CUBS, INDIANS LOOK TO END TITLE DROUGHT SPORTS 8
MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2016
videtteonline Photo by JOSH TOLENTINO Vidette Sports Editor
ILLINOIS
STATE UNIVERSIT Y’S NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1888
GO CUBS GO!
Vol. 129 / No. 19
Rape remains shadowed on Illinois State campus ISU PD report only a few rapes each year despite campus efforts to bring issue to light MARY CULLEN News Editor
SPECIAL REPORT: SEXUAL ASSUALT EFFECT ON ISU
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The Chicago Cubs celebrate after a 5-0 series-clinching win against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series at Wrigley Field Saturday.
Blo-No community celebrates clincher TOM HEAGNEY News Reporter | @TomHeagney
The 140 miles of distance between Wrigley Field and Normal did little to dilute the impact of the Chicago Cubs’ National League Championship Series-clinching win Saturday night. Raucous cheering could be heard emanating from apartments on Mulberry Street as Cubs’ first baseman Anthony Rizzo recorded the final out of the game. By doing so he punched the team’s ticket to its first World Series appearance since 1945. Junior accounting and finance major Jake Jewell said the feeling of the moment defied reality. “My initial reaction was disbelief, I couldn’t believe this was actually happening,” Jewell said. “The Cubs have been so bad for so long. Everyone kept telling themselves that things might come together in the next four to five years when all the young players came up [from the minor leagues]. But for it to actually happen, especially against one of the best pitchers in the league, was incredible.” Jewell said he initially celebrated the win by blasting Steve Goodman’s “Go Cubs Go” repeatedly. Still, he freely admits that the Cubs’ opponent in the World Series, the Cleveland Indians, present a sizeable roadblock for a team looking to win its first title in 108 years. “I’ve kind of stopped the celebrating and I’ve started to realize just how dangerous the Cleveland Indians are,” he said. “The Cubs still have quite a bit of work to do.”
Like so many millions of fans, junior accounting major Rodrigo Jaime said the impact of the win was accentuated by the impact it had on family. “Obviously I’m extremely happy because of the win, but I’m even happier for my dad,” Jaime said. “He will now get to see the Cubs in the big dance for the first time in his 51 years. I will most likely be going home next weekend to watch the games with him.”
“When [the Cubs] won last night, I will admit I got pretty choked up thinking about how much this victory and the trip to the World Series means for so many loyal and hard-suffering fans like me.” Kathleen Hopper, School of Communication professor
Illinois State University students were far from the only members of the campus community to feel the impact of the win, however. School of Communication professor Kathleen Megan Hopper, Ph.D., said Saturday night made a lifetime of losing more than worth the wait. “I have been waiting for this type of success for most of my life and many others have as well,” Hopper said. “When [the Cubs] won last night, I will admit I got pretty choked up thinking about how much this victory and the trip to the World
Series means for so many loyal and hardsuffering fans like me. I especially thought of those that have been waiting for this much longer than I have, those who never, ever lost faith.” Despite the excitement of advancing to their first World Series in more than 71 years, Hopper and other Cubs fans recognize that an even more emotional celebration could loom in the coming week-and-a-half. Should the Cubs defeat the American League Champion Cleveland Indians and their all-world relief pitcher Andrew Miller, a celebration unlike any other seen in modern sports history would be inevitable. “I did not celebrate too voraciously last night,” Hopper said. “I’m saving that up for when we win the World Series.” ISU senior risk management and insurance major and lifelong Cubs fan Ethan Witting also reacted to the win emphatically. “It’s pretty surreal,” Witting said. “I’ve been waiting for this my whole life, my Dad has been waiting for this his whole life, my grandfather has been waiting for this his whole life and now it’s finally happening. We’re four wins away, it’s unreal.” The Cubs were favorites to win the World Series even before the season began and a 103-win regular season only further stoked the flames of excitement for Chicago’s longtortured fan base. Now they are just four wins away from ending their 108-year World Series drought. Game one of the World Series is set to begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday. It will be televised on FOX and available for streaming at MLB.tv.
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l l i n o i s State University has seen innumerable rapes and counts of sexual violence over the years, yet the topic still remains shadowed. Editor’s Note: This is the Nationally, rape has been disfirst of a multi-part series cussed more than ever this year exploring sexual assault and due to media coverage. Examples how Illinois State University of these include Republican Nomdeals with the issue. inee Donald Trump’s comments about “locker room banter” as well as a letter that went viral earlier this year detailing the story of one woman who was raped by Stanford star swimmer, Brock Turner. In an open letter addressed to the Stanford rape survivor, Vice President Joe Biden notes that the problem is peoples’ perceptions of rape and calls for citizens to speak out to promote change. “We will speak to change the culture on our college campuses — a culture that continues to ask the wrong questions: What were you wearing? Why were you there? What did you say? How much did you drink? Instead of asking: Why did he think he had license to rape?” Biden wrote. The National Sexual Violence Resource Center reports that one in five women and one in 16 men are sexually assaulted while in college. Of these, more than 90 percent go unreported. This calendar year alone, alleged rapes on ISU’s campus have reached the news. Of these include the Preview alleged assault case that is nearing trial as well as a more recent case where a student was allegedly raped after the offender threatened to post their sexual activity on social media. The aforementioned alleged assaults received wide media coverage, some extending beyond the state of Illinois. While enrolled at Illinois State, students are frequently required to take online courses focused on the prevention of sexual assault. Of these courses is “Consent and Respect” where students are taught the meaning of consent. “Consensual sex is when both partners are freely and willingly agreeing, or consenting, to “What [victims of whatever sexual activity is occurring,” the definition assault] really want on ISU’s Counseling website their friends, family and states. “Consent cannot be given when an individual is community to do, is to intoxicated. Sex without constand with them during sent is sexual assault.” Regardless of media covthis time and be part of erage or student required their restoration.” training courses, sexual Matthew Drat, Director of assault still occurs, lips Resource Development and remain sealed and rapes go unreported on ISU’s campus. Community Engagement at MCCA According to the 2015 annual report from Illinois State University Police, only 12 campus rapes were reported for the entire year. Also reported in that year were 17 counts of dating violence, one count of domestic violence and 10 counts of stalking. ISU does, however, provide assistance in supporting rape victims. Through the university’s Office of Equal Opportunity and Access, there is a unit devoted entirely to Title IX where students are able to find support and help in regards to sexual harassment, sexual assault or misconduct, dating or domestic violence and stalking. Along with the Title IX office, there are additional support groups and organizations in the community that provide assistance to victims of sexual assault. Mid Central Community Action Inc. (MCCA), located in Bloomington, is currently in the tail end of its month-long Domestic Violence awareness campaign, “Stand Up With Me: A Victim’s Call To Their Community.” see RAPE page 2