V THE VIDETTE
TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2020 Vol. 133 | No. 2
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VIEWPOINT 4
NEWS 5
WILL DEMOCRATIC TICKET PULL ENOUGH NEW VOTES?
PANDEMIC 101, ISU’S NEWEST COURSE
Closing time After students pour in, local bars feel the effects of COVID-19 ANDREA RICKER Features Editor | @ricker_andrea
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ollege students have made their way back to Bloomington-Normal, and with that, have returned to bars and college life. This year, bars are needing to take extra precautions to make sure guests and staff members stay safe. Several bars, restaurants and businesses were able to serve students for the first time since March, when campus shut down. As several thousand students descend on the community, there is a noticeable bump in business. Now that Illinois is in Phase 4 of Gov. JB Pritzker’s Restore Illinois plan, bars are able to offer indoor dining, as well as outside seating, takeout and delivery options. Many establishments require masks be worn to enter and are limiting the number of customers allowed in by not allowing standing customers or overcrowding. Despite safety precautions, several bars have closed their doors temporarily as a member of their staff has tested positive. See BLONO BARS on Page 6
The Pub II patio was empty Monday morning, and will continue to be for the foreseeable future according to a statement made on Facebook. One employee tested positive at Pub II in the last week, and at other bars in the area. Pub II will be deep cleaning and testing its other employees while it is closed. Alex Gant | Photo Editor | @AlexGant16
PAGE 2 | NEWS | THE VIDETTE
TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2020
Study abroad aims for 2021 comeback CHELSEA CORA News Reporter | @cora_chelsea
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llinois State University made the decision in July to cancel study abroad plans for the fall semester due to COVID-19. The decision was made for the general safety and well-being of the students at ISU. No decision has been made about studying abroad in the spring 2021 semester. However, the study abroad office is currently trying to determine its plans for the spring. “Additionally, we are actively reviewing feasibility for spring 2021, taking into account the financial and academic impacts that students could potentially face,” Associate Director for Study Abroad Alex Ratcliff-Hanger said. If the decision to cancel the spring 2021 Study Abroad Program were to be made, students who have applied in the My Study Abroad Portal will be notified of the cancellation immediately.
According to an email that ISU’s University Risk Management recently sent out, university-sponsored travel will be limited and will align with appropriate Centers of Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. Additionally, group travel involving two or more individuals will potentially present more risk considerations. This may or may not result in successful alleviation strategies. Students and employees who plan to participate in university-sponsored domestic travel that is outside Illinois must complete a Domestic Travel Registration and Pre-Check test. Students and employees who plan to engage in university-sponsored international travel are required to complete an International Travel Notification process. They also need approval from the vice president. Some students still plan to study abroad next semester if the university does not cancel the program. Unfortunately, if the program is canceled, some students may not get the
opportunity to study abroad because it does not fit with their schedules. “I do plan on still going because next semester is the only semester that studying abroad really fits into my plan of study due to internships or other required classes,” sophomore psychology major Celia Hernandez said. Her major concern is being sent home during her trip because of the financial impact it would have on her family. Additionally, she is worried about the health and safety of her and her family participating in international travel. However, she is more concerned about holding onto her college education and experiences. “I have to put trust in the university [and] health officials, because at the end of the day I believe that they know what is best for the safety of myself and others,” Hernandez said. CHELSEA CORA is a News Reporter for The Vidette. She can be reached at crcora@ilstu.edu. Follow her on Twitter at @cora_chelsea.
Valeria Lazu | Photographer | @val_lazu The Study Abroad program canceled study abroad plans for the fall semester and is still planning how the spring semester will work for students.
Annual Family Weekend goes virtual Sept. 25-27 TYRAY RATLIFF News Reporter | @RatliffTyray
Illinois State University plans to move forward with its plan to host Family Weekend Sept. 25-27. According to the ISU website, Family Weekend will be held virtually due to the current COVID-19 circumstances. Faculty and staff are still encouraging students and families to attend and strengthen their bond as a family and as Redbirds. The planned events and other activities can be done at any time. Families can then share photos and videos on social media with the hashtag #RedbirdFamily. An official schedule of the virtual events and activities will be posted in September. Students are not sure how Family Weekend will pan out virtually. Sophomore journalism major Catelyn Johnson feels hosting Family Weekend virtually will not be the same. “It won’t be the same experience, but I understand that it’s an annual event that has to take place,” Johnson said. “I doubt the same vibe and energy you would get from the event in person will be the same via Zoom.” Family Weekend is usually hosted on campus with events and activities for families to complete. Because of COVID-19, the on-campus experience cannot
Vidette Archive
Family Weekend is being switch to a virtual setting due to the coronavirus pandemic. An official schedule will be sent out in September.
happen this semester. Although the campus is open, rules and guidelines are still required. Senior human resources major Taylor Denby expressed that she feels that missing out on an in-person Family Week-
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end takes away from the experience. “I really feel for the freshmen. Family Weekend is usually an opportunity to come on campus and become a part of ISU, really getting a feel for what it’s like to be a Redbird,” Denby said. “I’m not sure how it will have the same effects virtually.” Students must wear a mask to enter campus buildings and maintain at least 6 feet to properly social distance. Places, such as the Bone Student Center, have implemented additional guidelines for students and visitors. In the dining areas, no more than three people can occupy a table and there is a two-person limit to every booth. A sign is on every table that lets students and visitors know if the table needs to be sanitized or if they can sit and eat. Staff and student employees will then sanitize the dining tables immediately before and after people have used them.
TYRAY RATLIFF is a News Reporter for The Vidette. He can be contacted at tsratl1@ilstu.edu. Follow him on Twitter at @RatliffTyray.
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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 2020 University & Locust / Campus Box 0890 / Normal, IL 61761–0890
TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2020
THE VIDETTE | NEWS | PAGE 3
Alex Gant | Photo Editor | @AlexGant16
After multiple photos of a large off-campus party at The Lodge circulated social media earlier this month, Young America President Andy Netzer took action and closed all common areas to help eliminate the spread of the coronavirus.
After party gathering photographs surface on social media, Young America closes down common areas at The Lodge
‘We are fully cooparating’
SAMANTHA ZIGANTO News Reporter | @samziganto
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s students return to Bloomington-Normal, large gatherings are becoming more common. Due to these gatherings and the breaking of social distancing protocols, The Lodge on Willow will be closing its common areas until further notice. Photographs of a large off-campus party at The Lodge appeared on social media. The photos gained attention from Illinois State University President Larry Dietz as well as Normal Mayor Chris Koos. Koos contacted Young America and requested the company close these common areas. Young America issued a statement Friday with the fol-
lowing quote from the company president, Andy Netzer. “We are fully cooperating with the Town of Normal, including with their recent request to close certain common areas, including the pools, spa, fire pits, grill areas of The Lodge on Willow. Further, we have maintained a thirdparty security detail at the property who have received specific instructions from us to disperse crowds,” Netzer said in the email. “We join the chorus of community voices asking the residents of our properties to consider the community impact of their personal decisions.” Dietz attempted to warn students of these gatherings for their safety due to the amount of people ignoring protocols. “Unfortunately, the university’s ability to impose these protocols ends at our campus borders. While responding
to a large, off-campus gathering [last] weekend, officials observed hundreds of people not following the most basic tenets of coronavirus safety — ignoring protocols for physical distancing and the wearing of face coverings,” Dietz said in the email. “Although I cannot confirm all involved were Illinois State students, that is the perception. I cannot overemphasize how important it is that we follow all public health guidance. It is provided for the sole purpose of protecting each of us from contracting COVID-19.” Prior to the request of Mayor Koos, Young America has been requiring that all residents wear “resident wristbands,” showing they live at The Lodge. Residents were also provided with “guest wristbands” to give to their guests to limit the amount of people coming in and out of The Lodge.
EMDH speaks out about COVID impacts ALEXIS PLUMMER News Reporter | @Lexi1Oliver
Many Illinois State University students decided to return to their on-campus jobs as classes for the fall semester have started. Many of the on-campus jobs had student employees, both new and returning, report to campus and move in early to attend the fall semester’s orientation before the new school year began. Students were informed of new systems that were put in place to protect themselves and others as well as reminders on how to work each station. “It has been extremely rewarding to welcome students to campus,” Director of Event Management, Dining and Hospitality Bill Legett said. The first new system that students were informed to do as a new precaution in place includes checking their temperature before starting their shifts. When a student comes into to work, they must first wash their hands.
Maia Huddleston | Photo Editor | @maiawrites
Student employees went through an orientation before the school year began to go over the new safety guidelines that will be in place for EMDH jobs. Afterward, student-employees grab a digital thermometer to check their temperature.
If their temperatures are normal, they write their names, log the temperature, the time the temperature was taken and include a signature. Lastly, students are asked to wipe down the thermometer, return it to its designated area and start working at their station. Students and staff have both been doing a good job of keeping themselves and the ISU community safe. This comes as the community started to return to campus in early August. Precautions for all students, faculty and staff include wearing masks and practicing social distancing. Students who work on campus are around a large amount of people during their shifts. As a result, some have expressed concerns about the safety measures and precautions being taken. Others have expressed that they are fine with the safety measures put into place by EMDH. Students, like sophomore and business administration major and Qdoba employee Jordan Bivins, believe that the changes are not a big deal. “Students seem excited to be back, whether to resume their Redbird experience or to
begin their first semester,” Bivins said. With the novel coronavirus, there is always room for improvement and students could still be exposed to the virus. Another step that was taken to keep the staff and others safe is the mandatory need for a mask as they work. The masks protect everyone, which is why every staff member must wear them during their entire shift. Adjusting to face masks has not been going well for some. For others, it has not been much of an adjustment. Sophomore elementary school major and Starbucks employee Shelby Harper was able to keep herself motivated with the face mask adjustment by reminding herself that it is for the health and safety of her and her peers. “I guess I adjusted by telling myself it’s going to not only keep everyone else safe but you safe. Even though I miss being able to smile at people [during my shifts],’ Harper said. ALEXIS PLUMMER is a News Reporter for The Vidette. She can be contacted at amplum1@ilstu.edu. Follow her on Twitter at @Lexi1Oliver.
Viewpoint
PAGE 4 | THE VIDETTE
VIDETTE EDITORIAL
TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2020
Biden-Harris: What it means for younger voters
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s the 2020 election draws near, it’s time to start thinking more and more about the impact Joe Biden’s vice presidential pick Kamala Harris could make on Biden’s campaign.
Biden and Harris are both relatively moderate Democrats. They shy away from the leftist ideals candidates like Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren shared during the democratic debates. Many leftists who voted for Sanders and Warren in the primary election are considering not voting at all now that Biden is the nominee. They would rather stay home than support Biden with their vote, especially because of the sexual assault allegations against him. Because several young people share this viewpoint, it seems like Biden’s best bet for a vice presidential candidate would be a more progressive candidate. Moderate Democrats and many moderate Republicans were already going to vote for Biden before he chose a candidate. Based on that assumption, leftists are the voters Biden should be worried about gain-
ing support from. There are a few people who are more excited to vote for Biden now that Harris will be his vice president, but he had already won their votes anyway. Harris’ calm demeanor and public speaking skills will fill in some of the gaps in Biden’s public appearances. Still, many wonder why Biden chose her. As the Black Lives Matter movement continues to protest unjust police violence across the nation, more aver-
age Americans are becoming educated on the flaws in the American justice system. The push by BLM supporters toward defunding police departments and changing protocol has gained quite a bit of popularity since the murder of George Floyd in May. Harris’ background as the attorney general of California directly connects her to the upkeep of the justice system that so many Americans are now pushing to change.
As attorney general, she faced criticism from progressive scholars for refusing to take actions that would decrease overcrowding in California prisons. Unlike the sexual assault allegations against Biden, Harris’ track record as attorney general is undeniable and available to the public on Wikipedia. There is no way for her to hide her past opposition to changes in the justice system, and many BLM supporters are enraged that Biden chose Harris during this pivotal time in the movement. While moderate voters have always seemed willing to vote for anyone opposing Trump, many progressive voters, including many young people, are not so eager. Those voters in strong support of the BLM movement seem likely to stay home this election or vote for a third-party candidate now that Harris is Biden’s vice presidential candidate. Even if the justice system isn’t facing extreme scrutiny right now, how could Harris increase the number of people willing to vote for Biden? Isn’t that what a vice presidential candiEditorial Cartoon by Flynn Geraghty | Vidette Art Director date is supposed to do?
EDITORIAL POLICY Editorial written by MAIA HUDDLESTON 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.
College students are the COVID-19 scapegoat MY VIEW ELIZABETH SEILS | Editor in Chief
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he stage is set, costumes are on; the players have the lines and the movements memor ized. There’s a real problem though: it seems every member of the audience knows the ending to this play before it has ever really had the chance to start. It goes like this: contain a bunch of young adults for many months. Tell them not to interact with each other or go out much at all. Then, about four or five months in, bring them back to a campus away from their
family, surrounded by other socially starved adults. Sprinkle a little virus in there, splash in a little alcohol and boom! You’ve got yourself another outbreak. All of the students at Illinois State are on the stage, we’re playing our parts with no way of stopping it. Everyone else is sitting there, watching, tomatoes at the ready to throw at us as they say our reckless college partying ruined it for everyone. Act One is nearly complete, the first parties have come and gone and COVID-19 cases have shot up in one week. It makes me wonder: if we all know the ending of this play, why are we all just sitting around waiting for it to happen? I’m being careful, I limit my interaction with others as much as I can, but it’s hard. I miss my friends! And as we can see from the rising number of cases on campus, it’s hard for everyone. Can you really blame them? Since
April, students have been promised that we would be back on campus, and everything would be fine. Sure, no one said “everything will be fine.” But when we pretend like everything is normal, we act like everything is normal. American college students will be the scapegoat for the second wave. We all know it and we’re all ready to play our parts. Universities, including Illinois State University, have done the bare minimum, if anything at all, to ensure the safety of their students. It’s enough to cover their legal bases. “We warned them,” they’ll say in chorus with other older adults and public officials. “We were really hoping these young adults who have never experienced a pandemic before would do the right thing. How irresponsible of them! Stupid 20-somethings!” Instead of having a solid plan, or a solid means of testing or containing the virus that isn’t a canopy set up on the
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Lack of COVID-19 info from ISU is alarming Dear Editor, The lack of information about the location and numbers of campus-related COVID-19 cases from the Illinois State University administration is alarming. The federal Clery Act requires universities to make timely public safety announcements. We do hear about rapes and robberies, how about a deadly pandemic next door? ISU does not issue any alerts and does not answer questions about the location when the cases are revealed by the press. This is very confusing and alarming to the families as well as to the students, staff and faculty. Moreover, a look at the Illinois State Parents & Families Facebook page shows that parents do not get answers to their own children’s plight when they or their roommates test positive at ISU hous-
ing. Parents are asking for medical advice from each other! (The words “crazy” and “scary” are mentioned.) Not even the RAs know whether there are quarantine rooms and where they are (possibly sharing ventilation with the rest of the dorm). I personally asked the panelists on last Friday’s ISU COVID-19 webinar how many quarantine beds we have, and whether students knew how to get them. I had also submitted the question ahead of time. My questions were completely ignored. This is more than scary and crazy. And don’t even let me start on opening Milner Library! University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed an excellent saliva test and even it is not opening its library buildings (because, I presume, they are not crazy). Fusun Akman Professor, Department of Mathematics
Quad, we were all let loose and told to go back to business as normal. Ask any student, they’ll laugh and say we’ll be sent home by Labor Day. So, what are we doing? What’s the point of the charade? Yes, students should be more responsible. But so should the institutions entrusted with their safety, and so should the places they choose to live. It’s a two-way street. Young 20-somethings are capable of good judgement, and many are doing the right thing. Many are recklessly irresponsible and their behavior should not be excused. But, when no one else is taking this seriously, so why should they? Monkey see, monkey do. If we want to see good behavior, we should model it. ELIZABETH SEILS is the Editor in Chief of the Vidette. She can be reached at elseils@ilstu.edu. Follow her on Twitter at @SeilsElizabeth.
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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
TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2020
THE VIDETTE | NEWS | PAGE 5
Digging up pandemics of the past
Abigail Stone’s new science class offers an insight in how pandemics impact human race JAKE DAHL Features Reporter | @jdahl3005
The COVID-19 pandemic that is ravaging the United States is tragic, but it is also presenting some unique learning opportunities for students at ISU, namely the timely addition of a new class in the sciences: “Pandemics, Plagues and People.” The class, taught by assistant professor Abigail Stone, who is an anthropologist as well as an archeologist, will cover pandemics of the past and their far-reaching influence, and how they permanently shifted the course of the human race. In particular, the course will focus on two specific diseases:
the bubonic plague that ravaged Europe in the 1300s and malaria. “I think it’ll be really awesome to show students how these diseases altered things in the societies they touched, down to an evolutionary level,” Stone Abigail Stone said. “For example, when you think about something like sickle cell anemia, which spawned from having two copies of an allele that can be preventative of malaria
in highly endemic regions. We tend to think that modern medicine has provided some sort of immunity to natural selection, when in reality we are evolving faster than ever before.” The information provided by this course is obviously pertinent. With the coronavirus hanging over the world’s head, it can be hard to see past this tragic event, but it might be able to provide an avenue for seeing into our future once this whole thing blows over. “I really wonder about whether or not future archeologists will look through our trash and see that our society started to use masks more commonly,” Stone said.
“Personally, I think masks will fade from daily use, but I think American society will see them as a way to keep your germs from spreading when you’re sick. I do think we’re going to be more conscious of crowded rooms, but humans are social creatures. We have an innate desire to be close to each other, so social distancing might be tricky.” Despite the conditions, Stone feels cautiously optimistic. Even with the pandemic, social movements like Black Lives Matter have kept society moving toward progress and technology like Zoom is allowing for more remote access to work, which could potentially impact our carbon footprint.
“At the very least, the pandemic is highlighting something we’ve known for a while, which is that diseases affect minority communities much more than they affect others,” Stone said. “Pushing these issues to the forefront is a good thing, even though it shouldn’t have taken a pandemic to do so. I’m hopeful that these turbulent times will bring about structural change to American society, even with the tragic conditions that brought it about in the first place.” JAKE DAHL is a Features Reporter for The Vidette. He can be contacted at jjdahl1@ilstu.edu. Follow him on Twitter at @jdahl3005.
Seniors ‘bummed’, ‘frustrated’ with unforeseen last year GRACE KINNICUTT News Editor | @GKinnicutt
Stepping onto campus for the final year as a senior is always an exciting moment. Many seniors look forward to their last football games or getting as many free T-shirts on the Illinois State University Quad during Festival ISU or sitting in the library at midnight with a group of friends trying to study. But many of those traditional lasts have been changed or canceled. “Obviously, I’m sad that I can’t fully experience my last year as an undergrad student. But looking back, I’ve made a lot of fun memories and I’m content with what I’ve experienced even if it was cut short,” said accounting and finance major Katelyn Diebold. As the pandemic continues and students get readjusted to life back on campus with classes mainly online, it’s the simple things about college life that students are missing out on the most. “I’m a bit bummed out about it. I try to be reasonable and realize I’m in a good place compared to a lot of people, just like being able to af-
ford being at school and getting higher education while the world is in chaos,” said mass media major Gabe Ayala. Festival ISU will be held over Zoom, leaving the Quad empty and not filled with the usual excitement of students milling about getting free T-shirts and signing up and learning about student-run organizations. Fall sports are postponed, leaving behind moments and records that could have been. With the tailgating season also postponed, the parking lots scattered about ISU will remain quiet and desolate on what would have been rowdy gamedays with the smell of hot dogs, burgers and beer lingering in the air. “It stinks, plain and simple. I miss working and going to football. I miss all my friends since I’m at home this semester. I wanted to experience an on-campus, fun last year of being a student. But during times like these, it’s better to be responsible than reckless. I stayed home for a reason and I’m overall happy with my decision as much as it sucks,” recreation management student Emily Miles said. With returning to in-person classes still remaining a big “what if” as the university con-
tinues to take the situation day-by-day, seniors may never get that final chance to learn in a way that is best fit for them. “It’s frustrating because I feel like in addition to every other normal college, I feel like senior year is the last time you can experience the normal college experience. Especially for me as a nursing student a lot of senior year is learning to transition to the field and with being online now, I worry I won’t get that experience,” said nursing student Isabelle Mahr. The year is still bittersweet for seniors even though it’s taken an unexpected turn. “As someone who turned 21 a month ago before senior year started, it definitely is disappointing that I won’t be able to go about the town and enjoy the town with my friends. This pandemic is something that none of us could have foreseen,” said mass media student Cosette Nowik. “But this is also a life lesson to keep our loved ones and community safe, it’s much more important to stay home.” GRACE KINNICUTT is a News Reporter for The Vidette. She can be contacted at gkinnic@ilstu. edu. Follow her on Twitter at @Gkinnicutt.
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I’m a bit bummed out about it. I try to be reasonable and realize I’m in a good place compared to a lot of people, just like being able to afford being at school and getting higher education while the world is in chaos.” Gabe Ayala, senior mass media major
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PAGE 6 | THE VIDETTE
Plant sales grow as people stay home
TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2020
Turning a new leaf
JAKE SERMERSHEIM Sports Editor | @JakeSermersheim
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v e r quarantine, people picked up a variety of hobbies, but one of the most popular has been a tried and true trend for years: gardening. With people stuck inside, the cathartic world of gardening opened up for many. Jen Bicknell at Growing Grounds Garden Center in Bloomington has noted this. “A lot of people planting indoors, outdoors, a lot of veggie gardens this year,” Bicknell said. “Small families are planting a lot of plants. A lot of people are looking in their backyard and wanting to make that look nice for all the time they are spending there.” This can be seen around the Bloomington-Normal area and the rest of the country. Casey Lartz of Casey’s Garden Shop has seen a boom in new gardeners this year. Jake Sermersheim | Sports Editor | @JakeSermersheim “One of the new studies that came As people are staying inside more due to COVID-19, houseplant sales have been increasing as well, to add a little life to a room. Growing Grounds Garden Center in Bloomington has mention that more people are buying plants and gardening equipment during quarantine. out was that there are 16 million new gardeners this year,” Lartz said. “There was an upswing even before make people feel good.” tenance house plants such as succulents have Bicknell has a simple reason for the houseCOVID and I don’t see it slowing down. There College students and younger adults have helped college students and others living in plant boom. are so many great things about plants that recently found their green thumb. Low-main- small spaces liven up their home. “College students and young 20s are Some students, like Illinois State Univerattracted to houseplants,” Bicknell said. “Pinsity junior teaching major Olivia Stout, find it terest has boomed our houseplant sales.” Many stusoothing. But that is not the only attraction for young dents are “I started gardening to fill time over customers. taking time quarantine,” Stout said. “My sister helped me A rise of younger customers may be no to bring some start planting. Since then I’ve kept it up and coincidence according to Lartz. As a move plants into even brought a lot of plants back to school to during the early stages of quarantine, custheir spaces, take care of.” tomers were unable to come into the as they’ll be Junior Illinois State anthropology major store. Due to this, Lartz and his spending Sophie de Sa e Silva has seen the advantages team set up an online ordering most of their time learning of having houseplants. site where people could pick up remotely. “Houseplants are great because no their plants. Mara Best | Staff matter what type of plant you have, “The fact that we did Photographer | it cleans the air,” de Sa e Silva an online store made the @marabest_ said. “The plant is constantly younger customers more taking the CO2 we breathe comfortable,” Lartz said. “This and turning it into clean just made us better on our game oxygen in my home. Clean in providing that access. People air is not the only benefit. don’t want to look around for imIt also looks super cute. pulse buys, but they would online. Having houseplants really We found a whole new audience.” livens up a living room or Flynn Geraghty | Art Director bedroom.”
BLONO BARS
Continued from Page 1
Pub II “Pub Wednesdays” are a common tradition for ISU students. As students were coming back into town, Pub II stated masks must be worn by all guests until they are seated, and the bar encouraged guests to stay seated as much as possible. There is also no standing room and depending on how busy it is, the Beer Garden cannot be entered through the main restaurant. However, Pub II is now closed until further notice as an employee has tested positive for COVID-19. The employee last worked on Wednesday and is asymptomatic. All employees are being tested and will not return unless their test is negative. The restaurant is also using this time to deep clean the facility. In a Facebook post Pub II stated, “We are taking all measures necessary to be as safe as possible before we reopen. Thank you so much for your understanding and continued support for our small business. We look forward to seeing you soon.”
sanitizing, as well as making sure the entire staff gets tested. Staff will not be allowed to return unless their test result is negative. In a Facebook post Maggie Miley’s stated, “We are deeply concerned for the health and safety of our guests and staff and want to ensure that all safety precautions are met before we reopen. Thank you for your support and understanding. We look forward to seeing you when we reopen.”
Mugsey’s
Maggie Miley’s
“We’re crossing our fingers right now,” Mugsy’s General Manager Brad Baker said. Mugsy’s Pub in Bloomington is open with a beer garden and 50% capacity inside. The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays, and from 11 a.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays. Baker adds that the restaurant is deep cleaned every night, and everything is cleaned and sanitized after use. High-touch areas such as doorknobs are cleaned every 20 minutes. Masks are required unless guests are sitting and eating or drinking. Masks are also required at poker machines. “We are looking forward to having everyone enjoying a little more of a regular experience out in the public,” Baker said.
Maggie Miley’s Irish Pub in Uptown Normal is also closed until further notice, due to an employee testing positive. The restaurant closed Sunday, and the employee last worked Saturday morning, according to the restaurant’s Facebook page. During this time Maggie Miley’s will be deep cleaning and
Fat Jacks in downtown Bloomington temporarily closed from Aug. 9 - 13 after learning that an employee tested positive for COVID-19. During the time, all employees were being tested and the bar was being deep cleaned.
Fat Jacks Bar
The bar is open for outdoor seating and limited indoor seating from 3 p.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday-Thursday and from 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Masks are required to enter the building and must be worn if guests are walking around and mingling.
Brew-Ha’s Bar and Grill
Brewe-Ha’s posted on Facebook Sunday that it will be closed for the day “due to positive testing too close to home.” The bar stated it will “ensure all employees can be safe and get another rapid COVID test. Be safe out there, and hopefully we will see you on the other side of the bar tomorrow.” Masks must be worn unless guests are seated and eating or drinking. Brewe-Ha’s is open from 11-1 a.m. Sundays-Thursdays and from 11-2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
Flingers Pizza Pub
As of Aug. 17, Flingers is open for indoor and outdoor seating and is offering delivery and pickup options as well. Dining hours are from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. SundaysThursdays and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Pickup and delivery hours are from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays and from 11 a.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays. ANDREA RICKER is Features Editor The Vidette. She can be contacted at arricke@ilstu.edu. Follow her on Twitter at @ ricker_andrea.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2020
THE VIDETTE | SPORTS | PAGE 7
Redbirds pop off during Kernels League
ISU players reflect on player-oriented summer league competition
“Down four to nothing in the first was a little hole,” Soberano said. “We were barreling balls early, they were just caught. So, we knew we were right JAKE SERMERSHEIM there. We did not lose Sports Editor | @JakeSermersheim confidence just because we were down. It uring a time where leagues across doesn’t bother us to be the country are shut down, the Kerdown, we have been in nels Collegiate League proved to that spot before. That be a haven for baseball players around the game felt scripted, Midwest. one of the best games After the NCAA season was canceled due I have been a part of.” to COVID-19, it seemed inevitable that the The CornBelters’ yearly ritual of collegiate wooden-bat basebarreled balls finally ball would be missed this summer. After the found a gap for Brant announcement that the Prospect League Vanaman from (Parkwould be canceled, the Normal CornBelters Photo Courtesy of Normal CornBelters Baseball land). Vanaman found stepped into action. The Normal CornBelters celebrating the winning of the inaugural Kernels Collegiate League Championship. his pitch and crushed Just days after the announcement from it over the wall for the the Prospect League, the CornBelters orgagame-tying three-run nization announced it would start its league Inevitably with a long break, players were not in mid-season home run. operating with four teams out of the CornBelters home field, form, with most saying the first week was the toughest moment With the score still tied in the bottom of the seventh, the the Corncrib. of the season. CornBelters looked to pounce with the bases loaded for Alex What could have been an empty summer proved to be fruit“The first couple of games were a little rough getting back into Steinbach. ful for players like Illinois State University baseball’s Kyle the speed of the game,” said Soberano. “Around the end of the The KCL MVP took little time to make an impact. With the Soberano. first week, I felt back to normal. I think I am in better shape now bases loaded, Steinbach drove in Soberano marking the Corn“It felt good to be back with our season cut short,” Soberano than I was in season or at least the beginning of the summer. I Belters as the first KCL Champions. said. “It just made me really grateful to be back on the field. I was able to lift, which was big.” “I can’t even put it into words,” Soberano said. “That was the took it for granted a little bit. It got taken away so quickly this While Soberano had the luxury of being able to lift, some of first dogpile I was a part of. It was nice that we got to cap it off spring.” his teammates did not. with a championship.” The long break made ISU catcher Tyson Hayes appreciate “In my hometown (Pulaski, Wisconsin) there is nowhere for With the first champion crowned the KCL, the one-site league the game. me to pitch off of,” Anderson said. “So, I had to knock the rust was successful. “Getting back onto the field was a breath of fresh air,” Hayes off. I think at the beginning it was a little slow for everyone, Set up in one location, the KCL is unlike many other collesaid. “I realized how much I loved the sport. It was a good because of the time off. But we all kind of got back to our normal giate summer ball leagues. The founders took a situation like season. I did not start very well but around mid-season, I began selves.” COVID-19 and turned it into a positive for the players, staff and to figure things well.” Anderson had knocked off the rust by the KCL championship community according to Matt Durkin, the CornBelters’ direcStarting on July 1 and lasting until Aug. 9 the KCL brought on Aug. 9. Anderson was tasked with starting for the Bobcats tor of ticket sales. together players from the Midwest looking for a chance to against the CornBelters. “It definitely is an interesting concept,” Durkin said. “If you step on a diamond. Made up of four teams — CornBelters, Stepping onto the mound with a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the ask the players, they love the concept. Often traveling in colBobcats, Gems and Hoots — the KCL attracted players from first thanks to a pair of home runs, Anderson worked efficiently lege summer baseball is the worst part. I think eventually more ISU, Indiana University, Parkland, Illinois Wesleyan among to shut down the CornBelters through the first four innings areas will start to do this. Especially in Normal where we have others. while giving up just one run. such a hotbed of talent.” ISU pitcher Jack Anderson noted the level of competition. “I had all three of my pitches,” Anderson said. “I was The players echoed Durkin’s sentiment. “The thing that surprised me the most was how high the keeping hitters off-balanced. I was pounding the zone and competition was,” Anderson said. “We were there to be getting a lot of early outs. I was able to keep my pitches and JAKE SERMERSHEIM is a Sports Editor for The Vidette. He competitive and get better. Everyone wanted to win. With spot them.” can be contacted at vidette_jrserme@ilstu.edu. Follow SermCOVID, I didn’t know if people were trying to win or just But the CornBelters would not be down for long. ersheim on Twitter at @JakeSermersheim get better.”
D
KUSHNER From Page 8
“She was instrumental in our momentum during that match. I’m pretty sure she had the first three kills of the MVC final, and she helped us score at the end to bring it home,” Johnson recalled. “She’s the engine that never stops running and she refuses to be outworked.” With three more years of eligibility left as a Redbird, Sarah and Johnson have some lofty goals — both for herself and the entire program. “For the team, the goal will always be to win MVC regular season and the tournament. I would really like to see us also win the first and second round of the NCAA tournament and make the Sweet Sixteen. Of course, that’s going to be difficult, but with the right group of people and work ethic I’d like to think it’s possible,” Kushner said. “As for me, I just want to continue to grow in all aspects of myself — as a player, my skills, in my position, as a leader and teammate. I want to be a better person than I was when I came here and to discover myself. “As a competitor, Sarah wants to grow in her own role and expand on it. Everyone should have this goal — own your strengths and improve upon your weaknesses,” said Johnson. “With that kind of mindset, I know she will keep getting better and she will be driven to be her best. Sarah and her class will continue to elevate the whole team and push the envelope. With championship experience under her belt, she’ll be hungrier to return.”
SPORTS IN BRIEF Himmelman and Uphoff tabbed for Reese’s Bowl
Conference’s First-Team AllConference and All-Academic lists before being named an FCS ADA Academic All-Star. Uphoff earned third-team pre-
Illinois State University senior football standouts Drew Himmelman and Christian Uphoff were added to the 2021 Reese’s Senior Bowl Top 250 list on Thursday. The two Redbirds were among just 13 Football Championship Subdivision players chosen for the selective list, featuring the nation’s best collegiate senior football Courtesy of Illinois State Athletics athletes. Senior offensive tackle Drew Himmelman blocking during the 2019 season. The past few years, the Reese’s Senior Bowl “Watch List” has season All-America honors by included nearly 500 all-star players; HERO Sports FCS and has made however, given the nation’s current significant increases to his potenhealth climate and the postponetial draft stock with his big frame ment of numerous seasons, the orand athleticism. The Peoria native ganization cut the list almost in half started in 15 games at free safety to a “Top 250” format. for the Redbirds during the 2019 Himmelman, an offensive tackle season and ranked fourth overall for the Redbirds, was named a on the team with 70 total tackles. first-team All-American by HERO He tied for third on the squad Sports FCS and is considered with two interceptions and added to be one of the top FCS draft seven pass breakups to assist a prospects in his position. A nadominant defensive backfield for tive of Geneseo, Himmelman has the Redbirds. garnered first-team All-American The Reese’s Senior Bowl is the nahonors from the American Football tion’s most prestigious college allCoaches Association, STATS FCS star game, as it serves as the first and The Associated Press after step of the National Football League the Redbirds’ successful 2019 draft process for collegiate athletes. campaign. He was also added The Bowl has had 93 players total to the Missouri Valley Football — nearly 40% of the total draft in
the previous two years — and 40 selected in the first three rounds each of the past two years, including 10 first-round picks in the 2019 NFL draft. The 2021 Reese’s Senior Bowl is currently scheduled for Jan. 30, 2021 in Mobile, Alabama. The game will feature two complete NFL coaching staffs and over 900 credentialed NFL personnel.
Devin Taylor to transfer to Virginia Tech Illinois State University football’s defense is set to experience another loss on the defensive side of the ball. Senior cornerback Devin Taylor announced on Friday via his Twitter that he would transfer to Virginia Tech days after announcing he would enter the transfer portal. Former ISU offensive coordinator Justin Fuente is the head coach at VT. Last season, Taylor brought home Football Championship Subdivision third-team All-American honors and First-Team All-Conference. During his career as a Redbird,
Taylor racked up 118 tackles, nine interceptions and one sack.
Annual State Farm Holiday Classic canceled As the Illinois High School Association made regulations for the upcoming fall and winter sports seasons, the State Farm Holiday Classic announced via Twitter the cancellation of its annual tournament. “Classic Fans: As you’re likely aware, the IHSA has put in place strong restrictions on high school sports for the coming fall/winter season due to COVID-19 in an effort to keep students, athletes, coaches & fans healthy & safe. The restrictions make it impossible to host the 2020 State Farm Holiday Classic. The tournament’s organizing committee made a final decision this weekend and we informed our participating schools today.” The tournament’s organizing committee made the final decision over the weekend, deciding to maintain health and safety during the pandemic.
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PAGE 8 | THE VIDETTE
Sports
Positives a negative for ISU Spike in cases results in cancellation of fall practices JAKE FOGAL Sports Editor |
While fall sports athletic seasons were suspended last week, participating teams’ practices have now also been cut at Illinois State University. Thirty-one studentathletes have reportedly tested positive in the latest round of COVID-19 tests. With the rise in cases, Illinois State Athletics has suspended activities due to six sports having positive tests. “The 31 positive tests were clustered in football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, volleyball, soccer and the track teams,” said ISU Athletic Director Larry Lyons. The only sports that Vidette Archive did not produce a positive result were baseball, The Illinois State University football team during the 2019 season. Last week all Illinois State Athletic practices were shut down due to a high number of positive COVID-19 tests. softball, golf, tennis and swimming and diving. The only sport being are isolating per university guidelines at their in two months,” said Lyons. allowed to continue with workouts is track due permanent home, in their off-campus apart“We believe the exposures came from comto practices not being set to begin until Aug. ment or in designated on-campus housing demunity spread most likely off-campus and also 23. pending upon their individual circumstances,” from student-athletes congregating together “We didn’t suspend the track teams because said Lyons. without knowing there was a contagious person they were not scheduled to start workouts until The rise in COVID-19 cases comes as the uni- in the group.” next week. We will review the status of each versity has increased testing sites on campus Positive tests over the summer were just 1% team as we learn more from contact tracing with the fall semester starting Monday. while the most recent spike makes up 11% of this week and next week,” said Lyons. Over the summer season, cases remained those tested. As 31 student-athletes have now caught the low for Redbird athletics. virus, Lyons explains the guidelines they are “We were having really clean test results all JAKE FOGAL is a Sports Editor for The Vinow set to follow. summer but spiked with our most recent tests. dette. He can be contacted at vidette_jpfoga1@ “Each of the individuals who tested positive Up to this point we had only nine positive tests ilstu.edu. Follow Fogal on Twitter at @jfogal5.
“We were having really clean test results all summer but spiked with our most recent tests. Up to this point we had only nine positive tests in two months.” Larry Lyons, ISU Athletic Director
Sarah Kushner uses size to her advantage RACHEL HICKEY Sports Reporter | @r_hickey15
With her decision to play Division I volleyball, Kushner continued a sort of family rom early on in her legacy, as she is the athletic career, Ilsixth in her family to linois State University play at that level. In sophomore Sarah Kushner addition, Kushner knew she would always be also has cousins who shorter than her competiswim at the Division tors. Measuring in at 5 feet I level, and her father 10 inches, Kushner’s height played basketball at falls well below the average multiple universities. Division I outside hitter — “I pretty much typically over 6 feet tall. grew up watching my However, despite her cousins compete in genetic disadvantage, Kushner sports. They’ve taught spent much of her career develme a lot about the reoping her skills and altering her cruitment process and training methods to turn her what it takes to play at height into her greatest asset the top level. I think on the court. I’ve had a ball of some “In club, I used to get upset sort in my hands since about the height thing,” Kushner Photo Courtesy Illinois State Athletics birth,” Kushner said. confessed. “It just seemed like Illinois State University sophomore Sarah Kushner rising for a hit against Bradley on The sophomore is in they didn’t have to try as hard to Nov. 1, 2019. The Redbirds would lose in the fifth set to the Braves. the process of building score. One day, my coach told her own legacy here at me to stop complaining about it ball control player, which helps From Kushner’s perspective, ISU. During the 2019 campaign, and work to use it to my advantage. her see how her size measures up choosing ISU was easy. Despite Kushner broke into the Redbirds’ Those words stuck with me.” to her competitors to make her never hearing of Illinois State record books, tallying 37 service Kushner spent the rest of her strong defensively.” University before they contacted aces — the third most by a freshprep career focusing in on her con“When I first started coaching her, the young talent felt perfectly man in program history. tact skills, ball control and direct at ISU, I needed a strong sixth at home on the campus and fell in The outside hitter was also hitting. Illinois State volleyball rotation player. I needed a tough love with what the coach and team named to the Missouri Valley Conhead coach Leah Johnson noticed player who can handle themselves stood for. ference All-Tournament Team after these skills, and they played a well on the court — someone The process was “not stressgetting the Redbirds off to a strong large role in her recruitment. who wouldn’t get pushed around. ful at all” as the coaches gave her start in their championship victory “Sarah is one of the best ball When I found Sarah and watched the appropriate time and space over Northern Iowa last fall. control players in the entire her practice, I knew she was going to contemplate one of the biggest conference, not just our team,” asto be a great fit.” decisions of her life. See KUSHNER on Page 7 serted Johnson. “She’s just a great
F
TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2020
Glimmer of hope for Redbirds amid losses MY VIEW JAKE FOGAL | Sports Editor
A
ll eyes have moved forward with desire to witness the starting kickoff of Illinois State University football in the chilly spring air. Between now and then, bumps will and have already happened. Two of those bumps act as giant Illinois potholes on ISU’s defensive side of the football. Seniors Romeo McKnight and Devin Taylor have transferred from Redbird football. Names that have earned the respect of Redbird fans over the years look elsewhere to compete this fall. Not with disdain toward ISU, but instead a desire to suit up for a team anticipating football action throughout the fall semester. McKnight and Taylor each announced their decision to enter the transfer portal via Twitter. Summing up his feelings, McKnight ended his transfer tweet by saying, “I am ready to play football.” Following in his fellow senior’s footsteps, Taylor issued a statement as well, “I’d like to thank everyone involved at Illinois State University for my time spent in Normal. With the season being canceled I will be entering the transfer portal to explore all my options.” Taylor quickly found a new home in Virginia Tech, which is coached by former ISU offensive coordinator Justin Fuente. With the two phenomenal defenders, the Redbirds had a chance to succeed further than last year’s incredible defense, which allowed only 16.0 points per game. Without the two stars, a successful defensive campaign is still achievable. While both players will be tough to replace, a deep depth-chart allows breathing room for Redbird fans. Steven Podkulski, John Ridgeway and Jason Lewan are a few names who could transition into McKnight’s role for ISU. Leaving a large hole on the defensive line will be challenging to fill, but a collected effort can solve the loss of the transferred senior. Podkulski and Lewan each disrupted opposing quarterbacks last season, combining for nine sacks. Ridgeway played a significant role in the rush defense for the Redbirds, accumulating 50 tackles. Returning senior cornerback Charles Woods reassures the secondary but filling Taylor’s position seems to fall to senior Jarrell Jackson and sophomore Iverson Brown. Jackson’s stats from a year totaled four tackles and a forced fumble, while Iverson had 17 tackles and a pass breakup. As the two seniors flock elsewhere, leadership should not be difficult to find. Defensive back Christian Uphoff seemed to be trending up after a 70 tackle, two interception junior season. Linebackers Dylan Draka and Zeke Vandenburgh each had stellar 2019 campaigns, undoubtedly capable of raising the bar come springtime. Fall usually is a time for football, and as we wait these months in between today and Redbird football come spring, the always seemingly dependable Redbird defense will have no trouble adjusting to its new environment. JAKE FOGAL is a Sports Editor for The Vidette. He can be contacted at vidette_jpfoga1@ilstu.edu. Follow Fogal on Twitter at @jfogal5.