsible for your actions ladies before your

drunken decisions ruin innocent lives.” “There is no justice in Steubenville today. The girl asked for it and wanted it, in my opinion. They gave it to her. No crime. Appeal!” “Disgusting outcome on Steubenville trial. Remember kids, if you’re drunk/slutty at a party, and embarrassed later, just say you got raped!” “So you got drunk at a party and two people take advantage of you. That’s not rape - you’re just a drunk, loose slut.” And they go on. In addition, some commenters and tweeters have pointed out that drinking underage is also a crime. However, last time I checked, the punishment for being drunk underage is not rape. The other problem with the argument is that incidents like this one happen to women who can legally drink. And people still say the same things - “She should have controlled herself and not drank so

much.” These commenters completely disregard the fact that the rapists could have also exerted control by not raping their victims. Some of the tweets and comments pointed out how sad the whole situation is, and I’d have to agree: I think people are in the right direction feeling sad about it. It is sad that all of their futures are ruined. It’s sad that those boys did that. It’s sad that they thought they could do something like that and get away with it. It’s sad that the girl is now going to have trauma and probably sexual insecurities the rest of her life. It’s hard enough to be sexually secure without being raped. It’s sad that this one event can affect the rest of their lives. But that’s how it works. Everything you do has an effect. Some things more than others, but especially rape. The saddest part about this incident is that it’s not

an isolated case. It happens everywhere. We’ve even had cases of rape on USI’s campus. And it happens more often than you would think because of the way victims are portrayed. Many rape cases go unreported by the victim, and looking at the way the public has responded to the Steubenville victim, can you blame them? Even if this situation infuriates us, we perpetuate rape-thinking all the time. Many of the most popular songs on the radio talk about sexually dominating women, talk about women as objects, and feature women who talk about wanting to be sexually dominated. If we want to stop rape, we need to stop fostering environments that allow rape to happen. As the Steubenville case reveals, anyone can become a rapist, even seemingly “good kids with bright futures.” Not everyone who commits a crime is a “monster.”

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Stuff happens. Girls get drunk. Girls walk alone at night. Girls wear “revealing” clothing. Rape-prevention strategies (that all of us women have had drilled in our heads since puberty) can only help so much. Those strategies alone foster the idea that if a woman violates those codes, she “wants” or “deserves” to get raped. News flash: no one wants to be raped, and no one deserves to be raped. We need to change our focus - only the men who rape are the ones who can stop rape from happening. See a girl unconscious and drunk? Don’t rape her. See a girl walking alone? Don’t rape her. It sounds stupid to say it so simply, but it truly is the only real solution. A woman doesn’t get drunk or walk alone at night hoping she will get raped. So we need to stop perpetuating the ideas that make people think that it’s her own fault when she does.

Cartoon by JAKE TAPLEY/ The Shield

USI boasts embarrassing turnout at Ford Center By ZANE CLODFELTER Sports editor A few weeks ago, the city of Evansville welcomed the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) tournament to the Ford Center for the first time in the building’s brief two-year history. I was excited, recalling the times I went to the GLVC tournament as a kid when it was hosted at Roberts Stadium. I remember seeing the stands full of USI fans making the most of the opportunity to watch their team play in a venue that had a capacity four times the size of the Physical Activities Center (PAC). It was an opportunity to show not only the community, but also the conference, how great of a fan base the university had. Eagles fans turned out in droves in 2001, accounting for a majority of the GLVC-record audience of 9,627 that watched the conference championship game at Roberts. The Eagles were successful, and the fans supported them. Although the Eagles have gone through some changes and transition between coaches and players, the program has been a consistent winner. They have won 20 games a season in all but one of the last 20 years, which in most cases was accompanied by a berth in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament. The only difference between then and now? A fan base and

enthusiasm for athletics that is now matched by local high schools, compared to its former status as one of the best in all of Division II athletics. The USI turnout was an embarrassment at the Ford Center. The official attendance numbers for the USI games looked as if they counted imaginary fans who were disused as empty seats. The best session attendance figure - 1,496. This amount of people wouldn’t even come close to filling the PAC (2,500 seats), let alone a venue that seats 10,000 basketball fans. This isn’t the first time that attendance has been at what I would consider embarrassing levels. RedZone crowds this year were non-existent aside from the KWC ‘Silent Night’ game, and the only regulars who did attend were members of fraternities and sororities that were required to go. USI basketball attendance as a whole is dwindling, noticeable gaps in seating areas were prominent during crucial conference matchups that were historically sellouts in the past. Regular fans have an excuse: they have graduated or have moved away. Maybe ticket prices aren’t in their budget or they would rather listen on radio. But current students have no excuse not to be there. Tickets are free for games at the PAC and were only $2 to attend USI’s opening GLVC tournament game at the Ford Center. Try and count on two

hands things that are less than $2 in today’s society. Even worse, students who actually showed up to the Ford Center to watch the Eagles in the tournament didn’t even have an organized cheering section where they stood together. A handful of students stood silently for the most part along the baseline closest to the Lewis bench, while others were scattered around the main seating area. The atmosphere was that of a morgue, silent with only occasional clapping when the Eagles had a dazzling play. If our fans show no emotion or energy for a team that was highly ranked and regarded all season long in Division II athletics, what is going to happen if athletics on campus hits a lull? I have a lot of respect for the coaches and players that represent USI on a variety of playing fields and surfaces. They carry the USI banner proudly and give all of us a reason to be proud of the university. USI athletic teams are doing their part. Now it’s time for the fans to do their part, simply by showing up and rooting for our school. There are no valid excuses why we can’t support our teams. Trust me, I’ve heard them all. Tickets are free, and the offense that Rodney Watson runs creates a fun up-tempo style that runs the scoreboard up into the eighties. It’s exciting basketball - now, if only the students would notice.

We are not allowed to wear Greek lettered sashes when walking on graduation day at USI. I want to change that and don’t understand why it is such a bad thing. So please, can you tell me why this is such a problem and what we can do to change this injustice on our campus? Graduation is a very important day to many individuals, no matter their program or the time it took to get there. It is a day of accomplishments and successes. Graduation can have very different sentimental values for people. They can think of the steps it took to get there, the struggles that were overcome, the support system they did or didn’t have, or anything in between to get to where they are that day. I know that the accomplishment of receiving a degree from a university means a lot to me, but I could not have done it without the support and the opportunities that Greek Life has given to me. Joining a sorority my freshman year was the turning point in my life, but not just with representing myself. I now stood for a whole group of women with and without the same Greek letters as me. I took every opportunity to grow and develop while being in this organization to become a better person and a leader. It has made me the person I am today. The successes that the rest of my life will bring to me, I can honestly say started with Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority. All I want to be able to do on my graduation day is to wear those letters proudly against my graduation robe to show that I am a member of a strong sorority. I made it this far with just those three letters behind me and an enormous group of people around the country. Emily Ellison

Have an opinion? Write a letter to the editor at shield@usi.edu

Page 7 - The Shield - March 21, 2013

Sports Andrew Cope

Beyond the diamond

Over Spring Break the Men’s basketball team didn’t get to relax on the beach, instead they were playing for a chance at second straight GLVC title and the chance to win a National Championship.

GLVC TOURNAMENT

USI Quarter finals

VS. Lewis

By ZANE CLODFELTER Sports editor

After redshirting last season, starting first baseman Andrew Cope is making an immediate impact for Tracy Archuleta’s Southern Indiana baseball team. Cope, who is the second-ever recipient of the “Big Man on Campus” title, is hitting .311 through the first 14 games of the season, accumulating 14 hits and 12 runs while drawing nine walks at the plate. In the Eagles’ most recent outing Sunday at Rockhurst, Cope went two for four with a run batted in, and is currently hitting fifth in the USI lineup.

USI Semi finals

VS. UWP

USI GLVC Championship

VS. Drury NCAA DII TOURNAMENT

USI 1st Round

Regional Semifinals

VS. Wayne State

USI opened the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional with a convincing, 79-70, victory over Wayne State University Saturday afternoon in Springfield, Miss. USI, the second seed, rose to 23-7 overall, while Wayne State, the seventhseed, concluded the season, 17-10. The victory was the first NCAA Division II Tournament win for USI Head Coach Rodney Watson.

The 15th-ranked University of Southern Indiana men's basketball team had its postseason ended by 14th-ranked Bellarmine University, 78-55, Sunday evening in Springfield, Miss. USI, the second seed, concluded its 201213 with a 23-8 overall mark, while Bellarmine, the third-seed, advanced with a 24-7 record to Tuesday's regional championship game. USI was led by DeWitt with a gamehigh 24 points. DeWitt finished the contest nine-of-15 from the field and six-of-six from the charity stripe, while grabbing seven rebounds.

USI

VS.

Bellarmine

The Shield: You played for Andy Rice at Harrison and you are from Evansville originally. How nice is it to be playing collegiate baseball in your hometown? Andrew Cope: It’s a great experience playing in my hometown. I get to see a lot of familiar faces when I’m playing so it’s a great opportunity. TS: In high school you wore number 7 but you are 33 here at USI. Why the number switch? AC: I wanted to be 7 but we have a senior that already has that number so hopefully I’m able to get it next year after he graduates. TS: The Eagles are off to one of their quickest starts in Tracy Archuleta’s tenure with an 11-3 record. What has been clicking for the team? AC: Our pitching has been down with a lot of injuries but now we have stepped it up and our starters have been really going late in games. Our hitting has been so-so but we have been getting clutch hits to help get us wins. TS: Recently you have hit a personal hitting streak and, with that, a higher batting average. What can you attribute to the gradual improvement? AC: I fixed my swing a little bit and I’m finally seeing the ball better. I’m not trying to do much up there - just see the ball and hit the ball. TS: Was the change mechanical or was it simply a change of mindset when stepping in the batters box? AC: It was mostly mechanical. I step up to the plate already thinking I’m going to get a hit every time. TS: Obviously a coach is always going to find things he feels his team needs to improve on. What has coach Archuleta talked about as being a possible target for improvement? AC: We need to improve on our intensity. Every inning we need to be intense. He is proud of us for battling every game though, whether the game is close or not. TS: Last year you redshirted. Did that help you in your growth as a baseball player? AC: My redshirt year made me a lot better, mentally and physically, and it’s been a pretty easy transition. TS: There is a different workload in collegiate baseball when compared to the high school level. What changes have you made to assist yourself in having a smooth transition here at USI? AC: Your body gets exhausted but it’s all up in your head and you just have to focus it out and concentrate on the game. TS: Prior to your arrival at USI, you played on successful teams throughout high school and legion baseball. What did you learn from those experiences that can help you as a collegiate baseball player? AC: I always have to stay confident no matter what the outcome is, and all the hard work I’ve put in is paying off.

Puzzle answers from page 2

The Shield - March 21, 2013

Page 8

housing & Residence life would like your feedback! SURVEY ENDS APRIL1st!

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