THE ’BIRD THE VIDETTE PRESENTS
THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016 Vol. 128 / No. 57
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Swing into the circus It’s Sibling Weekend, and Gamma Phi is ready to put on a show for clowns of all ages
An Ga acro mm ba a P t ba hi lan Cir ce cu s o sp na erf ro orm pe an dur ce. ing (Ar las chi t ye ve Ph ar’s oto )
FEATURES 11
BOND WITH YOUR SIBLINGS THIS WEEKEND
COPRICH LOOKS TOWARD NFL DRAFT SPORTS 12
NEWS 3
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PAGE 2 | NEWS | THE VIDETTE
THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016
THURSDAY
DIRECTORY
FRIDAY
SUNDAY
SATURDAY
73 Low 50 Precip 0%
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NNUAL T H E 2 1 ST A
CAST Week Event: Women in Leadership Hancock Stadium Club
3:30 p.m. Study Abroad First Steps Fell Hall Room 180
7:30 p.m. Student Chamber Recital Kemp Recital Hall
8 a.m.
FRIDAY, APRIL 15
73 Low 48 Precip 0% High
CA M P U SE VE N T S
66 Low 42 Precip 0% High
THURSDAY, APRIL 14
9 a.m.
IU S SYMPOS E R S T U D IE D N E G D AN W O M E N ’S
21st Annual Women’s and Gender Studies Symposium Rachel Cooper
12:30 p.m. ISU Planetarium Presents: “The Princess Knight” Felmley Hall Planetarium
7 p.m. Spanish Club Fiesta Latina Bone Student Center Brown Ballroom
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The Vidette is published Monday and Thursday every week, except for final examinations, holidays, and semester breaks. The Summer Vidette is published every other week. Students are responsible for the content of the Vidette. The views presented do not necessarily represent, in whole or part, those of the Illinois State University administration, faculty, and students. The Vidette is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press and the Illinois Press Association. Subscriptions are available by mail to anywhere in the United States for $150 per calendar year. © The Vidette 2015 University & Locust / Campus Box 0890 / Normal, IL 61761–0890
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EEN US W T E B L L I SCO B A D A S ’ E R E TH
Dr. Jaf ari S. Allen
FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 1–3 P.M. PRAIRIE ROOM, BONE STUDENT CENTER
Book talk and signing If you need special accommodations to fully participate in this event or more information, please contact Mandy Dartt at (309) 438-2947 or wgstudies@IllinoisState.edu .
THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 3–5 P.M. at Milner Library, second floor
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THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016
Circus to highlight Sibling Weekend Friday marks the beginning of Sibling Weekend, an event-packed three days to spend with siblings of all ages at Illinois State University AUDREY ANFIELD News Reporter
Sibling Weekend “lets siblings create memories together on ISU’s campus that they might not otherwise get to have,” Samantha Spellman, alumni relations graduate assistant, said. “This campus is a big part of students’ lives, and siblings at home might feel like they can’t connect with that if they have never seen the places they hear their older sibling talk about.” The annual Gamma Phi Circus Spring Shows, a Sibling Weekend tradition at Illinois State University, will take place 7 p.m. Friday and 1 and 7 p.m. Saturday at Redbird Arena. This year marks the 87th anniversary since the founding of ISU’s Gamma Phi Circus in 1929. The Student Alumni Council is hosting its fifth annual pre-show Sibling Carnival noon to 1 p.m. Saturday on Archive Photo the Redbird Arena Concourse. This A young sibling takes advantage of the face painting offered at last year’s Sibling Weekend. event is open to everyone who bought a youth ticket to the matinee show. There will be games, face painters and prizes for all ages. Those in attendance artist, glitter tattoos, pizza and snow by Campus Dining to bring up to two family will also have the opportunity to experi- cones. A waiver filled out by a parent or members to the dining centers for one free ence the Imagination Playground from the guardian must be presented to UPB staff meal. Students must have reservations. at check in for anyone under the age of 18 Contact CampusDining@illinoisstate.edu Children’s Discovery Museum. for more information. All weekend, the Children’s Discovery to play in the bounce houses. To follow the “Big Hero” theme, there will “Inviting siblings onto campus for this Museum in Uptown is discounting tickets be a showing of Disney’s “Big Hero 6” at fun weekend helps build a Redbird trafor all ISU students. Students will receive dition within families and build tighter dusk. $1 off ticket prices with their current ISU There are opportunities to take photos bonds,” Spellman said. I.D. with siblings 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday on the In addition to these events, the University Program Board is hosting “Big Hero second f loor concourse of the Bone Stu- Audrey Anfield is a news reporter at the with Sibs” 4 p.m. Saturday on the Quad. dent Center. There will be a green screen Vidette and can be reached at vidette_ amanfie@ilstu.edu. Follower her on There will be bounce houses, a balloon photo booth, free food and giveaways. All students with meal plans are invited Twitter at @audreyanfield.
THE VIDETTE | NEWS | PAGE 3
Sibling Weekend APRIL 15-17, 2016 2016 Gamma Phi Circus When: 7 p.m. Friday and 1 and 7 p.m. Saturday Where: Redbird Arena
Matinee Carnival
When: Noon prior to the 1 p.m. Saturday matinee show Where: Redbird Arena Concourse What: Pre-show Sibling’s Carnival
Big Hero with Sibs
When: 4 p.m. Saturday Where: Quad What: Bounce inflatables, balloon artist, glitter tattoos, pizza and snow cones; viewing of Disney’s “Big Hero 6” at dusk
Around the World at the Bone When: 1-4 p.m. Saturday Where: Second floor concourse of the BSC What: Green screen photo booth, free food and giveaways
Children’s Discovery Museum
When: All weekend Where: Uptown Normal What: Discount on tickets for all Illinois State students. Show your current ISU ID during Sibling Weekend and receive $1 off the ticket prices.
PAGE 4 | NEWS | THE VIDETTE
THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016
Local grant foundation to host breakfast EMA SASIC News Reporter
Beyond the Books, a local grant foundation, will hold its first ever breakfast 7 a.m. April 19 at Bloomington High School in order to inspire the community to contribute to students’ education. The breakfast is free but limited to 100 guests. Attendees can make reservations at kimpenland67@gmail. com. The Beyond the Books Educational Foundation is a non-profit corporation and endowment fund that started in 1992 by local business and community leaders. It was launched with the help of both District 87 and Unit 5, with a goal to fund innovative programs for students in those districts. “The breakfast will offer a chance for people to learn a little bit more about the purpose of Beyond the Books, possibly encourage some new donors and [provide] general information about us,” publicity chairwoman Vickie Robertson said. The foundation awards three levels of grants: a mini grant of up to $400, a standard grant worth up to $5,000 and a Beyond the Box grant of $10,000, funded by the Shirk Family Foundation. The Beyond the Box grant challenges applicants to be more innovative and creative with educational proposals and to benefit a large number of students, typically school-wide. Last year Evans
Junior High installed a climbing wall with the help of climbing gym Upper Limits. The purpose was to instill a love of fitness in students and train some to be teaching assistants during the climbing wall unit. The year before, Colene Hoose Elementary School used the grant money to purchase science kits to help students focus on hands-on experiments. This year’s winners will be announced May 1. “This is an important time of the year for us, as we are currently reading grants from educators and will make the awards by the first of May, so we thought it was a good time to tie in with the breakfast,” Robertson said. During the breakfast, two 2015 standard grant winners, Tracy and Brian Hitchins, will present. Tracy Hitchins is an early learning teacher at Sugar Creek Elementary School, and Brian Hitchins is a physics teacher at Bloomington High School. The two used the grant for cross grade level use, meaning students from both schools would benefit. Students at Sugar Creek Elementary received science materials, while high school students demonstrated what each of those materials showed. Last year, the Beyond the Books Educational Foundation gave away nearly $44,000. Since 1992, it has awarded approximately $600,000 to teachers in the two local school districts.
NEWS IN BRIEF ‘I Am Normal’ event on Schroeder Plaza Thursday From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today, the Leadership and Community Connections unit of the Dean of Students Office will be holding “I Am Normal” Day at Schroeder Plaza. The “I Am Normal” campaign deals with community standards and is sponsored by Off-Campus Services and the Town of Normal. The idea is to remind students that not only are they members of the Illinois State University community, but they are also part of the Normal community. According to the event’s press release, off-campus ambassadors
will be passing out free giveaways to promote the campaign. “‘I Am Normal’ is the understanding that you are a citizen of the Town of Normal,” Parimal Vyas, junior off-campus ambassador, said. “It is important to do your part in giving back to the community you reside in. This day is to remind students that they are citizens of the Town of Normal and to be respectful to their surroundings.” “I Am Normal” T-shirts were given out during a Sweet Corn Blues Festival in the fall. The first 100 students who wear their shirts tomorrow will receive a free candy bar. TAYLOR LEDDIN | NEWS REPORER
Tracy Conoboy | Vidette Photogapher
Retired Department of English faculty member Bill Morgan read poetry from his book “The Art of Salvage” at the Normal Public Library Wednesday.
Retired ISU professor reads latest poems at NPL NATHAN PENN Politcacl Reporter
Bloomington-Normal literary enthusiasts filled every available seat Wednesday evening in the Normal Public Library as poet Bill Morgan read from his latest book. Morgan, a retired Illinois State University Department of English faculty member, read a collection of poems from “The Art of Salvage.” Morgan elaborated what “salvage” means to him, and explained its significance in the title. “It’s become a sort of philosophy for me, both literal and as a metaphor,” Morgan said. “I think at its simplest level it means…there is value to be found sometimes in unpromising circumstances.” His poems mostly drew inspiration from his personal experiences. The biographical tone of his readings touched on parenthood, the natural world, body and spirit and his relationship with his father. In the poem ‘Losing Ground,’ Morgan ref lected on the feeling of helplessness as he experiences the onset of Parkinson’s disease. He compares this to the seemingly unpreventable f looding of a house built next to a creek. “The blind waters will have their way,” Morgan read. Many of Morgan’s poems have local themes. A number of his poems are based on experiences he had while riding his bicycle on Constitution Trail. Morgan ref lected on “the natural world of a sparrow intersecting with the human world,” on Constitution Trail. “I peddled hard, contemplating his life, my kind. Sucking in, pushing out the heavy raw, saw-toothed air,” Morgan read from ‘Body and Bread.’ “The Art of Salvage” is the first release by Downstate Legacies, a new publisher that operates through
the
ISU’s Publications Unit. The operation of Downstate Legacies is made possible through the Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology’s Innovation Grant. Steve Halle, director of the Publications Unit at Illinois State recognized the extensive amount of group effort that is necessary to operate a small publishing imprint. “Downstate Legacies is a teaching press that emphasizes the collaborative process that is publishing books,” Halle said. “Working on The Art of Salvage has required more cooperation than almost any other book that I’ve worked on.” University High School students assisted in the publishing process as part of Publications Unit Partners Program, which supports and mentors teachers and students in creative writing and publishing ventures. Halle said that these students received a glimpse of what the book publishing process is like. Students helped with editing, design, production and promotion of “The Art of Salvage.” “I hope that will help them as they make their college choices and start their careers,” Halle said. Morgan held a book signing following the reading. His other published works include “The Heart’s Fiction,” “Sky with Six Geese” and “Trackings: The Body’s Memory.” Nathan Penn is a junior political science major and a reporter and columnist for the Vidette. Any questions or concerns regarding his article can be sent to vidette_njpenn@ilstu.edu. Follow him on Twitter @NateJPenn.
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THE VIDETTE | NEWS | PAGE 5
THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016
ISU poets write and share verse AUDREY ANFIELD Staff writer
Students tasted foods from around the world at UPB’s Taste of the World event.
Paige Meisenheimer | Vidette Photo Editor
‘Taste of the World’ serves up global flavors CASSIE MCNEILL News Reporter
Illinois State University’s Program Board (UPB) dished out food for students at the Taste of the World, featuring an assortment of cuisine from across the globe. Over 450 students attended the event in to taste the diverse array of food. The Taste of the World took place 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesday on Milner Plaza. The taste was designed to celebrate the diversity of the world through free samplings of authentic cultural dishes. “We wanted to focus on different cultures, and the best way to draw people in was food,” UPB
enrichment chairperson, Melissa Hill, said. The event was brought back after not being celebrated by UPB for about six years. Upon entering the event, students were directed to either side of the plaza, where program members and volunteer workers were waiting in a food assembly line, serving small portions of the dishes. Although the program had ten volunteers, including UPB members, it was not enough given how many students were there to be served. “It was a good turnout but there was a lot more people than we expected,” board member and upcoming UPB enrichment chairperson for next full school year, Taylor Vabales, said. Taste of the World included a variety of dishes
from seven different countries, such as India, China, Ireland and Greece. Local restaurants such as The Rock, Crepe Greeks, Chinese restaurant Great Wall, Maggie Miley’s and Indian restaurant Anand generously provided food for the event. The student-run organization’s primary goal was to branch out and try to reach many different students on campus. Hill explained that she does not think UPB is diverse enough and they want to expand. “We plan on continuing this event again, probably in the spring [of next year],” Hill said. UPB and its members seem to be very satisfied with the turnout of attendees are thankful for every person that came out and showed support.
This year marks the 20th annual National Poetry Month and Illinois State University’s Poetry Club is recognizing the month by celebrating and continuing to write together as a group. Founded in December, president Sarah Gregory hosts Poetry Club 5:30 p.m. every Tuesday in the east lounge on the third floor of the Bone Student Center. Gregory started the club because ISU did not have any poetry clubs yet. A typical Poetry Club meeting involves mostly free writing. Club members spend time doing writing workshops. They will free write from prompts, provided by Gregory, and they will quietly write for five minutes. The club also looks at different poems together and then compares and discusses what they like about the poems. After the evaluation of the poem the club will have more writing prompts relating to the poems they read together during the meeting. “We just celebrate writing and at the end people have the option to read one of their poems they wrote that day or if they just have something they want to read,” Gregory said. The majority of the club are English majors, but the club is not limited to only English majors. Poetry Club plans to keep meeting in the fall semester while continuing to grow as writers. see POETRY page 10
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PAGE 6 | NEWS | THE VIDETTE
THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016
Redbirds on the Quad
New Vidette editor, ad sales manager named for next year me and I’m so honored to have the opportunity to lead a great team of journalists,” Rio said. “I have a bunch of new ideas and I’m excited to get started planning another great year at The Vidette.” Junior marketing and professional sales major Kevin Rizzo has been named the new Advertising Sales Manager, in place of Tom Heagney. Rizzo began at The Vidette in spring 2015 as an account executive, and became a senior account executive last fall. In this role, Rizzo will be in charge of the entire advertising department. He will help lead account executives to make sales for advertisements for both the print and online version of The Vidette, while also serving as a lead representative for the Illinois State University community in terms of sales. “I’m thrilled for the opportunity of leading the ad sales side of The Vidette,” Rizzo said. “It’s a great way to continue my journey with The Vidette. Sarah Foote will be replacing Zane Barry as the Advertising Production Manager. Foote is a junior graphic design major and has worked at The Vidette since the fall.
HOLLY PETROVICH Editor-in-Chief
The Vidette announces new student managers to its staff for the 2016-2017 academic year. The leadership positions filled Ave include Editor in Rio Chief, Advertising Sales Manager and Advertising Production Manager. Junior journalism major Ave Rio will be replacing Holly Petrovich as EdiKevin tor in Chief. Rio Rizzo has worked at The Vidette since summer 2014, where she began as a news reporter. She then was promoted to News Editor in May 2015, where she has managed a staff of about eight reporters with her co-editor Andrew Marshall. As Editor in Chief, Rio will oversee the entire editorial department of about 50 students at The Vidette, while also managing the Editorial Board. “The Vidette is like a family to
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Rebirds flocked to the Quad Wednesday afternoon when the temperature was 62 degrees and sunny.
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THE VIDETTE | PAGE 7
The pressure is on for ISU tour guides REBECCA DAVIS Features Reporter
As soon as the weather turns warm, tour groups become a regular occurrence on Illinois State University’s campus. Crowds of prospective students can be found wandering around the Quad asking an admissions ambassador questions about the school, and every once in awhile, you might pick up a fact or two while you walk by and listen. It might make you remember the steps you took before your first year at ISU, which included the freshman Preview program, where you learned about the school and registered for classes with the help of a Preview guide. All in all, Illinois State’s guides are pretty good at getting students prepared for the years to come. Visiting colleges as a high school student is a huge part of the decision process. It leaves prospective students with many questions about their upcoming years as college students, and that is where admissions ambassadors come in. You’ve seen them walk around campus guiding lost-looking high schoolers around, answering any questions that may come to their mind, and throwing out facts about ISU like it’s nothing. “As an admissions ambassador, you would need to have a strong knowledge about ISU and the admissions process,” sophomore public relations student and admissions ambassador Daniel Gee said. “This knowledge would need to be applied to your responsibilities, such as giving campus tours and answering prospective students and families’ questions about campus and the application process.” Being an admissions ambassador requires students who fill the position to have an extensive knowledge of the university and the ability to make interested applicants feel comfortable at a big school. Sometimes, being able to give unique and interesting facts about ISU eases the minds of nervous students on the tour. “My favorite facts to give during tours are that Angie Milner was the inspiration for the librarian ghost in the first ‘Ghostbusters’ movie, Craig Robinson is an alumni and that Chipotle is only a 10 minute walk from Hovey Hall,” Gee said.
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Things to do this weekend The Gamma Phi Circus Come and support one of the first collegiate circuses in the world: ISU’s very own Gamma Phi Circus. This weekend the Circus will be hosting its biggest performance of the year 7 p.m. Friday and 1 and 7 p.m. Saturday at Redbird Arena.
Celebrate the Hawks
Emma Horath | Vidette Photographer
The tour guides on campus hold a lot of responsibility to reel in new applicants and show off the campus in a positive light. Once a student is accepted into the university, incoming freshman are required to attend Illinois State’s freshman orientation, where they spend two days at the school accompanied by other incoming students and Preview guides. “As a Preview guide, you are expected to facilitate a small group of students,” Connor Bowman, senior music education major and Preview guide for two years, said. “Your job is to answer questions, give advice and information, and help students meet other students.” Going to freshman orientation is one way for incoming students to get the lay of the land at ISU, and Preview guides are a major aspect in helping them feel comfortable at the place they will likely be attending for the next four years. Guides work around the clock to assist in anything that the students might have questions about. “The most difficult parts of the job are that
you are always ‘on.’ It is hard to keep your energy level up throughout the summer. But I work with a team of 19 amazing guides and they help to encourage you and keep you excited,” Bowman said. Preview guides are also able to point out certain resources to students that they may be unaware of, such as Student Counseling Services or Disability Concerns. There may be a few things you remember about your first few experiences at ISU. That may include touring the campus for the first time during a torrential downpour, sweating as you enter the Bone Student Center to take your student ID picture or eating at Watterson dining center for the first time. Regardless, it’s likely that you remember the people who guided you through these first encounters with the school and made you feel comfortable at the place you now call home.
This week the NHL begins the season playoffs and defending Stanley Cup winners, the Chicago Blackhawks, are in the playoffs. Support the Blackhawks this weekend by hosting or attending a playoff party with some friends, or go to a restaurant or bar to view the game on the big screens.
Spend time outside This weekend the weather is going to get into the 70s so enjoy some of the nicest weather we’ve had this spring and go outside. Rent bikes from the Rec and ride around on campus with friends or take a long bike ride on the trail.
Go see ‘Alice in Wonderland’ The Center for the Performing Arts will debut its performance of “Alice in Wonderland” this weekend. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.
Get ahead on studying for finals Finals are approaching, and the end of the year projects and tests seem to pile up. It is never good to cram for all of your finals the day before the test, so start early. Compiled by Alyssa Groh | Features Reporter
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continued from page 11
“We honestly have been preparing for Nationals all year, it’s our Superbowl,” Polito said. “Every practice and every tournament before it is just practice to get better and better, so we can be as good as we can for Nationals. We are pumped and ready to go.” Overall, Polito finds the friendly paintball competition alluring. “The tournament is very fun but very competitive with a lot of good teams from all over the country,” he said. “I am looking forward to some great competition and show everyone what ISU paintball is all about.” Want to get in on the paintball action and root for your ISU team? Stream the action live on your computer at ncpapaintball.com. The games begin live 9 a.m. EDT Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. EDT Sunday.
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PAGE 8 | THE VIDETTE
THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016
MY VIEW DELANE MCLURKIN Columnist
‘Chalking up Trump’ is activism at its finest
F
Editorial Cartoon by Athena Tapia
VIDETTE EDITORIAL
All states must comply with LGBTQ equality I n recent weeks, North Carolina and Mississippi both passed controversial laws that significantly limit the rights of people in the LGBTQ community. North Carolina’s law eliminated anti-discrimination measures for its lesbian, gay and bisexual citizens. It also barred transgender people from using bathrooms that do not match the gender on their birth certificates. Last week, the governor of Mississippi signed a law that allows businesses to deny service to people based on their sexual orientation on religious grounds. The law also states that a person’s true and only gender is the one that they are born with. Despite the somewhat rapid advance of LGBTQ protections in national law in recent years, these hostilities show that the struggle for equality still exists. The institutionalization of discriminatory practices in Mis-
sissippi and the elimination of anti-discrimination practices in North Carolina shows that hostility toward those in the LGBTQ community is still alive. Nonetheless, the orchestrated backlash against the discrimination laws in Mississippi is encouraging. Since the laws were passed, boycotts from performing artists, corporations and professional sports teams have led proponents of the bills to reflect on them. Deutsche Bank and PayPal have announced that they are cancelling developments in North Carolina that would have created about 650 jobs. The NBA is considering relocating its All-Star Game, which is scheduled to take place in Charlotte. In Mississippi, Toyota and Nissan — major employers in the state — have spoken out against the legislation. The comprehensive movement to speak out against discrimination in corporate, political and
entertainment spheres is hopeful. Southern states that choose to hold on to old fears and biases can no longer oppress in isolation. The strength of boycotts has never been stronger than in the modern era, when support for equal rights is celebrated by high ranking corporate and political leaders, not just the downtrodden. On Tuesday, the governor of North Carolina tried to stem the negative effects of the transgender bathroom law by calling for the law to be amended to include equal employment policies for state workers. The Mississippi state legislature called for a repeal of the law that allowed for discrimination based on sexual orientation. But the regret shown by the leaders in these states is obviously not sincere. Although these state politicians’ laws have shown that methods of boycotting can be effective, the problem
of deep seated homophobia in some southern states will take longer to resolve than others. The focus on transgender people is one of the main concerns with both of these laws. There seems to be a recent obsession in some places with which bathrooms transgender people are entitled to use, leading to campaigns that play into fears of sexual assault. But these campaigns are, at their cores, not about safety; they are about suppression of a group of people that do not fit into religious societal norms. Although the combined effort of the rest of the nation to protest hateful laws has had some effect recently, the core of the problem still needs to be fixed. The existence of fundamentalist religion in the politics of many southern states has resulted in a homophobic and transphobic culture that has been solidified in law.
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.
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or as long as I’ve been a student, chalking the Quad has been a popular method of advertising for events and programs on campus; it’s a great way to get the word out about timely events, especially because a majority of Illinois State University students pass through the Quad on a daily basis. With the current controversial election, phrases such as “Vote Trump” and “Build A Wall” have been frequently popping up. Although college, and the United States in general, is a place where people are able and encouraged to speak their minds, these chalkings have created some unhappy students. Specifically, the pro-Donald Trump chalkings come across as an overt attack on diversity. The messages have been making minority students feel alienated, which is the exact opposite message a student should feel while in college. Trump, who is currently the Republican front-runner, has been known to make oppressive statements towards Muslims, Hispanics, women and disabled people. Sadly, these harsh comments continue to strengthen his support system. I heard that recently a couple of white students were caught around 1 a.m. chalking pro-Trump and anti-diversity related messages. When the students realized they were caught, they responded with, “it’s people like you who have ruined this country,” “Trump will put people like you back where you belong” and “We have the right to express our opinion even if you don’t like it.” While some may say that everyone is entitled to his or her opinion and First Ammendment rights should not be overlooked, these messages have crossed the line and should not be tolerated. These offensive writings not only make people feel uncomfortable but also unsafe. As a minority, I understand that support for a specific candidate is not an attack at me directly, but it’s the comments that follow that hurt. Support for this radical Republican shows decisive ignorance towards minorities, and that should not endure at a university that wants to respect and include minorities. Other colleges, such as Emory University and the University of Kansas, have had similar problems but on a larger scale; students were writing statements such as “Stop Islam,” and administration and alumni had to get involved to address the concern. Wesleyan University in Connecticut has not allowed chalking since 2003 for this reason. These reports amongst college campuses all across the U.S. have begun to stir up a national conversation, so ISU is not alone. Delane Mclurkin is a senior accounting major and columnist for The Vidette and can be reached at vidette_dcmclur@ilstu.edu. Follow him on Twitter at @DelaneMcl.
THE VIDETTE | SPORTS | PAGE 9
THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016
COPRICH continued from page 12
ZC: Do you bring up the incident first to address it right off the bat? MC: Yeah, I bring it up. If they forget, I just tell them I got arrested. They always say, “As long as you learn from it…” and I did. It’s nothing to hide from; it happened and it’s over now. I tell them what happened and we go on with our conversation. ZC: I’m an NFL GM. I’ve seen your on-field success and athleticism in your pre-draft workouts. But what’s your main selling point in the interview room that’s going to make me want to draft Marshaun Coprich? MC: I’m gonna go in and work hard to help the whole team get better. And I’m gonna continue working on myself on the field and off the field to become a better player and better person and help them win a Super Bowl. ZC: It’s a passing league now so one of the main things teams are going to ask you to do is pass block. Can you be an effective pass blocker at the next level? MC: I mean I don’t see why not. It’s the same as what I was doing before. It’s all about your heart and the fight in the dog. And I’m a dog. I’m going out there and playing with my all.
ZC: What are your strengths as a running back? MC: My pass blocking, catching, my vision and my special teams abilities. ZC: What do you need to improve on to make it at the next level? MC: Everything. You can always get better with everything. If you’re not getting better, you’re getting worse. ZC: The Bears are looking for a new running back and I know you’ve worked out for them and the Colts. What other teams have been showing the most interest? MC: I’ve been talking to a lot of teams. I’m not [going to] get deep into that because my agent told me not to, but I’ve been talking to a lot of teams and it’s looking pretty good.
Bret Farrell | Vidette Photographer
ZC: You have zero control over it, but if it were up to you, what team would you want to play for the most? Maybe move back to the West Coast to be closer to home in California? MC: It really doesn’t matter. I just want a chance to be part of [the] association with the National Football League. I’ve been watching the NFL since I was a kid and just getting a chance to be on any team and get out there is a great opportunity. ZC: You said you’ve been watching the game since you were a kid. Who are a couple of players, past or pres-
Coprich ran away from defenders throughout his collegiate career, on his way to breaking several ISU rushing records. ent, who you look up to? MC: Tyrann Mathieu and Reggie Bush. ZC: Do you think you see some similarities between you and Reggie Bush? MC: Maybe with my agility, but I’m more of an inside runner. I can run inside or outside, but with the way we play football at Illinois State, you need to know how to run inside and outside. I don’t want to get into comparisons because he’s already
[in the league] but I’m working on it to keep getting better. ZC: Scouts have marked you as an undersized running back. Based off the success Tyrann Mathieu has had as an undersized guy, do you think you could have a similar type of success? MC: They can say I’m undersized, but I’m probably just as big or bigger than some of the running backs in the NFL right now. But my heart and courage to go out there and hit
anybody and make a play [makes me different]. I’m willing to go out there and put my life on the line. The NFL Draft takes place April 28-30 and will be broadcast live on ESPN. Follow @ZCarp11, @JCTSports and @Vidette_Sports for coverage of former Redbirds and Valley players in the Draft.
For the full interview, visit our website
videtteonline.com
’Birds drop 7-1 contest to Illinois JOE RODEWALD Sports Reporter
SUMMER SESSIONS START MAY 23 AND JUNE 6. Start planning your summer now at harpercollege.edu/summer
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Senior left-hander Jacob Hendren pitched just two innings Tuesday evening, giving up two runs, enough to give him his seventh loss of the season. Senior catcher Jason Goldstein gave the Illini all they needed when he roped a 2-RBI double down the third base line in the first inning. The victory for Illinois completes a 2016 series sweep between the schools, as Illinois defeated ISU, 8-3, on March 22 in Normal. The loss brings ISU’s record to 8-23. Goldstein was 3-for-4 on the day with four RBI, while Hurwitz was 2-for-3 with a walk and three runs scored. Shortly after, redshirt sophomore Dan Rowbottom singled home Goldstein to make it 7-1. For the Redbirds, Hendren, Rhett Rapshus and Jack Czeszewski were all tagged for two runs in their time on the rubber. Mitch Vogrin surrendered one run in one inning of work. Jake Sale and Jack Landwehr each threw a scoreless inning to close out the game for the Redbirds. Offensively, ISU was unable to take advantage of numerous opportunities with runners in scoring position, something it has struggled with all season. Owen Miller placed the ’Birds with a three-hit day. Miller now has a team-leading 40 hits on the year. Joe Kelch and Ryan Hutchinson each tallied a pair of hits in the game as well. ISU has been in a team-wide funk since it returned from the Spring Break trip. The Redbirds have been unable to put together a complete game, from hitting to pitching to fielding, which has resulted in 15 losses in 16 contests. The Redbirds will try to right the ship this weekend when they square off with Indiana State in Terre Haute, Ind., in their second MVC series of the 2016 season.
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ACROSS 1 Tousle 5 F and G, e.g. 10 Soaks (up) 14 Bad thing to be caught in 15 Spells 16 Virginie, par exemple 17 “Need You Tonight” band 18 Start of an old news announcement 20 Frequent Lemmon co-star 22 Chimney 23 Dublin-born poet 24 AWOL trackers 26 Tiny 27 Shine, in Cambridge 29 Ammunition dumps 31 Request to Sajak 32 Stipulation on le menu 34 Numerical prefix 36 Progressive pitcher? 37 When there’s no turning back 41 Where gas and lodging may be found 46 Tulsa sch. 47 Brings to light 50 Pitcher, for one 52 Cambodia’s Lon __ 53 Enzyme suffix 54 Moisten, in a way 55 Northeastern octet 57 Old but coveted 60 Nachos, e.g. 64 Peach __ 65 Landed 66 Ken Jenkins’ “Scrubs” role 67 CVI halved 68 Old map divs. 69 “Dallas” Miss 70 North-of-theborder gas DOWN 1 Injure badly 2 Radius neighbor 3 Historic Chicagoto-Santa Monica route 4 Largish combo 5 Proctor’s concern
6 Infiniti competitor 7 No. after a phone no. 8 Not agin 9 Fed. benefits agency 10 Stimulating message 11 Senators’ home 12 Part of UPS 13 Betting specifications 19 County bordering Suffolk 21 Dwell annoyingly (on) 24 “Fantastic” Dahl character 25 Initials on a radial 27 “Well, __-di-dah!” 28 Lyon article 29 Weigh station counts 30 Composer Rorem 33 “__ shoe fits ... ” 35 Literary assortment 38 When translated to English, beer brand that hints at the common feature of the five other longest puzzle answers
GO TO VIDETTEONLINE. COM
TO SEE THE ANSWERS TO THIS PUZZLE
39 “We __ Marshall”: 2006 film 40 Brynner of filmdom 42 Wipe off 43 Some Cadillacs 44 Scott classic 45 Try 47 Hall of Fame Colts quarterback 48 Grisham output
49 Potion 51 Suppress 54 Low voices 56 First responders, initially 58 Israeli arms 59 Opera star Pinza 61 Classic Jag 62 “Small Wonder” state: Abbr. 63 In need of treatment
PAGE 10 | NEWS | THE VIDETTE
THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016
Dean awards students, faculty at CAS ceremony NATHAN PENN Political Reporter
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accomplishments in classes, and their leadership and involvement in university and communityrelated organizations. Noha Shawki, co-director of peace and conf lict resolution studies, spoke fondly of Frank Cassata while presenting him with the Grabill-Homan Peace Prize. “I have known Frank for over two years now, and he is an outstanding student,” Shawki said. “He is very much a leader and a team player.” Simpson also announced next year’s College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Lecturers as history professor Alan Lessoff and geography-geology professor David Malone. Despite future challenges of the budget impasse, and cuts to higher education, Simpson was cautiously optimistic. “We end the year on a note of budgetary uncertainty, but the university has things in place so we can continue to thrive, even if we have to do so with less,” Simpson said.
NEWS IN BRIEF
continued from page 5
To celebrate National Poetry Month, Poetry Club has been making it a point to write more. “We really just focus on writing more than anything, that’s really what Poetry Month is about, just keeping at it,” Gregory said. National Poetry Month is the largest literary celebration in the world. Schools, publishers, libraries, booksellers and poets all celebrate poetry’s important role in our culture. English major Maddie Blackwell, a member of Poetry Club, admires the club because of the atmosphere. “It’s so casual and accepting and you can really just be yourself and be vulnerable around each other,” Blackwell said. Because the club was founded in December, it is small, but continues to grow as students see flyers around campus. “It’s always really scary to share something like poetry that comes from such an emotional place,” Blackwell said. “But it also feels so good to have other people hear your voice and validate the fact that your words matter.”
Waiting Room Records taking part in Record Store Day From 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Waiting Room Records in Uptown Normal will take part in Record Store Day. Record Store Day is a nationwide event that supports the unique culture that surrounds nearly 1,400 independently owned record stores in the United States. This is the eighth year that Waiting Room Records will be taking part in the tradition that began in 2007. On this day, a large number of limited releases is offered only to participating independent record stores. According to Waiting Room’s Facebook event page, other businesses in Uptown Normal will be assisting the event. There will be free coffee in the morning provided by Coffee Hound. Free donuts will be available courtesy of Grove Street Bakery. The first 50 people in line will receive limited edition screen prints from Half Hazard Press who will be live printing on site. TAYLOR LEDDIN | NEWS REPORER
$50.00 off the Security Deposit Now Leasing 2016/2017
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Students and faculty associated with the Illinois State University College of Arts and Sciences gathered Tuesday afternoon in the Old Main Room for the Dean’s Spring Address and Awards Ceremony. Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Gregory B. Simpson spoke about the hardships experienced by the college and university due to the Illinois budget Gregory impasse. Simpson He said that the budget stalemate has made faculty recruitment difficult, which could possibly have longterm effects on the college, but he noted that the college will welcome several new professors for the next academic year. “We’re very fortunate that through careful planning and saving, we’re weathering this storm far more successfully than most universities in the state,” Simpson said.
“We can’t hold out forever, but the budget impasse can’t last forever either.” Simpson emphasized the importance of the students’ education as large cuts to higher education loom. “A year or two from now, if larger cuts come, the landscape may look different for faculty and staff, but we should do everything we can to make sure it doesn’t look different to our students,” Simpson said. S impson went on to recognize the college’s successful year despite the struggle of operating without state funding. T he College of Arts and Sciences was greatly honored on Founders Day, when 16 faculty and graduate students were recognized for their teaching and research accomplishments. Eight faculty and staff members were awarded for their service as well as their research and teaching abilities at the ceremony. In addition to this recognition, 16 College of Arts and Sciences students were given schola r sh ip s. The se s t udents were selected for their
POETRY
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SUMMER SESSION STARTS MAY 23 AND JUNE 6. Start planning your summer now at harpercollege.edu/summer DAILY HOROSCOPE: Today’s Birthday (04/14/16). Envision and plan bold adventures this year. What to learn? Launch creative projects after 5/9, and an educational journey after 8/13. Begin a new two-year phase in your relationship. Breakthroughs in work and health (after 9/1) lead to an inner shift (after 9/16). Support each other. 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 — Enjoy sports, hobbies and diversions over the next few days. Practice your moves. Hang out with family and friends. Someone attractive is drawing you
into their orbit ... kindle a spark. Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is a 7 — Domestic projects satisfy over the next two days. Use brains over brawn to resolve a household problem that will only grow more expensive with neglect. Manage structural issues. Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is a 9 — Speak out, and your message goes further today and tomorrow. Stand up for what’s right. Support comes from unexpected directions. Actions and words get a power boost. Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is a 9 — Your communications get profitable. There’s money to be made over the next few days. Write marketing copy.
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Help Wanted- Business Opportunities Crestwicke Country Club Wait staff positions available starting in May. Must be 21+. Starting pay $12/hour. Email resume to lauren@crestwicke.com Do you like to purge stuff? Busy mom looking for declutter, organize, and decorating help in Bloomington home. Great job for an aspiring professional or schoolproject. On-site interview and references required. Call 309-706-3022 to schedule interview. Job is April Saturdays, $12 an hour.
Get involved with promotions or social media. Make your pitch. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is an 8 — Enjoy the spotlight over the next two days. Take advantage of the microphone and ask for the change you want to see. Share convincing data. Others are listening. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is a 7 — Look back for insight on the road ahead. Pay attention to your dreams over the next few days. Conclude arrangements and complete old projects. Note new plans, goals and deadlines. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is an 8 — Team projects go well over the next two days. Develop your strategies to win. Creativ-
ity swirls throughout the conversation. Write down what gets invented. Encourage each other. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is an 8 — Take on greater responsibility over the next two days to surpass a hurdle or challenge. Express your feelings aloud. Let people know what you need. Come to a new understanding. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is a 7 — Travel conditions look excellent today and tomorrow. Make sure the bills are paid first, and then pack your bags. Plan the itinerary in detail and reserve in advance. Get out with an interesting companion. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) —
Today is an 8 — Consider an investment in your own education. Focus on finances for the next two days. Confer with your team. Apply for scholarships or grants. Work all the angles. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is an 8 — Get expert assistance with a tricky job today and tomorrow. Long-distance support comes through. Think of clever ways to repay the favor. Use something you’ve been saving. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is a 7 — Jump into a busy phase over the next two days. Make a shrewd move. Find what you need far away. Talk with your networks to find solutions and resources. Love energizes you.
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STORE YOUR STUFF FOR THE SUMMER. Reserve your storage space now for the summer. Great student specials, no deposit, sizes 4 x 3 and up. Call 309-454-1811. Twin City Self Storage. EM: twincityselfstorage@frontier.com WS: www.twincityselfstorage.com
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Help Wanted- General Early summer help & ‘16-’17 school year. Before/after school program is looking for staff until May 24th and/or for ‘16’17 school year. Call 3094549721 for more info or fill out an application at the Normal Parks and Rec office.
For Rent: Su/Fall/Sp 16-17 808 S Linden: Large 1,2,3 and 4 person units. All Utilities Included. Next to the trail. Pool on site. Start at $335. Class Act Realty. 454-2960 406 Dewey Ave: Spacious 4 bedroom, 1 bath, dishwasher, parking, laundry. All utilties included. Close to ISU. Starting $370/bedroom. 309-827-5686 3 bedroom furnished townhouse for rent. 107 W. Willow. Parking included. Call 309-663-2133 Monday-Friday. One Unit Left! 401 N. Fell Ave. 4 bedroom/2 bath. Breakfast bar with stools, dishwasher, garbage disposal, washer & dryer in unit. Central air, secured building, off street parking, high speed internet provided. $430/per person. Call Excel Real Estate at 309-829-5885. Flora Way: Large Furnished 1,2,3 and 4 Bedrooms. Start at ONLY $325. Class Act Realty. 454-2960
301 S. WALNUT: Furnished 2 Bedrooms. Balcony, Covered parking, Laundry. Quiet Building. Start at ONLY $290 Class Act Realty. 454-2960 TOWNHOMES: 2, 3 & 4 Bedrooms. Include Washer-dryer, central air, dishwasher, parking, patio and/or balcony, yard. ONLY $255-360 per bedroom. Class Act Realty. 454-2960 Fell: Spacious 2 & 4 Bedrooms. 1 block from campus. Laundry. Start at $370. Class Act Realty. 454-2960 Houses: 3 to 6 Bedrooms. Start at $325 per person. Walk to Campus . Class Act Realty. 454-2960 Room for rent 1106 S. University Street Normal. $350 w/shared bath. $550 w/ private bath. Month to month OK. 773505-8682. qa_elizabeth@yahoo.com Various 1,2, 3 and 4 Bedrooms and some single rooms available. $235$555. Class Act Realty. 454-2960 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom new remodel! Granite countertops, 2 available units. 621&621.5 E. Empire Street, Bloomington. $1350/Month. Call 309-826-8536
THE VIDETTE | FEATURES | PAGE 11
THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016
The Gamma Phi Circus performs many wild acts from high-flying trapeze acts to fire-breathing acts during the show.
Archive Photo
Fly high with Gamma Phi ALYSSA GROH Features Reporter
The Gamma Phi Circus is one of the first collegiate circuses in the world. Gamma Phi Circus director Marcus Alouan explained that the circus was started in 1929 back when Illinois State University was Illinois State Normal University. The circus was started by a professor who wanted to start an organization centering around aerial athletics and physical fitness. During 1929, other circuses would stay in Bloomington-Normal to train during the winter, and eventually the organization on campus transitioned into the Gamma Phi Circus we know today. The Gamma Phi Circus began performing in 1931 and has performed every year since, with the exception of a few years during World War II. This weekend, the Circus will host its biggest performances of the year 7 p.m. Friday and 1 and 7 p.m. Saturday at Redbird Arena.
RSO
to Know
Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Braden Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, on ticketmaster.com or by phone at (800) 745-3000. Tickets can be purchased the day of the shows at Redbird Arena Box Office 5–7 p.m. Friday and 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday. Ticket prices vary depending on seating. Lower bowl prices are $15 for adults; $13 for students, senior citizens and military; $10 for children ages five through 12 and $5 for children under five. Upper bowl prices are $13 for adults; $11 for students, senior citizens and military; $8 for children ages five through 12 and $3 for children under five. Group discounts are available for those purchasing more than 10 tickets. This year the show will be about two hours with an “Around the World” theme, taking the audience to different countries around the world throughout the performance. Each show will consist of 85 student members who perform 10 to 15 circus acts. Although everyone has their favorite acts
of the performance, there are definitely some top acts to watch out for. The crowd favorite is typically the Russian Swing, which is an apparatus that takes a stabilized pendulum and launches performers up to 30 feet in the air. They will also bring back the Roman Rings, an act that has not been performed in almost 15 years. “And we are doing new and exciting things with acts that we have never tried before in Gamma Phi, and [we] also have some new equipment,” Alouan said. The performers of the circus started preparing for this weekend’s performance during move-in weekend in August and put in countless hours throughout the year to give their audience something to enjoy. “It is a rare opportunity to be able to work with 85 college students and 85 of your best friends and put together something that amazing that 1,600 people will come and enjoy,” Alouan said. This year, senior mathematics major Thomas Kawalek will perform for his fourth
and final time, performing the Wall Trampoline, Juggling, the Teeterboard and the Russian Swings. “My favorite part about being in the circus is that I feel free expressing myself here like nowhere else,” Kawalek said. “I am encouraged to be different, and as much time as I put in, I see real results.” “This is a very professional and great show, and we try to educate our students and audience that circus is a show,” Ivan Stoinev, assistant director of the Gamma Phi Circus, said. Stoinev’s son, an alumni of ISU and the Gamma Phi Circus and a finalist on “America’s Got Talent,” will come this weekend to support the members of the circus. If you are looking for something to do this weekend, come and support the members of the Gamma Phi Circus. “This show is like no other on earth and is honestly the best quality show in town,” Kawalek said. “There is so much passion in each performer, and you can see that in their performance.”
Paintball Club eager for championships
GIANNA ANNUNZIO Features Reporter
In the fifteenth year of Paintball Club’s operation on Illinois State University’s campus, the team currently awaits the 2016 National Tournament, where it will compete against teams from all over the country. Paintball Club, a Sports Club RSO, was founded at ISU back in 2001. It plays a quick and competitive style of paintball called “speedball,” or “airball.” The team will compete April 15-17. Ryan Polito, a senior finance major, is the president of Paintball Club. He explained how the gameplay is set up. “There are inflated bunkers on the field and it is a five vs. five, trying to get the flag in the middle to your opponents’ side of the
field,” Polito said. “We have four tournaments a year and Nationals is the fifth. We practice usually three times a month on average at different fields around the area.” Although the team does not have to qualify for the National Tournament, they attend every year and perform extremely well. “Last year we got eighth out of 53 teams from all over the country,” Polito said. “We will leave this Thursday late and drive through the night and get there midday on Friday.” The tournament is held in Kissimmee, Fla. Upon arrival, the team plans on watching some games and preparing for the competition on Saturday. “Saturday morning we start playing and have to have a certain record to make it into the finals on Sunday and hopefully make it
all the way through,” Polito said. “Then Sunday evening [we’ll] leave to drive all the way back and make it in Monday.” Although the team currently has nine active members, only six to seven players will actually be rostered. “All nine players will be going down for the tournament to help out in the pits to load paintballs, put air in guns, scout other teams, etc.,” Polito said. “We are going to put our best five guys out on the field every point to make sure we do as well as possible.” Despite the hardships that may come with a drive across the country and a car full of gear, the team is eager to give the competition its all. see PAINTBALL page 7
Submitted by Michael Day
The ISU Paintball Club has performed well recently and is hoping to do well in its upcoming tournament.
PAGE 12 | SPORTS | THE VIDETTE
THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016
Catching up with Coprich Q & A with the former Redbird as he prepares for the 2016 NFL Draft ZACK CARPENTER Sports Editor
Former Redbird running back Marshaun Coprich holds nearly every rushing record in school history. The All-American and two-time Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Player of the Year is considered in many circles to be a hidden gem in this year’s upcoming NFL Draft. The 5-foot-9, 205-lb., back is seen as an undersized talent comparable to Maurice Jones-Drew who could be drafted as early as the third round. I sat down and talked to the prospect just a couple of weeks before the Draft begins April 28.
Bret Farrell | Vidette Photographer
Marshaun Coprich is preparing to become the next Redbird alumnus to enter the professional ranks. The running back is currently evaluated as a mid-to-late-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Zack Carpenter: What have you been up to these days? Since it’s getting closer to the Draft and you have graduation to worry about, have the workouts gotten more relaxed and less intense? Marshaun Coprich: I’ve just been working out, studying and getting ready for the Draft. But I wouldn’t say less intense because you always want to push yourself, but it’s been more lightweight stuff instead of heavyweight.
MC: It’s actually treating me pretty good. We’re getting ready to find out where we’re heading to and it’s [going to] be a fun journey. ZC: Teams have gotten a feel for you at this point. During pre-draft interviews who have you been talking to and what kinds of questions have they been asking you? MC: I’ve talked to a lot of scouts and coaches and some GM’s. It’s just a waiting game at this point; that’s all it is right now. They basically just ask me about football knowledge. ZC: I want to address the issue everyone wants to talk about when your name comes up, and that’s your arrest last offseason. How have you responded to the questions about that off-field incident from GM’s, coaches and scouts? MC: I just tell them it was a bad situation, I get into detail with them, tell them what happened and we just continue on with our conversation. Lately, conversation [about the arrest] has just been media. Y’all ask me about it, but teams don’t really ask me about it because I already discussed it at the Combine.
ZC: How’s the married life treating you?
see COPRICH page 9
Ultimate competition Frisbee competition puts a spin on football, handball JASON KLAER Senior Staff
Both teams line up for the next play. Suddenly, five players scramble to get into position and wait for the disc to be launched. Whizzing, hovering and sailing past the participants, the Frisbee is soaring across the field hopefully into the hands of someone on the offensive side of the play. A pair of players leap to try and end the flight of the disc a bit early as the crowd gasps. Because club sports skim under the radar at Illinois State University, besides an occasional fair in each semester displaying opportunities for students to take advantage of, many have yet to research what is out there. Lady Gnomes is the name of the Illinois State women’s ultimate Frisbee team. Morgan Brauer, who is part of the organization, says those who show interest are never turned down and can easily join the squad. “Reaching out to us is one of the first steps you can take in order to be a player on the team,” Brauer said. “We love to share our passion of Frisbee and welcome anyone who wants to give us a try.” Founded in 2006, the Lady Gnomes have played its matches at Gregory Street Fields. “There is an ample amount of space to play our matches and the grass isn’t hard, so it’s Frisbeefriendly,” Brauer said. Currently, a team of 15 makes up the 2016 Lady Gnomes. “We have had a lower turn out than previous years,” Brauer said. “Recruiting can only go so far as we post different flyers around the campus to gain attention.” Ultimate Frisbee puts a spin on the classic toy as a mix of football and team handball with similar playing dimensions as the size of a football field. At one time, there are seven offensive and defensive players
Photo courtesy of Morgan Brauer
The Lady Gnomes, Illinois State’s Ultimate Frisbee team, has tallied a 10-6 record during the spring season. participating. In ISU’s case, there is a sufficient bench to help keep a rotation going. “Handlers are like the quarterbacks and cutters are like receivers,” Brauer said. “There are three handlers and their job is to throw the disc to the cutters. The four cutters work together and try and get open for the disc.” Divided into two seasons, the team plays in the fall and spring. In the fall, practices and tournaments take up a majority of the squad’s time. Both the men’s and women’s teams participate in a unique experience in autumn. “For Stanley Cup, we join the boy’s team and make three co-ed teams. This tournament proves to be a great
start for the season,” Brauer said. “It gets everyone pumped for the year to come.” In the spring, practices lead up to more competitive tournaments for the Lady Gnomes. This season, the Lady Gnomes have compiled a 10-6 record and are looking forward to Conference this weekend in Rantoul, Ill. Hosted by the University of Illinois, 10 teams will make up the tournament field. Northwestern and U of I’s A Teams are the favorites, while teams qualifying for the semi-finals will advance to the regional tournament. “Illinois and Northwestern are heavy favorites for this tournament. We are basically playing for third and fourth,” Brauer said. “We have a
chance to move on to Indiana to play in regionals if we play well enough.” Decked out in purple tank tops, the team will travel southwest to showcase its talent. DePaul, LoyolaChicago and Eastern Illinois are just some of the teams set to make the trip to Conference. “Loyola is our biggest competition and we want to have a solid match,” Brauer said. “It is just a matter of being fundamentally sound in order to pull out a victory.” All matches will begin Saturday with pool play. ISU is set to take on DePaul in the first match of the tourney. Player to Watch: Rookie Katie O’Connell is a solid handler and has proved to be a great asset to the team.
MY VIEW RYAN KELLY Sports Reporter
Bad News ’Birds
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he Illinois State baseball team owns an overall record of 8-23, is currently on a five-game losing streak and has lost 15 of 16 games since returning from a spring break trip to Florida. The trip went well with a threegame winning streak. That winning streak was then followed by ten straight losses for the Redbirds. So what are the problems? For starters, Louisville Slugger Third-Team All-American starting pitcher Jacob Hendren has struggled to a 1-7 record and a 7.99 earned run average. The senior southpaw has given up 62 hits in just 41.2 innings pitched. Opponents are hitting a whopping .350 off of Hendren. Although he has struck out 32 batters, good enough for second on the team behind David Meade, he has walked a team-high 16. Hendren was bumped back in the rotation a couple weeks ago, for the likes of Meade and fellow senior Steve Heilenbach. Last season, Hendren was the ace of the Redbirds’ pitching staff, leading the club in innings pitched (106.0), strikeouts (99), and ERA (2.80). Opponents hit just .232 off of Hendren in 2015. Second baseman Joe Kelch, another senior, is batting .270 on the year, which is second on the team. Last season the Redbirds, who finished 27-27 and 9-12 in the Missouri Valley Conference, had seven players finish with a batting average above .270. Kelch led the team last season with a .338 average, and tied for the team-high in runs this year. Simply put, the team is just not producing enough hits or runs necessary to win. The Redbirds have been held to one run or shutout in nine out of 31 games. The only bright spot on offense for the ’Birds has been the emergence of freshman shortstop Owen Miller. Miller leads the team in most offensive categories, including average (.301), hits (40), doubles (13), home runs (4) and RBI (26), but has also racked up a team-high 33 strikeouts. Illinois State has given up 34 unearned runs, which is just over one per game. Giving away runs and not getting out of innings has been a major problem for the team of late. For this year’s senior class, one that began with a 39-19 overall record, and regular season conference championship their freshman season, and a 33 win total their sophomore season, a full 180 turn has occurred. A new head coach, and decreasing win totals every year they have been on campus, must be a tough pill to swallow. In head coach Bo Durkac’s second year at the helm, after a 27-27 finish last year, the Redbirds were picked to finish sixth out of eight on the Missouri Valley. The ’Birds currently sit at 0-2 on the young conference season — the only winless team in the Valley. ISU will look to change that this weekend, as they head to Terre Haute, Ind., for a three game-set against Indiana State (2-1 MVC).