THE
Thursday, March 20, 2014
$10,000 to fund app Pg. 4 Bruce Pearl hired at Auburn Pg. 7
SHIELD www.usishield.com
Higher Ed Commission approves English MA
By Paola Marizan Staff writer
The Indiana Commission for Higher Education approved a Master of Art degree in English March 13. The program, which was proposed last year, will offer advanced studies in English for secondary education instructors, individuals who teach in two and
four-year post secondary institutions and professional writers in areas like business, industry and the non-profit sector. The curriculum is comprised of 33 semester hours - 30 of coursework and three of a capstone experience. “The fact the students can receive dual credits is what stood out the most about the proposal,” said Caren Whitehouse, 8th dis-
trict representative for the Commission. “It enables the student to have a step forward.” Whitehouse said the university put together an efficient presentation that was easy to navigate. “It is a multiple step process,” Whitehouse said. The program is targeted to a wide range of students. “Having a variety of degree
programs is a plus in every university,” Whitehouse said. Associate Professor of English Charles Conaway said most programs students apply for are limited to a specific curriculum, but what stands out most about USI’s Master of Arts in English is flexibility. “Students will have the liberty to shape the program to their needs,” Conaway said.
The program starts this Fall and will have two required classes - introduction to professional studies in English and an elective seminar on early American literature. “We’ll have an open house soon - before the semester ends,” Conaway said. He said the faculty is very excited about this and what it will
ENGLISH on Pg. 3
SGA reps reapply EXPRESS YOURSELF Free speech zone confined to small area
for same positions
FREE SPEECH
By JAMES VAUGHN News editor
Free speech is confined to a small area on USI’s campus between the Orr Center and University Center East, but those boundaries, Public Safety Director Stephen Woodall said, have served the university well over the years. “We like it to be a great, educational experience here,” Woodall said. “But we have to make sure things are safe and secure, too.” Woodall said the Office of Public Safety would only call the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office for assistance if a display became disorderly or riotous.
• • • • • • •
USI has always had a free speech zone The area was selected because it’s visible, accessible and doesn’t block people from coming and going It has been moved in the past due to construction The Dean of Students Office should be notified when it’s going to be used The Dean of Students Office notifies the Office of Public Safety when it is used The Office of Public Safety determines whether or not to break up a protest Solicitation is not authorized on campus, even within the free speech zone
Student Government Association ballots open Monday, but students who vote won’t have a lot of decision making to do – there are no contested positions. “I am disappointed,” said Adam Brothers, chief justice. “But I’m happy that we doubled the amount of people running… We have 21 people running in the election, and I’m stoked about that.” That’s up from 10 candidates last year. “The election will give us a full Exec. Board,” Brothers said. “It looks like the Exec. Board will have experience.” President Zack Mathis and Attorney General Ryan Hadley are rerunning for their positions. Students may have seen Mathis’s campaign cover of Justin Timberlake’s 20/20 Experience album. “It seemed to mirror the work I’ve done and hope to do,”
Mathis said. “I’ll have 20/20 hindsight on my previous term, which isn’t something previous SGA presidents have had.” This year, SGA helped raise school spirit, solve issues in student housing and build relations across the state at the campusto-campus and legislative level, he said. They also sponsored the travel and events of student groups and individuals “We also had the honor of having Mayor Winnecke speak at one of our meetings,” Mathis said. “As well as having Attorney General Zoeller and Senator Merritt travel to USI to help students better understand the expansion of the Lifeline Law.” Some of Mathis’s goals for next year include implementing a campus-wide texting service, exploring options to expand and improve campus housing community space and promoting civic engagement by adding voter
SGA on Pg. 3
Quarry reason for theatre delay By RACHEL CHRISTIAN Staff writer Construction at the new USI Teaching Theatre is taking longer than expected, but it should be ready for the fall semester. The new building is still on budget, said Gary Burgdorf, the construction administrator at USI. The project was able to cut spending in some areas, while distributing those funds to others. The original budget for the theatre was $17.2 million. Burgdorf also confirmed that the project is behind schedule, which was brought up at the Board of Trustees meeting March 6. The stone quarry that supplies the project has had problems delivering stone needed for the exterior. The sidewalks and the building’s exterior and interior finished floors are all on hold until the stone masons can finish their work. He said it is unusual for a supplier to delay the building process like this. “The contractors and I have dis-
cussed this on several occasions and this is the first time in our collective memories one company has hurt progress so completely,” Burgdorf said. “We have all seen problems, but there are usually ways to work around issues. In this case, none of us have been able to suggest the answer to this one.” The architect is working on contingency plans in the event the quarry is unable to provide the supplies for the project, Burgdorf said. Despite this set back, progress continues to be made on other parts of the theatre. Assembly and installation of the elevators began this week and the auditorium seating is scheduled to begin April 1. The fire prevention, heating and air conditioning are already installed, while the drywall and painting are “going well.” Wasserman, chair of the performing arts department, said the new theatre was slated to open in June, but if it is not completed by that time, it should be ready for the fall semester. But Wasserman said the theatre program Photos by Blake Stayrook/The Shield
Workers persist on projects to meet Fall 2014 opening date.
The Shield is a designated public forum.
doesn’t mind waiting. “We all know that major buildings take time,” Wasserman said. “A few weeks one way or the other means nothing in the long term.” The hard winter was another reason for delayed construction, he said. Planning and design for the theatre began around five years ago and USI broke ground on the theatre in August 2012. Besides hosting plays and other performances, the theatre will act as an instructional tool to prepare students for work in the entertainment industry. Much like teaching hospitals are designed to prepare medical students for real-life work, the teaching theatre
The student publication of the University of Southern Indiana
will give students hands-on experience. Wasserman wouldn’t say what the first production in the new facility will be, but he did say the comedy will be announced before the end of the semester.Burgdorf said there are other construction projects on the horizon. Plans for a new conference center are “nearing completion” and may go out for bids soon. There are also plans to remodel more housing and complete the renovations in the science center this summer. The theatre support building has also broken ground and is under way north of lot L, Burgdorf said.
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Page 2
The Shield - March 20, 2014
PUZZLES
TOP TEN MOVIES
Top 10 Pop Singles This Week
Last Week 1. Pharrell Williams No. 1 “Happy” 2. Katy Perry No. 2 “Dark Horse” 3. Jason Derulo feat. 2 Chainz No. 3 “Talk Dirty” 4. John Legend No. 4 “All of Me” 5. Bastille No. 6 “Pompeii” 6. Lorde No. 7 “Team” 7. Beyonce feat. Jay Z No. 5 “Drunk in Love” 8. One Republic No. 9 “Counting Stars” 9. A Great Big World & Christina Aguilera No. 8 “Say Something” 10. Pitbull feat. Ke$ha No. 10 “Timber”
Top 10 Hot Country Singles This Week Last Week 1. Brantley Gilbert No. 2 “Bottoms Up” 2. Jason Aldean No. 4 “When She Says Baby” 3. Dierks Bentley No. 11 “I Hold On” 4. Cole Swindell No. 1 “Chillin’ It” 5. Luke Bryan No. 3 “Drink a Beer” 6. Blake Shelton No. 5 “Doin’ What She Likes” 7. Lady Antebellum No. 6 “Compass” 8. Keith Urban No. 10 “Cop Car” 9. Eric Church No. 7 “Give Me Back My Hometown” 10. Scotty McCreery No. 12 “See You Tonight” Source: Billboard
(c) 2014 King Features Synd., Inc.
1. 300: Rise of an Empire (R) Sullivan Stapleton, Eva Green 2. Mr. Peabody & Sherman (PG) animated 3. Non-Stop (PG-13) Liam Neeson, Julianne Moore 4. The Lego Movie (PG) animated 5. Son of God (PG-13) Diogo Morgado, Amber Rose Revah 6. The Monuments Men (PG-13) George Clooney, Matt Damon 7. 3 Days to Kill (PG-13) Kevin Costner, Hailee Steinfeld 8. Frozen (PG) animated 9. 12 Years a Slave (R) Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael K. Williams 10. Ride Along (PG-13) Ice Cube, Kevin Hart (c) 2014 King Features Synd., Inc.
Page 3 - The Shield - March 20, 2014
News
News Briefs Students across campus Journalists to host events Come out and support the Society of Professional Journalists next week. SPJ will host a variety of events to promote First Amendment rights and give students a chance to get to know the student media on USI’s campus. Opportunities will include throwing a pie in a reporter’s face and learning what it’s like to be a reporter. Stay tuned to social media for a list of times and locations.
Spirituality survey USI students who take the survey will be entered into a drawing for one of the 20 $25 gift cards to the Campus Store. The survey ends March 31. The last email reminder will be sent on March 23.
Spruce up campus Take care of your campus by sprucing it up. If students want to participate, it will be from 1-4 p.m. April 6. Everyone will meet at the Physical Activities Center Lawn. To register, go to usi.edu/alumni.
Disability Awareness Week The Counseling Center, Office of Disability Resources and the USI ADA Coordinator are offering a programming series in recognition of Disability Awareness Month. Disability Awareness Week is March 24, to March 28. Presentations will be happening everyday and are free to the public. For more information, contact Stephanie Cunningham at scunningha@usi.edu.
benefit from Learning Center By RACHEL CHRISTIAN Staff writer Last semester, 200 students were placed in the Children’s Learning Center, USI’s on-campus childcare facility. In the fall of 2012, the Center transitioned to a formal lab school. Instead of functioning as only a daycare, it now operates as a hands-on learning lab for USI education majors. The Center was previously administered in the Division of Outreach and Engagement, but now operates under the direction of the Potts College of Science, Engineering and Education. The switch allowed other majors – such as theater, nursing and chemistry – to gain real world experiences with children without leaving campus. “It is a huge benefit for USI students,” said Jill Raisor, assistant professor of education and the liaison between Pott College and the Center. Eric Davis is an elementary education major who is currently working on an internship at the Center. He gets to observe, participate and learn by working
with the kids and teachers, and he records his experiences in a weekly journal assignment. One of the greatest benefits of the internship is the amount of time he spends with the children and staff, Davis said. The staff give him plenty of advice and ideas for when he has a classroom of his own. “In a field experience class I may only get to go to a school twice a week for probably 2.5 hours a week if I’m lucky,” Davis said. “And with my internship at the CLC, I get to work with them every day.” In David Daum’s Teaching Developmental Activities class, physical education teaching majors engage the children at the Center in a 30 minute exercise activity. Daum said the decision to get students from this class and other classes he teaches involved at the CLC came to him last summer as a “light bulb moment.” He tried out the placement for the first time last semester, and the feedback he received from his students and the CLC staff was overwhelmingly posi-
tive, he said. “Any experience that future teachers get working with kids is invaluable,” Daum said. The Center also engages those outside the educational field. This spring, students from Kathy Riordan’s Voice and Diction class will perform children stories at the Center as part of their final. In the past, Riordan had her students complete this assignment in the classroom with their peers. But after talking over the idea with Raisor, Riordan said she thinks the experience will be “a win-win situation” for the students and the children. They have also discussed the possibility of the children visiting dress rehearsals and witnessing some preparation for a play. “The best part is the joy of captivating a young audience and drawing them into our theatre world,” Riordan said. Karen Parker places pediatric nursing students at the Center so they can observe normal childhood growth and development. They get a chance
to interact and observe the kids while also serving as “an extra pair of hands” around the Center. “I think it’s very beneficial for their knowledge base,” Parker said. “And it gives the kids some extra one-on-one attention.” With so many students coming in and out, Raisor said the Center makes a special effort not to overwhelm the children with new faces by carefully scheduling how many students can visit and at what time. Even if they’re not part of a placement program for class, USI students still get involved at the Center in other ways. In the spring of 2012, chemistry students tested the soil outside the CLC before the children began planting their organic garden. International students from the Passport Club visit the Center frequently to teach the kids about their home country, tradition and culture. Students from Japan are visiting this week. “It really is a unique experience,” Raisor said. “For both the students and the children.”
creasing for the better. “I am thinking of a future education once I have my BA degree,” Abney said. “I think it’s a really
good idea.” She said she wants to go out in the field once she graduates, but plans to return to obtain her Master’s.
“Essentially, yes, it would be very hard to lose,” he said. “But SGA members are representatives of the student body and are therefore elected by the student body.”
SGA’s Election Committee is sponsoring the Activity Programming Board’s showing of The Butler tonight in Forum 1 to encourage students to vote.
Relay for Life captains to meet
English continued from Pg. 1 The Relay for Life Team Captain Meeting for all team captains and those interested will be held at 8 p.m. Wednesday in the Business and Engineering Center. All money raised so far will be collected to prepare for Relay for Life of Vanderburgh Colleges. For more information, contact Alaina Zambaldi at amzambaldi@eagles.usi.edu
Studentsʼ opinion needed for speakers If any students have suggestions on what medical topics they would like to learn more about, contact Matt Winegar at mwinegar@usi.edu. The sooner the suggestions are sent, the better.
USI Security Incident Log 3/10/2014-3/14/2014
Lost Property Report
Property Damage
Recreation and Fitness Center
Worthington Lane – Bowen
03/10/2014 8:30p p.m.
03/13/2014 2:32 p.m.
Open
Closed
Incident Report
Code of Conduct – Weapons
OʼDaniel Ln – Hendricks
Violation
03/12/2014 3:12 p.m.
Worthington Lane – Bowen
Closed
03/13/2014 2:32 p.m. Closed
Violation of University Policy OʼDaniel Lane
Drug Law Violations
03/12/2014 5:55 p.m.
Worthington Lane – Bowen
Closed
03/13/2014 2:32 p.m. Closed
Property Damage Ruston Hall
Alcohol – Underage Possession
03/13/2014 10:06 p.m.
McDonald Lane – Hanly Build-
Closed
ing 03/14/2014 11:15 a.m.
Fire – False Alarm
Closed
Newman Hall 03/13/2014 10:37 a.m. Closed
Information gathered from USIʼs 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.
bring. “Students could develop an advanced understanding of literature,” Conaway said. “This program
is what serves best for the people in the region.” Freshman English major Lauren Abney said the English Department is in-
SGA continued from Pg. 1 registration to class registration. He said he also hopes to reverse legislature that denies the equity of in-state tuition to undocumented students who meet certain
criteria. Students will receive a ballot at 8 a.m. Monday morning via email. Brothers said he hopes to double the amount of voters SGA had last year.
Eagles win GLVC tourney By CHRIS PROCACINA Sports editor Last Saturday, the 14th ranked USI men’s basketball team fell in the first round of NCAA Division II Midwest Regional to Michigan Tech University by a score of 75-70. Despite the loss, the season concluded with many high points for the Eagles who earned their 12th GLVC Championship. After beating Bellarmine 86-73 for the third time this season in the GLVC Championship game, senior forward Aaron Nelson had plenty to grin about. The GLVC co-Player of the Year and 2014 Daktronics, Inc. Midwest Region Player of the Year posted 22 points and 13 rebounds in the victory over the Knights. With a clipped down net hanging around his neck, he could only smile as more awards were piled on. Nelson earned the tournament’s Most Valuable player award and was named to the All-Tournament team along with fellow senior Lawrence Thomas. “This whole tournament we played with a chip on our shoulder,” said Nelson. “Defense was our big emphasis. All our guys, we wanted to come out here and win this for coach and for all our seniors and go out with a bang.” A big spark on the dominant defense was junior guard and GLVC All-Defensive team mem-
ber Gavin Schumann who transferred from Sinclair Community College to join the Eagles this season. “First year here and we did it. We’re a good team and we kept our heads on straight,” Schumann said. Senior guard Lawrence Thomas added a game and season high 23 points in the championship game in route to his second GLVC title as an Eagle. “It feels good to be a (champion) again. This is my second one. The first one was in my home town and this one was in Evansville. No two better places to win a championship,” Thomas said. “Winning in front of a home crowd and all the support we got over the three nights, there is no better feeling than that.” Thomas and Nelson weren’t the only ones to get in on the offensive action. The starting five: Thomas, Nelson, Schumann, Orlan-
Photo courtesy of Photo Services
Men’s basketball team feels the rush as they hold the trophy from the GLVC Conference.
do Rutledge, and Taylor Wischmeier combined for 84 of the 86 points scored. Rutledge and Schumann both reached double figures in scoring as well with 18 and 13 points respectively. USI head basketball coach Rodney Watson was content with the roles every member of the team played throughout the tournament in which they won every game by an average of just over 14 points. “You want to win a championship because that stays in your trophy case forever. So when you come back to campus, that’s always going to be in there,” Watson said. Coach Watson also acknowledged the toughness of the GLVC as his team received a higher national
ranking in the NCAA tournament as a result of their GLVC tournament victories. The Eagles ended the tournament with three straight days of victories over nationally ranked opponents. The Eagles knocked off the 23rd ranked Flyers of Lewis University 92-74 in their quarterfinal round and followed the victory by defeating 4th ranked Drury University 75-57. Drury previously won the 2013 GLVC and NCAA DII National Championships. Bellarmine also claimed both championships back in 2011. After finishing the year with a 25-6 (13-5 GLVC) record, the team will look to rebuild after graduating 8 seniors.
Features
Page 4 - The Shield - March 20, 2014
$10,000 grant funds new app for Blackboard By BOBBY SHIPMAN Features editor Katherine Winsett grew tired of working her classroom lesson plans around third-party digital materials. After a call for highereducation proposals fell in her lap, the USI biology instructor chose to act on an idea she had been stewing over for a few years. She enlisted a team of two USI students to design a visual-led proposal for Colab, an application that will facilitate research in classrooms on a larger and more frequent scale. “All students need to know what research is experience research and data. But, we don’t do enough of it in classrooms. It’s limited to labs,” Winsett said. “I wanted to be able to do research in my big classes, have students collect data, analyze it and come up with conclusions.” The problem with gathering a class-wide data set where students analyze their own data, as well as the rest of the class’s, is the amount of clerical work it takes, Winsett said. “Students can submit the data to Blackboard. Then I have to go in and make a spread-sheet, (and) I have to make the spread sheet available to everybody. You can only do that so many times in a semester because it takes time,” she said. “This application
Graphic provided by Amanda Brinkman
A portion of proposal walks viewer through the application step-by-step.
will do it automatically.” Winsett’s proposal won in the “New Models of Content Curriculum Development and Sharing” category through Instructure - an educational technology company, which granted her $10,000. Winsett said she has become accustom to writing scientific proposals driven by language. “(Instructure) sounded like they wanted something visual, which is not my forte,” she said. “But, there is a lot of talent on
this campus, so I reached out and asked for some names.” Junior graphic design and interactive media double major Amanda Brinkman and art graduate Kristina Fitzgerald showed interest. “I explained what the proposal needed to be, and they came up with the design,” Winsett said. “I told them, ‘I like green.’ That was about my input.” Fitzgerald remains at USI through Efroymson, a contemporary arts fellow-
ship which required her to apply to graduate school. She said her and Brinkman worked hard to get the proposal in on time. “We were working on a short deadline,” Fitzgerald said. “We started, I think, in December, and this was the time I was trying to graduate and get all of my final projects in.” Fitzgerald said Brinkman came up with the initial logo and branding based on one of her sketches. “I was trying to think
of something scientific, something that would utilize the word collaboration in some way, which is how we came up with ‘Colab,’” she said. “We were thinking cooperation labs, collaboration.” The logo uses the ‘O’ in Colab as a beaker with ball-and-stick models of molecules coming out of it. Winsett, Brinkman and Fitzgerald said they plan to continue working together to create the application for Blackboard with the
help of computer programming students at USI. “I really didn’t want to go to some professional computer programmer and pay them to do this when students on campus have the ability,” Winsett said. “I don’t have any programmers lined up but it’s in the works. I have ideas. I am hoping someone will just fall in my lap.” Winsett said she hopes Colab positively impacts the classroom despite its “simple” function. “I think it is something a lot of teachers could fit into what they do. The only purpose is to collect data and disseminate it automatically,” she said. “It is something that has a lot of potential.” Winsett said Colab could assist teachers in every facet of education. “The idea of collecting data is universal. It doesn’t matter if you’re a science student or an art student, an English student or history student,” she said. “We come at new information by gathering evidence and drawing conclusions. In all of those classrooms, you can find ways for students to collect information about the world around them and look at it. It doesn’t have to come from a textbook. It doesn’t have to be a data set someone has already made. We all gather information all the time.”
Speaker to address same-sex issues By ROBERT GRAFF Staff writer In his return to USI, John Corvino presents “Haters, Sinners, and the Rest of Us: The Gay Debate Today” at 4:30 p.m. on March 26 in FA III. Corvino is the co-author of “Debating Same-Sex Marriage” and sole author of “What’s Wrong with Homosexuality?” The speech, hosted by the College of Liberal Arts, will focus on the topics of homosexuality and
same-sex marriage, followed by a short Q&A. Corvino said he wants to use his experiences in philosophy and personal life to help his audience understand same-sex marriage and sexuality from all perspectives. He plans to put common ideas to critical examination, such as “Love the sinner, hate the sin” and “Born this way,” he said. His speech is not geared solely toward “gay” observers but also for a “general audience.”
“I’m hoping that people from various perspectives, including critical perspectives, will attend,” Corvino said. Whatever someone’s view on same-sex marriage, Corvino said he intends to lay this relevant subject in front of his audience and examine it for everyone to see. Ultimately, he said he wants this analysis to lead toward other, deeper conversations. The Distinguished Scholar Lecture series
gave the College of Liberal Arts the opportunity to choose a presenter. Assistant professor of philosophy and the event’s organizer Mary Stoll her and colleagues jumped at the opportunity and chose Corvino after seeing his previous appearances. Stoll said one reason for choosing him and his speech was its timeliness to HJR-3 - a recently proposed amendment which could make same-sex marriage constitutionally illegal in the state of Indiana.
“He loves hearing objections,” Stoll said. She said Corvino will argue against the opposition of same sex marriage from a philosophical and ethical standpoint, which allows the audience to understand the concepts of certain topics and opinions. “He thrives off the energy of the crowd,” Stoll said. “He uses concrete applications to public policy. He speaks clearly and succinctly.” Corvino breaks down
his presentation in a listener friendly way, which allows for anyone to attend and achieve understanding of sexuality and same-sex marriage, she said. Stoll said what is happening with gay rights today imitates civil rights issues like segregation in schools. If people did not take action, the rights for some might not be what they are today.
“Non-Stop” In theatres now “Super Model” Foster the People Available on iTunes For their sophomore release, Foster the People said they wanted to try something different from their critically acclaimed debut album, “Torches.” First, they wanted to make a concept albumwhich I think worked in their favor. The lyrics on “Supermodel” are consistent and give it an overall dark atmosphere. Next, they wanted to expand their sound - another good choice. The opening track, and one of my personal favorites on the record, “Are You What You Want To Be?” displays the band’s evolution of sound, incorporating world music, such as a notable African influence.
Another personal favorite is the song “Best Friend,” a beautifully crafted piece of psychedelic pop music. Amid it’s infectious guitar, groovy bass line and super catchy falsetto vocals, I felt temporarily transported to the late 1960s or early 1970s. Unfortunately for Foster the People, it seems the tradeoff for having a bolder record is having one with weaker, less memo-
By JAKE TAPLEY, Staff writer
Rating 3.5/5
rable tracks. The lead single is the song “Coming of Age,” which is devoid of the pop hooks heard in “Pumped up Kicks.” Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a bad song. It’s a bad single. But, I like the direction the band is headed with “Supermodel.” It answers the primary problem I had with their previous album - the “cookie-cutter” songwriting. With approximately 48 minutes of run time, the band has exceeded the length of “Torches” by nearly 10 minutes. Given the genre and number of tracks, maybe Foster the People could afford to be a little more concise.
Jaume Collet-Serra’s new movie stays true to the title with “Non-Stop” suspense. Bill Marks (Liam Neeson) is a guarded, alcoholic air marshal performing a routine trip aboard a transatlantic flight. Soon after the flight takes off, Marks receives a string of text messages from an unknown passenger claiming someone will die every 20 minutes. He is then given the option of transferring $150 million into an account in order to stop the murders. Marks does his best to stay composed and keep the situation under control, which turns out to be quite a task thanks to defiant passengers, dead bodies and overall panic on the airplane. Marks also has to convince his supervisor, the pilot and every other person onboard the airplane he is not the terrorist. Although the plot might seem straightforward
throughout the first half the movie, “Non-Stop” brings a few twists and adds a great deal to the tension. Collet-Serra does a great job of keeping the viewers guessing as to who the murderer might be: the stereotypical Middle Eastern passenger, an irritable NYPD cop, a nosy woman interfering with Marks’s investigation or even Marks himself. If you liked Neeson in “Taken” and “Taken 2,” then “Non-Stop” is an absolute must see.
By ROBERT GRAFF, Staff writer Rating 3.5/5
Rest assured, Neeson pulls through in the film with his hoarse voice and determined attitude. Collet-Serra puts you up close and personal with the fight scenes, yet does not overplay the almost cliché aspect of Neeson’s acting repertoire. Instead, the movie keeps you on your toes with interesting dialogue and plot twists. “Non-Stop” certainly brings up some current topics, such as national security, mistreatment of military personnel and corruption amongst people with power. Filmgoers have the ability to look merely at the plot of the movie. However, it is suggested to analyze the movie beyond face value. The ending of “NonStop” felt ambiguous. Whether or not viewers feel cheated by the ending, “Non-Stop” will intrigue you and make your heart flutter a little.
Page 5 - The Shield -March 20, 2014
Features
We the People Aubrey Franklin
Haley Morgan
Aaron Porter
Jonah Breeden
Freshman undecided
Junior psychology major
Senior rdvertising major
Junior public relations major
What is OK to post on social media?
Should we have a free speech zone?
Franklin - “I feel like anything really, as long as it’s appropriate for everyone to view as far as children and family. Like, nudes aren’t OK. Positive things are okay as long as its appropriate.”
Franklin - “I feel like the zone is OK. I feel like if people are allowed to protest everywhere, it could make certain people uncomfortable. We know that if there’s something we don’t like, we can stay away from that space. But if they’re allowed to do it everywhere it might make students uncomfortable.”
Breeden - “I think anyone has the right to post anything on social media. There are some social implications, but you pretty much have the right to post anything you want on there.”
Should you be allowed to (as a US citizen) threaten public figures (mayor, gov., president)? Franklin - “To a certain extent. Some things are OK to say, but threatening someone’s life or their family, that’s just going too far. I don’t think anyone wants their life or their family to be threatened.” Morgan - “I think that’s taking your rights a little bit too far because if you are slandering the head of your political party, you’re not supporting America. Making threatening comments is not the same as disagreeing with what they’re saying. “ Breeden - “You have every right to. There are social implications.You’re not going to be taken seriously by some people if you’re threatening public officials over social media. You’re credibility is going to be lost if you’re threatening a public official just because you feel you have the right to.”
Morgan - “I think that a freedom of speech zone is nice because it kind of keeps order for the rest of the campus. If everyone was allowed to protest everywhere, it would kind of get in the way of school.”
In regards to social media, what do employers look down upon? Franklin - “I think they look down upon anything that may reflect their company badly - (and) anything as far as doing drugs or drinking when you’re not supposed to or posting sexual pictures, cursing or just anything unprofessional.” Porter - “Well, probably like partying pictures. For example, if you’re going to school to be a preacher or something you shouldn’t post a picture at some party where somebody is smoking crack in the background. That wouldn’t look too good.”
Porter - “I don’t see why it has to be a zone. It should be anywhere on campus because this is a public school.”
Do you think some topics should be forbidden to protest? Morgan - “I don’t know if I think any topics should be forbidden. I don’t think people should use a protest to put other people down, but I think they should be able to say what they want to say there.” Breeden - “It should all be freedom of speech.You can’t lift my political rights because I’m on a college campus. Since we do have freedom of speech, there shouldn’t be any topic that should be forbidden. The Westboro Baptist Church, for example, as much as nobody likes them, they still have the right to say what they want.”
What should be OK to post on social media? Breeden - “Woman crush Wednesdays are always OK, (as are) True Love Tuesdays. But for any business, you have to keep it professional and under control.You can post things about events and getting the word out as long as you keep it professional and to the point.” Porter - “I feel like if you’re an employe (and) it’s out there for the public to see, it’s going to still be out there for the public to see. So, just like Phil Robertson running his mouth about gays, it still reflected on them (A&E) because he’s on the network, and they had every right to fire him over it.”
New lab brings more opportunities By STEVE BABCOCK Staff writer A new writing lab at USI provides specialized tutoring for English majors and international students. Associate Professor of English Sunny Hawkins oversees Eagles Write, located in the Orr Center room 3074, and said she knows firsthand from her experience at Southern Illinois University (SIUC) that assistance from fellow writers is beneficial. As a graduate student at SIUC, she used the same lab. “The perception is only bad writers come to the writing center, but it’s really for writers who know having another set of eyes on their work can only help improve a paper,” Hawkins said. The new writing lab welcomes walk-in students, but encourages scheduling appointments in order to prevent overcrowding which can be common around finals. “You don’t have to have a paper written. Just bring
an idea for an assignment, and sit down with a tutor who can help with planning out ideas and understanding what the prompt is asking,” Hawkins said. The Writers’ Room – another remediation center run by Academic Skills – still assists students with English composition. The biggest distinction between the labs is Eagles Write prioritizes English as a second language (ESL) instruction by reserving weekly slots with specific tutors for entire semesters at a time. “I don’t really see us as being in competition, but we have some overlap in the student population. I think they (the Writers’ Room) are just a little broader,” Hawkins said. “Academic Skills deals with all kinds of tutoring – math, science, history and writing is still a part of that. We’re focused entirely on language and writing.” Several factors sparked the creation of the new lab: Faculty in the English department desired
an in-house remediation center, tutors were previously trained outside the guidance of their future supervisors and after the breakdown of the ESL program, international students needed a place providing tutelage specific to their needs, she said. “It’s not just for English majors either. We have students from business to biology, and many from education,” Hawkins said. “Because tutoring is all about one-to-one learning, it’s a really great way to learn about being a teacher.” Sophomore English major Crystal Thompson performs some clerical work for Eagles Write in addition to remediating four or five students per week. “I think the writing center is a really great place for good writers, bad writers and those in between to come and feel comfortable,” Thompson said. “We tell everybody not to worry because you can’t make a mistake one of us hasn’t already made.” Eagles Write assisted 83
Photo by BOBBY SHIPMAN/The Shield
Eagles Write tutors study and prepare for next writing session.
separate students in more than 200 visits during fall 2013. Crystal has noticed many pupils who were struggling with basic skills last semester improved so much that they have returned with questions advanced enough to challenge the tutors. “I think the tutors are learning just as much as the students are learning,”
she said. “When there is something we don’t know, we look it up with you. I’ve learned a lot since I’ve been working there. I’m a much better writer now.” Students interested in becoming a tutor should contact Hawkins. Upon completion of training, tutors can clock up to 10 hours a week as a paid student worker.
Eagles Write operates Monday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sessions begin as close to the top of each hour as possible and last about 45 minutes. Visit www.eagleswrite. com for the lab’s mission statement, tutor lineup and contact information.
Opinion
Page 6 - The Shield - March 20, 2014
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SHIELD Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Shannon Hall editor@usishield.com News Editor James Vaughn news@usishield.com Features Editor Bobby Shipman features@usishield.com Opinion Editor Jessie Hellmann opinion@usishield.com Sports Editor Chris Procacina sports@usishield.com Chief Copy Editor Armon Siadat copy@usishield.com Visual Editor Amanda Brinkman visual@usishield.com
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Stop complaining, do something By BRENNA WU Staff writer USI, to some, is a second home. For me, I have loved getting involved on campus through athletic teams, student development programs and even some campus organizations. I know for certain the experiences I have made at USI will carry me throughout the future.
The friends I have made, the classes I have taken and the activities I have enjoyed will always be in the back of my mind. Unfortunately for some at USI, home is not the first feeling. Within the past two weeks, I have heard individuals complaining about the campus. The complaints include the following: there are not enough activities on the weekends, the clubs and
organizations are boring, there are not good athletic teams, there is no football team, etc. It is sad to say that I hear somebody complaining about something on the campus. One of the biggest complaints I have recently heard concerns the artist chosen for SpringFest. The SpringFest committee worked extremely hard to plan the event, and some
Mid-semester evaluations should exist By JESSIE HELLMANN Opinion editor Toward the end of the semester, students will notice their USI email accounts have been bombarded with requests to fill out end-of-the-semester course evaluations for the classes they were enrolled in that year. Many professors actually use this information to gauge how effective their teaching methods are and to find ways to improve and evaluations give students the chance to voice feedback anonymously. However, at USI, there are no practices for mid-semester evaluations, which are equally as important as end-of-semester ones. Unless a student contacts the professor directly, the professor will more than likely have no idea that a teaching method isn’t working or if the homework load is just too much. A mid-semester evaluation would give students the opportunity to voice their concerns while there is still time to adjust what needs to be fixed in the course. May-
be there is a general consensus that thinks tests are too difficult for a 100 level core class or maybe students think the professor is going through too much material in a short time period. Several institutions like Princeton University, Michigan State and Rutgers rely on the use of mid-semester course evaluations to help professors improve the learning environment including Princeton University, Michigan State and Rutgers. End-of-semester evaluations help professors take suggestions and try to improve future classroom experiences but taking suggestions to improve the current situation makes more sense. After all, every year a professor has a different class full of different students with different personalities and backgrounds. It’s not entirely fair for professors to only make changes based on the opinions of previous students. Giving students the opportunity to tell a professor in an anonymous setting what needs to be improved on in the class would enhance the learning outcomes for the student.
people are responding with hatred. Yet, they refuse to do anything about it. I, too, am known for complaining without doing something. But I have started to act and see what I can do for students as well as myself. I get tired of people spreading gossip or just spreading hatred around the campus. There are many organizations for students to join
that allow students to air their voice. The Student Government Association, as well as the Student Development Office, works to give students their voice back but only if the students are willingly to take the chance. I have always lived by the philosophy, ‘if you have something to say you better say it.’ Let your voice be heard.
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Sports From an Eagle to Tiger Page 7 - The Shield - March 20, 2014
Auburn hires former USI basketball coach
By CHRIS PROCACINA Sports editor Former University of Southern Indiana and Tennessee basketball coach Bruce Pearl was hired Tuesday morning as the new head basketball coach at Auburn University. Pearl’s contract is set for six years totaling $14.7 million, with $2.2 million dollars guaranteed in his first year. Every year after his first season, he will receive a pay raise of $100,000. If Pearl is fired his buyout will be half his current pay, earning him $1.1 million per year. As head coach for the Eagles, Pearl compiled a record of 231–46 during his nine year run at USI. He managed to take the Eagles to nine straight NCAA DII tournaments, making it to the national title game twice and winning it in 1995. His time at Tennessee proved equally successful. The Volunteers claimed the SEC regular season championship in 2008 as Pearl won his second SEC coach of the year award and made the NCAA Tournament each year he was there. He also became the second fastest coach to reach
Pearl
300 NCAA victories during his time at Tennessee. After a scandal involving current Ohio State player Aaron Craft attending a cookout hosted by Pearl, a violation of the NCAA rules, Pearl was fired from Tennessee on March 21, 2011. He was also given a 3 year show-cause penalty of the NCAA barring him from contacting potential recruits for any university that sought to hire him. The penalty will be lifted after August 23, 2014. Mt. Vernon boy’s varsity basketball coach Marc Hostetter experienced Pearl first hand, both playing for and coaching beside him. “I was fortunate that I came in during (Pearl’s) second year with the team. I played for four years and
was an assistant coach under him for two more, so six total years,” Hostetter said. A point guard for the 1995 Division II national championship team, Hostetter still sees the same genuine attitude from his former coach. “People think what they see on TV is an act. Twenty-four hours a day, he has great energy and the ability to motivate you as an individual,” Hostetter said. Hostetter was not surprised to see Pearl join the college coaching ranks again after his three year absence. “It is like a drug. You get addicted and can’t get away from it,” Hostetter said. “I think being away from the game brought some perspective to that for coach Pearl.” Pearl has expressed his excitement for the opportunity to once again join the coaching ranks of the SEC. According to a press release from Auburn’s official website, Pearl greeted fans and said, “I don’t know how long it’s going to take, but I want this same reception when we come back with a SEC championship!” Auburn should feel
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Then-USI coach Bruce Pearl consoled his 7-year-old son Steven, who began to cry when it became apparent USI was going to finish second in the NCAA Division II tournament to Cal. State-Bakersfield in 1994.
somewhat familiar for Pearl, who will once again be coaching in the SEC. Auburn also gives him the chance to be associated with Eagles, only this time around, he will be scream-
ing “War Eagle” instead of representing a Screaming Eagle. Despite the fame associated from being a high powered DI coach, Pearl still remembers his roots.
On March 10, he tweeted in response to USI winning the GLVC Tournament saying “@ USIBBNetwork Go Eagles! Tradition!”
Coach’s son plays 2 sports By CHRIS PROCACINA Sports editor Between late October and March, redshirt sophomore forward Zach Watson focused most of his time and energy on the basketball court. However, he trades in his basketball jersey and switches his focus to USI’s track & field team after the basketball season. As a freshman, Watson earned second team AllGLVC honors after finishing second and setting a USI freshman record leap of 6 feet 7 3/4 inches in the high jump at the 2012 GLVC Outdoor Championships. As a junior, basketball has taken priority over the indoor track & field season. However, the scheduling for the GLVC Indoor Tournament this year fell on an off day for the basketball team allowing Watson a chance to compete in his first indoor track & field meet. “The good thing is I find basketball helps a lot with (track),” Watson
Watson
said. “There’s a whole lot of running and jumping involved with that. Not a whole lot of specifically track practice, but I felt prepared for it.” Prepared may be an understatement. In his first ever collegiate indoor competition, Watson again took home second-team All-GLVC honors in the high jump and finished second in the event with an indoor school-record leap of six-feet, seven inches. “Zach basically jumped in the car, drove to Indianapolis, jumped out and competed,” said USI head basketball coach Rodney Watson, Zach’s father.
Zach Watson said his dad has been supportive of his track career. “He definitely wanted me to go up there and compete,” Watson said. “He’s behind me 100 percent.” So far Watson has been able to compete for two successful athletic programs this year as the men’s basketball team recently won the GLVC Tournament. “It’s definitely two different sports, but it’s a lot of fun to compete in two different areas of athletics. It’s a great time, “Watson said. Now that the basketball season has come to an end, Watson plans to shift his focus mostly toward the outdoor season. “I’d like to train as much as I can for high jump. (I) definitely want to try and get some work done and get ready for the outdoor season,” Watson said. The Eagles will begin the outdoor season on March 28 at the Washington Invitational hosted in St. Louis, Mo.
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What really makes this school standout is the close-knit student body and the faculty and staff. The personal attention each student receives is unparalleled and the positive environment we have created is second to none. - Robyn Clark Charter Class member
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The Shield - March 20, 2014
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