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VIEWPOINT 4
VIDETTE FACES CHANGES, PRESSES TO STAY STRONG
FEATURES 6
OPEN FOR BUSINESS WHILE STAYING DISTANT
THE VIDETTE
THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020 Vol. 132 | No. 36
videtteonline.com
Getting ‘OTA’ the house and back into shape
Redbirds return to field for football practice JAKE SERMERSHEIM |Sports Editor | @JakeSermersheim
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fter four months without official practice, the Illinois State University football team opens organized team activities on Thursday and it will be unlike any other in recent history. “When our players came through for voluntary workouts, I saw them come through with masks on all that stuff,” ISU head coach Brock Spack said. “It is a weird time; it is going to be really strange that I will never see the whole team together unless it’s on the practice field.” Changes include opening two weeks earlier than usual with NFL style OTA camp. During OTAs, the Redbirds will practice without pads for an hour in a run through style practice. Then the offensive, defensive and special teams will have their meetings to install their playbook. With a 50-person limit in the state of Illinois, the Redbirds
are doing away with full team meetings. Instead, players and coaches will conduct these meetings over Zoom. Spack could see Zoom meetings becoming more normal even after the COVID-19 pandemic. “I could see the Zoom meetings being a little bit more part of your life as a position coach,” Spack said. “Being able to save time being able to touch base with your players at night. You can go over a couple of important points over a meeting session. That would shorten that beating down a little.” Other changes came to the Redbird program in the form of the schedule. A season-opening matchup was scheduled with the University of Illinois in Champaign.
See FOOTBALL, Page 8
PHOTO BY MAIA HUDDLESTON | PHOTO EDITOR | @maiawrites
PAGE 2 | NEWS | THE VIDETTE
THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020
Off-campus partying could spell trouble for fall semester ERIN JOCHUM News Reporter | @erin_jochum
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t should come as no surprise to incoming students this fall, both new and returning, that the semester is going to look different both inside and outside the classroom. Student Engagement Week, housing, sports and other campus activities have had to make sacrifices and adjustments to keep the student population safe. A major factor will play a role in the success or failure of the campus reopening: partying. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Illinois Department of Public Health guidelines explicitly state the importance of social distancing and wearing masks, it cannot prevent students from attending parties and other large, social gatherings at off-campus property. In addition to the administration, the Illinois State University Police Department has a big role in making sure students are following the guidelines. “If it’s on campus, we will already have a policy on covering, particularly if they are in a building, there will be encouraging of physical distancing,” Chief of Police Aaron Woodruff said. “But off-campus behaviors, there’s little bit less control. What we are wanting, what everyone is really wanting, is for students to do their part in making the campus community safer.”
If students test positive for the coronavirus, the university is sectioning off a portion of university housing and off-campus apartments as quarantine areas. From there, students will be asked to go to their permanent residence to recover if possible. If not, they will be able to stay in the quarantine areas until they recover. “We’re trying to make things available to students, for students who are on campus and have symptoms. We are working as a university to try and get more tests so that people can get tests while they are here,” university Assistant Director of Media Relations Rachel Hatch said. “We are strongly encouraging students to get tested before they come to campus.” The upcoming school year is shaping up to be unlike anything seen before by students, faculty and staff. It is clear the number one priority among administrators is every student’s health and safety now more than ever. Students returning to campus can help with this by Vidette Archive continuing to follow state and CDC safety guidelines. Parties and gatherings could result in a spread of the virus, and Illinois State is looking for ways to prevent it. This includes washing their hands, wearing a mask, social distancing and avoiding large social gatherings. On campus, Student Health Services will be offering COVID-19 testing with same-day results to students who are showing symptoms.
Rivian plans multiple projects TYRAY RATLIFF News Reporter | @RatliffTyray
Rivian Automotive is planning multiple projects to expand its production facilities in west Normal. The expansion is estimated to be about 576,000 square feet. The current building covers 2.6 million square feet. The Normal Town Council approved site plans for the facility Monday. Alex Gant | Photo Editor | @AlexGant16 It is reported to bring 80 more Rivian is planning to expand its production facility in jobs to the area and will include four Normal with multiple projects. additional buildings along with parking and landscaping. Although Rivian plans for this later in the Currently, two expansions are in process. fall, no contracting bids have been accepted. This includes a 262,000-square-foot There are 40 construction and architecexpansion for the northwest battery storage tural projects on site as they prepare for the facility. 2021 launch. The estimated cost once complete is Rivian also recently announced $2.5 bilsomewhere around $48 million. lion in investments and has also brought in In addition to this, Rivian is planning a hundreds of employees since the coronavi210,000-square-foot addition to the north rus restrictions have loosened. side of a building for their production line.
ERIN JOCHUM is a News Reporter for The Vidette. She can be contacted at eejochu@ilstu.edu. Follow her on Twitter at @ erin_jochum.
ReggieNet upgrade to bring improvements TYRAY RATLIFF News Reporter | @RatliffTyray
ReggieNet will be shut down for the entire day Thursday for the site to be upgraded. This date was chosen for the effects it will have on student learning and summer grading submissions all while implementing news updates for the upcoming semester. During this maintenance period, students and instructors won’t have access to the site. The site will open the following day. General improvements will include various things, such as students being able to enter information on how to pronounce their names and user activity. The user activity allows reports on student activities while in ReggieNet. Other sections of the site will be updated as well, such as the assignment tools. Students will be able to see their status toward completing assignments. Professors will also be able to indicate if questions are extra credit in tests and quizzes. The gradebook tool will allow professors
REGGIENET CHANGES Assignments Tool:
New grading interface that allows instructors to view, grade, and give feedback on student submissions including a document preview for student attachments. Students will now see a status bar showing their progress toward completing assignments.
Tests and quizzes:
Instructors now have the option to mark questions as extra credit.
Gradebook:
A new, easier-to-navigate gradebook full-screen view. Instructors can now give equal weight to grade categories, regardless of point values assigned. to provide equal weight to grade categories regardless of point values assigned. Overall, the update will make the website easier to navigate while implementing changes to make the site better.
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THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020
THE VIDETTE | NEWS | PAGE 3
Vidette faces deadline to develop new model ELIZABETH SEILS Editor in Chief | @SeilsElizabeth
Changes are likely in store for the student newspaper and website at Illinois State University. Due to dwindling financial resources, the general manager and business adviser of The Vidette have been notified that their appointments will not be renewed following the current fiscal year, which ends on June 30, 2021. The impact of the pending vacancies is not clear. The Vidette has generally been self-supported for most of its 132 years at Illinois State, but since Fiscal Year 2019 the organization has needed help from the university to meet its budget. Dramatic declines in advertising revenues have shaken The Vidette as they have other campus and privates-sector news organizations over the last decade. Considerable reductions in its operating expenses over the last seven fiscal years have not been enough to keep pace with the revenue declines, Vidette General Manager John Plevka said. From FY2014 through FY2018, The Vidette used its cash reserves to close the budget gaps, but during the next three fiscal years, help has been needed from the university in the form of Provost Enhancement Funds. The School of Communication, which oversees The Vidette, recently learned that enhancement dollars will not likely be made available beyond the current fiscal year. That development precipitated the non-reappointment notifications for Plevka and Business
Adviser Madeline Jean-Charles. “The non-renewal notifications were definitely a jolt,” Plevka said. “On the other hand, The Vidette’s financial position has been tenuous over the last several years and the enhancement funds were considered a temporary funding source, so it was not necessarily a complete surprise.” The reason given for the non-reappointments was “pending programmatic changes at The Vidette.” The details of the program changes are not yet clear. The university’s new Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Aondover Tarhule has indicated that his office along with key staff and administrative personnel are exploring options for the future transformation of The Vidette. Tarhule assumed the position on July 1, following the retirement of Jan Murphy. Regarding the non-reappointments, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Diane Zosky said she is hoping to fold Plevka and Jean-Charles into other positions at the school, potentially as adjunct professors or in positions involving other media organizations in the SOC. “I’m not saying these could or will happen, but we have a year down the road. There’s always openings at ISU, and there’s ways to keep people in the fold,” Zosky said. “As we transform, we want to save all the talent we have.” Plevka and Stephen Hunt, executive director of the School of Communication, said an advisory committee is being organized to determine what form The Vidette might
reasonably take by July 1, 2021. “It is a very short period of time to complete the planning process for a transition; however, staff in the School of Communication have experience working with quick timeframes and in turning around media organizations,” Hunt said of the deadline less than a year away. “I’m confident in the committee’s ability to keep The Vidette a vibrant learning lab for students,” he continued. Plevka said for much of its history, The Vidette was independent and self-supported. In 2011 it became part of the School of Communication, but “we basically still paid all of our own bills — from wages for advisers and students, to building maintenance costs, to ISU Telecom costs, IT support, web-hosting, equipment and, of course, the actual costs of printing and distributing a newspaper.” But, as advertising dollars dried up, The Vidette began to make cuts, including eliminating an IT position, reducing the hours of the business adviser, reducing the number of paid student workers and scaling back the frequency and volume of printed papers. But it has not been enough. The last fiscal year in which The Vidette finished in the black was 2013, with revenues and expenses both around $800,000. Over the following seven fiscal years, revenues and expenses declined incrementally. For FY2021, expenses are projected to be around $294,000, with Vidette-generated revenues projected at about $74,000. The Vidette organization is deeply in-
grained in the university community, having been published in some form since 1888. It has taken on several incarnations over the years. For many years it was a weekly paper, but in 1976 it evolved to a five-day-a-week paper. In 1996 it built and paid for its own building at the corner of Locust and University streets. In 2013, it dropped its Friday edition and in 2015 it became a twice-a-week paper. In August 2019 it became a weekly newspaper. Since the COVID-19 shutdown of campus in March, the paper has produced digital weekly editions. The newspaper tentatively plans to resume printing a weekly paper with the resumption of fall semester classes in August. The student staff also maintains a daily website. But, beyond the 2020-2021 school year, no one is clear what form The Vidette will assume. Zosky said she feels this change is like turning a corner for the paper. In its transformation, she hopes the program can retain the learning lab environment while also becoming more integrated into the SOC. “In the future, The Vidette will be more fully embedded within the School of Com,” Zosky said. “We have a year to really try and work that out.” “For the experiences that [students] have at producing The Vidette now ... fundamentally really won’t change,” Zosky said. “It’ll be much more folded into course, in terms of internships or experiential labs.”
EXPANDED STORY @videtteonline.com
A timeline of the George Floyd protests Key local, state, national events since May 25
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bout 60 days have passed since George Floyd’s death. Floyd’s death was quickly followed with daily protests demanding for a change with the racism that takes place within police departments. These protests have erupted in at least 140 United States cites and elsewhere across the globe. Below is a timeline of some key events since Floyd’s death. C O M P I L E D BY K E L L I E F OY | N e w s E d i t o r | @ ke l l i e _ f o y
May 25: Floyd dies in police custody. A bystandkilled her in her home. The memorial honors er recorded a video and posted it to Facebook, what would have been her 27th birthday. showing him saying, “I can’t breathe” before going June 7: The Black Lives Matter movement in still. Bloomington-Normal holds a public speaking May 26: Protests begin in Minneapolis. The four event in Miller Park that gave members of the officers involved in Floyd’s death are fired. community the chance to ask questions and voice their concerns. May 27: Protests begin to erupt in cities across the United States. Minneapolis’ peaceful protests June 8: Congressional Democrats introduce a take a violent turn as fires and looting start. Cops sweeping police misconduct reform bill, called attempt to break up crowds with rubber bullets the Justice In Policing Act. The bill would have and tear gas. included demilitarizing the police. It would also address police brutality and measures include banMay 29: Derek Chauvin, the former officer who ning chokeholds and no-knock warrants. pinned Floyd’s neck to the ground with his knee, is arrested and charged with third-degree murder and June 9: Floyd is laid to rest in Houston. Thousecond-degree manslaughter. sands gather for Floyd’s final funeral service. May 30: More than 120 people rallied and June 12: In Atlanta, a police officer killed Raymarched through downtown Bloomington, protestshard Brooks, a Black man, after he fell asleep in a ing the killing Floyd. Wendy’s restaurant drive-through lane. May 31: Tens of thousands of Americans are June 13: Protesters burn down the Wendy’s protesting as some demonstrations start to see where Brooks was killed. violence erupt in the evening. National Guard June 15: Bloomington-Normal Black Lives Matter troops are called in to over a dozen states and movement raises over $5,000 in a two-day span for mayors across the nation put curfews into place. Juneteenth Liberation Fund. Marshall Blanchard was arrested after allegedly June 19: Americans commemorate Juneteenth plowing through a crowd of post-rally marchers while statues continue to be targeted. The ongoing in downtown Bloomington, injuring two people. flood in protests has revived public debate over the Blanchard faces preliminary charges of reckless appropriateness of Confederate statues. conduct, failure to obey a police officer and leaving June 23: One of the three police officers involved the scene of an accident with injuries. in the shooting death of Breonna Taylor is fired. June 1: Protests over racial injustice begin to June 24: A Republican bill intended to reform spread globally in countries, such as Amsterdam, U.S. policing fails in the Senate after civil rights Spain and Nairobi. Two autopsies rule Floyd’s leaders, activist groups and Senate Democrats call death a homicide. it irrevocably flawed. June 2: Minnesota’s Department of Human Rights June 28: A group in Bloomington-Normal held a files a civil rights charge in relation to Floyd’s death “skate for justice” event, encouraging participants and begins an investigation into the Minneapolis to bike, skateboard or walk for the cause of Black Police Department. BPD charge Blanchard with Lives Matter. committing a hate crime and aggravated assault. June 29: Complaints against Chicago police ofHe faces 17 felony counts related to the hit-and-run ficers erupted to record levels between May 26 and incident in which he injured two people. June 29 amid citywide George Floyd demonstrations. June 3: All four officers involved with Floyd’s More than 900 complaints were filed against officers death are charged. According to court records, Alex Gant | Photo Editor | @AlexGant16 over the month-long period. Chauvin received an additional second-degree A demonstrator stands among a Bloomington-Normal crowd of protesters, July 14: Bloomington Mayor Tari Renner asks murder charge. The other three officers are holding a sign with a fist. the city’s police advisory board to hold a series of charged with aiding and abetting second-degree public hearings to form ideas for “possible reforms murder and manslaughter. June 5: Washington, D.C.’s mayor paints “Black Lives in our police department procedures.” June 4: Police in Buffalo, New York, are suspended after a Matter” on the street leading up to the White House. July 20: Demonstrations in the Bloomington-Normal area video surfaces, showing them shoving a 75-year-old man to A memorial for Breonna Taylor is set up outside the continue as young leaders in the area hold candlelight vigils the ground with his head bleeding. McLean County Law and Justice Center after police to honor those whose lives were lost to police brutality.
Viewpoint
PAGE 4 | THE VIDETTE
VIDETTE EDITORIAL
THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020
The Vidette faces changes but stays strong
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he Vidette is currently going through, as it has been dubbed, a “transformation.” It’s important to use that word, transformation, because many think we’re closing our doors. It’s not clear yet how these changes will take shape. As of right now, The Vidette and the School of Communication have been given a deadline of just under a year to get things settled. Nearly 133 years of routine and paper production will be upended within a year. The university has cited that “programmatic changes” are needed to secure the future of The Vidette. However, we want to destroy the notion that The Vidette is an old, dying paper in need of pity or salvation. It has also been said these changes are being made to reflect a changing field. Journalism is no longer separated into fields of broadcast and print. Instead the fields are merging, which is often referred to as convergence. There are many opportunities for convergence at The Vidette. There are opportunities for video content production, as evidenced by our Bird on the Street videos and our ViddyVlog. Additionally, in the past year we had multiple podcasts running at the same time covering a variety of topics. We have won awards for our multimedia coverage. To say The Vidette does not
provide a view of a changing field is a false and offensive claim that overlooks the hard work done by students preparing for the real world. This isn’t meant to sound all doom and gloom. We hope, sincerely, The Vidette survives in a meaningful way. As it stands now, Dean Diane Zosky said the program will be brought into the School of Communication curriculum fold. How the Vidette model will apply in a class setting is one of the determinations that must be made by the committee that is currently being formed. Overall, we hope the changes will provide a long-term future for The Vidette and continue to provide the learninglab environment that has taught and created so many outstanding journalists. A learning-lab environment that
has for many years operated without any significant cost to the university. But that is no easy task. How do you provide necessary newsroom experience without operating as a true newsroom? Classroom experience is great. Classrooms are good to teach you the ABCs of AP Style, but how does a classroom teach breaking news? How does a classroom teach meaningful storytelling? How does a classroom tell you how to deal with the mental and emotional strain that comes from reporting? There is so much to be learned, as any Vidette editor will tell you, that cannot be taught in a classroom. There are many details that need to be ironed out to prepare The Vidette for this great change. In the meantime, we hope the administration does not forget
the hardworking students who are already, before class has even started, putting countless hours a week in maintaining an online news presence as well as a digital paper. These students put their free time and effort into this work because they love it, and we give them compensation for it. In a classroom setting, that work does not receive compensation, and the motivation and work ethic may suffer greatly for it. While the changes are upsetting, we admit that they are necessary. Advertising dollars have dried up as businesses rely less on print advertising, especially in the age of COVID-19. But The Vidette wants to assert that this change does not come from a lack of quality education or experience, and that is proven by the many quality journalists who walked through our doors. We are grateful to the university for working with us to solve these financial problems. However, the idea that this change comes from lack of quality or productivity would be an opportunity at sweeping this publication under the rug for the sake of saving some dollars. It is easy to view The Vidette as an old, dying paper. We ask you to remember the truth of the situation, and the value of the experiences that happen within our four walls which is worth its weight in gold.
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.
Vidette experience gives taste of real world MY VIEW JAKE SERMERSHEIM | Sports Editor To be honest, I do not really remember the first time I stepped in the Vidette building during my freshman year very well, but I do remember exactly how I felt. Walking in for my interview for a job as a sports reporter, I remember feeling a rush of mixed emotions. Nervousness yet some assuredness hit me at the same time. I remember my heart pounding so hard in my ears that I could barely focus on the questions being asked by thenSports Editor Jon Barlas.
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But walking out I felt a serene sense of calmness flood over me. Soon after that interview I was brought on as a sports reporter and began my career with The Vidette. I had the opportunity to cover college sports for the first time, the chance to take over a beat for the first time and made my first appearance on a podcast. Soon my freshman year was nearing the end and sub-editor applications were up. I kind of halfheartedly submitted my application for sports editor, thinking I had a slim chance. But by some small miracle, the job was mine and a whole new world opened once again for me. For the first time, I was able to get a taste of what a reporter’s weekly grind was like. More opportunity quickly arose out of the sports editor job, from covering a deep playoff run by the Illinois State University
NOTABLE NUMBERS
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football team to traveling to Bradley to experience the ISU vs. BU rivalry, to getting the opportunity to feel the rush of wining No. 1 in General Excellence at the Illinois College Press Association conference with my coworkers and friends. Without The Vidette I surely do not think I would be at this point in my short career. In my nearly two years at the paper I have learned how to cover beats, the importance of social media, how to design and much more. Little did I know in August of my freshman year how important that little building on the corner of Locust and University would become. Little did I know the hours that would be spent in the sports corner and the podcast room or the connections that would come out of it. So, when I heard that there would be changes coming to The Vidette,
football players will return to practice over the next few weeks. The players will be spaced out to promote social distancing and will practice in groups. As of right now the team is set to play 11 games this season. SEE SPORTS, PAGE 7
$180.9
million raised through the Redbirds Rising campaign. The campaign initially started in 2013 and surpassed its goal of $150 million in 2019. SEE NEWS, PAGE 5
that same sense of nervousness came over me the day of my interview. A nervousness that the whole landscape of The Vidette will change too drastically. This comes as interesting timing for a paper that has taken home first place in general excellence two out of the last three years at ICPA. If the content has been on a strong level what is the issue? Even though The Vidette has continued to produce great content, waning support and funds have forced Illinois State’s hand. While some have suggested that we have failed to adapt, that actually could not further from the truth. In all reality, The Vidette has made — perhaps underappreciated — strides in making us more than just a newspaper. Advertising support and funding, or lack of, has really been the issue. Not that the news had come as
much of a surprise. Changes have been gradually coming in recent years as we have cut back the number of newspapers per week. The writing has been on the wall for some time that more changes would be made. It can be seen all over the country in college and professional newspapers struggling for funding and being forced to continuously make changes. Changes are coming, but those changes will not be known in the coming days, weeks or possibly even months. And when these uncertain changes come, I am confident the staff will take them in stride and continue adapting. JAKE SERMERSHEIM is a Sports Editor for The Vidette. He can be contacted at vidette_jrserme@ilstu. edu. Follow him on Twitter at @ JakeSermersheim.
THEY SAID IT
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No one really knows what is going to happen right now, so you do what you can, and you have to be willing to make adjustments and roll with it whenever a change comes up.” Lua Travis, owner of Common Ground Grocery
EDITORIAL BOARD ELIZABETH SEILS Editor in Chief | @SeilsElizabeth ANDREA RICKER Features Editor | @ricker_andrea GRACE KINNICUTT News Editor | @GKinnicutt KATIE BESTE Night Editor | @BesteKatherine MAIA HUDDLESTON Photo Editor | @maiawrites
THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020
THE VIDETTE | NEWS | PAGE 5
Underclassmen given the option to live off campus ALEXIS PLUMMER News Reporter | @Lexi1Oliver
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Alex Gant | Photo Editor | @AlexGant16
Haynie, Wilkins and Wright Towers sit underneath a gloomy sky. Underclassmen have the option to not live in the dorms this year due to COVID-19. Previously they would have needed an exemption.
llinois State University Housing has been making changes as students head back to campus this fall. One of the more recent changes includes on-campus housing. Freshmen and sophomore students are usually required to live in the residence halls, but ISU is giving students the option to live off campus or remain living on campus. ISU has also made changes to the room layouts within each of the residence halls. One of the major changes includes only allowing singles and doubles to help students stay safe and properly social distance
as much as possible. “All rooms that were previously quads and triples are now deluxe double rooms. Deluxe double rooms have a capacity of two residents per room,” Assistant Director of Marketing and Assessment Edsel Campbell said. “These rooms each come with two beds, desks, dressers and a wardrobe.” With the changes to student housing this year, students are comparing what living situation is better. It has many students thinking about what they want to do with this newfound opportunity that has been provided to them. Sophomore political science major Ivy Harris highlighted that living off campus does have its perks because you have more freedom for your
Changes made for the 2020-21 school year UNIT 5 RETURN TO LEARN Elementary Option 1 Students in grades K-5 attend school Monday through Friday School hours will be 7:45 a.m. to 2:10 p.m. Elementary Option 2 Students in grades K-5 learn online Monday to Friday Students will be assigned online for the entire semester Secondary Option 1 Students attend school in person two days a week and learn remotely the other days Hours will range from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for high school and 8:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. for junior high Secondary Option 2 Students in grade 6-12 learn online Monday to Friday
TYRAY RATLIFF News Reporter | @RatliffTyray
Changes have been made for the upcoming school year for high school and elementary school students in McLean County Unit District 5. Students and family have two options to choose from, which are online instruction and in-person learning. It is recommended that in-person learning is the best option for students medically able to return. This is due to in-person learning being unable to be replicated through an online course. In person has a primary and secondary option. The primary option is students in kindergarten through fifth grade attend school Monday through Friday. The second option includes students attending school two days a week and learning remotely for the remaining days. This is the same for grades sixth and higher.
Teachers can respond to students in a timely manner better in-person than online. Online learning is recommended for students who have underlying health conditions that put them at a higher risk, but it is not limited to other reasons for this to be the best option. In-person learning will require students to wear masks unless they are outside or eating. Social distancing will still occur to the greatest extent. Supplies lent out to students will be limited to that specific person as much as possible. There will also be limits to the number of persons in an area at a time. Classrooms will be set up in a way that allows maximum space between students. Schedules will also be set so there is limited student movement throughout the day. Extracurricular activities and clubs will be governed by guidance provided for them. In Phase 4, there can be small gatherings of no more than 50 people.
Photo Courtesy of McLean County U5 Facebook
Meeting concerning ISU reopening postponed GRACE KINNICUTT News Editor | @GKinnicutt
Illinois State University faculty has postponed round two of an online meeting focused on concerns surrounding the reopening plan for campus. Academic Senate Chair Susan Kalter sent out a cancellation message to faculty stating the reason for postponing is due to the fact it was not under the Open Meetings Act. Kalter also noted that the university counsel has advised that all
university business could be deemed “public business” even if it did not appear on the senate’s agenda or the internal or external committees. The meeting is pushed back to receive further feedback from students, faculty and staff about the university’s lack of transparency in the Redbirds Return report. A new date has a yet to be announced. GRACE KINNICUTT is a News Editor for The Vidette. She can be reached at gkinnic@ilstu.edu. Follow her on Twitter @GKinnicutt.
COMPLETE TEXT OF SUSAN KALTER’S EMAIL Dear faculty, Prior to our all-faculty meeting last Thursday, having consulted with University Counsel, I was under the understanding that an all-faculty meeting at ISU was not a meeting under the Open Meetings Act. On Sunday at 4:14 p.m., we received a notice from the State’s Attorney Don Knapp that he would deem any meeting where a majority of a quorum of our campus Senators is present and where public business is being discussed to constitute an Open Meeting. University Counsel has advised that all university business could potentially be deemed “public business,” even if it had never appeared on a Senate agenda or the agendas of any of its internal or external committees. Therefore, we are postponing this evening’s meeting to receive further feedback, as the above leaves the faculty with two unsatisfactory choices: to restrict some or all Senators from attending the meeting or to deem allfaculty meetings to be Open Meetings where posting of agendas 48 hours in advance, public attendance, and opportunity for public comment occur. If you have feedback regarding these two choices, please email me (smkalte@ilstu.edu). Best, Susan
living space. “I will be living off campus because you have more freedom to do what you want,” Harris said. One leasing company, The Flats located on South Main Street, can no longer accept new residents. “There has been an increase in people leasing with Flats at ISU,” said The Flats employee Alex Diop. More underclassmen choosing to live off campus, many of whom have decided to live at The Flats, has caused them to reach full capacity leaving no rooms empty. With the fall semester quickly approaching, students and ISU housing are doing what they can and need to do to stay safe and practice social distancing.
Redbirds Rising ends on record-breaking note Redbirds Rising, the seven-yearlong campaign to fundraise for Illinois State University, has reached its conclusion with record-breaking numbers. The campaign raised $180.9 million, far surpassing the original goal of $150 million. “When Redbirds Rising began, we knew our goal was ambitious,” Illinois State University President Larry Dietz said. “Over the course of the campaign, thousands of alumni and friends stepped up to the challenge, surpassing our target and making Redbirds Rising the university’s most successful fundraising campaign to date. I’m humbled by our shared success and grateful for the vote of confidence cast in the Illinois State experience.” The money will be used to elevate several parts of the university, including the six colleges, university athletics, Milner Library and public radio station WGLT. ELIZABETH SEILS | EDITOR IN CHIEF
BY THE NUMBERS $180.9 million raised in total
$150 million goal for the campaign
2013, the year the campaign began
2019, the year the $150 million goal was reached
56,143 donors
27,254 donated for the first time SOURCE: Illinois State Universty
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PAGE 6 | THE VIDETTE
Features
THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020
Open for business while staying safe ‘[We’re] grateful for the community that helps keep us here’ ANDREA RICKER Features Editor | @ricker_andrea
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h e n quarantine first began in March, a lot of small businesses had to close their doors. But now that Illinois is in Phase 4 of Gov. JB Pritzker’s “Restore Illinois” plan, a number of small businesses are able to open their doors back up to the public and resume normal business hours. Stores require customers to wear masks and staff routinely sanitizes high traffic areas multiple times a day. “We’ve got Plexiglas set up at the front counters, and you have to have a mask to even enter the building,” Jared Alcorn, owner of Waiting Room Records in Uptown Normal said. “We’re asking [customers] to put on hand sanitizer when you walk in and we provide that. We also have gloves for anyone that would like them.” Stores also have a limit on Alex Gant | Vidette Photo Editor | @AlexGant16 how many customers can shop The Garlic Press in Uptown Normal is one of the many small business that have let customers come into the store once again. Staff members like Natalie at a time. Waiting Room ReKuropas are taking precautions for the safety of themselves and shoppers. cords has a capacity of four and just shut the door and went home for a week,” Locsin said. Grounds Grocery said. “I think we have all gotten used to Common Ground Grocery in “And then we started coming back into the store. That’s the changes at this point.” downtown Bloomington allows five customers at a time. when we started working hard on the website and we Travis added that some products are still harder to get The Garlic Press in Uptown Normal also revamped their started remodeling the entire store. We filled our days with from distributors due to high demand. store, to make it easier for customers to be a safe distance as many projects as we could while at the same time trying “Some companies have shifted production to make more away from one another. to do as much social media [as we can].” of the ‘in-demand’ products instead some that might be “We’ve revamped the interior of the store so it’s easier Included in The Garlic Press’ social media engagement is slower movers,” Travis said. “But we will continue to try to walk around and keep your social distance. We’ve also taking their cooking classes to the digital format, allowing to order [customers’] favorites every week until we can get segregated certain doors so people can exit certain ways so people to tune in to Facebook livestreams. them in.” we can keep the traffic flowing,” The Garlic Press partner “[On Facebook we’re able to] keep it fun and lighthearted “There were a lot of people that when we were completely Pam Locsin said. and do something different for people who are just stuck in shut down and just doing curbside, they were really trying When shutdown began, many small businesses searched the house,” Locsin said. to help out wherever they could,” Alcorn said. “I’m even for how to still offer ways for people to support local shops. Even small businesses that have remained open since more grateful for the community that helps keep us here.” Many stores offer curbside pickup or take orders over the March are adjusting to the change. Common Grounds While small businesses have opened their doors back phone. Waiting Room Records also makes free in-town deGrocery was able to keep its doors open as an essential busi- up, there are still ways to shop local to customers’ comfort liveries on Fridays, and their website lists their inventory of ness, while also allowing shoppers to get their groceries via levels, whether that’s through online, curbside or coming over 14,000 items for customers to pick out their purchases curbside pickup. Staff also scoops bulk items for customers, into the store with a mask. ahead of time. while washing their hands immediately between orders. “No one really knows what is going to happen right now, Locsin added that The Garlic Press now has a website “Our number one concern is keeping people safe and so you do what you can, and you have to be willing to make with a cart for online orders, and the store is trying to stay healthy while still getting them the food and supplies adjustments and roll with it whenever a change comes up,” active on social media. they may want and need,” Lua Travis, owner of Common Travis said. “The minute that we first got the order to shut down we
‘A Lot & a little,’ exploring personal identity through art ANDREA RICKER Features Editor | @ricker_andrea
ered generation loss through 1960s artists manipulating sound with reel-to-reel tape recorders. This influenced “I want people to think my decision to mount the about how they approach photographs on sound their own identity; how do panels/diffusers typically they view themselves in relafound in audio production tion to their family or their studios and used to reduce culture?” exhibition artist unwanted ‘noise.’ This work Aaron Caldwell said. attempts to caricaturize the “A Lot & a little” is a twoproblem of how the transferstudent collaborative exhibience of historical narrative tion currently displayed in across generations frequently The Illinois State University depends on the soundness of Student Art Gallery within memory and preservation of the Central Illinois Regional images.” Airport. The gallery is free and Caldwell’s work takes on open to the public. the role of “a little” within the The exhibition features Alex Gant | Vidette Photo Editor | @AlexGant16 exhibition. He adds he fothe work of two second-year “A Lot & a little” features the work of graduate students Aaron Caldwell and cused on work that “demands graduate students in art eduZachary Sprenger and is currently available for viewing at the Illinois State attention but is a lot quieter.” cation, Caldwell and Zachary University Student Art Gallery in the Central Illinois Regional Airport. For Caldwell, he approachSprenger. es identity through cultural “We both really enjoyed through stories. And how those stories can practices. the idea of how people identify themselves,” get distorted through time and through “The glaze [on my work] represents certain Caldwell said. “Both of our work grabs the generations. moisturizing products like lotion, cocoa butaudience’s attention in different ways.” In Sprenger’s artist statement, he menter or Vaseline, these things that are held in a Sprenger’s work, which is the “A Lot” part tions, “Though frequently found in lossy comhigher sense when it comes to black culture,” of the exhibition, focuses on identity through pression of digital files today, I first discovCaldwell said. memory, how family can carry traditions
“It’s something that is common and pretty much everyone uses lotion, but it has a different meaning for black people. My work kind of talks about identity in that way, how we tag identity to objects and make it our own”,” Caldwell said. He mentions he hopes black individuals viewing his art “feel seen in a gallery space or in artwork.” “I had a couple friends come see the show and some of them were black and their eyes lit up,” Caldwell said. “They’re able to just enjoy the connection they have with the piece and it not being political at all, it’s just a moment to be joyous.” “People who don’t have that shared experience can come in and see the work and leave knowing something new [about] black culture,” Caldwell said. The two came up with the idea for the show back in October, when they had only known each other for about two months. The exhibition does not have a specific end date currently but will be available for viewing at least until the first week of September. “[Zachary and I] have huge interests in how people navigate the world through identity,” Caldwell said. “I really want people to take a moment and think about themselves, whether the work reflects them or not.”
THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020
THE VIDETTE | SPORTS | PAGE 7
Seventh year swing
Illinois State graduate student Ryan Hutchinson discusses why it wasn’t such a tough decision to return KEN KANOON Sports Reporter | @Ken_k____
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By the numbers 134 career games
ith COVID-19 cutting spring .254 hitting percentage sports short, the NCAA approved 120 hits granting an extra year of eligibility to players whose season was discontin47 RBIS ued. This meant Illinois State University baseball player Ryan Hutchinson was allowed to return for his seventh season and “Baseball-wise I’m not too help the Redbirds continue to contend for a worried. I’m just going to go out Missouri Valley Conference Championship. and play my heart out and give it Hutchinson had redshirted his fresheverything I got one last time. The man year, then had an injury that allowed big goal is to have my body in the him to medical redshirt for a year and was best shape possible to withstand also granted another redshirt year due to the 60-game season.” COVID-19. The second goal he set was to be He says the decision to return for his seva better leader within the locker enth season was not hard as he had found a room since he is in his seventh year. job in Chicago. However, restrictions due to “I’d like to be a more outspoken COVID-19 shut down all nonessential busileader on the team, being the old nesses, which included Hutchinson’s job. guy. Helping the guys when needed “It wasn’t that hard. I had a job lined up and keeping guys accountable. Just in Chicago and essentially COVID comes making sure however many guys through and they have to shut everything we have pulling on the same rope down including their recruiting and hiring and moving in the same direction,” process. So, my job was essentially taken off Hutchinson said. the board by COVID,” Hutchinson said. In addition to setting personal Then, when Hutchinson saw that the goals, Hutchinson said that the NCAA granted another year of eligibility to team goals remain the same as Photo Courtesy of Illinois State Athletics all spring athletes, he made his decision to last season. He says that the team Illinois State graduate student Ryan Hutchinson preparing to throw an opposing player out at first base return to ISU baseball. wants to play hard every game and “When the NCAA came out and said they against Memphis. compete for a Missouri Valley Conferwere giving all spring athletes another year ence Championship. hard as possible once on it. While recommitting, he also set out two of eligibility back … I talked to Stevey (head “The expectation for this upcoming year is “Now I’ve been given an opportunity to personal goals for the upcoming season. coach Steve Holm) and I talked to Wally the same as it was last year: go out and comreally go for it and I know this is really what Hutchinson listed his health as his top prior[Crancer] and we got a couple of things figpete, expect to win every game and contend I want to do. So, the only doubts I’ve had are ity in his return. ured out. So, it wasn’t too hard of a decision for a conference championship.” —man — you’ve got to go through the con“Stay healthy, I had the broken wrist in for me,” Hutchinson said. Having high expectations for this upcomditioning process again, but I’d be working 2019 which cut my season pretty short and Hutchinson says his one doubt about ing season, Hutchinson hopes to be a key out if I wasn’t playing baseball anyway. So, I even this past spring I hurt my shoulder at returning is going through the exhausting leader for the Redbirds. Just as important might as well go all out, get another year of Oklahoma and only got half the games that conditioning period. Yet, he is keen to return though, he also looks to be an important baseball and play as long as I can,” Hutchinwe got even with the shortened season,” to the baseball field and is ready to work as player for a team that looks to win it all. son said. Hutchinson said.
Diving into uncharted waters
Redbird Caroline Lecoeur hungry for senior season after shortened junior campaign
event, from the Zone C Diving Qualification meet are named an All-American. Lecoeur also met and exceeded the CSCAA’s criteria in academics, earning her the additional honor of academic first-team Allfter a season cut short from the American. Individuals who earn this honor coronavirus pandemic, Caroline must have a cumulative grade-point average “Caro” Lecoeur felt mixed emotions of 3.50 or higher and met athletic standards upon learning of her selection to the CSCAA equivalent to competing at the national inviDivision I All-American team for the 2020 tational for the 2020 season. season. Leading up to her national recognitions, “It has somehow a bittersweet taste knowLecoeur earned Missouri Valley Conference ing that the pandemic refrained me from fully Diver of the Week honors four times during earning that recognition, the NCAA zone meet her junior season. Lecoeur also finished third [NCAA regional] got cut short. I’m still very overall in the 1-meter diving event (275.45) happy and proud to be an All-American, it does have a nice ring to it,” Lecoeur explained. at The Valley championships, accomplishing one of her primary goals for the season. Back in March, the rising senior diver, “My goals this season were more regarding along with some of her Redbird teammates, skills as I wanted to improve my traveled to Cleveland with expectadive list and work on consistency. I tions of competing in the National wanted to make an MVC top three Invitational Championship meet, which I made on 1-meter but not the equivalent of the NCAA meet in on 3-meter,” Lecoeur said. “I’m not the sport of swimming and diving. going to lie I didn’t really think of However, due to rising concerns getting the All-American title. But over the coronavirus, the invitaagain, I’m very happy and thankful, tional — like many others across it does have a nice ring to it.” the country — was cut abruptly A native of France, Lecoeur made Caroline “Caro” short. the decision to pursue an athletic Lecoeur “The way our season ended left a career in the United States while lot of chapters unclosed. Having the continuing to further her studies. An option divers pulled off the boards while competthat is simply not possible in her country, ing at Zones and the Swimmers rushed back Lecoeur knew she would have to move across from the National Invitational Championthe Atlantic in order to keep competing. ship in Cleveland felt rather traumatic,” head When originally looking at schools in the swimming and diving coach Caitlin Hamilton states, Illinois State was not on her radar. said. “I started reaching out to coaches across Despite the lack of the national meet, the U.S., not ISU though but the coach from Lecoeur still walked away with first-team ISU contacted me. He made me a generous All-American honors, both for her accomoffer, explained to me how it is a family here plishments on the boards and in the classand after looking on the school website, the room. The 2020 Division I selection criteria athletics website and social media, it felt like included: all relays achieving “A” standards, it would be a good place for me and I was individuals selected to the NCAA Champiright,” Lecoeur said. onships and divers entered in uncontested Prior to competing as a Redbird, Lecoeur events, which includes the 3-meter diving
Illinois State swimming and diving senior Caroline Lecoeur stands in position before attempting a dive during a home meet.
RACHEL HICKEY Sports Reporter | @r_hickey15
A
Photo Courtesy of Illinois State Athletics
had the honor of traveling and competing on “All of these play into her continued success the French Junior National Team. The diver on the boards and I believe she will have just had the opportunity to represent her country as much success after graduation.” at a young age, which she notes has shaped A humble and modest individual herself, her into the diver and person she is today. Lecoeur’s accolades were a full-team effort During her three years at Illinois State, between her family, coaches and teammates. Lecoeur has garnered many athletic accom“Every single one of my teammates has plishments while also taking her studies very somehow impacted my time here on the seriously. A psychology major with minors team,” Lecoeur explained. “It’s important in mass media and international studies, for me to mention and thank all my coaches Lecoeur wishes to keep as many doors as she and teammates that helped me get where I can open for careers post-collegiately. am today. I’ve come a long way since my first Hamilton accredits both Lecoeur’s athletic practice back in 2007 in Lyon, France. Diving and academic successes to distinctive qualihas definitely helped me grow as an athlete ties that set her apart. but a person too.” “I’m a firm believer that being a successful “I will be forever grateful for the unstoppastudent and a successful athlete go hand in ble love and support my family has given me hand. Both areas take a lot of self-discipline, throughout the years and that they still give hard work and organization. Caro possess all me today. I would not be here without them.” those qualities and it shows. “Caro is so focused and driven. She has a high diving Phone 309 438 7685 • Fax 309 438 5211 Corner of Locust & IQ and I know University, Normal, IL her teammates look towards FOR RENT her for help Property for Rent: 208 S Gridley, Blm 1 bedroom lower apt. $525/ mo 1 student & 2 and advice,” bedroom upper apt $575/mo 2 students. Water included no pets 12 mo lease & Hamilton said. deposit required. bill.fitz2@frontier.com (309) 242-4884
CLASSIFIEDS
Sports
PAGE 8 | THE VIDETTE
THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020
Uncertainty reigns after U of I cancels
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arch seems like decades ago. The devastating stoppage of sports has hit five and a half months. How can this be? How have I, like many sports fans, survived through this long, sportsstricken journey that has engulfed our lives? While I have leaned on golf as a crutch to help walk me through this pandemic, it still struggles to fill the void of watching events such as the Stanley Cup and NBA Finals. Illinois is in Phase 4 of Gov. JB Pritzker’s Restore Illinois plan. Many business establishments have reopened their doors and several major sports are making progress towards returning. COVID-19 has finally passed us by. One problem is, I do not really believe the previous sentence. While this entire revamp to normalcy is hanging on by a thread of a “Restore Illinois” plan, doubts have weaseled their way into my mind, and I’m sure many others. The last straw for me was the Big Ten conference canceling its non-conference schedule. Due to this decision being made, a small Division I school like Illinois State University loses out on competing against the metaphorical “Big Dog” Illinois. ISU does not reside in the Big Ten conference, although the university and its fans lose out on a clash between the Redbirds and the Fighting Illini that has been desired for 11 years. The two teams last faced off in 2009.
MY VIEW JAKE FOGAL | Sports Editor I cannot be angry with the Big Ten’s decision to be precautious over the safety of its 14 teams. The Ivy League announced the suspension of all its fall sports days beforehand. Thinking back to March, the Ivy League was the first to cancel its spring sports schedules. Now I am getting nervous. Five months have passed since the last feeling of excitement fueled me for college sports. With fear abiding in me, I have the same eerie feeling I did on March 12, when both the men’s and women’s NCAA tournaments were canceled. Currently spending just about every day of late spring and summer on a golf course somewhere throughout central Illinois during this pandemic, that option will not likely be available come the colder months back at school. A time expected instead to be devoted to ISU football and volleyball games. I am in the same position as anyone reading
this. Not knowing what to expect for the foreseeable future with sports leaves an uneasy feeling in the gut. Health and safety must be considered before the blow of any whistles, which will disappoint sports fans. These times have been unpredictable, and no one knows what the future holds. Those in decision-making positions have said they hope and expect football in the fall, but then to have the most important game of the fall for the Redbirds canceled leaves me hesitant to look forward to the impending semester. This is indeed just one game on the Redbirds’ 11-game schedule, but this one hits home the most to a central Illinois boy. With Fighting Illini roots as a kid to my current college days as a Redbird, I have had this matchup circled on my calendar since the encounter was set. If I was not set to cover the game, then I would be sitting among the crowd at Memorial Stadium with friends and peers. There are undoubtedly bigger issues going on in this world than one single football game, but if two teams that are separated by 70 minutes are suspending their game, I lose faith for schools to travel even a state over. The loss of the Redbird-Illini game was a blow to many fans residing in the Land of Lincoln, but looking past the shelving, will sports stand to see the light come fall?
SPORTS IN BRIEF Clemson, Purdue and Mississippi State joins ISU at Cancun Challenge Slated to play in the Cancun Challenge over Thanksgiving break this year, the Illinois State University men’s basketball team now knows its competition. Broken up into the Riveria and Mayan Divisions, ISU will take part in the Riveria Dvision taking on Mississippi State, Clemson and Purdue. The Mayan Division is made up of Bucknell, East Tennessee State, Georgia Southern and Rider. ISU will open the challenge taking on Georgia Southern before going on to play Purdue.
Vidette Archive
The Illinois State University volleyball team celebrating on the bench during a game last season.
ISU volleyball honored with academic award
Vidette Archive
Illinois State head coach Brock Spack talking to players during a spring practice before the 2019-20 season. Spack and the Redbirds open organized team activities on Thursday at Hancock Stadium. This NFL-style training will take place for two weeks before moving to a traditional style training camp on Aug. 6. were disappointed. Looking forward, Face coverings are required during keeping that out of our team. This FOOTBALL the MVFC is reviewing options. Obvi- the indoor strength sessions.” will be a year where if you’re a colContinued from Page 1 ously, safety is the highest priority.” But despite everything that is lege football player your social life With a roster made up over 109 already in place, Lyons still views is going to take a back seat. You “We were all really looking forhave to know and be careful who ward to this game. I felt good about players, keeping safety will be a pri- the situation as fluid. “The MVC and MVFC are you hang out with and make sure it,” starting quarterback Brady Davis ority for the NCAA and ISU. Regular said. “I think they are a really good testing, social distancing guidelines currently working on in-season pro- you’re around the same folks and team; they had a good year last year and face coverings are all a part of tocols for competition. The NCAA you know how they’ve been handling and doing a good job building that the protocols put into place by ISU’s has published its third version of themselves” re-socialization protocols. Testing is The Redbird players would need program back up. I think we had a athletics department. “Each student-athlete who has included. I expect there to be contin- to buy in for safety protocols to work. lot of good stuff we could have done “Players have to be disciplined against them and I was really excited come to campus has had a COVID ual revision and updates as we move more than ever,” Davis said. about the game and was really test to provide a baseline,” Lyons said. closer to the fall.” “We also required Due to restric- “Coaches are always going to preach expecting a dog fight.” tions put into place discipline off the field and that’s a After the Big Ten announced the coaches, strength due to COVID- big part of everything, now more implementation of a conference- staff and athletics 19, players will be than ever it’s not just about you. It’s only season, other leagues moved to trainers to take a July 23 Players report expected to try and staying clean and keeping your body the same guidelines such as the Pac COVID test. Every to Hancock Stadium for maintain safety healthy or not contracting this virus 12. Power Five conferences deciding day before a stuorganized training activiprotocols even that could literally shut our program to eliminate non-conference games dent-athlete enters ties. During OTAs, teams will away from the field, down midseason if there were to be an could force smaller divisions — like an athletic facility have a no run through which could come outbreak. I think when they come out the Missouri Valley Football Confer- they must complete non-padded practice before as a challenge to a with the guidelines and stuff and you ence — and FCS schools to adapt to a wellness check for meetings. symptoms and temroster made of col- see that you get the virus you’re out a conference-only season. Aug. 6 Players report to lege students. two weeks or whatever that definitely “It was disappointing, but I also perature check.” training camp. Pads and full “We moved “Keeping our give guys some motivation to stay understand and respect the decision contact will be introduced at team healthy is clean and stay healthy. This summer I process of the Big Ten,” ISU Direc- approximately half this time. the biggest prior- thought we’ve all done a good job of it tor of Athletics Larry Lyons said. of the weight room ity,” Spack said. and came in and kind of just hanging Sept. 12 ISU is scheduled “Our football team and coaches were equipment out on “From an injury around each other you know working to open their season against looking forward to the challenge and the Redbird Arena standpoint but also out and keeping to ourselves.” Eastern in the Mid-Amerwere excited about the opportunity floor to spread out trying to stay away After two weeks training camp will ican Classic at Hancock to play at Illinois. Many calendars the equipment for from the virus and open on Aug. 6. Stadium. had Sept. 4 circled so many people physical distancing.
Key Dates
For 12 years and counting, the Illinois State University volleyball program was recognized by the American Volleyball Coaches Association for its unwavering success in the classroom. On July 20, Illinois State was presented with the United States Marine Corps Team Academic Award for the 2019-20 season. The award honors collegiate and high school volleyball teams that displayed excellence in the classroom during the school year by maintaining at least a 3.30 cumulative team grade-point average on a 4.0 scale or a 4.10 cumulative team grade-point average GPA Illinois State assembled an impressive 3.75 GPA as a team to finish out the 2019-20 academic school year. Four student-athletes — Sydney Holt, Sarah Kushner, Taylor Lynch and Kaity Weimerskirch — posted perfect 4.0 GPAs, while every player earned a spot on the AFNI Honor Roll in the spring. Additionally, every team member finished with at least a 3.30 cumulative GPA last school year, while nine student-athletes finished the academic year with a 3.50 cumulative GPA or better.
ISU athletics supporter Marian Kneer dies at 96 Marian Kneer, PhD, a supporter of Illinois State University Athletics and Hall of Fame softball player died at the age of 96 on July 3. “The softball community is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Marian Kneer,” ISU softball head coach Melinda Fischer told goredbirds.com. “She was very instrumental in the development of girls’ and women’s sports in the ’60s and very well known in the central Illinois area as a physical education teacher at East Peoria High School for nearly 20 years.” Kneer dedicated her life to the sport of softball. While the Peoria native was a catcher for the University of Michigan she was dubbed “the world’s greatest softball catcher” during the 1950s. Kneer was also important in the inclusion of women’s sports in the Illinois State High School Association. She is a member of ISU’s Percy Hall of Fame in 1976, ISU’s College of Education Hall of Fame in 2004 as well as a member of the Greater Peoria and National Association for Sport and Physical Education Halls of Fame. and Illinois