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Bulldogs bite ’Birds Monday night
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THE VIDETTE
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2021 Vol. 133 | No. 16
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Hometown history
Celebrating local historical figures for Black History Month
B
lack History Month is the celebration of achievements and the lives of Black people throughout United States history. February was designated as Black History Month in 1976 by President Gerald Ford. Ford called upon the public to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” As Black History Month kicks off, it is important to recognize local individuals who have impacted McLean County. The McLean County Museum of History has a collection available online of photographs, portraits, booklets, articles and biographies based on interviews. The collection is part of The Bloomington-Normal Black History Project that was founded in 1982. See BLACK HISTORY on Page 3
STORY BY GRACE KINNICUTT | NEWS EDITOR ILLUSTRATION BY FLYNN GERAGHTY | ART DIRECTOR
EXPANDED COVERAGE OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH AT ISU INSIDE
PAGE 2 | NEWS | THE VIDETTE
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2021
Black History Month a celebration of triumphs JORDAN MEAD Features Reporter | @meadjordan19
at what we had to go through to earn a place in this country that we didn’t even ask to be brought to,” marketing, sequencing and sales Black History Month is a monthand integrated marketing comlong celebration that honors the munications student Adarius contributions to society Blake said. that Black Americans Students said that it is have made. important to recognize and The entire month of talk about police brutality February is annually against Black people and devoted to celebratthe mistreatment of Black ing African Americans people that still exists in 21st and learning about century United States. the struggles for racial “2020 will go down as one equality that African of the years that Black peoAmericans, to this Adarius Blake ple continued the struggle day, face across the to find their voice and speak nation. “When I say Black History Month up for equality and justice,” Nwoye said. is my favorite month, I scream it Nwoye additionally said the every single year,” criminal justice United States government did student KeAira Jones said. not handle the treatment of Black “Black History Month should people and minorities well in still be screamed from the top 2020. of our lungs. We should still be 2020 brought to light the existcelebrating, and we still should be ing segregation and division in the happy about what our people have system that is overlooked. done.” “I feel like it’s very important Illinois State University students that not only are we highlighting see the value in celebrating Black the Black activists, but we also History Month because it emphaneed to highlight the Black people sizes the truth behind the history that were lost because of racial of African Americans living in the inequalities and racial disparities,” United States. Jones said. Africans were brought to the “A lot of people think that racUnited States and forced to ism happened years and years ago establish this nation, and their when Black people literally see this entire identities and cultures were every day and we try to tell people stripped from them. every single day that nothing has “As an African, I’ve read about changed.” the struggles of Black people here Many agree that Black History in the United States. Unfortunately, Month is a wonderful celebrathey are still having struggles,” tion of Black traditions and applied economics student Chuksuccesses. wuma Nwoye said. Black History Month offers op“Black History month, for me, portunities to learn about Black is a remembrance of the segregainfluencers who normally are not tion and the division in the system. mentioned in schools and the It’s like a beacon of which they workplace and also highlights Black are building the fight for a united excellence. nation.” Jones said that she believes we The fight against racial injustice must not only have a Black history is not over in 2021. month, but Black people and what Many Americans believe that they’ve done for the country should slavery was during a time very be honored every day in schools, distant from now, but the enslavement of African Americans was that in textbooks and throughout the nation. not long ago. “I’m a history major and I minor “Even if it was that long ago, look
Alex Gant | Photo Editor | AlexGant16
Students protest for racial justice in summer 2020. ISU students talked about what Black History Month means to them and how the fight for racial and social justice continues. Black History Month celebrates and honors the lives and contributions that African Americans have made throughout the United States. in African American studies, so Black history honestly means everything to me year-round,” history education and African American studies student Heaven Moore said. Moore went on to say that she feels it is important for the Black community to take Black history month seriously and celebrate Black history every day. Medical laboratory science student Kyle Ross said he celebrates being Black every day and that he enjoys being Black because he’s comfortable in his skin. Members of the Black community seek to feel safe and accepted in a nation that has suppressed them for hundreds of years. They want to know that freedom, which our constitution emphasizes, is granted to everyone regardless of race. “Uplifting Black people doesn’t mean tearing down others. A lot of people get that confused, and that’s
completely far from the truth. We impact that Black people have on just want to be comfortable,” Ross not only the United States but the said. whole world. Jones said that the world Black suffering and education on must acBlack activknowledge ists can be and make “The world has a long way to talked about decisions only in go before racism is eliminated not within comFebruary, from society, but Black munities to but every recognize day. History month is a tribute African “The world to the triumph that [Black] American has a long suffering. way to go bepeople have made.” “When we fore racism Adarius Blake, business student look at the is eliminated history of from society, Black people but Black in this country and Black resisHistory Month is a tribute to the tance, I feel like it’s inspiring and triumph that [Black] people have empowering for us to use that made,” Blake said. and keep the momentum going,” Moore said. JORDAN MEAD is Feature Re2021 is a chance for everyone, porter for The Vidette. She can be whether individuals are a person of contacted at jnmead@ilstu.edu. Folcolor or not, to see the monumental low her on Twitter @meadjordan19.
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The Vidette is published Tuesdays every week, except for final examinations, holidays and semester breaks. The digital Summer Vidette is published in June and July. Students are responsible for the content of the Vidette. The views presented do not necessarily represent, in whole or part, those of the Illinois State University administration, faculty and students. The Vidette is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press and the Illinois College Press Association. Subscriptions are available by mail to anywhere in the United States for $150 per calendar year. © The Vidette 2021 University & Locust / Campus Box 0890 / Normal, IL 61761–0890
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2021
THE VIDETTE | NEWS | PAGE 3
MERLIN KENNEDY
BLACK HISTORY Continued from Page 1
ETHEL MURRAY
she received recognition for her service to IACWG, as well as the Ethel Murray was born on National Association of Colored Aug. 14, 1917, in Lincoln. Women’s Clubs. Murray attended an integrated In 1968, she served on the school, Monroe School, while courtesy committee for and living in Lincoln. attended the NACWC biennial In Murray’s biography, which convention in Chicago. Two was written based on her oral years later in 1970, she assisted accounts, she addresses the time the reception at the IACWG anshe discovered that the neighbor nual meeting at Bloomington’s boy’s father was a member of Illinois House. the KKK. Murray said she sat In 1985, the same group now on top of the wooden fence that named the Illinois Association separated the two properties and of Club Women Girls and Boys loudly taunted the boy until her honored Murray for 25 years of father stopped her behavior by distinguished service. explaining the dangers of it. She joined the Three C Club She moved to Bloomington in that brought local women togeth1932 at the age of 15 and lived er to discuss issues that regularly with her older sister Marian affected Black people. Shortly Alexander after joining, Ross and she was elected her sister’s president. husband. In 1970, she Murray served as a would take Nutrition Procare of gram Assistant household through the tasks while University of Ilher sister linois in Chamrecovered paign-Urbana from apwhere she would pendecvisit people’s Photo courtesy of tomy surgery homes to help McLean County History Museum and the them organize birth of her balanced diets and menus. daughter. During her visits, she often Her mother eventually moved discovered issues, such as disto Bloomington after her house crimination and employment inburned down. The two rented a security and how these impacted converted boxcar on the far west her clients. side of town. She was awarded the “homeIn 1934, at the age of 17, Murmaker of the year” award from ray gave birth to her only child, the Department of Children and her son named Carroll Alexander. Family Services in 1977. She Throughout her life, Murray later worked as a home coordiwas active in the Black communator for DCFS and then a home nity and involved in civic organiinterventionist starting in 1989. zations. She served as president She was last employed by The of the Civic Women’s Club from Children’s Foundation, a local 1964-66 and again in 1986. service organization focused Murray served on the Illinois on supporting children and Association of Club Women and families. Girls board of directors for four Ethel Murray passed away at years and was a lifetime memthe age of 73 on Sept. 8, 1990, in ber at the district level. In 1966, Peoria.
WILBUR ‘BARNEY’ BARTON
Wilbur “Barney” Barton was Illinois State Normal University’s first Black player to serve as captain for the basketball team during the 1935-36 season. He was born Feb. 27, 1914, in Normal where he was the youngest of nine children. He attended Metcalf Grade School and University High School before coming to ISNU to play basketball. According to Illinois State University’s Percy Photo courtesy of Hall of Fame page, Barton was a starter at cenISU Athletics ter and forward on the basketball team and did high hurdles for the track and field team. He was a four-year letter winner in both basketball and track and field. According to his biography, he served in the Navy during WWII before becoming a teacher and administrator in Indianapolis. In 1978. Barton was inducted into ISU’s Percy Family Hall of Fame. Barton passed away in 2005 at the age of 91.
Merlin Kennedy was born in Decatur in 1926 but eventually moved to Detroit before moving to Bloomington in 1959 with his wife Beulah. They moved in with Kennedy’s brother in a Black neighborhood on the west side of Bloomington where they quickly became involved in the civil rights movement. According to the Bloomington National Association of Colored People, Kennedy became the president of the local chapter in the mid-1960s where he played a vital role in establishing the city’s Human Relations Commission. He helped lobby for the first local fair housing law and traveled to the deep south to help register voters. Kennedy helped found a grassroots organization called “US” to develop more provocative demonstrations in which they targeted landlords, bureaucrats and business leaders with public protests and boycotts. The group, along with the NAACP, held a march in 1965 around the courthouse square in support of voter rights in the South.
He worked with State Farm and local universities to change hiring and recruiting practices to include more minorities, was the first chair of the Bloomington Human Relations Commission and served on the Board of the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) of Bloomington. One of Kennedy’s biggest acts was defying Bloomington-Normal’s “One Santa Rule” that only allowed one Santa in the Christmas parade. In November 1965, the NAACP was kicked out of the annual Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade for illegally entering a float that featured a Black Santa. Kennedy appeared in a Santa suit at a city council meeting to protest the rule. In 1966, Kennedy entered the parade Photo courtesy of BNNAACP again wearing the Santa suit with three other people. Police followed the float and cut it off before entering the parade, but Kennedy and the three others walked the entire parade route waving to children. He was the first recipient of the Normal Human Relations Commission’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Award, and received the NAACP’s Roy Wilkins Award for his efforts to fight racism and motivating others. Kennedy died at the age of 92 on Oct. 18, 2019, at The Loft Rehabilitation and Nursing Home in Normal.
LUE ANNA BROWN SANDERS CLARK Lue Anna Brown Sanders Clark moved to Bloomington from Kentucky in 1916. According to Clark’s biography, she came to Bloomington to take a housekeeping job that a friend arranged for her. She worked as a housekeeper until her marriage to Isaac “Ike” Sanders in 1917. Together, they owned and operated Working Man’s Club until it closed in 1919. After her husband’s death in 1929, she worked as a women’s restroom attendant at a department store before being let go during the early years of the Great Depression. After she moved in with Rev. Aubrey Hursey and his family, she began renting his home after they moved out to Black students who attended Illinois State Normal University. Black students at ISNU were not allowed to live in the dorms or to eat at the campus cafeterias until the 1950s. She would house up to eight students at time, mostly young men. Photo courtesy of She was a founding member of the Bloomington-Normal Black History McLean County History Project. Museum Lue Anna Brown Sanders Clark passed away at the age of 100 on April 4, 1992, at Heritage Manor in Normal.
ANDREW PURNELL Andrew Purnell, a 1957 graduate of Illinois State University, was one of the university’s founders of the National Association of Colored People and served as the chapter president. During his time, the organization challenged segregationist practices through the community that prevented Black customers from eating, swimming or taking entertainment on certain days of the week. Following graduation, Purnell was drafted into the United States Army. After completing his time in the Army, Purnell taught high school mathematics while pursuing his master’s degree in administration. In 1984, Purnell helped establish the ISU Black Colleagues Association that serves as an alumni affinity group dedicated to keeping ISU affordable and accessible to Black students. The group has over 300 active members and raises money for student scholarships and aims to empower black students. Photo courtesy of ISU News According to ISU news, Purnell was awarded the Alumni Association Mercier Outstanding Service award and inducted into the Steve and Sandi Adams Legacy Hall of Fame for being a large contributor to the ISU community. In February 2020, Purnell was set to receive an honorary doctorate of humane letters during Founder’s Day, but it was postponed until this year due to COVID-19. Purnell passed away in March 2020.
NEWS IN BRIEF Redbird Stage Crossing to replace traditional commencement Spring and summer 2021 graduates will get to participate in a Redbird Stage Crossing ceremony in place of the traditional commencement ceremony. Redbird Stage Crossing will take place throughout late April and early May. It will take place in Illinois State University's Redbird Arena, but graduates will have to choose from a variety of time slots. A notification will be sent out to students through email when registration opens. During the stage crossing, the graduates’ name will be read as they cross the commencement stage. A slide personalized with the graduate’s information will appear. Graduates can bring up to four guests to accompany them. Professional photographers will also be present to
take formal commencement portraits while crossing the stage and after. The wearing of a cap and gown is optional but can be purchased before March 15 through Jostens. Masks will be required for all who attend, and graduates will be able to take theirs off for photos and when crossing the stage. All 2020 graduates will be invited back to participate in the stage crossing. Illinois State University will also be honoring all spring and summer 2021 graduates with an online ceremony feature slide show of graduates and remarks by ISU President Larry Dietz and other Illinois State University officials. The recorded ceremonies will be made available for viewing on the commencement website during the first week of May. GRACE KINNICUTT | VIDETTE NEWS EDITOR | @GKINNICUTT
Search for ISU’s 20th president begins Illinois State University has begun the search process for the university’s 20th president. The Presidential Search Committee will be led by chairperson of the Board of Trustees Julie Annette Jones. The 32-member committee includes representation from students, faculty, staff members, alumni board and foundation board members and trustees. Several ISU diversity and inclusion groups are represented, including the Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council, Black Colleagues Association, Latinx Alumni Network, Association of Black Academic Employees and LGBTQA Alumni Association. The committee will screen applications, interview candidates and issue reports to the board which will make the final decision regarding presidential appointments. Jones hopes the search process can be completed by the end of the academic year. GRACE KINNICUTT | VIDETTE NEWS EDITOR | @GKINNICUTT
Viewpoint
PAGE 4 | THE VIDETTE
VIDETTE EDITORIAL
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2021
Black History Month isn’t just about history
B
lack History Month is a time to recognize and celebrate the achievements and lives of Black people throughout the course of our nation. The month comes after having a summer with political and social unrest when a Minnesota police officer killed George Floyd by putting his knee on Floyd’s neck. Floyd’s death sparked a summer of protests for the Black Lives Matter movement, and continual senseless deaths have kept the movement going. As we begin the month of February, it is important to recognize and celebrate the roles and lives of Black Americans throughout our nation and their history. We must continue the momentum of change to ensure that Black lives do in fact matter in this country. With the help of the Black vote in the November 2020 election, America was able to help change the course of our nation’s history. As Vidette reporter Darnysha Mitchell wrote in a Vidette editorial from November, the Biden victory wouldn’t have been possible without those votes. Then again on Jan. 6, two new Georgia senators
were sworn in, one being Rev. Raphael Warnock who made history in becoming the first Black person to represent Georgia in the Senate. Stacey Abrams mobilized and helped encourage Black people to register to vote because for too long our country has oppressed and marginalized the voices and votes of Black individuals. Our country cannot continue to celebrate the lives and achievements of Black people yet turn a blind eye when the lives of Black people are put in danger when all they demand is to be
treated equally. When we celebrate the achievements and lives of Black Americans and remember all they have endured and continue to endure, we must carry that every day. This isn’t just a month to learn fun facts about historical figures, it is a time to practice fighting for justice and to unlearn our behaviors. Black lives matter every single day. White people must unlearn racist behavior, educate themselves on how to be a better ally and to not get defensive when someone corrects our language or behavior. But the first step to being
a better ally is acknowledging the racist behavior and language that we use. As a group of privileged individuals, we must do better to ensure that Black lives have a voice, equal opportunities and rights in this country. Not just from Feb. 1 to Feb. 28, but every day. Action speaks louder than words, but we must demand for change, take part in protests, actively educate ourselves by reading books, watching docu-series and learning how to be better allies and how to help educate others. It may not be comfortable, and it may cause guilt, but that’s all the more reason to strive for change. Most importantly, to be an ally, we must take the time to learn and listen every day to help demand change. Stand up and speak out against racist behavior. We cannot sit by, celebrate the achievements and lives of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Abrams, Maya Angelou, John Lewis and hundreds more, yet fail to demand justice for Black lives in this nation. The road to justice for Black lives in this country has been a long-fought battle but it is far from over.
Editorial Cartoon by Flynn Geraghty | Vidette Art Director
EDITORIAL POLICY Editorial written by GRACE KINNICUTT, 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.
I
COVID-19 Catch-22: Better to stay out or go in?
have a confession to even though I know make: I ate at a restauit’s not a good one. rant last week. Everyone is tired. After having several My family memmeals at Watterson Dinbers back home in ing Center and inside the Mattoon have not Bone Student Center since been to a restaurant MY VIEW August, I felt like one meal since March. At the at Ancho and Agave would MAIA HUDDLESTON | Photo Editor same time, cases not be incredibly different seem to be worse from what I was used to there because the doing. majority of the population refuses to wear Still, I feel a strange mix of guilt and anximasks. ety. I never tested positive for COVID-19, so I understand their hesitance. I also wonder I have managed to avoid moving out of my where my hesitance went. dorm and into a designated quarantine room How is eating in a restaurant now any difso far. ferent than eating in a restaurant was at the That also means there is very little possibil- beginning of the pandemic? ity of me being immune to the virus. Should I stay inside, exhausted but safe, The truth is, I am tired of staying inside. or allow myself some fun at the risk of I use that as my personal justification for infection? eating in shared spaces during a pandemic, I like to tell myself that it’s slightly safer
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now because more people have contracted and fought off the virus. I use the probability of other people’s immunity to quell my anxiety about my lack of immunity. Milner Library opened on Monday, and I expect several students will be packed in there this week. They are also tired of staying inside. In my opinion, going to the library during a pandemic feels slightly safer than taking my mask off to eat some Qdoba in the Bone. I know I’ll still feel unnerved. The pandemic isn’t over. Very few people are vaccinated, and the virus is mutating to become even more contagious. Almost nothing has changed since last March. I appreciate the university’s efforts to make students who live on campus feel like the school is operating under normal conditions. It’s made a huge difference in my personal well-being. Though I feel guilty every time I go to the
MAIA HUDDLESTON is a Photo Editor for The Vidette. She can be reached at mkhuddl@ilstu.edu. Follow her on Twitter at @maia_writes.
THEY SAID IT
NOTABLE NUMBERS
? 95 28
Bone, I also feel relieved. I thrive on the ability to pick up on the energy exuding from the people around me in any space. Good vibes won’t save me from contracting COVID-19, though. Ultimately, I am conflicted. I want to stay inside and social distance until the vaccine is widely available, but that is especially hard to do when I live in the dorms next to people who go to parties every night. Illinois State University students who go out every night are living completely different lives from my family in Mattoon, but both live in the same world, country and state at the same time. I know that I should be taking extra steps to ensure I stay healthy like my family is. It is just so hard.
years of celebrating Black History Month. The celebration first began in 1926.
NEWS
Businesses participating in First Friday on Feb. 5 in downtown Bloomington. “Love is in the Air” will focus on supporting local businesses and celebrating Valentine’s Day. First Fridays are held every month with varying themes.
FEATURES 6
“
[ISU is] taking advantage of the pandemic too. They’re not only mobilizing the university against us because they have a lot of power at their disposal in terms of the paid negotiator whose job is to do this ... We’re here volunteering [and] fighting for our lives.” Steven Lazaroff, graduate teaching assistant and PhD student
EDITORIAL BOARD ELIZABETH SEILS Editor in Chief | @SeilsElizabeth ANDREA RICKER Features Editor @ricker_andrea GRACE KINNICUTT News Editor @GKinnicutt KATIE BESTE Night Editor @BesteKatherine
MAIA HUDDLESTON Photo Editor @maiawrites MYA ROBINSON Sports Reporter @Im_Myaaa JOHN MURRAY News Reporter @Jmurr_
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2021
THE VIDETTE | NEWS | PAGE 5
A WINTER WONDERLAND IN BLOOMINGTON ICE CENTER’S OPEN SKATE EVENT
The Bloomington Ice Center hosted a Winter Wonderland Open Skate for National Hot Chocolate Day over the weekend. All the pre-registration spots were filled up before the event started at 2 p.m. Sunday. ABOVE: Six-year-old Anna Joseph skates across the ice. Joseph has been figure skating for three years. PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALEX GANT | Photo Editor | @AlexGant16
‘We do not believe that we are making progress’ GWU, ISU struggle to come up with resolution for negotiations KELLIE FOY News Editor | @kelllie_foy
Rickerd said. “They are changes that are right now already enacted, so they’re rei n c e undergoing negotia- ally not changing anything.” However, ISU Director of Media tions with university officials in October 2019, Illinois Relations Eric Jome said that ISU State University’s Graduate Work- continues to work with GWU and is ers Union released a press release optimistic that an agreement will be on Jan. 14 regarding the latest nego- made. “Illinois State will continue tiations given to them by the same to work with the union in good faith through the mediation process,” officials in recent weeks. Jome said. After what has been about 14-15 “ISU remains optimistic that months of negotiations for both an agreement can be reached that parties, many graduate students balances the interests of the graduwho are a part of the Union claim that the university has failed to sup- ate teaching assistants and the university.” port them in many aspects of life. Many graduate students say In their statement, the union they have continued to voice their highlighted that “offering previousstruggles, ranging from personal fily announced changes or policies nances and wages to mental health is not negotiating at all. We do not believe that we are making progress issues. For other graduate students, they gather substantial debt from and that ISU respects our time or working at ISU. the urgency of our situation.” Specifically, To them, it many are experiseems that the FAST FACTS encing economic university does The Graduate Workers Union was insecurity due not care. formed in 2018 to ISU’s low “Even among Illinois State University officials and stipends. things that GWU began negotiations in October 2019 This has led should not [and] In December, ISU officials gave the them to other are typically not GWU a proposal, GWU rejected the insecurities, such points of hostilproposal. as healthcare, ity in bargain GWU and ISU officials met on Thursday food and housing ing, there were for the 22nd time for a mediation session. because some do multiple points not receive any of tension within pay at the end of that,” Departeach month once fees are deducted. ment of English graduate teaching “Unfortunately, because I’m living assistant and PhD student Steven out of state, I have no access to any Lazaroff said. of the [mental health services ISU In the Jan. 14 press release, the offers],” Department of English union addressed these issues and graduate teaching assistant and stated that it has, “repeatedly tried Master of Arts student Natalie to explain the dire situation many Jipson said. GTAs are in” to university officials “That has certainly impacted the since negotiations started. levels of stress that I’m experienc“The economic proposals that ing and my ability to manage my ISU has put forth are honestly ridictime. It definitely makes it more ulous. [From] the changes that they challenging to teach in a pandemic have proposed and the changes to environment.” the wages that they have proposed, Some graduate students brought almost all of [them] are basically up that they feel extra anxiety compliances with the state’s miniand stress by simply working as a mum wage law,” graduate teaching graduate student and as an internaassistant in the School of Biological tional student. Sciences and PhD candidate Trevor
S
For them, the pandemic raging on adds more anxiety about their living and financial situations. “As an international student, I have visa restrictions [and] a F-1 visa. I cannot work more than 20 hours which is the legal permit,” Department of English graduate teaching assistant and PhD student Sayanti Mondal said. “It’s fine for making my both ends meet but not for buying more books going for field work.” After the press release came out, the union and university met Thursday for a mediation session to discuss these issues and negotiations further. The meeting was the 22nd time both parties met since the union was created in 2018. The meeting was the first to be done under the guidance of an independent mediator from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. Following the meeting, ISU President Larry Dietz sent out a campus-wide email addressing the current state of the negotiations and where university officials stand on the situation. “Under normal circumstances, it is not uncommon for negotiations over the first contract for a new bargaining unit to take more than one year,” Dietz said. “However, our progress was also impacted by the need to transition the university’s academic and administrative operations to an online and/or hybrid format to protect the health and safety of our campus community during the global COVID-19 pandemic.” While COVID-19 adds to the struggles of the negotiation process, Lazaroff says he believes university officials are using this to their advantage. Lazaroff and Rickerd went on to mention that they believe that the university has continued to put these graduate students in dangerous situations since March. Department of English graduate teaching assistant and PhD student Edcel Javier Cintron-Gonzalez
Maia Huddleston | Photo Editor | @maiawrites
Signs supporting graduate teaching assistants are up around campus and in many of the campus buildings. echoed a similar message as Jipson and Mondal. He said that the financial issues and factors took a toll on how he dealt with the pandemic when it first started. “What I was making and budgeting wouldn’t be enough to live a stable life being back in Normal, so I made the conscious decision to move back [home] just to fulfill and [not] feel as anxious as I would have felt back home,” Cintron-Gonzalez said. Lazaroff and Rickerd among other graduate students feel as if the university has only made matters worse for them since the pandemic started. “[They’re] taking advantage of the pandemic too. They’re not only mobilizing the university against us because they have a lot of power at their disposal in terms of the paid negotiator whose job is to do this,” Lazaroff said. “Those people are there out of their job. We’re here volunteering [and] fighting for our lives.” However, Dietz went on to mention in his campus-wide email that “ISU’s respect for the important contributions of [ISU] graduate teaching assistants, as well as [the university’s] commitment to the
mediation process and to ongoing good-faith negotiations with [Service Employees International UnLocal 73].” “ISU has and will continue to work diligently to reach a fair and fiscally responsible contract agreement that addresses concerns raised by the SEIU without disruption to the teaching and learning environment at ISU,” Dietz said. The union and its bargaining committee released a statement in response to Dietz’s email and to the three-hour mediation meeting Thursday. The press release said that the mediation sessions will become more regular in order to reach resolutions to these issues. “We are hopeful that mediation will move us towards a resolution, but it takes both parties to be willing to address each other’s concerns in order to reach [an] agreement,” the statement said. “There will be more mediation sessions because the university has not moved at all on their proposals and they have an illegal proposal on the table to limit [teaching assistants’] free speech and we cannot accept it.” The university declined further comment on the matters.
Features
PAGE 6 | THE VIDETTE
Showing love, shopping small
‘Love is in the Air’ for First Friday event
On the first Friday of each month, downtown Bloomington hosts First Friday shopping events. February’s theme is “Love is in the Air” to celebrate Valentine’s Day. There are many shops in downtown Bloomington that are participating this month. An art gallery in downtown Bloomington called Inside Out: Accessible Art will be participating in the event. Inside Out is an art gallery that consists of a group of volunteers and over 25 artists. It has a variety of art including ceramics, acrylics, mixed media, Chelsea Cora | News Reporter | @cora_chelsea stain glass, wood working and February’s First Friday shopping event is themed for Valentine’s Day, perfect for getting gifts for a significant other or more. a friend while supporting local businesses such as Red Raccoon Games (above) or Inside Out Gallery (below). “We will be open for sales for people to come by and look at art. us to get everybody together and provide a good bring in some new items,” Rogers said. We are going to have hot chocolate and a make time, stay open late and have some specials,” Central Illinois’ largest board game store, Red and take craft,” Inside Out volunteer Shelley Refine 309 owner Christina Rogers said. Raccoon Games, will be taking part in the event Schultz said. Refine 309 recently had its five-year anniversaas well. It has any game you could think of such Another small business, Refine 309, is thrilled ry in December and is looking forward to promotas card games, board games, miniature games, to participate in First Friday this month. Refine ing their boutique during First Friday in February. roleplay games, etc. Red Raccoon Games engages 309 is a small women’s boutique located in “We will have some treats that are COVID-19 in First Friday every month that it is available. downtown Bloomington. compliant wrapped up individually, and we will “This month we are hosting pop-up chocolate “First Friday is such a great opportunity for be open from 5-8 p.m. We will be offering some shops for two different small businesses here
· Red Raccoon Games · McLean County Museum of History · Ivy Lane Bakery · The Massage Spot · 2 FruGALS Thrift · Heartland Bank and Trust Company · Vera & Buck Floral Studio · The Bistro · Madison Martorana Designs · La La Boutique · Von Champs Boutique
Participating: Appointment only · Angel Ambrose Fine Art Studio and Creative Space · Bobzbay
Black History Month goes virtual GRACE DOYLE Features Reporter | @Amaaziinggracee
CHELSEA CORA News Reporter | @cora_chelsea
Participating: Walk-in
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2021
· The Mystic Kitchen & Tasting Room · Inside Out: Accessible Art Gal lery and Cooperative · The Hangar Art Co. · Vintage & Handmade Market and DIY Studio · Main Gallery 404 Inc. · Crossroads Fair Trade Goods & Gifts · Specs Around Town · The Little Art School · Hip Cat Music School · Alley Kats Art and Antiques
surprise discounts at checkout, and we will also be having some clearance items because we are trying to move out some inventory and
in town. They are both going to be here selling chocolates. Specifically, they are bringing hot chocolate bombs. One business is Compassionate Crumbs and the other one is Miss Kim’s [Konfections & Events],” Red Raccoon Games owner Jamie Mathy said.
Navigating transfer student experience remotely munity. Not only is transferring to a new university a challenge but navigating this experience during a pandemic with online classes makes connectTransfer Redbirds is a registered student ing with peers more difficult. Transfer Redbirds organization devoted to providing enrichment is doing everything to care for new ISU students for the transfer student community. The RSO is and provide virtual social events. open to any current transfer students who have Recent transfer student Tommy transferred to Illinois State University Harris, a computer science major, within the last three semesters. FUTURE transferred from Carleton College in “Our purpose is to ensure [the] EVENTS Minnesota to Illinois State University personal and professional success of this January. all the ISU transfer students. We’re WHAT: Career “My previous school was really here to acclimate students to the new Services Speaker small and was also really academically environment and foster connections Event rigorous. ISU struck me as a more between members as well as provide WHEN: 6 p.m. Feb. 8 utilitarian place I could go that’s also them access to university programs, WHAT: Bingo Soin my hometown,” Harris said. organizations and resources,” Vice cial Night Harris went on to say that he is exPresident and Secretary of Transfer WHEN: 6 p.m. Feb. 19 cited to understand computer science, Redbirds Piaget Felix said. “We advo- WHAT: Student and he thinks it will be good to share cate for the needs of transfer students Health Services that with other people while at ISU. to university leadership because it’s Speaker Harris joined the Transfer Redbirds very essential to have somebody that WHEN: 6 p.m. Feb. 22 RSO, and he said that it was nice to can help provide a bigger voice for meet students through online events you.” and to have help answering questions Transfer Redbirds aims to make the college about going to ISU. journey easier for transfer students, especially “I was coming from a community college, so during the pandemic. Felix said transferring to the switch from community to university was ISU without knowing anyone was intimidatgenerally different. But the fact that everything ing for her in 2019. Now, she and the executive was online made things a little harder,” early board are determined to make every transfer childhood education student Jori Vandenberg student have a safe place in the campus com-
Take a dance fitness class On Thursday, Bank Street College of Education will be hosting a symposium event to discuss and support equity for Black children in early childhood education and will also feature an African dance fitness session. Kukuwa Fitness aims to inform people across the world about the versatility and power of African dance through fitness classes ranging in various intensity levels. To continue dancing after the free session offered at the event, a free three-day trial is offered for new dancers on Kukuwa Fitness’s website. The symposium is free to attend and is currently offering a waiting list as capacity is temporally full, but event coordinators plan to increase the capacity limit to include everyone interested.
Tune into ISU’s recital celebrating Black History Month Join the Illinois State University School of Music on Feb. 21 from the comfort of your home as they celebrate Black History Month with a free-to-view pre-recorded recital. This livestream will be available to view from 7-9 p.m. on the School of Music’s website.
Check out ReggieCon’s ‘Black Panther’ discussion
· Art Vortex Studio · Herb Eaton Studio and Gallery · Joann Goetzinger Studio and Gallery
JORDAN MEAD Features Reporter | @meadjordan19
As COVID-19 continues to loom overhead, organizations have been forced to alter their events to an almost entirely virtual environment. Luckily, there are a handful of events dedicated to Black History Month that have adapted successfully.
said. “It’s been kind of frustrating because when I pictured myself transferring to university, I pictured myself being a lot more involved and meeting a lot more people. Obviously, that can’t happen.” Vandenberg transferred from Triton College to ISU this academic year because she knew ISU was a good university for education. She looks forward to beginning classes relative to her major, and she is excited to go to sporting events and to meet in person with student organizations once things are more normal. Vandenberg also joined the Transfer Redbirds RSO. “There’s no harm in joining it. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to be in it, but I joined and now I think it’s important to get some sort of communication. I think it’s a nice club to be in,” Vandenberg said. The social aspect of joining a new university is one of the greatest challenges for transfer students, but Transfer Redbirds RSO provides a mentor program for members of the RSO. “Mentors are transfer students who have been at ISU for at least a semester that are paired with a new transfer students to help them get acquainted to the campus,” Felix said. “Mentors are available, even virtually, to help mentees with any questions they have and to ease the transition into this new environment throughout their first semester.” uEXPANDED STORY @ Videtteonline.com
ReggieCon will host a Zoom discussion panel, “To Live as One Tribe: Wakanda for All!” from 7-8 p.m. Feb. 25. via Zoom. The panel will focus on the “Black Panther” comics in celebration of Black History Month. The suggested reading before the panel is “Black Panther: A Nation under Our Feet” by TaNehisi Coates. The event is free to attend.
Delve into experience at a Black History Month Virtual Concert The Chicago Children’s Choir will be putting on a virtual concert on Feb. 25 to shine light on the rich history of African music and the cultural importance of keeping it alive today. Attendees can look forward to an educational program and performance that aims to help nurture a sense of belonging and community for Black Americans in the United States. This event is free to watch and will begin livestreaming at 6:45 p.m. on the organizations Facebook and YouTube channel.
Explore the Smithsonian The National Museum of African American History and Culture offers a spread of collections available for online viewing at any time. Each listed item can be further studied with a description of its historical prevalence, a location and date of the item’s origin and even a look into how the item found its way to the Smithsonian. These collections are available to view for free online.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2021
THE VIDETTE | SPORTS | PAGE 7
Vidette Sports staff favors Chiefs over Brady, Bucs Jake Sermersheim | Sports Editor
Rachel Hickey | Sports Editor
While Tampa Bay is riding high off a strong defensive game against the Green Bay Packers, the Chiefs’ offensive attack may be too much for the Bucs to handle. An aggressive Andy Reid will hold nothing back in the final game of the year as the Chiefs look to be back-to-back Super Bowl champions. With explosive offensive weapons, look for Patrick Mahomes to show he is the best quarterback in the NFL with another barely human performance.
The Chiefs have had a rather frustrating season for fans, but one thing remains the same as last year — the Chiefs show up in big games. Despite the strong contest that Tampa Bay is likely to present, with the likes of Tom Brady leading the charge, the Chiefs have experience from last year on their backs to fuel the fire. Led by Patrick Mahomes, I foresee the Chiefs coming out on top in what is likely to be a close game.
Kansas City Chiefs 31-24
Eric Schweizer | Sports Reporter Kansas City Chiefs 38-34
The Buccaneers’ defense has been playing great in these playoffs and I expect that to continue through three quarters. The Chiefs might find themselves down late in the third. A late touchdown drive by Patrick Mahomes should find the Chiefs up with a few minutes left. Tom Brady and the Bucs will fall short on a fourth down with under a minute left, and the Chiefs will clinch back-to-back Super Bowl wins.
Kansas City Chiefs 28-24
Zach Stangel | Sports Reporter Kansas City Chiefs 34-30
I think the Chiefs’ offense will be too much to handle. Brady has been turning the ball over too much and I think that is finally going to come back to haunt him in this game. The last time these two teams played, Tyreek Hill had 200 yards in the first quarter. I see the Bucs making adjustments to Hill but that means Travis Kelce will have a huge game.
Anthony Ferretti | Sports Reporter Kansas City Chiefs 31-27
Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady are two of the most elite quarterbacks in the game. It is a good thing defense wins championships as both teams come in with strong offenses. I think Kansas City’s offense, led by Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill, will lead Chiefs Kingdom to their second straight Lombardi Trophy. Regardless of the outcome, it will be entertaining to watch both these future Hall-of-Famers go head to head.
Matt Petrovitch | Sports Reporter Tampa Bay Buccaneers 28-23
Jake Fogal | Sports Reporter
At an early age I learned to never go against Tom Brady in the Super Bowl. You just do not do it. I am sticking with that. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will defeat the Kansas City Chiefs 28-23. As great as Patrick Mahomes is, I believe he will learn a thing or two from the man playing in his 10th Super Bowl.
Kansas City Chiefs 34-21
I assumed I would be practicing my “Super Bowl shuffle” in early February, but alas a broken leg and far-fetched dreams keep me from rocking out to a Chicago Bears Super Bowl victory. Instead, Kansas City and Tampa Bay battle for the right to be called the best. That will be the Chiefs. Besides a menacing defense, TB has not clicked as I predicted they would. They find themselves in the final game of the season purely based on luck. Kansas City, on the other hand, has proven time and again that they are the best to grace the turf this season, and that will be no different come Sunday.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 35-31
This is the toughest Super Bowl pick in years for me. I have been going back and forth all week. On one hand, how can you bet against Patrick Mahomes? In just four years, he has cemented himself as one of the best quarterbacks in league history. On top of that, he has a team built around him that knows how to win. They are basically unbeatable, but not quite. Enter Tom Brady. I know he has lost at this stage before but there is zero part of me that wants to go against the greatest of all time, no matter who the opponent. Joined by arguably the best receiving core and one of the best defenses in the league, Brady is out for more than his seventh title; he is out to prove it was never the “patriot way,” but the Brady way. Plus, it would be great to see a team that the Bears beat go win the Super Bowl.
Who do you think will win Sunday? Cast your vote at Videtteonline.com
Winter not wasted
ISU prospects working during long offseason
Women’s tennis goes 2-1 JAKE SERMERSHEIM Sports Editor | @Jake Sermersheim
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JAKE SERMERSHEIM Sports Editor | @jakesermersheim
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ince summer 2019, those in Minor League Baseball have been unable to play a competitive game. Major League Baseball’s 2020 shut down of the MiLB season marked what could have been a missed summer for prospects. For three former Illinois State University baseball players, the off time has been a chance to improve themselves. After being drafted in the 2019 draft, former Redbird and Kansas City Royals farmhand John Rave sees the adversity as a positive for his draft class. “It’s tough. I have only played half a season in pro ball and now there is a whole other draft class has come in,” Rave said. “I am ready to prove that I am ready at whatever level they will throw me in. I just want to stand out and prove I am ready at whatever level they put me at. “I am ready to get my career going. I am 23. I do not want to wait around. Since the beginning of this thing, all I have wanted to do was get back to baseball. Mentally I am prepared for whatever they throw at me.” Since the MLB shutdown and spring training in March 2020, Rave and former Redbird prospects Joe Aeilts and Brent Headrick have been responsible for their own development. Despite not having a normal spring training, Minnesota Twins pitching prospect Headrick took
Mikey Fornelli Sports Reporter
Jake Sermersheim | Sports Editor
Minnesota Twins prospect Brent Headrick (left) and Kansas City Twins prospect John Rave (right) standing on Duffy Bass Field before playing catch. The former Redbirds have been using Illinois State University’s facilities to keep in shape during the offseason.
it upon himself to make a space to not a lot of pro guys, just a handful,” work out. Headrick built a home gym Rave said. “So, having someone like to stay in shape. In his home gym, Brent is great. We are going to hold he has a squat rack, press machines each other accountable. The guy is a and more. workhorse with a great work ethic. The former Missouri Valley Con- Having him hold me accountable ference Pitcher of the Year sees and vice versa has been great. We working out during the break as vital. are not going to let each other take “Honestly, I think it is just your too many off days. Having the right body being healthy,” Headrick said. partner and right person to help you “Just having your body healthy for through stuff like this is huge. I think when they call us. I think just taking we have been a lot of help to each it day by day is the main thing. Get- other for sure.” ting your weight room and throwing Headrick echoed Rave’s statement. in so when the time comes you can “To get back with another guy that perform at an elevated level.” has the same goal, it is great to have Headrick and Rave have had a leg someone you can bounce off of and up on the competition. Since being push each other every day,” Headsent home from spring training, rick said. the two have been working out and While not working out with his throwing together. ISU has allowed former teammates, Joe Aeilts has the former Redbirds access to Duffy taken advantage of the offseason. Bass Field since the shutdown. uEXPANDED STORY @ Videtteonline.com “Being in Normal, there are
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fter opening the weekend with a loss, Illinois State women’s tennis bounced back to finish the weekend with back-to-back wins. The Redbirds bounced back from losses in their first two matches to move their overall record to 2-2. “It was a tough match today and I’m really happy with how we competed,” ISU head coach Maja Kovacek told goredbirds.com. “The energy was great in doubles and being able to secure that point proved to be the deciding factor.”
DePaul 4 ISU 3 Despite losing to DePaul, the Redbirds had success early in the match. ISU earned the early point by sweeping all three doubles Alex Gant | Photo Editor | @AlexGant16 matches. Illinois State University’s Tara DamnSingles play opened success- janovic serving the ball against DePaul fully for the Redbirds. ISU’s No. 1 over the weekend. Tijana Zlatanovic took home her against a very good DePaul team, but set. The next four matches did not go there are a lot of positives to take out the Redbirds’ way as DePaul handily of it starting with our doubles play. We won the 2-5 spots. have shown a lot of improvement just ISU bounced back in the No. 6 from the previous week and that’s a match as Laura Arciniegas took credit to our players’ determination. down Maddie Yergler in two sets. We are just scratching the surface of what this team can do and I’m excited ISU 5 Illinois-Springfield 2 to get more opportunities against Like in the early match, the Redtough competition next weekend.” birds took the point for the doubles match. The Prairie Stars did not ISU 4 Kansas City 3 present a third team, giving ISU the The Redbirds stayed strong on the game three via forfeit. doubles front during game three of In singles play ISU earned a pair of the weekend. ISU swept the doubles sweeps from the No. 1 and No. 3 spots. competition in all three matches. Zlatanovic took down the Prairie In singles play, Zlatanovic swept Stars’ No. 1 Carol Quevedo in two sets Riddhi Sharma in two sets. Solid 6-0, 6-3. ISU’s No. 3 Elena Jankulofrom the top of the order as No. 2 vska took down Neha Mokhasi 6-3, Natalia Bravo took down Tuana Tin6-1. The Prarie Stars took wins in the aztepe 6-2, 6-3. No. 2 and 4 spots. ISU picked up forThe Redbirds dropped back-tofeit wins in the No. 5 and 6 spots. back matches in the No. 3 and 4 After the win over the Prairie Stars, spots. ISU bounced back with a win Kovacek saw optimistic signs from her in the No. 5 spot as Arciniegas took team. Eva Kresovic to three sets. “I’m really proud of the effort today. The Redbirds will be back in action It was a very challenging day with a lot 1 p.m. Friday in Dekalb against UNI. of tennis and a lot of long matches,” The weekend series continues with Kovacek said. “We came up just short two matches on Feb. 7 at Missouri.
Sports
PAGE 8 | THE VIDETTE
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2021
REDBIRD RE PORT Uphoff becomes first Redbird to play in Reese’s Senior Bowl Former Illinois State University defensive back Christian Uphoff competed with some of college football’s biggest stars on Saturday when he took the field for the 72nd edition of the Reese’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. Uphoff became the first ISU player to receive an invite to the Senior Bowl when he accepted his invitation back in November 2020. After a productive week of practice, he was named the top safety on the National Team in a vote from the quarterback and wide receiver groups at practice player
Courtesy of Illinois State Athletics
Illinois State’s Abdou Ndiaye looking for a layup against Drake’s Darnell Brodie (51) and Tremell Murphy (2). Ndiaye and the Redbirds fell to the Bulldogs 95-60.
Bulldogs maul Redbirds
No. 25 Drake stays unbeaten, beats ISU 95-60 JAKE SERMERSHEIM Sports Editor | @jake Sermersheim
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llinois State men’s basketball took unbeaten foe and now No. 25 Drake to overtime in game one of their series. Monday’s game against top Missouri Valley Conference team Drake looked nothing like the one from the day before for the Redbirds. Drake took down ISU 95-60. ISU head coach Dan Muller does not like the step back the Redbirds took in game two. “Disappointed we could not follow up our best game with a competitive effort,” Muller said. “They got it going and we did not respond. They beat us down.” After game one of the series, Muller was pleased with the progress despite their loss. But Muller sounded frustrated with the Redbirds’ inconsistent second game. “You have to do it every game,” Muller said. “You cannot play your best game with the same guys then have such a different outcome. We had some guys try and save their legs
at the start of the game. It doesn’t work like that. You have to be able to compete from the tip in this league. We need everyone to be good every night. We need to take the positives from last night and grow up from tonight.” The overtime game took a toll on the Redbirds. Five players on ISU played over 30 minutes while two topped 40 minutes of game time. Sophomore guard DJ Horne saw the heavy minutes weigh down the Redbirds. “Some of us played heavy minutes yesterday. I know I did,” Horne said. “I feel like fatigue was a factor. I feel like for our younger guys that is just another level of experience for them.” Muller did not see his players sluggish until the tipoff. “I could not tell (in pregame),” Muller said. “You could tell they were a little sluggish but that is normal on the second day. You could tell from the tip that we had some guys who had played heavy minutes come out sluggish. But you have to be to get yourself ready to go.”
Tremell Murphy shined for the Bulldogs in this game. After putting up 13 in game one, Murphy led the game with 30 points on 10-of-15 shooting while shooting 6-of-10 from three-point range. Muller saw the Bulldogs’ offense lead to Murphy’s strong day. “He’s special, but when you are shooting horse shots it is not hard,” Muller said. “He was getting wideopen looks all night. Partly because of their offense and our defense.” Drake was able to find success from three while the Redbirds were not. The Bulldogs shot 41.9% from beyond the arc while ISU retaliated with just 22% shooting from beyond the arc. Despite taking a pair of losses this weekend, sophomore guard Antonio Reeves was a bright spot over the weekend. Reeves led the game with 27 points, 26 scored during overtime. Reeves followed up his career-best game with another solid performance posting 20 on the Bulldogs. Muller sees Reeves progressing as a player.
“He is scoring the ball, gaining confidence and understanding where to attack,” Muller said. “He is also getting some of the best defenders on him as we saw today. He’s a good player, tough to guard.” Reeves led the Redbirds with 20 points. Horne added 11. Murphy led Drake with 30 points. ShanQuan Hemphill added 18 for the Bulldogs. With the loss, the Redbirds have dropped four straight and just two of their last nine. ISU moves to 5-12 on the season and 2-9 in MVC play. With the win, the Bulldogs stay unbeaten. Drake’s record moves to 17-0 and 8-0 in MVC play. The Redbirds will be back in action at 2 p.m. on Feb. 6 against Missouri State at Redbird Arena. Game two is scheduled at 2 p.m. on Feb. 7. JAKE SERMERSHEIM is Sports Editor for The Vidette. He can be contacted at jrserme@ilstu.edu. Follow him on Twitter at @Jake Sermersheim.
Braves return the favor
Bradley sweeps ISU to split the season series MIKEY FORNELLI Sports Reporter | @mfojr
Last week, the Illinois State volleyball team swept Bradley at Redbird Arena to open the Missouri Valley Conference season. One week later, Bradley flipped the script. The Redbirds fell in three sets in Peoria on Monday night, notably missing three key seniors. Captain Stef Jankiewicz and Kaylee Martin, who lead the team in assists and kills respectively, were both not with the team in Peoria. Sydney Holt, who missed both games during the weekend series against Cincinnati due to an undisclosed injury, was also not there. This paved the way to a unique starting lineup for the Redbirds, featuring four members of their large 2020-21 freshman class. Junior Carley NichCourtesy of Illinois State Athletics olson and freshman Nora Janka both made their Illinois State’s Alyssa Kronberg diving for the first start of the season. ball during Illinois State’s weekend series with Despite starting slow in set one and going down Cincinnati. After sweeping Bradley a week ago, 10-5, the Redbirds came back on a 5-1 run much the Braves came back to return the favor to in part to service aces from Janka and Jessica sweep ISU in three sets. D’Ambrose. They kept it close for the rest of the match and even led late at 22-20, but ultimately
fell to the Braves in set one 27-25. “We’ve been aggressive from behind the service line. I thought [Bradley] passed better this time around, but we still were able to come up with eight aces,” ISU head coach Leah Johnson said. “We got them out of system on a couple good runs and that kept us in the match.” In set two, sophomore Sarah Kushner led the Redbirds with a couple of big kills to keep the score close. She had 17 total kills on the day, which led the team. Despite coming back from 24-20 late and tying the match at 24, Bradley won again by an identical score of 27-25. With their backs against the wall in set three, the Redbirds went on a nine-point run to take a 19-15 lead. Libero Kendal Meier, the only senior to start Monday for the Redbirds, had two service aces in a row during that run. However, the Braves came back to tie it at 22 and finished on top again, 25-23. “Overall, I’m very proud of the fight our team showed tonight. There was never a point that we checked out or took off. There was this drive and intensity and purpose,” Johnson said. EXPANDED STORY @ Videtteonline.com
of the week ceremony. The Washington, Illinois, native played in the majority of the defensive snaps in the first half for the National Team. Despite a quiet first three quarters, Uphoff came up with a tackle for loss on 4th & 1 to force a turnover on downs with over six minutes remaining in the game. The National Team would go on to beat the American Team 27-24. Uphoff won’t play his senior season at Illinois State in preparation for the NFL Draft on April 29.
MVC MBB STANDINGS
Conf Ovrl
Drake Loyola Missouri St. Evansville Indiana St. Valparaiso Bradley Northern Iowa Southern Illinois Illinois St.
8-0 17-0 9-1 14-3 5-4 9-4 5-4 7-8 6-5 9-7 3-4 6-10 3-6 9-9 3-7 5-11 2-6 8-6 2-9 5-12
MVC WBB STANDINGS
Conf Ovrl
Missouri St. Loyola Illinois St. Bradley Drake Northern Iowa Valparaiso Southern Illinois Evansville Indiana St.
7-0 11-2 5-2 7-4 6-3 9-3 6-3 10-6 6-3 8-8 5-4 8-8 2-5 6-8 2-5 5-7 1-8 5-9 1-8 4-10
UPCOMING Women’s basketball
The ISU women’s basketball team will face Southern Illinois at 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday in Carbondale.
Men’s basketball
Redbird men’s basketball will play host to Missouri State at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Gymnastics
Illinois State hosts Southeast Missouri at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Cross Country
Redbird distance runners open their season at the Lipscomb Winter Classic at 1 p.m. Saturday in Nashville, Tennessee.
Volleyball
Illinois State hits the road for a two-match series against Indiana State Sunday and Monday, with game times slated for 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., respectively. Compiled by Rachel Hickey