V
Lyons taking his leave ISU athletic director set to retire at end of year
THE VIDETTE
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2020 Vol. 133 | No. 7
SPORTS, PAGE 8 VIEWPOINT, PAGE 4
videtteonline.com
Courtesy of Illinois State Athletics
Losing track
Illinois State draws controversy with new test proctoring software NEWS, PAGE 2 VIEWPOINT, PAGE 4
Photo by RAFAEL MENCHACA | Photographer
Cooking up traditions Ways to celebrate National Latinx Heritage Month SEE FEATURES, PAGE 6
Photo by NICKOLAS PARRA | Photographer
PAGE 2 | NEWS | THE VIDETTE
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2020
Students: ProctorTrack ‘enormous breach of privacy’ Proctortrack raises ethical, technological concerns
KELLIE FOY News Editor | @kellie_foy
I
l l i n o i s State University officials announced in the university’s recent weekly COVID-19 update that ISU purchased a new online proctoring solution which will be implemented into ReggieNet in the Tests and Quizzes tool. The proctoring solution, known as ProctorTrack, is an “automated online remote proctoring solution that continuously verifies the identity of online test-takers while detecting and deterring academic misconduct,” according to the ProctorTrack website. ISU plans to have instructor training sessions and resources available to faculty and staff in mid-October, “followed by a video to familiarize students with the software. Instructors will be able to utilize ProctorTrack for online, automated exam proctoring starting in November,” according to a recent email sent to ISU students. Currently, ProctorTrack has four levels of services that can be purchased, including ProctorLock, ProctorAuto, Proctortrack QA and ProctorLive AI. According to an ISU information technology student worker who wishes to remain anonymous, the university purchased the second level, also known as ProctorAuto. “The sketchy part to me is that, on [ProctorTrack’s] homepage, it claims to have core access or the ability to have core access to your computer basically,” the IT studentworker said. ISU Director of Media Eric Jome Relations Eric Jome said the university is giving all faculty and staff the option to use ProctorTrack rather than requiring them to use it. “This is a technology that is now available to any faculty member who wants to use it. There are some faculty in some departments that do use this sort of proctoring software, and they’ve used it for a while in online courses,” Jome said. “A lot of those courses were ones that, for accreditation purposes, they were using that kind of software. It was a limited number of faculty that were using it. This is now available for any faculty member that wants to use it, but the number of faculty who’ve said they are going to be using it is actually rather low.” According to the anonymous IT worker,
suffer from this. Those with ADHD are going to suffer point deductions for eye movement when that is just the way their body works. I hope ISU rethinks this and accommodates those who will be hindered by this decision.” Jome said faculty, staff and Student Access and Accommodation Services are going to work with and will be flexible with the students who need accommodation. “The faculty, if they are going to use this, will communicate this to their students in advance. Any students that have questions about the use of [ProctorTrack], test-taking or accommodations can work with their faculty members ahead of time to talk about that and to deal with those,” Jome said. Jome believes there are many misconceptions with the software, saying that faculty and staff can go back through the recordings after each exam and determine if any flagged movements are concerning or not. “One of the misconceptions is that somehow the software is making a deterVidette Archive mination whether someone is cheating or ProctorTrack will be added into the test and quizzes section on ReggieNet. Professors will ultimately not. It’s not a human being sitting on the have the decision if they want to use it or not. other end watching this, it’s a computer program that can monitor general behava petition with over 6,000 signatures has the license for this program, seemingly without made its way around social media since the consideration of how it would make students ior and movements of the person that is taking the exam,” Jome said. announcement was made, looking to put a stop feel,” DeDivitis said. “It will basically present that to the faculty to the university making the implementation “This money could have been refunded to member so that the faculty member would go a “reality.” students, as many have called for the university While the specific details are not finalized, a to do, but nonetheless, they decided that this back, review any of this and make any kind of group of about 50 students also met over the was a more appropriate allocation of funds. a determination. If somebody looked around, weekend to begin the process of organizing an Realizing the financial aspect of this felt like the program might that up [and] the facon-campus protest. a huge slap in the face, to be honest, as I am ulty member can back and look at it and say, Students are also expressing their frustration paying full price for this extremely lackluster ‘no, that doesn’t look like any troublesome about the university’s decision following the semester, and some of that money is going behavior.’” Junior elementary education major Emily announcement, saying they feel the integration towards things like this.” Bacich strongly believes that adding Proctorof ProctorTrack is an invasion of privacy and “The new feature on ReggieNet is a perfect their rights. example of ableism. Not everyone has access to Track amid the pandemic will add more stress Junior mathematics major Damian DeDivi- a camera for classes. This is an expensive fea- and pressure to students when tests and quiztis said he is upset with how the university is ture that is only on new technology. Having to zes are assigned. “It’s kind of upsetting to me that there is using its budget during the pandemic. buy a new camera for your computer or laptop “When I read this email, I was outraged. can be expensive. Students living through a now another thing we have to adjust to with Frankly, I think this is an enormous breach of pandemic do not need any extra costs,” junior the online format. A lot of my teachers have privacy and is extremely unnecessary. I am also bilingual education major Kaitlynd Firek said. made accommodations where we are allowed upset that the university spent more money on “Also, people with different disabilities will to use our notes, textbooks or other resources and I feel that now that will be taken away,” Bacich said. “It’s not a human being sitting on the other end watching this, it’s a computer “This is now adding more pressure and stress for me because I already program that can monitor general behavior and movements of the person that feel slightly unprepared so I hope is taking the exam.” that the accommodations that the Eric Jome, director of Media Relations teachers have already made can still be used with this new system.”
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THE VIDETTE | NEWS | PAGE 3
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2020
Discussing diaspora: Scattering of people from different origins YASMIN ODEH News Reporter | @yasminodeh3
I
l l i n o i s State University’s Latin American and Latino/a Studies program hosted Conversando Entre Nosotros, featuring Kantara Souffrant, assistant professor of global/non-western art and visual culture at the Wonsook Kim School of Art. ISU sociology professor Maura Toro-Morn introduced the event by providing background to Souffrant’s presentation. Much of Souffrant’s focus is on visual and performance art in Haitian Maura Torodiaspora. Morn Diaspora “refers to the scattering of people from the same origin,” Souffrant says. She uses the term “Africa diaspora” to “describe the scattering of people of African descent as a result of chosen migration, slavery, imperialism and colonialism.” Souffrant opened her presentation by providing that her examinations would be over how diaspora is taught in public spaces with a focus on art museums. She talked about her prominent interests, which motivate her research. “I’m interested in, [...] essentially, how museums can function as windows into another cultural tradition to time and space and also as mirrors; a point of reflection,” Souffrant said. The presentation consisted of four sections, including “An Anecdote: Diaspora as ‘Intellectual Trip’ and ‘Saving Grace,’” “Defining ‘Diaspora’ and ‘African Diaspora,’” “Teaching How to ‘See Diasporically’’’ and “Future Directions: Measuring Success and ‘10 Points for Applying ‘Diaspora’.” Souffrant’s aim was to offer her research
questions about how diaspora can be taught through museum art collections and how African diaspora can be taught to attendees of a Midwestern museum that is inaccessible to low-income people of color, which often includes Black people. She presented her Haitian Art Case Study about teaching diaspora in museums with a centering around the Haitian Art collection present at the Milwaukee Art Museum. The Milwaukee Art Museum has one of the oldest and largest collections of Haitian art outside of Haiti. Many of the pieces can be viewed online. “I’ve used the Haitian collection to demonstrate how art works contain object knowledge; an embodied understanding Yasmin Odeh | News Reporter | @yasminodeh3 of the world that constiKantara Souffrant speaks about how museums function as windows into other cultural traditions through time tutes the foundation for and space. Souffrant’s lecture discussed how diaspora can be taught through art collections. any understanding of the lived experience,” SoufSouffrant formulated the name “Arts of it is often “overlooked, devalued and feared frant said. Artists of the African Diaspora” in an effort to because of its style and subject matter.” She is looking at how she can grow her put the “objects and cultural histories at the “The idea that a work of art can embody project of promoting the teaching of diaspora center of the museum experience.” The title knowledge, be a tool for teaching and underhistory and bringing to the forefront this iswas representing the artists with African and standing the experiences of another is central sue of non-inclusion on the end of the public Haitian roots altogether. to the development of visual literacy in chilwhen viewing arts of various Latinx descents She said Haitian art often represents and dren and adults,” Souffrant said. at the hands of museums. educates people about, which can include She took a definition of visual literacy from Souffrant said a previous volunteer she historical “enslavement, contemporary disen- The Toledo Museum of Art, saying it is “the worked with at a museum who suggested the franchisement as well as shared experiences ability to identify, read, and understand imname of their art show be modified from “Afof Black love and joy.” ages — to become literate in visual language rican American Art” to “Art by African AmeriBecause of the fact that Haitian and other — in order to communicate successfully in cans,” altering the way in which the shows similar art does not compare well to the our increasingly image-saturated culture.” and the pieces themselves are perceived. typical Midwestern visuals, Souffrant said
“The idea that a work of art can embody knowledge, be a tool for teaching and understanding the experiences of another is central to the development of visual literacy in children and adults.” Kantara Souffrant, Wonsook Kim School of Art assistant professor
Sample ballot at a glance for McLean County voters Federal-level candidates
State-level candidates
President
Vice President
Donald Trump (R) (Incumbent), Joe Biden (D)
Mike Pence (R) (Incumbent) Kamala Harris (D)
United States Senator
Below are candidates running for a House of Representative seat. There are 118 seats for the House of Representatives up for election. There are no state Senate seats up for election this November.
Richard Durbin (D) (Incumbent) Mark Curran Jr. (R)
Karla Bailey Smith Rep. Rodney Davis
Betsey Dirksen Londrigan
Representative 13th Congressional District Rodney Davis (R) (Incumbent) Betsey Dirksen Londrigan (D) The 13 congressional district includes the counties Calhoun, Christian, De Witt, Greene, Jeresy, Macon, Macoupin, Montgomery, and Piatt. It also includes portions of Bond, Champaign, Madison, McLean and Sangamon counties.
Rep. Darin LaHood
George Petrilli
Representative 18th Congressional District Darin LaHood (R) (Incumbent) George Petrilli (D) The 18 congressional district includes the counties Adams, Brown, cass, Hancock, Logan, Marshall, Mason, McDonough, Menard, Morgan Pike, Schuyler, Scott and Woodford. It also includes portions of McLean, Peoria, Sangamon, Stark and Tazewell.
Key upcoming election-related dates Last day to request mail-in ballot: Oct. 26 Last day to register to vote online: Oct. 18 Last day to register to vote by mail: Oct. 6 Last day to register to vote in person: Nov. 3 Vote-by-mail ballots must be postmarked by midnight on Nov. 3 and received within 14 days to be counted Early voting: Sept. 24 through Nov. 2; Dates and hours vary depending on precinct
Chemberly Cummings
Rep. Keith Sommer
Rep. Dan Brady
Representative 105th House District
Representative 88th House District Karla Bailey Smith (D) Keith Sommer (R) (Incumbent)
Chemberly Cummings (D) Dan Brady (R) (Incumbent)
McLean County candidates Circuit Clerk Don Everhart (R) No Candidate (D) No Candidate (L)
State’s Attorney Don Knapp (R) No Candidate (D) No Candidate (L)
Auditor Robert Fazzini (D) Michelle Anderson (R) Kevin Woodard (L)
Coroner Kathy Yoder (R) Abbi Sorrells (D) No Candidate (L)
Candidates for County Board District 1 Catherine Metsker (R) No Candidate (D) No Candidate (L)
District 2 Jeff Bertrand (D) William Friedrich (R)
District 3 Derek Evans (L) R.J. McCracken (D) George Wendt (R)
District 4 No Candidate (L) Benjamin Webb (D) Adelita Cruz (R)
District 5
Joann Litwiller (L) Rachael Lund (D) John D. McIntyre (R)
District 6 David Scarpelli (L) Hannah Beer (D) No Candidate (R)
COMPILED BY GRACE KINNICUTT | NEWS EDITOR
Dan Caulkin
Representative 101st House District No candidate (D) Dan Caulkins (R)
Educational Service Region
Regional Superintendent Of Schools (Mason, Tazewell, Woodford counties) Jeffrey Ekena (R) No Candidate (D)
Judicial For Judge of the circuit court: 11th Judicial Court Jason Chambers (R) No Candidate (D)
Circuit Court Judge Shall Jennifer Bauknecht be retained in office as judge of the circuit court 11th judicial circuit? Shall Matthew Fitton be retained in office as judge of the circuit court 11th judicial circuit?
Viewpoint
PAGE 4 | THE VIDETTE
VIDETTE EDITORIAL
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2020
Losing track of student trust with AI proctoring
T
here is a difference between an idea being a good one in theory, versus a good one in practice. Last week, in the weekly COVID-19 update, Illinois State University announced its plans to allow professors to use a high-tech proctoring software to monitor students as they take midterms — if professors choose to use it. The proctoring solution, known as ProctorTrack, is an “automated online remote proctoring solution that continuously verifies the identity of online test-takers while detecting and deterring academic misconduct,” according to the ProctorTrack website. This has since caused a firestorm of social media backlash among ISU students — resulting in an online petition with over 6,000 signatures. The main concerns voiced by students are issues of privacy and intrusion. An added fear is the reconfiguration of settings needed to use the software, not to mention the use of the student’s webcam to watch them as they take an exam. By requiring a software that makes huge changes to a computer’s settings, it could leave students’ personal and self-financed computers more vulnerable and susceptible to hacks and viruses. To be fair … so could installing Skype. Thus — cue the controversy, cue the outraged reaction, cue the obligatory online petition, cue the corner-backing, cue
the debates. Even an on-campus protest from students is in the works. ISU Director of Media Relations Eric Jome, along with a student IT worker, addressed more specific details about the software’s risks. So ... what kind of an idea will this one turn out to be? One that’s good in theory, good in practice, or both? Most college students, no matter what university they go to, would say that the online quiz and test-taking process (whether via Zoom or other software) resembles a specific type of “show” involving horse manure. Some educators were able to make adjustments faster and easier than others ... but that largely depended on the type of class they taught, as they were not designed for e-learning in the spring of 2020.
It appears that the general consensus among ISU students is this: it’s not that they don’t believe what the university is saying, and it’s not that they’re against there being accountability for taking midterms with academic integrity, either. This doesn’t mean that there won’t be students who take advantage of the situation and cheat — in fact, most would agree that it could be counted on. But what it does mean, is that college students are old enough to understand that if they cheat on their midterms “because they can,” they might get away with it — as maybe they have before — but they understand what their parents and teachers have told them their whole lives: “You might get away with cheating, because ‘that’s life’ – but in the end, you’re only cheating yourself — and sooner or later, that will come home to
roost.” That concept applies to all students, whether they’re reciting the alphabet or writing a thesis on string theory. It’s not that cheating on midterms doesn’t deserve condemnation — it does. ISU has historically done a fairly good job with that, and it’s why a degree that says “Illinois State University” on it means what it does today. It does fall at the feet of the university to do everything in its power to ensure academic integrity as much as possible. However, “in these uncertain times,” the question has become ... to what extent? How far is ISU, or any university, willing to go? How far is too far? Is this too far? It shouldn’t be surprising that students and faculty might disagree on this. However — as of today — the only fair thing to say about this is that the jury is still out. Adapting to this new e-normal for universities, especially larger state universities like ISU, has been a process of trial and error. That process is not over, and it won’t be for some time. For students and faculty members alike, it’s important to not lose perspective on issues such as these. It’s not necessarily always about “who’s right/wrong” or “who wins/loses some privacy power struggle.” It’s about finding ways to get through a difficult situation in the most harmless way possible — together. It’s about trusting the process.
Editorial Cartoon by Flynn Geraghty | Vidette Art Director
EDITORIAL POLICY Editorial written by JOHN MURRAY, 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.
Lyons’ retirement chance to ‘walk the talk’ of diversity MY VIEW DARNYSHA MITCHELL | Reporter
A
thletic Director Larry Lyons announced his retirement after 30 years in athletic administrations and director since 2013. Lyons’ retirement comes after his controversial “All Redbird lives matter” statement in August. Lyons says it wasn’t a factor in his decision and that he discussed retirement
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with Illinois State University President Larry Dietz for several months. Yet, it leaves many to wonder if the backlash he received after the comment really provoked Lyons to leave. Dietz said that he’s working on a tight timeline to find Lyons’ successor, but plans to begin the search expeditiously. With the demands that the student-athletes created for ISU Athletics for increasing diversity in administration, this could potentially be a place to start with the next athletic director. Dietz said he wants a strong, diverse pool of quality candidates to choose from who will adhere to the university’s values. One of those values being diversity, it is essential that the diversity that ISU states as one of its values is shown in not only the student population, but among faculty and staff at all levels of the university as well.
Across the entire Division I NCAA, the athletic directors are predominately white while the percentage of Black and other people of color who are athletic directors can barely crack double-digit numbers. It’s the same across all three divisions of the NCAA athletic administration. For ISU, this is an opportunity for them to keep diversity in its vision and hire a person of color who will truly uphold the value of diversity and build a program that caters to the needs and the demographic of the entire student-athlete population. A program cannot achieve this without having any minority representation that can resonate with the students and understand what they need to help them thrive in the classroom and in athletics. Dietz plans to work closely with external
NOTABLE NUMBERS
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resources to help seek out a diverse pool of candidates. The Minority Organization Athletic Association is an organization that provides administrative opportunities for minorities in athletics. It could be an ideal resource for seeking out people of color to create a diverse pool of candidates. Hiring a person of color is a step in the right direction for the university. It shows that the demands made by students are not falling on deaf ears and that they truly uphold the pillar of diversity the university claims to have. DARNYSHA MITCHELL is a Sports Reporter for the Vidette. She can be reached at dmitch3@ ilstu.edu. Follow her on Twitter at @DarnyshaM.
THEY SAID IT
of the Primetime Emmys in the past five years were Latinx. 82% of the nominees were white, according to the Los Angeles Times. There are 19 categories for the Primetime Emmys. SEE FEATURES, PAGE 6
86
days left for Larry Lyons as Illinois State University’s athletic director. Lyons announced his retirement Friday. A nationwide search is underway to find a successor for Lyons, according to President Larry Dietz. SEE SPORTS, PAGE 8
“
The idea that a work of art can embody knowledge, be a tool for teaching and understanding the experience of another is central to the development of visual literacy in children and adults.” Kantara Souffrant, assistant professor of global visual art at the Wonsook Kim School of Art.
EDITORIAL BOARD ELIZABETH SEILS Editor in Chief | @SeilsElizabeth ANDREA RICKER Features Editor @ricker_andrea GRACE KINNICUTT News Editor @GKinnicutt KATIE BESTE Night Editor @BesteKatherine
MAIA HUDDLESTON Photo Editor @maiawrites MYA ROBINSON Sports Reporter @Im_Myaaa JOHN MURRAY News Reporter @Jmurr_
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2020
THE VIDETTE | NEWS | PAGE 5
Navigating midterm madness online MEGHAN FORTUNATO News Reporter | @Meghanfortunato
Midterms are approaching, but this year, they are going to work a little differently. Due to most Illinois State University courses being online this semester, there will be a new rundown of what is expected of students. Online exams pose a challenge for both students and professors with technology issues through ReggieNet. Concerns around academic integrity have been considered as adjustments continue to be implemented. English graduate professor Pouya Vakili expresses concern surrounding this semester’s midterm exams. “I don’t think the midterms will be as well as they were expected to be, students are pretty much overwhelmed with their classes, technology issues and their personal life issues,” Vakili said. “When I compare this semester with my last year semester, I see the average grades have decreased and many students are looking for extensions which is understandable.” Junior elementary education major Lana Meltzer believes there are missed opportunities with in-person student teaching, but now being online, the adjustment to digesting the material has its difficulties. “I know that if we were in person, I wouldn’t be as worried about understanding the material, especially if I got to work in a classroom, but it’s hard for me to be taking diligent notes and memorize all this material from all my class readings,” Meltzer said. ISU’s Technology Support Center is making adjustments as students continue with online learning and are available at the Bone
Zoe Wood | Photographer | @zoe_rae10
While most Illinois State University courses are online, many professors and students are facing challenges and concerns with the way midterm exams will be formatted this semester. Student Center for any in need of assistance. If students begin to face technology problems at any time, particularly now as students start to take more online exams, they can reach out to the Technology Support Center. As secondary education major Ian Doering takes on his junior year, he said that he hopes professors will be more understanding when taking midterms online. “Coming into a new school, the whole online setup is different for each university, but I haven’t faced any issues with technology yet,” Doering said. “If it comes down to me being kicked out of my test or other tech issues, I’m hopeful my professors will be understanding if I just communicate effectively to them.” Now with the new updates to online proc-
toring solutions, ISU has purchased ProctorTrack which will now monitor under the Tests and Quizzes tab of ReggieNet. The proctoring software requires students to have their web camera on during an exam and will be available for instructors to use starting in November. “Every test I’ve taken so far, I’ve been given the options to have it be open note which seems to be easy, but my professors have expanded the test, so the answers are not just straightforward,” junior criminal justice major Deyaa Ihumd said. “They added in short-answer questions and things like that, and then I apply the notes I’ve taken so far to help justify my answers.” Ihumd is concerned with the new online proctoring starting in November and does
not know how well he is going to understand all the material when he isn’t receiving faceto-face instructions. The monitoring update leaves Ihumd questioning how complex the online tests will be now if everything keeps changing. Marketing professor Chiharu IshidaLambert has made her own adjustment to teaching all online by holding very few exams in a traditional format. “For my undergraduate class, I have only one exam for the semester. For my MBA class for master students, I don’t have an exam because in online setting anything can happen,” Ishida-Lambert said. “I try to limit the traditional paper and pencil test to fit more essay and assignmentbased adjustments.” As the semester continues, students who are falling behind in certain courses or are stressed over handling more upcoming exams still have time to make improvements. University College Administrative Associate Director Amy Roser collects midterm grades for certain groups of students on campus. This includes freshmen, transfers, financial aid and students on a certain type of academic probation. This semester, the administrative staff is focusing on an increase in students who may have mental health concerns and are stressed or not as engaged in managing courses in online formatting. “The most important message I would like to give at this time: it’s absolutely not too late to change your grades and to change them for the better,” Roser said. “It may feel daunting, it may feel like it’s impossible, but it is possible, and as students you are more than capable in doing that.”
10 tips to help ace midterms this semester COMPILED BY: YASMIN ODEH | NEWS REPORTER | @yasminodeh3
M
idterms are approaching quickly, and preparation is vital in ensuring readiness. Here is a list of some tips for studying successfully along with thoughts from Illinois State Univer-
sity students.
Use flashcards Creating flashcards is one of the most popular ways students study. It is a proven strategy to use for quick memorization. A great website and application that can be used for virtual flashcards is Quizlet. The paper form is also a healthier option for the eyes. Putting a question on one side and the answer on the other or a term on one side and the definition on the other are some ways they can be created and used.
Being unable to see the other side of the flashcard at first glance is what allows for the student to articulate their answer in their heads prior to seeing the answer. The answers that a student did not get correct should be put aside and revisited.
Work in study groups Having a support system to bounce ideas off of is very effective before exams. Working with other students allows for questions to be asked and clarification to be given. Students are sure to repeat information from class and notes. Hearing the information reiterated is highly beneficial for retention. Other students can also explain a specific concept in a different way, giving for various angles for a notion to be understood. “Study group really helps me clarify any problem or topics that I didn’t understand in class,” senior economics major Neel Patel said.
Chew gum Chewing gum is a proven method for concentration. Similar to tapping a foot, it is something different for the body to do. It is a good tool to use to keep from being distracted. The method is best for when long periods of concentration are needed.
Create a studying schedule ahead of time Many students will cram their studying in right before their exams. However, this tactic can be detrimental to their performance. All of the information on the exam can not be retained in a single study session. It is best to space out each session. A way to structurally engage in this is to create a schedule in advance of different days and times to study. Studying for an hour every other day approximately two weeks before an exam, or even planning out specific information to study on certain days can help.
Study before bed
Sit with a tutor Prior to an exam, scheduling an appointment with a tutor to study can serve a student well in their academia. Tutors are available online for free for many ISU courses and for writing help through the University College website.
Create a Kahoot quiz
Put your phone away
Kahoot is a website where quizzes can be created and taken. Kahoot is popularly used collaboratively, which can work well for study groups. Students can create a quiz about the contents of their exam for themselves or a study group. They then take it over and over, ensuring the retainment of the material.
Smartphones are among the biggest distractions for students today. They are almost always at hand, buzzing and lighting up and taking students’ attention away from tasks. Putting the phone completely away, out of sight and reach, is an incredibly effective way to keep attention on studying. A timer can even be set on the phone for an hour or two just to study. Once it goes off, have away at Snapchat and Instagram.
“I can never focus with distractions like my phone. I always silence it and place it in a drawer before studying,” junior anatomy major Drew Peacock said. “Studying in a small, quiet place like the library helps.” In addition to his helpful habit of putting his phone in a drawer before studying, he recommends working in small and quiet areas where any possible distractions can be avoided.
Do research Using the internet or finding relevant books to look into before an exam is primal. This can provide an elaboration on material and further information needed to best comprehend material.
Oddly enough, studying right before bedtime is highly effective for remembering information. A chronobiological study from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston suggests the functioning of the brain during sleep is optimal for retention. Participants in their study who studied right before bed had significantly higher rates of retention than did the participants who studied in the morning.
Rewrite Your Notes Instructors often suggest rewriting or at least reviewing class notes before exams. Rewriting them offers a kinesthetic way of working through the subject matter. Writing information is also a proven technique for memorization as well as critical thinking. Freshman history education major Jillian Brody has come up with her own way to guarantee she goes back through
her notes. “In all my classes, I first write handwritten notes in lecture, getting all the information down. Before a big test, I go back, and I write it down on my iPad,” Brody said. She has her notes in two different places and gets extra practice rewriting them. “That way, I can make my notes pretty and have an excuse to go back through the material.”
PAGE 6 | THE VIDETTE
Features
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2020
Celebrating Latinx community National Latinx Heritage Month continues to grow GRACE KINNICUTT News Editor | @GKinnicutt
N
ational Latinx Month is a celebration of the history and culture of the United States Latinx and Hispanic communities. The month of celebration coincides with Independence Day celebrations of several Latin American nations. Spanning from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, events commemorate how these communities have influenced and contributed to the American society. Below are key dates pertaining to National Latinx Month.
MY VIEW CAMBRYN KELLEY | Podcast Host EDITOR’S NOTE: New Vidette Podcaster Camberyn Kelley joins Vidette Radio to have honest, topical conversation in both Spanish and English. Her podcast, Pláticas con Camberyn, can be found every other week at videtteonline. com, as well as most podcaststreaming platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play and Pandora.
Sept. 16, 1810
Mexico declares independence from Spain.
Sept. 15, 1821
Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua declared independence from Spain.
June 1968
California Rep. George E. Brown Jr. introduced a House joint resolution calling for the week of Sept. 15 to be proclaimed as “Hispanic Heritage Week”.
H
Sept. 17, 1968
President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Hispanic Heritage Week into law.
Aug. 17, 1988
President Ronald Reagan expanded the week to a month after members of Congress and the Senate proposed bills to expand the week over a 30-day period. Celebrations at Illinois State University have been held via Zoom with guest speakers from the university, virtual showings of museNickolas Parra | Staff Photographer | @NickoolasParra ums and guest speakers from other Margarita Ocampo prepares tacos for a family gathering. National Latinx Heritage month ends Oct. 15. universities. Artist and writer Dr. Alberto LedesThe next illustration captures the struggles of the Milwaukee Art museum as a case study and ma from the University of California in Berkeley Latino workers to provide for themselves and to connect Latinx-specific art and culture. has been presenting different illustrations of his their families during this difficult time. The third Thursday, a virtual tour of Paseo Boricua, pubwork, “Diary of a Reluctant Dreamer: Undocuillustration shares the feelings and hardships lic art in the cultural and commercial district in mented Vignettes from a Pre-American Life.” the separated family members are facing due to Chicago, will be held via Zoom The first illustration captures the predicaimmigrant policies. ISU’s Latin American and Latino/a Studies ments of Latino workers in the fields and food ISU assistant professor of global/non-western programs mark the month as a moment to reprocessing industry having to work without art and visual culture Kantara Souffrant preflect about the economic and political contribupapers to support his family during a pandemic. sented and explored the Haitian art collection at tions of Latino/as.
Shows by Latinx creators to check out ANDREA RICKER Features Editor | @ricker_andrea
This Latinx Heritage Month, celebrate by watching and supporting some movies and TV shows created by Latinx directors. According to the Los Angeles Times, 82% of nominees in 19 Primetime Emmy categories over the last five years were white, and only 1% were Latinx. Between the years of 2007 and 2018 only 4% of the top films had Latinx directors.
‘One Day at a Time’
New Vidette podcaster highlights important topics in BIPOC community
‘The House of Flowers’
Created by Manolo Caro, “The House of Flowers” is a drama-comedy that follows a Mexican family as they balance their successful florist shop with their secret cabaret. The show also has LGBTQ+ main characters. Both seasons of the show are available to stream on Netflix.
‘Vida’ Created by Tanya Saracho, “Vida” follows two Mexican American sisters who move back to their childhood home following the death of their mother. As they return home, they begin to learn more and more about their late mother. The show was released on Starz and also won the 2019 GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Comedy Series.
Developed by Gloria Calderon Kellet, “One Day at a Time” is a sitcom that follows a Cuban American family in Los Angeles. The family consists of Penelope Alvarez (Justina Machado), a Adam Rose/ Netflix/TNS single mother and Army veteran, her two ‘Don’t Breathe’ Celebrate Latinx Hispanic Month by watching and supporting kids and her mother Lydia Riera (Rita This horror thriller movie was directed shows by Latinx creators, like “One Day at a Time,” available on Moreno). “One Day at a Time” tackles and produced by Fede Álvarez. The Netflix and Pop TV. themes of immigration and racism as movie follows three friends who break well as other topics like sexism and ho‘Diary of a Future President’ into a blind man’s (Stephan Lang) house and mophobia. The show streamed three seasons on “Diary of a Future President” is a Disney+ then get trapped inside after their heist doesn’t Netflix, before being picked up by Pop TV. While exclusive show created by Ilana Peña. The show go as planned. Kellett is most known for “One Day at a Time,” follows Elena (Tess Romero), a 12-year-old Álvarez has also directed “Evil Dead” and “The she has also worked on “Jane the Virgin.” Cuban American girl who aspires to be a future Girl in the Spider’s Web.” United States president. Gina Rodriguez plays uEXPANDED STORY @ Videtteonline.com older Elena in the series.
ello everyone. My name is Camberyn Kelley and I am a junior at Illinois State University studying journalism and Spanish. My goal is to become a bilingual journalist and translate my own stories. I believe that it is more personal to learn a different language and communicate with someone because you truly get to know them. Studying Spanish has had its challenges, but I want to improve each and every day. I will be dropping a new podcast series with The Vidette called Pláticas con Camberyn. The podcast will be in Spanglish — I will be inviting guests on the show who speak Spanish as well as non-Spanish speakers. Each week will have a touch of Spanish and I will be discussing pressing issues. The topics I would like to discuss are Black Lives Matter, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, presidential debates and more. Throughout my journey with Spanish, I have written many papers and translated things, but I have not had the opportunity to conversate often. I will be able to have more conversations in Spanish with my podcast. Another goal of mine is to shine a light on the Black and Latinx communities. I am excited for you all to get to know me and my passion for social justice. I am extremely blessed to be given this opportunity —I want the voices of others to be shared with the world. Every person comes from a different walk of life which makes us all unique. I cannot wait to showcase these amazing individuals on my podcast. ¡Hasta pronto amigos! CAMBERYN KELLEY is a Podcast Host for The Vidette. She can be contacted at cakell3@ilstu.edu. Follow her on Twitter at @CamberynKelley.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2020
THE VIDETTE | SPORTS | PAGE 7
REDBIRD SPORTS TRIVIA
Are you an ISU super fan? Take our trivia quiz and see where you rank
1. Current ISU men’s basketball coach Dan Muller went undrafted into the NBA, but signed a contract in 1999 with which team? A. Vancouver Grizzlies B. Chicago Bulls C. Indiana Pacers D. Boston Celtics 2. Who is the most winningest coach in Illinois State history? A. Dan Muller B. Leah Johnson C. Mark Klysner D. Melinda Fischer Courtesy of Illinois State Athletics
Illinois State University offensive tackle Drew Himmelman (71) blocking against the North Dakota Bison during the 2019 FCS semifinals game. Over his three years, Himmelman has been a key part of the Redbirds’ offense and has been named an All-American three times.
Large and in charge
Physically gifted Himmelman looking for NFL career after ISU KEVIN KOSKI Sports Editor | @_koski_
100 pounds. “Looking back to those first few years, one of the main focuses of my entire life was trying to gain weight,” pectators filling Hancock Stadium during gameday Himmelman said. “The strength staff did a great job of would be hard-pressed to overlook Illinois State pushing me in the weight room to increase my strength University’s left tackle Drew Himmelman on the and increase my weight as well. So yeah, it was definitely field. After all, standing at 6 feet 10 inches and weighing a long journey. Looking back, it feels short but at the time progress was few and far between.” 315 pounds, he is hard to miss. The progress made since graduating high school has But Himmelman is gaining the attention of more than just Redbird fans; he has become a prospect for the NFL paid off as Himmelman’s size is something that now sets him apart as a potential draft prospect. draft. “You have to have length, that’s really imperative Himmelman has been a key piece to the Redbird offense since his redshirt freshman season in 2016. He now, especially up front, in offensive lineman so length helped clear the way for his teammate James Robinson is important and he’s close to 6 feet 10 inches so he’s to run into ISU’s record books, and garnered a long list pretty long,” Spack said when talking about attributes of accolades and awards himself, most recently being NFL scouts look for in prospects, “and obviously size, earning First-Team Football Championship Subdivi- strength but you have to be a really good athlete — you sion All-American honors from the American Football have to have good feet — especially if you want to be a Coaches Association and Missouri Valley Football Con- left tackle, even a right tackle in the NFL.” “I think my height and athleticism and my basketball ference First-Team all-conference and all-academic pick background kind of helps me out,” Himmelman said for the 2019 season. However, Himmelman’s journey has not been without when asked what he believes sets him apart. “I’m not challenge since graduating from Geneseo High School maybe what you think of when you think about your typiwhere he played baseball, basketball and football as a cal offensive linemen, I’m a little bit leaner and a little bit taller maybe so I think those things work in my advantight end. tage sometimes.” “At that point in time I actually really loved Another quality that sets Himmelman apart is basketball,” Himmelman said. “I always kind his intelligence both on and off the field. During of thought I would go to college to play bashis career at ISU he has obtained his undergradketball because at that time I was getting uate degree and is working on his master’s. recruited to play basketball a lot more than “I got my bachelor’s in exercise science and to play football.” then during that time I took a course in bioAs a senior he had to make the tough decimechanics, actually a couple of courses in sion of which sport to pursue at the collegiate biomechanics, and decided I really liked it so level. decided to get my master’s in that,” Himmel“It kind of just came down to really what man said. Drew I enjoyed more,” Himmelman said. “Even “He’s a really hard worker and he’s a great stuthough I was getting more looks for basketball I Himmelman dent,” Spack said. “Offensive linemen are some of think I knew I would enjoy playing college footthe smartest guys because you have to know so much, ball more so that’s the path I ended up taking.” Once he made up his mind on which sport to play, he and I think he internalizes that — Drew does — because was able to decide which school to play for. The decision he is so smart.” The process of increasing a potential draft prospect’s was made easier by the fact that Illinois State was the only draft stock in traditional years is difficult enough, but school to offer him a scholarship. Coming out of high school, both Himmelman and Illi- with the COVID-19 pandemic postponing seasons and nois State head coach Brock Spack knew that he needed to creating uncertainty about the future, things are uniquely work on developing physically to excel at the collegiate level. challenging. Himmelman is using this opportunity “I took off fall of 2015, went part time to community to ensure he gives himself the best chance of playing college then came in January of 2016,” Himmelman said. post-collegiately. “It has been crazy, obviously not having a normal “The reason I did that is because I was super skinny. I was a string bean. I was the same height as I am now fall but coach Spack has done a great job of leading us through it and keeping us focused so that whenever we but like 240.” “We grey shirted him. He sat out his freshman fall, and do get to play we will be at our best,” Himmelman said. “It’s been tough; we’ve had to restart at least three or he came in as a freshman mid-year,” Spack said. “When you do that it kind of erases a whole year. Then the next four times and now we are doing spring ball in the fall,” year he was redshirted so that gave him another year … Spack said. “The good news is now he will be able to work another spring, another fall and another spring to get on his skill set here in the fall to become a better player than he already is, and he is already really good so I think ready for his redshirt freshman year.” During those two years, Himmelman put on close to that will really help him for the draft and for our team.” uEXPANDED STORY @ Videtteonline.com
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6. Former Redbird and NBA player/coach Doug Collins grew up in Benton. He was next-door neighbors with which former Redbird turned famous actor? A. Jane Lynch B. John Malkovich C. Gary Cole D. Gary Sinise
3. What team did ISU Doug Collins WBB’s beat to earn its 7. Who is the only ISU men’s first win over a nationally ranked basketball alumnus to have his player in 28 years? number retired in the program? A. Duke A. Doug Collins B. Missouri State B. Malik Yarbrough C. Notre Dame C. Dan Muller D. Penn State D. Paris Lee 4. Most people know that former Redbird Paul DeJong is the starting short stop for the St. Louis Cardinals, but who was he drafted by the year before the Cardinals drafted him? Paul DeJong A. New York Yankees B. Pittsburgh Pirates C. Arizona Diamondbacks D. Toronto Blue Jays
8. Former baseball pitcher Neal Cotts was recognized with All-MVC honors during his time at ISU. Which MLB team drafted him in 2001? A. St. Louis Cardinals B. Minnesota Twins C. Baltimore Orioles D. Oakland Athletics 9. How many wins has Dan Muller had on the road the last three seasons? A. 28 B. 6 C. 12 D. 19 10. While he’s not the first ISU mascot, Reggie Redbird is the most famous. Hatching prior to a 31-7 win over Western Illinois, Reggie has been an iconic fixture of ISU since that day. What year did Reggie make his first appearance? A. 2017 B. 1956 C. 1969 D. 1981
FIND THE ANSWERS AND SCORE YOUR REDBIRD ACUMEN by visiting @ Videtteonline.com
LYONS
Continued from Page 8
“We are always interested in diversity in all of our searches so the part of the way that you get that. You try to cast to a wide audience across the nation. I am confident in the search process,” Dietz said. “I believe in the process and we will be aggressive about moving the process forward but also careful about making sure that we have diversity represented in the pool.” Lyons became athletic director on July 1, 2013, when then-ISU president Al Bowman promoted Lyons to the top seat. Lyons had held the position of executive associate athletic director. He was originally hired to a threeyear term. Lyons replaced Gary Friedman, who resigned as athletic
Phone 309 438 7685 • Fax 309 438 5211 Corner of Locust & University, Normal, IL Monday – Friday. 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
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5. ISU men’s basketball achieved its last win of the 2019-20 season against what team? A. Bradley B. Evansville C. Drake D. Loyola
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director on June 30, 2013. Friedman had only held the position for two years after Sheahon Zenger quit in 2011 to take the athletic director position at Kansas University. Lyons served as interim AD between the time of the Zenger departure and the Friedman hire. Lyons earned a bachelor’s degree in biology in 1978 from the University of Illinois, and a bachelor’s degree in accounting in 1986 from ISU. He was ISU’s 11th athletic director in the Division I era. After over three decades with the ISU Athletics administration, Lyons said he looks forward to his opportunity to take a step back and relax. “No permanent plans. We are going to jump in the car sometime in January and go south and visit some friends and see some warmer weather,” Lyons said. Lyons added that the phrase “Redbird for Life,” will eventually lead him back to Normal, a place he’s called home for three decades. JAKE FOGAL is a Sports Editor for The Vidette. He can be contacted at vidette_jpfoga1@ilstu.edu. Follow Fogal on Twitter at @jfogal5.
Sports
PAGE 8 | THE VIDETTE
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2020
So long, Lyons ‘I met with him [Dietz] after the spring semester to inform him of my intention to retire as of Dec. 31, 2020. I indicated that I would make the transition in leadership as smooth as possible, as I care deeply about this institution.’ Larry Lyons | Illinois State Athletic Director
Photography Courtesy Illinois State Athletics JAKE FOGAL Sports Editor | @jfogal5
31, 2020. I indicated that I would make the transition in leadership as smooth as possible, as I care deeply about this institution,” Lyons said. n a whirlwind of news released Having known of Lyons’ decision to before dawn Friday, Illinois possibly retire by the end of the year, State University Athletic DirecDietz said he held out hope that he tor Larry Lyons announced could convince the Pontiac native to plans to retire at the end of the year. stay with the program. Waiting on LyThe news of the pending reons’ final answer delayed the launch tirement will close the book on a of a search for Lyons’ replacement. 33-year career at ISU that has seen “The retirement conversations successes in the men’s and women’s were ongoing, because frankly, the programs as well as upgrades in president was trying to get me to physical facilities on the Normal stay on longer. We got to a point campus. Lyons’ stint as AD, howthat we agreed and are going to ever, has not been without some move forward with the controversy. search, and that he was goAfter his controing accept my intention to versial “All Redbird retire. That is the point we lives matter” stateare at now,” Lyons said. ment in August, Dietz, meanwhile, issued Lyons came under a goodbye to Lyons Friday, pressure from wishing him well in his student-athletes to future endeavors. resign in the wake “We [the university] of the 2020 Black wish Larry very well in his Lives Matter moveretirement, appreciate his ment. good work, the patience of However, in his wife and her presence an interview in all these kind of meetwith The Vidette ings and events they go to, Friday morning, but also looking forward Lyons denied that to having another quality the controversy factored into his Vidette Archives director come in and lead Illinois State University Athletic Director Larry Lyons, shown us forward,” Dietz said. decision to leave Following the statement the top athletic de- here during the ISU baseball team’s June 2019 run in the NCAA that offended numerous partment position, Tournament in Louisville, Kentucky.
I
an office he has held since 2013. He said he has been considering retirement for several months. Lyons turns 65 in November. When asked about the September controversy, he said “it does not” factor into his decision to retire. “The conversations that President [Larry] Dietz and I were having preceded that,” Lyons told The Vidette. Lyons said his retirement talks began shortly after the spring commencement in May. “I met with him [Dietz] after the spring semester to inform him of my intention to retire as of Dec.
ISU students, Lyons released an apology a week later to attempt to repair the broken trust between student-athletes and the administration. Several student-athletes who led the September campaign did not immediately return calls from The Vidette for comment on Lyons’ retirement development. Dietz told The Vidette that the university is prepared to undertake a national search to replace Lyons but did not spell out a precise timetable. “We are going to do a search and I am going to spend the early part of next week trying to pull a search committee together and we are going to utilize the help of an outside search firm due to the timing of all of this. It’ll be a national search and if we have internal folks, they are welcome to apply, as is to everybody,” Dietz said. Regarding the national search, Dietz was not able to project a price tag of retaining a search firm to assist the university in the process. Dietz emphasized that diversity in candidates will be a criterion in the selection process. “We are always interested in diversity in all of our searches so the part of the way that you get that. You try to cast to a wide audience across the nation. I am confident in the search process,” Dietz said. See LYONS on Page 7
Timing of Lyons’ retirement is perfect
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llinois State University Athletic Director Larry Lyons is one of the most respected athletic directors in the Missouri Valley Conference. MVC Commissioner Doug Elgin has gone as far as ranking Lyons in the top five ADs he has seen in his over 30-year reign. “I have the utmost respect for what [Lyons] has done at ISU,” Elgin said. “He has generally been considered a leader in the MVC. I think anyone on our staff would agree that he is a top-five AD that we have had.” The Pontiac native had a successful 33-year career with ISU Athletics that made him a self-proclaimed “Redbird for life.” Lyons used his expertise as a certified public accountant to make smart fiscal moves for athletics, including raising over $30 million for Redbirds Rising. During his time, ISU Athletics found success on the field, but more importantly, off of it. During his term, ISU student-athletes reached a department-high 3.61 GPA last semester. Lyons’ lasting impact can be seen in the upgrades to Hancock Stadium, Redbird Arena and Duffy Bass Field.
MY VIEW JAKE SERMERSHEIM | Sports Editor So, when the news of Lyons’ intent to retire broke, many were surprised and possibly caught off guard. Coming during a 5 a.m. joint announcement by goredbirds.com and The Pantagraph, few expected the news that Lyons’ career would come to a close on Dec. 31. At age 64 (turning 65 next month), the news normally would not necessarily be shocking; but Lyons is just a few weeks removed from the biggest controversy of an otherwise scandal-free career. During an all-athlete Zoom call at the end of August, Lyons told the group “All Redbirds lives matter,” sparking controversy around ISU’s campus. After his comment, many people called for the longtime AD to be fired or step down. However, Lyons
says the controversy did not factor into his decision to retire. In fact, Lyons and ISU president Larry Dietz told The Vidette in an interview that retirement conversations have been ongoing since the spring semester. Those who were calling for Lyons to step down after the “All Redbird lives matter” scandal are likely relieved to hear of his impending departure. With many student-athletes souring on Lyons after his comments, the timing could not be better to bring in a new face to the program. After the scandal, many studentathletes were adamant that change needed to be made. Either an ideology change with Lyons or a full change in AD. Even after Lyons apologized to student-athletes for his comments, track and field athlete Kimathi Johnson made it clear that he was still unhappy with Lyons and that change still needed to come. “We just want to make clear that we do not forgive Lyons,” Johnson said in September. “If he wants to continue being our athletic director, he needs to make changes.” ISU will reportedly cast a wide
net looking for someone to fill the position, but Dietz said that anyone within ISU is also welcome to apply. Dietz also said the university will look to find a diverse set of candidates. After criticism from ISU studentathletes regarding a lack of diversity in positions of power, the search process will likely focus on finding a diverse candidate to fill the position. After ISU’s latest controversies regarding Lyons and more recently the unceremonious ouster of former assistant football coach Kurt Beathard, the university would be well advised to select someone with a good track record related to social justice. So, while the overall body of work during the Lyons era at ISU is filled with assorted successes, the timing of his pending exit feels right. And it also feels like a perfect opportunity for the university the strengthen its student-athlete relationships. JAKE SERMERSHEIM is a Sports Editor for The Vidette. He can be contacted at vidette_jrserme@ilstu. edu. Follow Sermersheim on Twitter at @JakeSermersheim.
COACH REACTIONS
“
This is a bittersweet moment. Larry has always been extremely supportive of our program. I am sad to see Larry retire but I am so happy for him and Maureen. I would not be where I am if it Kristen Gillespie, wasn’t women’s for his basketball belief head coach in me three years ago. I am so thankful for all of his guidance and I will forever be grateful that he chose me to be a Redbird.”
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Larry has been an absolute awesome boss for seven years ... eight years, whatever it has been. He loves Illinois State University as much as anybody Dan Muller, and it men’s shows basketball with his head coach commitment to the department and university. He’s put in 33 years. I’m just appreciative of his belief in me, appreciative of what he has done for our program and our department. We will miss him for sure. Surprised when he made the call, sure. Cause you are always surprised when they do it.” COMPILED BY JAKE FOGAL Vidette Sports Editor