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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2017

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Vol. 130 / No. 23

SPECIAL REPORT: COMING TO AMERICA AN ISU PERSPECTIVE

Canales: ‘We were obviously concerned’ ISU has lower international enrollment in 2017, problem it faces is the perception of the United States ‘not welcoming’ foreigners

Natalie Stuckslager | Vidette Photo Editor

The Office of International Studies and Programs provided several resources to international students affected by political decisions, such as counseling services and forums. Pictured is student assistant Abbie Lewis.

STORY BY EMA SASIC | Editor in Chief | @ema_sasic EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the third and final installment of a multi-part series exploring the 2016 election and the Office of International Studies and Programs.

I

nternational students shared how the 2016 election affected them before and during their stay in the United States, and Illinois State University officials also found themselves concerned how the political climate would portray the country to newcomers.

“We were obviously concerned due to the political discourse that we heard during the election,” Luis Canales, director of the Office of International Studies and Programs, said. “We were also concerned about specific events that reinforced the perception that the United States does not have a welcoming environment. In particular, the attack on two Luis Canales Indian engineers in Kansas, and the attack

on a Sikh man in Kent, Washington.”

Enrollment numbers for 2017 took a small hit, according to statistics from the Office of International Studies and Programs. Total international student enrollment for 2017 is 387, down from last year’s 426. The number of new international students also decreased. In 2016, new students totaled 139,

while this year is at 117.

It is not known if politics was a direct cause of lower enrollment numbers, but one of President Donald Trump’s biggest impacts on campus came in the form of the executive order he issued on Jan. 27. The order banned citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries — Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen — from coming to the U.S. Two days later, ISU President Larry Dietz issued a campus-wide email stating he and the university “remain deeply committed to providing a safe, secure and inclusive environment.”

“It’s not our job to determine who is here illegally and undocumented, that’s not within our realm,” Dietz said. “It’s to take students that meet our admission standards and do our best to help them meet their educational goals.”

“That’s not grounded in what’s happening at the federal level; it’s just what universities do,” he added.

Following the travel ban, ISU officials took a number of steps to educate themselves and others on campus. The offices of the president, provost, general counsel, student affairs and international studies and programs monitored the executive order and legal challenges that followed. Two forums were held to provide information to the campus community and how it would affect individuals. Counseling services were also available.

“As a former international student, I am focused on working with my colleagues to provide a full range of services, support, mentoring and engagement activities for international students on ISU’s campus, no matter where they are from,” Yimin Wang, associate director of the Office of International Studies and Programs, said.

Larry Dietz There were several legal challenges to the travel ban, and the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that foreign nationals “who have a credible claim of a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States” could enter the country. These include students who have been admitted to a university, and they remain exempt from the 90-day ban.

Canales said the Office of International Studies and Programs was “dismayed” when the travel ban was issued, but “pleased” with the Supreme Court ruling.

“The problem we face now is the perception that the U.S. is not welcoming to foreign nationals is out there,” he added.

Similar steps were taken when Trump’s administration announced the end of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals programs in September. see INTERNATIONAL page 3

ISU alumna donates $400,000 for transfer student scholarships Diane Ryon spent her college years working multiple jobs, wants to ease worries for Redbirds MASON MCCOY Senior News Reporter | @Real_McCoy18

Illinois State University alumna Diane Ryon is paying it back with a donation of $400,000 to set up the Diane Ryon Transfer Student Scholarship Fund.

This scholarship will offer financial assistance to transfer students coming to ISU to take part in the College of Applied Sciences and Technology’s School of Kinesiology and Recreation. This scholarship is the largest individual award available to those studying in CAST. Ryon, who works in Bloomington-Normal

as a financial planner, knows all too well about the financial support that transfer students need.

The first of her family to graduate from college, Ryon worked tirelessly in and out of school, working multiple jobs to help make ends meet.

“I don’t want students to have to work three jobs to get an education,” Ryon said.

“Or have to spread it out over 18 years to get a bachelor’s.”

Throughout her college career, Ryon was the recipient of 15 scholarship awards, which made her education possible.

This gift, along with a number of other

scholarships that Ryon and her husband, Roger, have helped support, attempt to share the gift of education with future transfer students.

“Diane’s investment in prospective transfer stuDiane Ryon dents to the School of Kinesiology and Recreation is a genuine demonstration of paying it forward,” Todd McLoda, dean of CAST, said.

“Over the years, Diane has demonstrated her support of numerous students through her financial contributions that make it a

little easier to pay for college.”

“With this new investment, that support will live on in perpetuity,” he added.

Nicole Derf, a geography education major who transferred to ISU last fall, experienced firsthand the difficulties of paying for school.

“As a transfer student, I found it hard to get scholarships,” she said. “A lot of my friends who started at Illinois State as freshmen got scholarships for their success in high school.”

“These opportunities aren’t as available for transfer students,” she added. see SCHOLARSHIP page 2

PAGE 2 | NEWS | THE VIDETTE

STAFF LIST Editor in Chief

Ema Sasic

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2017

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ISU professor receives $718,000 grant Grant from NSF given for work on one-handed authentication process on smartphones

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The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded a $718,000 grant to Illinois State University’s assistant professor Jianwei Lai and her research team to develop a one-handed authentication process on smartphones.

The system Lai and her team are developing uses thumb biometrics to find the unique identity of the owner.

“Continuous mobile user authentication of this project go beyond entry-level log in passwords,” Lai said. “It extracts biometrics from finger interactions with touch-screen mobile devices, including swiping, tapping and pinching.”

The one-handed authentication process protects against theft of mobile devices by not only recording the password an owner chooses, but also the way the password is entered.

“More and more classified and personal data is being stored on mobile devices and most of these devices have low security protection or lack of continuous user authentication,” Lai said.

Lai believes monitoring thumb biometrics to be more secure because no two people have the exact same ways in how they tap or swipe their device.

Biometrics can be nearly identical, but never a 100 percent match.

The authentication process can also be used by people with visual impairments.

“We are very connected to technology as a people,” Lai said. “So any way we can improve the path to technology for people especially those with special needs, the more

Photo Illustration by Natalie Stuckslager | Vidette Photo Editor

The one-handed authentication process protects against theft of mobile devices by not only recording the password an owner chooses, but also the way the password is entered. connected we are.”

Lai received her Ph.D. from University of Maryland, which is also where the rest of her team members work.

She joined ISU’s information technology program in 2016 and said her interests lie in humancomputer interaction, mobile computing and applications and user behavioral activities.

“When we received this grant my team and I were excited and ready to embrace the technical and behavioral challenges in this project,” Lai said.

Lai confirmed the prototype

SCHOLARSHIP continued from page 1

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Ryon’s donation continues the support for Redbirds Rising: The Campaign for Illinois State. The most ambitious campaign in ISU’s history, it seeks to raise $150 million to support scholarship, leadership and innovation on campus. The current amount raised is $106 million, which has been gathered from more than 40,000 donors.

Donations can be made in a variety of ways, and can be dedicated to specific colleges or programs. Alumni are encouraged to invest in their alma mater. Current students can help their university by spreading the word about the campaign, and by sharing their stories about ISU. To find out more about the Redbirds Rising campaign, visit Giving.IllinoisState.edu/Campaign/.

of this project should be available in about a year. She sees this

project benefiting more people in the future.

THE VIDETTE | NEWS | PAGE 3

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2017

Meet the candidate

INTERNATIONAL continued from page 1

J.B. Pritzker talks policy, race for governor EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second in a series of profiles of gubernatorial candidates in Illinois.

ANDREW DOUGHERTY Political Reporter | @addough

As he campaigns across the state of Illinois to win the Democratic gubernatorial primary March 20, 2018, entrepreneur and philanthropist J.B. Pritzker said his progressive campaign to fight for the middle class is in a great position to win the nomination to challenge Gov. Bruce Rauner.

Pritzker officially announced his candidacy for governor in April 2017 and is considered an early front-runner for the nomination.

His campaign has been endorsed by more than a dozen members of the Illinois General Assembly, Secretary of State Jesse White, State Comptroller Susana Mendoza, 21 individual labor unions and the the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations.

An alumnus of Duke University, Pritzker grew up as the child of small business owners and democratic activists.

During his time at Duke, Pritzker earned his bachelor’s degree in political science. He went on to earn his J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law and is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association and Chicago Bar Association.

In between earning his degrees, Pritzker worked as a legislative staff member for U.S. Senator’s Terry Sanford (D-N.C.), Alan Dixon (D-IL) and U.S. Congressman Tom Lantos (D-CA), for whom he handled multiple domestic and international issues.

“I’ve been involved in public service for my life. I helped expand a program that Obama was able to pass called No Kid Hungry in Illinois which gave a couple hundred thousand low income school districts get

NEWS IN BRIEF

school breakfast,” Pritzker said.

“I’ve worked more than 20 years as a leader in early childhood education, to expand education opportunities for our youngest children and help pass laws both in Illinois and Washington to create better quality preschool and child care, in particular for at-risk youth,” he said.

Pritzker ran the Illinois Human Rights Commission, which is the state’s civil rights court, and led the project to build the Illinois Holocaust Museum.

His decision to run for governor is motivated in his belief in progressive democratic values and that he says are highlighted by his decades of experience in getting big things done across the state and that Illinois needs a governor that will solve the big challenges brought on in part by Rauner.

“I’m running for governor because everything that I believe and have stood up and fought for is under siege by Rauner and his partner in Washington, the xenophobic, misogynistic Donald Trump,” Pritzker said.

Pritzker said Illinois needs a $15 minimum wage, universal health care, a stronger focus on infrastructure, beating back right-to-work legislation, supporting small businesses and a progressive income tax that will protect those in the middleclass and striving for it.

“We also need to

require those that are wealthy pay a higher rate as well as corporations,” Pritzker said.

“Our focus on education also needs to make sure that we fully fund our MAP grants while making sure that college students don’t graduate with tens of thousands of dollars in debt.”

He continued by stressing the importance of ensuring that high school students who choose not to go to college get vocational training and information technology training.

“Two thirds of jobs created in Illinois are made by small businesses and we need to create an opportunity for this entrepreneur generation for them to create new businesses and jobs which will lead to higher wages in the state,” Pritzker said.

“I’ve put out a five-point plan for job creation and I am the only candidate to do so,” he added.

“The first thing I would say is that you want a governor who actually has a history of solving big challenges because we have a lot that need to be overcome,” Pritzker said.

“You want a governor who will create jobs so that graduates will have job opportunities in the state, who will expand educational opportunities and who works towards universal health care because it is a right not a privilege.”

“These are all components of my platform and I am the only candidate who has put our real plans in each of those areas and we will get them done for the people of our state.”

SHE’S ON A ROLL

CAS Dean Simpson announces retirement College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Dean Gregory Simpson announced his retirement effective June 30.

An interim dean will be announced during the spring 2018 semester.

As dean, Simpson overseez 18 departments and programs in the three areas of humanities, natural sciences and mathematics and social sciences. He has spearheaded the Main Street College Series, where once a semester Illinois State University professors present their research to the public.

Simpson arrived at ISU as dean in 2011 after nearly 20 years at the University of Kansas, where he was a professor, chair of psychology and interim dean.

EMA SASIC EDITOR IN CHIEF

Veterans Day ceremony to be held Friday Illinois State University will hold its annual Veterans Day ceremony at noon Friday in the Bone Student Center Prairie Room.

The event will include a commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the U.S. entry into World War I and is free and open to the public.

President Larry Dietz will speak to honor veterans.

Those attending the Veterans Day ceremony may park in nonreserved spots at First United Methodist Church, 211 N. School St.

KEVIN SCHWALLER NEWS EDITOR

Submitted photo

Kylsea Cox was dressed as sushi for Halloween and won The Vidette’s Halloween Costume Contest.

Other than presidential decisions, international students said there were times when negative sentiment in the country affected their morale. University resources were available to help with any hardships they faced.

One initiated this past summer is a transition assistance from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport to Normal.

“As long as we are informed ahead of time when the international students are arriving, we communicate with the students to coordinate airport transition services so that new students will see an Office of International Studies and Programs staff member or graduate assistant with a sign saying ‘Welcome to Illinois State University’ right after they come out of the international terminal secured arrival area,” Wang explained.

“We then provide assistance to the students in locating the Peoria Charter bus departure location and provide local assistance in Normal to help the students get to their dorm or apartment safely,” she added.

Through initiatives like Yimin Wang this one, Wang said ISU tries its “best to provide a welcoming and inclusive campus environment for our international students despite of the not-very-encouraging national policy environment.”

Programs like the Global Redbirds Mentorship Adjustment Program (MAP) connect international students with domestic ones to ease their transition on campus and make them feel more connected.

“Having that American friend or resource to an international student is huge. You come here and naturally you want to go with other international students,” Ivan Korkes, MAP coordinator, said. “This program helps you branch out, and because they branched out, they learned about the culture, Americans opened up to them and that was a good aspect and resource to help them feel safe and comfortable.”

The International Student Ambassadors program also allows students to represent their countries in various events and classrooms.

Though enrollment dropped this school year and politics at the federal level made its impact on campus, ISU is taking steps to encourage more international students to study in Normal. One step is working with a Pathway program that will increase enrollment from a variety of countries over the next 10 years, Dietz said.

“We’ll do some modest recruiting in the spring and we’ll see a little increase in the fall,” Dietz said, “but more impact will happen over the next 10 years.”

Other ways is through meetings with various universities around the world.

A delegation, which included Dietz and Wang, recently returned from China, where it visited two of ISU’s partner universities — Southwest University in Chongqing and Shanghai Normal University Tianhua College in Shanghai. Wang said visits like that one “continue to promote the message that ISU is a welcoming and inclusive community.”

Canales also said the Office of International Studies and Programs and university will continue to form contractual relationships with foreign governments, such as Panama in recent years, and provide academic programs abroad.

“It gets back to the quality, brand, shared governance and rankings. This is a positive institution, positive about where it is, where it’s headed, and we want to do the best job we can,” Dietz said.

As far as keeping spirits high among international students when times get tough, Wang said it is important not to generalize them as a whole.

“There are a lot of variations within and among international students, so it is important to respect their individual differences, especially when we talk about experiences, aspirations and feelings,” she said.

Look for the reporter’s column in Thursday’s issue where Sasic shares her own story about coming to the United States as a refugee.

Viewpoint

PAGE 4 | THE VIDETTE

VIDETTE EDITORIAL

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2017

Whataboutism: Putin, Trump’s favorite tactic

T

urn off Fox News and you are likely to see two things: excuses for the president’s often erratic behavior and a series of “what about…?”

Usually regarding former President Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton, while neither of them are in power making decisions that are tied to our fate as a people. This whataboutism, as it has been coined, is a favorite tool of current conservative media that aims to divert attention away from the fiascos in Washington.

Whataboutism is the practice of stopping an argument by attempting to compare two things that are not necessarily comparable.

It is an old Soviet tactic that the president has employed since he began his run for office. His most egregious use was during the Charlottesville protests when he falsely equated the actual neo-Nazis and neoConfederates to those that were protesting against them. This is a dangerous practice that is employed by those who have no argument, but, most importantly, it prevents discourse from

taking place.

The people who employ this tactic give the facade of an interesting counterpoint, and that is why it is used so often in media and in politics. More often than not, the equivalence used is nowhere close to what the topic of debate had been before. The practice of whataboutism is nothing more than a stall tactic, and it has been working for the GOP. No one questions them when they employ this tactic. No one says, “That does not have anything to do with what we are talking about,” when someone on Fox News says, “Well,

Obama/Clinton!”

The worst thing about this phenomenon is that they are getting away with its constant use.

Not only is it used prominently by Trump, but it is also a favorite tactic of Vladimir Putin, something that should be alarming. According to an article written by Dan Zak in The Washington Post, when Putin was pushed on the annexation of Crimea, he pointed to the American annexation of Texas in order to deflect his own misdeeds. We see Trump doing the same thing, but he’s on Twitter, a place he can filter out

any voices he does not want to hear, attacking Clinton.

Noam Chomsky once said, “An old joke 50 years ago was that if you went to a Stalinist and criticized the Soviet slave-labor camps, the Stalinist would say, ‘Well, what about the lynchings in the American South?’”

One of these things has nothing to do with the other, and while both are horrendous crimes against humanity, one does not excuse the other from occurring. This has always been the tactic of tyrants and those regimes that do not place a value on human rights. To see the president of the United States doing this, along with several prominent members of his party is not only embarrassing, but it is also deeply troubling. It is the first step in suppressing arguments in a childish manner.

Fifty years ago, an American president employing Russian tactics would have been ostracized, and in 2017, an American president using Russian tactics is celebrated by conservative media. Oh, how times have changed.

Editorial Cartoon by Phabian Clark | Vidette Editorial Cartoonist

EDITORIAL POLICY Editorial written by ALEX GOUGH, 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.

Become a better ally at CRCC conference MY VIEW TAMIA LITTLE | Columnist

O

n Monday and Tuesday, the Culturally Responsive Campus Community (CRCC) will be hosting the Bridging Divides, Becoming Allies conference at the Bone Student Center.

The purpose of this annual event is to bring individuals together regardless of race, gender or sexual orientation in order to unify our community and combat systems of oppression. There will be multiple interactive workshops that focus on a variety of topics, including LGBTQ issues, sexism and race.

According to its website, CRCC’s mission is “to enlighten, educate

and ignite conversation around creating a more equitable and just campus environment for all students, faculty and staff at Illinois State University.”

Hate crimes, bigotry and discrimination seem to be at an all time high, causing intense discomfort, anxiety and unrest among many U.S. citizens, especially those who face the greatest risk of being victims of violence and injustice: minorities.

CRCC strives to “help [...] students gain a better understanding of white privilege and being culturally responsive” in an effort to combat disparities and the systems that perpetuate them. “Systems of oppression have plagued our country and community for centuries,” so it is imperative that we band together and commit to continued action toward creating a fully inclusive, impartial campus and society.

There will be two keynote speakers at the conference: New York

VIDETTE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY The Vidette welcomes letters to the editor, provided they are no longer than 250 words and are typed and double-spaced. Letters that exceed the 250-word limit can be published at the editor’s discretion,but shorter letters take precedence. Letters containing name calling and insults will not be published.

Letters must be signed and contain the major or official title of the writer, the year in school if presently enrolled, address and a daytime telephone number for verification. Letters without phone numbers will not be considered for publication.

Names may be withheld upon request, but only after approval by the editor. Letters are subject to editing for style and space at the editor’s discretion.

Letters sent via email to: vidette@ilstu.edu are accepted, provided they include a telephone number for verification.

Times best-selling author Carole Boston Weatherford and actress, comedian and video blogger Franchesca Ramsey.

Weatherford has a passion for documenting American history. She tells the stories of African-American historical figures like Harriet Tubman in many of her works and champions for racial equality in literature by creating multicultural works with African-American protagonists.

Ramsey was born in West Palm Beach, Florida, but is currently based out of New York. In January 2012, her video “Sh*t White Girls Say ... to Black Girls” went viral with 5 million views in only five days. The video clearly resonated with a lot of people as it currently has 12 million views and was featured on many outlets, including the Anderson Cooper Talk Show, ABC, The Daily Mail and MSNBC. Her channel, Chescalocs, focuses on beauty, as well as natural hair

care and styling. Ramsey is dedicated to discussing serious topics such as police brutality, sexual violence and tips for becoming a better ally in a fresh and fun way while providing valuable insight and evoking deep thought.

Join the CRCC at the fall 2017 conference as it provides a safe space to discuss inequities and biases of marginalized groups and take action toward unifying our community. Get educated and find out how you can aid in removing the shackles that systems of oppression have forcefully locked on so many of us.

Together we are stronger than any one of us alone. Together we can attain liberty and justice for all.

Tamia Little is a columnist for The Vidette. Any questions or comments concerning her column can be sent to tslittl1@ilstu.edu. Follow her on Twitter @sungoddessmiaa.

THEY SAID IT

MORE OPINIONS ONLINE

I’m running for governor because everything that I believe and have stood up and fought for is under siege by Rauner and his partner in Washington, the xenophobic, misogynistic Donald Trump.”

Gough: Is Trump the next Nixon?

“

Democratic gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker said when discussing why he is motivated to run for Illinois governor.

Turner: Death of Lincoln Park Zoo polar bear shines light on animal confinement Jeffers: #CoupleGoals, or are they?

Visit The Vidette’s website or mobile app for complete details on these web-only opinion pieces by Vidette Editorial Board

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EDITORIAL BOARD EMA SASIC Editor-in-Chief | @ema_sasic KEVIN SCHWALLER News Editor | @kevschwa KAYLA JANE JEFFERS Columnist | @KJJeffers TAMIA LITTLE Columnist | @sungoddessmiaa ALEX GOUGH Columnist | @jalexgough KAMARA TURNER Columnist | @kvmara

THE VIDETTE | NEWS | PAGE 5

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2017

Professor says preemption laws limit localities

Lori Riverstone-Newell feels these policies force local governments to comply with state laws MIKE SMITH News Reporter | @Agora_180

which these laws would have an effect on local policies.

This abuse of power has only grown in recent years according to Riverstone-Newell who said that if angry With politics being as divisive as ever, an Illinois State local governments and communities tried to fight back, University associate professor is exposing the abuse she they would be met with a harsh reality. feels preemption laws induce.

“If legal action is taken, leaders and localities may be Preemption in politics has been used since the 1980s. The prohibited by the preemption law from using city resources legal definition of preemption is the rule of law that dictates to support their defense. They are on their own,” she said. that if federal law and state law conflict with each other, “This is a big change, and one that may bring local innothen the federal law overrules, or “preempts” the state law. vation to a halt. If you’re a local leader, even if you think Lori Riverstone-Newell, associate professor of politics that’s the right thing to do when it comes to banning hand and government, has been studying preemption laws and guns in public parks, for instance, who will take the chance their usage throughout the last few decades. if it exposes the leader to litigation or job loss?”

More specifically, she recently noticed that preemptive Cheering for the underdog, in this case, the local govlaws have overwhelmingly been used by the state to target ernments and leaders challenging these laws, sounds like local progressive governments and cities and force them to a clever idea at first. Though Riverstone-Newell said that comply with state laws. in hindsight, a price is paid by doing this.

In her paper, published this summer in Oxford Univer“In this case, degraded cooperation and heightened hosNatalie Stuckslager | Vidette Photo Editor sity Press’s Publius: The Journal of Federalism titled, “The Associate professor Lori Riverstone-Newell discusses preemption tility between states and their localities may slow or hinder Rise of State Preemption Laws in Response to Local Policy laws and their impacts in her article “The Rise of Sate Preeemption progress in policy or program arenas of great public import, Innovation,” she explained the phenomenon in depth. such as public education, economic development, infraLaws in Response to Local Policy Innovation”.

“While preemption laws have long been used to set ministructure improvements, among many others,” she wrote.

Riverstone-Newell said that they prohibit localities from mum standards on local activity by setting a floor on local Riverstone-Newell sees no end to these tactics anytime responsibilities and regulations, recent preemption laws are passing any laws or regulations in specific policy areas, many soon. With the recent election of Donald Trump to the office different in that they are meant to strip authority from locali- of which reflect the progressive social values such as local of the president of the United States, she said the problem can economies, environmental and public health and commu- be expected to escalate. ties altogether,” Riverstone-Newell wrote.

“These ‘maximum preemption’ laws are not intended to nity safety.

“This is a conservative thing, telling liberal cities that Riverstone-Newell sees this happening in several ways. The they’re getting too big for their britches and that they need to merely shape local behavior in keeping with minimum state use of preemption laws increased the scope and intensity to settle down now,” she said. “But I doubt they will.” goals.”

Band-A-Rama marches to ISU TIFFANY MORRISON News Reporter | @MorrisonTiffany

An upcoming event will showcase the music behind the athletics and concerts of Illinois State University.

Band-A-Rama will take place from 7:30-10 p.m. on Nov. 17 at Braden Auditorium. The event, organized by the School of Music and College of

Fine Arts, will feature the Big Red Marching Machine and ISU Wind Symphony. Each group will perform a small portion of its fully extended pieces.

Standard tickets are $5 and $3 for student tickets and senior citizens.

“It developed as a showcase concert for the Big Red Marching Machine and its senior class each year. This year we’ve made a slight adjustment to the program,” Director of Bands Anthony Marinello said.

“It will still showcase the Big Red Marching Machine and its seniors but also the Wind Symphony and its seniors.”

Marinello directs The Illinois State University Wind Symphony. It is the university’s

premier wind band that has gotten a reputation for its artistic achievement both nationally and internationally.

In addition to regular performances of standard and new works from the wind band literature on the Illinois State campus each year, the Wind Symphony records and tours regularly.

“We conceive this concert as a tasting menu of all the types of music-making that happen under the general of band at Illinois State University,” Marinello said.

“Many people are unaware that the band department is responsible for ensembles that appear at football, volleyball and basketball games as well as in concert halls on campus and throughout the region.”

The university’s marching band, the Big Red Marching Machine, is directed by assistant directors of bands Polly Middleton and Ben Stiers.

“Our philosophy is to give the audience a treat rather than a treatment,” Marinello said.

The Wind Symphony will be taking the portions of music during Band-A-Rama and perform the full, complete versions of the music at its concert Nov. 29 at 8 p.m. in the Center for Performing Arts.

“We hope to see anyone who is interested in bands and band music,” Marinello said. “This concert features the best of what ISU offers in bands and we feel strongly that there’s something for everyone at this concert!”

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Features

PAGE 6 | THE VIDETTE

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2017

Laws to lectures

Jennifer Woodruff breaks glass ceiling through her teachings DANIA DE LA HOYA ROJAS Features Reporter | @daniadelahoya

J

ennifer Woodruff had a vision of how her life would go from a young age, but it did not involve lecturing to a room full of college students.

The Illinois State University lecturer started out as a police officer for the Normal Police Department before landing a job at the university.

Although it was her dream job, Woodruff said it was not what she had hoped it would be in the end.

“Being a police officer was all I ever saw myself doing,” Woodruff said. “It was the only career for me. It, however, did not welcome me the same way I welcomed it.”

Woodruff said she found the police department to be an increasingly difficult environment to work in as a woman.

“I always believed if you could do the job well and work hard, you wouldn’t need to prove yourself as anything other than what you are,” Woodruff said. “I never thought I would spend years of my life playing catch up in a field where I was completely qualified to do the job I was doing — all because I was female. Or too female.”

Although Woodruff said she misses aspects of the job, she does not regret switching to teaching.

“There are days I miss running the lights and sirens, and I do think I helped people, because I could talk to people without having to prove I was stronger or tougher or bigger than they were,” Woodruff said.

“Unfortunately, at the time I was on the force, the skills I had weren’t as valued. I was sent to get my supervisor’s coffee or work the front desk for the majority of the evening PROFESSOR PROFILE while the men handled the calls. I babysat the runaways and handled sexual assault cases and searched women all over the county for male officers. It was frustrating.”

It was this frustration that led Woodruff to ISU. “I got angry one day,” Woodruff said. “I don’t remember why, but I went over to ISU on break in uniform to the sociology department to see about

going back to school. My way at getting back, learning about why the world functions the way it does and seeing what I can do to change it.”

Illness halted Woodruff’s work with the force, but she continued her schoolwork and graduated from ISU with her master’s in sociology. From there, she was asked to teach

by Heartland Community College — where she is now tenured and works full time — and later landed a job at ISU shortly after. In addition, she occasionally teaches at Lincoln College.

Woodruff may have left police work behind, but she said it still comes up in class from time to time, as her lecture on sexual assault further proves. “[It comes up] every semester,” she said. “Mostly how to get out of tickets, or was it fair that this officer did this. I give a lot of mini legal advice, but I’m not a lawyer.”

Woodruff’s husband, whom she met as an undergraduate at Western Illinois University, is ISU Police Chief Aaron Woodruff. Jennifer Woodruff, however, is enjoying her new line of work.

“I teach a wide variety of classes ranging from the 100 levels to the 300 levels,” Woodruff said. “I love [teaching] classes that deal with diversity. I’ve grown quite fond of many of my classes. The students make them worthwhile. There have been tears and laughter.”

Brooke Gatto, a senior organizational and leadership communication major and current student of Woodruff’s, said it was Woodruff’s personality and a small gesture of solidarity she performed in class that have made her a memorable teacher.

“She’s an all-around laid back professor, which is refreshing,” Gatto said. “I gained a lot of respect for her when she set a whole class towards learning about sexual assault and the definition of consent. It might seem like a small gesture from her end, but that was a way for her to present herself as an ally among the women in our class and let me know that I can go to her for anything.”

Photo submitted by Jennifer Woodruff

REVIEW

'Super Slimey' slips attempting to be something it’s not JONATHAN BARLAS Features Reporter | @janvesleybarlas

Hip-hop heavyweights are about a dime a dozen in today’s musical era. Superstar young artists such as Post Malone, 21 Savage and Quavo are just a few among the immense collection of premature yet established rappers. While their age may draw a discrepancy from the more recognized acts in the game (Drake, Future and JAY-Z to name a few), one thing drives these young rappers on their pursuit for rap immortality: success among the ranks of the immortal.

Of these current rap legends, Future has been arguably the most consistent in terms of content. After releasing sister albums “FUTURE” and “HNDRXX” in the spring of 2017, Future teams up with hiphop pioneer Young Thug to deliver his third release of the year, “Super Slimey.”

While the sheer force of these two celebrated artists constantly create waves amidst the cut-throat nature of hip-hop, “Super Slimey” almost did exactly as fans hoped it would not: be insignificant.

From the very first song, listeners will be able to identify the level of production the mixtape exerts.

From the melody progression to the booming 808s, it’s apparent that music’s finest did what they do best.

The problem is that it seems as though Future and Thug do not do or say anything memorable with what they are given.

Heavily relying on the masterminds behind the production, Future and Thug bounce off one another, seemingly in an attempt

Never too early to start fighting for a cure: Relay For Life comes to ISU CRISTINA MEESENBURG Features Reporter | @cristina_mees

Prince Williams | WireImage

’Tis the season to be slimey on the new surprise mixtape from Future and Young Thug. to recreate the façade of the “ultimate super trapper.” Although both have their strengths, commonly lyrics does not appear to be either of theirs.

“Super Slimey” has the makings of a perfect formula. Two brilliant and established hip-hop artists bouncing off one another only to come up short. WAY short. Regardless of the mixtape’s downfalls, Thug and Future deliver their character and poise throughout by complementing the production underneath.

Tracks such as “No Cap” and “4 da Gang” show a glimmer of promise for what could have been. Delivering groovy cadences on head-bobbing beats, Thug and Future trade blow for what seems like a battle for the mediocre.

Although in the song “Feed Me Dope,” Future delivers what shows to be a personal battle from a former life while Thugger follows up on that struggle.

Being outshined by the recent Metro Boomin, 21 Savage and Offset collaboration album “Without Warning,” it seems as though the spotlight turns away from the heavyweight power duo, trying to make up for their lackluster showing.

This album is a 7 out of 10 because of the disappointing vibe the track-list gives its listeners.

Almost trying to be something it is not, “Super Slimey” dwells on the name of the artists involved while letting the production carry the weight of the sales.

Respectively some of the best rappers in music right now, hip-hop has seen better days for these two and sometimes people do not always hit the nail right on head. Surely they know this and without hesitation, Future and Thug will be back to surprise with unforgettable albums once again as they have always done.

But let’s not count this to be one of them.

The signature fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, Relay For Life, is headed to Normal. Honor those who have been affected by cancer by participating in this community-based team event.

This team fundraising event centers around team members taking turns walking around a track or path. Each event is 6 to 24 hours and at all times throughout the event, one team member is asked to be on the track to signify cancer never sleeps.

This event showcases that cancer patients do not stop because they are tired, and neither do the participants.

The event is at 2 p.m. on April 20. It will be held on the Quad with an opening ceremony, survivor/caregiver walk, luminaria ceremony and a closing ceremony.

“The atmosphere at the Relay For Life event is so uplifting. Everyone coming together in honoring of loved ones to help make a difference is such a special experience,” senior marketing major Bailey Reifsteck said.

The event starts with an opening ceremony that honors those who have been affected by cancer and people who have contributed to the success of Relay For Life.

After, survivors and caregivers will take center stage and kick off the walk.

Participants will cheer them on to show their support.

Following is the luminaria ceremony, which represents everyone touched by disease. Each light represents a survivor, a life taken by cancer or support for a person still fighting.

Finally, the closing ceremony unifies everyone involved and shows commitment to take action to continue leading the fight.

Students can sign up to join by starting a team or go by walking as an individual. Each team sets a fundraising goal with the proceeds going to the American Cancer Society.

Even if students do not choose to participate they can still make a donation to help fight cancer.

For more information or to register for the event, please visit the event website.

THE VIDETTE | SPORTS | PAGE 7

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2017

ABOVE: Milik Yarbrough scores two of his 25 points in ISU’s 79-52 victory over Lewis Sunday.

RIGHT: Phil Fayne is swarmed by two Lewis defenders during the Redbirds’ exhibition win at Redbird Arena.

Photographs by MONICA MENDOZA | Vidette Photo Editor

Redbirds fly past Lewis in exhibition NATE HEAD Sports Editor | @NateHead51

It was a slow and sluggish start for the Illinois State men’s basketball team Sunday at Redbird Arena, but a pair of newcomers lifted ISU to a season-opening exhibition victory.

Junior transfers William Tinsley and Milik Yarbrough combined for 42 points to bury Lewis, 79-52, in the team’s first showing of the 201718 season before a crowd of 4,066.

ISU head coach Dan Muller was pleased with the duo’s performance in their Redbird debut. “[Yarbrough] did what he can do out there. He is unbelievably talented and can be a mismatch problem for other teams,” Muller said. “[Tinsley] was impressive ... his size and ability to shoot the ball like that is really going to help us.”

With just over four minutes

remaining in the first half, ISU clung to a 27-24 lead while struggling to establish a rhythm on either side of the court. Tinsley scored the first nine points of the game for the Redbirds on a trio of 3-pointers.

The former standout at nearby Ridgeview High School said he enjoyed the atmosphere at Redbird Arena in his first game as a Division I athlete.

“I just wanted to make the first [shot] and get the icebreaker out of the way,” Tinsley said. “The fan base was awesome, it was what I was looking forward to.”

While Tinsley started the offensive production, Yarbrough finished it after checking into the game at the 16:42 mark.

Yarbrough, who sat out last season due to NCAA transfer rules, impressed in his first game action in over a year and a half. He finished with a game-high 25 points

on 8-of-10 shooting, including two 3-pointers.

Yarbrough also snagged eight rebounds and a recorded a devastating block on what appeared to be a fastbreak layup for Lewis in the first half. However, he was more interested in the team’s success.

“We played so hard and executed well,” Yarbrough said. “I think that was the biggest thing ... we played defense at a high level and kept them to 37 percent from the field, so that is what I am most happy about.”

The second half was a different story, a narrative that begun with the prized defensive unit. Illinois State opened in a zone coverage, suffocating Lewis scorers into shooting just 34.5 percent from the field.

Lewis head coach Scott Trost said the scheme was unfamiliar to his players.

“They are active in it and we

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Keyshawn Evans (3) celebrates during ISU’s exhibition against Lewis Sunday at Redbird Arena. haven’t worked a lot on it,” Trost said. “We didn’t attack it very well and I thought it had us back on our heels. It will be good to learn from on the tape.”

ISU’s shooting production came to life in the second half, too, as it rode hot distance shooting and effective paint scoring throughout a 14-0 run to open the period.

Yarbrough and Tinsley led the Redbirds in scoring while Phil Fayne and Jerron Martin added 12 and eight points, respectively.

As Muller and the team sets to

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“We had a little nerves at the beginning since we had only three guys that had ever played in a Redbird uniform today,” Muller said. “I thought we really guarded at times and was my main focus. Overall, it was a good day and a lot to learn from.”

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PAGE 8 | THE VIDETTE

Sports

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2017

ISU needs to refresh passing game

MY VIEW NATE HEAD | Sports Editor

T

Monica Mendoza | Vidette Photo Editor

Christian Gibbs (left) recorded five receptions for 113 yards and a touchdown in ISU’s defeat to WIU Saturday at Hancock Stadium.

WIU rallies by ’Birds

Western spoils Family Weekend with second half surge to beat ISU, 31-14 MIKE MARRA Sports Editor | @MikeMarraILSTU

I

n the 100th meeting between these instate rivals, Western Illinois stif led Illinois State in a stellar second half, 31-14, in a Family Weekend matchup.

Once again, the Redbirds were unable to put two halves of football together, as the Leathernecks put up 31 unanswered points in the second half.

“Football is a game of momentum. You’ve got to seize it, keep it and build on it,” Leatherneck head coach Charlie Fisher said. “We were able to do that the second half.”

“Offensively, we were not able to sustain a drive the third quarter to give our defense a lift,” Redbird head coach Brock Spack said.

“Then the special teams gaffes. Roll that up in a nice, big package and it leads to a loss.”

However, it was all Redbirds in the first half, heading into the half up 14-0.

The Redbirds used the arm of quarterback Jake Kolbe to score their two touchdowns, which was a different look than last week at Youngstown State, when Kolbe only attempted 11 passes.

Kolbe responded after an interception in the end zone with a 65-yard touchdown pass to Christian Gibbs. The touchdown reception was Gibbs’ fifth of the year.

The next scoring drive ended with a three-yard touchdown pass to Tylor Petkovich, for Kolbe’s second of the day and Petkovich’s first of the year.

The passing touchdown was Kolbe’s 12th of the season.

That would be the last sign of life from the Redbird offense for the afternoon.

“We didn’t do anything right the second half offensively. We couldn’t sustain a drive and keep our defense off the field,” Kolbe said. “We didn’t bring enough energy out.

They made some plays on defense, took away some things and got some pressure.”

From there it was down hill for ISU as Leatherneck quarterback Sean McGuire would go on to rip up the Redbird defense for two touchdown passes and 288 yards.

Needing to score immediately trailing 14-0 entering the second half, the Leathernecks only needed three plays to score and get themselves back into the game.

McGuire would lead Western to a three

play touchdown drive to start the second half, ending in a 35-yard pass to Brandon Gaston for the first WIU points of the day.

On the ensuing drive, Clint Ratkovich rushed for a one-yard touchdown, ending an 11-play drive.

Ratkovich also made a diving touchdown catch in the fourth quarter, which essentially put the game out of reach for a stunned Illinois State team.

Steve McShane added a touchdown of his own and a field goal from Sam Crosa rounded out the scoring for Western.

“We had a great halftime locker room,” McGuire said. “We said when we stepped on the field the whole game was going to change. Our mind was in the right spot.

We’ve come back so many times, there’s not ever a need for panic.”

WIU sealed the victory with a forced fumble, which was recovered by Khalen Saunders and brought the game to an end.

Illinois State hits the road next week for its final road game of the regular season, when it travels to South Dakota State, who just upset North Dakota State.

ISU volleyball brings home back-to-back wins NICK DAMIANI Sports Reporter | @ @nGdamiani

ISU freshman Sydney Holt attacks the net in the Redbirds’ 3-0 sweep over conference foe Valparaiso in Valparaiso, Indiana, Friday.

Photo courtesy Valpo Athletics

Illinois State volleyball dominated its weekend matches sweeping both Valparaiso and Loyola on the road.

Valpo pushed the Redbirds to five sets in their first meeting of the year at Redbird Arena, yet this time around ISU took care of the Crusaders in just three sets.

The Redbirds were led by Jaelyn Keene’s 12 kills as well as Juma Armando and Ella Francis who had 11 apiece. Stef Jankiewicz had a match-high 45 assists to go along with 16 digs.

Head coach Leah Johnson was impressed with her team’s allaround performance.

“We had a great team effort

tonight. Stef ran a very balanced and efficient offense, creating solo blocks for her attackers,” said Johnson. “We were very steady and battled for each point.”

The sweep was anything but easy for the Redbirds, as Valparaiso led by as many as eight in set one before ISU broke out an eight-point run of its own to take the lead for good. It would be challenged again in set three when the Crusaders held an early 11-4 lead. After a timeout, the Redbirds went on a 6-1 run to pull within one point. ISU then fought off a set point before kills from Keene and Francis finished things off.

Full story online.

videtteonline.com/article

he ground game has been the bread and butter of the 2017 Illinois State football team. It’s time to shake things up a bit.

Last week, the Redbirds ran all over Youngstown State in a critical 35-0 blowout on the road to strengthen their playoff aspirations and send a message to critics.

James Robinson and Markel Smith became the first two ISU players in nearly two seasons to each record at least 100 rushing yards, completing a near 300-yard ground attack that left the Penguins battered and confused on their home turf.

When the Redbirds trotted through the tunnel Saturday to host Western Illinois in a Family Weekend matchup, it was assumed that ISU would run the ball frequently, especially given the unfavorable conditions.

The problem: everyone knew it.

The drunken fathers twirling spatulas in the parking lots across town did, the media coup did and most importantly, Western Illinois defensive coordinator Tony Grantham did.

On ISU’s opening drive, the Leathernecks set the tone defensively, stifling Robinson to just two yards on three carries. From there, the Redbirds seemed to adjust to an aerial strategy, mixing in more passing attempts than the last two weeks combined.

The result? Zero second-half points and a second straight loss on Family Weekend at Hancock Stadium.

Now, don’t get me wrong. It isn’t time to completely abandon the run or implement the West Coast, passhappy spread style.

Rather, it’s time to revitalize the passing game to a level where it can serve as the perfect complement to perhaps the best backfield core in the conference.

The Redbirds already are looking to cater to quarterback Jake Kolbe’s strengths with short crossing routes or screens. Kolbe finished with 223 yards with over one-fourth of those coming on a 65-yard touchdown strike to Christian Gibbs in the first quarter.

More of those, please.

But it isn’t all on Kolbe. While it starts with him, it takes two to complete a pass. (Expert analysis, I know). ISU receivers need to create separation more often and playcallers must find a way to utilize Kolbe’s skillset in a way that can move the ball down the field.

These Redbirds are a good team, a unit with an even higher ceiling than last year’s bunch. But, at this point, they are too predictable in offense and ineffective when they try to mix it up.

ISU has dates with the red-hot Dakota states (North and South) in the closing two weeks of the season, and it will need a refreshed offensive scheme to grab a victory in either contest.

So, shake it up a bit. Roll the dice.

You never know: it just might work.