THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2022 | USISHIELD.COM | VOL. 54 ISSUE 4
Women of USI
Photo by Michaela Nees | The Shield
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THE SHIELD | MARCH 24, 2022 | USISHIELD.COM
Girls Run the World
BY SHELBY CLARK Editor-in-Chief
My dad always taught me I could do anything if I put my mind to it. He never taught me being a woman was a handicap to success. Going to college? Not a question. Being a leader? Not a question. Being valued? Not a question. Being raised this way has not always been the case in cultures throughout world history — it’s still not the case today in all cultures and subcultures in the United States. Despite the challenges, women have always found a way to run the world and make a difference. A woman put the first man on the moon. A woman started the American Red Cross. A woman is responsible for the famous design of Disney animation. A woman was the first Black student to lead the way for desegregation of education. A woman wrote a diary that would humanize the Holocaust for the world. A woman discovered DNA. A woman refused to give up her seat on a bus because of her race. A woman invented the technology behind WiFi. A woman discovered radium and polonium. A woman began the modern environmental movement. Since 1995, March has been designated as Women’s History Month, a United States national holiday to celebrate the accomplishments of women and the impact they have made on history. Women on campus deserve to be celebrated for their accomplishments at and for the University of Southern Indiana.
Graphic by Maliah White | The Shield “Women of USI” features women who have made an impact on the University of Southern Indiana.
A woman founded the Multicultural Center. A woman worked to transform the College of Nursing and Health Professions into the top nursing program in the state. A woman advocated for graduate programs at the university. Women like the founding first lady of the university, Betty Rice, and Sherianne Standley, former vice president of advancement, are responsible for establishing the culture of the university community. If you have ever stepped foot on campus, chances are you have met at least one woman who has made an impact on your life. Women make an impact on campus every single day — from running the Student Government
Association to teaching classes as experts to being a leader in campus dining. Some of the most influential people on campus are the positive women who work the campus Starbucks. They don’t just make drinks, but they take the time to get to know the students and their names. They are the definition of USI culture. Being a leader as a woman does not come without its challenges. As a woman, I have faced interruption, questioning and mansplaining from my male counterparts. I have not been taken seriously and waited for people to hear it from a man before they believe what I have said was true. I do not know a single female leader who has not faced these challenges.
These challenges, however, should not deter female success. By working to change the culture around female leadership, we as a culture can overcome this. The change starts in the classroom, work meetings, at home and even tough conversations with our friends. First, let’s work to overcome this issue by celebrating the women of USI. Only Shield staff members who identify as female produced The Shield’s March 2022 print edition, “Women of USI.” After all, Beyoncé said it best, “Who run the world? Girls.”
THE SHIELD | MARCH 24, 2022 | USISHIELD.COM
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Women’s issues exist everywhere BY FALLON HEADY Staff Writer
My first week at USI was a blur of campus activities and new friends, but there is one moment that I will never forget. I was sitting in my dorm, surrounded by faces that were just becoming familiar, when we somehow got on the topic of sexual assault. My roommate asked the seven girls lounging in our room if any of them had been assaulted. I cannot forget the sensation of my heart dropping as every single one of us raised our hands in silence. One out of six American women are surviviors of an attempted or completed rape, according to the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, around 43% of the 28,500 reported criminal cases against people and property on college campuses in 2018 were for forcible sex offenses. Safety issues for women exist everywhere, even on our campus. According to the Public Safety crime log, there was one reported rape, one case of harassment and a report of stalking from Jan. 23 to Feb. 23, 2022. USI could be safer. “Public Safety’s emergency number sometimes doesn’t pick up,” said Elizabeth Bowers, senior communication studies major. “USI always advertises if you need an escort home, you can call Public Safety, but what are you supposed to do if they aren’t picking up?” The university does offer the RAVE Guardian app, which has a feature that allows you to hold down a button if you feel unsafe and will track your location, but walking home at night can be eerie when surrounded by out-of-order emergency poles with stickers slapped on them telling us to call Public Safety. Students are encouraged to complete sexual assault prevention training modules
Photo by Michaela Nees | The Shield (From left to right) Skye Fuller, a junior public relations and advertising major, Jordan Teusch, a junior business administration major, Lily Hubbard, a freshman graphic design major and Hanoo Alqahtani, a senior international graduate business administration major, holding hands on campus and taking pride in their femininity. The four women participated in a photo shoot for the print issue “Women of USI” on March 15.
“Gains for women are not losses for men. They are ultimately gains for humanity.”
-Steven Williams, associate professor of sociology
through Everfi, a digital lesson platform. Unlike the alcohol education modules the university requires all first-year undergraduates to complete, the sexual assault prevention training is optional. Knowing what consent means is just as important as knowing how much alcohol is in a standard drink. “It’s probably something that should be required in a UNIV course, where everybody has to sit through it and discuss it,” said Denise Lynn, history professor and director of gender and Africana studies. Sexual assault is not strictly a women’s issue. According to RAINN, one out of every ten rape survivor is male.
Women’s issues are not solely safety, they persist even in classrooms. When I told my peers and family I was going to get a business degree, I was met with a chorus of “are you sure you want to go into such a male dominated field?” Of course, I responded with some offhand feminist remark and said I was just as capable as my male counterparts, but walking into a classroom filled with men is still intimidating. “When you look around the room and you see everyone else in that room is male, all of a sudden you feel like whew, I don’t fit in here, I don’t belong,” said Julie Eyink, assistant professor of psychology. “It’s a really threatening experience.”
Women, especially those with power, face more than just perceived threats or classroom anxiety. “As a woman in power, your authority on different issues is questioned a lot,” said Anna Ardelean, Student Government Association president. “Getting spoken over, getting explained to, getting talked down to.” “It comes from all angles, from everyone, and so you have to work extra hard to command the space that you hold,” Ardelean said. “Look inward, know that you deserve to be here. You are just as qualified as any man would ever be.” Lynn said a major issue affecting not only our campus, but the entire nation, is maternity and paternity leave. According to the university handbook, “Parents are entitled to a combined total of ten working days of paid parental leave.” “Everybody is supposed to have FMLA leave, but they have to have worked at the place for a year, and you don’t necessarily get paid for it,” Lynn said. “I know people who’ve used all their sick time for it. I know people who were denied leave because their contract was just under a year.” According to Family Doctor, “Fully recovering from pregnancy and childbirth can take months. While many women feel mostly recovered by 6-8 weeks, it may take longer than this to feel like yourself again.” Women’s issues are your issues too. Regardless of your gender, sexual orientation, political ideologies or religious beliefs, there are women in your life who deserve equality, equity and safety. Steven Williams, associate professor of sociology, said the men on campus should not get caught up in a narrow view of masculinity. “Gender relations are not a zero-sum game,” Williams said. “Gains for women are not losses for men. They are ultimately gains for humanity.”
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THE SHIELD | MARCH 24, 2022 | USISHIELD.COM
Sherianne Standley: One of the most influential women in USI history
Photo courtesy of University Archives and Special Collections Sherrianne Standley became the adviser for The Shield in 1976. During her 33 years at the university, she had many titles and served many roles, shaping the University of Southern Indiana.
BY TEGAN RUHL Staff Writer
Students on campus may not be aware of the impact Sherrianne Standley had on USI; however, the former vice president of advancement has left a major footprint that can still be seen on campus today. From director of publications to assistant to the president, and finally, the vice president of advancement, Standley served the university for 33 years.
Prior to her employment at USI, Standley was already making her mark on the world. After studying at Indiana University, Standley began working for the Indiana Democratic Party, assisting Hubert Humphrey’s presidential campaign in California while also doing public relations work for minority members of the Indiana House and Senate. In 1976, she was selected to be the first director of publications at USI, a position that required her to advise The Shield, a literary magazine
called “The Moving Finger” and the yearbook. Standley received the position of assistant to the president 18 months later. After working closely in this position with David L. Rice for nearly nine years, Rice announced he was changing Standley’s title to vice president of university relations. With her new title change, Standley’s responsibilities slowly began to pile up. Alongside public relations responsibilities, she oversaw her replacement in publications while making sure procedures were run properly and the quality of the printing service was up to par. Soon, she came to oversee alumni affairs and the USI Foundation as well as temporarily taking on admissions, financial aid and career services. After her hard work, Standley’s title was changed to vice president of advancement. Standley was present when USI became independent in 1985, for the introduction of the university’s first graduate program, diversification of programs across the board and the growth of the student population. Standley’s influence also led to the creation of the merit scholarship program, a revised recruiting and admissions program, management of historic New Harmony as well as moving USI to a higher educational role in the state of Indiana. Her involvement in the community of Evansville also helped advance USI.
“Dr. Rice used to say, ‘You just got to be opportunistic as hell,’” Standley said. “When you see the opportunity to serve a need, you go for it. If we have the capacity, then you go for it. I think we did a pretty good job at that.” Standley was the first woman to be named vice president of a university in Indiana. However, she does not feel as if this were a significant part of her title at USI. “Dr. Rice gave me lots of opportunities, and gender was never important to him,” she said. “He just wanted to get people that would help him get the job done.” Standley has been moved by the number of young women who have come and gone over the years on campus. She hopes her influence at USI has inspired many women to accomplish tremendous goals over their lifetimes. “I was the first woman hired to a non-secretarial position at the Indiana Democratic Party,” she said. “I was the first woman to do public relations in the legislature for both houses. So, I’ve done a lot of that ‘first one’ stuff, and I learned that when you do it, and you do it successfully, it changes minds.” “Women have to use their network to help other women,” Standley said. Standley is excited for the future of this generation of young women at USI as well as future generations of women on campus. “The sky’s the limit,” Standley said. “I’m old news.”
THE SHIELD | MARCH 24, 2022 | USISHIELD.COM
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FOUR INFLUENTIAL WOMEN OF USI BY CASEY CLARK and FALLON HEADY
Photos courtesy of the University of Southern Indiana
BETTY RICE
LINDA BENNETT
was involved with women’s athletics, religious life and Greek organizations. Rice would serve the women’s athletic teams dinner at her home, and she worked to bring women speakers to campus. She also cooked meals for the USI Madrigal Feaste for nearly 30 years. Rice helped create the 25acre Bent Twig Outdoor Learning Environment on campus, winning a national Sears Environmental Award. Rice was given an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from USI in 2000 for her vision and work in building community support. Rice died on Betty Rice, founding first lady of the Jan. 26, 2021, and her hospitality and Linda Bennett became the university’s university, created plans to increase the kindness will not be forgotten by the first female president in 2009 after enrollment of women students. Rice university and Evansville community. serving as provost and vice president
PAM HOPSON
for Academic Affairs since 2003. Bennett served as president for nine years before retiring in 2018. During Bennett’s tenure, the university underwent major developments through building projects, such as the Business and Engineering Center and Performance Center as well as renovations to the University Center and the Burdette Trail. Bennett is known for establishing the university’s first strategic plan. She focused on increasing academic standards and enrollment. Bennett said she would like to be remembered for her sense of humor. “Everything comes packaged with good in between and bad,” Bennet said. “You’ve just got to manage that and sometimes just kind of smile at the sillier parts.”
ANN WHITE
before becoming assistant director in 1985. Hopson then founded the Multicultural Center and became its first executive director in 1994 and continues to hold this position in Spring 2022. Hopson laid the foundation for what the Multicultural Center would become. Hopson also works as an adjunct professor in Academic Skills and is the advisor for Women Unlocked, a student group with the goal of empowering African American women and creating opportunities for members to gain success. For 43 years, Hopson has served Pamela Hopson began her career at the university community and has Ann White, dean emerita of the College the university in 1979 as support staff at continuously provided support and of Nursing and Health Professions, started the Student Financial Assistance Office opportunities for students and faculty. her journey at the university in 1990.
Ann White served in the dean position as interim dean in 2011 and was promoted to dean in 2012. White’s career at the university included being a professor of nursing, associate dean of nursing, program director for the Doctor of Nursing Practice program and dean of the College of Nursing and Health Professions. She retired from the university in Fall 2021. White attained a Doctor of Nursing Practice program expansion grant as well as Health Resources and Services Administration grants for the USI Glenwood Community Health Center. She also secured equipment for the university’s simulation center.
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THE SHIELD | MARCH 24, 2022 | USISHIELD.COM
Student organizations support women resources BY SYDNEY LAWSON Lifestyle Editor
Graphic by Maliah White | The Shield
Student organizations express a need for more free resources available to women. One issue brought to the attention of Student Government Association is the few period products accessible to women on campus and lack of available free products. “I believe that women’s resources are definitely important in university spaces. No one wants to be in a situation where they are without the products they need,” said McKenna Carter, social media coordinator of Students for Life. “Access to these products would also greatly benefit those who cannot afford to buy products every month. This would be a great resource for them.” The period hygiene products costing 50 cents located in some campus bathrooms aren’t accessible enough, said Alleigh Dillman, Feminist Majority Alliance president. “People just don’t carry cash on them, let alone change. I don’t even know where that money goes, or if it just sits there. But I mean, people who have periods can’t necessarily control it,” Dillman said. “We shouldn’t have to scrounge up 50 cents to make sure we don’t bleed through our pants.” Dillman said professors’ lack of empathy and understanding towards mental health is similar to their mindsets about periods. “I’ve had some professors who are very empathetic towards it. Other
Photo by Maliah White | The Shield Students with menstrual cycles can purchase hygiene products for 50 cents in quarter in most bathrooms on campus. Student organizations are pushing for them to be free.
professors expect you to power through,” Dillman said. “I know a lot of students on campus have endometriosis and PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) and all these other things that make periods and just being a woman ten times harder,” Dillman said. “I think knowing that we can get a tampon, or a pad or whatever we may need just by walking into the bathroom and grabbing it will take a little weight off of our shoulders when it comes to having our menstrual cycle.” SGA General Assembly voted to pass a letter of support to place free period products in high-traffic women’s restrooms Feb. 17 at the GA Meeting. Anna Ardelean, Student Government Association president, had initially proposed this idea in her 2021 spring election. Freshman business administration
major Madeline Houston had not even been fully inducted into SGA as a business representative when she began working on and leading the project. Houston said, “I just feel like it’s important for women to have that kind of stuff on our campuses. We give out free condoms and stuff, but we don’t really have something for women, and we have to have our periods every month.” Katelyn Vinci, president of Students For Gender Violence Awareness, said “steps like the free period products are a push in the right direction.” “Period products are for basic sanitation and safety. There are legitimate safety issues if you don’t have proper products,” Ardelean said. “Menstruation is not a choice.”
THE SHIELD | MARCH 24, 2022 | USISHIELD.COM
“The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo:” A woman’s rise to power BY SYDNEY LAWSON Lifestyle Editor
“The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” by Taylor Jenkins Reid blesses readers with enchanting, dynamic characters and examines the hardships and extra steps women must take to excel in their fields. Evelyn Hugo is an icon. She started her career in the early ‘60s, landing star roles in renowned films while picking up seven husbands along the way. In her eighties, Evelyn grew elusive, avoiding publicity and press. It came as a shock when she reached out to Vivant Magazine for a feature and even more shocking when she requested unknown journalist Monique Grant to write her story. This feature had the potential to be the story of the year for Monique, but when she arrived at Evelyn’s apartment for an interview, Evelyn revealed she had alternative motives. She wanted Monique to write a tell-all biography for her posthumously. As Evelyn revealed every detail and secret of her life to Monique, she realized Evelyn had a lot to hide, and their lives overlapped in a worldshattering way. This story managed to be enthralling and heartbreaking all at once. By the end
of the story, I was in tears. The novel criticizes the role women are expected to take on in society as well as the double standards they face. A cheating husband is portrayed as a fox while a cheating wife is labeled a temptress or disgraceful. Mistakes that would simply be a blip in a man’s career could be ruinous in a woman’s. Evelyn herself is enchanting and glamorous, and I felt myself in awe of her through the book. The growth of her character and the ways in which she recounts the moments of her life are captivating. I absolutely love the tropes of found family and the flawed characters. The dynamic between Evelyn and those she began to call her family was so heartwarming. I can only hope to one day have a friend like Harry or a love like Celia. “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” also has a great deal of suspense, and a mystery is teased throughout the book; however, the novel doesn’t depend on the shocking twists to be a good story. They are simply a bonus. I loved that all of the characters weren’t 100% likable all of the time. That’s likely why the characters made me feel so deeply.
SHIELD LEADERSHIP
Shelby Clark
Editor-in-Chief
Uday Lomada
Managing Editor Cover art courtesy of Laywan Klan, Atria Books “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” criticizes the double standards women face in society.
They felt human. Their thoughts could be my thoughts and their experiences, my experiences. Evelyn Hugo’s tale is one full of empowerment, heartbreak, glamor, pride, fear, love, loss and secrets. I give this story a 4.5 star rating, and I recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating story.
HONORS LLC BOOK CLUB THOUGHTS Audrey Fox,
freshman French teaching major.
freshman accounting major.
-Audrey Fox Photo by Sydney Lawson | The Shield
Casey Clark
Chief Copy Editor
Maliah White
Design Editor
Sydney Lawson Lifestyle Editor
Maddy Wargel
“My favorite part was the character Evelyn Hugo. She was so ruthless and unapologetic with her decisions but also held on to her caring and protective characteristics. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone and everyone.”
-Allie Rusk Photo by Sydney Lawson | The Shield
Business Manager
Sales and Marketing Supervisor
Allie Rusk,
“In my opinion, “The Seven Husbands of Eveleyn Hugo was totally not the book I expected, yet it was worth every plot twist included. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an interesting light read about old Hollywood.”
Linh Nguyen
The Shield is a designated public forum and the student publication of the University of Southern Indiana. Read more and subscribe to our digital newsletter at usishield.com.
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THE SHIELD | MARCH 24, 2022 | USISHIELD.COM
Life with Lawrence BY ELIZABETH HARRIS Cartoonist
Graphic by Maliah White | The Shield Cover subjects: Skye Fuller, a junior public relations and advertising major, Jordan Teusch, a junior business administration major, Lily Hubbard, a freshman graphic design major, and Hanoo Alqahtani, a senior international graduate business administration major. The four women participated in a photo shoot for the print issue “Women of USI” on March 15.