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RIVIAN AUTOMOTIVE TO PRODUCE JOBS
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 07, 2019 Vol. 131 | No. 39
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STAGE SET FOR ISU BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENTS NEWS 3 Graphic Illustration by FLYNN GERAGHTY | Vidette Art Director | @flynniegthatsme
PAGE 2 | NEWS | THE VIDETTE
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2019
Business Week celebrates its 40th anniversary
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opportunities for networking with alumni and other successful industry leaders,” Vandiver said. This February marks the 40th The first event kicks off Monday anniversary of Illinois State Uni- night with a professional developversity’s Business Week. ment dinner that provides ISU’s College of Busistudents an opportunity ness will be hosting events to meet at a professional from Feb. 11 to 14 that business setting and prepare Redbirds for the network. future. These events are “You can actually have free and offer all students one-on-one conversations at ISU the chance to learn with them and transfer how to present themselves those skills that you’ve Wendy in a professional manner. learned in class and in Cama ISU’s Executive Director your experiences here at of Marketing and Communication the school to good use,” he said. Steve Vandiver is the adviser for Other events in the week include this year’s Business Week. He will a trivia night, a seminar by keynote oversee all of the students that speaker and ISU alumna Wendy make Business Week possible. Cama and a transitional seminar Vandiver said that all students night. are encouraged to take part in The transitional night allows the week-long event and that it is students to hear alumni talk about a great opportunity to see profes- how life has been after graduation. sional development of those who Topics such as finance, job hunthave come out of ISU, no matter ing and personal growth will be what major they have studied. discussed. “I think it is a great way for Thursday will be the hall of fame them to put a lot of the business night. Those who graduated ISU and professional skills they have will be inducted into the College learned here at their time at Illi- of Business Hall of Fame. nois State to use. There are a lot of Vandiver said he is excited for all
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students at ISU. For more information regarding Business Week, go to Business.IllinoisState.edu/ businessweek. KACEY NICHOLS is a News Reporter for The Vidette. She can be contacted at vidette_knicho5@ilstu. edu. Follower her on Twitter at @ Kacey12793516.
FAST FACTS BUSINESS WEEK Feb. 11 to Feb. 14 MONDAY: Professional Development Dinner 5:15-8:00 p.m. TUESDAY: Transition Seminars6:15-9:00 p.m. WEDNESDAY: International Business Showcase 5:306:30 p.m., Inspire: Trivia Night 6:15-8:00 p.m. THURSDAY: Hall of Fame Day 3:30 p.m.
McLean County Museum of History unveils Abraham Lincoln letter
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of the events to unfold. He knows how much hard work each student on the Business Week staff has put into these events to make them successful. The students working to make the event a success have met at 7 a.m. every Tuesday since August. Junior integrated marketing major Allison Levine has been one of the many to help make Business Week happen. Levine is one of the 40th Year coordinators and trivia assistants. She decided to come to Illinois State because it was such a good school for business and it was just far away enough from home. “Most of the events, I think since the 90s, have stayed pretty much the same. There has always been a professional development dinner, transition seminars and keynote speaker,” Levine said. “Every year they get new speakers and modernize them. Before that, Business Week was essentially just when teachers brought in speakers to their business classes.” Business Week has grown in the past 40 years and will continue to give opportunities for all
Bloomington went back in time this month after acquiring a letter from a former United States president. Last Friday night, the McLean County Museum of History unveiled a letter Abraham Lincoln wrote and sent to Bloomington in late 1859. Lincoln’s letter was in response to Kersey Fell, brother of Jesse Fell, who is considered the founder of the Town of Normal and Illinois State University. Lincoln wrote back saying “I don’t know when I’ll be back in Bloomington next, but when I get there I’ll be happy to see you.” Lincoln did eventually come back after writing the letter and it would end up being one of the last times he was in McLean County. Kersey Fell was a lawyer and Lincoln had spent some time with Fell in his law office. The history museum now stands across from the courthouse where Lincoln had previously practiced law and where the letter had
originally been sent. The museum did not obtain the letter itself, but instead accepted a generous gift. “We acquired the letter through the Merwin Foundation. The foundation actually purchased the letter for the museum,” museum archivist George Perkins said. Perkins explained that the museum does not often purchase items itself. The museum will have a public unveiling of the letter on Feb. 18. The letter will be available to view until the museum closes at 7 p.m. The museum’s executive director Adam Lovell explains that because the letter is fragile, it will not be on constant display. Following the President’s Day presentation, the letter will only be available to view during scheduled events. GABI GUERRERO is a News Reporter for The Vidette. She can be contacted at glguer1@ilstu.edu. Follow her on Twitter at @gabigue97.
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THE VIDETTE | NEWS | PAGE 3
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2019
ISU hosting series of Black History Month events
Students protestors call for funding of multicultural center
CINDY HERNANDEZ News Editor | @Cindylu_7
In honor of Black History Month, Illinois State University will host a series of events throughout the month. Events are organized by different departments and Registered Student Organizations.
Black Jeopardy Feb. 11 The Black Student Union will host a game of Jeopardy that will focus on black history topics and common elements of black culture. The event will be from 7-9 p.m. in Room 401 of Stevenson Hall.
Briahna Joy Gray to speak Feb. 19 Columnist Briahna Joy Gray will be the keynote speaker for the annual Black History Month celebration. The talk “The Identity Politics Wars: 2020 Edition” will be Briahna at 7 p.m. Feb. Joy Gray 19 in the Old Main Room of the Bone Student Center. The event is free and open to the public. Joy’s work has appeared in The Guardian, Rolling Stone and Current Affairs. Her presentation is a part of the Illinois State University Speaker Series that seeks to bring enlightening speakers to the university.
Black History Celebration Feb. 22 Black Student Union and ISU’s Interdenominational Youth Choir will collaborate to host their Black History Celebration event. The event will be at 7 p.m. in the Old Main Room of the Bone Student Center. This event will give other organizations on campus the opportunity to showcase their talents and to inform the audience on the history of their organization. “We want to not only look into how black people in history contributed to black culture but also how we as black people contributed to the culture today,” Black Student Union Vice President Kiana McClellan said. “We want to look into how we individually express ourselves and recognize our own forms of art.”
Black Heritage Ball Feb. 23 ISU’s Black Student Union will host its annual Black Heritage Ball from 6-10:30 p.m. Feb. 23 in the Brown Ballroom of the Bone Student Center. This year’s ball will hold a “Renaissance Niore” theme to pay homage to the Harlem Renaissance. The event will provide food, music and the opportunity to explore art. Tickets and formal attire are required for the event. CINDY HERNANDEZ is News Editor for The Vidette. She can be reached at vidette_cherna9@ilstu. edu. Follow her on Twitter at @ Cindylu_7.
About 20 student activists protested for student fees to be allocated to a multicultural center at the monthly Student Fees Committee held Tuesday. The board meeting was closed to the public, so the activists stood outside and protested from the windows. They began with five minutes of silence while attempting to make eye contact with the committee members. They began to chant after. The protest comes as the committee considers raising student fees. There have been several presentations to the board and budgeting for the multicultural center, but funds have been given to other projects.
Photos by Ali Rasper | Vidette Photo Editor
Bloomington Police clears the air on ICE policy ELIZABETH SEILS News Reporter | @SeilsElizabeth
her host family years ago. It is unclear whether the illegal immigrant had committed a crime, but The subject of immigration they were living outside of Illinois. has been at the forefront of The detective asked the ICE agent national discussion, highlighted if they would have “any interest in by the recent government shuther.” down. Cities throughout the Another email highlighted an nation have passed immigration Illinois State University student policies for their citizens, such as who had violated his visa, accordChicago declaring itself a sancing to the report. BPD provided tuary city. the information to ICE asking if it The Town of Normal officially was something to be looked into. became a Welcoming City last The ICE agent admitted that withsummer. This means Normal out criminal activity, there was police officers would carenot much that could be done. fully choose their interactions “There were real families with Immigration and Customs that were affected by at least Enforcement. [former Chief Brendan HeffKeeping Families Together, a ner] farming out undocumented coalition of local social justice immigrants who had committed organizations, proposed the same no crime,” Carlson said. “Other Welcoming City ordinance to the than the fact that they were Bloomington City Council. HowChristopher Edwards | Vidette Photo Editor undocumented.” ever, it lacked votes to pass, public The Bloomington Police Department has adopted the Trust Act that prohibits IlliCorrespondence between police information officer John Fermon nois State Police from arresting someone based solely on immigration status. This departments and federal agenpractice came after the lack of support from Bloomington City Council to adopt a said. cies is not uncommon, Carlson “Ultimately, there was not Welcoming City ordinance that will not allow city police to interact with ICE. explained. The agencies often enough council support to pass communicate to pool resources citizens being safe, but also of citizens feeling safe. an ordinance in Bloomington,” he and information. However, Carl“And as much as the Bloomington police said son felt that the communication itself is the issue said. “However, the police chief has put certain practices in place in regards to this topic, includ- it wasn’t an issue, it was an issue,” Carlson said. that the Welcoming City ordinance would have Emails obtained by the Freedom of Information addressed. ing giving the directive to follow the Trust Act.” The Trust Act was signed into law by then-Gov. Act document several conversations between the “Communication is the first step in the outcome Bruce Rauner last August. It prohibits Illinois Bloomington Police Department and ICE dating that we don’t want, which is breaking families State Police from arresting someone based solely back to 2015. apart,” Carlson said. IPA sought the emails when it investigated the on immigration status. Despite the Welcoming City ordinance not The issue drew local attention and Bloomington connection between BPD and ICE. IPA was a part passing, the BPD has enacted similar practices to residents came in large numbers to city council of the coalition that proposed the ordinance to the the Normal Police Department in deciding what meetings to support the ordinance. Yet, Fermon Bloomington City Council. cases BPD investigates. Most of the conversation between BPD and said, “immigrant contacts are infrequent.” “Local police, including the Bloomington Police This begs the question, why bother with a new ICE discussed criminal case information involv- Department, do not investigate civil instances of policy at all? Especially if an already-existing ing immigrants, according to IPA. However, immigration violations,” Fermon said. “BPD also policy seems to protect immigrants, and that there are particular instances where BPD sent insists, as does the Normal Police Department, interactions in the area with immigrants are ICE information on citizens that had not com- that any ICE requests for assistance be elevated mitted a crime. infrequent. for approval. Approval would, most likely, only In one email, a BPD detective alerted an ICE occur if the request was to assist with a criminal Executive director of the Illinois People’s Action Don Carlson said that the issue is not a matter of agent of an illegal immigrant who ran away from investigation.”
Features
PAGE 4 | THE VIDETTE
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2019
Cost of being a girl BEAUTY IS WHAT YOU MAKE OF IT
S
ociety has put so much pressure on young girls and how they should look, and it has only continued to get worse with the rise of social media. Many women of all ages feel like they have to achieve this standard of beauty and even go to extreme measures like changing their looks with plastic surgery and fillers. Although it is prominent in social media, magazine and beauty campaigns what the unspoken standard of beauty is, in this day and age, the idea of uniqueness and owning what one has is becoming the bigger picture. That is not to say that girls cannot change what they were born with to feel more confident in less painful and far less permanent ways, such as dying one’s hair or wearing makeup. However, the cost of being a girl can sometimes get in the way with how expensive beauty products often are. “The last time I got my hair done it was $300 and I was not expecting it. I haven’t gotten it done since,” sophomore interior design major Sonya Klimek said. Hair salons can get pretty expensive, which is why some choose a more affordable method. Although dying one’s hair out of the box can potentially damage it, the concept is still the same and you get similar results. Of course, the plus side of it being done at a salon is that it is done by professionals, so it is worth the cost most of the time. Besides dying one’s hair, women have the option to get longer hair with extensions. These can be done in a variety of ways via glue-ins, sew-ins or tape-ins. Each has their own benefits and pricing. “I don’t get a sew-in often because it’s so expensive, I usually just get braids, but for my birthday I will be getting a sew-in,” junior English studies major Ashley Battle said. While some girls consider beauty supplies like makeup an everyday necessity and refuse to leave the house without it with fear of being judged, it does not always have to be that extreme. Makeup can be a beauty tool, confidence booster and even a hobby. Sophomore Skylar Shoshoo is a makeup artist from Chicago and does all types of makeup including everyday, glam and costume makeup. She has an Instagram, SkylarShoMakeup, dedicated to her hobby and featuring her amazing skills. Makeup has many abilities, like emphasizing the features one already has, covering up imperfections, or even completely changing how someone looks. It’s all just based on preference. Also, beauty is not only for girls anymore; guys can partake and have a passion for it as well. For example, in October of 2016, YouTuber James Charles was named the first-ever male spokesperson for CoverGirl, a very popular makeup brand. One can look at the cost of being a girl in literal monetary terms or in the sense that society’s standard of beauty can potentially rob a girl of her confidence. There is no right or wrong way to portray oneself to the world and the beauty industry is changing as we speak, becoming more inclusive to all.
ISU senior public relations major Becca Monaco does her hair as she gets ready in the morning. Blow drying, curling and hairspraying — beauty costs both time and money. Some beauty standards could rob women of their confidence.
STORY BY KOURTNEY CUNNINGHAM | FEATURES REPORTER | @kourtcunningham PHOTOGRAPH BY JON RUFFOLO | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
The Body Project hopes to crush beauty stigma GARRETT KARSTEN Features Reporter | @GKarstenISU
Female Illinois State University students have the opportunity to engage in a positive body image experience with the Body Project, made possible by a collaboration between Student Counseling Services and Heath Promotion and Wellness.
The project is the first scientifically supported eating disorder prevention program and is necessary, since, according to SCS, over 80 percent of college-age women feel pressured to maintain a specific body standard and weight. Media often consists of unrealistic expectations due to impractical standards set by models and editing. The Body Project seeks to challenge
students’ perspectives of the ultra-thin ideal and create a positive image of themselves. Trainings are separated into two workshops that last two hours each. The first implementation started Monday night and will be held again on Feb. 11. More implementations will be held until mid-April. More information and all available dates can be found on Student Counseling’s website.
For questions, contact Body Image and Eating Disorder Outreach Coordinator Jenni Thome, Ph. D. at jlthome@ilstu.edu or Health Promotion and Wellness Coordinator Jim Almeda at jralmed@ilstu.edu. GARRETT KARSTEN is a features reporter for The Vidette. He can be reached at gtkarst@ilstu.edu. Follow him on Twitter at @ GKarstenISU.
THE VIDETTE | NEWS | PAGE 5
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2019
Rivian Automotive to produce jobs, economic growth MIKE SMITH News Reporter | @Agora_180
“If you think about the product we offer and how we meet consumer needs, then we’re meeting the needs Back in 2016, the shutdown of the of people who want a pickup truck Mitsubishi Motors manufacturing or an SUV,” McHale said. “There is plant spelled trouble for the commua huge demand for those vehicles. So nity. After Rivian Automotive came people might like that it’s electric, to the Town of Normal, that tune and that’s great, but we meet their changed. needs by being the only providers of Rivian is an American electric electric SUV and pickup trucks.” vehicle and automotive technology McHale said the company is decidcompany that acquired the plant ing what to do with the leftover back in early 2017. The company is equipment on a case-by-case basis. moving forward with the plant as it “It depends on the viability of the begins to develop and produce elecequipment,” he said. “Some of the tric vehicles unlike the community equipment we have already sold, has seen before. there are lots of pieces in there that Rivian Director of Corporate Comdon’t suit our needs. Some of it we munications Michael McHale said sold for use, other pieces we sold for that Rivian had plenty of reasons to recycling. It’s always better if you can invest in the plant. get usage out of a piece of equipment. “It’s a good location. It’s fairly cenWe’d rather do that over scrapping it tral in the country, so it’s good for all.” Christopher Edwards | Vidette Photo Editor logistics and delivery,” McHale said. Bloomington city manager Tim Rivian Automotive established in the Town of Normal after the Mitsubishi Motors manufacturing plant shut down in “It’s surrounded by vehicle comGleason sees Rivian as a revitalizing 2016. Rivian is an American electric vehicle and automotive technology company. According to Rivian Director of ponent suppliers, which is good for Corporate Communications Michael McHale, the company hopes to begin producing and developing over 40,000 force for both Twin Cities. supply lines. It also had a great work vehicles a year. “I think it’s an amazing opportunity force that had been laid idle under for the community,” Gleason said. sites across the world, the company has only there are several differences between the two Mitsubishi, but were in town, know “You start to daydream about a how to build vehicles and were ready to do invested in one manufacturing plant, and that companies. successful plant and the trailing opportunities “[Tesla] produces sports cars and their regu- that follow that success. I’ve been in discussion that. There’s a great latent expertise that we plant is in Normal. McHale said that future plans involve mass lar sized car. Our vehicles are built for off-road with one of the vice presidents of Rivian, as the see in the community. “We’ll be making R1T and R1S electric vehi- producing their vehicles annually but aren’t use as well as on-road use. The way we produce Town of Normal has, just to make sure that ready to fully commit to expanding their reach. our electric battery pack is also different to the we’re doing all that we can to make this opporcles there from the end of 2020,” he said. “We plan to make 40,000 vehicles a year, at way [Tesla] does it. We assemble ours differ- tunity as successful as it can possibly be.” “Right now, we’re renovating the plant, bringing it up to manufacturing standard and least for the first couple of years, and we will ently, more tightly compact, meaning that Gleason has high expectations for Rivian they’re denser. Because our frame is bigger, as they begin to enter the market of electric turning it into a working facility again. By the expand from there,” he said. Most consumers may be aware of the other we can reduce that much more energy from vehicles. end of 2020, we’ll have about 1,000 people major electric vehicle and technological com- our battery pack,” McHale said. working at the plant.” “I really think the Rivian product is one He emphasized that Tesla is not really a that’s going to do well in that market.” While Rivian has many different engineering pany known as Tesla. While Tesla and Rivian share some common components of business, competitor for them.
Student Alumni Council spring events encourage networking, engagement at the Hancock Stadium Club. During this event an alumni panel will be discussing networking and Illinois State University’s Stuprofessional development. Foldent Alumni Council has four lowing the panel discussion, there events coming in the spring which will be 30 minutes of discussions allow students to connect with with alumni and 15 minutes of both alumni and each other. open conversation. The events include Redbird Mocktail Hour: A Networking Senior Night, the Valentine’s Event will also provide free proDay Fundraiser, Mocktail Hour: fessional headshots for attendees. A Networking Event and Sibling Both alumni and students can Vidette Archive use the event as an opportunity Carnival. Alumni are encouraged Student Alumni Council will host the to attend these events. to develop their networking skills. Mocktail Hour: A Networking Sibling Carnival on April 13 during Sibling SAC’s Sibling Carnival will Event and Redbird Senior Night Weekend. take place at 10 a.m. on April are also looking for alumni volun13 during Sibling Weekend. The Alumni Association Legacy scholarteers for the event. eighth annual Sibling Carnival is in ship. The fundraiser will be from 10 SAC and ISU’s men’s basketball to 2 p.m. Feb. 14 in the Bone Student Redbird Arena before the Gamma will present their Redbird Senior Center. SAC students will be selling Phi Circus matinee show that same Night on Feb. 27. Alumni would start various items including balloons, day. volunteering at this event at 5:45 flowers and polaroid pictures. There Those who have a youth ticket for p.m. SAC will also be giving away will also be a raffle for a special gift. the GPC show that day can attend T-shirts to all graduating students The second annual Mocktail the event. GPC tickets go on sale at the event. Hour: A Networking Event will be Feb. 14 at https://gammaphicircus. On Valentine’s Day, SAC will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on April 16 illinoisstate.edu/events/shows/. hosting a fundraiser for the ISU
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PAGE 6 | THE VIDETTE
VIDETTE EDITORIAL
U
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2019
A misleading message
united States President Donald J. Trump gave his second State of Union Tuesday night as he laid out his administration’s agenda and called for bipartisanship, immigration reform, economic growth and criminal justice reform. Per usual, the president conflated numbers, made false claims and exaggerated the impact of illegal immigration on the southern border. What should concern the American people is that this rhetoric cannot be accepted as the norm in society. Trump stated, “The U.S. economy is growing almost twice as fast today as when I took office, and we are considered far and away the hottest economy anywhere in the world.” This is far from the truth. The U.S. economy expanded at an annual rate of 3.5 percent in the third quarter of 2018. Growth in Latvia, Poland, China and India were almost twice as fast. Many economic analysts have estimated that the growth of the economy slowed in the fourth quarter and even further in the first month of 2019. Not to mention the impact the recent Republican tax cuts will have on
the economy in 2022. He touted the cut in regulations his team has pushed through, saying, “My administration has cut more regulations in a short period of time than any other administration during its entire tenure.” The scale of regulatory rollbacks doesn’t exceed the massive cuts in federal rules during the Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan administrations. No president should be proud to cut regulations protecting clean water and air, safety measures for airlines, trains
and trucks, let alone protecting the environment. The biggest lie the president told was during the immigration portion of his speech. He attempted to stoke a false and misleading image of the impact of illegal immigration and those crossing the U.S.-Mexican border. He claimed that El Paso, Texas, which is a border city, “used to have extremely high rates of violent crime — one of the highest in the entire country and considered one of the nation’s most dangerous cities.”
This was followed by stating the construction of a barrier in El Paso made it one of the safest cities in the country. False. El Paso has never been one of the most dangerous cities in the country. Overall crime has dropped in cities across the country, with none of those impacted by a border fence. In 2008, the city had not completed its border barrier and had the secondlowest violent crime rate among more than 20 similarly sized cities. The barrier was finished in 2010 and El Paso has stayed in that place. Credit is given when credit is due, despite the president’s distorted facts. Trump’s praise of having a high number of women in Congress was commendable, as the country has never had this many women representing the American people. The American people cannot allow this distortion of facts, misleading claims and outright false statements to become the norm in society. This is the first step that needs to be taken if America wants to truly become great.
Editorial Cartoon by Flynn Geraghty | Vidette Art Director
EDITORIAL POLICY Editorial written by ANDREW DOUGHERTY, 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.
Put some respect on the culture’s name MY VIEW CINDY HERNANDEZ | News Editor
C
ultural appropriation is a relatively new definition for a very old practice. Cultural appropriation is the adoption of customs, practices and ideas of a group taken by another group in society. We see this appropriation in food, clothing, music and art. Though cultural appropriation is known to have a negative connotation, it’s not necessarily a bad thing when it’s done correctly. Culture is not simply something
that just is, but something that is created. Culture changes and develops over time but it has a history of origin. It began and was created for a reason. In the United States, we see the influence that other cultures have on the music we listen to and the clothes we wear and that’s okay. What is not okay though is someone adopting another culture’s customs and taking them as their own without giving credit to where they came from and acknowledging the history behind them. Last week, singer Ariana Grande went on a Twitter rant after receiving backlash for a misspelled Japanese tattoo she got in honor of her “7 Rings” single dropping earlier in the week. Grande claims that her intent was not to appropriate Japanese culture
but instead show appreciation for it. Before this incident, Grande and other celebrities and beauty influencers have been accused of appropriating black culture by over-tanning their skin and wearing hairstyles typical of black women. The Kardashian-Jenner clan has also received plenty of backlash. They are often accused of misappropriating black culture by wearing their hair in corn rows. Many social media users argue that the Kardashian-Jenner clan has appropriated many of their business ideas from other businesses owned by black women without giving credit for the inspiration. Appropriating culture shouldn’t simply be for the clout or to assume an aesthetic. There is history and a reason behind every element of a culture
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The amount of disrespect [we] showed the game of basketball tonight against the opposing team was just embarrassing.”
“
— Dan Muller on men’s basketball losing to Valparaiso Tuesday, 69-53.
and it’s important to recognize that. Taking cultural elements without recognizing their background puts people in the position of being accused of misappropriation. People who are a part of the culture and feel as though it’s misappropriated have every right to take offense. Culture deserves respect and it deserves to be appreciated for what it is. As a society, it’s important to educate ourselves about where the things that we love so much truly come from. By educating ourselves and honoring culture the right way, we can be contributors to societal progress. CINDY HERNANDEZ is News Editor for The Vidette. She can be reached at vidette_cherna9@ilstu.edu. Follow her on Twitter at @Cindylu_7.
MORE OPINIONS ONLINE
Dougherty: Goodbye, old friend
“
Long story short, he became addicted to opioids, and then heroin. I ended our friendship after trying to help him for a while and giving him second, third and fourth chances. I’m telling this story because Tommy died Monday. He overdosed on dope. A man with such a high I.Q., charisma and kindness is gone because of it.” Visit The Vidette’s website or mobile app for complete details on these web-only opinion pieces by Vidette Editorial Board
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EDITORIAL BOARD REBECCA FLETCHER Editor-in-Chief | @becky__ fletcher ANDREW DOUGHERTY News Editor and Columnist | @addough KIM LARSEN Copy Editor and Columnist | @Kimla_11 CINDY HERNANDEZ News Editor and Columnist | @cindylu_7
THE VIDETTE | SPORTS | PAGE 7
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2019
Let the games begin
Illinois State softball commences season at South Florida Invitational KADE HEATHER Sports Editor | @kade_heather
even more, so it’s a necessity to have those games in there,” Domkuski said. A successful 2017 campaign While the Redbirds began last brought hope for the 2018 Illiseason on a lower note that did nois State University softball not carry over into MVC play team. like they had wanted, ISU head Hope was all it had, as the coach Melinda Fischer still sees Redbirds capped last season at a different vibe in this year’s a 21-33 record, 11-14 Missouri squad. Valley Conference and 5-15 on “The chemistry for sure, it’s the road. a real different feel than what Just like last season, ISU will we’ve had in quite some time,” open its season at the UniverFischer said. “I’m not going to sity of South Florida’s Opening say other teams haven’t had Weekend Invitational against that chemistry, but this is just a nationally top-ranked teams. little bit different. We don’t have ISU fell to USF, University of a big roster and I think maybe, Florida and University of Michsometimes that helps in that igan in last year’s tournament situation.” and will face all three again this One reason for a different weekend. feeling is that ISU welcomes five The Redbirds begin with USF freshmen to the team. at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, then will “I feel that they’re energetic, take on North Carolina State at they’re ready to learn, and 11:15 a.m. Friday and No. 5 Florthey’ve paid attention,” Fischer ida at 3:45 p.m. Friday. said. “We’ve moved further, They will finish the weekend faster than we have with any with a 4:45 first pitch against other team, starting in the fall No. 6 Arizona on Saturday and to where we are right now. I feel an 8 a.m. game against No. 14 that we have some good opporMichigan on Sunday. tunities to see what we can do In addition to the Redbirds early on.” being placed fifth in the Missouri The Redbirds gain an outValley Conference Preseason fielder (Kenzie Pence), two Poll, sophomore third baseman utility players (Michele CalaAndrea Coursey was selected to brese, Emme Olson), a catcher/ the All-MVC preseason team. first baseman (Ellie Weltha) and Coursey started in 30 of 36 a pitcher/first baseman (Mackgames played last season, batenzie Leonard). ting .269 with nine runs scored, Weltha is a Bloomington, seven runs batted in and .358 Illinois native, while Leonard slugging percentage. resides in Normal. While ISU is not expected ISU is excited to bring in the to have a largely successful five new players and the Redseason, ISU senior pitcher and birds already have a feeling that first baseman Ali Domkuski they will make a great impact on knows the Redbirds will be batthe team. tle-tested early, playing three “I think the freshmen have Vidette Archive ranked teams in five games. done a great job. They’re very high Illinois State sophomore infielder Andrea Coursey makes contact on the ball during “[We’ve] grown up our whole ISU’s 5-1 loss to Indiana State on March 30 at Marian Kneer Stadium. energy, they really love the game. lives wanting to play the best Very talented class as well, so I She also knows that a lot of lessons can be taken teams in the country, so why not think they fit in with our group do it? It’s a good experience and I think it makes from playing ranked teams, despite the outcomes. really well. I think they’re going to do big things for “You definitely learn from it. I think the sched- our team this year,” ISU senior outfielder Riley Hale us better each time we play them … and hopefully ule we play helps us once we get into conference said. we beat some of them,” Domkuski said.
Copeland earns MVC Newcomer of Week KADE HEATHER Sports Editor | @kade_heather
Vidette Archive
Zach Copeland in action.
With just eight active players, Illinois State University junior guard Zach Copeland got the opportunity to receive extended playing time and took full advantage. Copeland scored 19 points in ISU’s win over Drake University Wednesday night and 11 points
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in its win over Loyola University Chicago Saturday night, earning himself Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week, the league announced Monday. The Oakland, California, native and transfer from City College of San Fransisco has started in 21 of his 23 games played and has started in the last 13 games. Averaging 10.8 points per game in
29.2 minutes played, Copeland has cemented himself as a starter this season, especially after the Redbirds lost junior Josh Jefferson with a collarbone injury and junior Matt Hein with a broken hand. Copeland collected a team-high 17 points on 5 of 10 shooting, 4 of 7 from three-point range in the Redbirds’ 69-53 loss to Valparaiso Tuesday night.
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1. Drake 2. Southern Illinois 3. Northern Iowa 4. Missouri State 5. Illinois State 6. Valparaiso 7. Indiana State 8. Bradley 9. Evansville 10. Loyola
ISU Softball key matchups Feb. 8 vs. NC State Feb. 8 vs. Florida Feb. 9 vs. Arizona Feb. 10 vs. Michigan Feb. 14 at Arizona St. Feb. 15 vs. Florida March 2 at LSU March 2-3 vs. Indiana March 16 at Evansville March 20 vs. Iowa March 30-31 vs. SIU April 3 at Illinois April 6 vs. UNI April 10 vs. Bradley April 13-14 vs. MSU April 16 at DePaul April 23 at Bradley May 3-4 at Valparaiso May 8-11 MVC Tourney Home games bolded
HEATHER Continued from page 8
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The senior leadership may not be 100 percent there right now, but Evans said, “We’ll get it right. We still have time to go.” How much time is enough time? ISU has seven regular season games remaining, three at Redbird Arena. Arch Madness is exactly one month away. With each game having higher importance, the page must be turned to Missouri State, plus the Redbirds have not met the Bears this season. ISU has four days off for practices and travel. It is only up to the players on which team wants to show up in Springfield, Missouri, at 3 p.m. Sunday. Evans exited the media room answering Athletic Director Larry Lyons, telling him his knee is healthy and that “it’s onto the next one.”
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KADE HEATHER is Sports Editor for The Vidette. He can be contacted at vidette_kfheat1@ilstu. edu. Follow him on Twitter at @ kade_heather.
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MVC Softball Preseason Poll
PAGE 8 | THE VIDETTE
Sports
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2019
Two steps forward, one step back
Redbirds handed reality check
MY VIEW KADE HEATHER | Sports Editor
I
Jeffrey Smudde | Vidette Photographer
Senior Phil Fayne drives past Valparaiso defenders Derrik Smits (left) and John Kiser (right) as the ’Birds were blown out of Redbird Arena Tuesday.
’Birds suffer first MVC home loss to Valparaiso, 69-53 JONATHAN BARLAS Sports Editor | @janveselybarlas
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ontinuing its coin flip of a season, Illinois State University’s Missouri Valley Conference fate hung with uncertainty yet again as ISU head coach Dan Muller shouted, “Do your job,” from the sideline. As the Redbirds touted a shared first-place MVC ranking going into Tuesday’s match-up, a buzzerbeating, half-court shot remained in the rearview of the team’s last meeting with Valparaiso. In effort to follow up its biggest win of the year against Loyola University-Chicago, the Crusaders walked into Redbird Arena with a fire fit to reveal ISU’s true worth. With the confidence of riding a first-place mark in the Valley, it seemed as though the ’Birds received only 15 minutes of fame after Loyola defeated Drake University 86-64 Tuesday night. Amid a timid defensive effort, Illinois State fell to Valparaiso in a lopsided affair as the Crusaders strongly shoved the ’Birds back into second place, 69-53. Valparaiso lit up the court almost immediately, opening play with a 14-0 offensive run. As the Redbirds chased a 17-2 deficit within the first five minutes of the half, Muller remained silent, only able to shake his head in disgust. Muller displayed blatant frustration toward the Redbirds’ poor night all around. “Valparaiso was great, we got outplayed and outcoached,” Muller said. “It was just so bad. The amount of disrespect [we] showed the game of basketball tonight against the opposing team was just embarrassing. We just had guys that thought it was just going to be easy ... but our lack of competitiveness, maturity and toughness, I just didn’t think I would see that this year again.” Crusaders’ guard Javon Freeman led with 20 points in the first half, finishing with a gamehigh 27 points as Valparaiso was able to lock down senior guard Milik Yarbrough early, virtually silencing ISU’s top scorer. Yarbrough was held to nine points, five rebounds and three assists in ISU’s losing effort. Valparaiso head coach Matt Lottich not only credited Illinois State’s talent on the floor, but praised the ’Birds for their professionalism both on and off court. “I want to start off and say how impressed I am with the whole operation here — absolutely first class,” Lottich said. “It’s a real honor to get
Jeffrey Smudde | Vidette Photographer
ISU junior transfer guard Zach Copeland.
to come here and compete and I think [Illinois State] really set the standard here. Extremely proud of my team ... That is a fantastic team [ISU], very well-coached and we’re very fortunate to get the win tonight.” Seemingly catching ISU off guard, Valparaiso’s play got them out in front earlier than expected. Senior guard Keyshawn Evans sparked momentary life with a long three, cutting down Valpo’s lead to 12, but Valparaiso answered quickly with a three of their own, dominating the ’Birds 23-8. Evans put together a six-point performance, striving to bring ISU back into contention in the first half knocking down two quick threes. Trailing 25-11, reigning MVC Newcomer of the Week Zach Copeland finished with a teamhigh 17 points, two rebounds and three assists as the junior indicated that the team’s slow start caused its demise, regardless of a positive practice beforehand. “We had a good practice, honestly,” Copeland said. “We just came out stagnant with not enough energy and we never regrouped from that.” Bringing the score back within seven points, senior guard William Tinsley knocked down a pivotal three as the Redbirds began to control the pace on the floor. Amid a slow start, Copeland drained a long three to continue ISU’s 13-0 run. Looking tighter as the game carried on, the ’Birds were able to slow down Valparaiso’s speedy transition offense. Down 33-21, the Crusaders picked up once again, scoring six unanswered points to push their lead back to a 12-point margin. Valparaiso ignited another big run of its own,
keeping a 14-1 margin over the course of three minutes. As the ’Birds fought to stay within 10 points, the Crusaders kept their foot on the gas with another three-pointer from Bakari Evelyn. The Redbirds’ defense saw more struggle than usual, giving up 17 total turnovers as Valpo continued to pour it on in the first half, 39-24. Valparaiso held its late first-half run to the halftime buzzer, dominating ISU with a 16-1 run and leading at halftime, 41-24. A switch needed to be flipped at halftime and the Redbirds looked to be the ones to turn it on late. However, the switch remained untouched. Senior forward Phil Fayne started the second half on the bench in his warmup pullover, indicating Muller’s dissatisfaction as ISU chased a 23-point deficit to begin the second half. Fayne later fouled out of the game, contributing eight points and two rebounds while the ’Birds looked to conjure a comeback. Copeland continued to heat up as the game went on, but the Crusaders continued to make it rain, shooting 43 percent beyond the arc and 51 percent from the field. Midway through the second half, a backand-forth barrage of missed chances from both teams ultimately came as a crutch to waste time. With under seven minutes remaining, Valparaiso held a 16-point lead at 56-40. Copeland continued to drain contested shots, setting up the offense for some hopeful late-game heroics. On account of a Yarbrough put back, the ’Birds found life on the back of the energy in Redbird Arena. Copeland continued his personal success, sparking an 18-4 run over six minutes. Within range for a comeback chasing a 60-51 score, the Redbirds’ second-half life was seemingly drained over a lost loose ball. With time running out, the Crusaders created more separation, ultimately shutting the door to defeat the Redbirds 69-53.
UP NEXT Illinois State (14-10, 7-4 MVC) is set to hit the road for the first time in almost two weeks, tipping off against Missouri State (11-12, 5-5 MVC) at 3 p.m. Sunday in Springfield, Missouri. The Bears defeated Valparaiso 55-54 Jan. 29. JONATHAN BARLAS is Sports Editor for The Vidette. He can be reached at jgbarla@ilstu.edu. Follow him on Twitter @janveselybarlas.
“We just had guys that thought it was just going to be easy ... but our lack of competitiveness, maturity and toughness, I just didn’t think I would see that this year again.” Dan Muller, ISU head coach
llinois State University senior guard Keyshawn Evans strolled into the media room with junior guard Zach Copeland and grabbed a seat at the podium. Evans leaned back in his chair, stared off straight, breathing heavily, and spoke softly away from the microphone when asked his first question. He scored six points, all in the first half, coming on two three-pointers. He shot 2 of 7 from the floor (all 3FG) and turned the ball over five times, just as many as Copeland. It may have been the shortest player press conference all season. Evans talked about how ISU’s 6953 loss to Valparaiso Tuesday night was all of the players’ faults and that it starts with the senior leadership. The Redbirds let Valpo freshman Javon Freeman light up Doug Collins Court with 27 points on 11 of 13 shooting, 4 of 6 from three-point range. It was Evans’ and Copeland’s job to guard him. Players have great games, but allowing Freeman to get open in transition several times and take control of the game from the get-go could have been contained. The Redbirds were simply stagnant and had no flow to their offense, allowing Valpo to jump out on a 20-3 run only 6:33 into the game. Coming off its convincing win over Loyola, ISU’s life in first place lasted just three nights. Evans and Copeland said practices between the Loyola win and Valpo loss were great, with nothing negative to them. However, as ISU head coach Dan Muller has predicted and talked about all season, his team seems to let down and play without its fire after big wins. For example, ISU was buried early at Belmont after it had won its seasonopener. Then, it couldn’t overcome San Diego State University one game after ISU had beat Brigham Young University in overtime. Soon after, following another overtime win against Cleveland State University, the Redbirds were blown out at University of Central Florida. In fact, ISU hadn’t seen a loss like Tuesday’s versus Valpo since its 7756 loss to UCF. It has been an up-and-down season, but with the Redbirds playing improved basketball over the course of their Missouri Valley Conference schedule. As so many say in this league, you can’t ride the highs too high and can’t ride the lows too low. ISU had a glimpse of the target on its back, but immediately hit a reality check, a much-needed one, with an embarrassing home loss. A loss that brought several boos from the Redbird Arena stands Tuesday night. After feeling like the season was finally turning the corner toward what was originally expected back in October, ISU fell flat and continued its rollercoaster ride. Now, there is no need to dwell on the Crusaders. ISU is done with them, barring an MVC tournament rematch. see HEATHER on page 7