Nov 21, 2013

SPECIAL ISSUE River City Sound pg. 5

Unique USI

Jones pg. 7

Thursday, November 21 2013 ■ Vol. 44 Issue 14

THE

SHIELD www.usishield.com

USI

nique USI offers several unique experiences to students, faculty and the Evansville community.

This issue highlights some of that uniqueness.

Campus stands out with modern amenities

By CALEB RILEY Staff writer USI’s suburban 1,400-acre campus falls short when it comes to history but offers modern amenities.

The university’s various architecture and creative landscaping is different from other campuses across the globe.

Lead Groundskeeper Brad Robb witnessed the campus transform over the years.

“It is definitely a unique campus,” said Robb, who graduated from USI in 1996. “It seems like everything on campus is within walking distance, which is unlike a lot of other campuses I’ve seen.

Photos by CALEB RILEY/The Shield

MAIN: Instead of the typical bell tower, USI’s Cone stands out in the middle of campus.

ABOVE LEFT: USI has 1,400 acres, which is home to several nature trails, creeks and ponds.

ABOVE RIGHT: Works of art are scattered throughout campus.

BOTTOM: Trails weave from the student apartments to main campus for students to get to and from classes.

University details future Conference Center

There are a lot of local people, which helps build a well-made community, but also enough people from around the world to keep it diverse. You will always know somebody. It’s a more personable campus then others I’ve been to.”

One distinctive building is the Business and Engineering Center. Its 122,210 square feet are comprised of 11,470-square feet of communal space, including the O’Daniel Atrium, the Vectren Lakeside Study Lounge and smaller lounges on each level.

“The Business and Engineering Center is one of the most impressive buildings I’ve ever seen,” UNIQUE on Pg. 3

Unique experiences: Engineering students build car from scratch

A rendering of what the Conference Center may look like, overlooking Reflection Lake and facing campus. The photo below is what the entrance to the Conference Center may look like.

By JESSICA STALLINGS Staff writer The west side of Reflection Lake will soon be home to a 13,800-square-foot Conference Center and an 80 to 90 car parking lot.

A private donor paid for the $5 million facility.

“We’re calling it the Conference Center,” said Stephen Helfrich, director of facility operations and planning. “Maybe once it’s completed, it will have more of a formal name.”

Helfrich said the new center will house two main conference rooms.

“In the Great Hall, which is the largest room, there will be seating for approximately 150

people for luncheons, dinners and special presentations,” he said. “There will be another room that can be used as one large space or divided in half, much like Carter Hall.”

The Center will face campus and have a terrace overlooking the lake.

“It’s a great location to be able to have a conference and be able to look across the lake and the campus,” Helfrich said. “It really is a good use of the area.”

He said they plan to deal with the removal of trees to the best of their ability, even though the construction is in a mostly wooded area.

“We want to do our job without disturbing the natural look

Photo Courtesy of USI SOCIETY OF AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERS

From left to right: Jul Davis, Patrick Elpers, Tim Hirsch, Frank Rynkiewich, Eric Bradshaw, Jacob Elpers, Dan Sitzman and Paul Kuban, (Not pictured: Ryan Elpers).

By MEREDITH HARRIS Staff writer Building a car from scratch is something not a lot of people get to experience.

But for USI’s chapter of the Society of Automotive Engineers, preparing for the minibaja car race is an annual event.

The team is updating its one passenger, off-road vehicle for next summer’s race, as well as training new members.

In the winter, they will begin designing the car for next year’s race.

When the students begin mak-

ing adjustments, Faculty Adviser Julian Davis encourages them to look at the previous year’s designs to see the changes that were made, why they were made and how the changes affected the race. “(Designing the car) is all on them,” Davis said. “There are certain rules and regulations that they have to follow. There’s a 60 to 90 page book basically of the rules they have to follow, and they have certain design considerations that they have to follow.”

The students have a few freedoms when it comes to design,

CENTER on Pg. 3 The Shield is a designated public forum.

The student’s publication of the University of Southern Indiana

though.

The cars can vary from small to large, depending on what race or division the students want to focus on winning.

The races includes a rock crawl, maneuverability test, acceleration, stud pull, an endurance race and occasionally, a flotation event.

Davis puts his experience in finite modeling to good use, helping the students test the baja car’s geometry and mechanics.

The finite element package calculates the loads, and is cheaper than building a living ENGINEERING on Pg. 3

Additional copies of The Shield are 25 cents

Page 2

The Shield - November 21, 2013

PUZZLES

812-402-6776 SpankeysUnaPizza.com

TOP TEN MOVIES 1. Thor: The Dark World (PG-13) Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman 2. Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa (R) Johnny Knoxville, Jackson Nicoll 3. Free Birds (PG) animated 4. Last Vegas (PG-13) Robert De Niro, Michael Douglas 5. Ender’s Game (PG-13) Harrison Ford, Asa Butterfield 6. Gravity (PG-13) Sandra Bullock, George Clooney 7. 12 Years a Slave (R) Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael K. Williams 8. Captain Phillips (PG-13) Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi 9. About Time (R) Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams 10. Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2 (PG) animated (c) 2013 King Features Synd., Inc.

News Grad degree awaits state approval Page 3 - The Shield - November 21, 2013

News Briefs Lazar to close reading series today The fall 2013 RopeWalk Reading Series will close with a reading by David Lazar at 5 p.m. today in the Traditions Lounge in University Center East.

Lazar has written books such as Occasional Desire, Truth in Nonfiction and Powder Town.

Five of his essays have been named “Notable Essays of the Year” by Best American Essays.

Lazar is the founding editor of the literary magazine Hotel Amerika, which has been called one of the essential literary magazines of the United States.

A reception and book signing will follow the reading.

Show PRSSA your cans USI’s Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) is holding its annual “Show Us Your Cans” food drive unil Saturday.

The drop-off box is located on the landing of the 3rd floor of the Liberal Arts building.

Entrepreneurship minor ranks high USI’s entrepreneurship minor was named a finalist Outstanding Emerging Entrepreneurship Program at the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship’s (USASBE) 2014 Entrepreneurship Education Awards.

Finalists will present at the USASBE Conference in January in Fort Worth, Texas, where the winner will be announced.

The minor is one of four programs contending for the top spot.

USI Security Incident Log 11/13/13 - 11/18/13 Injury Report University Center (West)

Code of Conduct – Disruption

11/13/13 10:28 a.m.

– Other

Closed

Physical Activities Center 11/16/13 8:31 p.m.

Code of Conduct – Co-Hab-

Closed

itation 924A Eckels Ln – Saletta Bldg

Alcohol – Underage Consump-

11/14/13 11:25 a.m.

tion

Closed

Physical Activities Center 11/16/13 8:31 p.m.

Code of Conduct – Alcohol

Closed

Violation 924A Eckels Ln – Saletta Bldg

Fire – Odor Investigation

11/14/13 11:25 a.m.

McDonald West Community

Closed

11/16/13 9:16 p.m.

Closed

Code of Conduct – Tobacco – Smoking

Code of Conduct – Co-Hab-

924A Eckels Ln – Saletta Bldg

itation

11/14/13 11:25 a.m.

Governors Hall – 1700 Rankin

Closed

11/17/13 10:15 p.m.

Closed

Drugs – Manufacture/Possession Of

Code of Conduct – Disruption

924A Eckels Ln – Saletta Bldg

– Roommate

11/14/13 11:25 a.m.

Governors Hall – 1700 Rankin

Closed

11/17/13 10:15 p.m.

Closed

Drugs – Possession 924A Eckels Ln – Saletta Bldg

Illness Report

11/14/13 11:25 a.m.

8023A OʼDaniel Ln – Boon

Closed

Bldg 11/17/13 11:17 p.m.

Code of Conduct – Weapons

Closed

Violation 924A Eckels Ln – Saletta Bldg

Drugs – Manufacture/ Posses-

11/14/13 11:25 a.m.

sion Of

Closed

OʼBannon Hall – 1720 Rochelle 11/17/13 12:14 a.m.

Code of Conduct – Traffic

Closed

Violation Rice Library

Drug Law Violations

11/14/13 6:12 p.m.

OʼBannon Hall – 1720 Rochelle

Closed

11/17/13 12:14 a.m.

Closed

Code of Conduct – Violation of Law

Drugs – Possession

Rice Library

OʼBannon Hall – 1720 Rochelle

11/14/13 6:12 p.m.

11/17/13 12:14 a.m.

Closed

Closed

Property Damage – University

Fire – Faulty Alarm

Newman Hall – 1600 Rankin

Health Professions Center

11/16/13 7:53 p.m.

11/18/13 3:19 p.m.

Closed

Closed

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

By BOBBY SHIPMAN Staff writer The Board of Trustees approved a Master of Arts in English (MAE) Nov. 7, which will provide students flexibility instead of demanding a specialization like most graduate programs.

Charles Conaway said the MAE will require two courses, allowing students to choose the rest.

“The key is flexibility,” he said. “We want them to be able to shape the program to their interest.”

The associate professor of English will chair the program, which will be available in Fall 2014 if it’s approved by Indiana’s Commission for Higher Education.

The MAE is unique because it is a terminal degree.

“It is not designed as a graduate program that functions as a stepping stone to a Ph.D.,” Conaway said.

He predicts the majority of enrollment will be area teachers interested in gaining the credentials they need to teach dual-credit

courses.

Dual-credit, or CAP courses, are available to high school students and can be applied as college credits.

In order to teach these courses, teachers need a Master’s degree.

“CAP enrollments and dual-credit programs are growing,” Conaway said.

“We expect there is going to be a greater need for teachers to secure these kinds of credentials to teach these courses.”

The graduate program is also designed for professional writers in the community who might enroll to further develop their skills and knowledge.

Conaway said students in other graduate programs might be interested in taking a class or two as well.

Dawn Paris, a USI graduate with a bachelor’s degree in English, looks forward to the MAE program being approved, and hopes it can help her hone her creative writing skills.

Paris, who enrolled in USI’s Master of Arts in Liberal Studies program in Dec. 2012, said she would have preferred the MAE.

“I find myself drawn to English,” she said. “I like learning new things that help me to become a better writer.”

Paris volunteers clerical writing once a week for the Alzheimer’s Association and will start part-time work at Marco’s Pizza this month.

“I am really excited about doing things with my hands and letting my brain run free,” she said.

“When I spend all my days writing work-related stuff, sometimes I don’t feel like writing for me.”

She plans to switch to the MAE program if possible, or at least take advantage of the new courses that might be available.

“I find myself more excited when I look at the schedule and I read off the literature classes and the English classes that are coming up and it’s like, ‘Ugh, I can’t take all of those,’” she said.

The MAE could attract more students, leading to higher class attendance and more course offerings.

“Nobody likes to sign up for a class that gets canceled because they are

usually the really oddball ones that you’re really excited about,” Paris said.

“Then you find out there aren’t enough people that are strange like you.”

She said transferring to the MAE might not be in the cards for her, but she still hopes it gets approved.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing what they have to offer,” she said.

Charles Conaway feels confident the MAE will pass considering the state has been persuading colleges and K-12 schools to develop these types of programs.

“I believe the state’s primary concern is to serve the region in terms of workforce development,” Conaway said. “That is why I am optimistic.”

There are currently 17 graduate faculty members in the department.

This program was a department-wide effort that took two years to develop.

The MAE will require 33 credit hours, which students are expected to complete in about two years.

USI went beyond the typical clock tower, Jones said.

Students, faculty and community members enjoy the scenery on a threemile paved trail that links USI’s campus to Burdette Park.

The Recreation, Fitness and Wellness Center isn’t like fitness facilities people might find on other college

campuses, either.

It covers nearly 100,000 square feet of space where students interact with each other, work out and now, with the addition of the computer labs, do homework.

“When students come and they see how unique USI is,” Jones said. “They can fit in and thrive.”

hands on experience with the new addition to campus.

“I want to use the planned Conference Center to give the class a chance to work through the sustainable building practices in the form of group projects,” Field said.

“We would then provide those reports to the Physical Plant and work with them to make the Conference Center the most environmentally sustainable building that it can be.”

He said classroom learning is more sterile than real-life experience and this isn’t the first time he has gotten his students involved.

“We’ve done several other class projects with building projects in previous years, including hav-

ing them look for energy rebates that the Business and Engineering Center and the University Center Expansion project qualified for,” Field said. “We worked on a project that designed electrical generators on exercise equipment at the Rec and Fitness Center.”

Adam Simmons disagrees with the location of the new center.

“The view of Reflection Lake is a big draw to both the Business and Liberal Arts buildings,” said the senior advertising major.

“The woods add to the view and we have excellent location near the back parking lot near the new Applied Engineering Center.”

Club president.

If something breaks in the three-hour endurance race, it can be fixed.

USI’s team plans to make an extra axel in case one breaks like it did this year, Eplers said.

The number on the car depends on how the team ranked the previous year.

USI raced as number 66 this year and will race as number 38 next year.

“It’s really fun and not a lot of people get the chance to take a car from raw metal to a fully operational car,” Davis said.

“That’s quite unique, especially with the facilities

that we have. We hope to take advantage of all the new machines that we have up there (in the Applied Engineering Center) to help us build a structurally better car.”

The students take the lead when it comes to building and designing the car, said Davis, who relies more on the students than the students rely on him.

“It’s about working on something,” he said. “It’s about working with other people. It’s about taking a project from start to finish.

I think that’s something employers really want to see.”

Unique continued from Pg. 1 Robb said.

A majority of USI students commute.

“I think it’s important for incoming freshman to live on campus to get the full experience,” Robb said.

It is widely agreed that the Cone is the most unique building on campus, and no other campus has anything quite like it.

The 97-foot structure tow-

ers above the campus and embodies all of the student cultural organizations at the university.

“A lot of other college campuses are very traditional, meaning a lot of older style halls and buildings,” said AJ Jones, sophomore theatre major. “But USI stands out because of how modern our buildings look.”

Center continued from Pg. 1 of campus,” Helfrich said.

“They will be removing quite a few trees, but also remaining a buffer between the Conference Center and the neighbors to the west. We want to minimize the effect on the neighborhood and leave as many trees as we can.”

He said he wants to build the building as close to the water as they can.

“There is a really rustic nature trail and I would like to keep that intact as much as possible,” Helfrich said. “The terrain is really neat with the hills and ravines.”

Students will definitely benefit from the Conference Center, he said.

“Students will be allowed to rent out the space,” Helfrich said.

Scheduling Services

will be used for reservations, as it is for any other conference room.

The university is waiting on a few approvals before taking action.

“We should be ready to start construction sometime in the summer of 2014,” Helfrich said. “It will probably take about 15 months to build and if started on time, we could be finished toward the end of the fall to winter of 2015.”

Helfrich said the construction of the Center shouldn’t affect students at all.

“We will be making improvements to the road across the lake, but even then that’s minimal impact to the students,” he said.

Brandon Field said he wants to give his students

Engineering continued from Pg. 1 model to test the car. model to test the car.

Davis uses baja car problems in his finite modeling class, too.

“That’s one of the unique things about the baja car,” David said. “There are some really interesting problems that they can’t solve that are not necessarily book problems, so you help the student formulate the problem statement and step through it, and that’s really a lot of fun.”

Every team uses the same ten horse power Briggs and Stratton motor, which is shipped to the participating school

after the registration fee is paid. The engine comes equipped with a governor, a device that controls the power of the engine to keep it the same for every team.

The same car can be used for three years.

There is an inspection of all of the cars before the race begins.

“They make you write down all your technical specifications then, if you place in the top five, they tear your car apart to make sure your car hasn’t been changed since the inspection,” said Ryan Elpers, USI’s SAE Mini-Baja

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.

Or online at usishield.com every day

Features

Page 4 - The Shield - November 21, 2013

USI Pep Band fit for students and alumni

Photo courtesy of Photo Services

USI pep band preforms during the GLVC tournament last year.

By ARIANA BEEDIE Features editor The USI Pep Band gives students the opportunity to play instruments without a curriculum and gives the chance to play instruments other departments don’t offer programs for.

Tom Mace, Pep Band director, has led the brass section since the early 90s.

“We started in Fall 1990 as the first based pep band for USI, and now we’re in our 24th season,” Mace said.

The band consists of

students and alumni because many students aren’t aware of the band’s existence.

When Barry Schonberger, former dean of students, was still at the university, the band was moved from student life to the athletic department, making it difficult to advertise to students.

“One thing we’ve kind of fought is students not knowing about us,” Mace said. “We’re not a class or part of education.”

While lacking a major music program at the uni-

versity, the Pep Band allows a space for students to play music while supplying music at games.

“Since we’re a noncredit organization, we don’t have a mandated attendance policy,” Mace said. “There are at least two or three games before students are back from break, that’s the way the schedule goes.”

A large difference between this organization and other student organizations on campus is the large amount of alumni that participate in the band.

Members of the community are also welcome to play and support the university.

Drummer Jamey Gates has participated in the band since fall 1990 and stands as one of the longest running members of the organization.

“There’s a lot of good people, lots of really good friends and a great atmosphere,” Gates said. “I’d like to keep playing as long as they come and let us play.”

Gates played in various bands since 1982, but

me a lot to do,” Tyler said.

“USI doesn’t have a music program, and it gave me the option to play drums.”

Tyler also played drums in the university’s jazz band, providing her with another outlet to play music.

“Pep Band is just a fun activity to do, it’s different each year, but we have the same alumni,” Tyler said.

“I still play because I’m living in Evansville and I’m one of the main drummers.”

he attended USI and stuck with the Pep Band as a chance to play his instrument.

“In my opinion, if it was only for students, it would die,” Gates said.

“I’ve watched IU games and most universities have older bands.”

Brittany Tyler has played with the band since her freshman year at USI. The December 2012 graduate said the band provided her an organization she could belong to.

“I was a commuter and lived at home, so it gave

Community raises money for families affected by AIDS

By ARIANA BEEDIE Features editor

Local university and community representatives have come together for the holiday season to celebrate and raise money for families affected by the AIDS epidemic. They’re showing support by having a pageant.

The Red Party, a special benefit event, will feature the first “Mr. Heavensville,” to be chosen Nov. 22, for bragging rights of the year.

Participants celebrating at last year’s Red Party.

Participants celebrating at last year’s Red Party.

The purpose of the event is to promote awareness about the AIDS epidemic and raise money for families affected in Indiana, Kentucky and Illinois.

Senior psychology major Alex Kessler helped out for the first time last year but was asked to model this year in the pageant.

“I mean, it’s for a good

cause, and we’re competing for tips, and the tips go towards the AIDS Holiday Project,” Kessler said. “If that means making a fool out of myself for 15 minutes to benefit a family, I mean this is what you do.”

Along with the pageant, the event also features other mini fundraisers like donating gift certificates and taking donations for the families.

Right before Christmas, Tri-State Alliance volunteers deliver presents to 315 families in need so they can have a pleasant holiday.

“Families can sign up, with how many people are in their household and write down two or three items that they would want,” Kessler said.

“Some people sponsor a whole family so they’re required to buy everything on that list, but some people buy Schnucks gift cards.”

Every person in the family gets some sort of Christmas present, he said.

Last year, Kessler helped deliver gifts before the holidays.

“There’s already this stigma associated with HIV and AIDS so people always feel like judged, but you’re just there to provide them with something everyone should get the opportunity to have,” Kessler said. “It was a lot of gifts, it filled my Jeep to the brim.”

Kids should wake up with gifts on Christmas morning, he said.

This is the 10th year The Red Party fundraiser has been in effect, and it’s one of the biggest moneymakers for the AIDS Holiday Project.

“This year the theme is pageant,” said Amie McKibban, assistant professor of psychology. “I help TriState Alliance wherever I can as a volunteer for the past four and a half years.”

One of the reasons the AIDS Holiday Projecet was started was to help the families because of the financial burden they may

Red Party attendees enjoy the evening in 2011.

already endure.

“Individuals that have families living with AIDS tend to really struggle to make ends meet,” McKibban said. “Medications that oftentimes individuals are put on with HIV can cost anywhere from $12,000 to upwards of $40,000, depending on the type of medicine, a year.”

This project is a way for members of the communi-

Photos courtesy of Wally Paynter

ty to help families but also put food on the table for Christmas dinner, she said.

“It’s an absolutely heart warming thing to see,” McKibban said. “It’s really amazing to watch the community pull together with these kind of fundraisers that do benefit the AIDS Holiday Project.”

Liberal Arts Dean Michael Aakhus was also asked to be a featured

model in the pageant.

“When Nancy Drake asks you to do something, you don’t say no. You have to say yes,” Aakhus said.

“I’m doing it because she’s always working for good causes.”

The event will be held at Tropicana Evansville and starts at 6 p.m. Call 812.480.0204 for tickets, which are $37.50 or $40 at the door.

EVENT ALERT The Housing and Residence Life staff will host a Thanksgiving dance, giving students the chance to give to charity and celebrate before the holidays.

The Thanksgiving Semi-Formal will be held Nov. 22 in Carter Hall. Students are asked to bring a canned food item or $1 for entry to the dance.

The dance begins at 8 p.m. All proceeds from the event goes to Tri-State Food Bank to help families and locals in need.

Jessica Hearne, McDonald West Apartments Area Coordinator, said there haven’t been Thanksgiving events like this in the past.

“We hope people dress up and have a good time,” Hearne said.

The event, sponsored by McDonald West Resident Assistants, is a semi-formal dance which requires attendees to dress appropriately.

“We don’t want to turn anyone away,” Hearne said. “Whatever they define as nice.”

Free food and beverages will be provided at the event.

Features Column: Multi-talented artist helps local musicians find voice Page 5 - The Shield - November 21, 2013

By ARIANA BEEDIE Features editor Brandon Jones, otherwise known as Brandon Gabriel or BG The Miracle, gives a young face and fresh perspective to local hip-hop and brings it to downtown Evansville.

Jones and his brothers have been collaborating with local bar The Jungle and hosting free hookah and live performances every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday since Halloween.

“My brother was the manager of the hookah lounge Oasis, but it got closed down,” Jones said.

“So we have electronic hookahs, and rather than having our own building, we figured we’d do it at The Jungle.”

The 20-year-old sings, raps and produces but doesn’t want to be labeled in any specific category.

“I don’t really consider myself a rapper. I wouldn’t necessarily just say that,” Jones said. “I just consider myself an artist.”

His inspiration for rapping and producing comes from a freedom of expression and has allowed him to make seven or eight mix tapes.

“It sounds kind of cliche, but I want to make music that matters,” Jones said. “I want to make the fun songs, but I want to be able to put out music that

people can really relate to.”

Along with hosting shows, Jones extends his hand to other upand-coming local musicians. Right now, he is collaborating with singer Emily Cabell because he thinks she has talent, he said.

“I found her on Facebook and hit her up and said I wanted to make music with her,” Jones said.

“I’m the type of person that feels like if you have a talent you need to use it.”

She has a lot of potential as an artist, he said.

Through performing at an east side club, Jones was able to get his name out and gain the large local following that he currently has.

“Whenever I was first putting out music, I would only share it with certain people and that was only when I lived in Newburgh,” Jones said. “When I started DJ’ing at Icon every weekend, everyone knew who I was and my name was on the radio, and I think that’s where it all came from.”

Photo courtesy of Brandon Jones

When he’s not making music and performing, Jones studies graphic design at Ivy Tech and plans to go back for a marketing degree.

“I want to use graphic design and marketing together. Basically, I just want to make people famous,” he said. “That(‘s) pretty much what I want to do is have a company that

promotes artists and maybe local businesses.”

Jones idolizes artists like Macklemore and Kendrick Lamar in the recent rap scene.

“I’ve been a Kendrick fan since 2009, and I take pride in that because I was telling people that he was about to be the biggest rapper and now look at him,” Jones said.

Polar Bear Club “Death Chorus”

New York five-piece post-hardcore pop-punk band Polar Bear Club dropped its fourth album “Death Chorus” this week.

“Death Chorus” is very different from its past albums and the band drifted further away from its posthardcore base, towards a predominantly pop-punk sound with an emphasis on pop. The album lacks the gritty tone that made it stand out above other posthardcore artists.

Just from the first track on the album, “Blood Balloon,” you can tell that vocalist Jimmy Stadt’s voice is not the same as any of the previous albums and sounds more like every other pop-punk band.

Though it’s different, “Blood Balloon” is a d*mn good way to kick off a record full of energy and

Rating 3/5

good instrumentals, which is one of the few good things about the album.

“WLWYCD” is the closest track to previous albums but after a few listens, I can hear the evolution the band is taking. I can hear glimpses of the old and the new Polar Bear Club. The build up in the intro adds a much-needed dynamic that wasn’t as present as much in the past, and the vocal depth makes it one of the best songs on the album.

With the grit missing, its charisma is alive in its driving choruses and

Rappers that have multiple projects like acting, and producing are a great inspiration, he said.

The Norfolk, Va., native has bounced around from Newburgh to Evansville, but remained with his artistry regardless of his address.

“Some people hit me up like, ‘How are you supposed to be a rapper when you live in Newburgh?’ and I’m like dude, what does Newburgh have to do with music?” Jones said.

Music runs in Jones’s family, with his two older brothers, father and younger sister who also rap, sing, produce

popular rap group, when he was in third grade.

“Everybody rapped to that beat, it’s one of the most popular beats in hiphop,” Jones said. “I just wrote to it, and I didn’t tell anyone I was writing music or anything.”

The first song Jones wrote was to “I Want Candy,” by rapper Aaron Carter, for a girl he liked in kindergarten.

“I changed the name of the girl from ‘Candy’ to Brittany because I was dating this girl named Brittany Heart,” Jones said.

Jones doesn’t have plans for the next five years, but he wants to be making music, he said.

and DJ. “My brother, Junius, started making and recording music and I started using the program without anyone knowing,” he said.

“Finally, they heard one of my songs, and we started making music together.”

One of the first songs Jones recorded to was “Grindin’” by Clipse, a

“Lovelace” punchy riffs in tracks like “When We Were College Kids,” “WLWYCD” and “Graph Paper Glory Days.”

“Death Chorus” would be a good album if I didn’t know that this was a Polar Bear Club record. Since I do, it falls in line with every other pop-punk record currently on the market.

By JIMMY PYLES, Staff writer

“Lovelace” is shocking, well-cast and heartwrenching, but fails to fully develop its star.

In 1972, Linda Boreman, played by Amanda Seyfried, shot to fame in the film “Deep Throat,” a porn film about a girl with an unusual birth defect: her clitoris resides deep within her throat.

Boreman, otherwise known as “Lovelace,” hit mainstream audiences with her film “Deep Throat” and became America’s first porn star.

Amanda Seyfried shed her girl-next-door demeanor (seen in movies like “Les Miserables” and “Mamma Mia”) in multiple scenes in “Lovelace” by preforming fellatio on several characters.

Stardom proved unfulfilling for the young star, she said in her autobiography.

Rating 4/5

Her husband at the time, Chuck Traynor (played by Peter Sarsgaard), allegedly abused her and forced her into the porn industry at gunpoint.

“Lovelace” provides a look at her life from her perspective, beginning with life with her parents after an unwed pregnancy.

The acting is profound and inspiring, aside from James Franco’s peculiar role as famous playboy tycoon Hugh Hefner.

We get only minor glimpses of Lovelace’s dismay and desire to escape the porn industry.

With that being said, the scenes we do see are intense.

The film illuminates a mindset that was prominent in the past and still common today: wives should do whatever their husbands say and that is how a marriage works.

This, according the Linda Boreman, is what drove her into an abusive marriage and unshakable fame as a “deeply” talented woman.

The film does an excellent job of revealing the dark side to Boreman’s temporary involvement in the porn industry, but shies away from going deeper into her character’s psyche.

By BOBBY SHIPMAN, Staff writer

Opinion

Page 6 - The Shield - November 21, 2013

THE

SHIELD Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Shannon Hall editor@usishield.com News Editor James Vaughn news@usishield.com Features Editor Ariana Beedie features@usishield.com Opinion Editor Jessie Hellmann opinion@usishield.com Sports Editor Zane Clodfelter sports@usishield.com Chief Copy Editor Rachel Marquart copy@usishield.com Visual Editor Zach Rothenberger visual@usishield.com

Staff Page Designer Jessica Stallings Copy Editor Armon Siadat

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Letters should be no more than 250 words, signed and have a telephone number for verification.

The editor reserves the right to edit for length, style, and grammar. Pieces will appear in The Shield online. Letters can be submitted online or via e-mail.

Guest Commentaries Signed opinions represent the views of the author and not the views of this newspaper.

‘What does USI have?’ Don’t pigeonUSI lacks yearly tradition hole feminists

By JESSIE HELLMANN Opinion editor If there’s one thing that cIf there’s one thing that can be said is unique about USI, it’s that we don’t have a lot of traditions.

Let’s think about it.

Indiana University has the Little 5 where college students prep for days by skipping classes and getting drunk, ultimately passing out in a dark street corner on the east side of town.

Purdue University has something similar, albeit less popular and kind of lame, in the Purdue Grand Prix.

Ball State University has the bed race: a competition held each year on the

Friday before homecoming.

Indiana State University owns the Tricycle Derby which first ran in 1963.

What does USI have?

One may suggest SpringFest, but consider how inconsistent it’s been in the past few years.

In fact, it was canceled last year.

It’s gone from being held in random parking lots with local bands performing, to peaking and getting bands like fun. and Jason Derulo in the PAC. However, due to funding and administrative issues, it was canceled and replaced with a few foot races last year.

Disappointing.

Props to the students

and administration who have put forward the effort this year to make sure the students will have some sort of event to look forward to, with the University of Evansville and USI partnering up to hold a concert in the Ford Center.

But it won’t be SpringFest. Just a concert.

One of USI’s strongest chances at having a yearly tradition like the Little 5 was thrown out the window.

This university doesn’t truly have an annual event it can call its own anymore.

As a university that is nearing its 50th birthday, isn’t it about time we grasped on to something and made it our own?

Black Friday takes over Thanksgiving

By JAKE TAPLEY Staff writer It seems that in recent years, Black Friday has been invading Thanksgiving Thursday.

Originally, I didn’t think the idea was harmful.

There were some places opening at midnight, and I thought that could probably be fun for some people.

I actually tried to do Black Friday a couple of years ago and was immediately discouraged by the long lines that wrapped around Target. I turned around and went home. I guess it isn’t for me.

However, the corporate machine has gotten a bit out of control in recent years, bumping the consumer holiday back into, well, the food consumer holiday.

This year, Walmart is opening its doors at 6 p.m.

That’s kind of when peo-

ple eat.

It’s not even that I love Thanksgiving, because honestly, I don’t care all that much.

I just know that other people do, and I wish businesses would start valuing that or at least taking it into consideration.

The world shouldn’t revolve around maximizing profits.

On the same token, though, we’re the ones feeding the machine.

The corporations depend on us. The only way businesses can afford to open their doors so early is because they know that “if you build it, they will come” - “they” being the customers, of course.

Let’s not forget our role in the equation. If we didn’t emphasize the value of getting deals on big ticket items that, in the scheme of things, don’t really matter, we might not even be in this situation.

I will say this about Thanksgiving: at least it’s based in humanity and in personal interaction, even if that interaction is usually awkward or terrible or detrimental to the wellbeing of those involved.

Black Friday certainly isn’t about either of these things. Sure, there are some isolated conversations that take place in the line, but that isn’t why people are there.

People are there for the credit-card interaction.

So I would just ask that we all think about what’s really important as we get close to the holiday shopping season.

Is getting a great deal really worth the trouble of going out in the middle of the day, waiting in line and missing out on Turkey Day? Is a cheap flat screen TV the legacy you have to offer?

You know...there’s always Cyber Monday.

Opinions expressed in unsigned editorials represent a consensus opinion of the editorial board

Write a letter to the editor at opinion@usishield.com

By ARI BEEDIE Features editor There is a stigma, even today, about what feminism is and who can or cannot be one.

People think feminists are hairy arm-pitted women,who hate men, and are radicals that are so strict about women’s rights they can’t see straight. This is not the case.

I consider myself a feminist. I don’t stomp around saying “I hate men,” but I do stand up for myself and refuse to be pushed around simply because I have a vagina.

In a recent interview with Time Magazine, Kelly Clarkson proudly stated she isn’t a feminist.

“I think when people hear ‘feminist’ it’s just like, ‘Get out of my way I don’t need anyone,’” she says. “I love that I’m being taken care of, and I have a man that’s an actual leader.”

This is bullsh*t. I mean, I have to ask, does she even care about herself?

As a woman that is supposed to represent and be a role model to young girls, I don’t think she is doing a good job. I’m very disappointed.

As a society, we are getting too caught up in the term “feminism.” Instead of looking at the identity as irrational, look at it in terms of women’s rights.

Women are not seen as equals to men in today’s society. In 2013, women are still paid less than men. This isn’t a secret.

We are paid less than men,

but successful women like Clarkson don’t pay attention to facts like that.

Is the female population asleep? We need to wake up and fight for our rights.

The fact that our university had a feminist organization that didn’t receive much student support or recognition is shameful.

As university students, we also need to realize that women aren’t dominating all of the fields.

In fact, it’s the opposite.

Pay attention to women’s rights issues, such as abortion, civil rights and domestic violence that takes place every day all over the world.

Women aren’t the only people who can be feminists.

Behind every great feminist can be a strong man who supports the cause just as much as she does. Men can open their minds to concepts like women being treated less just because of different reproductive organs and help change that disrespectful cycle.

We, as the new powerholding adults, can change how we are treated in the world by simply becoming aware and changing our actions.

A way to remain informed on women and human rights is to pay attention to current events.

Every day, human rights are violated, and there’s a way to prevent these issues from recurring.

I am a feminist, and you should be, too. Stand up for your rights before they’re dominated or taken away.

NOW HIRING!

- Visual Editor -Sports Editor Print an application online at www.usishield.com or stop by the office in the lower level of UC East.

Page 7 - The Shield - November 21, 2013

Sports

Attendance numbers continue to pace GLVC USI remains on the top list for attendance in Division II

By ZANE CLODFELTER Sports editor While attendance numbers have dropped at the Physical Activities Center (PAC) for men’s basketball games, Southern Indiana still remains one of the leaders in Division II attendance coming into this season.

In 2012-2013, USI averaged 1,520 fans in 15 regular season games at the PAC. The biggest crowd at the 2,600-seat venue was during the team’s final Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) match-up against Kentucky Wesleyan, with 2,400 fans in attendance.

“We have a very loyal fan base,” USI Sports Information Director Ray Simmons said. “(Men’s Head Coach) Rodney has always said how amazing it is what we have here.”

Leading Division II in attendance numbers in 2012-2013 was Northern State (N.D.) which averaged 3,199 fans. USI came in 27th among the rankings. The university ranked second among GLVC attendance numbers, falling only behind Drury, who came in at 11th with an average of 1,889

File photo by JIMMY PYLES/The Shield

USI students cheer on their Eagles during last season’s homecoming festivities at the PAC.

fans per game.

“Most schools around the country don’t have that booster club system that is a loyal base of people who come to see the games, who are there for you thick and thin,” Simmons said.

“We are blessed to have a loyal following of fans.”

Men’s Head Coach Watson said enthusiastic crowds help provide extra energy to his players. Watson mentioned the KWC game last season, when the students had the “Si-

lent Night” promotion and stayed silent before erupting on the tenth point. Watson still credits the fans for his team’s turnaround following a sluggish start to the game.

“That energy that our students brought on the tenth point won the game for us, and I’ve never said that before,” Watson said.

“As a fan, you can’t make shots, but I’ve never seen a game change like it did in that game. The kids ignited us. We never looked

Ready to play

back.”

While USI’s attendance figures rank among the best out of the 265 basketball playing Division II schools, numbers over the last decade have dropped on an annual basis. Before the PAC was remodeled with a new wooden floor and new seats, the university averaged 2,308 fans per game in 2004-2005.

Prior to the renovation, the PAC held 3,300 fans. A year after the renovation, which lowered the seating

capacity by 700, the average attendance was down to 2,153 in 2006-2007.

Other factors might have had an impact, too.

USI had games televised on the now defunct News 25 Sports Channel. Despite the channel being off the air for quite some time, Simmons said fans still call in asking when the Eagles will be on television.

“I have one person who calls me every other month asking when USI is going to be back on television,”

Simmons said.

While the attendance numbers have dropped, USI’s performance on the court hasn’t. Year in and year out, men’s basketball has been a contender in not only the GLVC but on the national level as well.

“I think it’s really important that we continue to do our part for student life,” Watson said. “I think that is what Dr. Rice had in mind, it seemed to be really important to him that we had a strong athletic program.”

Watson said coaching in a place where basketball is important makes the environment that much better, compared to traveling to places where his team plays in arenas that are largely empty.

“I think we are really fortunate to be in a community where basketball is a big deal. It’s part of our culture, it’s a part of a family’s free time,” Watson said. “The basketball culture really isn’t that way in every place or in our league.”

Which is why, despite the drop in attendance, the Eagles still have one of the toughest venues for opposing teams in all of Division II basketball.

Eagles blow past Davis & Elkins College to capture second victory

Chuck Jones comes back after injury

By JESSIE HELLMANN Staff writer Southern Indiana men’s basketball forward/center Chuck Jones is looking forward to being back on the court after his seasonending shoulder injury last year.

“It feels great to be back,” Jones said. “I’m just excited with all the pieces we have, and I’m ready to get on the floor.”

The 6-foot-9, 250 pound senior landed himself on the bench seven games into last season after experiencing a torn labrum.

A transfer from Madisonville Community College and Western Kentucky University, where he didn’t participate in athletics, Jones now faces his last year of eligibility and wants to make the most of it.

“It’s a good time to give it all I got and not hold anything back,” he said.

“Leave everything on the floor every night and go out this year with no regrets.”

Jones credits a strong rehab staff with getting him ready for the season and he said his shot is completely unaltered. “(My shoulder) is nice and strong now and healthy,” Jones said. “I had a really good staff who helped me every day, trying to get in there as much as possible. I’m still in rehab now, I don’t want to quit on it.”

One of Jones’s goals is to try to win every game.

“I think we have the pieces to compete with everybody and give everybody a good run for it,” he said.

USI Head Coach Rodney Watson said Jones

worked hard to transition from the bench to the court smoothly.

“He’s really worked to get himself back from a torn labrum,” Watson said. “Those shoulder injuries are maybe some of the toughest to come back from, but he’s doing a great job. He’s really picking up what we’re trying to do.”

Watson said as far as Jones’s strengths on the court, being the tallest and heaviest player on the team works out in everyone’s favor.

“He’s a horse. He’s really a big guy, and he can really have a presence in the middle,” Watson said.

“In college basketball, it’s really critical to have big guys that take up space. It makes it tougher for other teams to score in the middle of the floor, close to the basket.”

Jones, whose career high as a player is eight points against Virginia at Wise more than a year ago, is also learning how to score, Watson said.

“He’s getting baskets at 6-9, 250 pounds that 6-2 guys can’t get, so that’s a big strength,” Watson said.

As far as weaknesses, Watson said Jones needs to work on transitioning up and down the court.

“The game’s a fast game, and we got to get

him from one end of the floor the other,” he said.

“He has to stay in sequence with what we’re doing.”

Watson also said Jones owns the potential to become an even better rebounder.

Jones also contributes to the team by being an all-around good person, Watson said.

“He’s just a good person and a team guy. It’s never about him,” he said.

“He wants to do whatever it takes to win. His body language is always proper.

He never has an ugly look or questioning look about the players or his playing time, and those guys are fun to play with. When he comes into the game, he appreciates everything he gets.”

While Jones comes back from his injury, one other player will be absent from the court for a little while.

Forward/center Austin Davis tweaked his ankle and will be out of the game for an undetermined amount of time, Watson said.

“Timing couldn’t be worse for that,” Watson said, as the USI men began their 2013-2014 season Tuesday against Kentucky Wesleyan.

“When you’re in basketball, you have those circumstances all the time, and right now is his time.

Just got to get him a lot of rehab.”

Watson stressed the ankle isn’t broken and there’s nothing structurally wrong with it.

“He just hurt it, and it’s kind of sprained a little bit,” Watson said. “So we hope to get him back as soon as we can.”

Be on the look out for the Basketball Preview at the men’s basketball home opener against Lake Erie College on Nov. 21

File photo by JIMMY PYLES/The Shield

USI forward/center Mary O’Keefe goes up for a shot against Evansville. The Edwardsville, Ill. native had 15 points in the Eagles 96-68 win over Davis & Elkins at the PAC.

By ZANE CLODFELTER Sports editor When Davis & Elkins College freshman guard Stephanie Wooten scored a basket to give the Senators a 2-0 lead, the Eagles found themselves down early at the Physical Activities Center (PAC).

The deficit didn’t last long, as Southern Indiana followed with a 16-0 run, capped by a Jessica Parker three-pointer, to cruise past Davis & Elkins 96-68.

“I just try to keep focusing on if I’m open, shoot it,” Parker said. “I just try to focus on what I can control.”

Parker ended up with 16 points, shooting 5 of 9 from three-point range while adding a point from the free throw line. She wasn’t alone in double-figure scoring for the Eagles (2-0), however.

Juniors Anna Hackert and Mary O’Keefe added 15 and 11 points respectively for USI, rounding out the scorers to double digits.

“We had really good

balance,” Parker said.

Balance was a crucial to the game, with the Davis & Elkins game plan featuring a rotation of players off the bench every two minutes of game time.

“We watched tape on them so we knew every two minutes, five new players would be in,” O’Keefe said. “That team was very aggressive.”

For the majority of the game though, it was USI that showed more aggressive tendencies. The Eagles took control of the game early, something Head Coach Rick Stein was looking for coming into the game.

“They are used to controlling tempo,” Stein said.

“We really controlled the flow of the game.”

The control of the game started on defense for Stein’s squad, forcing bad passes by the Senators that were then turned into transitional scoring opportunities.

“I thought we were really working. We got deflections early,” Stein said.

“You got to put players

in position to be successful and they have to make plays. We really got some things going in transition.

I thought our team handled their pressure really well.”

The Eagles tempo also forced Davis & Elkins into early foul trouble, and by the time the first half was over, the Senators had compiled 21 fouls compared to the nine called against USI. “We pushed the ball,” senior guard Ariel Barnes said.

The fouls against the Senators put the Eagles at the free throw line often during the game, and USI cashed in shooting 28-39 for 71 percent.

Barnes said the team’s free throw shooting could be better. The team’s goal this season is to shoot over 75 percent from the charity stripe for the game.

“We’ve put an emphasis on (free throw shooting),” Barnes said.

USI continues its home stand at the PAC Friday, when it welcomes Salem International to campus for a 6 p.m. tip off.

The Shield - November 21, 2013

Page 8

View from the Cone: Appreciate the KWC rivalry while you can

By ZANE CLODFELTER Sports editor The ever-changing colleThe ever-changing college landscape has created a situation where longtime rivalries are put aside for monetary gain.

Universities are leaving conferences at all levels of the NCAA for bigger paychecks, letting historic rivalries fade.

Southern Indiana and Kentucky Wesleyan haven’t let the Panthers departure from the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) this past off-season eliminate the rivalry, which dates back to the late 1960s. This season, USI and KWC will meet twice on the hardwood like the two did as conference members.

Conference standings will not be impacted by Tuesday’s result or by their return trip to the Physical Activities Center on campus Dec. 21. These games are simply for bragging rights.

The story has been well documented. KWC decided to leave the GLVC for the newly-created Great Midwest Athletic Conference. This was due to the Panthers’ athletic teams, besides the men’s and women’s basketball, being non-competitive in a much more difficult GLVC. While the Panthers had stellar finishes in

both men’s and women’s basketball on an annual basis, other athletic programs at KWC were struggling. They were often the last place finisher in the GLVC. KWC was willing to trade good basketball for competitiveness in its other NCAA sports, putting the long standing “Battle for the Bridge” trophy match-up against USI in jeopardy.

Thankfully, the two schools were able to reach a deal this season to play a home-and-home series.

But as we look ahead to the future, there are no guarantees that the two programs will meet even once, let alone twice like this season.

So appreciate the fact that for at least one more season, these two Division II powerhouse programs, within 45 minutes of each other, will still face off for bragging rights.

USI Head Coach Rodney Watson appreciated it, too, as his team prepared

to face KWC earlier this week.

“I think it is important to keep a college rivalry going, there are so few of them,” Watson said. “I would hate to see that rivalry go away.”

While USI has developed other rivalries and heated match-ups against GLVC foes like Bellarmine or Drury, nothing compares to the Eagles’ games against KWC. It’s the “they don’t like us, we don’t like them” type of rivalry that no matter the record or situation for both teams, the intensity is felt on both sides. Not to mention the terrific fan base for both schools only adds to the tremendous game day environment.

Sadly, the return trip in this series at USI falls during winter break, when most of the campus population will be away celebrating the holiday season with family.

But if you’re in Evansville, do yourself a favor and come back to watch the Panthers and Eagles face off for what could be the last time.

It’s anyone’s guess, at the moment, when the two teams will face each other after this season, so watch one of the greatest Division II rivalries while you still opportunity to appreciate this legendary matchup.

USI honors volleyball seniors

Photo by BLAKE STAYROOK/The Shield

Senior volleyball players are honored before the Eagles’ final home match of the season. The Eagles began GLVC tournament play Friday against Truman State in Romeoville, Ill.

Upcoming Events: Men’s Basketball vs. Lake Erie ( Saturday 1 p.m. )

Women’s Basketball vs. Salem International ( Friday 6 p.m. )

Volleyball GLVC Quarterfinals vs. Truman State ( Friday 5 p.m.) at Romeoville, Ill.

Weekend Update: Volleyball USI 0 Indianapolis 3 USI 3 St. Joseph’s (Ind.) 0

Women’s Basketball USI 96 Davis & Elkins 68

Men’s Basketball USI 70 Kentucky Wesleyan 61