V THE VIDETTE
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2019 Vol. 131 | No. 37
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FEATURES 5
SPORTS 8
SUPER IDEAS FOR YOUR CHEAP SUPER BOWL BASH
COMING OFF ROAD WIN AT DRAKE, REDBIRDS PREP FOR LOYOLA
We survived!
RECORD COLD SNAP PARALYZES CENTRAL ILLINOIS, BUT FEBRUARY BEGINS ANEW
After a two-day break, weather, Illinois State try to get back to normal ANDREW DOUGHERTY News Editor | @addough
A
s Friday’s temperatures return to normal with a high of around 29 degrees, Wednesday and Thursday experienced record-breaking weather conditions which led to the closure of Illinois State University’s campus. As the Polar Vortex bore down on central Illinois, ISU announced Monday afternoon that the school would be closed 11 p.m. Tuesday to 9:30 a.m. Thursday. The closure was extended to all day Thursday as the National Weather Service in Lincoln warned that wind-chill values could plunge to as low as 50 below zero.
see WEATHER page 3
A hauntingly beautiful — but desolate — view of a quiet Illinois State University campus Wednesday night. The school was closed Wednesday and Thursday due to the dangerously frigid weather.
PHOTOGRAPH BY KACEY NICHOLS | News Reporter
PAGE 2 | NEWS | THE VIDETTE
New Yorker music critic Ross to speak at ISU
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EVAN TAWZER Features Reporter | @EvanTawzer
While many seek shelter from the cold in the warmth and safety of their homes, homeless people often do not have this option. Most of the time, the best they can get is a night in a car. Home Sweet Home Ministries is holding their third annual Night in a Car fundraiser this Friday night at Trinity Lutheran Church. The event is a simulation of homelessness in which participants spend the night in a car and raise money to support the local homeless. The fundraising works by reaching out to friends, family and organizations and encouraging them to donate money. Individuals, families, organizations and businesses are welcome and have been part of the event in past years. Each car is considered a team, and is given a team name. The homeless shelter has a goal of $1,000 for each car, but stresses this to be a goal and not a requirement. According to Home Sweet Home Ministries Communication Coordinator Leslie Bunge, previous participants have said it was both an eye-opening and humbling experience. “They were able to see how certain things would be difficult, like finding a restroom or a snack,” Bunge said. Given the colder weather, the fundraiser’s structure will be different from last year. Participants can
arrive an hour earlier for a community dinner featuring a special guest panel. There will be activities and educational opportunities available throughout the course of the evening when participants are expected to go to their cars. Breakfast will be served the following morning. ISU employees Dave Bentlin, Narry Kim and Christa Lawhun attended the event last year as the “Redbirds Out and About All Night” team. They raised over $1,200 for the cause. To Kim, the experience was very educational. “No matter what others may think, people don’t choose to be homeless or have fun sleeping in their cars,” Kim said. “Unexpected problems can come up and put families in difficult circumstances that can’t be controlled.” Participants are highly encouraged to dress warm, bring plenty of blankets and have a full tank of gas. They are not bound to their cars, and can come inside to warm up as needed. Sign up can be found at nightinacar.org. Home Sweet Home Ministries serves the local community by providing shelter, food and educational opportunities to the homeless. EVAN TAWZER is a Features Reporter for The Vidette. He can be contacted at ehtawze@ilstu.edu. Follow him on Twitter at @EvanTawzer.
Burger Baskets:
New Yorker music critic and Pulitzer Prize finalist Alex Ross will speak at 7 p.m. on Feb. 18 in the Center for Performing Arts Concert Hall. Admission is free and open to the public. Ross will be presenting “A Rough Guide to 21st-Century Music” which will be followed by a students-only question-and-answer Alex session with Ross Ross himself. “ We i nv ite d Mr. Ross to speak because he addresses — in fascinating, engaging, and relevant ways — the topics that our students are grappling with: is classical music still important? What does classical music have to do with our real lives?” professor of musicology Allison Alcorn said. The visit to ISU is a joint project of the School of Music and the Department of English with generous grants from the Harold K. Sage Fund
2018 1st Place
and the Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology community engagement and culturally-responsive learning branches. “He is transparent, open and direct — uniquely positioned to engage in meaningful dialogue with students who are thinking deeply about important issues or just curious about various aspects of what he does,” Alcorn said. Ross’ upcoming presentation is not the only mark he’s making on ISU and its students. His book, “The Rest is Noise: Listening to the Twentieth Century,” is read in some graduate classes and is a tool used for discussion. While writing for the New Yorker, Ross is also working on “Wagnerism: Art in the Shadow of Music.” He has received an Arts and Letters Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the Belmont Prize in Germany and fellowships from Guggenheim and MacArthur. “I’ve heard Alex speak to a university audience before, and I found him to be engaging and, honestly, just downright funny. I know our students are going to love him,” Alcorn said.
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THE VIDETTE | NEWS | PAGE 3
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2019
ISU residence halls accommodate arctic weather KACEY NICHOLS News Reporter | @Kacey12793516
Illinois State University’s campus was effectively shut down as the Bloomington-Normal area reached temperatures dropping below -23 degrees Wednesday and Thursday. University officials encouraged students to remain indoors as temperatures continued to drop. All residence halls held events for their residents in hopes no one would go outside. Posters were displayed Wednesday night advertising the activities that would be happening in the buildings. ISU’s Watterson Towers and Tri-Towers are the only two residence halls with adjoining dining centers, thus leaving students within the halls of Hewett-Manchester in a difficult situation. Fortunately, housing staff at Hewett-Manchester decided to provide free breakfast and lunch to prevent students from leaving the building in search of a meal. Hewett-Manchester area coordinator Coree Burton said the available items have been brought over from Watterson Dining Commons as well as local businesses. “The food available are more of grab-and-go
items. We offer bagels, granola bars, cocoa and fruit and currently we have the materials to make grilled cheese sandwiches,” Burton said. Feminine hygiene products as well as household items students may need were also available. Lunch was provided from noon to 2 p.m. “We will have these grab-and-go items as supplies last throughout the day and we have a program during the evening for students where we will have food available,” he said. As a department, Burton and his colleagues have been working with weather service stations and facilities to prepare for the current situation. “As area coordinator, I have been relaying this information to my staff in regards to the weather and what our expectations are. Those include making sure the buildings are safe, windows are closed and people knew what the situation was,” Burton said. In the event that the university did not reopen, pre-emptive programs were planned with current resources and if needed, additional resources. ISU freshman molecular and cellular biology major Logan Gaskill said the university was doing a good job by providing food
WEATHER
and keeping students safe during the cold temperatures. “During the cold temperatures where there is ice, people could fall or get injured and that would be on the university. Since they brought in food, this limits that liability on ISU if students choose to go outside for food rather than stay indoors,” Gaskill said. Burton said there are staff and resources available should students need further assistance.
COLD FACTS
From Page 1
The lowest temperature recorded for Wednesday was 53 below zero at 6 a.m. with the wind chill, according to NWS. The lowest temperature previously recorded for Jan. 30 was at 15 below zero in 1966. ISU assistant director of media relations Rachel Hatch said the timing of the university closure was done for both student activities and employee shift changes. “There’s a lot of activities for students that begin at 9 p.m. so we’re trying to stay open for those areas,” Hatch said. “There’s also employee shift changes that happen with people coming into work which is why we try to call before they do come in, essentially balancing schedules.” During times of extreme weather conditions, essential personnel are the only employees who remain on campus. “Many employees on campus are considered ‘essential,’” associate vice president for facilities management Chuck Scott said, “including residence hall attendants and dining workers.” Scott explained that electricians, plumbers, pipe-lifters and ground workers are relied upon to keep campus operating during the shutdown. “The type of work they perform varies from preparing equipment for
Kacey Nichols | Vidette News Reporter
Mac n’ cheese was provided to students in Hewett-Manchester during school closure.
“Students can feel free to contact their resident adviser or front desk staff if they need help. We also have professional staff on call if there are some needs that need accommodation,” he said. Hewett-Manchester will also host a trivia program at 6 p.m. with 10 rounds of trivia ranging from ISU facts to animals and music. Snacks will be provided for students during the program. Although Watterson and Tri Towers have dining centers open for their residents, the housing staff still strives to keep their residents inside by having programs throughout the day. Watterson area coordinator Sally Nadeau said Watterson had programs such as a donut social, slime making and bingo. All of the programs were meant for team building, relaxing and to provide a warm and cozy atmosphere. “There are five activities planned throughout the building today. Even though different RA teams put on these programs, all residents of the building are welcome to attend any of these,” Nadeau said.
-24
Coldest local wind chill at 5:56 a.m. Wednesday at Central Illinois Regional Airport
Record Lows 2019 Jan 29, 1899 -13 -6 Jan. 30,1966 -15 -21 Jan. 31,1936 -13 -14 SOURCE: National Weather Service
the next round of inclement weather, to hauling snow away from parking lots, to keeping the heat on, to repairing broken water pipes,” Scott said. As the university remained closed, housing staff at Hewett-Manchester provided free breakfast and lunch
All time Blo-No low temp
-24
Jan 5, 1905
to prevent students from having to leave the building. Watterson Towers and Tri-Towers are the only two residence halls with adjoining dining centers, leaving students within the halls of HewettManchester in a difficult situation.
54 48
Forecast high for this Sunday
Days until spring arrives
“The food available are more of grab and go items. We offer bagels, granola bars, cocoa and fruit and currently we have the materials to make grilled cheese sandwiches,” Hewett-Manchester area coordinator Coree Burton said.
All residence halls held events, including a trivia night at HewettManchester, for their student residents. Posters were displayed advertising the activities happening in the buildings. With the cold temperatures, the opportunity for cabin fever was highly possible. Fortunately, Burton said there was no evidence of students facing unrest. “Students seemed to be appreciative of the fact that there were snacks and activities going on,” Burton said. Burton also mentioned that they were able to keep food supplies up despite the last-minute cancel for Thursday classes. Within the safety and warmth of their homes, many students on and off campus decided to spend their day off in various ways. “I will basically sleep all day,” sophomore public relations major Jake Vander Zanden said. “I will also use the glorious thermostat located in my room in the ever-wonderful Watterson Towers.” “I’m student teaching so my plan is to catch up on my lesson plans and job applications,” elementary education major Sydny Quint said. “I’m also going to work on some paintings I’m selling, then watch some documentaries.” According to NWS, Saturday and Sunday will also see higher temperatures with Saturday reaching a high of 39 degrees and Sunday reaching 47 degrees.
ISU to expand higher ed access for minority students MIKE SMITH News Reporter | @Agora_180
Illinois State University is partnering with a collaboration of public universities to adapt to ever-changing demographics of new undergraduates. The Powered by Publics initiative aims to tackle issues that universities around the world are facing. According to the Powered by Publics website, 130 institutions, including ISU, joined together to increase college access, student and postsecondary attainment. The goals of the initiative are simple: award hundreds of thousands more degrees by 2025, eliminate the achievement gap for low-income, minority and first-generation students while maintaining or expanding access to higher education for these students and share key data within the clusters and promote proven practices across the entire public higher education sector. The changing demographics of college students include more black and Latino students attending the university, as well as other minorities.
Although this isn’t an issue, the school wants to be proactive in securing the future of new undergraduates by making sure they have everything needed to graduate. ISU President Larry Dietz told WGLT that the challenge is focused on maintaining academic status for undergraduates and that it has less to do with background and more to do with being ready for the challenge. “That’s not an ethnic issue. It’s an academic preparation issue for some. We just want to make sure we are serving this new demographic population as well as we can,” Dietz said. Dietz said that the best way for the school to proceed in tackling these issues would be to set up studies on the matter. Using research and collecting enough data analysis would take approximately a year to provide significant findings. Dietz even noted that researching different strategies on how to handle a changing demographic metric would take at least a few years. Senior mass media television production major Rosie Ainley is an Asian-American undergrad that finds the initiative to be a good step in the right direction but insists that more needs to be done in the future to address
changing demographics. “I think it’s great that our campus is beginning to grow more diverse, but of course, there are steps that have to be taken to ensure that the campus is welcoming and safe for everyone,” Ainley said. “I know there’s already plans in the making to build a multicultural center, which is great. To have a safe space on campus for minorities is very important, especially in a predominantly white institute such as ISU. However, that can’t be the only step taken. We could support more RSOs and programs at the school to flourish and be more visible to students. I personally have found it hard to find some organizations and programs that would work for me culturally because of their lack of prominence.” Ainley offered some advice for how to begin making progress in the system we have now. “Classrooms have to be safe as well. Teachers, in my personal experience, need to be more aware of how they teach to multicultural audiences,” Ainley said. “Doing even more training on microaggressions in the classroom as well as their actual
approaches to teaching need to be a place of emphasis. Even hiring more faculty and staff of whom are multicultural is very impactful. I would even include counseling, therapy and medical services in this as well.” Other students in the changing demographic have their own ideas about what would help these new students succeed in college. Graphic design major Darion Woods is a graduate of ISU. He thinks there are a few methods that might improve the process. “When I first attended college, I didn’t want to go to any counseling session or school workshop,” Woods said. “As I starting screwing up in college, I went to a counseling session which came with a lot of resources that helped me turn my life around.” Woods also thinks that minority undergrads could use assistance with developing consistency in their scholarly habits. “They’ll have to learn to get students to stay consistent with great habits and make them more habitual and on-the-ball,” Woods said. “You have to teach students to be consistent or they will just fall off like everyone else. Once it becomes habitual, it becomes a lot easier, but the hardest part is getting started.”
PAGE 4 | THE VIDETTE
Features
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2019
Vidette photographers brave the elements to capture chilling moments from Polar Vortex
Catching the Cold
Christopher Edwards | Photo Editor
Kacey Nichols | News Reporter
ABOVE: A view from the top of Manchester Hall of a quiet and cold Quad as Illinois State was closed all day Wednesday. The university remained closed Thursday due to the cold temperatures. TOP: Many braved the frigid elements to get to and from campus on Tuesday.
Christopher Edwards | Photo Editor
Jeffrey Smudde | Vidette Photographer
ABOVE: Despite the bone-chilling temperatures in central Illinois, one ISU student, senior English and photography major Brianna Kaleel, took a moment to enjoy Monday’s snowfall. RIGHT: ISU students brave the cold as they walk to class on Tuesday afternoon.
Ali Rasper | Photo Editor
Ali Rasper | Photo Editor
RIGHT: A cold Quad scene Tuesday afternoon as students make their way to class. FAR RIGHT: ISU students Kristy Garcia and Samantha Aviles walk and chat on their way to class Tuesday afternoon. Students have been staying warm with hats, gloves and coats. Ali Rasper | Photo Editor
Christopher Edwards | Photo Editor
ABOVE: A view from outside of Fell Hall Tuesday as students rush by on their way to class, preparing for the cold about to come. TOP: A quiet Redbird Plaza Thursday morning as classes at the University were cancelled. Not a student was in sight.
THE VIDETTE | NEWS | PAGE 5
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2019
Chocolate covered F1rst Fr1day RACHEL SCHOLLMEIER Features Reporter | @r_schollmeier
Hosting a super party How to score big on college budget to make bash one to remember STORY BY MICH A E L CRONIN | Features Repor ter | @mcronin94 | PHOTOGR A PH BY A L I R A S P E R | Photo Editor | @alirasper4
T
he time has finally come, the mecca of all sporting events, the Super Bowl. The most-watched event on TV is in the world’s midst and everyone is wondering how to enjoy the day as best they can. Is it better to head to a crowded bar, relax alone at home or host a party with close friends and family? Most individuals choose the latter. The art of game day parties has become a great tradition — sitting, snacking and watching the game or even just watching the commercials. However, hosting a super bowl party can be a daunting task, especially on a college student’s budget. If done correctly, the experience can be quite rewarding and a great time for everyone. When it comes to hosting a Super Bowl party, one needs to focus on the key elements: food, drinks and of course, some platform to watch the game. Now a large portion of saving money is reducing spending, therefore, try to keep the people invited to a minimum. Just closest friends or closest family members, which will only enhance the experience further by providing an intimate setting.
First is the food
Providing drinks
Friendly betting competition
Snackage is one of the most important factors of a successful Super Bowl party. Therefore, it’s important to not just have quantity, but great quality. A quick, easy and cheap crowd pleaser is taco dip. All one needs are two cans of no-bean chili, two blocks of cream cheese and two packages of shredded cheddar cheese. Spread the cream cheese at the bottom of the pan, add the chili, top it off with the cheddar, stick it in the oven and voila: a large portioned, very filling and very tasty taco dip. Others agree that snacks are an important part of the game day experience. “It’s the chip to dip assortments that’s most important ... you need to satisfy everyone,” communication interpersonal major Joey Probst said. “It also helps to have beer.”
Whether it’s soda, alcohol or even juice, a great way to reduce cost is by having it be a group effort to bring the right drinks. There is nothing wrong with having a “BYOB” policy. One person can provide a cheap bottle of rosé, another can purchase a cheap 12-pack and another can buy a couple of two liters. In fact, Illinois State students should highly consider utilizing the Dollar Tree on Main Street for grabbing cheap drinks. One can even do this when providing supplies as well. Have one friend bring cups, another bring napkins and another bring plates. Sharing is caring, and if everyone pulls together, the outcome will provide a positive experience for everyone and a lesser burden for the host.
Grab a dry-erase board or even just a sheet of paper and place bets on things like the coin flip, who scores first, what the first commercial will be and what color shirt Adam Levine will be wearing. No matter what one decides to bet on it can provide a fun way to include even the least interested of sports fans. “My family is homegrown from Chicago and we love our parties and traditions. We also love my aunt’s famous veggie casserole, my mom’s egg rolls and our chips and dips for a night of food and football,” mass media communication major Emily Long said. The Super Bowl is not just an excuse to stay home all day to eat and drink; it is a celebration and an American past-time. No matter who everyone is rooting for, throwing a super bowl party can become a lifelong tradition filled with fun, excitement and great memories. Providing an environment to suit people’s needs is important but it is really the people themselves that make the party. If surrounded by the right people, then it will be next to impossible to have a poor time.
Watch the game Not every college student has cable, however, there are a couple alternative options for watching the game. Streaming online has become a very popular option in recent years, and one that students can utilize if they have a laptop or gaming console. The first option is fuboTV, an online streaming network that costs $45 per month. Luckily for people that just want to watch the game, there is a free 7-day trial period. FuboTV does not offer ESPN, but they do offer ESPN, CBS and Fox, all of which will be streaming the Super Bowl. Next, PlayStation offers an app called PlayStation Vue which also has CBS and Fox. It can also be accessed through Roku, Amazon Fire TV and of course, the PlayStation itself.
As the temperatures begin to rise, Bloomington-Normal residents can let go of the fear of frostbite and instead bite into creamy delicious chocolate at Downtown Bloomington’s Tour de Chocolat’. Bloomington-Normal residents can indulge in sweet delights with free samplings of chocolate, as well as discover local artists and musicians at a variety of local downtown shops and art galleries during Downtown Bloomington’s First Fridays event. “Our participating businesses extend their business hours and welcome customers with specials, refreshments and entertainment as our way of giving thanks for their support,” said Downtown Division manager Tricia Stiller. “The Tour de Chocolat’ is always the First Friday in February, as an early Valentine. Lots of shops to browse for gifts for that special someone. Each year, our businesses get more creative.” Participating businesses include Kelly’s Bakery and Cafe, where their signature chocolate soup with Scottish shortbread cookies to dunk in will be served, along with a chocolate-dipped strawberry meringue cookie for free. At Eaton Gallery, Tango, the newest series from artist Herb Eaton will be on display. One can enjoy the music of acoustic guitarist Scott Campbell and harpist Lin Bryant-Smith while taking in Eaton’s artwork and following the theme of the night, some delicious chocolate. The McLean County Museum of History will offer chocolate-covered original peanuts generously provided by community partner, Beer Nuts. The museum’s permanent exhibits will be on display, including the new exhibit entitled Challenges, Choices and Change: Working for a Living. CrafTEA Momma will be participating inside of 2 FruGALS Thrift where there will be chocolates and a giveaway for a necklace full of lava beads to hold essential oils. Additionally, the grand opening of Jessica Worland photography on 415 N. Main Suite 4 will take place. Chocolate and drinks will be offered, as well as a drawing for an opportunity to receive a free photo session. Tour de Chocolat’ will begin at 5 p.m. Friday night in Downtown Bloomington.
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PAGE 6 | THE VIDETTE
VIDETTE EDITORIAL
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2019
There’s no more room for hate in this society
J
ust when you think the world is getting back on track, something absolutely unjust and hateful comes along to make us question exactly what the world has come to. On Monday, actor Jussie Smollett was attacked by two assailants in Chicago. According to CNN, Smollett was walking on E. North Lower Water Street when two men approached Smollett and began yelling homophobic slurs at him before hitting him, pouring an unknown chemical substance on him and wrapping a rope around Smollett’s neck before fleeing the scene. Smollett transported himself to Northwestern Hospital and is currently in good condition. As of Wednesday, The Chicago Police Department tweeted that they found a surveillance camera that shows “potential persons of interest wanted for questioning.” Many are outraged by the attack, as they appropriately should be, with many dubbing the attack as a modern-day lynching. Smollett stars on the TV show “Empire.” Creator Lee Daniels took to Insta-
gram to share an emotional video stating, “We are better than that. America is better than that. It starts at home. We have to love each other, no matter what sexual orientation we are, because it shows that we are united on an united front and no racist f— can come in and do the things that they did to you.” While Chicago police are continuing their investigation, we need to reflect on ourselves.
A simple search under the header “hate crime” on AP brings up several stories of hate crimes in January alone such as a fatal shooting of two black men at a Kroger in Louisville, Kentucky, an assault of a lesbian couple at a football game, religiously affiliated charges and more. It is 2019, there is no more room for racism and homophobia in our society. Smollett’s assault has been the most
vocal due to his celebrity status, but it should also be seen as an eye-opener to the amount of hate crimes taking place on a daily basis. We should focus on promoting a better world for us to live in that is filled with respect, love and understanding. We need to take the time to get to know one another and what we stand for without viewing love and respect as a cliché concept, because it’s not, it’s basic decency. We have all heard the term “love thy neighbor as thy self,” but we stopped listening to it years ago. There’s a plethora of beauty happening in this world that is overshadowed on what a person’s sexual orientation, race or religion is and it’s not important. People are people and they’re going to be good or bad. Instead of supplying a platform for the bad people promoting hate crimes, assaults, homophobia, sexism, misogyny and more, give voice to the good doers, the one’s making a difference in this world. Let us be the people who never let what happened to Smollett, happen again.
Editorial Cartoon by Flynn Geraghty | Vidette Art Director
EDITORIAL POLICY Editorial written by BECKY FLETCHER, a member of The Vidette’s Editorial Board. Editorial policy is determined by the student editor, and views expressed in editorials are those of the majority of The Vidette’s Editorial Board. Columns that carry bylines are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Vidette or the University.
What does it actually mean to be anti-choice? MY VIEW TYLER SMITH | Columnist
L
egalized and safe abortion is a relatively new right given to women in what is arguably the freest nation in the world. But ever since Roe v. Wade, its precedence, the right to choose, has been under attack by conservatives and fundamentalists. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I for one am tired of the Facebook posts made by “well-meaning” family members who insist on sharing all videos and photographs of abortion they can find on the internet. The aim is to un-abstract the violence placed on unborn fetuses, but let’s make something clear — being pro-choice doesn’t mean you don’t want any more babies to be born, it means that what a woman chooses to do with her body is her business. We don’t know all the details that lead her to make that decision and because of that, it isn’t our place to trigger someone by making them justify an act that realistically has nothing to do with us, our souls or our consciences.
I think that being pro-life and antiwelfare and public services are antithetical to each other. One of the main reasons women cite for making the difficult decision is financial. Once the child is born, those concerned and morally minded people who offered to help are nowhere to be found. Life is hard for everyone, and it is even harder to live a life swimming upstream, against a current that is vocal in saying you were not wanted. Lack of access to resources helps to reinforce stereotypical notions that minorities are inherently uneducated, unmotivated and poor — breeders who expect the state and the taxpayer to fund their lavish poverty, because a life consisting only of limitations is the American dream right? Pro-life isn’t actually pro-life, it’s probirth, pro-poverty traps for those still grappling with the afterlife of bondage, those seven or maybe even eight generations removed from slavery, because there is only so much room at the top. The next time a pro-life group assembles outside a Planned Parenthood, ask them to evaluate the privilege that brought them to that point, the privilege that tells them they have the right to set the time table on another person’s freedom, to limit all they can ever be and achieve in life.
Let’s make it clear — there will always be a full range of options for the privileged, the 16-year-old daughters of politicians and military leaders, even in the times before Planned Parenthood, always had access to abortions and always will. Don’t let Sarah Palin convince you otherwise, that isn’t the norm. It was a play at morality, of saying that having a child is a consequence we must accept like she has forced her daughter to, when we decide to have sex. But what if her daughter or the everyday American was able to talk openly and without judgment or condemnation about an act that will happen regardless? Could the world be more productive, a better place for not forcing people to have to make this choice? Previously I had been under the assumption that I could never be the person who makes that choice, but it only takes one decision made while not in your right mind, or one that was made for you, to force us to reconsider and define for ourselves what constitutes a life. I’m not going to give my definition of life here because it’s mine and it’s not my role in society to convince people to believe the way that I do, but this is my way of humanizing myself; it is my qualification to say mind your own business. Life and the endless choices that
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comprise it are too intricate for someone else to dissect. The only questions that remain at the end of the day are whether those choosing this option will be physically and medically safe and if we will allow the space for people to heal emotionally without having to contend with a society hell bent on demonizing a woman for putting herself first and understanding her own personal limitations. If the question was not about social control and white-knuckling a status quo we can all understand is unjust, pro-life advocates would be advocating for free and open — stigma-free access to sex education and contraception that isn’t hidden behind constructs like prescriptions and locked cases. We all know who is advocating for those services and who isn’t; I don’t need to define that for you here either. When all is said and done, each individual will die and face judgment or whatever it is we believe in alone, and therefore the choices we make should be made in a vacuum without input from society. Life, and our overall happiness is all about the acts we can justify to ourselves and no one else. TYLER SMITH is a columnist for The Vidette. She can be reached at tssmit1@ ilstu.edu
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THE VIDETTE | SPORTS | PAGE 7
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2019
’Ballin’ with Wallen
Lexi Wallen nets smooth transition from volleyball to hoops
Vidette staff makes Rams vs. Patriots picks Nicholas Honeysett | Sports Reporter There are not a lot of people in the Midwest cheering for the Patriots, but this reporter had them going all the way at the beginning of the season. This will be Tom Brady’s easiest Super Bowl win. Brady will get his fourth Super Bowl MVP. Hopefully the game goes into overtime for free wings, but I won’t lose hope in the Patriots winning the game.
Patriots 33, Rams 27 Ben Adkins | Sports Reporter As much as I’d like to see a new team hoist the Lombardi trophy, I don’t think this will be the year. I will not bet against Brady again.
Patriots 30, Rams 22 Tyler Jachnicki | Sports Reporter If there’s one positive about the Patriots representing the AFC in Super Bowl LIII, it’s that every Super Bowl New England has been in has been decided by an average of 4.25 points. In a game that goes down to the wire, I know who I want under center, and that’s Tom Brady. In what is destined to be a shootout, I’ll take the superior defense and the quarterback that is destined to win his sixth Super Bowl and fifth Super Bowl MVP.
Patriots 32, Rams 28 Matt Kalinowski | Sports Reporter I give New England the edge here because of two eternal factors: Belichick and Brady. They’ll be able to adapt to any situation LA throws at them. The Rams also excel at adapting, but if they win it’ll be because of the pressure their D-Line creates, primarily Aaron Donald.
Patriots 28, Rams 24 Jake Sermersheim | Sports Reporter After the overtime win over the Chiefs, the Patriots and Bill Bellicheck find themselves in their third straight Super Bowl appearance and their eighth appearances since 2002. The Rams travel to their first Super Bowl since moving back to Los Angeles, with a superstar team made up of Sean McVay, Jared Goff, Todd Gurley and a star-studded defense. With an offense that ranked second in the league and one of the better defenses, look for the Rams to take down the Patriots in a competitive matchup.
Rams 31, Patriots 23
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ew young athletes move on to play at the collegiate level; those who do can often only dream to play multiple sports. For Illinois State senior Lexi Wallen, that dream became a reality when, after her volleyball career ended, she tried out and made the basketball team. The Champaign, Illinois, native has experience being a multi-sport athlete. Wallen played volleyball, basketball and soccer while a student at The High School of Saint Thomas More, where she set the school record for the volleyball team in career kills with 1,466, set the school record for the basketball team in career points with 2,200 and set the school record in for the soccer team in career shutouts with 37. As a senior in high school Wallen faced a choice between playing collegiate volleyball or basketball. “I played travel [basketball] growing up until I got to high school and volleyball was kind of something that was newer to me I guess. I was learning so much and I could see that I had a lot of potential in it,” Wallen said. “I knew I had a lot of growing to do and it was really fun and challenging to me so I kind of gravitated towards [volleyball].” Wallen found success on the volleyball court as a Redbird, earning a varsity letter each of her four years. As a senior, Wallen helped the Redbirds to the NCAA Tournament for just the 14th time in program history where they were eliminated by the University of Cincinnati. After her senior volleyball season wrapped up, she was contacted by the coaches of the basketball team. “I think that the coaches definitely waited until my volleyball season was over because they didn’t want to get in the way,” Wallen said.
was kind of fate honestly,” Wallen said The transition from volleyball to basketball wasn’t easy considering it had been four years since she had last played competitively, but Wallen compensated for her being out of practice with a strong work ethic. “I think that in basketball you can work hard and still do the little things well, so that’s what I tried to do,” Wallen said. “I tried to make sure I was boxing out our crashing for rebounds, just being physical and really working on those things to start and then once I worked through some of the skill stuff it started to come back.” She was helped through the difficult transition from the support of her teams, both past and present. “It is unbelievable to think about how welcoming and nice the whole basketball program has been. They were so awesome and made the transition super easy to me,” Wallen said. “The volleyball team has been really supportive and are really excited for me. They actually all came to the game Friday against Southern. That was really, really cool to see.” Wallen hopes to carry the success she found in volleyball over to the basketball court where she sees a similar drive to be one of the top teams in the conference. “A lot of the girls who have been here, they have worked for this for four years. To get to a place in the conference that is like second or third and I think that is achievable this year and it would be awesome to be able to do that in two sports,” Wallen said. The Redbirds are currently 10-8 overall and 3-4 in conference play. Since Wallen joined the team back in December, the Redbirds have gone 7-4 and Wallen has averaged over 15 minutes played and ABOVE: Illinois State senior 5.5 points per game. Lexi Wallen makes a move In addition to playing sports, to the basket in ISU’s 59-47 Wallen plans to graduate in May loss to Missouri State on with a degree in biology and a Jan. 20 at Redbird Arena. minor in psychology. AT LEFT: Wallen is also a After graduation, she plans on key member of the Illinois taking a gap year before applying State volleyball team, a to a physician’s assistant master’s team that advanced to the program to become a physician’s NCAA Tournament this past season. assistant. Although juggling the multiple Vidette Archive Photographs responsibilities of a major, minor and two different sports is hard, Wallen, looking back, wouldn’t change a The basketball team was suffering a thing. shortage of players due to injuries, so they contacted Wallen and gave her a chance to join the team. “They only had seven or eight people eligible to play because of injuries, so I think it
KEVIN KOSKI is a Sports Reporter for The Vidette. He can be contacted at vidette_ckoski@ ilstu.edu. Follow him on Twitter at @_Koski_.
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Sports
PAGE 8 | THE VIDETTE
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2019
’Birds set to host Loyola in battle for first place tie KADE HEATHER Sports Editor | @kade_heather
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Dylan Heuer | Drake Athletics
Senior forward Milik Yarbrough (left) and senior point guard Keyshawn Evans (right) celebrate Illinois State’s pivotal MVC win at Drake Wednesday night.
ICE MELTS
Illinois State heats up late amid Polar Vortex, defeats Drake 69-55 JONATHAN BARLAS Sports Editor | @janveselybarlas
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ven with the sub-zero temperatures currently enveloping the Midwest, basketball must still be played, for Illinois State strives to complete its Missouri Valley Conference mission. While the Redbirds’ road woes may have found light nearing the end of the tunnel, ISU finally attained success away from Redbird Arena for what has seemed like an eternity. The Redbirds squared off against Drake Wednesday night in an offensive battle breaking the ice as Illinois State seemed to heat up when it counted most, defeating Drake 69-55 in its first road blowout win on the year. ISU head coach Dan Muller not only sees improvement from the Redbirds as of late, but also foresees more success on account of the team’s affection for high-pressure situations. “We love big games and need a packed house,” Muller said. “We moved fast both man and zone. We had great attention to the scouting report and our game plan. If we keep playing like we have the last couple games, which we should, I like our chances.” ISU shot 50.9 percent from the field in its crucial MVC win, compiling a 45 percent margin beyond the arc, shooting 63.6 percent conjuring its 22-5 run in the second half. Senior point guard Keyshawn Evans dropped the first points for the ’Birds as Drake obtained a commanding lead early, overtaking ISU 12-6 to start the first half. The Redbirds went into Wednesday night’s game 11-0 when leading at halftime as junior Zach Copeland showed up ready to play, draining a three to put the ’Birds back in contention, 12-9. Copeland arguably had one of his best games to date, scoring 19 points on four three-pointers, hauling in two rebounds and three assists.
REDBIRD REPORT
22
Total points scored by ISU senior forward Phil Fayne Wednesday night against Drake in Des Moines, Iowa.
While Copeland’s performance supplied the Redbirds’ late-game surge, all he wanted to do was win as the team looks forward to Loyola Saturday. “We wanted this win bad,” Copeland said. “We had a lot of prep for this game ... but I like taking those shots at the end, it allows me a little more freedom. I could just let it fly without any pressure. [Regarding Loyola] We have to lock down on defense, stay disciplined throughout the whole game, stick to the game plan and we’ll be fine.” Still nursing a sore knee, senior forward Milik Yarbrough cut Drake’s lead at 14-11, as sophomore Issac Gassman earned a spot in tonight’s rotation. Yarbrough compiled eight points in the first half, finishing with 17 total points, nine rebounds and five assists in the ’Birds scoring effort. Set as a back-andforth matchup, senior forward Phil Fayne strived to follow up on his breakout 26-point game Sunday, contribDylan Heuer | Drake Athl. uting a team-high 22 Junior Zach Copeland. points, five rebounds and one assist. Down 17-13, Drake assisted in another change of pace, claiming possession and capitalizing on ISU’s withered defensive back court. The Redbirds found some life on account of another Copeland three-pointer, bringing the score back to 19-16. Copeland eventually found the net again, knocking down his third threepointer of the night to tie the game at 19 all.
Knotted at 21 apiece, Drake’s Brady Ellington broke the silence with a huge shot from beyond the arc. The ’Birds answered back quickly as the Bulldogs maintained their three-point lead with just under four minutes left to play. Looking for their first lead of the night, the ’Birds got hot late in the first half as Yarbrough and Fayne led the charge for the offense’s surge. Leading 32-28 at the half, Illinois State looked to extend its undefeated halftime winning streak against its conference equal, following suit of this season’s history. The ’Birds ultimately came out firing on all cylinders as both Fayne and Evans brought ISU to a 12-point lead just four minutes into the second half. Leading 46-33, the Redbirds 2-3 zone defense seemed more successful in this matchup than previous road contests. Drake’s sub-par night from the field seemingly battled with its home field advantage, shooting an irregular 40.4 percent from the field. Fayne’s presence was surely felt as the Bulldogs’ paint protection fell out of place. Yarbrough drained another three to bring ISU’s lead to 54-37 midway through the second half. Copeland drilled his fourth three-pointer of the night, bringing the ’Birds lead to an 18-point margin. Soon leading by 23, the Redbirds continued to pour it on late as both Fayne and Yarbrough combined for a total 39 points at the two-minute mark. Nearing the end of regulation, the Redbirds have seemed to cure their mid-season road tribulation, besting Drake at home 69-55.
UP NEXT Illinois State (13-9, 6-3 MVC) returns home to face off against top-ranked Loyola (14-8, 7-2 MVC) in its second meeting this season, sparking yet another MVC championship rematch at 9 p.m. Saturday at Redbird Arena.
MBB STANDINGS
WBB STANDINGS
UPCOMING
Conf Ovrl Loyola 7-2 14-9 Illinois St. 6-3 13-9 Drake 5-4 16-6 Valparaiso 5-4 12-10 Missouri St. 5-4 11-11 Southern Ill. 4-5 11-11 Northern Iowa 4-5 9-13 Indiana St. 3-6 11-10 Bradley 3-6 11-11 Evansville 3-6 9-13
Conf Ovrl Drake 7-0 15-4 Missouri St. 7-0 11-7 Northern Iowa 5-2 12-7 Bradley 4-3 14-4 Illinois St. 3-4 10-8 Southern Illinois 3-4 10-8 Loyola 3-4 9-9 Indiana St. 3-5 9-10 Valparaiso 1-6 5-14 Evansville. 0-8 2-17
Women’s Basketball ISU is set for tip off against Loyola at 7 p.m. in Chicago.
Tennis Both men’s and women’s tennis prepares to host home tournaments, starting Friday at 10 a.m. and ending at 1 p.m. Sunday.
Track and Field ISU travels to South Bend, Indiana, for the Meyo Track Invite at 1 p.m. Saturday.
s much as preseason polls try to be right, they often are not come the end of a season. However, seasons still present themselves with many key matchups that were known to be key before any players took the floor. Another rematch of last year’s Missouri Valley Conference championship has Illinois State men’s basketball fans soaking in all the hope for a chance to tie Loyola for first place with a win Saturday night at Redbird Arena. Despite all the hope, Redbird fans have been left tossing and turning as ISU lost its last four games against the Ramblers, including its 65-49 deflating MVC championship loss. ISU head coach Dan Muller knows the feeling too well and the challenge that Loyola brings upon the Redbirds. “It’s a team that beat us already, a team that is ahead of us, and a team that’s playing well,” Muller said. “Right now Loyola owns us, that’s it. We’ll see if that changes Saturday night, but they’re just better than us, that’s why you win four in a row.”The Redbirds lost to Loyola 68-61 twice in the regular season last year and then 67-64 after Zach Copeland failed to hit a three-pointer to tie the game at the buzzer this season at Gentile Arena. Before ISU’s loss at Loyola this season, it was coming off a one-point home victory over Northern Iowa. Coincidentally, Loyola will head into Normal Saturday night coming off a one-point home victory over UNI from Wednesday night. The Ramblers responded well after their dysfunctional 70-35 loss to Missouri State with a pair of home wins to keep a steady lead in the MVC. Before pulling off a thrilling win over UNI, Loyola head coach Porter Moser announced sophomore guard Lucas Williamson went through successful surgery on his broken hand this week and will be out for three to four weeks. The injury bug tends to work its way into locker rooms this time of year, as ISU junior guard Matt Hein will miss two to four weeks with a broken hand as well, and junior guard Josh Jefferson is sidelined for another two to four weeks with a collarbone injury. Depth is meager, but it is at full significance and will be muchneeded Saturday and onward. The Redbirds have not played great defense all season, but they may have played their best Wednesday at Drake. ISU held the MVC’s top offense that averages 77 points per game to just 55 points and 40.4 percent shooting from the floor, 26.1 percent from three. That will need to be carried over to Saturday, but maybe even more importantly, ISU needs its offense to come out firing and cannot afford early misses. The Ramblers boast the best defense in the MVC, allowing just 60 points per game. The Redbirds sit on the opposite side at ninth in MVC scoring defense, allowing 71.8 points per game. Due to ESPN2 nationally broadcasting two games Saturday night, the Alabama versus Auburn at 7 p.m. will lead into ISU and Loyola, which begins at 9 p.m. Saturday on ESPN2 at Redbird Arena.