WHAT’S GOING ON WITH REDBIRD FOOTBALL?
PROFESSOR BRINGS WORLDLY KNOWLEDGE TO CLASSROOM FEATURES 7
SPORTS 8
videtteonline
MONDAY, OCTOBER 03, 2016
Vol. 129 / No. 13
ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSIT Y’S NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1888
State Farm faces legal charges STEPHANIE RODRIGUEZ News Reporter | @StephanieRoddd
A southern Illinois federal judge approved a class-action status for a lawsuit that accuses State Farm of sending money into the election campaign for an Illinois Supreme Court justice in hopes of influencing his vote on a ruling. Chicago-based law firm Clifford Law Offices is representing the 4.7 million State Farm policyholders in this class action lawsuit titled Hale v. State Farm. According to the law firm’s website, the court’s status decision brings the case one step closer to a jury trial. It continues by stating the trial would determine the damages suffered by those State Farm policyholders who made a claim for vehicle repairs pursuant to their policies from 1987 to 1998. Hale v. State Farm alleges that the insurance company violated the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statute by pouring campaign contributions to a Supreme Court justice’s race to influence the reversal of a $1.05 billion decision. The United States Department of Justice describes RICO charges as being unlawful for anyone employed by or associated with any enterprise engaged in, or the activities of which affect, interstate or foreign
Photo courtesy of www.StateFarm.com
State Farm has been accused of sending money into the election campaign for a state Supreme Court justice in hopes of influencing future rulings. commerce, to conduct or participate, directly or indirectly, in the conduct of such enterprise’s affairs through a pattern of racketeering. If the suit against the Bloomington-based company ends in favor of the plaintiffs, it could result in a more than $7.6 billion payout to policyholders, according to the law firm. State Farm spokesman Justin
Tomczak said the company is not in agreement with the court’s decision and it will try to have it reviewed. “We are disappointed in the court’s decision on the class certification question and respectfully disagree with it. We intend to ask the appellate court to review this ruling in the very near future,” Tomczak said. “Plaintiffs have unsuccessfully
asserted and reasserted these allegations for many years and should not be permitted to do so any longer.” The judge that received the campaign funds from State Farm is Republican Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier, who ran for his position in 2004. The case refers to the money Karmeier received as “dark money,”
which is described as campaign contributions that are run through political action committees so that the actual source of its distribution is not muddied. After Karmeier’s election to the Illinois Supreme Court, he cast the deciding vote in the reversal of the Avery v. State Farm. The suit regarded State Farm’s practice of repairing claimants’ cars with nonoriginal equipment or aftermarket parts in repair estimates issued to its policyholders. Policyholders were allegedly led to believe that the parts they were receiving were factory authorized, as their policies provided. Founder and senior partner of Clifford Law Offices and co-lead counsel of the class-action matter Robert Clifford said that the next step for them will be to prepare for trial. “The Illinois Constitution clearly provides that four votes are required to reverse the decision of an appellate court,” Clifford said. “In the absence of four votes, the Illinois Constitution provides that the decision of the appellate court stands, which in this matter would have resulted in affirming the $1.05 billion verdict.” Both parties are expected to appear before U.S. District Judge David R. Herndon on Oct. 15 in St. Louis for status on the case.
Reggie Redbird: The bird behind ISU AMANDA TOCHALAUSKI News Reporter
“Can I do this? Can I live up to my family’s expectations?” He sat crouched in the box, waiting for his signal. Once he heard the signal, he popped out of the box. The crowd was ecstatic, and he felt victorious. Reggie Redbird, Illinois State University’s current mascot, made his debut Sept. 5, 1981 during a football game between ISU and Western Illinois University. Reggie was on a flatbed float with a box on it that was filled with balloons and the Redbird. The box was surrounded by ISU cheerleaders, and when they gave the signal, Reggie was to pop out and help them cheer on the players. Reggie reported in an interview with University Archivist April Anderson in April 2015 that he was a little bit nervous on the float. However, despite his worry, Reggie’s debut
made the ISU community finally accept its new mascot. The crowd loved Reggie, and his new $2,000 costume, much better than his father’s costume, which was a paper maché head and a shag carpet suit. Reggie’s newfound popularity allowed him to accomplish tasks his family had never done before. Reggie attended numerous events, like a ribbon cutting ceremony where Reggie stood right beside Ronald McDonald when welcoming the first McDonald’s to Normal. Reggie has also been able to build somewhat of a social media empire. Reggie has accounts on numerous social media platforms such as Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter. Reggie’s motivator was his father, he admitted to Anderson. see REGGIE page 2
Photo courtesy of the Dr. Jo Ann Rayfield Archives at Illinois State University
Reggie Redbird made his debut Sept. 5, 1981 during a football game between ISU and Western Illinois University.
GIVE A TO AN ALUM, CURRENT STUDENT, OR ORGANIZATION
see videtteonline.com for details
PAGE 2 | NEWS | THE VIDETTE
MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2016
STAFF LIST Editor in Chief
Ave Rio
News Editors
Ema Sasic Mary Cullen
Features Editor
Morgan Kuniej
Sports Editors
Jason Klaer Josh Tolentino
Photo Editors
Jenna Kadziulis Kelly McNamara Night Editors
Laura Rocco Joe Martuzzo Social Media Manager
Bret Farrell
Art Director
Jeremy Burcenski Ad Sales Manager
Kevin Rizzo
Left: Image courtesy of the Dr. Jo Ann Rayfield Archives | Right: Lori Michelsen | Vidette Photographer
Ad Production Manager
Reggie Redbird’s image has changed considerably over the years.
Sarah Foote
Business Manager
Zack Oldenburg Office Manager
Katie Murphy
Marketing Team Manager
Charlie Goodyear
Web Editor
Caleb Boma
Business Adviser
Madeline Smith
General Manager
John Plevka
DIRECTORY EDITOR 309.438.8745
REGGIE continued from page 1
Although he’s unable to speak, his expressions showed he had much respect for his father. The Redbird family members, upon their arrival to ISU around the 1950s, had wanted nothing more than to be ISU’s biggest fans. Before Reggie made that happen by becoming the mascot of the school, ISU had many problems when trying to find a school name and mascot. Originally the Pedagogs, ISU’s mascot was known as the “Fighting Teachers” until the 1920s when Dr. Clifford “Pop” Horton, director of the men’s Health and Physical Education Department at Illinois State
from 1923-1961, suggested something different. Without an actual mascot, the school referred to itself as “The Red and White,” which inspired Horton to call the athletic players the Cardinals. This name was not intended to have people think of birds, but instead to represent the red color in the school colors. Due to confusion that arose with the Saint Louis Cardinals, the name was eventually changed to Redbirds. Reggie did not get his name until after a contest. Students were allowed to pick the name of their new Redbird mascot, and six students all recommended the name Reggie after baseball great Reggie Jackson. Reggie loves to attend school events like football and volleyball games and Homecoming events. He
BUSINESS 309.438.5929
NEWS 309.438.2882 FEATURES 309.438.8746 SPORTS 309.438.3723 FACSIMILE 309.438.5211
Amanda Tochalauski is a News Reporter for The Vidette. Contact her at vidette_avtocha@ilstu.edu.
U of I shooting suspect turns himself in
ADVERTISING 309.438.8742
CLASSIFIEDS 309.438.7685
loves the opportunity to cheer ISU players to victory. Reggie takes his job very seriously, so he doesn’t speak when he’s working. “Reggie does not speak … so [his] ability to create ‘fan focus’ was strictly based upon the visual,” School of Communication professor Tom Lamonica said. To help engage fans, Lamonica recalled Reggie wearing wigs, T-shirts and badges. Reggie is somewhat a bird of mystery, but one thing is for certain: he will never miss an opportunity to support the students and faculty of ISU.
MARY CULLEN News Editor | @MaryCullen7
The suspect in the Sept. 25 shooting at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign turned himself in late Thursday night to the Champaign County Jail. The Champaign Police Department (CPD) released a warrant for the arrest of Robbie Patton, Image courtesy of the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office 18, Wednesday for charges of first Robbie M. Patton turned himself in Thursday night. degree murder and aggravated
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
battery with a firearm. Patton’s bond is set at $5 million. The shooting took place early Sunday on the 300 block of East Green Street near the U of I campus and resulted in one fatality, George Korchev, and multiple wounded. At a press conference held Wednesday, CPD announced the identification of Patton through surveillance footage near the scene of the crime. Patton recently completed a
THURSDAY
four-month boot camp in place of an eight-year prison sentence for aggravated discharge of a firearm in December. This shooting also took place in Champaign. No one was injured. He was arrested again on Sept. 11 by University of Illinois Police for allegedly lying about his identity. He was released the same day after posting bond. Charges were later filed against him for misdemeanor obstruction of identification.
Follow related U of I shooting stories online. videtteonline.com
70 Low 46 Precip 0% High
71 Low 47 Precip 0% High
The Vidette 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 the Vidette. The views presented do not necessarily represent, in whole or part, those of the
68 Low 49 Precip 10% High
72 Low 50 Precip 10%
COUPON
High
Illinois State University administration, faculty and students. The Vidette is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press and the Illinois College Press Association. Subscriptions are available by mail to anywhere in the United States for $150 per calendar year. © The Vidette 2016 University & Locust / Campus Box 0890 / Normal, IL 61761–0890
$
8.99
HAIRCUT 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
WALK RIGHT IN! Expires 12/15/2016
COUPON
VID899
THE VIDETTE | NEWS | PAGE 3
MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2016
Juvenile detention stats provoke change
A high number of youth admitted in the McLean County Detention Center have citizens seeking options to help mitigate the problem CASSIE MCNEILL News Reporter | @165_Cassie1
Recent juvenile detention statistics have provoked residents of McLean County to take charge and make change. McLean County holds one of 16 juvenile county detention centers in the state, and in 2016 alone has admitted 139 youths, with 54 percent being from other counties. According to the Center for Prevention Research and Development at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the state average detention rate is 8.8 percent per 1,000 youth. In 2014, 183 youths between the ages of 10 and 17 were held in McLean County, which had a detention rate of 10.8 per 1,000 youths. Bloomington City Council Ward 6 Alderman Karen Schmidt said the numbers presented show a problem. “I am aware of these statistics, and I am very troubled by them. I used to be the City Council representative on the [McLean County] Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, and heard these reports regularly,” Schmidt said. Schmidt, who has served as a City Council member for 18 years, explained that knowing the commonality of these statistics was a big part of why she is supportive
Statistics in juvenile detention rates are concerning to citizens in McLean County. of and helps fund at-risk youth programs. “It revealed to me that we are not doing enough to help our children create a positive future,” Schmidt said. The statistics also showed racial disparities reflected in the juvenile detention system in Illinois. The findings showed that 76 percent of the youth population in Illinois is
Getty Images
represented by white youth, but the rate of detention admission is 10 percent. However, while less than 20 percent of the population is represented by black youth, more than 80 percent of the juvenile detention population is occupied by black youth. Organizations such as YouthBuild, the Boys & Girls Club and the Juvenile Justice Initiative are aware of the problems with
the system and are trying hard to change the story. For children who are taken into custody, a detention hearing must be held within 40 hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and court holidays. The law keeps youth in custody for several days because of weekends and holidays, which is longer than adults, who must be brought before a judge within 48 hours including weekends and holidays. “We need to ask hard questions about how the juvenile justice system works and what we can do as responsible and caring citizens to make sure these kids have a better landing spot when they get into trouble,” Schmidt said. Illinois State University physical education major Bridget Ryan said one of the reasons why McLean County has high statistics is due to the size of the community. “McLean County is small in a sense that children don’t have as many outlets to get involved in as compared to the metropolitan area,” Ryan said, “which makes it easier for youth to get involved in bad things.” Local organizations in McLean County, such as the Center for Youth and Family Solutions, which partnered with court services to help minors stay on the right track, are also taking the initiative to provoke change.
October turns pink for breast cancer AMANDA TOCHALAUSKI News Reporter
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM) has been celebrated every October since 1985. NBCAM was created to raise awareness and to collect donations toward research on how to cure, prevent and treat the disease. According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer affects around one out of eight women, and there are almost 250,000 cases reported each year. The disease is not one that only affects women; it affects men too. Although it is not as common, nearly 2,600 cases of breast cancer this year are expected to be diagnosed in men. Breast cancer is caused by an uncontrolled growth of breast cancer cells. Due to this growth, one may feel lumps on their breast. At Illinois State University, Colleges Against Cancer (CAC) is acting to raise awareness as well. Senior integrated marketing communications major Sara Fortin said the organization will be selling T-shirts where proceeds raised will go to the American Cancer Society. “We really want to spread awareness this October for breast cancer,” Fortin said. “We will be selling T-shirts every Wednesday this month from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. along with having fun activities throughout the month to help educate students on breast cancer.”
Fortin hopes CAC will make an impact on the campus and said its organization will continue to raise awareness even after October. NBCAM’s main focus is trying to get people to participate in regular mammograms and in performing self-exams. Family history plays a big part in one’s risk for developing breast cancer, and if one’s family has a longstanding history in the disease, then the likelihood of being diagnosed increases greatly. Registered nurse and Nursing Assistant Program Director at Illinois Central College Lari LaBello said knowing this information can help someone take care of themselves sooner. “It is important for girls to know their family history, and if there is a history of breast cancer, young women need to begin early prevention,” LaBello said. “When you become comfortable doing a self-exam at an early age, you’ll be able to notice any changes in your breasts and catch any signs of breast cancer much sooner.” Many news organizations raise awareness of the disease throughout the month as well. Central Illinois news station WEEK in Peoria has been practicing Buddy Check 25, which it started in 2010. This program is designed to help all women and men gain awareness of breast cancer and its symptoms by reminding them and a buddy to perform their self-exams. Mammograms are also a main prevention step that should
Ali Rasper | Vidette Photographer
People can wear pink to support breast cancer survivors.
be taken regularly once people reach the age of 50. Again, the risk of breast cancer can be increased based on someone’s family history. Local health care providers urge people to get regular mammograms regardless of these factors. Although this information may not seem relevant to college students, it is best to form the habit of self-exams now so they are better prepared in the future.
Evidence of climate change topic of University Club talk STEPHANIE RODRIGUEZ News Reporter | @StephanieRoddd
The Illinois State University Club had a professor emeritus from the Department of Chemistry present evidence on climate change Friday to help attendees better see the true impact of the change in the climate. C. Frank Shaw III presented “Climate Change: Evidence for (including demonstrations) and Mitigation” to the University Club in the Faculty/ Staff Commons in the Bone Student Center. In his presentation, Shaw examined how climate change has affected the world physically and economically and how the consequences of it are apparent. “The evidence is so strong. There are 10 factors that are monitored. Four of them are temperature — over water, surface water, over land and up in the troposphere, showing atmospheric warming,” Shaw said.
Anna Gallagher | Vidette Photographer
C. Frank Shaw III explains how climate change has a huge impact on the world physically and economically. “We know there is ocean warming, we know we’re losing glaciers, we’re losing ice, and all of these point to a
warming world.” “In nature we find lots of examples of things getting out of whack because
some things happen according to the length of the sun and others according to the changing temperature,”
Shaw said. Shaw also said one of the most visible consequences of global warming is that states like Wisconsin are getting their spring two weeks earlier than normal, which in turn affects the wildlife. President of the University Club and professor of physiology Robert Preston said the club likes to keep its topics interesting and relevant to its members. “University Club is the only interdisciplinary association for faculty, staff and annuitants in the university. Many major universities have university clubs and this is our version of it here,” Preston said. “Part of it is for us to get together, meet each other, socialize and provide interesting speakers on topics of current interests, and also hear from our local professors, artists and musicians so it is widely interdisciplinary.” see CLIMATE page 6
Viewpoint
PAGE 4 | THE VIDETTE
VIDETTE EDITORIAL
MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2016
Justice for Victims Act should be enforced nationwide
O
n Sept. 28, California Gov. Jerry Brown agreed to sign a bill that will eliminate the statute of limitations for rape and sexual assault. The statute of limitations is the time frame in which sexual assault crimes can be punishable by law. Prior to this new bill, the limitation was 10 years. “Rape survivors face many barriers to reporting this crime, but an arbitrary legal time limit is no longer a barrier in California,” said Caroline Heldman, an Occidental College professor who co-chaired the EndRapeSOL
campaign that agreed to this law, according to the Huffington Post. “This law will only affect a small number of survivors who have solid evidence that a crime occurred many years after the fact, but for these survivors, this law is life-changing.” This new bill, called the Justice for Victims Act, was created to prevent rapists and sexual predators from dodging legal consequences in California because the statute of limitations has run out. With the new bill, regardless of when a rape is discovered or reported, survivors of sexual assault will have the opportunity to speak
out and get justice. Many victims of sexual assault do not report their assault for fear of what will happen afterward, such as the case not being taken seriously or being dismissed by authorities. Many victims wait years before they get the courage to speak out about their rape to get justice. Although the law beforehand did provide aid for victims after 10 years, it came with limits. Despite passing both houses with no opposing votes, the legislation still had some concerns. One of the criticisms, according to the Associated Press, was that
after a few years many victims may forget exactly what happened and evidence will disintegrate over time. Fortunately, California is not the first or only state to eliminate the statute of limitations on sexual assault charges. According to the California Women’s Law Center, 16 other states have implemented laws similar to this one. This new law should be passed nationwide because it can help a lot of women who have been sexually assaulted, but feel like they have waited too long to speak out. This new law will show women – and men – that it’s never too late to get justice. The Justice for Victims Act can help those who have been sexually assaulted on college campuses, and it is no secret that many young women who have been sexually assaulted in college don’t speak up about the assault for any number of reasons. This is the beginning of great change for rape and sexual assault victims. Not only will they have a chance at justice – with no limitations – but the suspect will be sure to get the time they deserve no matter how long ago the incident happened.
Editorial Cartoon by Jeremy Burcenski | Vidette Art Director
Editorial written by KAMARA TURNER, 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
?
Do you think the Justice for Victims Act should be enforced nationwide?
October is for more than Halloween
MY VIEW EMA SASIC | Columnist
O
ctober is officially here, and for many that means the countdown to Halloween can officially begin. While it’s pretty obvious to see the month is mostly dedicated to the holiday (there are already ghosts, witches and spiderwebs scattered throughout Bloomington-Normal), several causes have named October as their awareness month. Among them include breast cancer, substance abuse, domestic violence, bullying prevention, LGBT history and more. Sure, Halloween is practically every college student’s favorite holiday, but enough attention should also be paid to each cause that uses the month to fundraise and spread the word on what they’re all about. Throughout high school, I spent most of my time after school volunteering at senior citizen homes and schools in my hometown. In addition, October was one month where I found myself at several fundraising events because the different causes that made that month their home were ones that meant a lot to me. Many of my friends’ parents had breast cancer, so I would regularly go with them to different
events because their families were special to me. I would also do my part by wearing the color pink for breast cancer or purple for domestic violence. I think it’s important to give back in any way to those that need our help the most, and volunteering has always held a special place in my heart. For this reason alone, I think recognizing different causes is something we should all strive to do. Breast cancer affects millions of men and women around the world, and we might even have someone in our family or friendship circle that survived or died from the disease. Many of us might know someone that has struggled with substance abuse, is a member of the LGBT community or has been a victim of domestic violence. Even if we have not been personally affected by any of these, we know at least someone that has been. As a result, we need to acknowledge these causes and maybe even participate in the activities taking place throughout the month in order to show our support to those we know and even the millions of people we don’t. Awareness months also bring all of us closer together. In a time where it seems like people are fighting and discussing their differences rather than getting along with each other, these months make it easier for people to put aside grudges. When you volunteer at certain places or causes, people no longer focus on the little things they don’t like in others. Instead, they are there for one purpose: to help. Everything else doesn’t matter because when we care about something and are devoting our time to it, the coming together aspect is what makes volunteering such a special activity. Throughout the month of October, you can participate in many different events to
show your support to different causes. Our neighbors down at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign will hold a Making Strides of Champaign walk in honor of breast cancer awareness beginning 10 a.m. Oct. 15 at Meadowbrook Park. Similar to the Susan. G. Komen Race for the Cure, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk is an opportunity for community members to honor breast cancer survivors and raise money for the American Cancer Society. Registration is available on its website. The Central Illinois Down Syndrome Organization (CIDSO) recently hosted its annual Buddy Walk, but there are other ways students can get involved in the cause. The Illinois State University Student Council for Exception Children and CIDSO will come together for bowling in the ISU Bowling and Billiards Center Oct. 9 and other dates. Volunteers are usually happily accepted, so ask if there is anything you can do during these events. If you simply can’t make any events, wearing the color of a cause is another way to show support and acknowledge those affected. At the end of the day, volunteering in any form makes you feel great. As college students, we’re pretty busy around midterm time, but taking some time out of your day to help others is well worth it. If we spend so much time stressing over what we will be for Halloween, we can definitely help out in our community. 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.
GUEST COLUMNIST ERIK ZDANSKY | Guest columnist
Comment on ‘Local police deserve our appreciation’
V
idette reporter Tom Heagney’s Wednesday editorial was a call for us to view the efforts of our local law enforcement in a more positive light. Their career has the potential for injury or death and is known for long shifts where they have to treat each situation with attentiveness and care. To say the least, it is a stressful job. Mr. Heagney is trying to get us to humanize law enforcement. After all, as he points out, the roles are occupied by people. I agree that it is important to remind us of the women and men who wear the badge, uniform and gun and leave their families without any guarantee that they will return home. I also agree with Mr. Heagney’s call for us to think locally and not just of ‘the police’ in a more abstract way. However, I would like to invite Mr. Heagney and others to an alternative perspective on the police. So what do we know about the Normal Police Department? Let’s look at some facts. In FY201516 there was a police department budget of $12,385,183 (ranking in at about one fifth of the General Fund, its largest portion) where about 60 percent paid wages and salaries. They are unionized and part of the Police Benevolent and Protective Association Unit #22. In terms of the patrol officers (N=65), the median salary is $78,180 since April 1, 2016 (up 2.85 percent from the previous year). Also, take note that once a patrol officer starts they make 78 percent of their base pay or $55,437. In their patrol step salary system, once they reach Step 5 (first step is 0) they will have their base pay of $71,073. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for ‘police and detectives’ is $60,270. This means that our police in the town of Normal have a 23 percent higher salary in terms of median pay. Keep in mind, at least for Normal, the minimum education requirement is a high school diploma or GED. I encourage everyone on campus to read the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the town and the police union for April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2020 for more information. Why did I bring attention to salary? First, we are paying for it through taxes. Second, that’s a nice middle class salary and they are compensated generously. Relate their salaries to the median household income, in 2014 dollars, for the Town of Normal for 2010-2014: $52,134. Students, and people in general, have particular interactions with the police that is shaped by race and ethnicity. The dominant ideology with how we in the U.S. understand race is colorblindness (i.e., we don’t see race). If we cannot ‘see’ race, then of course we cannot recognize subconscious racial biases of individuals, let alone the structural racism that is entangled within the criminal justice system. I would like everyone to consider that the knee-jerk reaction we have in the U.S. to focus on individuals misses the larger picture. It’s not so much that the patrol officers we know intimately, or not, are horrible human beings. Rather, it is the role itself of the police officer wrapped up in its state-given authority that allows the officer to exercise power in interactions that can result in hardship of people or death. I would like to bring one last fact to consider before wrapping up. The Guardian, a newspaper, started collecting data on deaths by police in the U.S. For 2015, they found that 1,146 people were shot and killed by the police. Let that sink in. Take the time to look at its database called The Counted and explore what it has to say particularly when it comes to race. Mr. Heagney does mention in his article that “very serious issues” are alive and well in police departments. However, it came across as a slight footnote, which may not have been his intention. These issues are intrinsically related to power and powerlessness. In order to humanize the police, we must look deeper into what is actually going on and we have to acknowledge the multiple socially constructed realities of police-citizen or police-student interactions that are so connected to issues of class and race. Erik Zdansky is a master’s student in Sociology and Graduate Assistant in the ISU Department of Sociology & Anthropology. He can be reached at ewzdans@ilstu.edu.
THE VIDETTE | NEWS | PAGE 5
MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2016
Activist delivers ‘Black Education Matters’ speech Topics discussed ranged from standardized testing to stories that concern African American males
Anna Gallagher | Vidette Photographer
Jesse Hagopian discussed institutional racism in the U.S. education system. CASSIE MCNEILL News Reporter | @165_cassie1
Activist Jesse Hagopian gave an informative speech Friday on the educational system in the United States, specifically on standardized testing, in the Old Main Room of the Bone Student Center. Around 100 guests attended this event, including Illinois State University students and teachers as well as local high school students and community members.
Hagopian, a Garfield High School history teacher in Seattle, said the education system is placing too much value on standardized testing. “Standardized testing is causing teachers to teach the test, not the students.” Hagopian spoke about the fact that the results of standardized testing like the SAT creates a bell curve, and the number one thing that it measures is “wealth and zip code.”
Hagopian addressed the role of standardized testing in the U.S. educational system and how it plays a big role in maintaining institutional racism and the school-to-prison pipeline for black youth. According to Wikipedia, the school-to-prison pipeline is a metaphor used to describe the increasing patterns of contact students have with the juvenile and adult criminal justice systems as a result of the recent practices implemented by the educational institutions. “It is disturbing that there are [currently] more African-Americans behind bars than were slaves on plantations in 1850,” Hagopian said. The Seattle teacher not only speaks about his concerns with the current educational system to large audiences, but he also talks to his students about the subject matter. He even discussed the death of Trayvon Martin, who “was the catalyst for the #BlackLivesMatter [Movement],” Hagopian said. After showing his class the news clips of the events and speaking about the injustice, Hagopian explained “the whole mood changed on campus.” His students and several others that attended Garfield High School marched in the streets in their neighborhood in a protest shouting, “Hands up, don’t shoot.” Junior elementary education major Lila Bryant said the subject matter during Friday’s talk interests her, especially since she will
be dealing with it firsthand in her future career. “I attended the speech today because I heard about it from my Teaching 210 class, and I thought it was very intriguing to hear about the injustice in standardized test scores,” Bryant said. As a way to keep young people aware of these issues in Garfield High School, Hagopian is also the co-adviser to the Black Student
Union. Garfield High School is also the site of the historic boycott of the MAP standardized test in 2013, where the facility refused to administer the test to its students. Cassie McNeill is a news reporter for The Vidette and can be reached at cjmcnei@ilstu.edu. Follow her on Twitter at @165_ Cassie1.
NOW OFFERING
Daily bus service to: Joliet Woodfield Mall Oakbrook Mall O’ Hare Airport
Boarding at Watterson Towers 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
BAR & GRILL
$1.25 Domestic Bottles $2.50 Vegas Bombs $3.00 Top Shelf & Bombs
PAGE 6 | NEWS | THE VIDETTE
MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2016
Bloomington snow plows may have temporary home CLAIRE WEINZIERL News Reporter | @ClaireWeinzierl
The City of Bloomington is considering moving its snow plows into a temporary location south of the current facility. As Assistant City Manager Steve Rasmussen explained, the current building requires too much maintenance to be worth utilizing. The current building is being leased through Connect Transit and the plows are housed in the former bus barn. “We looked at other facilities in town and we could not find one that suited our needs. At some point in time, we’re going to move the public works facility to some other area to make a new public works facility,” Rasmussen said, according to an interview with WJBC. “So the best answer was to use a temporary building.” The new building will cost $73,298 and can be moved to wherever the city decides to put up a new public works facility. The building will last an estimated 10 to 15 years. Some residents of Bloomington do not see the need for a new storage structure and are concerned whether the financial cost will
affect them through taxes. “I’m not exactly sure why there is a need for a new building to store the plows and what would it have that’s any different than the current one? And I wonder if the money is coming from our taxes,” Bloomington resident Ben Callahan said. Other residents struggle to understand the city’s decision on the timing of the construction of the new storage facility. “I just don’t understand why they have to move the snow plows at this time. Why couldn’t the city wait until the new public works facility is built? I feel like this is just an extra $73,000 to spend in the meantime. Are there really that many issues with the current building that building a new one would cost less?” Bloomington resident Hannah Richards said. The consensus of Bloomington residents is to question why the city is throwing money into a temporary building rather than investing in a more permanent structure, especially when the end goal is to have a new public works facility constructed. The City of Bloomington owns five end loaders with plows, two backhoes with plows, 26 8-ton
Getty Images
Some Bloomington residents are not satisfied with the city’s plan for snow plows. dump trucks with plows and spreaders, five 1-ton dump trucks with plows and spreaders and two four-wheel-drive pick-up trucks with plows. This snow response equipment is available to be used by the city during the winter season. There are 24 plow sections
within Bloomington. The City Council will vote on approving the new structure at its meeting Monday night. The City Council meets 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays every month in the City Hall Council Chambers on the second level. All
City Council meetings are open to the general public. Claire Weinzierl is a news reporter for The Vidette and can be reached at caweinz@ilstu.edu. Follow her on Twitter at @ClaireWeinzierl.
ISU alum appointed interim associate vice president
Jana Albrecht
Illinois State University’s Jana Albrecht will be taking the position of Interim Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management. She will be replacing Troy
Johnson, who has worked for the university since 2013 and recently has accepted a position as Vice President for Enrollment Management at the University of Texas at Arlington. Albrecht has served as the university’s director of the Office of Financial Aid since 2008. She earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Millikin University and her MBA at ISU. ISU Provost Janet Krejci appointed Albrecht, and she will take on her
CLIMATE continued from page 3
Shaw urged humans to start to take climate change more seriously before they no longer have the luxury of ignoring it. “If we don’t deal with things, the earth is going to be getting hotter and hotter,” Shaw said. “The oceans are going to keep rising if we got it hot enough. So [if] all of the Greenland ice melted, we’d have 20 more feet of ocean — imagine what that would do to the Atlantic coast line, that’s why the mayors over there are so worried.” Along with his PowerPoint presentation that graphed the rise in temperature over time and how amounts of CO2 have increased in the oceans, Shaw also provided
CLASSIFIEDS IMMEDIATE FOR RENT 4 bedroom/2.5 bath house has living room, dining room, kitchen with dishwasher and laundry hookups, huge unfinished basement & two car detached garage. Has front porch, 2 patio areas and large yard. Located at 501 Adelaide, Normal. $1100 monthly 1500 Hancock. 1 bdrm 1 bath. Furnished. Off street parking. $525/month. Call Skyline Properties 309-275-8454. Two bedroom, 1 1/2 bath end unit condo. Has central A/C, ceiling fans, an eat-in kitchen, dishwasher, electric stove, washer and dryer, and off-street parking. Tenant pays all utilities. Located at 703 Golfcrest #3, Normal. $750 monthly Immediate Move-In! 2 bedroom/2 bathroom www.sami.com (309) 888-4600 2nd Floor Efficiency in Vintage Home, located at 702 S. Fell, Normal. An easy walk to ISU campus. Central Air. Tenant responsible for 1/4 of total house utilities. Off-street parking. $480 monthly.
SUBLEASE Subleases available!
new position effective August 2017. Albrecht has more than 20 years of experience in higher education and is a past president of the Illinois Association of Financial Aid Administrators. The ISU alumna is currently in her last semester of coursework to receive her Ph.D. in higher education at Illinois State. Bridget Curl will take over Albrecht’s position as interim director of the Financial Aid Office.
FRI. THURS. WED. TUES. MON.
CASSIE MCNEILL News Reporter | @165_Cassie1
some physical displays. Shaw filled one balloon with air, another with water,and heated each with a lighter in attempt to show how water heats. After the pop of the air-filled balloons, everyone in the audience was eager to see if the second one would also pop. It did not pop, and Shaw said that this was due to waters’ very high heat capacity. He explained that it takes more joules of energy to warm water one degree centigrade then it does to almost any other material. Shaw connected the demo to his topic by saying almost all of the heating of the warmth from greenhouse gas effect is going into the ocean. Shaw ended his talk by thanking the University Club and taking questions from the audience.
$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 $2 Domestic Bottles $3 J.P. Wisers Rye Whiskey $3 Sailor Jerry Lunch Special: Ham & Cheese $3 Jack Daniels $2.50 Keeper Cup $2.75 Corona and Corona Lite Lunch Special: Cod Sandwich
Patio Open & Margarita Specials Everyday! 102 N. Linden St. | 309.452.0699
Phone 309 438 7685 • Fax 309 438 5211 Corner of Locust & University, Normal, IL Monday – Friday. 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
www.sami.com (309) 888-4600
EVENTS/NIGHTLIFE it’s your birthday lets JUNGLE BUS! U of I MTWF $12 TS $13 3092628747
HELP WANTED- FOOD & DRINK Help Wanted. Wait staff positions available. Apply in person. Windjammer Lounge. 2303 Stern Dr, Bloomington.
MISCELLANEOUS Welcome back ISU students! Bello nails is offering a basic mani for $13 from August 22-October 22nd with student ID. Call or text 309-824-9638 for an appointment today! 2310 E Oakland Ave Suite #3-105 Bloomington 61701
FOR RENT: FALL/SPR 17-18 2017-2018 School Year! 1,2,3 & 4 bedrooms www.sami.com (309) 888-4600
FOR RENT: SU/FALL/SPRING 17-18 808 S Linden: Large 1, 2, 3 and 4
person units. All Utilities Included. Next to the trail. Start at $360. Class Act Realty. 454-2960 903 W Hovey 4 bdrm 4 bathroom. Covered parking. Backyard firepits. Furnished w/ washer/dryer. $525/person. Call Skyline Properties 309-275-8454. Flora Way: Large Furnished 1, 2, 3 and 4 Bedrooms. Start at ONLY $325. Class Act Realty. 454-2960
SUMMER/FALL 17-18 Heartland Village 2 bed/2 bath SAMI (309) 888-4600 www.sami.com 301 S. WALNUT: Furnished 2 Bedrooms. Balcony, Covered parking, Laundry. Quiet Building. Start at ONLY $290 Class Act Realty. 454-2960
309-829-5885. 717 Hale. 3 people to share 2 unit house/duplex. Two kitchens, two bath. Off street parking, porch, laundry. Unit A: 2 BR $395/person/mth. Unit B: 1 BR $450/mth. 12 payments plus utilities. Call 309-530-7772 401 N. Fell Ave. 4 bedroom/2 bath. Breakfast bar with stools, dishwasher, garbage disposal, washer & dryer in unit. Central air, secured building, off street parking, high speed internet provided. $555/per person. Call Excel Real Estate at 309-829-5885. 799 S. University. Updated 2 bedroom 1 bath town homes. Huge rooms, washer/ dryer,microwave/dishwasher, breakfast bar & stools, central air. Half a block from COB. 847-997-7454. Broker owned
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
105 E. Locust St. 4 bedroom/1 bath. Eat-in kitchen, large living room. Next to the Constitution Trail. Off street parking and water paid by Landlord. $370/ per person. Call Excel Real Estate at 309-829-5885.
104 E. Cherry St. 6 bedroom/2 bath house. Furnished, carpeted floors, large front porch, unfinished basement with washer/dryer. Off street parking and hardwood floors upstairs. $450/ per person. Call Excel Real Estate at
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
Fell: Spacious 1, 2 & 4 Bedrooms. 1 block from campus. Laundry. Start at $370. Class Act Realty. 454-2960 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 IWU area. 113 E Division. 3 bdrm 2 bath furnished town house. Washer/dryer. Off street parking. $450/person. Call Skyline Properties 309-275-8454. Houses: 2 to 6 Bedrooms. Start at $330 per person. Walk to Campus . Class Act Realty. 454-2960 414 W Willow. 6 bdrm 2 bath house. Furnished. Washer/dryer. Off street parking. $495/person. Call Skyline Properties 309-275-8454. 2 bdrm 1 bath furnished. Off street parking. Deck. $360/person. Call Skyline Properties 309-275-8454.
SPRING 2017 Various 1, 2, 3 and 4 Bedrooms and some single rooms available. $235-$555. Class Act Realty. 454-2960 Need an apartment for Spring 2017? 1 & 2 bedrooms available! www.sami.com (309) 888-4600
Features
MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2016
THE VIDETTE | PAGE 7
Emma Horath | Vidette Senior Photographer
Professor Sampeck poses on the Quad. Sampeck teaches anthropology courses at ISU, but has traveled to many places.
Professor shares worldly experiences Kathryn Sampeck brings her experiences abroad to the classroom to educate her students
CASEY CHAN Features Reporter | @chancasey93
Professor
Having the opportunity File to travel is one of the great aspects college offers to students during their last years of schooling. For those who are curious about what it’s like to study abroad, anthropology associate professor Kathryn Sampeck has experiences around the world from which many can learn. Sampeck is a native of Dallas, and she has worked in a number of countries such as Kenya, Spain, Bolivia and Mexico. She has used
these experiences to create a unique classroom environment in her Archaeological Analysis of Historical Materials and Foodways classes that she teaches. She earned her undergraduate and master’s degrees at the University of Chicago and has been teaching at Illinois State University for eight years. Her favorite part of teaching is her interactions with the students. “Teaching really opens your eyes,” Sampeck said. “I learn so much by going through the material and communicating my understanding and enthusiasm on the topics. Then the student’s comments and interactions give
me a fresh perspective that I may never have come up with.” Her love for the arts and music has allowed her to visit various exhibits around the world. Another part of Sampeck’s life that sets her apart from the rest is her experience training and showing Appaloosa horses in Texas for several years. “I was a national champion many times and I even took a year off between high school and college and thought about becoming a veterinarian so I could keep working with animals,” Sampeck said. Unfortunately, an injury during her training forced her to change her career path, but she couldn’t
be happier with her current work as a professor. Sampeck’s studies on chocolate (which is highly emphasized in her Foodways course) are also something to behold, as her expertise in the area shares a vast amount of information students may have never known about the sweet treat. Her most recent trip was to Harvard University where she spent six months researching the topic. Her time there allowed her to do incredible research, and she is now being invited to do several talks around the world in regards to her chocolate studies. “As a part of my Budapest trip I got to speak at the University of
London and I have visited chocolatiers in Canada,” Sampeck said. Her students in her Foodways course are able to try some of the chocolates she has collected through her various trips, which makes for a unique classroom experience. When walking into her lab in Schroeder Hall, Sampeck’s passion for archaeology is on full display as hundreds of artifacts fill every inch of the room. Sampeck’s travels have allowed her to share her knowledge and expertise with thousands of people, and it is likely she will discover something great on her next journey.
ISU students’ band Paper Planes strives to soar to the top DEB BETHEL Features Reporter | @thedebbethel
Mutual friends, a shared interest in music, social media promotion and a good amount of talent are a few key factors in starting a band. With a recent music video release, an album release expected within a few months and a fresh verification on Spotify, the five Illinois State University students of Paper Planes are making the right moves in reaching their goal to become a well-known touring band. As juniors, Jack Wenstrup (vocals/ guitar), Collin Page (vocals/guitar), Connor Page (vocals/bass), Austin Gannon (drums) and Anthony Gomez (guitar/ keyboard) remember their freshman year at ISU in 2014, when the pop/rock band officially came together. A project that started fairly casually has since turned into an almost full-time job, as the five members continue to pursue a busy production schedule among schoolwork, jobs and social lives. Each forming a passion for music from a young age, the members of the group naturally joined forces. Connor and Collin are brothers, Connor and Wenstrup met each other in Acafellaz, Gannon and Collin were roommates and among other random connections, the rest was really up to fate. The five members contribute in their own ways and collaborate together to finish with an outcome that makes everyone happy. “Jack comes to us with the skeleton of the song and we’re like the meat and bones
to it. We all add on to it,” Gomez said of the writing process. Gannon said his drumming adds the structure to the songs, sometimes bringing a different sound and feeling than what Jack and Collin imagined while writing the beginnings of the song. The full process made up of writing, collaborating, recording and producing, among other things such as boosting the band’s social media platform, is a learning process that will only become easier with time and experience. The whole band experience is one that Wenstrup describes as being very similar to being in a relationship — it takes a lot of time, energy and effort. In just under two years, that effort has started to pay off, and the band only plans on going up from here. Since their self-titled EP was released in the summer of 2015, the band members have released a music video for one of three singles, “Sleeping with the Lights On,” and they are now awaiting the release of their newest project – their first full album titled “Take the Leap.” Though the projected release date of the album has passed, Collin says taking their time only ensures the album is exactly what they want it to be: something that everyone should enjoy. Other than becoming a better-known band, Paper Planes’ long-term goal is to play Vans Warped Tour. After a narrow miss during last year’s competition against five thousand other bands nationwide, it continues to compete for a spot on the 2017
Photo courtesy of Paper Planes’ Facebook
Left to right: Collin Page, Jack Wenstrup, Anthony Gomez, Austin Gannon and Connor Page lineup. Fans can follow its progress and vote through the link shared on its Facebook page. The more forms people fill out, the more likely the band will be considered to play for the lineup. The band members’ short-term goals are to release their album, graduate, start touring and make a name for themselves. But until then, the members are studying just as hard for their midterms as all of
the other ISU students are, while taking a break every now and then to play Super Smash Bros. The magazines don’t lie; celebrities are normal people, too. More information on Paper Planes can be found on its Facebook, Twitter @ISUPaperPlanes and Instagram @paperplanesband. Fans can also be notified when its new album is released by following Paper Planes on its newly verified Spotify.
Sports
PAGE 8 | THE VIDETTE
MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2016
Redbird football is missing ‘it’
MY VIEW JOSH TOLENTINO | Sports Editor
Josh Tolentino | Vidette Sports Editor
Quarterback Jake Kolbe was sacked six times during Illinois State’s 31-10 loss to North Dakota State at the Fargo Dome in Fargo, N.D.
Third and Spack
ISU loses three straight games for first time in Brock Spack’s eight seasons JOSH TOLENTINO Sports Editor | @JCTSports
FARGO, N.D. -- Illinois State was able to do the one thing it hasn’t been able to do all season during Saturday’s contest against topranked North Dakota State: start off hot. But the momentum of the game shifted completely in favor of the Bison when ISU quarterback Jake Kolbe fumbled in the red zone during the second quarter. Just four plays later, NDSU quarterback Easton Stick completed a 38-yard touchdown to Lance Dunn to put NDSU up 21-10. From then on it was all NDSU, as the Bison blew out the Redbirds 31-10 in front of a sold-out Homecoming crowd at the Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome. “We moved the ball pretty well early in the game,” ISU head coach Brock Spack said. “We made some mistakes and that opened the door for North Dakota State. I told our team before the game, ‘they turn our mistakes into a touchdown.’ They did exactly that. That’s what
really good teams do.” After ISU and NDSU’s first drives stalled, the Redbirds took over at their own 36-yard line and drove to the NDSU 6, where Sean Slattery knocked in a 23-yard field goal to put ISU up 3-0 at the 8:12 mark of the first. NDSU wideout Darrius Shepherd responded with a 31-yard rushing touchdown, which put NDSU up 7-3 to end the first. The score was Shepherd’s lone rush of the game. NDSU tailback King Frazier led all rushers with 20 carries for 76 yards. The Bison finished with 194 total rushing yards compared to ISU’s 37. Kolbe connected with wide receiver Anthony Warrum twice on the following drive with completions of 13 and 38 yards putting the Redbirds in enemy territory. The sophomore slinger then completed an 18-yard touchdown to Anthony Fowler, which capped an eight-play, 81-yard drive, putting ISU up 10-7. “Our plan was to execute [the passing game],” Fowler, who led all receivers with six catches for
119 yards and ISU’s only touchdown, said. “We’ve been playing fast paced and the ball just came my way today.” The Bison responded immediately as wide out R.J. Urzendowski burned ISU defensive back DraShane Glass and hauled in a 65-yard touchdown from Stick. “It’s a tough league,” Spack said. “You’ve got to come ready every week. It’s just growing pains for us.” NDSU finished with 450 total offensive yards while ISU had 340, including 303 passing yards. “They’re a really good defense,” Kolbe said. Kolbe completed 23-of35 passes for 285 yards and one touchdown. “Some of it is them making good plays and some of it is us not making good plays. I’ve got to make better decisions and take care of the football.” Alec Kocour finished with a game-high 14 tackles (seven solo, seven assisted). “Illinois State’s defense was really good,” NDSU head coach Chris Klieman said. “They’re a really physical bunch. I’m so
pleased with how we played in the second half. I told our guys we needed to hit the quarterback and we did.” The Bison sacked Kolbe six times and had nine tackles-for-loss. ISU struggled to move the chains when it mattered, converting just 3-of-14 times on third down. The Bison converted on third down 6-of-15 times and once on fourth down. “They are who we thought they were,” Spack said. “If you don’t get these guys to play from behind then it’s very difficult.” ISU’s loss at NDSU marks the first time head coach Spack has lost three consecutive games in his eight seasons at ISU. The Redbirds (2-3, 0-2 MVFC) return home next Saturday when they host Youngstown State at Hancock Stadium. Homecoming weekend kickoff is set for 2 p.m. Josh Tolentino is a senior journalism major and sports editor at The Vidette. He can be reached at jtolent@ilstu.edu. Follow him on Twitter at @JCTSports.
Vujicic enters full swing of first year with Redbird tennis NICK DAMIANI Sports Reporter | @nGdamiani
Since she was 10 years old, Jelena Vujicic knew she would be playing college tennis. The only question was where her talents would take her. Vujicic, a native of Croatia, felt like Illinois State University could be a home away from home thanks to head coach Maja Kovacek. “Maja is from Croatia also, so it is not a big transition for me,” Vujicic said. When you have somebody who speaks your language and understands your mindset, it is not as big of a culture shock.” Vujicic’s freshman season marks the first time she has been to the United States. She is well traveled though, as she has been across a
large chunk of Europe traveling for tennis matches throughout high school. Vujicic says being away from home is a little bit different this time around. “It is hard — when I used to travel, I always knew I would be coming home. Now it’s going to take almost a year until I can go back home to see my friends and family, but it is a sacrifice I am willing to make,” Vujicic said. Vujicic’s sacrifice seems to be paying off early in her collegiate career. In her first collegiate action she went undefeated in singles play, capturing the flight two singles title at the Bradley Invitational. While also winning the flight two doubles consolation title with partner Jana Kustkova. The early success comes
as no surprise to Vujicic. “I always knew I could win it, I believe in myself and my team kept supporting me, so that was really helpful.” Vujicic is the lone freshman on a team that features three upperclassmen. She says she is eager to learn from her older teammates but admits building chemistry will take some time. “It takes time to create a friendship. Right now, we’re still just teammates. I’m still getting to know everyone, but I am just happy to be part of this team.” Vujicic will look to keep her strong play going next weekend when the Redbirds travel to Indiana to compete in the MVC Individual Championships.
ISU Athletics
Vujicic earned first place in flight two singles at Bradley Invite.
Illinois State head coach Brock Spack raved about the 2016-17 Redbird football team during summer camp, saying this group had “it.” ISU began its season on a high note, beating a Big Ten opponent for the first time in program history, when the Redbirds defeated Northwestern 9-7 during Week 2 in Evanston. The Redbirds have dropped three straight games since, and suddenly the win against NU seems forever ago. Whatever Spack thought “it” was, it is clear the Redbirds are lacking leadership and experience at several positions. Dig deeper, and it’s even worse. In each of ISU’s three losses, Kolbe has fumbled in crucial situations where the Redbirds have been in scoring position. The sophomore signal caller needs to take better care of the ball or the Redbirds will continue to squander in close games. Kolbe has taken a beating the past three weeks. He’s been sacked nine times and knocked down 17. Stats don’t lie. A lot has fallen on Kolbe’s shoulders, but he is not the problem with this team. Kolbe is on pace to be the most accurate quarterback in ISU history. Kolbe has been impressive early on, completing nearly 70 percent (117-of-169) of his passes. He’s a better quarterback through his first five games than Tre Roberson was in his first season. Kolbe took the blame after ISU lost Saturday at NDSU, but there is plenty of it to go around. Spack said the transition from former offensive coordinator Kurt Beathard — who resigned due to personal reasons — to co-offensive coordinators Billy Dicken and Dan Clark has been seamless, but admitted after the loss to NDSU that the Redbirds are going through growing pains. ISU’s offensive play-calling has been questionable, but the Redbirds’ execution has been even worse. Everyone expected a lot more from an all-senior offensive line. Many thought the chemistry and experience between the group would be a strength this season and rightly so after they kicked ass up in Evanston. But five seniors letting their quarterback get hit 17 times in three games — on several occasions blindsided — is unacceptable. The Redbirds are facing adversity like they never have before. This team isn’t used to losing. It doesn’t get any easier for ISU as it hosts nationally-ranked Youngstown State this weekend at Hancock Stadium — a place where the Redbirds thought they were invincible. An 0-3 start to conference season will have many fans promptly asking, “When does basketball season start?” Spack had a tough task when he took the job. He changed the program’s culture and brought toughness and competitiveness to the team. The back-to-back MVFC champions face another tall task looking ahead. One more loss and the Redbirds will essentially be excluded from playoff consideration. ISU’s season isn’t a complete loss just yet. But Spack and the Redbirds need to find “it” before it’s too late.