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MARCH to THE ’BIRD the ARCH THE VIDETTE PRESENTS

THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2017 Vol. 129 / No. 45

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After historic season, all signs point to Muller for Coach of the Year

MY VIEW JOSH TOLENTINO | Sports Editor | @JCTSports

an Muller took over the Illinois State men’s basketball program nearly five years ago with one specific goal in mind: get the Redbirds back to the NCAA Tournament. ISU is on the verge of lacing up its dancing shoes for the first time in

nearly two decades and Muller is the man responsible for ISU’s historic success. Time and time again this season, the Redbirds have rewritten the record books. Given Muller’s noteworthy season, acknowledgement of such exploits should justifiably follow Thursday in St. Louis, when the league announces the 2017 Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year. The Redbirds were picked to finish second and ended the regular season tied for first in the Valley. Not only did the Redbirds finish better than the preseason predictions, they did so in stunning fashion. No one had ISU finishing 25-5, 17-1 MVC, tying

its best record and winning its most league games in program history. He has overachieved. Wichita State’s Gregg Marshall certainly has his own case for COY. Marshall led his team to MVC regular season co-champions after losing Ron Baker and Fred VanVleet to the NBA. The Shockers have been blowing out the rest of the Valley, winning by an average margin of 19.8 points. Meanwhile, the Redbirds have squeaked past opponents, winning three of their last four games by a margin of four points or less. But no team in the MVC more exceeded expectations this season than ISU, and amidst a historic season for

the Redbirds, the nod should go to Muller. Winning is hard, even when everything appears to be there to win at a consistently high rate. But after a few early bumps during nonconference season, Muller and the Redbirds have constantly answered the bell. Win, rinse, repeat. When asked about expected COY recognition, Muller shied away from the idea at first, saying he doesn’t like to talk about himself too much. He went on to take zero credit and thanked his staff and players for ISU’s continued success. see MULLER page 7

Above: Paris Lee was awarded 2017 MVC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. The Coach of the Year award will be announced Thursday. Photograph by BRET FARRELL | Social Media Manager

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Students, ADP analyze Trump’s address

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Students watched Trump’s first joint US congressional speech in Schroeder Hall. along partisan lines during the speech; congressional Republicans all sat on one side of the aisles, while Democrats sat on the other. “For only half of Congress to stand up for what he’s saying really shows how divided we are. I didn’t vote for Trump, but I also didn’t agree with either side in this election. I couldn’t find someone that represented my views,” journalism major Molly Lawless said. “The good each candidate offered was outweighed by the cons.” Other students had a more positive reaction to the president’s address to congress “I didn’t like the speech, but I really liked the statement on the women’s suffrage movement by the Democratic women in Congress,” junior anthropology major Deanna Horton said. Women from the Democratic Party wore white in homage to the

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women’s suffrage movement. Palmer explained that the president’s speech was much more measured than expected in regards to his previous campaign rhetoric. “He appeared to make a more concerted effort to appear more presidential,” he said. “He stuck to teleprompter and speech and seems to be more comfortable in expressing himself.” “I mean, this is kind of what I expected. He’s been talking about the same stuff that he campaigned on, so no big surprises,” journalism major Jared Litkenhus said.

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The American Democracy Project (ADP) at Illinois State University hosted a watch party for the first Congressional speech given by President Donald Trump Tuesday. ADP member and political science professor Carl Palmer organized and hosted the watch party. Palmer is the political engagement director for ADP. ADP at ISU is in charge of the political engagement project and partners with other RSOs on campus to help spread the word about these political events. Between 25 to 30 students attended the event, which took place in Schroeder Hall. This is the first time President Trump has addressed the entire United States Senate and House of Representatives in a televised speech. The President’s address was largely viewed as much more measured, calm and more presidential than his previous speeches, according to several students who attended the event. “I think he touched on exactly what he should have. He definitely crossed a few lines when he attacked Nancy Pelosi about Obamacare,” junior journalism major Giovanni Lebron said. “I do think it was nice that he commented on the dead Navy Seal’s sacrifice in Yemen.” Other students, however, did not have the same reaction to President Trump’s address to Congress. “I wouldn’t expect anything less coming from him, but I would hope to expect new ideas rather than re-capping the ideas he’s already had and which the American public has disagreed with,” journalism major Hope Daly said. “People that voted for him are now wishing they didn’t.” President Trump’s speech highlighted several of the same issues on which he campaigned, such as illegal immigration, bringing back manufacturing jobs, an increase support to U.S. law enforcement and fighting terrorism at home and abroad. Many of the president’s policies have been met with criticism and controversy from both congressional Democrats and some Republicans. Democrats and Republicans were evenly divided

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THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2017

University Club plans talk on Swahili music and dance CLAIRE WEINZIERL News Reporter | @ClaireWeinzierl

Anna Gallagher | Vidette Photographer

Connect Transit General Manager Andrew Johnson will leave the company to accept a chief operating officer position with the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District.

Connect Transit GM goes from Normal to Champaign STEPHANIE RODRIGUEZ News Reporter | @StephanieRoddd

he General Manager of Connect Transit will be resigning from his position at the company to accept a new post not too far from the Twin Cities. Andrew Johnson will leave Connect Transit to accept a position with Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District as the company’s new chief operating officer. Connect Transit sent out a press Andrew release confirming Johnson leaving the Johnson company. Acting Board Chair Andrew McCurdy said in the press release that he wishes Johnson the best of luck in his new position. “I’m really sorry to see him go. He’s been a huge asset. But I understand. It’s a strategic move for his career,” McCurdy said. “The list of things that Andrew has accomplished here sort of makes the head spin. It’s really a completely different transit system from the day he took over to the day he’ll leave.” McCurdy added that Johnson definitely left his mark on the company during the six years he has worked for it. “From a complete rebranding effort to a comprehensive route restructuring, Andrew has impacted every aspect of our service,” McCurdy said. “I can’t remember a time that I brought him an idea or suggestion that Andrew or his team wasn’t already thinking about.”

Film festival pays tribute to women directors KEVIN SCHWALLER Senior News Reporter | @kevschwa

Beyond Normal Films organization will host a film festival of movies directed by women beginning March 9 at the Normal Theater.

In the same press release, Johnson thanked Connect Transit for all it has done for him. “I would like to thank the Connect Transit Board of Trustees for the guidance and support I’ve received over the years,” Johnson said. “Together the board and staff have redefined the concept of public transportation in the community.” During Johnson’s time, the company received an award from the American Public Transportation Association recognizing it as the outstanding small system in North America in 2015. The award is for agencies that provide fewer than four million passenger trips annually. Johnson is also credited with the recent change in the bus route map, the new electronic fare boxes and for his fight to secure state funding. Johnson was able to get funding for the company through June of this year—long after he takes his managerial experience to Champaign-Urbana at the end of this month. He also worked with the Twin Cities and Connect Transit’s board to receive a portion of a 2016 sales tax hike that ultimately helped pay for a Sunday bus service. Johnson was hired by Connect Transit in 2011. His last day with the company will be March 24. The Connect Transit Board of Trustees said it would consider an interim general manager during a meeting Tuesday. There is no word yet on whose names were brought up. Stephanie Rodriguez is a news reporter for The Vidette. Contact her at srodri7@ilstu.edu and follow her on Twitter @StephanieRoddd.

The nonprofit organization’s film festival will kick off with “Certain Women” at 7 p.m. “Queen of Katwe” will screen March 10 and 12. “Certain Women” will show again March 11. “Things to Come” will be shown March 16 and 18. “The Fits” will be shown March 17 and 19, ending the festival. The festival is part of the spring Farlee Film Festival. Vice President

of Beyond Normal Films Rochelle Gridley said the organization wanted to highlight women this year. “We wanted to have a cohesive theme,” Gridley said. “We chose women directors because everybody is thinking about women right now. The Women’s March on Washington, no [female directors] were recognized at the Oscars and we wanted to draw attention to some women directors.”

The University Club will be hosting a talk called “Swahili Permutations: Music, Dance and Identity in Kenya’s Lamu Islands” at 4:30 p.m. Friday at the University Club in the Faculty/Staff Commons of the Bone Student Center. Professor of anthropology Rebecca Gearhart Mafazy of Illinois Wesleyan University will be presenting. Mafazy first went to East Africa in 1987 on an undergraduate student abroad program with the School for International Training. While there, she stayed with a host family and did an intensive language study in Lamu Town on Lamu Island, off the northern coast of Kenya. After developing a close relationship with her host family, Gearhart Mafazy returned later in the program, spent the next summer with them and continued to visit them often while conducting research for a master’s degree in history and a doctorate in anthropology. Gearhart Mafazy married into her host family and has been able to call Lamu her second home for 30 years. “My interest in performance studies and my focus on ritual music and dance grew out of attending elaborate Swahili wedding ceremonies and the annual Maulidi festival in Lamu that celebrates the birth of the Prophet Muhammad,” Mafazy said.

Gearhart Mafazy focused her dissertation on various performance genres among the Swahili and continues to gravitate toward Swahili expressive arts. She has also expanded her research to areas of health, healing and children’s experiences. When her focus became performance studies, Gearhart Mafazy switched from history to anthropology. She is a visual anthropologist, meaning she uses photography and digital video as a mode of ethnographic inquiry. “Expressive arts lend themselves to the methods I have designed particularly to study the Rebecca Swahili peoples,” Gearhart Mafazy said. Mafazy During her presentation, Gearhart Mafazy will be focusing on three performance traditions the Swahili peoples of the Lamu archipelago continue to practice today. She aims to provide her audience with a general understanding of who the Swahili are and what these traditions tell us about how they came to be. Faculty, staff, annuitants and guests are welcome to attend the relaxed and informal atmosphere from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Snacks and refreshments are available at the event. Additional information about the event can be found on the University Club website.

Renner, Lower emerge as winners EMA SASIC News Editor | @ema_sasic

After a hotly contested race for Bloomington mayor, Mayor Tari Renner and Ward 1 Alderman Kevin Lower were the top two candidates from the primary race Tuesday. The men will face off for the coveted position in the nonpartisan April 4 election. Incumbent Renner, who is seekMayor Tari Renner ing a second term, received 3,667 votes, or 48.15 percent. Lower secured 19.04 percent, totaling 1,450 votes, according to the Bloomington Board of Elections. The two men beat out three other candidates: former radio host Ian Bayne (1,067 votes, 14.01 percent); retired Bloomington firefighter Robert Fike (788 votes, 10.35 percent); and Ward 8 alderman Diana Hauman (643 votes, 8.44 percent). With a total of 7,637 ballots cast,

voter turnout was 15.31 percent. At the start of Renner’s time as mayor, the Illinois Policy Institute rated the city of Bloomington with an “F” for transparency. Nearly four years later, Renner has been proud to announce the city is now awarded with an “A.” Renner is also a tenured political science faculty member at Illinois Wesleyan University. If elected mayor, Lower wants to build a northeast fire Alderman Kevin Lower station and invest in public safety with police and fire department training. Bloomington residents will also vote for township trustee, members of the Board of Education and Trustees of the community college district. Normal will also hold an election on April 4. Current Mayor Chris Koos is running for reelection against Marc Tiritilli, a Bloomington High School science teacher.

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VIDETTE EDITORIAL

THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2017

Trump’s optimistic congressional address: real or phony?

he President Donald Trump we saw Tuesday was an entirely different leader figure than the one we have seen in the weeks since his inauguration. In his inaugural address, much different than those who stepped to the podium and took the presidential oath before him, Trump neglected to call the nation together under his lead — including those who did not support him or his claims. This fault caused the nation to foster a look of distrust toward him and his administration. Tuesday’s congressional address, however, reflected something else entirely. Sewn throughout the speech and tying together at the end was a promise for unity and a better future, a future which Trump coined as the “new chapter of American Greatness.” “From now on, America will be empowered by our aspirations, not burdened by our fears — inspired by the future, not bound by the failures of the past — and guided by our vision, not blinded by our doubts.” “I am asking all citizens to embrace this Renewal of the American spirit,” he continued. “I am asking all members of

Congress to join me in dreaming big, and bold and daring things for our country. And I am asking everyone watching tonight to seize this moment and — believe in yourselves. Believe in your future. And believe, once more, in America.” Now that is how you give a presidential speech. In stark contrast to the dark tones cast in the president’s inaugural address, Tuesday’s

speech strikes tones of optimism for the future along with the call for a grand coming together of our torn nation. Another comforting fact: fact checkers from POLITICO, CNN and the New York Times found first and foremost that a majority of Trump’s statements were true. On the other end, many of these statements were labeled “true, but misleading.” Maybe not the best outcome, but a decent start

from where he began stringing lies together on the campaign trail. (Note: He finally got the statistic for murders occurring in the United States correct.) Perhaps this is the Donald Trump our nation has so desperately been needing to see, finally responding to our own calls? In his inaugural address, the pronoun “you” was used frequently, as if Trump was

speaking solely to his supporters. Tuesday, “we” was brought to the table in an admirable way to string together the country. Could this be because unlike his inaugural address written by Steve Bannon and Stephen Miller, the congressional address was penned by the Don himself? According to both a White House official and Vice President Mike Pence, this is very well the case. Apparently, Trump wrote the speech himself, then took time to ask members of his staff to review his work before the big day. It’s about time we heard your voice, Mr. President. Only, was this truly his voice? Trump’s congressional address was inspiring, true, but the tone expressed throughout the night was almost entirely unfamiliar. Insisting that “the time for trivial fights is over” sounds nice, but last time we checked, the man is a big fan of trailer-trash Twitter battles himself. So, is this a statement to the people, or is this a promise to himself? Are the days of Trump’s wildly exaggerative tweets gone and in the past, or should we continue refreshing our timelines awaiting the next eruption?

Editorial Cartoon by Ashley Brown | Vidette Editorial Cartoonist

Editorial written by MARY CULLEN, 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 Editorial Board. Columns that carry bylines are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Vidette or the University.

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If you are offended by ‘Get Out,’ please get out MY VIEW KEVIN SCHWALLER | Columnist

ne of the few things I love more than a horror movie is a good horror movie. What I love more than a good horror movie, however, is a socially aware horror movie, and “Get Out” is exactly that. However, not everyone likes this movie – and it isn’t because of its genre. Genre films have always been an efficient vessel for social and political commentary. Comedian-actor-writer Jordan Peele’s directorial debut “Get Out” is a prime example of the way this works. The story follows an inter-

racial couple, played by Daniel Kaluuya and Allison Williams. Kaluuya plays a young man who meets his girlfriend’s white parents for the first time in their secluded house in a forest. Little does he know, he walked into a racial nightmare in more ways than one. While the movie has garnered excellent reviews, some people – specifically, yes, white people – aren’t too happy with it. One Rotten Tomatoes user wrote “100 percent anti-white film used as propaganda. White shaming white women to date black guys or they are racist. Standard ‘it’s so tough to be a black person’ nonsense.” Another: “Maybe it’s because I’m white that I didn’t like this movie. I really wanted to like it but just couldn’t get past the racial stereotypes and social message.” Another: “I don’t care if this is actually an entertaining movie

or not I find it atrocious that anyone can support such outright racism.” You get the idea. I must note that racism and prejudice are not the same thing; racism is essentially prejudice, with the addition of power or status. So, no, “Get Out” is not racist. It also isn’t prejudice. There are a handful of movies that depict African-Americans as slaves, thugs or drug dealers, so it shouldn’t be the end of the world if there’s a single satirical horror movie that depicts a white family as evil slave owners. Peele created a smart, timely commentary on race using

REDBIRD RUMBLE or FUMBLE Redbird Rumble: To Bloomington Mayor Tari Renner who

won the Democratic seat in Tuesday’s primary election for mayor. He totaled 3,667 votes, and his Republican opponment, Alderman Kevin Lower, finished second in the election with 1,450 votes. The general election will take place April 4.

subtle indiscretions, like a white father greeting his daughter’s African-American boyfriend with “my man” or a white couple discussing golf with the boyfriend by first mentioning Tiger Woods. My favorite, though, was “My dad would have voted for Obama a third term if he could.” Kaluuya’s character is treated as “the black guy” and not as “Chris” by almost every white character in the movie. It’s uncomfortable and cringe-worthy because it’s so relatable. Regardless of your race, we all notice similar situations that occur in our everyday lives. The film has the kind of premise that will leave you questioning why something like it hadn’t already been made years ago, in multiple versions, until you stop and remember that Hollywood seems to primarily make movies for white people, and that studios’ main concerns are what they believe audiences want

(and don’t want). Kaluuya actually summarized my thoughts in a quote during promotion for the film. “I think it accelerates what’s really in you,” he said. “If you think this, if this offends you, why does this offend you? If that offends you and a black kid getting shot by police doesn’t, something’s not real, something is.” I guarantee we will remember “Get Out” a few years from now. Peele, who has worked almost exclusively in the world of comedy, effectively established a film like no other, that makes sure everyone leaves the theater understanding the darkest kind of horror out there: humanity. Kevin Schwaller is a news reporter and columnist for The Vidette. He can be reached at vidette_kschwal@ilstu.edu. Follow him on Twitter @kevschwa.

Compiled by The Vidette Editorial Board

Redbird Fumble: To Uber for another bad move by CEO Travis Ka-

lanick. After a video leaked of Kalanick in a heated argument with a driver surfaced, Kalanick sent an apology to his 11,000 employees Tuesday, saying he needs to “fundamentally change and grow up.”

THE VIDETTE | NEWS | PAGE 5

THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2017

Blo-No Sister Cities Committee prepares for Japan trip KEVIN SCHWALLER Senior News Reporter | @KevSchwa

The Bloomington-Normal Sister Cities Committee will celebrate its 55th anniversary with a trip to Asahikawa, Japan, this summer. Bloomington-Normal and its sister city, Asahikawa, have met every five years since 1962. They alternate the host city every time. Committee Chairman Darren Sampson said the committee will leave July 26 and return Aug. 8. The group of roughly 30 to 40 people will spend time in several places throughout the country, including Tokyo and Mt. Fuji. “We will spend six days in Asahikawa where we will enjoy visiting our friends, past exchange students who studied in Bloomington-Normal, our committee counterparts and the mayor,” Sampson said. “We will visit local museums, schools and participate in the summer festival and other official 55th-anniversary activities.” Sampson also said Bloomington Mayor Tari Renner and Normal Mayor Chris Koos will join the committee in Asahikawa. Tr ip coord inator Toyok a

Michelle Carrico | Vidette Photographer

The distance between Normal and Asahikawa is 5,792 miles. Nishihara, who has been to the sister city three times, is excited for new members to experience Japan. “I’d like our group to take in the most beautiful mountains, cultural areas and the friendly people of Asahikawa as well as the delicious local cuisine,” Nishihara said. Committee members pay for their own travel expenses. Once in Asahikawa, the group splits up and stays with host families, which

reduces the overall expenses of the trip and provides more opportunity to learn about Japanese culture. Sampson explained how Bloomington-Normal prepares to host Asahikawa visitors. “It works very similarly,” he said. “When our guests are here, they stay with host families here in the community and can experience American family life. The planned events are always very

Alumni to share advice at diversity meet up CASSIE MCNEILL News Reporter | @165_Cassie1

as a current student I encourage every student to attend,” Career Center Marketing and Communication Intern Krista Bilow said. The Career Center at Illinois State University is hosting The Career Center is hoping that the conversations its annual Student and Alumni Diversity Meet-up from 5 sparked between students and alumni will be beneficial to 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Hancock Stadium Club. to giving students motivation in their endeavors post The goal of the event is to college. allow students from different “Conversations about tranbackgrounds to engage with sitioning from college to alumni from a variety of careers career may cover anything and get input on the transition from cultural differences and STUDENT from college to life with their adjustments entering as a pro& ALUMNI choice of career. fessional, to what kind of skills DIVERSITY “This event has been taking employers are seeking, to if MEET place for many years. The title alumni had internships and has changed, but the objective what they gained from them,” to connect alumni and students Whitsitt said. has been extremely successThe relaxed atmosphere ful each year,” Career Center is supposed to prompt stuAssistant Director for Marketdents to feel comfortable with ing and Communication Susan sharing professional dreams, Whitsitt said. “It will be a safe challenges and success with place where students can bring alumni and vice versa. Nine their career questions and get alumni are expected to attend. answers from those who have “It allows students a chance been in their shoes.” to connect with alumni who The event will include interIllusrtation by Nicholas Buegel | Vidette Art Director may be able to serve as a proactive sessions, allotted time for fessional contact or mentor to Q&A targeted at the alumni and more. The event is open them as they transition into the workplace,” Whitsitt said. to all ISU students, however, Whitsitt said, “It is targeted Bilow echoed Whitsitt when asked about the many to assist students from underrepresented backgrounds.” opportunities the event could provide. Highly requested by students, Whitsitt explained that Students interested in attending are not required to students regularly comment on how helpful the event was bring anything to the event but are expected to register for them to attend and interact with alumni. beforehand. Registration is available at CareerCenter.Illi“This event is one of the most helpful events at ISU and noisState.edu/DiversityMeetup.

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enjoyable and we do our best to make our Japanese friends feel welcome.” “There are always opportunities for Bloomington-Normal families to host,” he added. “We need families to host the student from Japan who stays here for 10 months, the Junior Ambassadors who stay in town for a week every year and for the anniversary trips.” Sampson said the goal of the trip is for members to connect with the people and culture of its sister city. “The mission of our committee is to provide students the opportunity to share cultural connections and experiences with our friends,” Sampson said. “This trip supports

that mission by allowing our committee and citizens to reconnect, and form new partnerships, with the people who help make our exchange programs possible.” “A tremendous amount of trust, communication and commitment is necessary to keep a program like ours going for 55 years,” he continued. “This trip strengthens and renews our purpose and keeps us all focused on the impact such programs have on students from Japan and Bloomington-Normal who participate.” For additional information about the Bloomington-Normal Sister Cities Committee programs, visit its website at www. bnsistercities.org.

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THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2017

Three cheers for the Mafia! DEBORAH BETHEL Features Editor | @thedebbethel

isney World may be the happiest place on Earth, but the Vittum Theater of Chicago may have been the funniest place on Earth last weekend as 15 of the best college improv teams from all across the nation, including ISU’s own Improv Mafia, gathered for the super regionals and nationals portions of the College Improv Tournament. With that, the most decorated improv group in the nation added more hardware to its collection. Since its initiation in 1998 as ISU’s first improv group, Improv Mafia had won seven regional tournaments and competed in seven national championships before this year. With 2017 being the year of the lucky sevens for the troupe, it not only won its super regionals last weekend, but also ranked third in the nation with its 20-minute long form montage scene. “Well, technically second in the nation, third in the continent since the Canadian team placed second,” Adam Rebora, one of the six Mafia members who performed on the CIT team, joked. The six Mafia members performing for the tournament, Rebora, Alec Rigik, Bailey Inman, Chloe Nowicki, Drew Burningham and Laura Eades, and the rest of the improv troupe began the tournament weekend in Chicago Friday. The competing teams mingled and even got to improvise with each other as teams were scrambled Friday to lessen the intimidation factor of the competition. All members of the CIT team remarked how refreshing it was being around such likeminded people who love the same craft. “It’s also nice to be in a room of people who you don’t have to reference ‘Whose Line Is It Anyway’ for them to get what you’re talking about, because they understand improv so you can just talk about your forms and your group dynamic,” Bailey Inman, senior design production major and co-president of Improv Mafia, said. After becoming friendly on Friday, the cutthroat competition commenced Saturday. Improv Mafia competed against Indiana University’s Full Frontal Comedy and Kansas State University’s Black and White and Read All Over in the early afternoon for its super regionals, taking the gold and advancing to the national championship. From 129 teams competing in regionals, 15 teams competing in the super regionals to just five teams competing in Nationals, the Mafia made it far. While the members were ecstatic to have made it to nationals for the first time as this group, they made sure to live up to their motto of “taking the ridiculous seriously” as they got into their “group mindset” one last time. The 20-minute montage performance started with pulling from the idea generator to choose the scenes which they would create monologues about and then act out, or “monologues with builds,” to use the lingo. “Someone would speak about something in their lives and someone would animate it behind them, and then we’d go into the form and you’d see scene after scene, just 20 minutes of pure creation, of different ideas from those monologues,” Inman explained. Rebora said, “It was just fun; different scenes that would have connecting themes or connecting characters or it’d just be something completely out of the blue.”

Monica Mendoza | Senior Photographer

Chloe Nowicki, center, performs with the rest of Improv Mafia at 8 p.m. every Tuesday night in CVA 145. Last weekend, Improv Mafia competed at the College Improv Tournament National Championship and brought home the third place plaque. Clearly, their fun and wits were well-received, as they walked away with a third place plaque. “You could’ve told me that we won or that we got third, it feels the same to me,” Inman said. The team makes the seamless transitions through scenes and the effortless hilarious banter look easy, however there is a bit more “work” put it in than some may realize. Burningham, theatre and Spanish double major and copresident of the troupe said, “You want to challenge yourself to make sure you’re doing big characters, exploring an environment, working on a pantomime and focusing on relationships.” Practicing a few times a week with the whole group of Improv Mafia and additional CIT team practices lead the members to experience “group mind,” where everyone knows what the others are thinking and what move someone is about to make without looking at them or having said anything – something the team noticed was missing when improvising with the scrambled groups the first night of the tournament weekend. The self-taught group prides itself in finding new ways to create, better ways to improvise and challenging themselves to be the biggest characters they can be to improve individually, but also as a team. So, not only did the troupe walk away with bragging rights and a new plaque, but with new standards for themselves and bigger, better ideas for new improvisations. Its experiences over the weekend had an immediate effect; at its first practice

after the tournament, the members experimented with different styles that they saw over the weekend and even performed the scene that Cat Booty from Columbia College Chicago performed to win first place at Nationals on Tuesday’s show in the CVA. While winning was of course a plus, the Mafia members agreed that the best part of performing and competing is being able to play on stage with each other, a part of the self-proclaimed big, goofy family. Burningham says one of the most fun parts of improvising is being able to “be in a fantasy world that only we live in, and the audience just gets to watch.” The group of goofs perform from at 8 p.m. every Tuesday in CVA Room 145, where they act out periscopes, heralds, monoscenes and other things that no one really knows what they mean, make up songs on the spot and sometimes even walk around a rattrap-infested stage barefoot while blindfolded. At Tuesday’s show, the team brought in the plaque to celebrate together, especially with the devoted fans that it looks so forward to seeing every week. “I knew that no matter what happened at the tournament that I’d be able to come back to CVA 145 and people would be cheering us on regardless, and I couldn’t ask for anything better, honestly,” Rebora said with a smile.

WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

The fight for equality marches on MARIDSA CHOUTE Features Reporter | @MaridsaWrites

It is common knowledge that February celebrates Black History Month and October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but not many know that March is Women’s History Month. In a current political climate where women continue to fight for basic reproductive rights and keep funding for Planned Parenthood, among many other issues, it is important to recognize the progress and setbacks that this month celebrates. “There is no more important time for feminism than now,” Maria Moore, associate professor in the School of Communication, said. Moore notes that this month is important because it honors the past and the progress that women have made. Said progress came through hard work; nothing happened accidentally. It also recognizes the current struggles women face because we do not live in a perfect world. Equally as important, Women’s History Month recognizes the current struggles women face while looking to the future. “If we aren’t able to recognize the problems now, then how do we fix them in the future?” Moore said. Moore is not afraid to be a feminist, espe-

Anna Gallagher | Vidette Photographer

Women’s History Month acknowledges the progress women have made throughout history while looking forward to the future. cially in these trying times. In her office, she has a mug that reads, “She was warned, she was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted.” Moore is no stranger to facing discrimina-

tion as a woman. She recalls the time a general manager of a news station was reluctant in hiring her, saying, “I don’t think you can do this job, but we have to hire women.” Ever since that moment, Moore knew

that the pressure was on for her to succeed. Throughout her life, she’s felt it an injustice that in all but two of her jobs, she has been the first woman holding each position. These experiences led to her participating in the Women’s March on Jan. 21 in Chicago. She had initially planned to spend that weekend in Chicago celebrating a different outcome of the election, but once she heard about the march, she immediately knew she would have to attend. The experience was not only thrilling, as over 250,000 people marched through Chicago in Grant Park to Michigan Avenue, but it was also empowering, a sentiment that senior journalism major Rebecca Davis shares. In a blog post after attending the march in Washington D.C., she describes feeling comfort from the women around her. “My heart grew each time I saw an act of kindness and by the end of the day, it was nearly to the point of exploding,” Davis said. “It’s impossible to describe how it felt to be swimming in a pool of female empowerment and support.” As a feminist, Davis said that the march itself helped her understand the lengths that women will go to help one another, and she gained a newfound appreciation for other women that she now calls her sisters. “As women, we need to show up because we can’t accept the alternative,” Moore said.

THE VIDETTE | SPORTS | PAGE 7

THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2017

MULLER

continued from page 1

“This is the best year our staff has done,” Muller said Tuesday during a press conference. “I hope to be a better coach next year than this year, but I think I’ve grown as a coach and helping these guys mentally, helping them come together. A lot of it is the relationships I have with the players. They’ve allowed me to grow as a coach and helped me a tremendous deal. Not only with how they respond to coaching but also with their input. But I do think if you put all things together, beginning to end, this is the best job our staff has done with the team to keeping their minds right, staying focused, sacrificing for each other and playing good basketball.” Muller’s “ALL IN” philosophy hasn’t just resonated among his players; ISU students are drinking the Kool-Aid, too. Muller has been active on social media, interacting with students on Twitter with his famous bitmojis. The Redbirds finished undefeated at home with a 15-0 record at Redbird Arena this year. Home attendance has spiked this year and the following will continue this weekend in St. Louis. ISU’s entire allotment of student tickets for the MVC Tournament sold out Monday. Muller doesn’t have some of the natural advantages like the Roy Williams’ and Mike Kryzewski’s of college basketball. But the former ISU standout has taken advan-

tage of what he does have. Muller has found hidden gems such as MVC All-Newcomer member Phil Fayne and All-Bench honoree DJ Clayton. His first recruiting class consisting of Paris Lee, Tony Wills, MiKyle McIntosh and Deontae Hawkins has finally came to fruition and the Redbirds are reaping the results. ISU has had to overcome its share of injuries. David Ndiaye, the team’s lone center, missed the first nine games of the season battling a stress fracture in his foot. Wills, a MVC All-Defensive Team selection, wasn’t 100 percent to begin the season recovering from sports hernia surgery. Perhaps the most crucial blow to ISU was MiKyle McIntosh’s knee. McIntosh, arguably ISU’s best player, had arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn meniscus and missed five games. During that five-game stretch without its best player, ISU lost just one game, a 86-45, defeat at Wichita State on Feb. 4. That 4-1 mark without McIntosh may be Muller’s most impressive stat this season. More than anything else, a coach should adapt as scenarios change. With ISU’s consistent success this season, the program has gained more national attention and old headlines have resurfaced, most predominately the loss of former associate head coach Torrey Ward. Losing a staffer like Ward was the most ultimate change any coach could go through. No matter

how old the plane crash story gets, there is no hiding the fact Muller lost his best friend and right-hand man nearly two years ago. Muller also lost promising dominant big man Reggie Lynch that same year, when he decided to transfer home to Minnesota. During his first year of eligibility this season, Lynch had growing pains but has become a dominant force in the Big Ten. Lynch easily broke Minnesota’s single season block record and leads the Big Ten in swats. At first, some ISU fans were asking, “What would ISU look like if Lynch stayed?” Muller has made those questions vanish with his team’s production on the court. He has adapted and gotten the Redbirds to buy into his system and defensive attitude. Judging by the way voting went for Player of the Year, it would be hard not to see Muller take the stage during Thursday’s lunch banquet. Paris Lee won POY in a landslide, receiving 100 total points to outdistance himself from Wichita State’s Markis McDuffie (34 points) and Landry Shamet (30 points). Even with the recognition, the top-seeded Redbirds may end up being an underdog this weekend. Amidst a record-breaking season for ISU, Muller has one more streak on the line; he yet to beat a top-25 team this season, a feat he has done four-straight seasons since taking the helm. ISU has yet to face a top-25 team this year but, the opportunity presents

itself should the Redbirds face No. 21-ranked and No. 2-seeded Wichita State on Sunday in the championship game. But even that can not be expected. In the previous 26 MVC tournaments held in St. Louis, the top two seeds have played each #1

other only 10 times in the championship game. What can’t be overlooked is the stage Muller has set. ISU basketball is relevant again and the Redbirds are one shining moment away from dancing in March.

ILLINOIS STATE

March 3 | 12:00 PM | MVC TV NETWORK

EVANSVILLE

INDIANA STATE

March 4 | 2:30 PM | MVC TV NETWORK

#4 March 2 | 6:00 PM | MVC TV NETWORK

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS LOYOLA March 3 | 2:30 PM | MVC TV NETWORK

March 2 | 8:30 PM | MVC TV NETWORK

BRADLEY

#10 DRAKE

CHAMPIONSHIP

NORTHERN IOWA

March 5 | 2100 PM | CBS

MISSOURI STATE

March 4 | 5:00 PM | MVC TV NETWORK

March 3 | 6:00 PM | MVC TV NETWORK

WICHITA STATE

March 3 | 8:30 PM | MVC TV NETWORK

Infographic by Nicholas Buegel | Vidette Art Director

2017 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament bracket

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Sports

PAGE 8 | THE VIDETTE

THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2017

#REDBIRDHoops No. 1 seed in MVC Tournament In the previous 26 MVC Tourneys, No. 1 and No. 2 seeds have only met 10 times in MVC Championship game, The Vidette sports desk makes predictions for this weekend in St. Louis MVC Championship: Illinois State 71, Wichita State 69 Illinois State will play Indiana State in the first round of the MVC tournament, giving the `Birds a chance to redeem themselves from an embarrassing loss last year. ISU will advance to play Loyola University-Chicago. Southern Illinois defeated Loyola Saturday by two, and Loyola will be looking for revenge. ISU will pull out the win 65-54, advancing to the finals. In the final game ISU will take on Wichita State, the only team in the Valley to beat it this year. Mikyle McIntosh will be back in the lineup, a key player who was missing from ISU’s loss to Wichita State, and his role cannot be understated. Even nights when McIntosh isn’t on the board much, the team feeds off his leadership and demeanor. Wichita State has been on fire lately, but ISU will have just what it takes to bring down the No. 21 team in the nation Sunday. Beth Geistlinger | Sports Editor | @beth_geist MVC Championship: Illinois State 63, Wichita State 61 The Evansville and Indiana State matchup is a true toss up game after the teams split their regular season matchups. This game is highlighted by the conferences two leading scorers in Jaylon Brown for the Purple Aces and Brenton Scott for the Sycamores. Evansville will prevail in what could come down to the games final possession: UE 61, ISU 59. The Redbirds handled the Purple Aces in both matchups this season and Friday should be no different. The Redbirds held Jaylon Brown to a combined 38 percent from the field in both matchups. Expect the defense to stifle Brown and the rest of the Purple Aces offense en route to a comfortable victory: Redbirds 63, UE 50. Loyola will avenge its loss from a week ago at Southern Illinois to secure a spot in the semifinals. Last time out the Redbirds survived a scare from the Ramblers and escaped with a two point victory. Look for this game to remain close throughout, but in the end the senior leadership of Paris Lee and Deontae Hawkins should put a dagger in the Ramblers. Redbirds 66, LUC 60. The two conference giants split their regular season series, with the Shockers embarrassing the Redbirds with a 41-point victory just a month ago. The Redbirds played that game without Mikyle McIntosh and have not lost since his return. This game should certainly live up to the hype, in a nail-biter the Redbirds to punch their ticket to the NCAA’s for the first time since 1998. Nick Damiani | Sports Reporter | @nGdamiani

#REDBIRDHOOPS FAST FACTS WHO: No. 1 seed Illinois State (25-5, 17-1 MVC) WHAT: MVC Men’s Basketball Tournament: “Arch Madness” WHEN: Thursday – Sunday WHERE: Scottrade Center in St. Louis HOW TO GET TICKETS: Online at www.goredbirds.com/tickets or call (309) 438-8000 WHAT’S AT STAKE: Automatic bid to NCAA Tournament The Vidette will be reporting live from St. Louis. For all things #ArchMadness, follow our sports editors @JCTSports, @beth_geist and senior reporter @MikeMarraILSTU on Twitter. See full coverage online at www.videtteonline.com Listen to all ISU broadcasts on 103.3 WZND

MVC Championship: Wichita State 67, Illinois State 59 ISU will play Indiana State Friday, after the Sycamores squeak out a win over Evansville in the playin round. The Redbirds easily handed Indiana State in Terre Haute, but the meeting in Normal was a white-knuckle finish for Illinois State, as the Redbirds held on for a five-point win. It will be another competitive match Friday. Indiana State keeps it close but Illinois State pulls away in the final minutes for a nine-point victory. Redbirds 58, Indiana State 49. Saturday, ISU will meet Loyola in the semifinals. The Ramblers played the Redbirds to a one-possession game in their last meeting at Redbird Arena just a few weeks ago, when ISU escaped with a 65-63 victory. Milton Doyle is one of the best players in the Valley, and he will keep Loyola around in the first half, but in the second half the lethal duo of McIntosh and Hawkins take over for ISU and the Redbirds roll to a 14-point win and a trip to the championship game. Redbirds 72, Loyola 58. On Championship Sunday, ISU will get its rematch with Wichita State. Everyone associated with the Redbirds remembers the two meetings between the clubs during the regular season, as the Redbirds emphatically knocked off WSU at Redbird Arena in January before the Shockers returned the favor and then some in Wichita, with WSU rolling to a 41-point win in early February. On Championship Sunday, you know Valley Player of the Year and senior guard Paris Lee will have a huge game for the Redbirds but it will not be enough. Lee and ISU fall just short of getting back to the big dance for the first time this century, as Shaq Morris and the Shockers capture the Valley’s automatic bid to the big dance, and ISU falls on the wrong side of the bubble, heading back to the NIT. Tom Prizeman | Sports Reporter | @TPrizeman

See The Vidette predictions of every MVC Tounrey game online. www.videtteonline.com

ISU is the

No 1

seed in MVC Tournament for the first time since 1998.

17 7

15-0

Undefeated Regular Season Home Record, Marks ISU’s First Ever Undefeated Campaign at Redbird Arena

Conference Wins The Most in Program History

21–Straight Games

Home Court Winning Streak Dating Back to Last Year (2016)

ISU RPI: 33

ISU players earned

All-League Honors

Rating Percentage Index

25 Over All Wins Tie for Most Wins in Program History

Infographic by Nicholas Buegel | Art Director

PLAYER of the

YEAR

�

Paris Lee sweeps awards: wins league’s Most Valuable Player and Defensive MVP JOSH TOLENTINO Sports Editor | @JCTSports

After defeating Northern Iowa to become Missouri Valley Conference regular champions, Illinois State senior Paris Lee proudly held up a sign written, “MVC CHAMPIONS.” A few seconds later as the shutters clicked and smiles lingered, a special moment happened ISU fans had not seen all year. Lee’s teammates began chanting “M-V-P!” That moment came to fruition Tuesday, when Lee was named the 2017 Missouri Valley Conference Larry Bird Player of the Year as the league’s MVP and the MVC Defensive Player of the Year. Lee won POY in a landslide. The

senior from Maywood received 110 total points to outdistance Wichita State’s Markis McDuffie (34 points) and Landry Shamet (30 points). Six different players received first-place tallies, including Lee, McDuffie, Shamet, Alize Johnson (Missouri State), Milton Doyle (Loyola) and Jeremey Morgan (Northern Iowa). Voting was conducted by coaches, sports information directors and a media panel (voters could not vote for players they regularly cover). “I’m blessed to be able to win both awards,” Lee said. “Defensive Player of the Year definitely was a goal of mine but being Player of the Year wasn’t.” Lee is the first ISU player to earn the Larry Bird Trophy since

Tarise Bryson in 2001, and the first Redbird since Dinma Odiakosa in 2010 to win MVC Defensive Player of the Year. Lee is just the fourth player in MVC history to sweep both awards. The league began selecting a Defensive Player of the Year in 1989. Lee is the nation’s active leader with 244 steals. He ranks fifth all-time for Illinois State with 471 career assists. With two more starts, Lee will surpass ISU coach Dan Muller for the all-time ISU record for career games started. “He is deserving of it. To win both it’s a short list. He’s had a heck of a career and a heck of a year so far,” Muller said. Muller earned Defensive Player of the Year during his playing days in 1996 and 1997. “When I found out, I was ecstatic

for him. The thing that separates him (from past years) is the winning. Whether it’s his leadership or toughness ... he makes multiple big plays. I think it’s just his overall presence to be honest. He impacts the game in every way possible.” ISU is the No. 1 seed in the 2017 MVC Tournament held at Scottrade Center in St. Louis. The Redbirds play at noon Friday versus the winner of Thursday’s game between No. 8 Evansville and No. 9 Indiana State.

PARIS LEE

�

DEFENSIVE PLAYER of the YEAR