V THE VIDETTE
‘Nevertheless, she persisted’
THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2018 Vol. 130 / No. 47
videtteonline.com
THURSDAY BIRD SPECIAL
Women’s History Month, International Women’s Day highlight contributions of women worldwide What began as a small-town school event in California, Women’s History Month is the celebration of women’s contribution to history, culture and society.
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ANDREW DOUGHERTY Senior News Reporter | @addough
ince 1987, the United States has observed it annually throughout the month of March. A special Presidential Proclamation is issued every year which honors the extraordinary achievements of American women. The theme of this year’s WHM is “Nevertheless, She Persisted.” International Women’s Day (IWD) is also celebrated in March. Held on March 8 every year, the day has been recognized since 1910, when it was decided upon at an International Women’s Conference. Illinois State University’s Student Government Association’s Student Life Senator Tyra Smith said WHM is important because women are often criticized, scrutinized and held under a microscope in society. “I believe the importance of WHM is to support, uphold and acknowledge
Senior journalism major Kayla Williams and sophomore international business major Vanesa Velazquez pose as Rosie the Riveter Tuesday.
VIEWPOINT/SCHWALLER 4
WOMEN NEED TO HAVE THEIR VOICES, STORIES HEARD
women-identified folks in history and in the world today,” Smith said. “Being a leader on campus is often difficult when you are a black woman, and as a black woman, I have to fight battles in both parts of my identity.” “People have questioned whether I am emotionally stable enough to do my job,” she continued. “I have been called countless derogatory names, and it is very hard to be taken seriously by people who do not know me. I think a majority of women I know personally have grown accustomed to taking care of themselves physically. Mentally, however, the main issue is having to fight every day for the respect that men are often given automatically.” Smith continued to say that for women to be allies and show solidarity for WHM, they must acknowledge and use their privilege. see WOMEN page 3
Photo illustration by NATALIE STUCKSLAGER Vidette Photo Editor
FEATURES 6
FEMALE-LED RSOS SHARE THOUGHTS ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
PAGE 2 | NEWS | THE VIDETTE
THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2018
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Alternative Spring Break serves communities nationwide
RACHEL MCKINLEY News Reporter | @Kinle17Mc
smoothly as possible. Sophomore marketing major Oliver Phreykz is A lter n at ive Spr i ng the education trip leader Break will be providfor the group traveling to ing five groups of Illinois New Orleans. He first got State University students involved with ASB as a with the opportunity to freshman. spend their spring break “I originally got involved participating in a weekwith [ASB] because I was long service trip to various looking for opportunities communities throughout to travel. [ASB] gave me the United States. that as well as the chance Each group of roughly to engage in service,” he 45 students will take a said. bus to one of five locaOn Phreykz’s first trip, tions: Paradise, Texas; he was able to meet amazSacramento, California; ing people, participate in Paragould, Arizona; St. service activities, and visit Louis, Missouri; or New a state park. After having Orleans, Louisiana. such a positive experience, The students will be he decided that helping partnering w ith local lead a trip was the next organizations in the comstep. munity to complete a “I wanted to get more Photo courtesy ISU Alternative Breaks Instagram involved with ASB, to help variety of service projects that include working The Alternative Breaks is a student organization supported by the Center for Community give others such a positive on beautif ication for Engagement and Service Learning that provides students of Illinois State with opportunities experience,” Phreykz said. state parks and promot- to enact social change by hosting local, national and global service trips. Alternative Breaks also ing financial literacy in offers ISU students the host community beyond the ser- website, nearly 1,000 students schools. opportunity to participate in service project interactions, provided have participated in the trips to In addition to completing the they follow Alternative Break’s date. vice trips that range in duration service projects, the students will code of conduct. There are meetings prior to from a weekend to 14 days. be examining the causes of social Details about the trips and regThe Alternative Spreak Break leaving to introduce the social issues in each community. istration forms can be found at program was established at ISU issues each group will be focusing The groups are given a free day in 2000, and according to its on and to ensure the trip goes as CommunityEngagement.Illinoisto explore and connect with their State.edu.
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THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2018
The cold never bothered Biss anyway MIKE SMITH News Reporter | @Agora_180
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Kevin Schwaller | News Editor
Gubernatorial candidate Sen. Daniel Biss (D-Evanston) visited the Illinois State University Quad to speak to students Tuesday.
NEWS IN BRIEF State Farm to cut 890 IT jobs State Farm announced Tuesday a cut of around 890 jobs in Bloomington as part of a restructuring project. The company, whose corporate headquarters is located in Bloomington, will add similar IT positions in Atlanta, Dallas and Phoenix. “Just like any business, we must continually look for ways to evolve towards the future and serve our customers in a more efficient way,” State Farm said in a statement. “Reviewing and adjusting our processes, departments and facilities helps position the company and its employees for the future and remain strong for State Farm policyholders.” Some of the 890 cut employees will be able to apply to other positions within the company while others are retiring and may be eligible for severance benefits. The restructuring will merge three departments into one, dubbed Enterprise Technology, to better serve customer needs, according to State Farm.
STEPHANIE RODRIGUEZ NEWS EDITOR
20th anniversary drag show to be held at ISU Illinois State University’s Pride will celebrate the 20th anniversary of its annual Charity Drag Show. The show will be at 7 p.m. March 23 in the Brown Ballroom of the Bone Student Center. The event will cost $5 for ISU students and $10 for non-students. Tickets can be purchased at the Braden Box Office or Ticketmaster with an online fee. Proceeds from the event will be donated to Friends of Central Illinois, which provides those affected by HIV with resources to support wellness. The annual fundraising event showcases performances from a variety of drag queens and kings, as well as student performers. ISU alumnus and notable drag queen Sharon ShareAlike will return to host the event. For more information, email prideilstu@gmail.com.
KEVIN SCHWALLER NEWS EDITOR
Spring Bloom Art Festival returns for 35th year CINDY LE News Reporter | @Cindy_Pear
With spring around the corner, the Spring Bloom Fine Arts Festival is the perfect way to welcome warmer weather. In its mission to promote appreciation for the arts, the McLean County Arts Center (MCAC) will host its 35th annual Spring Bloom Fine Arts Festival. The event will
take place from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on March 17 at the Brown Ballroom in the Bone Student Center. The festival will showcase original artwork of over 60 artists. Artists submit their work in many different forms of media. There will be paintings, ceramics, sculptures, jewelry and glass pieces to admire. All the artwork is up for sale and judges will deliberate which artists will be cash
ubernatorial candidate Sen. Daniel Biss (D-Evanston) kicked-off his college tour by visiting the Illinois State University Quad to speak to students directly Tuesday. The College Democrats at Illinois State University stood outside Schroeder Hall to promote Biss’ arrival around noon. Biss was immediately greeted by candidate for McLean County Clerk Nikita Richards. She went on to endorse Biss and introduce him to the crowd shortly before he spoke. “He’s the only candidate in this race who is qualified to get us out of this deficit,” she said. Once Biss took the microphone, it began to snow. Biss laughed the interruption off and thanked the crowd for sticking around. “We have two weeks until this primary, 14 days to transform the state of Illinois, 14 days to fight for the kind of Democratic Party that we believe in,” Biss said.
prizewinners. MCAC Project coordinator Justin Hay, is excited for the upcoming festival. “After working on this for a while, it will be nice to see all the art pieces displayed,” Hay said. As art enthusiasts enjoy the festival, there will be live music performances. Singer and musician Leah Marlene will start the festival off at 10 a.m. Illinois native David Berchtold will play original music on his guitar in various styles of folk, rock and blues at 1 p.m. While artists from across the nation submit their artwork, many of the artists that participate are
Biss said he sees the future of progressive politics in an optimistic perspective because of the political awakening of so many people in the state. “I think a lot of people are starting to talk about things that used to be considered ‘taboo,’” Biss said. “People are starting to say, ‘Wait a second, the financial sector is growing as a part of the economy, it’s growing in political power, what can we do to fix that?’ I think that fundamentally it’s about changing what’s possible.” “It’s about being willing to fight for things that have felt like ‘pie in the sky’ in the past. I think politics is changing in that way, and it’s incredibly important.” Biss went on to say that none of what he is doing matters unless the people supporting him are there too. “I’m inspired by the people that are a part of this campaign. This is very much a people’s campaign. None of this works at all if it’s just me.”
locals. In the last two years of the festival, Bloomington’s very own Kara Kirchner won second place in the fine art category. Kirchner’s art pieces are fiber felt dolls and animals. This year, Kirchner is participating in the festival again; submitting a pair of fiber felt meerkats. There are many other local artists that are participating in the festival as well. The wide variety of artwork reveals the growing art scene in Bloomington-Normal and the Spring Bloom Fine Arts Festival has the ability to showcase this town’s talented locals.
WOMEN continued from page 1
“Learn what microaggressions are, and then stop using them, then tell [your] friends. It’s also important to remember women are the forefront,” she said. “When we are present, we can speak for ourselves.” ISU’s Feminist Led Activist Movement to Empower president Delaney Auth said the importance of these celebrations is the need to talk about all of the contributions women have made throughout history. “WHM is a reminder that we should be talking about those things all the time, not just for one month. It’s a time to acknowledge all of the amazing work done by women in our world and our history,” Auth said. “IWD is a holiday in March to celebrate women and it so happens to be WHM.” Auth said it is important to listen to women. “The biggest thing that anyone can do to create a safer space for women is to listen to women, to believe in women and to respond when we bring up problems and ask for help,” Auth said. ISU’s Impact Movement student leader Abby Ngamboma said to improve the lives of women on campus as well as in the community, talking about the issues taking place would be a good starting point. “Women’s history is interesting because of the role that, for example, many white women played in perpetuating white supremacy, a system that mistreated women of color,” Ngamboma said. “Nevertheless, WHM is meant to celebrate the women who have influenced history, especially those who continue to do so today,” she added. “Presently, we are seeing a shift happening where women of all backgrounds are rising up, advocating for themselves and demanding that their voices be heard.” Ngamboma continued to explain that for men to be allies of women and show support for WHM, they should take an intersectional approach and brush up on women’s history. “Many assume that the problems are nonexistent if they are not mentioned,” she said. “Read books, listen to podcasts, watch documentaries.
Natalie Stuckslager | Vidette Photo Editor
Sophomore international business major Vanesa Velazquez and senior journalism major Kayla Williams pose as Rosie the Riveter Tuesday. Listen to the women in your lives, not to respond, but to understand an experience different from yours.” Associate Professor of Sociology Maria Schmeeckle said society has progressed toward women’s equality in some ways since the 1970s. “Men are spending more time on housework and child care, even though women do significantly more on average then men do,” Schmeeckle said. “Our society is more supportive of mothers working these days; we don’t hear as much alarm as we used to about working mothers.” However, she notes, there are still discrepancies between men and women. There is a wage gap, and harassment and sexual assault are “still common experiences for women.” Men, too, experience scrutiny when it comes to
how they are supposed to act in society. “Boys in our society experience a lot of policing about their masculinity; boys are pressured to express themselves within a narrow range of behaviors that emphasize athletic prowess, suppression of feelings and dominant behaviors,” Schmeeckle said. To move forward and see more equality between genders, Schmeeckle says it is important to have discussions surrounding intersectionality. “I would say that we should consider women who are marginalized in multiple ways,” Schmeeckle said. “Gender operates in tandem with many other social disadvantages. We could ask these women about their needs and really listen to them.”
Viewpoint
PAGE 4 | THE VIDETTE
VIDETTE EDITORIAL
THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2018
Who is whispering in your lawmaker’s ear?
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he National Rifle Association (NRA) has had certain members of Congress in its pocket for a long time now. The way it does this is by paying millions in campaign donations. According to CNN, 307 of 535 Congress members have received donations from the NRA. At least eight politicians have seen at least $1 million in donations during their careers. And who exactly are they? According to Business Insider, here are some selections from that long list: John McCain tops the list at $7.7 million; Richard Burr next with $6.9 million; Roy Blunt third with $4.5 million; and Marco Rubio in sixth place with $3.3 million. These politicians have been in the NRA’s pocket for years, and that money has kept them steadfast in their ways when it comes to gun control. When Cameron Kasky, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting survivor, asked Rubio if he would refuse anymore NRA donations, Rubio said
no, he wouldn’t refuse. This is just one example. NRA lobbyists have been hard at work for a very long time. Lobbying is when an organization or individual seeks to be an influence on issues. It came out recently that one lobbyist in Florida has been hard at work for 40 years to shape gun laws. The fact that one organization can shape the legislation around one topic is
ludicrous. The first step to demolishing its power is to limit its ability to influence so many — both politicians and others to join their ranks. Some organizations and businesses have done this by cutting off their discounts. But that isn’t enough to fully have them lose their control. NRA members only make up 1.5 percent of the U.S. population, and actually 80 percent of gun owners are not
members of the NRA. How can an organization this small control so much and have the ability to donate over $3o.3 million to Donald Trump in 2016 to help shape its views? It’s time we all look into who is giving what to whom, and how that affects their voting decisions. And not just the NRA, but other organizations that donate and lobby to have their chosen legislation and rhetoric become the official one. It’s no surprise that Florida has slowly been breaking down its gun laws when lobbyists and donations have been hard at work at influencing politicians. One organization should not have this much control, and it’s time we have a talk about how much the NRA controls the conversation and legislation about gun control. Tracking these statistics and then holding the politicians accountable for their influenced actions is how we get this done. We need to hold our lawmakers responsible for their actions.
Editorial Cartoon by Flynn Geraghty | Vidette Art Director
EDITORIAL POLICY Editorial written by KAYLA JANE JEFFERS, 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.
Let female filmmakers tell their stories MY VIEW KEVIN SCHWALLER | Columnist
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appy Women’s History Month AND International Women’s Day! These two events mean a lot to me; I’m inspired by and appreciative of the women in my life (my mom, other family members, friends, Beyoncé) and always have been. I wanted to write a column both celebrating women and my favorite passion: movies. Because the 90th Academy Awards aired Sunday and because, of course, I wanted to tie them in somehow, I thought it was important to really tackle the ridiculous imbalance of men and women filmmakers. The situation seems to be improving in front of the cameras, with more
and more female-driven stories being told. But behind the scenes? Not really. According to a handy website Women and Hollywood, women made up only 8 percent of directors, 10 percent of writers, 2 percent of cinematographers, 24 percent of producers and 14 percent of editors on the 100 highestgrossing films of 2017. And as I mentioned in my previous column, Greta Gerwig was only the fifth female in the history of the 90 Academy Awards to receive a Best Director nomination, and only one, Kathryn Bigelow for “The Hurt Locker” in 2010, has ever won. Dee Rees became the first black woman to be nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay for her film “Mudbound,” and cinematographer Rachel Morrison became the first woman to ever be nominated for Best Cinematography for the film as well. “Where are the women?” we ask ourselves, as if we live in an episode of “Black Mirror.” Here’s a shocking surprise: they’ve been here this whole time. There has never been a lack of
female filmmakers, let alone ones with great potential, but a lack of opportunities and support in the business. As I also mentioned, representation is incredibly important and diversity matters. According to the 2017 Global Gender Gap Report, the divide between men and women sat at 32 percent, which actually went up from 31.7 percent in 2016. So the gender gap is actually going up, not down, despite the gender equality debate becoming more and more prominent in recent years. I know I’ve been advocating for “Lady Bird” since November, and I know I’m slightly biased because of this, but I’m in shock that the film went home with a whopping zero of five awards it was nominated for at the Oscars. First-time director and writer Greta Gerwig made the most critically acclaimed movie of 2017 and the film lost every in every category it was nominated. However, Guillermo del Toro, a Mexican man, and Jordan Peele, a black man, did win Best Director and Best Original Screenplay, respectively. I appreciate their work as well as the
REGGIE IN THE NEST by SAMANTHA MCINTYRE | Vidette Cartoonist
diversity, but I just really think it’s about damn time to start letting more women into the ring. Also according to Women and Hollywood, 52 percent of movie theater audiences are made up by women. And as we all know, the three biggest films of 2017 (“Beauty and the Beast,” “Wonder Woman” and “Star Wars: The Last Jedi”) had female protagonists. Fortunately, a female (Patty Jenkins) actually directed one of the three, “Wonder Woman.” People want these movies, this is more than evident. So now let’s actually start letting them be directed by, written by, edited by, anything by female filmmakers. And when it comes time for award shows, let their films be recognized. Let’s strive to find the Gerwigs, the Rees, the Morrisons and the Ava DuVernays of the world and let their voices be heard and stories be told.
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Kevin Schwaller is a senior journalism major and news editor and columnist for The Vidette. He can be reached at vidette_kschwal@ilstu.edu. Follow him on Twitter @kevschwa.
MORE OPINIONS ONLINE
Editorial: Lack of diversity in medicine is an ongoing issue Letter to the Editor: Response to ‘Florida high school shooting survivors show hope for a country without gun violence’ Visit The Vidette’s website or mobile app for complete details on these web-only opinion pieces by Vidette Editorial Board
EDITORIAL BOARD EMA SASIC Editor-in-Chief | @ema_sasic KEVIN SCHWALLER News Editor | @kevschwa KAYLA JANE JEFFERS Columnist | @KJJeffers KAMARA TURNER Columnist | @kvmara LEXI ABHSIE Columnist | @labhsie
THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2018
THE VIDETTE | NEWS | PAGE 5
Every Beat Counts
Advocate BroMenn, Boys & Girls Club launch program to focus on healthy hearts STAR JOHNSON News Reporter | @Star2flyy_
Advocate BroMenn Medical Center and the Boys and Girls Club are focusing on healthy hearts due to a lack of adequate health care, specifically in Bloomington’s west side area. Every Beat Counts is the first annual event dedicated to providing education and free health screenings to the families and neighbors of Boys and Girls Club members. The program is part of Health Month in the United States. “The event was really geared towards heart health and clinical lifestyle choices and behaviors that would support healthy hearts such as dieting and talking about healthy food choices,” Catherine Porter, Executive Director of Advocate BroMenn Health and Fitness Center, said. “They have an interactive display that shares the amount of sugar in different types of drinks. It’s just a really good visual to teach people [that] although you think you have this healthy drink, its actually a lot of sugar in there.” Among those who attended the event were cardiologists who talked about healthy veins and the Advocate BroMenn Health and Fitness Center, which explained how important exercise is. A booth from the pulmonary department of the hospital also informed people about healthy lungs and smoking sensation. “Even if you are a smoker currently and you quit, your lungs can repair themselves. In a matter of years they can actually be 100 percent clear of any damage caused by smoking, but you do have to remain a nonsmoker for a period of time,” Porter said. Lack of exercise caused by a sedentary life can also be a health concern for some.
“We need to have exercise because our lifestyles are so sedentary; we rely so much on technology and we have motorized transportation to get anywhere,” she added. Advocate BroMenn has made efforts in bettering the health of individuals by taking an aggressive approach on the pricing of their services. There is a 49 dollar heart scan which is a fraction of what the scan used to cost. Porter explained the heart scan is such an important diagnostic tool that BroMenn wanted to make sure it was not cost prohibitive. The heart scan is easy to schedule. Individuals who wish to get one can see a physician, get a script for one or call the hospital to make an appointment. BroMenn reduced the barriers to make the heart scan affordable and accessible to anyone in the community. John Hesse, Advocate BroMenn’s Vice President of Business Development, said building trust with community members and taking care of them is very important. If the medical providers have
told patients to go to their doctors, pediatricians or wherever their medical care resides, they have done their job, he added. Porter noted it is important to provide education to the families of the Boys and Girls Club because knowledge is power. “There is a lot of information on the internet and I feel that it is our responsibility to connect with the community and, as experts in the community, share knowledge that we have so we know people are getting the right information,” Porter said. “It’s also a great way to establish relationships so that in the event that somebody has a question or need, they know that Advocate is here and we can certainly help them.”
Illustration by Flynn Geraghty
IWU initiative hopes to keep local students in the area Forty-six percent of Illinois high school graduates attend college out of state
MIKE SMITH News Reporter | @Agora_180
The Illinois Wesleyan Associates launched an initiative that will encourage high school graduates to consider applying at Illinois Wesleyan University. The McLean County Scholarship Initiative will grant no less than $27,000 in annual scholarship funds to students that graduate from McLean County High School this spring, so long as they choose to apply to IWU. Scholarship funds from the initiative would help alleviate annual tuition costs, which would bring tuition down to $20,000. IWU President Eric Jensen said that number is only $4,000 more per year than Illinois State University tuition. The overall goal of the initiative is to keep young, local students in the area as they consider moving out-of-state for college. Jensen claims the Bloomington-Normal area has a resource that no other county in the state has: intelligent young individuals. “I think the Bloomington-Normal
community is the best educated metropolitan area in Illinois,” Jensen said. “We’ve got a strong base from which to draw, families that value education and have smart, well-educated high school graduates coming out. From our point of view, we are trying to build these interactive expeEric riences for students where Jensen they have some ownership over their education,” he continued. “That’s going to involve interactions with people in the community, and what better way to get those things rolling in a big way than to have students have some familiarity with what’s happening in the community?” Jensen said there are many opportunities that the initiative opens for potential students that might have chosen IWU if not for the expenses and average cost of attendance. “The Illinois Wesleyan Associates’ support of the McLean County Scholarship will ensure access to local students who may not
otherwise have considered Illinois Wesleyan University, raising awareness of how donors contribute to make such a high-quality education affordable,” Jensen stated. “Both Illinois Wesleyan and t he A s s o c i ate s recognize the import a nc e of recruiting r e m a rk a ble students with a connection to the local community,” he continued. “We believe the McLean County Scholarship will entice more high-achieving local students to choose Illinois Wesleyan, a national gem right here in their backyard.” Jensen isn’t the only one who supports this
idea. President of the IWA Willie Brown said students are the talent, and whatever is needed to keep the talent in the state is worth doing. “We know that when kids go away to college, many of them don’t return for one reason or another,” Brown said. “We want to keep them here.” Brown also noted that 46 percent of high school graduates in the state of Illinois chose to attend college outside of the state. Jensen said the university plans to raise $2 million over a period of four years to help fund the scholarship. Mike Smith is a News Reporter for The Vidette. He can be reached at msmit13@ ilstu.edu. Follow him on Twitter @Agora_180.
“We believe the McLean County Scholarship will entice more high-achieving local students to choose Illinois Wesleyan, a national gem right here in their backyard.” Eric Jensen, Illinois Wesleyan University President
PAGE 6 | THE VIDETTE
Features
THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2018
Press for progress
ISU RSOs empower women all-year round
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EMILY GRIFFITH Features Editor | @emilygriffy
trong. Independent. Fearless. These are the types of words used to describe women as the world celebrates International Women’s Day on March 8. International Women’s Day can be traced back to 1908 when 15,000 women marched through New York City calling for women’s rights. Later in 1913, it was decided International Women’s Day would be March 8 to honor and empower governments, women’s organizations and charities. However, women should be celebrated and empowered every day, not just with one day or one month. Illinois State University has numerous RSOs dedicated to support women all year round. Women empowerment organizations ISU FLAME, Association for Women in Communications, Women in Business and Breaking Barriers discuss how they help women on campus and elaborate on International Women’s Day:
What does your organization offer women? “FLAME offers a community for anyone to join to be empowered. We work to educate our campus community on feminist issues and to do philanthropy work for the organizations in our community working to eliminate oppression and assist those who are disadvantaged,” ISU FLAME Vice President Emma Lynn said. “[AWC] works together to bring our members professional opportunities and networking skills that prepare students for success in the future,” AWC President Julia Gramont said. “Breaking Barriers is an exclusive group started by the [Criminal Justice Sciences] Department to identify outstanding women in the major and provide them with fun opportunities for leadership development, career guidance and networking. It is also a great way to meet and socialize with other women in the major and Cara Rabe-Hemp our world-class faculty and staff,” Breaking Barriers RSO Adviser Cara Rabe-Hemp said. “Women in Business offers a variety of opportunities for personal and professional development to our members. To accomplish this, we bring professionals from the workforce to talk about a relevant topics to our members. We do workshops throughout the year for more development. We also like to say we’re not all business, we like to have fun. So we offer socials to have our members meet each other’s on an informal level and service opportunities to give back to the community. Most recently, we have partnered with corporations and host exclusive networking events for our members,” Women in Business President Emma Horath said.
increasingly difficult environments: ‘They are expected to complement men’s failing, yet do their jobs as well as men. They are also expected to keep the men under control. Is this justice for women in the justice professions?’” Rabe-Hemp said.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you? “International Women’s Day is a chance to celebrate the accomplishments of women, but also a reminder that we cannot take past efforts for granted. The generations of women before me suffered terrible atrocities for me to have the opportunities I have today,” Rabe-Hemp said. “For ISU FLAME, International Women’s Day is an opportunity for recognition for the work being done in our world to benefit women, as well as a call to action for all of us to do what we can to eliminate sexist oppression,” Lynn said. “International Women's Day is a chance for everyone to stop and take a moment to think. To think about what we can do as women but most importantly, as an individual to address gender differences to create a welcoming, diverse environment. This day is a chance for us groups, like Women in Business, to come together as a support system for each other as we
progress,” Rabe-Hemp said. “In a group that develops communicators, I believe this theme is important to AWC when motivating our members and students to speak up about what they are passionate about. I hope that our members know that their voice can be heard and they are just getting started making a difference,” Gramont said. “The idea of #PressForProgress tells me that women are bringing the disparities to the press to reach as many people as possible. ‘Me Too’ and ‘Times Up’ has finally made its way into everyone's Emma mind. Bringing awareness Horath is the first step to come to a solution. This step should lead to progress. One by one, progress can be made, but as a group we can do more. These campaigns are allowing us to come together to find solutions to our challenges that people face every day. I believe there is power in numbers. And let me tell you, the saying that ‘behind every successful women is an army of women,’ is key,” Horath said.
What does being a woman mean to you? “To me, a woman is someone who is mature, who handles life's challenges with grace and can roll with the punches, who exemplifies strength, and who is truly herself. A woman is someone who is proud of their accomplishments, no matter how big or small, and is someone who strives for more. A woman recognizes the importance of empowerment and the sense of community to stand up for change, but most importantly, each other,” Horath said. “Women continue to make gains in maledominated criminal jus-
What type of oppression do you believe women face in your field of study? “I believe women in [communication] are underestimated. However, I have been inspired by professionals working in the field and students just starting their professional journey. I know that there are determined, knowledgeable women doing incredible work for nonprofit organizations, social movements and much more,” Gramont said. “I feel women are undervalued in business. Many women do struggle to get ahead in corporations; they Julia Garmont often hit the glass ceiling before men. Especially in higher levels of management, the number of women represented is less and less. A man is more likely to receive a promotion over a woman. Not only does the gender gap difference need to be address, but also the element of diversity should be implemented in corporations to create a welcoming, fair and supportive environment for all,” Horath said. “Almost all criminal justice occupations are male dominated. The numeric representation of women in policing, corrections, and law have remained steady at about 15 percent. In her book, ‘Women, Crime and Criminal Justice: A Global Enquiry,’ Rosemary Barberet challenges us to consider our expectations of women who thrive in these
face the world,” Horath said. “I am happy to celebrate women around the world and right here on ISU's campus who are working hard to increase recognition of strong, professional women,” Gramont said.
The theme for International Women’s Day this year is #PressForProgress: What do you believe this statement means and how can we work towards achieving it? “When naming our women’s group [Breaking Barriers] this quote resonated with us: ‘In our society, the women who break down barriers are those who ignore limits.’ We need to break through the social construction what is expected of women in society to find true equity. That means highlighted the invisible structures in educational institutions and workplaces, such as the social exclusion of women from informal access to power structures and decision-making within organizations and the gendering of the division of labor, all of which limit women’s
Flynn Geraghty | Vidette Art Director
tice professions and now is a great time to be a criminal justice major. The numeric representation of women in policing, corrections, and law have remained steady. There is growing research that women, by their presence in agencies, serve as change catalysts in organizations, challenging hegemonic institutional structures and dynamics of power by integrating diverse knowledge bases and differences in socialization experiences,” Rabe-Hemp said.
What is your hope for women in the future? “My hope for women in the future is to live in a society free of not only sexist oppression, but also other intersectional oppressions that inhibit marginalized folks from living with the same playing field that those with privilege do. I hope that women will do the work to build coalitions that will allow us to work toward a more just society,” Lynn said. “My hope for criminal justice women in the future is that the achievements and contributions of past Emma generations of women will Lynn inspire the next generation to follow in the path blazed by women who broke down barriers in maledominated criminal justice occupations,” Rabe-Hemp said. “I hope the future of women is full of nothing but success. I hope women continue to make history. I hope they make a name for themselves. I hope women feel valued. I hope women overcome challenges with grace and strength. I hope women feel confident, competent and courageous in all endeavors of life. I hope women seek change and to challenge those who have the power to change. I hope women stick together and organizations like Women in Business become a force to be reckoned with in the years to come,” Horath said. “I hope that women can continue to support themselves and others. I encourage students, professionals and friends to identify struggling women and build them up. Not only can you change someone’s life, but you can realize your potential as a supportive woman,” Gramont said. Students interested getting involved in any of these organizations should visit their websites.
THE VIDETTE | SPORTS | PAGE 7
THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2018
ISU track sweeps titles
Both Redbird teams clinch first-place at MVC Championships in Cedar Falls
NATE HEAD Sports Editor | @NateHead51
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he drought is over. Both the men’s and women’s Illinois State indoor track and field teams have been crowned Missouri Valley Conference champions, sweeping the competition at the MVC C h a mpi o n s h ip s Feb. 25 in Cedar Falls, Iowa, for the first time since 1997. ISU head coach Jeff Bovee, named the MVC Men’s and Women’s Indoor Jeff Coach of the Year, Bovee highlighted the magnitude of the accomplishment and struggled to think of the words to describe his feelings. “Words cannot explain how proud I am of this group of men and women,” Bovee said. “They poured their hearts and souls into the competition this weekend.
Goods earns third MVC weekly honor of season
The energy that was brought across the board was a true team effort. Things this great don’t occur very often, and I can’t say how amazing this experience was for everyone involved.” The men entered the weekend as the undisputed favorites — and performed as such. The Redbirds compiled a point total of 182 points, running away from second-place Indiana State, who finished a whopping 70 points behind with 112. After the first day of the meet, Bovee stressed how important it was for the team to open with an impressive performance. “Today was a great start for us,” Bovee said.”For a two day meet, it is imperative that you come out strong. We definitely did that today. The overall number of qualifiers that we have sets us up well for day two. However, we have to be ready to come out tomorrow and compete, because other teams are performing at a high level as well.” J.D. Lafayette and Derrius Rodgers
shined on the men’s side, as Lafayette earned his second MVC title in the 800-meter event with a time of 1:55:14. Rodgers competed in three events and impressed in each: he won the 60-meter dash (6.65), ran a leg on the first-place 4X400 meter relay team and finished second in the 200-meter dash (21.79). Ryan Ashenbremer, James Brandenburg, Anderson Devonish and Jaylan McConico each added firstplace finishes to pace the Redbirds. On the women’s side, ISU was projected to compete closely with Indiana State for the top spot, but the Redbirds used an impressive outing early in the second day of the meet to distance themselves from the Sycamores. The Redbird women tallied five first-place finishes, secured by Demetria Anderson (60-meter hurdles), D’Jenne Egharevba (60-meter and 200-meter), Tessa Holland (pentathlon and high jump), Amanda McClain (long jump) and Brandy Thomas (shot put).
KADE HEATHER Sports Reporter | @kade_heather
their 53-41 win at Bradley with a game-high 25 points on 55 percent field goal shooting. She also added six rebounds, two blocks, a steal, and an assist in 29 minutes played Saturday. The junior-college transfer finished with 13.7 points and six rebounds per game after 21 games played in her first season. Goods surpassed her career
In the lone game of the final week of the regular season, Illinois State junior Simone Goods shone once again, earning her third Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week honor, announced by the league Monday. Goods carried the Redbirds to
ISU Athletics
The Illinois State men’s and women indoor track team earned seven firstplace victories to clinch MVC titles in Cedar Falls, Iowa Feb. 25-26. Overall, ISU athletes garnered seven first-place finishes and broke seven school records. A trio of Redbird male athletes — Kentre Patterson, McConico and
Rodgers – qualified for the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in College Station, Texas. The two-day meet is set to begin Friday.
high in points twice this season. She scored 23 in the championship game of the Long Beach Classic against Northeastern on Dec. 21. Then, she topped that with 29 points in a win over Indiana State on Feb. 16. Now with three MVC Newcomer of the Week awards, Goods will hope to earn MVC Newcomer
of the Year ahead the conference tournament this weekend in Moline. Goods and the Redbirds are slated to open tournament play Friday night at 8:30 p.m. against Northern Iowa. The Panthers defeated ISU in both meetings this season, 58-36 in Normal on Jan. 28 and 66-48 Feb. 23 in Cedar Falls.
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HOROSCOPE Today’s Birthday (03/08/18). Your educational journey flourishes this year. Visit friends and strengthen bonds. The funding arises unexpectedly. Fall in love again this summer and rest before the tempo picks up and energy rises. Winter brings team victories and family gatherings. Savor the sweetness. To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging. Aries (March 21-April 19) -- Today is a 6 -- Avoid traffic or roadblocks. Slow down for emo-
tional curves. Take time to process recent events and changes. Dip into a sidewalk cafe or roadside attraction. Taurus (April 20-May 20) -Today is a 7 -- Teamwork with your partner makes a difference to your shared finances. Your collaboration directly affects your bottom line. Support each other and share resources. Gemini (May 21-June 20) -- Today is an 8 -- Listen to your partner generously. Invest time and effort in your shared goals. Postpone travel or nebulous pursuits. Stick to solid, attainable objectives. Cancer (June 21-July 22) --
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Today is an 8 -- Your work and physical actions seem energized with high-profit potential. Arrange connections ahead of time. Study a secret system. Small changes reap a large reward. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Consider all possibilities that include fun. Avoid impractical or expensive options. The next two days favor love, romance and passion. Share your thoughts and dreams. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Home comforts draw you in. Beautify your surroundings. You can find what you need. Evaluate quality and value. Use creativity and imagination.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Follow through on what you said. Resolution and solutions arise in conversation. Communications reveal unconsidered opportunities. Friends help you make a connection. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -Today is an 8 -- Watch the budget. An idea that seems profitable may cost more than it makes. Do the numbers before committing. Avoid controversy or risky business. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- Today is a 9 -- When you’re hot, you’re hot. Relax and enjoy it. Invest in work you love. Make changes as necessary. Stick to a practical path.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -Today is a 6 -- Envision and plan for an inspiring future. Schedule actions for later. Find a quiet space for private meditation. A lovely moment enchants you. Pay attention. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- Today is an 8 -- Community connections make a difference. Share news, resources and tricks. Inspire others by your example. Let your imagination be your guide. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -Today is a 9 -- Crazy dreams seem possible. A career prize lies within sight. Prepare for inspection, and polish your presentation. Dress for success and smile for the camera.
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Sports
PAGE 8 | THE VIDETTE
THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2018
Perfect time to embrace underdog role
MY VIEW NICK LANDI Sports Reporter
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Natalie Stuckslager | Photo Editor
First year head coach Kristen Gillespie enters her first Hoops in the Heartland Tournament at 8:30 p.m. Friday versus Northern Iowa in Moline, Illinois.
March to Moline
For the first time in five seasons, No. 6 Illinois State will not be in Thursday’s play-in games; Redbirds open tournament 8:30 p.m. Friday versus No. 3 Northern Iowa KADE HEATHER Sports Reporter | @kade_heather
ISU clearly showed that they can hang with UNI, but for how long? The Redbirds will depend on better ball movement to maneuver the No. 2 defense in the MVC.
After four months of peaks and valleys, it’s finally March and every possession matters. The 2018 chapter of Hoops in the Heartland is set Expect more Goods to begin Thursday in Moline. ISU’s offense has heavily Drake has completed its dominant depended on post play all season. 23-7 run after consecutive 18-0 conJunior transfer Simone Goods has ference seasons. done the heavy lifting lately, notchThe Bulldogs will be the tourna- ing 20+ points in three of the last ment’s top dog again, followed by five games. No. 2 seed Missouri State, Goods’ least points Northern Iowa, Southern scored in that five-game Illinois, Indiana State, and span was three against Illinois State respectively. UNI. ISU’s regular season It will be a battle for the finale win at Bradley three-time MVC Newcomer secured Thursday night off, of the Week and once Player while the No. 7 Braves will of the Week. Simone be competing with No. 10 Goods had a game-high Goods Evansville at 7 p.m. 25 points in the season Valparaiso represents the finale. ISU finally looked No. 8 seed and will play No. 9 Loyola fully comfortable moving the ball in to open the tournament at 4 p.m. and out of the post that second half. The Redbirds (8-10 MVC) are Despite the MVC top rebounder slated for a rematch with UNI (13-5 Megan Maahs, UNI still bears no MVC) at 8:30 p.m on Friday. taller players than ISU. While ISU will hope to move on to Look for the Redbirds to keep Saturday, a day later than last year, feeding Goods in the post, as that is here are five details to watch this what has got them to Friday. weekend.
Can ISU solve the Panther puzzle? The Redbirds’ first time out against the Panthers ended in a 58-36 loss, due to a deteriorating second half. After being tied at halftime, ISU turned the ball over 13 times in the second half, thanks to UNI’s “Cats” defense. Panthers coach Tanya Warren described it as a trapping-type defense. ISU scrambled and displayed no answers for it. In preparation, ISU coach Kristen Gillespie said that her team has worked on contending the “Cats” defense a little bit each day in practice since then. The Redbirds’ second matchup with the Panthers ended similarly, losing 66-48, thanks to a 16-0 UNI run over five minutes in the fourth quarter.
Dependent on Defense
Friday night’s matchup features ISU’s top defense and UNI’s second ranked defense in the MVC. Gillespie has said it since day one: For ISU to win, it will have to depend on its defense. The Redbirds finished the season as the No. 12 nationally ranked scoring defense (54.9 ppg allowed). Freshman Paige Saylor led the MVC with 2.5 steals per game, and senior Hannah Green led the MVC with two blocks per game. For the Redbirds to be successful Friday, they will need to control the glass. In fact, it will be a combat in the paint, as UNI is first in rebounding in the MVC, led by the conference leader Megan Maahs (10.1 rpg). However, UNI does not sport another top-10 rebounder, while ISU has three in the top 10. Five-foot-eight guard Viria Livingston led ISU with a fifth-best 6.3
rpg. Goods and Green both finished eighth with six rpg. Controlling the post, while keeping UNI’s perimeter in check will be a must if the Redbirds want to advance to Saturday.
Can ISU limit turnovers? Illinois State committed the second-most turnovers in the MVC this season behind Loyola. Furthermore, it lost the ball 25 times in its first meeting with UNI. The Redbirds limited that number to 15 in their second game, while forcing 16 on the Panthers. Like all season long, ISU will play through its post offense. Gillespie expects Goods to be double, or even triple teamed each time she gets the ball. That way, it may create space for others like Green or Katrina Beck to find open shots. As stated earlier, every possession matters, so the Redbirds must be alert with the ball and locked in for all 40 minutes.
Possible sleeper? With Drake’s domination in the league, it is hard to imagine a different team taking home the trophy. Expect a large showing from the Bulldog faithful, as well. The possibility of a Missouri State and Northern Iowa matchup Saturday afternoon almost seems inevitable, that is, only if the Panthers underlook the Redbirds. Missouri State finished 15-3 in the MVC, with two losses to Drake and a two-point loss to Southern Illinois. If a team will take down the Bulldogs, it will need a dynamic offense to outscore them. Missouri State may be that team. The Bears present the No. 2 scoring offense, averaging 70.1 ppg and the No. 3 scoring defense, allowing 62.5 ppg. Liza Fruendt powers the Bears as the top scorer in the MVC with 16.2 ppg. Alexa Willard and Aubrey Buckley also average 11.2 and 10.4 ppg, respectively. Missouri State will await the
winner of Bradley and Evansville, for a Friday matchup at 6 p.m. before ISU tips off with UNI.
Quotes from coach: 1. “Northern Iowa does a great job. They are extremely well coached and they do a nice job with trying to take away our post play with Simone, Hannah, and Meg. 2. “We know we’re going to have our hands full, they’re going to have some twists for us, and we’re going to be prepared to have the same for them. It just comes down to, we’re going to have to do a great job defending, but we have to find a way to score the ball. 3. “They didn’t run it [trapping zone] quite as much [last game], but we handled it a lot better, so we will be ready for anything they throw our way on Friday. 4. “Simone has had some bad luck [with fouls]. The easiest way to guard Simone is when she is on the bench, so she has to be really smart and diligent with her play and not get baited into fouls. 5. “Our team is really excited to not be playing Thursday, which was big for us because that’s been a goal of ours, we wanted to finish in that top six. We didn’t want to be a Thursday team and with our depth, that really helps. 6. “Especially in that second half [at Bradley], I thought we played really well and I think our players have a lot of confidence coming out of that game. 7. “I think whoever owns the paint is going to win the game. 8. “They have a really good post player in Megan Maahs, so it’s going to be a really good matchup with our post. We have to defend and rebound. 9. “We have to defend and rebound the ball. If we give them, I mean the first game [against UNI] we gave up 17 offensive rebounds, we’ll have no chance. 10. “It’s going to be a group effort guarding their post, but our post has to demand the ball. We have to get some post points and rebound on both ends.”
here is no better time than now for Illinois State women’s basketball to be an underdog. ISU (14-15, 8-10 MVC) is preparing to play Northern Iowa in the quarterfinals of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament after a 5341 come-from-behind win against Bradley on Saturday. The fact that Illinois State is beginning conference tournament play on Friday is an accomplishment in itself. Saturday’s win against the Braves helped the Redbirds finish in sixth place in the conference standings, therefore preventing them from playing in the tournament’s opening round on Thursday for the first time since 2014. They clearly are not satisfied with just that accomplishment. Illinois State now aims for its first conference tournament championship since 2008. The first opponent up for the No. 6 seed Redbirds is No. 3 seed Northern Iowa. The Redbirds twice experienced how the Panthers (17-12, 13-5 MVC) rank as one of the top teams in the conference. In the first game on Jan. 28, ISU scored less than 10 points in the final three quarters before losing 58-36. About a month later in the rematch on Feb. 23, Illinois State had a better showing on offense, but the Panthers made 52.5 percent of their shots to earn a 66-48 victory. Now there is an added element to Friday’s game for both teams: their seasons. Neither program is expected to make it to the NCAA tournament as an at-large bid. Northern Iowa may be the favorite, but Illinois State should embrace being the underdog. ISU has already surprised many finishing as high as they did when you consider they were picked to finish seventh in the MVC Preseason Poll. The role of spoiler is something the team has been accustomed to throughout the season. Aside from the fact that it is win or go home, Friday’s game has the Redbirds in the same role they have been in all season. Looking back at both games against the Panthers this season, the Redbirds have at times matched up pretty well. They entered halftime back in January’s matchup tied at 24 after having a 15-9 lead at the end of the first quarter. In February’s game, ISU scored the same amount of points as the Panthers did in both the second and third quarter. If Illinois State wants to have a chance at beating Northern Iowa, it needs to embrace its role as an underdog now more than ever. Play the hardest it ever has this season and learn from past mistakes made against the Panthers and their aggressive defense. The Redbirds’ season may end after this weekend, but expect them to put up at least one more fight. Friday’s game starts at 8:30 p.m. NICK LANDI is a sports writer for The Videte. He can be reached by email vidette_nlandi@exchange. ilstu.edu and found on Twitter @nlandi1033