REDBIRDS RUN PAST DRAKE ON DOUG COLLINS NIGHT
PROFESSORS’ ADVICE FOR TRUMP’S AMERICA
SPORTS 8
FEATURES 6
Check out the Taste of Redbirds photo gallery on videtteonline.com MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2017
Vol. 129 / No. 34
ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSIT Y’S NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1888
Julie Jones
John Rauschenberger
Sharon Rossmark
Rauner appoints 3 new board members Attorney Julie Jones, business owner John Rauschenberger, AeroVista Innovations Chief Operating Officer Sharon Rossmark will fill the vacacted spots on the Board of Trustees STEPHANIE RODRIGUEZ News Reporter | @StephanieRoddd
G
ov. Bruce Rauner named three new members to the Illinois State University Board of Trustees Friday to fill the three vacant spots left by Jay D. Bergman, Anne Davis and Betty Kinser. It was unclear when the governor was going to appoint the new members, as Assistant Director of Media Relations Rachel Hatch explained, though it was expected to happen sometime this month. Rauner named attorney Julie Jones, former ISU football player and current consulting firm owner John Rauschenberger and Chief Operating Officer of AeroVista Innovations av iation f ir m Sharon Rossmark as the newest members to the board. The Illinois Senate approves each trustee who then hold appointments of six years,
after which they have the option to apply for reappointment. Hatch said she knew Rauner would pick ISU alums who possess the enthusiasm and drive required to hold a seat at the table. “[Board members] are here for every commencement ceremony and for Founders Day. We have quarterly meetings which they come to — and they come from all over state to be here,” Hatch said. “They try to be as involved as they can and they serve on committees. So it’s a big ask for somebody to do that for a long period of time.” “You want someone who is going to be actively interested in Illinois State, you want someone who is going to believe in the university and want to help it,” Hatch said. Farewells to the trio leaving the board were said this month during the quarterly board meeting. Hatch said each member
who departed brought different and helpful perspectives during their time and assisted in making the university what it is today. “[Bergman] is a business man, so we have gotten an incredible amount of business acumen and input that we can use, that we’ve been able to use,” Hatch said. “Any large purchases and any land that is sold goes through the board. (It) approved Hancock Stadium, the Alumni Center and the State Farm Hall of Business. He has been able to give a businessman’s input on them.” The Board of Trustees consists of the seven governor-appointed members and one student trustee voted in by the his or her peers. Senior Ryan Powers currently holds that position and said he enjoyed working with the members who left the board this month. “As a student it can be overwhelming
working with a body with this kind of power and authority. However, these members helped me feel comfortable during the meetings and respected the viewpoints I had,” Powers said. “It has been a great to get to know these members and have the chance to work with them. Without a doubt the board will not be the same without them.” Hatch said the transition of members will hopefully run smoothly. Each new member appointed is willingly, volunteering their time to help their alma mater succeed and the university is ready to start this new phase. “I’m excited to help the new people learn all the great things and catch them up to speed on what’s going on since the last time they were here,” Hatch said. For more information on the Board of Trustees, visit IllinoisState.edu/Trustees.
Still no plans for Illinois budget With lawmakers meeting Wednesday in Springfield, many wonder if funding will be passed KEVIN SCHWALLER Senior News Reporter | @kevschwa
There is still no set plan to resolve Illinois’ budget crisis, almost one month into the new year. Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) and Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) told the Chicago Tribune that a compromise budget deal will get a Senate vote Wednesday, but it is unknown whether the House will consider the deal. “We’re not negotiating with the
House or the governor,” Cullerton told the Chicago Tribune. “We’re trying to see if we can get a bill out of one chamber. If this passes, I would hope that the speaker and [House Republican leader Jim] Durkin would replicate our efforts and pass their own agreed bill and then we could reconcile those two so we could send something to the governor.” The Senate plan includes six new casinos, borrowing $7 billion to pay down debt, a statewide minimum wage hike to $11 an hour in the next five years and a one cent-per-ounce tax on sugary drinks like soda, juice and tea.
Among state agencies and institutions, higher education has taken a hit without state funding since 2015. Illinois State University Chief of Staff Jay Groves said he hopes the differences between Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives Michael Madigan and Gov. Bruce Rauner, another block on a budget plan, can be pushed aside to focus on agreement. “The contentiousness between those two has been keeping a full budget from being passed in the last two years, so hopefully the legislatures can push that contentiousness aside and work towards a full budget for higher education, instead of the stopgap measures,” Groves said. “There are a lot of challenges facing the General Assembly,” Groves said. “We have a lot of big economic challenges and political
Photo Illustration by Emma Horath | Senior Photographer
The State of Illinois has not had a budget since 2015. challenges to overcome.” Cullerton said in a press conference the political parties need to
come together to finally settle the budget. see BUDGET page 2
PAGE 2 | NEWS | THE VIDETTE
STAFF LIST Editor in Chief
Ave Rio News Editors
Ema Sasic Mary Cullen
MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2017
Lawmakers reassess Obamacare ANDREW DOUGHERTY News Reporter | @addough
Features Editor
Deb Bethel Josh Tolentino Beth Geistlinger Photo Editors
Jenna Kadziulis Kelly McNamara Night Editors
Anya Malley Brigid Ackerman Social Media Manager
Bret Farrell Art Director
Nicholas Buegel Ad Sales Manager
Kevin Rizzo Ad Production Manager
Evan Morris Business Manager
Zach Oldenburg Office Manager
Maddillon Kenney Marketing Team Manager
Charlie Goodyear Web Editor
Caleb Boma Business Adviser
Madeline Smith General Manager
John Plevka
With President Donald Trump in office, Republican lawmakers across the nation are hoping he fulfills one of his main campaign promises: repealing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Republican lawmakers in the U.S. Senate began the process of dismantling the Affordable Care Act last week through a process known as budget reconciliation. By using the process of budget reconciliation, House and Senate Republicans can cut funding for the existing health care law by simply cutting down revenue for the law in the annual budget without needing Democratic votes. Although Republicans at the national and state level are beginning the process of repealing the law, no replacement health care plan has been introduced. “I agree that there are some significant problems with the existing law, but given that the Republican leadership has not provided a replacement plan, I think it’s a bad idea to repeal it without one,” GianMario Besana, associate provost for global engagement and online learning at DePaul University, said. “The economic and political backlash will be quite significant if the Republican leadership in Washington and in Illinois do not find an adequate replacement.” Repealment of Obamacare will leave
FRI. THURS. WED. TUES. MON.
Sports Editors
Photo Illustration by Jenna Kadziulis | Vidette Photo Editor
President Donald Trump plans on making many changes while in office. Repealing and replacing Obamacare is one of them. 24 million people without health insurance if a new plan is not put in place. “My dad is small business owner and since Obamacare was implemented we’ve had to reduce the amount of people we employ because of it,” fashion merchandise major Michelle Anderson said. “But I think leaving so many people without insurance is a pretty bad thing to do, especially if they can’t afford it.” Dick Durbin, the senior U.S. Senator from Illinois, said 1.2 million people in the state will lose insurance without a replacement. “I don’t think it would be a very smart move on the Republican party’s side to remove the existing law and not offer a replacement,” Maria Schmeeckle, associate professor of sociology, said. “Midterm elections are in two years and if they don’t find a solution to this, the political ramifications
$5 Domestic Pitchers $3 Fireball Lunch Special: Ribeye Steak Sandwich $2 Domestic Longnecks $3 Rail Calls $3 Imports and Micro Brews Lunch Special: Reuben $1 Tacos (3pm-9pm) $5 Bud Family Pitchers $4 Vodka & Redbull $4 Bombs Lunch Special: Pork Tenderloin
could be massive.” “I’m curious to see if Congress keeps the more popular provisions of the law, such as children under the age of 26 being able to stay under their parent’s health insurance and the coverage of those with pre-existing conditions,” Besana said. “Sen. Rand Paul stated last week that he had a replacement plan ready to be implemented but so far we have not seen anything from him. President Trump has also said he has a plan, but has not given out any specifics.” Republicans said they want to eliminate a contentious and major provision of the law that requires individuals to buy insurance or face a fine. Republicans are facing internal disagreements on how to pay for any replacement, in particular the Freedom Caucus, which is an extremely fiscal group of congressional lawmakers who refuse to enact any law that would raise the debt ceiling.
COUPON
$
The Vidette
8.99
HAIRCUT WALK RIGHT IN! COUPON
continued from page 1
“I think that the only way to solve our problems is to do it in a bipartisan fashion,” Cullerton explained. “I’ve been ver y encouraged by the work we’ve done so far.” State Senator Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) told WJBC he is unsure when the budget will finalize. “I don’t know if we will [pass a budget] or not,” Brady said to WJBC. “The key for higher [education] will be perception as much as anything. If we can pass a budget that gives them the foundation that they can build on, that will be huge.” Groves said ISU had some cutbacks, but overall remains in a good place despite federal funding. “We have high enrollment, we have low debt, we have frugal spending. We have left vacant more than 120 positions that were nonfaculty positions that were created through retirements or resignations,” Groves said. “We have slowed down some of our construction and maintenance projects that are nonsafety related so we’ve been spending very carefully. We believe that we are in a position to keep going strong and to keep providing the topnotch education that our students deserve.” Along with the Senate vote, Rauner will give his annual State of the State address Wednesday. Kevin Schwaller is a senior news reporter for The Vidette and can be reached at kschwal@ilstu.edu. Follow him on Twitter @kevschwa.
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
The Vidette is published Monday and Thursday every week, except for final examinations, holidays, and semester breaks. The Summer Vidette is published every other week. Students are responsible for the content of year. © The Vidette 2016 the Vidette. The views presented do University & Locust / Campus Box not necessarily represent, in whole 0890 / Normal, IL 61761–0890 or part, those of the Illinois State
CAMPUS: Main St Between Mcdonalds & Buff. Wild Wings NORMAL EAST: Veterans Parkway in front of Walmart NORMAL NORTH: Main & Raab By Moe's and new Schnucks Expires 5/20/2017
BUDGET
VID899
$2 Domestic Bottles $3 J.P. Wisers Rye Whiskey $3 Sailor Jerry Lunch Special: Ham & Cheese
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
$3 Jack Daniels $2.50 Keeper Cup $2.75 Corona and Corona Lite Lunch Special: Cod Sandwich
42 Low 32 Precip 10%
46 Low 37 Precip 20%
39 Low 28 Precip 40%
32 Low 23 Precip 10%
Patio Open & Margarita Specials Everyday! 102 N. Linden St. | 309.452.0699
High
High
High
‘
High
THE VIDETTE | NEWS | PAGE 3
MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2017
Trump address ‘shed less of an optimistic tone’ than others The new president aims to put ‘America first,’ remember the ‘forgotten’ EMA SASIC News Editor | @Ema_Sasic
Following President Donald Trump’s inauguration Friday in the nation’s capital, many are noting a different tone emerged throughout his address compared to previous ones. “It was unusual insofar as it shed less of an optimistic tone than most inaugural addresses typically do,” Joseph Blaney, associate dean for research, facilities and IT, said. “It talked about what he had planned and improvements that he’s going to talk about, but he appeared to, particularly early in the speech, dwell on what he believed had gone wrong in the prev ious administration and sor t of accusatory in tone in terms of neglect of a large segment of the population.” One line, “The forgotten men and women of our country will be forgotten no longer,” as Blaney pointed out, was delivered as a sort of “backhand promise of improvement.” “Essentially, everyone beforehand hasn’t cared about you, and only he’s cared about them,” he said. “It doesn’t matter which party, he’s going to be cleaning this up.” Blaney noted the real theme and takeaway of Trump’s address was American economic autonomy. This was made evident when Trump said, “From this moment on, it’s going to be America First. Every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs, will be made
MALLORY LOVINGS News Reporter | @MalloryLovings
Illustration by Nicholas Buegel | Vidette Art Director
to benefit American workers and American families. We must protect our borders from the ravages of other countries making our products, stealing our companies, and destroying our jobs.” “He actually uses the word ‘protect’ in an economic sense ... which is that you place tariffs on products coming into the country, and when he uses the word protect in America First, what it seems to me is he’s clearly signaling that in terms of the world economic order, products coming into America are going to have tariffs placed on them and presumably making produces of American products, giving them
more of an advantage in terms of commerce in our country.” Blaney added it is not uncommon for inaugural addresses to be short on details, and Trump did not explicitly state how American companies, jobs and products would be put first or protected. In terms of whether a more presidential Trump emerged during the inaugural address, Blaney said his speech “signaled that he’s still in campaign mode.” “In a speech like this, I think he should have taken the opportunity to say how he’s going to move us forward, but there appeared to be those backhanded compliments that served as political
attacks which are a bit unusual in an inaugural address,” he said. Overall, he would give the speech a high grade for clarity, but a lower one in terms of inspiration and vision. “In terms of the literar y beauty of the speech, it certainly doesn’t compare w ith the words of John F. Kennedy and whatever assistance he may have had from Robert Frost,” Blaney said. “I think it was a clearly written speech; it laid out his priorities and his themes for his presidency. I think he made that abundantly clear, but I can’t say that it was particularly inspirational.”
Taco Bell ranks high on health after menu updates DYLAN STEVENS News Reporter | @Dkstevens12
Beat winter blues with Winterfest
it’s best for people to try and eat a variety of foods from all the food groups, with the overall diet Taco Bell has been recognized being relatively low in fat — paras one of the healthiest fast food ticularly saturated fats, low in chains in America. added sugars and salt — with lots Over the past several months, of whole grains, fruits and vegeTaco Bell has been changing its tables,” Almeda said. “Most fast menu simply by adding in healthier food often is higher in fat and options. This has gotten the attenespecially higher in sodium.” tion of consumers, who in turn Almeda agrees that Taco Bell choose Taco Bell over other places may be part of an overall healthy based off its healthy alternatives. diet but would not recommend Some of these healthy options eating there every day or more include the new Fresco tacos, often than making home cooked which are less than 360 calories meals. and have over 10 grams of protein Jon Jenkins, franchisee of Taco in each. Bell, said he is glad to be part of a This change is due to Taco healthy fast food chain, claiming Bell’s dietitian, Missy Nelson. On it has been its “secret” to success. its website, Taco Bell highlights “Many consumers haven’t realNelson for her hard work in fixing ized the extensive options we the company’s image. Nelson has provide in order to accommodate worked with several nutrition their requests for healthier meals experts to help reconstruct Taco — options such as being able to Bell’s menu to benefit the commuEmma Horath | Senior Photographer substitute cheese and dairy prodnity rather than itself. ucts,” Jenkins said. “Along with Many college students’ favorite snack stop, Taco Bell, has been noted as Julie Dostal, a registered dieti- one of the healthies fast food chains in America. having 100 percent caged-free tian in Bloomington, has more eggs in the breakfast menu items. would result in more business for that spethan 30 years of experience in We also have fixed our vegetariannutrition and educating others on how to eat cific company.” friendly menu. Basically any item on the menu Dostal is also fully supportive of Taco Bell’s can be tailored to their request.” right. Many people were happy to see healthy new Fresco tacos, saying, “Based off of their alternatives on the menu. Jenkins highlighted that Taco Bell actively Upon being told that Taco Bell has gone nutritional facts, they are low-fat and low- participates with its producers and works healthier, Dostal was not surprised. She calorie, which is crucial to being considered with the Drug Enforcement Administration believes it is inevitable that fast food restau- a ‘healthy food.’” to maintain safe foods and hopes to continue Jim Almeda, who has been the Health Pro- its mission for healthier meals in the future. rants will go healthier. “There’s a trend within the food industry motion and Wellness coordinator at Illinois that people go to restaurants because they State University for over 23 years, had a dif- Dylan Stevens is a news reporter for The Vidette. want to be seen as healthy, and I believe that ferent view on Taco Bell’s “healthy” look. Questions regarding this story may be directed “What is ‘healthy’ when it comes to food to dkstev1@ilstu.edu. Follow him on Twitter many places have changed in order to provide that healthy alternative,” Dostal said. “This choices is up for debate. In general though, @Dkstevens12.
Illinois State University is hosting Winterfest to allow students the opportunity to get more involved on campus from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Brown Ballroom in the Bone Student Center. The event is similar to Festival ISU, which is held at the beginning of the fall semester on the Quad. Multiple Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) will attend to show off their group to potential members. “Winterfest allows the Spanish Club to share with the ISU students a little bit of the various events that we have throughout the year,” President of the ISU Spanish Club Marcy Olague said. “Our participation includes a table with a stand that provides the members the opportunity to advertise the club.” Students who attend the event are able to get more information on the club they are interested in and also sign up to possibly join the organization. Some organizations, like Her Campus, are participating in Winterfest for the first time this year, and Editor-in-Chief Katie Sall said members expect Winterfest to draw a lot of attention to the organization just like Festival ISU did. “Winterfest helps RSOs like Her Campus humanize what we do, and I love it for that,” Sall said. “It’s amazing to see all of the extracurricular things that our peers do together in one place.” Olague said when comparing Winterfest to Festival ISU, she sees it being more focused on certain organizations around campus, whereas Festival ISU brings in a larger crowd and is more known. “I believe that Winterfest is helpful to recruit new members, however, the event is too soon which might affect students’ attendance,” Olague said. “When students come back from break they are concerned about finding their classes, purchasing books and settling down after coming back from vacation, therefore the event might not have enough advertisement.” Whether the event will be successful for RSOs, Sall said the event is helping her RSO in more than just recruiting. “This definitely helps us grow together and prepare for a new semester with our growing team,” Sall said. “Throughout this event we have been brainstorming and bonding together which has helped us set some really solid goals.” Students have the chance to beat the winter blues and discover campus life. For more information, visit the Dean of Students website. Mallory Lovings is a news reporter for The Vidette. Questions regarding this story may be directed to mloving@ilstu.edu. Follow her on Twitter @MalloryLovings.
Viewpoint
PAGE 4 | THE VIDETTE
VIDETTE EDITORIAL
MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2017
Obstructionism and partisanship not the answer
F
o l l o w i n g Bill Clinton’s election in 1992, congressional Republican leaders Bob Dole and Newt Gingrich paved the way for modern obstructionism in American politics. The strategy is relatively simple and has been utilized in democracies across the world for hundreds of years: delay legislation by leveraging the complex procedures of the House and Senate, reject compromise at nearly every turn and hope that the ensuing inaction helps fuel dissatisfaction that helps win back seats in midterm elections. This obstructionism seemed to be one of the hallmarks of the Obama presidency. With Republicans delaying everything from budget hearings to Supreme Court nominee confirmation hearings, government ceased operating. To make matters worse, Obama’s deft maneuvering around Congress by way of executive actions greatly strengthened the executive branch of government and showcased loopholes that could be extremely dangerous for separation of powers. As with anything in government, the exact source of this obstructionism is debatable. Many argue that the rise of farright conservative grassroots movements placed immense
pressure on Republican lawmakers to avoid any semblance of compromise or negotiation with Obama. A great example of this can be found in the case of Richard Shelby, Alabama senator and chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs. After that committee refused to confirm any Obama appointee within the Treasury Department for a staggering 14 months, Shelby admitted openly that he could not be seen as approving an Obama nominee during a re-
election year. While there are absolutely some legitimate gripes to be had with Obama’s actions to circumvent Congress on issues, how could the man have been blamed given the behavior of lawmakers such as Shelby? Now, the script has been flipped and the Republican Party, shockingly, controls the White House, House and Senate. Still reeling from the devastating loss of Hillary Clinton in November, the Democratic Party seems to have already adopted
the destructive tactics embraced by Republicans. Just two weeks ago Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer explicitly warned Republicans that the Democrats would be willing to delay Trump cabinet nominee confirmation hearings by reading a letter that current Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell wrote in 2009 which essentially said the exact same thing. Given the controversy surrounding Donald Trump, such behavior is understandable, if
Editorial Cartoon by Ashley Brown | Vidette Editorial Cartoonist
not disappointing. It would seem that even after eight years of political fighting that has deeply divided the nation and allowed for the ascent of a demagogue to the presidential office, legislators have yet to see how destructive hyperpartisan politics have become. There once was a time when politicians would have set aside their ideological differences without thought when threats to the nation were grave enough. Trump and his cabinet selections’ ethical issues, Russian meddling in November’s election and the growing threat posed by climate change would seem to qualify as such threats. Democrats — and America at large — would be well suited to learn from the damage inflicted from eight years of obstructionism and partisanship. While it may be incredibly difficult to compromise with a GOP that seems perpetually stuck 50 years in the past, the accrual of political capital, or lack thereof, could prove to be crucial should Congress need to check the powers of the presidency or respond to more foreign provocation. After White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer’s combative press conference this past weekend, such time may be coming much quicker than even the biggest pessimists had anticipated.
Editorial written by TOM HEAGNEY, 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.
GO TO VIDETTEONLINE.COM TO VOTE!
ONLINE POLL
?
What changes would you like to see on campus?
2017 should be the year of change at ISU MY VIEW EMA SASIC | Columnist
T
he start of any new year allows each of us to consider changes we should make in our lives. Whether that be aimed toward career goals, health, relationships or other goals, January is a time to reflect on what could have gone better the previous year and how to improve over the next 12 months. While we all have our personal goals, I think 2017 is as good a time as any for Illinois State University to do a little bit of soulsearching as well. Now don’t get me wrong, I’ve grown to enjoy my home away from home and appreciate all it
has to offer. There’s always something available for everyone here and that’s one of the things that makes ISU so special. However, that doesn’t mean there’s not any room for improvement. The university has served us well for as long as we’ve been here, but each new class brings with it growing needs, and this junior has put a lot of thought into what I’d like to see offered in this new year and beyond. One area on campus that seems to be deserving of some major improvements is Centennial East and West. I’ve only been there a handful of times, and in just those few short visits I was left unimpressed. Most buildings on campus have their own charm and unique features, but I’m not completely sure that’s present in those two. Fell Hall has its northern point, Williams Hall has a classic, elegant balcony and Schroeder Hall is a never ending maze with hallways
that seem to stretch for miles, but that all adds to its character. What sticks out for Centennial East and West? Not much. The exterior and interior need some work done. Aside from location, location, location, a building should look inviting, so a nice coat of paint would do wonders. The inside should also reflect the eventful nature of the building. The School of Music and School of Theatre and Dance make their homes in Centennial East and West, respectively, which means there’s always music and dialogue taking place. The walls and rooms should show that and accommodate for the liveliness. Not only will students that frequent the building on a regular basis appreciate it, but it’ll add to ISU’s overall charm. I’m a huge fan of entertainment. Whether it be movies, TV shows or music, I’m usually one of the first people all over it. ISU is a pretty popular school in the state, but I
REDBIRD RUMBLE or FUMBLE Redbird Rumble:
To the Town of Normal for the ongoing construction of One Uptown on the circle in Uptown Normal. The five-story building is expected to be complete by October.
have to say I’ve been disappointed the last three years in terms of which celebrities come visit us. For starters, country isn’t the only music genre that interests college students. So why is it that we have so many country artists play shows for us? Other schools in the state have a wide variety of musical acts come and visit them each year, so why do we get pretty much the same performance show after show? To each their own, but it’s time to stop forcing country so much. Let’s branch out and bring a little bit of everything to Normal. We have a large enough student body that fairly popular artists would love coming out here and performing for us. We also have some well-known alumni who I think should have an “Inside the Actors Studio”-type of program here. Film and TV actors John Malkovich, Jane Lynch, Craig Robinson and Sean Hayes are among some of the celebs to
have come from ISU who can offer so much insight into acting and life after college for students. Plus, think of all the fun stories they have to share about life on the big screen. This is something I’d love to see happen before I graduate, and I’d definitely attend every single show. Of course, money is an issue when it comes to making improvements, especially at a university, but if students voice their opinions on what they’d like to see changed or offered at their school, those ideas might come to fruition faster. Talk to faculty and staff members, and who knows, we might start seeing some more famous faces around here. Ema Sasic is a junior journalism major and news editor and columnist for The Vidette. Any questions or comments regarding her column can be sent to vidette_esasic@ ilstu.edu. Follow her on Twitter at @ema_sasic.
Compiled by The Vidette Editorial Board
?
Redbird Rumble or Fumble? To Illinois lawmakers for consider-
ing a tax on sugary drinks. The proposed bill would tax any drink with five or more grams of sugar. It is estimated the tax would produce about $560 million for Illinois.
THE VIDETTE | NEWS | PAGE 5
MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2017
Fluctuating weather not a concern CASSIE MCNEILL News Reporter | @165_Cassie1
Anna Gallagher | Vidette Photographer
Check tire treads before driving in winter for extended periods of time.
Tips to drive safe in winter
W
hether living close to campus or a hop, skip and a leap away, many students drive to and from home numerous times throughout the semester. Driving in the winter months can be intimidating due to ice, snow and cold temperatures. Here are a few helpful safety tips to make sure every trip runs smoothly.
Have your car checked prior to any long highway trip One of the many issues people run into while driving for long periods of time is their car breaking down on the highway — an extremely dangerous and hazardous situation to be in. To avoid such circumstances, bring your car into a local auto repair shop such as Auto Motion, Owen Tire & Auto or Tuffy Tire and Auto Service. All are located in the Bloomington area.
Dramatic weather changes in the last year have sparked concern across the country and right here in Bloomington-Normal, specifically during the winter season. The recent weather in Illinois is “quite unusual for this time of year,” Lincoln National Weather Ser vice Meteorologist Chuck Schaffer said. Schaffer explained that it is common for the TV station to get calls about the extreme weather. Callers ask why the weather has drastically changed from being snowy and freezing in January to now in the high 50s. He attributed the sudden change in the weather to climate change. “Climate change tends to make the extreme weather more likely,” Schaffer said.
“Climate change is real, but some people are more concerned about it than I am.” James R. Carter
Pack an emergency kit Be prepared for any situation when driving. This includes the possibility of being stranded on the side of the road for a few hours. Pack an emergency kit with water bottles, snacks (canned foods, granola bars), a battery-operated phone charger and a couple warm blankets.
Drive the speed limit For those who drive home frequently, especially toward the Chicago area during the winter, the highway can be an extremely dangerous place. Illinois State senior physics and geology major Alan Morales drove home to North Chicago approximately five times this winter. “If you must drive to the Chicago area, and there’s snow, ice or even rain falling just don’t drive over the speed limit. Most turns on (Interstate 55) are banked and are designed to keep a car on the road even if it’s completely covered in ice, but go 10 [miles per hour] slower to be sure,” Morales said.
Test your tires Beginning a long drive without proper tires is never a good idea. A good way to find if tires are fit to withstand the drive is to use the “Penny Trick” to test the tire tread. Tread helps give tires traction to grip the road. Without them, it can be a slippery slope. Simply insert a penny into the tire’s tread groove with Lincoln’s head upside down and facing you. If all of Lincoln’s head is visible, the tread depth is less than 2/32 of an inch and it is time to replace those tires.
Do not accelerate when changing lanes We are all guilty of this at one point or another. Speeding up when trying to switch lanes is a dangerous mistake to make during winter. “When driving, don’t hit the gas when changing lane. Stay way behind trucks and other large vehicles because of the ice/snow on their roofs and have at least five seconds behind every vehicle,” Morales said. COMPILED BY CASSIE MCNEILL | NEWS REPORTER
Professor emeritus of geographygeology
A study done by the University of Illinois in 2014 showed that people pay more attention to the effects of climate change after long-term climate f luctuations (one month to a year) as opposed to short term (day by day). “Climate change is real, but some people are more concerned about it than I am,” Illinois State University professor emeritus of geography-geology James R. Carter said. “The weather hasn’t really changed much. It is more that each of us has our own idea on what is normal when it comes to the weather.” Schaffer explained that the location of Illinois brings in different weather patterns from all sides of the country. “Due to the fact that we are in the middle part of the country, we are more vulnerable to the dif ferent ex treme weathers (coming in from either sides of the country). It’s more about the geography and our placement on the map.” Carter, who retired in 2005 after 15 years of teaching at ISU, elaborated more on the fact that if the unpredictable weather was
to continue to get worse, farmers in the state will be primarily affected. “Farmers would need to be concerned about what crops to grow and not to grow according to the new weather change, which would ultimately affect the world and trade system.” According to NASA.gov, the current warming trend is of particular significance because most of it is very likely humaninduced and proceeding at a rate that is unprecedented in the past 1,300 years. “Greenhouse gas emissions are the main cause and anything people can do to limit it can help make an impact like carpooling,”
Schaffer said. Carter looks to building energy efficient machines as well as limiting the use of automobiles as a way to start moving in a positive direction. “There are other competing sources to generator power other than oil. First, we must focus on automobiles though. They are a great consumer of a lot of energy. Ask yourselves: Do I really need to take this trip?” Carter said. Cassie McNeill is a news reporter for The Vidette and can be reached at cjmcnei@ilstu.edu. Follow her on Twitter @165_Cassie1.
MONDAY
Burger Baskets:
$1.50 Dometsic Bottles $2.50 Fireball $3.00 Whiskey Monday
$2.00 Single Basket $3.50 Double Basket
TUESDAY
Mon-Fri 5 pm - 9pm Sunday 12pm - 6pm
$1.75 20 OZ Rolling Rock $2.00 Import/ Mirco bottles $2.00 Well & UV flavors
WEDNESDAY
21 & Over After 6 pm
102 S. Linden St. Normal, IL 61761 (309) 452-7393
Photo Illustration by Emma Horath | Senior Photographer
Despite concerns, weather changes are normal this time of year.
BAR & GRILL
$1.25 Domestic Bottles $2.50 Vegas Bombs $3.00 Top Shelf & Bombs
Features
PAGE 6 | THE VIDETTE
MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2017
Keep optimism in mind for Trump’s America Professors advise to stay positive, unified for the next four years EMILY GRIFFITH Features Reporter | @emilygriffy
Record-breaking millions of Americans gathered throughout the nation either in justice, solidarity, pride or fear to protest Donald Trump the day after his inauguration. The main event, the Women’s March on Washington, along with many of the “sister marches” around the nation and world, advocated not only for women’s rights, but also for different political priorities in response to Trump’s initial victory and later his inauguration. Despite the debate over whether the march was a moment or movement for its political impact on the Trump administration, it is a new day and the country must move forward to continue its success. “Remember, just because you disagree with someone, that doesn’t make them your enemy,” Illinois State University politics and government assistant professor Kerri Milita said. “Both sides want what is best for this country. There are simply different visions for how to get there. Talk to each other … Be civil. Find common ground. We’re all Americans.” With empirical research showing new presidents having a more successful rating with Congress during their first 100 days — and now having a unified Republican government — Milita said students can expect President Trump to potentially act fast on his campaign promises.
Illustration by Nicholas Buegel | Vidette Art Director
Politics and government assistant professor Lawrence Zigerell Jr. also said students should first expect to see new policy and staff that the president has authority over to change from former President Barack Obama’s
preferences to President Trump’s. Zigerell gave the example of when former President Ronald Reagan had instituted a policy called the Mexico City Policy. After later being overturned by former President Bill Clinton, then reinstated by former President George W. Bush and later overturned for a second time by former President Barack Obama, President Trump is expected to reinstate the policy. As Trump starts to drop his radical rhetoric, Milita suggests students remain open minded and hopeful as they work toward their beliefs. “There’s a lot of fear mongering going on right now that needs to stop because it’s not productive or healthy,” Milita said. “My advice is to have faith in the political system.” Zigerell advises anyone concerned about policy change (in any direction) to run for office or to influence those with power. “The optimal form of influence for a given individual will differ based on a number of factors,” Zigerell said. “Students now have much more ability to influence others, at least on a wider scale, by using social media and the Internet.” The first 100 days of President Trump’s term of office is met with both anticipation and apprehension, however the people of the U.S. must stay united and continue to let their voices be heard while living through this moment in history.
Review: Netflix series “A Series of Unfortunate Events” better than the movie AND books ERIN ANIOLOWSKI Features Reporter | @ErinAniolowski
REVIEW
Everyone grew up loving a book series like Harry Potter or Artemis Fowl, but for some it was the adventures shared by the Baudelaire children as they tried to solve the mystery of their parent’s death while fighting the ever-determined Count Olaf. “A Series of Unfortunate Events” written by Daniel Handler, better known by his pen name Lemony Snicket, inspired a 2004 movie starring Jim Carrey that tanked as far as fans were concerned for straying away from the novels and smashing the end of the book just to tie up the story. This Netflix-original adaptation not only delivers what the film version was lacking but fixes flaws that were in the book. First, the style of the series. Only the first four books are in the first season of the series and each book has two episodes dedicated to telling the story. The story itself is a dark series involving murder and tragedies faced in life — that’s why it was brilliant to have Barry Sonnenfeld leading the project. What some might confuse for a Tim Burton style is actually Sonnenfeld, whose bright colors on a gray background give the show a grim yet playful feel. Second, Lemony Snicket himself. Many young readers stop on book four of the 13 book series because the plot becomes repetitive, but have no fear — Lemony Snicket is here! Handler worked on the Netflix project to make sure that it not only followed the series but also acted as a second chance to get the story right. The mystery that is revealed at the end is hinted at throughout the episodes, which keeps the plot at a good pace. Characters like Uncle Monty care for the children and some still think of
Forming healthy habits and keeping encouraged along the way helps keep a habit out of a New Year’s resolution. From Netflix.com
the Baudelaires as dumb children but the characters who really matter, the ones who are supposed to care for them, actually do and bring some much-needed diversity to the story. Lemony Snicket himself is not at a writing desk retelling someone else’s tale, but is in throughout the show as a noir-styled detective guiding the audience through the unfortunate events. And third, Neil Patrick Harris. It is uncanny how NPH is playing the role of the dedicated actor, Count Olaf, while being a dedicated actor himself. He might not have the look we all imagined that Jim Carrey had but wow, he is so good. Count Olaf has the energy and personality to actually be a character that fits in the plot instead of being a distraction. NPH also sings the opening credits, each unique to that episode, and it follows with the books warning to not go on reading (yet who would stop reading the book that just told you to stop reading?). Altogether, don’t bother reading the books because the Netflix series has everything the books has and more. It’s the story that all readers wanted to read.
VIDETTE RATING
Natalie Stuckslager | Vidette Photographer
New Year’s resolutions have more to do than just changing a habit JAKE PLAUTZ Features Reporter | @JakePlautz
A common theme among the students of Illinois State University as they ring in the new year is resolution. Students are not alone though, as many people throughout the U. S. make New Year’s resolutions. At the beginning of a new year, many people make promises to change, be it trying to lose weight or quit smoking. And while trying to make a positive change in one’s life is never a bad idea, Psychology Today reports that researchers estimate only around eight percent of people successfully complete their New Year’s resolutions. This begs the question: why? People often decide to change a habit after life events that make them reflect on themselves according to ISU psychology professor Thomas Critchfield. “This could mean a miserable two-day hangover, a life-threatening heart attack or simply turning 50,” Critchfield said. “Maybe the change of a calendar works like that.” One reason many people decide to make New Year’s resolutions is because it is a tradition. “I made a
resolution ’cause I always do. So does everyone else,” senior management major Joe DiGiannantonio said. His resolution is to spend less time on his phone when he wakes up, and he said he has kept up with it so far. DiGiannantonio’s resolution encompasses what most resolutions consist of: changing a habit. But according to Critchfield, changing a habit can be difficult. “The core problem is that different parts of our brain are responsible for forming habits versus thinking deeply,” Critchfield said. Critchfield said that the deep thinking part of the brain understands the negative effects of bad habits, but the habit part does not. “The habit part of the brain is not built around conscious understanding,” Critchfield said. “If it were, every time we were told about some threat to our well-being we’d change it instantly.” He said the habit part responds to instant gratification, and this gratification helps the habit brain overpower the deep thinking brain. This lends understanding as to why many people fail to follow through with their resolutions. And
often times when people fail, they feel like failures. Critchfield said this is not inherently anyone’s fault. “We’re hardwired for immediate gratification,” he said. More often than not with resolutions, the benefits of the changed habit are often delayed. When a person is trying to lose weight, they find that it takes time to physically lose the weight. In this situation, the habit brain will try to lead a person back to the bad habit for the gratification. Critchfield said that the best way to combat this is to make the habit brain work for the person instead of against them. “Embrace being human and get the habit portion of your brain to work for you.” To do this, find ways to get instant gratification from the new habit. Critchfield used the resolution to quit smoking as an example. He said to get encouragement from friends and family for keeping up with the new habit, so that part of the brain will feel the gratification. For everyone, changing a habit is never easy. But understanding why habits exist and how they work makes it easier for everyone to make a change.
THE VIDETTE | SPORTS | PAGE 7
MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2017
Women’s basketball falls in tight match against Wichita State MIKE MARRA Sports Reporter | @MikeMarraILSTU
The Illinois State women’s basketball team lost its sixth-straight Missouri Valley Conference game Sunday morning at Wichita State, 67-45. The Redbirds (4-14, 1-6 MVC) faced a quick turnaround after suffering a five-point loss at defending MVC tournament champion Missouri State on Friday night. After coming off the bench Friday night and scoring 13 points, Brechelle Beachum got the starting nod in
Sunday’s contest against the Shockers (8-10, 3-4 MVC). Beachum was the leading scorer for Illinois State against the Shockers with 19 points. The Redbirds trailed 19-10 at the end of the first quarter, but cut the Shockers’ lead to seven going into halftime. Turnovers proved to be costly on Sunday afternoon as the Redbirds turned the ball over 22 times, especially in the third quarter when Illinois State cut the lead to two points until turnovers allowed the Shockers to regain control of the
game for good. “We had too many turnovers today because we were too careless with the basketball,” head coach Barb Smith said. “I thought we did a great job keeping them off the boards. We wanted to go inside more but kept turning it over.” Wichita State led the Redbirds 47-39 heading into the fourth quarter, but the Redbirds could not recover after a Shocker run and scored just six points in the final quarter of play. Taylor Stewart only managed to find the bottom of the net one time in Sunday’s action. Stewart was
coming off a record-setting performance Friday night after hitting a school record of eight 3-pointers and dropping 28 points. After shooting 50 percent from 3-point range on Friday night, the Redbirds only shot 20 percent versus the Shockers. The Redbirds won the battle of the boards by grabbing 34 rebounds to Wichita State’s 29. Other Redbird notables from Sunday’s action are Hannah Green, who contributed 10 points while also leading the team in rebounds for the game with five.
Angiee Tompkins of Wichita State led all scorers with 20 points and led all rebounders with eight off the bench. Following Sunday’s win for the Shockers, Wichita State put out a press release stating the mutual agreement to part ways with head coach Jody Adams-Birch. Linda Hargrove, who was previously head coach of the Shockers from 1989 to 1998, will take over as head coach for the remainder of the season. The Redbirds will host four MVC games starting with Evansville. Friday. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
Gymnastics falls to Bowling Green in second meet of 2017 NATE HEAD Sports Reporter | @NateHead51
Illinois State gymnastics suffered its first loss of the season in a dual meet with Bowling Green State in Bowling Green, Ohio, on Saturday afternoon, 193.925-192.550. Coming off a strong collegiate debut last weekend at the Ozone Classic, ISU freshman Gabrielle Cooke won the all-around competition with a compiled score of 38.800. Illinois State sophomore Meredith LaRoche finished second behind Cooke in the all-around with a total score of 38.350. The reigning Midwest Independent Conference Gymnast of the Week also finished second overall on the vault with a score of 9.800. “I’m very proud of how we started and ended the meet,” ISU head coach Bob Conkling said. “Gabrielle Cooke had a strong meet and Anna Marema was strong on both bars and vault today.”
The win was the first of the season for Bowling Green State. The Falcons won three of the individual events and captured the team victory in two of four events. Bowling Green State’s effort on the floor exercise helped secure its fourth-consecutive win in a home opener. Four Falcons earned at least a 9.700 in the event, led by BGSU senior Victoria Heath’s score of 9.800. ISU’s score of 192.550 is the same total it posted at the Ozone Classic. The Redbirds improved their score from last weekend in the bars and beam events, but decreased in vault and floor. “The team lost some focus and confidence on vault and especially on floor, but beam was our highest scoring event,” Conkling said. “Overall, we looked good but we still need to work on being consistent and confident from the start of the meet to the end.” The Redbirds return at 6 p.m. Sunday to the Horton Field House for a dual meet with University of Illinois-Chicago.
HOOPS
Continued from page 8
Emma Horath | Vidette Senior Photographer
DJ Clayton scored a career-high 15 points against Drake Saturday.
CLASSIFIEDS FOR RENT: SU/FALL/SPRING 17-18 NEW CONSTRUCTION!!! 403 E. VERNON, 4 bed/4.5 bath townhomes Two laundry rooms/unit Flat screen TV, swimming pool/fitness room access www.sami.com (309) 888-4600
Balcony, Covered parking, Laundry. Quiet Building. Start at ONLY $290 Class Act Realty. 454-2960
1,2,3 & 4 bedrooms www.sami.com (309) 888-4600
Flora Way: Large Furnished 2, 3 and 4 Bedrooms. Start at ONLY $325. Class Act Realty. 454-2960
808 S Linden: Large 1, 2, 3 and 4 person units. All Utilities Included. Next to the trail. Start at $350. Class Act Realty. 454-2960
Fell: Spacious 2 & 4 Bedrooms. 1 block from campus. Laundry. Start at $375. Class Act Realty. 454-2960
Spring 2017 717 Hale. 2 BR house/duplex. Large kitchen. Off street parking, porch, laundry. $400/mo. 4 payments plus utilities. Call 309-530-7772
N Linden 3 or 4 bdrm house. Off street parking. Great location. Days: 309-2751281. Evenings: 309-365-8604. Huge 1 and 2 BR uptown Normal. Next to campus. Furnished. Off-street parking. On site laundry. Quite/clean. $355-575. 309-287-7228.
Linden Trails: Brand new construction. 4 bdrm, 4.5 bath with washer and dryer. Next to the trail. Utilities included. Start at $620/person. Class Act Realty
Linden Trails. Brand new construction. 4 bdrm, 4.5 bath with washer and dryer. Next to the trail. Utilities included. Start at $620/person. Class Act Realty 309-454-2960
301 S. WALNUT: Furnished 2 Bedrooms.
we take pride in,” Clayton said. “Every game we make sure we don’t have any falloffs and if we’re not guarding at a certain point in the game, we make sure to talk to each other and get it figured out immediately so that it can impact the game and we can make leads and make runs.” While the Redbirds are enjoying being ranked first in the MVC, there DJ is added pressure Clayton each game. “Every team wants to beat the number one team in the conference,” Hawkins said. “We sense [the pressure], but it’s our job to keep our intensity high and keep playing hard for ourselves and for the university.” The Redbirds also honored Doug Collins during halftime after his recent induction into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. “It’s always good to come home,” Collins said in his short halftime
speech. “And this is home.” The ’Birds were also joined by a special guest, Dylan Gilbraith. Gilbraith suffers from a heart condition that allowed him to have a wish granted from the Make-AWish Foundation. Gilbraith served as the team’s honorary coach for the night. He gave out high-fives during the starting lineup announcement, held hands with Paris Lee during the national anthem and joined the team in the student section for the post-win fight song while being held by Madison Williams. “It’s been a blessing to have had (Dylan) around,” Muller said. “We’re hoping he’ll be around more. Our guys are terrific with kids ... we’ve got guys with big hearts.” The 14th annual Taste of Redbirds occured prior to tipoff where 10 local food venders were featured. The ’Birds will defend their unbeaten record at 7 p.m. Wednesday against Indiana State on the Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena.
Phone 309 438 7685 • Fax 309 438 5211 Corner of Locust & University, Normal, IL Monday – Friday. 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Crossing Dr. Large 3 Br/2 & 3 Ba townhome. W/D. $367-382 per person. 309-830-5073. See www.RLapartments.com
309-454-2960
“We faced an exceptional defensive team tonight,” Drake head coach Jeff Rutter said. “To play against that kind of stifling pressure on the ball, in the passing lanes, their pick-and-roll coverage was very good. It was just difficult to get a good look.” Even though ISU’s defense is what kept the ’Birds alive, it was not perfect. “I know this might sound a little weird,” Muller said. “We had more breakdowns defensively this game than we’ve had in a long time. The first two 3s were breakdowns. A foul was a breakdown on a 3-point shot. Another 3 was a breakdown. With that being said, that tells you how good our defense was the rest of the game.” ISU started off shooting 2-for11, allowing Drake to get its largest lead of the game, 14-5, but the ’Birds battled back and prevented the Bulldogs from scoring for over eight minutes. “[Our defense] is something
Morgan Kuniej | Vidette Senior Photographer
Meredith LaRoche placed second in the all-around competition Saturday.
2017-2018 School Year!
TOWNHOMES: 2, 3 & 4 Bedrooms. Include Washer-dryer, central air, dishwasher, parking, patio and/or balcony, yard. ONLY $255-360 per bedroom. Class Act Realty. 454-2960 401 N. Fell Ave. Remodeled 4 bedroom/2 bath. New flooring and kitchen counter top. Breakfast bar with stools, dishwasher, garbage disposal, washer & dryer in unit. Central air, secured building, off street parking, high speed internet provided. $495/per person. Call Excel Real Estate at 309-829-5885. Houses: 3 to 5 Bedrooms. Start at $325 per person. Class Act Realty. 454-2960
Various 1, 2, 3 and 4 Bedrooms and some single rooms available. $235$555. Class Act Realty. 454-2960 Need an apartment for immediate move-in? 2 bedrooms and roommate matching available! www.sami.com (309) 888-4600 4 BR/2 BA NEAR CAMPUS $300/mo. PER ROOM...AVAILABLE JANUARY 1st 3098300185
HELP WANTED- GENERAL Spring break week help & 2nd semester. Before/after school program. Looking for staff during ISU spring break and/for the semester. Applications can be picked up at the Normal Parks & Recs Office or email ktetter@normal.org<Turn on JavaScript to see email address> for more info.
FOR RENT: SPRING 17 & SU/FALL/SPRING 17-18 1-6 BR houses for rent. Furnished, low rent, 1 mile from ISU. Call or text 309-830-1121 Subleases available! www.sami.com (309) 888-4600
Sports
PAGE 8 | THE VIDETTE
MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2017
Bret Farrell | Social Media Manager
EIGHT STRAIGHT
Paris Lee goes up for a shot at Saturday’s 72-58 win against Drake to stay on top of the Missouri Valley Conference. Lee had four points, two steals and five assists.
Illinois State remains perfect in Missouri Valley Conference play, improves to 16-4, 8-0 after Redbirds top Drake, 72-58, on Doug Collins Night BETH GEISTLINGER Sports Editor | @beth_geist
After a slow start, Illinois State men’s basketball went on to defeat Drake 72-58 in front of a crowd of 8,123, led by Deontae Hawkins. ISU remains undefeated in the Missouri Valley Conference with an 8-0 conference record. Hawkins earned two fouls in under three minutes, forcing head coach Dan Muller to sit him on the bench. Although only playing a total
of 19 minutes, Hawkins finished with 19 points, 4 rebounds and gave up only one turnover. “In other games, [Hawkins] may have lost his head a little bit [because of] bad fouls,” Muller said. “I think you can see the growth in all of our guys, including Deontae. Clearly, he was really feeling it and making some big shots when he was in there. To have 19 points in 19 minutes is pretty darn good.” The player who stood out tonight, though, was DJ Clayton. Clayton ended with 15 points,
seven rebounds, two assists and one block. Clayton, a nonstarter, made key plays when the game was close. “I don’t know where we would have been tonight without DJ [Clayton],” Muller said. “The first half, he came in and was huge for us.” ISU and Drake were closely matched through the middle of the second half, when Clayton contributed eight points in a 10-0 run that helped push ISU closer to the win. “I just kept playing hard,” Clayton said. “The
ball ended up coming my way. My guys set me up well. Deontae [Hawkins] and Paris [Lee] attract a lot of attention, and I found myself open a lot of times.” While the Redbird offense got off to a slow start, Drake struggled against tough defense, finishing with 30.5 percent from the field and 31.3 percent from behind the arc. See HOOPS on page 7
Doug Collins Court will always be home
MY VIEW JOSH TOLENTINO | Sports Editor | @JCTSports He answers to Doug, Backcourt Magician, Papa, The Jet and Coach. But on Saturday evening, Doug Collins was able to relive his glory days. As the 8,000-plus at Redbird Arena cheered him on, Collins was called by the name he was once given by former coach, Will Robinson. Champ. Collins (’73) was honored during a halftime ceremony for recently being inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. The ceremony was part of a weekend of Illinois State Athletics celebrating Collins and his achievements. A dinner in recognition of Collins was held Friday night at the DoubleTree by Hilton Bloomington. It was only right the Redbirds donned the candy-striped shorts and Doug The Jet T-shirts as they defeated Drake, 72-58, on Doug Collins Night. It was a hard-fought,
defensive battle, just how Collins would have liked. Collins was one of the most successful players to ever wear a Redbird uniform. He averaged 29.1 points per game and totaled 2,240 career points. Before his senior year, Collins represented the U.S. in the 1972 Olympics and went on to be selected as the No. 1 pick by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1973 NBA Draft. As Collins reminisced to crowds on Friday and Saturday, he insisted this weekend was about celebrating ISU and not himself. As he described each moment from his illustrious career, Collins concluded he lived his dream. Of course, he did not end the night without acknowledging several groups and individuals. He thanked his teammates, his coaches and his best friend, Don Franke. He thanked his wife, Kathy, for raising their children and being the "absolute best basketball wife." He thanked one of his grandchildren, who watched Grandpa Doug's highlight tape and asked, "Wow was that really you papa? You could really ball!" He sure could. Collins scored in double figures every game of his 77-game college
career. He posted 20 points or more in 69 games and tallied 30-plus points in 34 contests. He rocked Horton Field House crowds in ways Redbird Arena has yet to experience. Some may argue ISU should sell the naming rights of Redbird Arena and Doug Collins Court for financial benefit. That discussion can be ended after this weekend. Maybe Redbird Arena, but never Doug Collins Court. The Redbirds play on Doug Collins Court not only because of what Collins accomplished while he was here, but also because of how he continues to live his life as a Redbird alumnus. Collins is one of ISU's best ambassadors and constantly gives back to the program. Audiences frequently hear Illinois State proudly mentioned during his ESPN broadcasts. He has an endowed scholarship under his name. Collins is the pride and joy of his hometown, Benton, Ill., but ISU will always hold a special place in his heart. Before the weekend festivities kicked off, Collins walked around campus and the memories came flooding back. “It’s always good to come home,” Collins said during his halftime speech. “And this is home.” Welcome home, Champ.
Emma Horath | Vidette Senior Photographer
Doug Collins addresses the crowd on Saturday evening at Redbird Arena.