7.11.2019 by Vidette Online

summer edition NEWS 3

VIEWPOINT 4

ISU RUNNER RACHEL HICKEY TO COMPETE IN PAN AMERICAN U20 CHAMPIONSHIPS

USA WINS WORLD CUP, WOMEN STILL LOSE RECOGNITION VIEWPOINT 4

BARLAS: IT’S THE BEGINNING OF THE END... OF COLLEGE

NEWS 2

ISU PD WELCOMES NEW ‘PAW’FFICER ON CAMPUS

THE VIDETTE

THURSDAY, JULY 11, 2019

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Vol. 131 / No. 03

“When participants started showing up, it really hit me that they are here because of me. They are here because they want to bring hope and awareness to this.” Emily Yacko, ISU senior physical education major

SUBMITTED PHOTO

ISU senior Emily Yacko poses at the finish line in her Run Today for Tomorrow suicide awareness 5K walk/run in Ottawa.

‘We need to talk about it’ ISU senior Emily Yacko honors late-cousin Molly, hosts suicide awareness 5K ANDREA RICKER Features Editor | @ricker_andrea

ne year after her best friend and cousin’s passing, Illinois State senior physical education major Emily Yacko organized the Run Today for Tomorrow 5K in Ottawa. The 5K was not only to honor Molly Yacko but to spread awareness about mental health. The goal was to send the message “It’s okay to not be okay,” and break down the stigma around mental health. “The one-year anniversary of her passing was the day of the race,” Yacko said. “She absolutely loved running and she was really good at it. I figured a 5K would be a great way to honor her and help raise money for the cause.” The race was held June 29. The title of the race, Run Today for Tomorrow, is to show that “tomorrow has so much potential for great things to happen. Tomorrow needs you here to see it,” Yacko said. “There’s a day next week that needs you here to see it and there’s going to be a day down the road that needs you here to see it.” Before the event, Yacko’s main goal was to raise $5,000, and expected 75 to 100 participants. The morning of the race, over 350 people were registered. Even more people attended the event to volunteer and show their support for the cause. Not including costs for the event itself and t-shirts, the 5K raised around $20,000 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. The run was an emotional, busy and impactful day for Yacko. “When participants started showing up, it really hit me that they are here because of me.”

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Yacko speaks shortly during the race June 29

Yacko said. “They are here because they want to bring hope and awareness to this.” Over winter break, Yacko had the idea to create the 5K to honor her cousin and to bring hope and awareness to her community. With the support from others, she planned and organized the event. “[I wanted] to use [Molly’s] story to share and make a difference because she deserves it and it’s what she would want,” Yacko said. “[I was] just hoping that Molly would be proud of me for everything that I’ve done, it was all for her.” Among the large number of participants for the race were a variety of first responders who ran in full uniform to spread awareness of how much suicide affects first responders. Yacko adds she was grateful they ran, and that they are helping break down the stigma around mental health. The event also had a booth set up for mental health resources and a raffle for a free counseling service. Yacko and her friends made multiple inspirational posters to hang at the race. Aside from

posters, they also made a variety of beaded bracelets. Each color of bracelet had a different meaning as to why participants showed up to the event. Some of the colors represented a support for the cause, the loss of a loved one and for personal struggles. In her speech before the race, Yacko asked participants to raise their hand if they were wearing a certain color. “It was a good way to help put in perspective that you’re not alone in what you’re going through,” Yacko said. Yacko plans to make the race an annual event, and for it to always be held on the last weekend in June. “The ability to [organize this event] while being a full-time student and having a job is just really impressive,” Yacko’s friend and former boss Drew Ison said. “Seeing a student being able to build this from the ground up and having it be successful was so impressive. I just hadn’t seen anything like it before,” Ison said. After college, Yacko plans to be a physical education teacher in an elementary school. Her goal is to incorporate mental health into her teachings as well. “I don’t want anyone else to feel like their life is not worth living,” Yacko said. “If you choose not to talk about mental health, it’s just going to cause people to feel more isolated and feel like they shouldn’t get help. We need to talk about it.” ANDREA RICKER is Features Editor for The Vidette. She can be contacted at arricke@ilstu. edu. Follow her on Twitter at @ricker_andrea.

2019 Percy Family Hall of Fame inductees set JONATHAN BARLAS Editor-in-Chief

Four more Illinois State athletes will be immortalized into the Percy Family Hall of Fame Oct. 26, as 2007 Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year Osiris Eldridge headlines the batch of new inductees. Eldridge played at Illinois State from 2007-10, ending his career as the fifth-highest scorer on ISU basketball’s all-time scoring list while accumulating a total of three AllMVC First-Team selections. As a sophomore, he was runnerup in the 2008 MVC MVP honors, leading the Redbirds to their most wins in school history (25). Eldridge also won the 2009 MVC Tournament MVP thanks to his performance in ISU’s overtime championship win over Northern Iowa. After his time at Illinois State, Eldridge played professionally overseas for a handful of teams in Turkey, Germany and France with a short stint on the Phoenix Suns G-League affiliate to the Northern Arizona Suns. Eldridge currently plays for Büy ükçekmece Basketbol in the Turkish Basketball Super League in Büyükçekmece, Istanbul, Turkey. Osiris Eldridge The three other HOF’ers include Canadian Football League great Kevin Glenn (1997-2000) who led Illinois State to its first ever playoff appearance in 1998, completing his collegiate career with 25 school records. Glenn accumulated a total of 8,032 career-passing yards, 8,522 yards of total offense and 61 touchdown passes along with a first-team all-Gateway Conference selection in 1999. He retired from the CFL after 18 seasons, June 12. Cathy (Olson) George (class of 1985) is currently Michigan State volleyball’s head coach. She led the Redbirds to Gateway Conference Tournament championships and NCAA Tournament berths from 1982-1984. George had career totals of 1,575 kills, 528 digs and 230 aces. Former ISU golf star Katie Jean will be inducted into the Percy Family Hall of Fame Oct. 26. Katie Jean (class of 2013) was the 2013 MVC Women’s Golfer of the Year and medalist in both 2012-13’s MVC Tournaments.

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Two-year-old black labrador Sage will join students and police officers on campus this fall.

ISU PD prepares for newest furry recruit MAIA HUDDLESTON News Reporter | @maiawrites

of a people-pleaser to continue training as a traditional service dog. “She really, really feeds off of attention in a way that she seeks atch out, Reggie. There’s attention from more than one a new top dog in town. person. Sage is a social butterfly,” The Illinois State Uni- Dietz said. “She really feeds off of versity Police Department recently making people happy. We started met their $4,000 fundraising watching her blossom into a dog goal to cover expenses for new who was exceptional at that.” community engagement dog and After ISU PD reached out to SIT two-year-old black labrador Sage to Service Dogs, Dietz began searchmeet students on campus this fall. ing for the right Though she dog to meet the will be handled “She really, really feeds police departby officers, Sage is off of attention in a way ment’s needs. not a drug-sniffCommunit y ing, investigative that she seeks attention engagement dogs or attack dog. from more than one must respond Instead, ISU PD calmly yet lovingly hopes that Sage person. Sage is a social to varying groups will make students of people. They butterfly.” feel more comfortLex Dietz must have the abilable approaching Director of SIT Service Dogs Program ity to assess the officers on campus comfort and energy and filing police levels of each person they meet. reports at the office. Sage’s desire to be affectionate Sage completed 1,250 hours of toward all those who approach her training with Supporting Indepen- and uncanny ability to adapt to the dence through Teamwork (SIT) personalities of each visitor put her Service Dogs in southern Illinois at the top of the list. and often met up to 1,200 students “We had already known Sage was a day while training at Southern going to be really good at the therapy Illinois University. end of it, and as such, she had not SIT Service Dogs Program Direc- been matched as a service dog,” Dietz tor Lex Dietz first noticed Sage’s said. “It was kind of a perfect confluemotional aptitude at a therapy ence of events. We’re really excited. dog event on SIU’s campus. Because We’ve placed a few facility dogs, but service dogs are required to focus we’ve never placed one in a police their attention on one handler, department. They seem like a really Dietz knew that Sage was too much good match.”

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Besides investing hundreds of This results in selling far more thousands of dollars to endure four passes than parking spots are even years of higher education, one of the available. Lines of cars begin to form hardest things to do at Illinois State and it becomes a fight to the death to University is finding parking. find a parking spot that usually ends Each summer as the incoming in a sweaty, frantic sprint across the freshman class blows through town quad to make it to class on time. If for Preview, they are always paid you don’t get to campus at least 30 a visit by the police department to minutes before class starts, you will have a Q&A seslikely end up sion. One of the PERMIT TYPES having to park biggest things on the oppoFaculty/ Staff Surface - $116 they advocate site side of to students is to Student Storage Lots S103, S93 - $197 campus and not bring their Student Storage Lot S81 - $307 walk even farcar to school. Student Storage Blue Zone - $315 ther or even This adv ice Student Commuter - $94 pay the visitor could be con- Reserved Space - $453 parking fee of sidered wise. $1/hour. That All Garage Red Reserved Zone - $399 As the July Park and Ride - $30 doesn’t sound 15 pa rk ing Motorcycle/Moped Parking - $47 terrible until pass sale date ISU Apartment - $307 you end up approaches it paying for is important to more parking consider whether this is another than actually using the pass that was cost that students want to take on. supposed to save you from that. For student commuters, faculty Parking enforcement is also very and staff, choosing not to purchase strict on campus because of the lima pass may not be an option, but ited spaces, so always be sure to read for students who live on or around signs thoroughly because tickets are campus heed this warning – there is far from a rarity at ISU. Purchase at no maximum number of passes that your own risk. can be sold.

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THURSDAY, JULY 11, 2019

THE VIDETTE | NEWS | PAGE 3

From ISU to USA

Photo Courtesy of ISU Athletics

ISU sophomore track and field runner Rachel Hickey ran 4:30.93 in the 1,500-meter at the USA Track and Field U20 Outdoor Championships which earned her a spot on Team USA by qualifying for the Pan American U20 Championship in Costa Rica.

ISU sophomore runner earns spot on Team USA despite adversity, injury ANDIE BERNHARDT News Reporter | @ndieb13

llinois State University track and field runner Rachel Hickey earned herself a spot on Team USA by qualifying for the Pan American U20 Championships. Running a time of four and a half minutes at the USA Track and Field U20 Outdoor Championships in the 1,500-meter secured her spot on Team USA. “It still doesn’t feel real, it’s a dream come true,” Hickey said. This was Hickey’s first time competing in a national caliber competition, however that wasn’t the only first for her that weekend. This was also her first time running the 1500-meter in competition, which is 100 meters shorter than the mile. “It was mentally difficult to shove it in the back of my mind, but I went in to run hard and have fun and take whatever came out of it,” Hickey said. Hickey is a sophomore from Peru, Illinois. She is a double major in journalism and marketing and has been running track since the age of 11. “You can’t let the size of where you’re from limit what you are capable of doing,” Hickey said. Despite her success, it hasn’t been an easy journey for

Hickey as she faced the injuries and pressures that come along with being a division one athlete. “Sometimes it’s a lot harder than it seems,” Hickey said. Hickey was injured during her recent collegiate indoor season and ended up having to sit out and redshirt her indoor season. “Redshirting” allows an athlete to sit out a year and gain an extra year of playing collegiate sports. In Hickey’s case she will gain an extra outdoor season. “The injury was almost a blessing in disguise,” Hickey said. “I was emotionally and physically exhausted at the end of our indoor season.” Hickey went on to address the struggle of dealing with the body image pressures that many female athletes face. “There is no ideal body stature for running and there shouldn’t be,” Hickey said. “Normalizing weight gaining in running should be a thing, it becomes unhealthy when people think they need to become skinnier to become faster, when that’s really not the case.” Collegiate athletes are under a constant watch to continuously look and perform their best. Female athletes face public scrutiny and can be depicted as “too muscular”, “too skinny” or “not feminine looking” enough. Each sport is considered to have its own ‘ideal’ body type that comes with its own set of expectations.

Hickey went on to voice her thoughts on body standards in athletics. “At the end of the day you can’t control what your body looks like and it shouldn’t be about your body type, it should be what you are capable of doing,” she said. “If you ever hear those comments. counteract that with ‘judge my ability, not what my body looks like.’” Hickey trains up to 25 hours a week, running about 50 miles per week. “I don’t do this because I want to beat people or because I want to win,” Hickey said. “I want to love what I’m doing and be the best version of myself.” Hickey will continue her training at ISU with her coaches, but once she arrives in Costa Rica to compete for Team USA at the Pan American U20 Championships, she will be under the direct guidance of Team USA’s track and field coaches. The upcoming championship will take place on July 19 and will go through to July 21. ANDIE BERNHARDT is a News Reporter for The Vidette. She can be contacted at anbernh@ilstu.edu Follow her on Twitter at @ndieb13.

Farmers Market cultivates community, supports local businesses GRACE BARBIC News Editor | @gracebarbic

community grow,” Dunlap said. Dunlap takes pride in the community that the market creates. Her favorite part about being involved in the here is a great debate on social media about market is the people. From the local farmers and artiwhich grocery store has the freshest produce. sans to the regular customers, the market provides an With all of the pesticides, chemicals and GMOs opportunity to forge relationships with the people who these days it is sometimes difficult to determine a grow, create and make the products sold at the market. winner. The market also features cooking demos where the Parts of Bloomington-Normal are even considered farmers interact with the customers by teaching them food deserts, which means there are areas of the towns how to prepare certain vegetables or sharing recipes of where residents are facing difficulties when it comes to their own. Dunlap added that the farmers are also very buying affordable or good-quality fresh food. responsive to explore new options of produce and prodBut, every Saturday the Downtown Bloomington ucts suggested by customers. Association hosts a Farmers Market that allows the Aside from the typical produce, Dunlap also mencommunity to connect with local farmers and artisans tioned that they feature two Hispanic bakers and a while shopping for what is arguably the freshest produce Greek baker to add “variety and flare” to the options. in the area and it’s grown right here in Bloomington. The market is always looking for volunteers. Dunlap The market is a producer-only market that offers encourages anyone who is interested in getting involved a wide array of farm products like vegetables, fruits, to contact her at cdunlap@cityblm.org. Those interested cheeses, pork, beef, free-range poultry and eggs, flowVidette Archive can also follow the market on all social media to keep up ers, plants and herbs among a number of other products. The Downtown Bloomington Association’s Farmers Market is held at the Muwith new produce and products or the next live enterThe market has been under professional management seum Square every Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to noon with a variety of produce. tainment at Downtown Bloomington via Facebook, since 1997 and is celebrating its 22nd anniversary this Twitter and Instagram. customers at each market. year. The market runs outdoors from 7:30 a.m. to noon Catherine Dunlap has been the Farmers Market Manager every Saturday until the end of October and even continues The Museum Square in downtown Bloomington has been the market’s home since 2001 which includes nearly 35 ven- and Coordinator for the past 5 seasons. Growing up on a farm throughout the colder season with an indoor market. dors per week. They even feature local entertainment to add herself, Dunlap has always had a love for helping farmers. “When you buy locally it provides an opportunity for the to the ambiance and again, support local business. The market GRACE BARBIC is the News Editor for The Vidette. She is in the midst of its peak season and averages nearly 5,000 money to circle back through the economy which can help the can be contacted at mgbarbi@ilstu.edu.

Viewpoint

PAGE 4 | THE VIDETTE

VIDETTE EDITORIAL

THURSDAY, JULY 11, 2019

Women’s World Cup: winners or losers? This past week, the U.S. women’s soccer team added another World Cup to their growing collection. No other team has won multiple World cups except for Germany, who won twice. The U.S. women’s soccer team has won four times. For this team, winning is nothing new. When you look up their recent record, you’re greeted with a sea of green, with the occasional yellow indicating a tied game. The last time they lost was in January in a friendly game against France. This team is nothing short of phenomenal, and has captured our hearts and attention as we’ve watched them struggle and succeed in record-breaking glory. At least, we have for the past couple days. How many current fans followed the team their entire season? How many know the names of the players besides Megan Rapinoe? Many people were likely unaware of the U.S. women’s team before their victory. Surely one could have guessed the team’s exis-

tence, much in the same way one assumes we have a figure skating team in the Winter Olympics. Granted, soccer is not a popular sport in the United States. A 2017 Gallup poll showed that football and basketball dominate American sports, with a majority of those surveyed saying they watched one or the other. This comes as no surprise, the Superbowl is one of the most-watched events on television. However, the popular National Football League and National Basketball Association do not have women’s

teams. Sure, there is the Women’s National Basketball Association, but only hardcore fans know much about it. Women’s sporting events are often unbroadcasted or placed on secondary sport network channels, such as ESPN2. The discrepancy in popularity among women’s sports is astounding and perhaps, calculated. This difference in popularity leads to a difference in pay, meaning that teams that may perform better than others might be paid less. This fact was evident at the 2019

FIFA World Cup championship game. After the game was won, a chant of “equal pay” erupted throughout the stadium. The inequality between male and female sports permeates beyond national teams and even into local sports. For instance, in 2017 head basketball coach Dan Muller was the highest paid employee at ISU, earning $504,116. The second highest paid employee was university President Larry Dietz who earned over $100,000 less in that same time period ($383,121). Head women’s basketball coach Kristin Gillespie was the 150th highest paid employee, making less than half of Muller’s salary in that same amount of time ($129,803). It’s time women and men start earning equal pay for equal work, and that starts small. Athletic pay is often determined by team popularity and how much sponsorship money is brought into the university. Sports fans should give the women’s teams a try, if the U.S. women’s soccer team is any example, it will be equally as electrifying and inspiring.

Editorial Cartoon by Flynn Geraghty | Vidette Art Director

EDITORIAL POLICY Editorial written by ELIZABETH SEILS, 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.

Five more weeks until the beginning of the end MY VIEW JON BARLAS | Editor in Chief In the middle of my final summer as a student, I can’t help but think that my time at Illinois State nears the beginning of the end. Granted, I’m trying to put things in perspective: my last year stepping into The Vidette every day, my last Pub Wednesday, my last hoorah living with my roommates for the last four years, etc. Of these things and many more that I will miss about ISU, I tend to reflect before things conclude – with anything really. Senior year is a biggie. With one foot out the door as the other hangs on for

dear life, it’s scary to think about – the real world that is. It’s like this momentum that’s been built up over the course of your entire life, ultimately culminating with this sense of “oh my god, I have to have my life figured out sooner rather than later.” College feels like that for all of us, I assume. It’s a constant reminder that this won’t last, so cherish it while you have it. Entering my senior year, I’m more than excited to continue and cherish my remaining days as a ISU student, but also am accepting the harsh reality of its finality. Regardless, expectations are better received on the cusp of ambition. That is the reason we come to college in the first place, right? Ambition defies the odds, as it consistently asks, “who do you want to be when it’s all said and done?” I recently talked with former Editorin-Chief Becky Fletcher about expectations, and within our conversation, I found myself just wanting to work,

VIDETTE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY The Vidette welcomes letters to the editor, provided they are no longer than 250 words and are typed and double-spaced. Letters that exceed the 250-word limit can be published at the editor’s discretion,but shorter letters take precedence. Letters containing name calling and insults will not be published. Letters must be signed and contain the major or official title of the writer, the year in school if presently enrolled, address and a daytime telephone number for verification. Letters without phone numbers will not be considered for publication. Names may be withheld upon request, but only after approval by the editor. Letters are subject to editing for style and space at the editor’s discretion. Letters sent via e-mail to: vidette@ilstu.edu are accepted, provided they include a telephone number for verification.

ready to join society as an official contributing member ... finally. Work has taught me that I’m more than ready to accept that change as it comes quicker than most things in life. “These four years fly by,” I’ve heard people say repeatedly. I can honestly say they really have, faster than I thought they would. You always wish you could make time slow down or find some sort of way to freeze it. But the only true way to do so is live in the moment you are in. It’s not about who’s texting you, not about how many people like your tweets or filming some video at a concert with your friends. I feel like people get caught up in capturing the moment rather than fully enjoying it – senseless to their surroundings, focusing on remembering it through a screen. However, that’s just the world we live in now. I try to avoid that, staying off my cell phone when I’m not at work, focusing on what’s in front of me

instead of what’s in my hands. You make a lot of memories in four years, meet plenty of new people and change so drastically that you don’t seem to realize it until you truly look back and reflect. Change is always a good thing in my mind, fear of doing or trying something new is always a good thing. If you weren’t scared, it wouldn’t be worth doing in the first place. Fear of moving on is what it’s supposed to feel like, I tell myself. For all those who know me, and to seniors who are looking forward to their last year at Illinois State, my advice is try to live in the moment. Try to soak up everything this place has to offer before we’re all just names under a year in the Alumni Center. Leave your mark in some sort of way. Sometimes the smallest of impacts mean the most in seemingly irrelevant situations. To the seniors, what’s going to be the thing that defines us as a class? We have five weeks to think about it.

THEY SAID IT

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

At the end of the day you can’t control what your body looks like and it shouldn’t be about your body type, it should be what you are capable of doing. If you ever hear those comments, counteract that with ‘judge my ability, not what my body looks like.’”

Would someone of national stature (preferably one of the Democratic Party candidates for President in 2020) please tell the people of our country how full of baloney that the conservative, right-wing news media is? The part that I find to be the most pathetic and laughable is how they play all of us and try to pretend that their “think-tanks” produce “objective”, “unbiased” and “scientific” research when most of them really are phony and fake propoganda factories/mills funded by corporate billionaires and deca-millionaires who want to abolish all of the social safety-net programs like Social Security and Medicare.

“

Rachel Hickey, ISU sophomore track and field runner

Stew B. Epstein, Rochester, New York

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EDITORIAL BOARD JONATHAN BARLAS Editor-in-Chief @janveselybarlas GRACE BARBIC News Editor | @gracebarbic ANDREW DOUGHERTY Columnist | @addough ELIZABETH SEILS News Editor | @SeilsElizabeth

THE VIDETTE | NEWS | PAGE 5

THURSDAY, JULY 11, 2019

’Bird on the Street: What are incoming freshman Redbirds looking forward to? Compiled by ALI RASPER | Photo Editor and ELIZABETH SEILS | News Editor

“I am ready for the independence!” Alicia Joey / Incoming Freshman

“I’m looking forward to meeting new people.” Emily Stewart / Incoming Freshman

“I’m looking forward to athletics.” Brian Brown / Incoming Freshman

“Just getting away from home and being more independent.” Kyle Heisser / Incoming Freshman

BCPA lawn concert hits a country high note Award-winning country singer, American Idol finalist to perform alongside local artists MAIA HUDDLESTON News Reporter | @maiawrites

The Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts will host a summer lawn concert Saturday in Lincoln Park featuring popular and local musicians. The concert will be at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts 600 N. East Street. Doors open at 6 p.m. shortly before the local opening act begins at 6:30 p.m. “The Lawn Concert is a great opportunity to hear some of the brightest artists emerging on the Country and Country Blues scene today, while sampling local food favorites in a fun, informal, outdoor setting,” BCPA Assistant Performing Arts Manager Ann-Marie Dittmann said. Award-winning country musician, songwriter and performer Karen Waldrup is scheduled to begin playing at 8 p.m. Waldrup’s music videos have over 250 million views, and her recent album “Justified” helped her win four Nashville Industry Music Awards (NIMA). The NIMA honors local Nashville musicians chosen by a public vote. This year, Waldrup also received the Keith Whitley Fingerprint on Country Music Torch Award. After Waldrup’s set, American Idol season nine finalist and country-blues musician Casey James will perform at 9:30

p.m. For a general admission fee of $15, James became an established audience members will enjoy a musical country musician after his run on performance along with the opportunity to American Idol with his single “Crybuy from on-site food vendors including ing on a Suitcase.” His most recent A-Z Catering, Epiphany Farms and Healthy album “Strip it Down” claims to in a Hurry. Festivities are expected to end combine his original electrified counaround 11 p.m. try style with new, more authentic Waldrup will also offer a VIP experience sounds. According to his website, prior to the show, which can be arranged by ARTIST HIGH:LIGHT James recently expressed his desire visiting her website. Both artists will sell merto stray from industry standards by chandise and meet with fans after the show. WHO: Stone and Snow incorporating elements of raw blues The BCPA aims to foster and maintain GENRE: Alternative Folk into his new music. an artistic environment throughout the MEMBERS: Karen Bridges singing and playing There will also be a performance by Bloomington-Normal area. They offer a acoustic guitar, piano, organ and percussion. local alternative folk group Stone and wide range of programming in order to apClint Thomson singing and playing acoustic and Snow. The band has been featured peal to community members of all interests electric guitar, harmonica, mandolin, banjo and on WGLT’s Sound Ideas podcast, and and abilities. lap steel won the John Lennon Songwriting The upcoming lawn concert is an example contest in 2018 for their song, “Love of BCPA’s commitment to growing musical is a Weapon.” appreciation and creative expression within the community. “We don’t often have an option of doing that with our presented shows due to contractual stipulations, but we love MAIA HUDDLESTON is a News Reporter for The Vidette. She to do so when we are able,” Dittmann said in regards to local can be reached at mkhuddl@ilstu.edu. Follow her on Twitter artists. at @maiawrites.

Features

PAGE 6 | THE VIDETTE

THURSDAY, JULY 11, 2019

Easterseals is celebrating its 100th anniversary and 10th annual Walk With Me event at 9 a.m. Saturday. Photo courtesy of easterseals.com

Easterseals to host 10th annual Walk With Me event Walk celebrates Easterseals champions, organization’s 100th anniversary ANDREA RICKER Features Editor

To celebrate its champions, Easterseals is hosting their Walk With Me event, a day all about the children. Easterseals provides services to children with developmental delays and disabilities to help them achieve their full potential. Its champions are children that are receiving services at Easterseals Central Illinois. The walk is 9 a.m. Saturday at Hancock Stadium. Registration will open at 8:30 a.m. and is $25 for anyone over the age of 13 and free for children 12 and younger. With registering, participants will also receive a t-shirt while supplies last. Those interested in registering ahead of time can visit www.walkwithme.org/Bloomington. “The event celebrates progress that [the champions have] made and the milestones they have achieved throughout the last year,” Vice President of Development Cathy Oloffson said.

The opening ceremony will celebrate each of the 15 champions and their teams. The teams will then go out and circle the football field. Teams will stay on the field to cheer on the other teams. Following the walk, participants can enjoy some family fun at the Hancock Stadium Concourse. There will be bounce houses, games and food provided from Avanti’s. “[Walk With Me] is a very inclusive environment,” Oloffson said. “The event is all about the champions and all of the people who are there are celebrating them and the progress they have made.” Easterseals also has a long-standing partnership with Illinois State University athletics. Student athletes volunteer for the event and are paired with the kids. This gives the champions an opportunity to walk around the football field and hang out with these athletes. “[This walk] is almost like a dream come true for some of our kids, especially those who have a physical disability to be

able to walk the field and be accompanied by an ISU student athlete,” Oloffson said. “For those who are living with autism, to come socialize with a large group of people is a great accomplishment as well.” Easterseals is also celebrating its 100th anniversary. The group works with families and sets goals for each child to help them make progress and reach milestones. “For the family and the children participating, the event gives them a celebration and helps them realize that sense of accomplishment for all of their hard work that has gone on,” Oloffson said. “It really provides a way for our Easterseals champions and their families to celebrate the hard work they have put in over the past year.” ANDREA RICKER is Features Editor The Vidette. She can be contacted at arricke@ilstu.edu. Follow her on Twitter at @ ricker_andrea.

Kids spend summer helping others ANDREA RICKER Features Editor

Photo courtesy of midwestarenaesports.org

Call of Duty players from all across the Midwest will compete this weekend at PlayNormal Esports.

B-N to host $5000 esports tourney ANDREA RICKER Features Editor

One of the largest amateur Call of Duty esports tournaments will be in BloomingtonNormal this weekend. Twenty-four teams with five players each from across the Midwest will compete for the $5000 prize. The event is presented by Midwest Arena Esports, an amateur esports organization based in Missouri. The event will be held at PlayNormal Esports from 9 a.m. to midnight both Saturday and Sunday. Spectators can purchase their passes the day of the event for $10. Competitors are from all across the Midwest, including Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan, Oklahoma and Tennessee. “Video games and the esports industry has evolved into more than just people smashing buttons behind a television screen,” Mid-

west Arena Esports cofounder Austin Shaeg stated. “Games like Call of Duty are turning passionate players right here in the Midwest into competitors on a national stage in front of hundreds if not millions of fans. With Midwest Arena Esports we’re looking to help local amateur players compete and make a name for themselves on their journey to the big leagues.” PlayNormal Esports was founded in 2018 to cater to the growing audience of esports. The building is attached to Normal Gadgets and hosts multiple events and tournaments. They also offer daily drop-in play and host birthday parties. Midwest Arena Esports was also founded in 2018. The organization has hosted over 50 online tournaments and 5 tournament events in Missouri. Midwest Arena Esports is branching out to other states besides Missouri to share esports to fans both new and old.

The Gingerbread House toy store is helping kids stay busy in the summer months while learning valuable lessons. The Summer of Kindness initiative started last summer as a way to give kids in the area something fun and unique to do over summer vacation. Kids can come into the store and pick up a kindness sheet that has goals for them to accomplish over the week. Photo courtesy of The Gingerbread House’s Facebook page From 10 a.m. to noon every Kids in the Summer of Kindness work to spread happiness Saturday, a local nonprofit organi- to others. zation comes to The Gingerbread something kind. After the Saturday activHouse to do activities with kids. The activities ity, the kids drop a piece into a Plinko board help benefit other people in the community. which gives them an additional challenge for “Anything in the world you can be you can the week. This challenge can be to help make always be kind,” Event Coordinator Marisa dinner or to make a new friend. Larkin said. “I feel like the younger you start “It’s constantly challenging them to do that you’ll get into the habit and you can something kind for someone else,” Larkin grow from there.” said. The initiative began June 1 and will last To end the summer, the store will host a until Aug. 10. It allows kids to keep busy durparty to celebrate the initiative on Aug. 10. ing the summer while also giving back to the The kids will also turn in reflections to show community and helping others. The initiative what they liked and gained from the initiais open to children of all ages, however the tive. majority are four to eight years old. “A lot of the time it’s ‘Doing nice things for Some of the previous Saturday activities other people made me feel good too,’” Larkin in the initiative include painting plants for a said. “I think the initiative is something that local nursery, designing quilt squares for the takes up time but is also super meaningful for Child Protection Network and more. everyone involved. Hopefully it’s something “The goal is for them to get in the habit of that will stick with them.” doing kind things,” Larkin said. Throughout the week, kids fill in a bubble on the kindness sheet every time they do

THE VIDETTE | SPORTS | PAGE 7

THURSDAY, JULY 11, 2019

’Birds in the spotlight Former ISU stars DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell, Paris Lee and MiKyle McIntosh join NBA Summer League BLAINE LEWALLEN Sports Editor | @blainelew3

Three familiar faces to Illinois State University basketball fans will be seen in NBA uniforms this summer. Former ISU stars DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell, Paris Lee and MiKyle McIntosh will be featured in the NBA summer League in Las Vegas. Akoon-Purcell will see action with the Indiana Pacers, while Lee will play for the Memphis Grizzlies. Akoon-Purcell, who has spent most of his professional career playing overseas, joins the Pacers’ roster after spending part of last season with the Denver Nuggets. As a member of the Nuggets’ summer league roster in 2018, Akoon-Purcell averaged 12.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game. Following the summer, Akoon-Purcell was signed by the Nuggets to a two-way contract. He played in just seven NBA games before being waived by the Nuggets this past December. Now, Akoon-Purcell plays for ESSM Le Portal of the French LNB Pro A. The 6 foot 6 forward was the Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Year in 2015 as a junior with ISU after transferring from Eastern Oklahoma State College. As a senior, he averaged 14.1 points per game and was named an MVC All-Conference Second Team selection. He later went undrafted in 2016. Lee has spent the last two seasons with the Antwerp Giants of the Belgian League. There, Lee has flourished, averaging 12.5 points, 5.0 assists and 2.5 rebounds per game this past season in leading the Giants to a third place finish in the league. His performance during the season earned him the league’s most valuable player award. During his ISU days, Lee was the spark that ignited the Redbirds to 28 wins his senior year. That season, Lee was named the MVC Defensive Player of the Year after averaging 13.0 points, 5.0 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game. He was also named an Associated Press All-American Honorable Mention. During his career, Lee was selected to the MVC All-Defensive team in three of his four seasons with ISU. McIntosh, a native of Pickering, Ontario, redshirted his freshman season at ISU before averaging 10.9 points and 4.8 rebounds per game as a sophomore.

As a junior in 2017, he finished averaging 12.5 points and 5.6 rebounds as a main contributor to a team who won a program record 28 games. Following the 2016-17 season, McIntosh decided to forgo his last season at ISU and transferred to Oregon as a graduate transfer. There, he finished averaging 11.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per game with the Ducks. After going undrafted in the 2018 NBA Draft, McIntosh played in the summer league for the Portland Trail Blazers. He then signed a contract with Anyang KGC of the Korean Basketball League before moving on to play in the NBA G-League with the Raptors 905, the affiliate of the NBA champion Toronto Raptors. There, McIntosh averaged 10.8 points and 5.3 rebounds in 25 games played (13 starts). Currently, McIntosh is a member of the Hamilton Honey Badgers, a member of the newly founded Canadian Basketball League. Thus far, Lee has led the Grizzlies to a 3-0 record, while the Pacers currently sit at 0-3. On July 6, the Grizzlies and Pacers faced off with the Grizzlies taking home a 101-75 win. Akoon-Purcell finished with 15 points and four rebounds, while McIntosh had two points and four rebounds. Lee did not play in the contest. In three games with the Pacers, Akoon-Purcell has averaged 14.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game. His scoring average is good for third on the team. McIntosh has averaged 7.0 points and 4.7 rebounds per game in three games with the Pacers as well. Lee has yet to play in a game with the Grizzlies in Las Vegas, but averaged 10.7 points, 7.0 assists and 2.0 steals in two games played in the Salt Lake City Summer League. Courtesy Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images The Las Vegas Summer League con- Former Illinois State point guard Paris Lee dribbles the ball down the court as a member of tinues through July 15. Teams will play the Memphis Grizzlies during the NBA Summer League in Salt Lake City, Utah. “regular season” games until July 12 before being reseeded for a single-elimination playoff ISU career ISU career bracket. The top eight teams in regular season averages: averages: play will advance to the playoffs. Last season, the Portland Trail Blazers • 60 gp • 96 gp defeated the Los Angeles Lakers to take home • 48 starts • 73 starts the trophy. • 13.5 ppg • 9.5 ppg

• • • •

BLAINE LEWALLEN is the Sports Editor for The Vidette. He can be contacted at bmlewal@ilstu.edu. Follow him on Twitter at @ blainelew3.

1.6 apg 5.3 rpg 0.97 spg 0.3 bpg

• • • •

DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell

1.4 apg 4.8 rpg 0.51 spg 0.54 bpg

MiKyle McIntosh

SPORTS IN BRIEF

ISU football adds offseason transfers their spring practices, former Iowa ISU will begin its season Aug. 31 defensive lineman Brandon Simon when the Northern Illinois Huskies announced his intentions to trans- welcome them to Dekalb. Illinois State head football coach fer to ISU for his last two seasons of The Redbirds went 6-5 this past Brock Spack has bolstered his roster eligibility. season, which was certainly a disapa bit since the spring season ended. The 6-foot, 270-pound Simon, pointment in the standards of Spack. The Pantagraph’s Randy Rein- who Spack has indicated After starting off the hardt announced the will play more of season strong, they latest addition to the a linebacker role dropped four of their last roster as Miami-Ohio with the Redfive games and missed tight end Mitchell Lewis birds, saw action the FCS Playoffs for the will transfer to the Redin one game with second straight year. bird program. the Hawkeyes This season looks to The 6 foot 5, 251this past season. be different, as the ’Birds pound Lewis is a Lisle, Simon did not return multiple key perIllinois, native and appear in any formers from a season attended Naperville games in 2017, ago. North High School. and redshirted All-American running Mitchell Lewis Brandon Simon Lewis will have three during the 2016 back James Robinson and years of eligibility remaining after season. quarterback Brady Davis are among redshirting the 2017 season. He saw Simon joins former Iowa team- the returners on offense, while defaction in just two games during the mate Aaron Mends, who also esnive back Luther Kirk returns to 2018 season for the Redhawks. transferred to the Redbirds and will lead Spack’s defense. Soon after the Redbirds concluded be on the roster this coming season.

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PAGE 8 | THE VIDETTE

THURSDAY, JULY 11, 2019

Photo courtesy @Cardinals Twitter page

Former Illinois State baseball star Paul DeJong poses with members of his family at the Red Carpet Show prior to the 2019 MLB All-Star Game at Progressive Field in Cleveland. In his third season with the Cardinals, DeJong was selected as a member of the National League All-Star squad for the first time in his young career. DeJong, who is currently hitting .258/.343/.442 with 13 home runs and 36 runs batted in, finished the game with a walk and a stolen base along with two double play turns in limited action during the game Tuesday.

DeJong ‘thankful’ for All-Star nod

Former Illinois State baseball star selected in his first MLB All-Star Game with St. Louis Cardinals BLAINE LEWALLEN Sports Editor | @blainelew3

he journey for former Illinois State baseball star Paul DeJong has been nothing short of remarkable. After walking-on to the Redbird baseball team and eventually becoming an All-Conference caliber player, the now starting shortstop of the St. Louis Cardinals was named to his first National League All-Star team. DeJong served as a reserve infielder for the squad. The MLB All-Star game took place at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Progressive Field in Cleveland, home of the Cleveland Indians. DeJong reached base via a walk in his only at-bat in the game, and swiped second base as well. He also showcased his defense, turning two clutch double plays towards the end of the game for the National League squad in their 4-3 loss to the American League. “It’s a culmination of a lot of hard work,” DeJong said. “I’m very thankful for the opportunity to represent this team, this organization, and hopefully this is the first of many. I hold myself to a high standard so I want to make sure this is a regular thing for me.” The 25-year old DeJong is having a solid season in his third year with the Cardinals. He currently has a slash line of .258/.343/.442 with 13 home runs and 36 runs batted in. He

also has a career-high six stolen bases on nine attempts for the 44-44 Cardinals. Along with this, DeJong is among the elite defensive middle infielders in the league. DeJong credits his breakout to himself working to become a more well-rounded player.

“This season I definitely see the game a little different, slowing it down. I think I have been more of a complete player this year with defense and base running,” DeJong said. “Bringing that consistency everyday is one of my strengths.” DeJong joins fellow NL Central shortstop

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Javier Baez of the Chicago Cubs, who was voted in as the starting shortstop of the NL. Colorado Rockies shortstop Trevor Story was the other shortstop voted in as a reserve. DeJong is the only Cardinals player voted as an All-Star. “To Paul, playing a premium position as well as he’s played it and being in our lineup, his all-around game I thought would have been a factor,” Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said. “A deserving All-Star.” The Antioch, Illinois, native redshirted his freshman year at ISU in 2012 after walking-on to the team. From there, he made 137 starts in 144 games played with the Redbirds, finishing his career hitting .326/.427/.547 with 23 home runs and 113 RBIs. He was named a First Team All-Missouri Valley Conference selection in both 2014 and 2015 after stellar seasons with the ’Birds. Following the 2015 season, DeJong was drafted by the Cardinals in the fourth round (131st pick) of the MLB draft. Since then, DeJong spent two and a half seasons in the minor leagues before getting called up by the Cardinals on May 28, 2017. He has hit a respectable .261/.326/.471 with 57 home runs and 169 RBIs in 310 games played in the MLB. A fractured left hand last May allowed DeJong to play only 115 games with St. Louis last season.

Former Illinois State baseball star Paul DeJong prepares to throw to first base with the Redbirds during his collegiate days.

Illinois State University stats: Season AVG

RBI

SLG%

OB%

2013 .260

100

.320

.420

2014 .349

218

.596

.430

2015 .333

210

.605

.427

Total

144

137

528

112

172

113

.547

112

.427

.326

St. Louis Cardinals stats: 2017 .285

108

104

417

119

.532

124

.325

2018 .241

115

111

436

105

.433

123

.313

2019 .258

330

185

.442

.343

Total .261

310

301

1183

178

309

169

.471

319

.326