8.28.17 by Vidette Online

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MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 2017

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Sweet times at the corn-ival

he sounds of blues music and smell of sweet corn filled the streets of Uptown Normal this weekend for the annual Sweet Corn Blues Festival. People of all ages had over 50,000 ears of fresh sweet corn to chow down on or take home. Billy Galt and The Blues Deacons performed Saturday, and activities for children, such as balloon animals and face painting, were available.

See page 6 for story LEFT: Sophomore biochemistry major Brendan Wall, left, and sophomore nursing major Darren Flanigan eat free corn available for students with their IDs. MIDDLE LEFT: Matt Woesthaus walks around Uptown Normal in his corn suit. MIDDLE RIGHT: Medici employee Brett Lewis grills corn for hungry patrons on Saturday. BOTTOM LEFT: Billy Galt and The Blues Deacons dedicated a song to Mike Cavanaugh, a Bloomington Special Olympics athlete who died in February. BELOW: Illinois State University professor Winfred Avogo, right, shucks corn before dining. Photos by Alex Harrison and Ali Rasper Vidette Photographers

First Bone Student Center renovations to finish by 2019 Phase One of revitalization focuses on entrance areas, an additional foyer, relocation of Barnes & Noble

ANDREW DOUGHERTY News Reporter | @addough

llinois State University’s Bone Student Center is in the midst of a ground-breaking revitalization project. The first phase of the Bone Student Center revitalization project has six major components, which include a revised loading dock addition, improving the entrances on the west and

north side of the Bone, an additional foyer/reception area to the south end of the Brown Ballroom and a new northeast addition to accommodate a new entrance from both Milner Plaza and the north visitors parking lot. Along with these renovations, a Welcome Center will be added and further Brown Ballroom renovations will take place. “The foyer/reception area will be added to the south end of

the Brown Ballroom to provide a larger area to accommodate pre-function activities and guest movement in/out of the ballroom during events” Director of Media Relations Eric Jome said. The Barnes & Noble bookstore will be relocated from its second-floor interior location to an exterior, first floor location near the new east addition entryway. see BONE page 3

PAGE 2 | NEWS | THE VIDETTE

STAFF LIST Editor in Chief

Ema Sasic

MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 2017

Assistant to president position back, chief of staff gone

OUTSIDE LOOK

Illinois State removes job originally created to help transition

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Under the administration of Illinois State University President Larry Dietz, the Office of the President has phased out the position of chief of staff which instead will be the assistant to the president. The chief of staff position was created in late 2012 by former ISU President Al Bowman as he was in the midst of retiring. “When he was retiring, there was going to be an interim period with the assistant to the president Jay Groves as acting president during the time while the search for a permanent replacement was going on,” David Gill, director of Facilities Planning and Construction, said. “It was essentially put in place to help with the transition period from one administration to another.” With Jay Groves’s retirement in

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president’s office. Paterson had oversight of Braden Auditorium, Campus Dining Services, Campus Recreation, University Housing Services, University Police and the Bone Student Center. Minor duties of the Office of the President were shifted to other departments while assistant to the president Paterson has taken on a larger role in the administration. “Jay in his position had an incredible institutional memory and tremendous experience here at ISU,” Gill said. “He worked with people across campus and had a very strong knowledge base on the university. We’re kind of passing these things on to people who also have a broader knowledge of the university.” Gill explained that transitioning some of the duties that Groves had to Paterson, who also has a deep knowledge of ISU and has served in Student Affairs for several years,

has made the transition run more smoothly. “Dr. Paterson is very well connected around campus and understands the campus climate and how it ticks in a sense,” he explained. “Brent works in the heart of our campus and he’s always kept the needs of students at the forefront of his decisions,” Dietz said in a statement. “He’s committed to doing whatever he can to enhance the college experience, whether that’s through his leadership, mentoring or development of his staff. He’s an important part of our team.” The board renewed Dietz’s contract Aug. 5. “He enjoys being president of the university and of this institution and is also very active in the community leadership, campus and the community as a whole,” Gill said.

Human Library in search of ‘books’

John Plevka

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April, the position of chief of staff was removed and the creation of assistant to the president was made. Groves also served as ISU’s chief university spokesman prior to becoming the assistant to the president. The job duties of the nowremoved position were divided up among several different departments, such as Student Affairs and Media Relations. “This was all put into play so there would be a smooth transition and to keep things stable,” Gill explained. Director of Media Relations Eric Jome took over some of Groves’s duties and now handles media relations, which Groves was previously in charge of. Assistant to the President Brent Paterson, Ph.D., has also taken over the previous duties of Groves. Paterson handles things such as being the liaison to the Board of Trustees along with other duties within the

Volunteers to be ‘read’ by

and apply it to other interactions they have with people,” Pratt said. Watson said that the personal setting of talking to someone can be easier when dealing with heavier issues. SARAH ATEN “The more we know about someNews Reporter | @Sarahmaten thing, the less we fear it,” Watson explained. Illinois State University needs “Coupling that truth with an participants for a Human Library, intimate, personal story told facewhere “books” will be able to to-face gives those fears and truths engage with first-year students. a human scale, making that weight Katie Pratt of the Human Library lighter and more manageable for planning committee said that stunot only the books, but also for the dents often are not sure what they students.” are getting into, but have a positive Above all, the Human Library is experience and appreciation for meant to unite. Photo Illustration by Kasey Hayes | Vidette Photographer other people’s backgrounds. “Take a moment to get to know Sophomore history educaiton major Jennifer Wrzala holds a copy of “The Little The Human Library originated someone, hear their story. Ask Mermaid and Other Fairy Tales” by Hans Christian Andersen. almost two decades ago in Denrespectful questions and be willing Aaron Watson has volunteered in a total of five mark and has globalized. Four to share your story in return. The Human Libraries, three of which have been at ISU. Human Library allows us to encourage people to years ago, ISU started hosting Human Libraries. “There is so much we don’t know about each take time out of their day and learn from each other,” “Volunteers who are interested in this experience should know that all stories are welcome,” Pratt said. other,” Watson said. Pratt said. “The longer we keep them to ourselves, undis“We want people to look at their identities and A submission on the Human Library website is think about the myths or stereotypes people have cussed issues of identity and perspective can begin necessary for those wanting to volunteer. A book to feel more taboo and could even generate fear, title needs to be composed by the volunteer. about that identity.” Students from ISU come from a multitude of adding heavy weight to an already difficult topic.” The deadline is Aug. 31. Volunteers also need to Pratt hopes that the Human Library leaves a last- be free Sept. 20 for an hour. Books are not limited backgrounds and the Human Library offers people the chance to connect with others and learn in an ing impression on those involved. to students — faculty and staff or anyone else inter“It has helped open their eyes to different identities ested are free to volunteer. engaging environment. “Sharing your story in the Human Library has or helped connect with someone from similar iden“We want people to leave a Human Library expebeen therapeutic for many who participate and the tities as them. It gives them new perspectives and rience engaged with the idea that you shouldn’t we hope they take this active listening experience judge a book by its cover,” Pratt said. students really enjoy learning,” Pratt said.

students

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MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 2017

Students can make dents with ICC Innovation Consulting Community will work with health care, sustainability to guide students into fields of work ALEX CAMPBELL News Reporter | @alex_campbell98

Illinois State University’s Innovation Consulting Community (ICC) has a variety of plans in the works for the school year including projects in health care, product development, sustainability and innovation within education and the community. The ICC is an extracurricular, professional development experience that enables students from all backgrounds to work with peers on a variety of projects. Clients for projects come from several organizations, including non-governmental organizations, small businesses, local government and more. ICC Coordinator Peter Kaufman said the organization is a team effort, both on the staff and within the projects. “With the pace of change and complexity of challenges increasing in society, students need to enter the workforce with the experience and skills to successfully navigate ambiguity and effectively collaborate across disciplines to achieve effective and efficient solutions,” Kaufman said. “Employers increasingly seek to hire students who possess skills

developed through collaboration, working with cross-disciplinary teams, and solving real world problems for the industry.” The ICC provides students a learning experience that closely mirrors what they would find in their post-graduation careers. “The reality is that these experiences at any university typically transcend the format of a course-based project,” Kaufman said. “Last year, we worked with a Major League Baseball team on how to engage millennials, an employee engagement plan for an industrial company, a cutting edge robotics project, an electric mobility company seeking market entry advice [and more],” Kaufman added. Fourteen projects are posted on the ICC’s website for this school year. “[Projects] range from health care communication, e-commerce and optical, sustainability, new product development for canine training, K-12 education innovation, central IL community innovation, luxury travel to Japan, and Habitat for Humanity projects,” Kaufman said. Students can review the projects and submit applications to join the ICC online. A student’s application requires

an updated résumé and a well-written statement about which projects are of interest and why. If students are placed on teams, they will be scheduled to meet their team members and others in this year’s ICC. Students will individually complete short, online, pass/fail modules and attend innovation workshops this semester. Teams will complete their projects under the mentorship of an ISU faculty, staff, or practitioner adviser and receive a certificate of completion after all work is successfully completed in the spring. With every new school year comes the opportunity to recruit the next batch of minds for ICC. “We are definitely looking for new students to participate on the 14 projects available,” Kaufman said. “Before the start of school, we already had 12 students selected but would like many more.” An ICC informational session will be held from 5-6 p.m. Sept. 12 in the State Farm Hall of Business Room 430. Those interested in joining ICC or looking at the upcoming projects can visit innovationconsulting.community/projects or contact Kaufman at pkaufma@ ilstu.edu.

Safe Zone

supports LGBTQ

community

ALEX CAMPBELL News Reporter | @alex_campbell98

The Dean of Students Office created Safe Zone in an effort to provide support for the LGBTQ community on campus. Diversity Advocacy will hold a two hour orientation the first Friday of every month in the Student Service Building Room 314. The first orientation will take place Friday from 9-11 a.m. October, November and December’s meetings will be from 10 a.m. to noon. The orientations will feature mock coming out exercises, short videos, case studies, pronoun education and many more educational pieces that spread awareness and provides valuable information for allies. This training should allow for places where queer students are free to be themselves and to be surrounded by allies that support the community. “We started this program almost 19 years ago after Matthew Shepard’s death at the University of Wyoming,” Diversity Advocacy Specialist Mandy Dartt said. Despite the program spawning from an organic movement almost 20 years ago, it still remains relevant. “The program was just updated last fall,” Dartt said. For more information, email Safe Zone at safezone@ilstu.edu.

Unique Japanese art exhibit is Milner’s hidden gem SARAH ATEN News Reporter | @sarahmaten

The third floor of Milner Library offers students many things from a variety of desks and seating arrangements, whiteboards and places to chat. But what may be overlooked is a Japanese exhibit of ceramic pottery inspired by ancient poetry, right by the doors at the entrance. “The thin porcelain slabs were hand formed by the artist,” Kathleen Lonbom, art, arts technology and theatre & dance librarian, said. Mitsuya Niiyama made the 100 pieces of art in the Niiyama Poetic Japanese Pottery Collection. Niiyama drew inspiration for the pieces from old Japanese poems. “Mr. Niiyama’s imagery illustrates recurring motifs from the poems such as moon, water, bamboo, flowers, rocks, birds and emotions,” Lonbom said. “Each piece includes a line from a poem written in the Japanese alphabet known as kana. The ceramic works invite the viewer to pause and take a moment to enter the intimately scaled and meditative world the artist created providing pathways to new understandings,” Lonbom said. Ceramicist Niiyama was born in 1922 in Kyoto and passed away in 2013. Niiyama came to Illinois State University at the invitation of former ceramics head professor Tom

Tiffany Morrison | Vidette Photographer

ABOVE: Niiyama Poetic Japanese Pottery exhibit is currently beind held on the third floor of Milner. LEFT: Potttery from the exhibit.

Malone and led workshops. “The artist felt very strongly about keeping the 100 pieces together as a collection for students to study and learn about Japanese culture through the art and poetry,” Lonbom said. Larissa Kennedy teaches East Asian history and encourages her students to look at the exhibit. “It’s a great resource for ISU, there’s nothing else like it in the

BONE continued from page 1

There will also be the creation of an open seating area that will include a Starbucks and a “Grab and Go” emporium, along with the addition of a food venue on the second floor. Phase two will see renovations to catering and kitchen relocation from the second f loor to the first f loor adjacent to the renovated loading dock will create a more efficient transportation of catering products to campus locations. Renovations to the vacated catering kitchen to accommodate Campus Dining Administrative offices, the Dean of Students Offices and Student Involvement Center.

world, as far as I know,” Kennedy said. “We have a lot of great artistic communities here, we have a lot of artists that live here in Bloomington-Normal, but we don’t have a lot of international art, necessarily. And, especially as someone who teaches history of East Asia, we don’t have an East Asian art collection here. This is about as close as we can get.” Kennedy said that the collections

humanizes history for her students. “And what this collection does is it kind of opens up another window into, in this case, Japanese history, Japanese art and Japanese literature,” Kennedy said. Observing and valuing other cultures can be important and impactful for students. “The poems are ancient, they’re captured in a 20th century art form, and they’re being experienced by

During phase three of the revitalization project, the vacated second-f loor catering kitchen will be renovated into a three-venue food court. The Board of Trustees approved the Bone Student Center Revitalization project in May 2015. “A public quality-based selection process was a collaboration of stakeholders, including Bone Student Center, Campus Dining Services, the Dean of Students office, and facilities leadership,” Jome said. “We’ve been able to afford this through our revenue-generating services in the Bone Student Center, so students aren’t paying this out of tuition or anything like that.” An addition of f lat roof-dormer windows will be built

someone in the 21st century, and there’s a universality that connects us not just as human beings, but as human beings across the ages,” Kennedy said. Kennedy hopes that students will take advantage of the opportunity and experience part of a different culture. “Even if they just take a cup of coffee and go sit for a minute and look at it,” Kennedy said.

on the ceiling of the third f loor in order to create a more modern look for the building. “We’re doing these renovations because they are long overdue,” David Gill, director of Facilities Planning and Construction said. “For example, when walking from Milner Library to the Bone Student Center, it’s not very welcoming and we want to change that.” The first phase of the Bone Student Center Revitalization project will be completed by March 2019. Andrew Dougherty is a news reporter for The Vidette and can be reached at vidette_addough@ilstu.edu. Follow him on Twitter @addough.

Viewpoint

PAGE 4 | THE VIDETTE

VIDETTE EDITORIAL

MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 2017

The hopeful end of the Breitbart White House

t’s not an error to say Donald Trump’s victory over Hillary Clinton was one of the most surprising upsets in American political history. Trump was incessantly mocked since the day he announced his candidacy, and surely many of us are guilty of doing so. A year ago, many reveled in Jon Stewart’s mocking of Donald Trump after his infamous campaign announcement in which Trump referred to Mexicans as “rapists” and “criminals” before clarifying, “Some, I assume are good people.” Throughout the course of his campaign we had all been essentially numbed to this type of oratory from a man that is now the president of the United States. This rhetoric is the thing that attracted Steve Bannon to Trump. Bannon, a leader of the rightwing media outlet Breitbart, was named early on as one of Trump’s senior advisers. This was one of the most concerning early Trump hires to a lot of folks on both sides of the aisle. Bannon, like Trump, is an outsider. By hiring Bannon, Trump made his agenda clear: it would be “America first,” and seemingly, “America only.” As a prominent nationalist, this is what Bannon had in mind the whole time. According to The New York Tmes, Bannon was

allegedly leaking scoop to the presss and taking credit for much of the president’s “success.” Now that he has been let go from his position as one of Trump’s top aides there’s no telling what he’ll do next with his power at Breitbart. Early in Trump’s campaign, Breitbart was one of the outlets that championed him and his message. Though Trump would never say it, his rhetoric is straight from alt-right rallies. Bannon, not surprisingly, liked what Trump was saying and hitched himself to his wagon. It’s possible that Bannon overestimated his ability to control Trump and his mes-

sage, but because Trump is not a communicator in the classical sense, that is next to impossible. He has his own style that is not conventional in the sense of a Lincoln, FDR, Kennedy or Obama. There is not an ounce of elegance in his words. Despite this, he found a way to fire up a specific group of people with his inflammatory remarks. Trump’s use of Twitter is also something to note. No high profile candidate for public office has taken to social media quite like Trump. Unlike Obama, who is considered the first social media

president, his Twitter account is truly his, and since it is something that has helped him, I honestly do not foresee that changing. We will be getting tweets from inside the Oval Office, perhaps even if we’re lucky, we will have him tweet out important national security information in an effort to bait a foreign nation. Bannon being fired is, without a doubt, a step in the right direction for the Trump administration. Since Bannon has been fired, however, Trump has taken several steps backward, most notably pardoning Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio, a man found guilty in criminal contempt for defying court order to stop detaining people he thought were undocumented. Where Bannon goes from here is the most interesting aspect. He is held in high esteem at Breitbart and will most certainly slide back into his old position with ease. This could easily mean an all-out war from Breitbart on the White House, something that would absolutely not be out of character for Bannon. He is a vindictive person who holds his grudges, whether he agrees with people politically or not. It should be a fun few months if Bannon lives up to this war with Trump he’s promised to former colleagues.

Editorial Graphic by Lee Walls | Vidette Editorial Cartoonist

EDITORIAL POLICY Editorial written by ALEX GOUGH, 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.

‘What the Health’: Life or death? MY VIEW TAMIA LITTLE | Columnist

etflix’s documentary “What the Health” has sparked a frenzy across social media outlets, causing a ton of people to publicly commit to a more healthful way of eating. This film investigates the correlation between fatal diseases and processed meat products. As a vegetarian on the path to veganism, I am well aware of how detrimental eating animal flesh can be to one’s health and the environment. “What the Health” does a fantastic job at uncovering the reality of meat consumption and its terrifying effects. Many important yet shocking facts are disclosed throughout its entirety. Within the first four minutes of the documentary, producer Kip Andersen

shares that the World Health Organization classifies processed meat (like sausages, ham, bacon, hot dogs, etc.) as a group one carcinogen, which is the same group that cigarettes are in. He questions how it is legal to allow children to eat these foods knowing that diet directly increases one’s risk of chronic, yet preventable, disease. One of the interviewees, an assistant professor of medicine at New York University, states dietary choices trump smoking when it comes to these fatal illnesses. After millions of people developed chronic diseases and died from smoking, Congress finally decided to ban cigarette ads in 1970, and the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services launched numerous campaigns for tobacco use prevention and cessation ever since. Unfortunately, we are currently heading down the same deadly path with processed meat as the perpetrator. With the overwhelming evidence gathered that proves how dangerous processed meat consumption can be, it is mind boggling that one of largest and most trusted promoters of health and

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.

wellness, the American Cancer Society, encourages eating the very foods that are taking our lives. Eating meat increases our risk of having diabetes by 51 percent, yet the American Diabetes Association doesn’t have this information anywhere on its homepage. Instead, it feature recipes that include red and processed meat. Why isn’t our government making an effort to educate us on how harmful these fatty foods can be? Is the profit received from the meat industry, fast food corporations and pharmaceuticals more important than consumers’ health and well-being? The truth is that these leading organizations are sponsored by the very corporations that cause the diseases they claim they are fighting to end. They care more about feeding their pockets than providing us with the information needed to help us live long, healthy lives. They are not beneficial resources; they are a part of the problem. This is life and death, and many people are not treating this issue as such. The leading cause of death, and one of the greatest risks taken on by eating the

body tissue of animals, is heart disease. That means nearly one out of every three people in your group of friends or family will die from cardiovascular disease. You can take control and decrease that number simply by changing your eating habits and encouraging your loved ones to do the same. Will there ever be a day where ads featuring double cheeseburgers, steaks and chicken dinners will be seen as the death sentences they truly are? More than one third of American adults are obese, and we fail to realize that the fast food and meat industries, as well as the organizations that benefit from the success of these industries, are not on our side. As one of the most overweight country in the world, we have to commit to adopting better consumption habits so that our kids don’t face the same statistics we must overcome today. I encourage everyone to use this documentary and other sources like it as inspiration to learn more about maintaining a healthy lifestyle. It’s time to get serious about taking care of our bodies and stop killing ourselves by eating unnecessary, poisonous trash.

THEY SAID IT

MORE OPINIONS ONLINE

Jay [Groves] ... had an incredible institutional memory and tremendous experience here at ISU.”

Editorial: India is a step ahead of America in protecting trans population

“

Director of Facilities Planning and Construction David Gill said of ISU’s former chief of Staff, Groves, who retired last year. NOTE FROM THE EDITOR The editorial cartoon that appeared in Thursday’s Vidette was deemed offensive by some members of the Armed Forces at Illinois State University. It was not the Editorial Board or artist’s intent to disrespect those that have served or are currently serving, and they regret it.

Gough: Taking a stand by taking a knee Jeffers: Post-study abroad blues after returning home from London Visit The Vidette’s website or mobile app for complete details on these web-only opinion pieces by The Vidette Editorial Board

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MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 2017

Oberweis, That Burger Joint to open this fall The connected restaurants will open at the end of September or early October MASON MCCOY News Reporter | @Real_McCoy18

Originally thought to be opening this past spring, with a tentative debut in either late May or early June, the Oberweis Ice Cream and Dairy Story and connected That Burger Joint restaurants have yet to open their doors to the public. The upcoming site will open either the last week of September or the first week of October. The location plans to employ 50 people, most of them working part-time. The hiring process has just begun, with training to take place over the next month. “We’re super excited to be [in Bloomington],” President and CEO Joe Oberweis said. “We have a really unique and delicious concept that we hope is going to become a staple in Bloomington.” Oberweis’s new venture is located at 2105 N. Veteran’s Parkway at the former site of Carlos O’Kelly’s. The location is set to be remodeled, with a drive-thru being added to the original building to service customers who would rather take their food to go. The remodeling and construction are near completion. The Oberweis Ice Cream and Dairy Stores have been operating since 1951, with locations spread across the Midwest, centering at their

headquarters in Aurora. The company takes pride in selling bottled milk and packaged ice cream, among other dairy products. A trademark of The Oberweis Group, Inc., That Burger Joint was founded in 2012 and opened its first store in Skokie. Over the next five years, the company would go on to open three more stores in Naperville, Glen Ellyn and Bolingbrook, with plans to open two additional locations in central Illinois. “The Oberweis menu offers almost every dessert you can think of. We have banana splits, old fashioned hot fudge sundaes, root beer floats, shakes and much more,” Store Manager Max Hinton said in a previous interview. “As for That Burger Joint, we offer high quality burgers and chicken sandwiches, hot dogs, fries and as of recently, patty melts and chicken tenders.” The conjoined That Burger Joint restauPhoto courtesy of Wordpress.com rant will be the fifth of its kind, and the first The popular ice cream shop will open its doors at the end of September or beginning of October. one to be located in central Illinois, with a Champaign location set to open in the near The decision to open a location in Bloom- said. “It’s the only burger restaurant in the future. Although the two establishments will ington came after the success of previous That world where you can get an Oberweis shake.” be autonomous and thematically different, Burger Joints in northern Illinois, according to there will be no walls to stop customers from a Pantagraph interview with Oberweis. Mason McCoy is a news reporter for The Vidette. moving between locations and ordering off the “We had been looking in Bloomington and He can be reached at mmccoy@ilstu.edu two menus. Champaign both for a long time,” Oberweis Follow him on Twitter at @Real_McCoy18.

ISU nears the end of successful fifth Panama Bilingue Program PORCHIA WHITE News Reporter | @porchia_white

The newest group of Panamanian students arrived at Illinois State University at the beginning of the summer, as part of a 16-week program to improve their English by taking part in the school’s fifth Panama Bilingue Program. The program is through ISU’s English Language Institute. The Panamanian government developed a Panama Ministry of Education system, which the students are part of. This system strives to provide educational skills for the students to bring back to their country and help with the development of English language education throughout Panama. “We just want to practice the language and that is what have been doing here. I want to improve my English for when I return to my country, so I can have more knowledge on this beautiful language,”

participant Ana Peralta said. Many of the students have not traveled outside of the country before this experience. “Just being in a new country and practicing another language is a personal highlight for me,” participant Edgar Espinoza said. “I was surprised at how well I could interact with people in English. Watching English programs was difficult in Panama and I had a hard time understanding what they were saying, but I found that I could interact with almost anyone here in the U.S.” Melissa Leismer, interim assistant director for the English Language Institute, said she appreciates the school celebrating diversity and different backgrounds. “They are so motivated to learn, and they always bring so much life to our campus,” Leismer said. “I’ve also been impressed with our own ISU students and how enthusiastically they welcome these international

students — it’s great to be a part of a campus that celebrates diversity.” The students have been on weekend trips and excursions throughout their time in the U.S. They participated in cultural activities and visited a few historical attractions within the U.S. “I loved visiting all the different places here, especially Chicago,” Peralta said. “I will never forget these trips and the beautiful sights we saw. I really enjoyed every activity.” The students will return to Panama Sept. 16. According to Espinoza, many of the students feel comfortable speaking English or have improved in the language since they arrived to the U.S. and are prepared to bring their language skills back to Panama. The Office of International Studies and Programs plans to continue this program and partnership with the Ministry of Education to give quality language skills to future groups from Panama as well.

An upcoming International Seminar Series will give students the opportunity to explore the world of chocolate in a seminar entitled “Chocolate Politics: How Multinational Corporations, Governments, NGOs, and Critics Influence the Chocolate We Eat.” The seminar’s co-organizer Kathryn Sampeck, said “It’s been a longstanding series at the university and they’ve really done a lot over the last few years to really have increasingly excellent speakers come in and provide a setting that’s really accessible to a lot of people.” Sampeck said there is a diverse crowd of faculty, students and members of the community who show up to attend seminars. This event is meant to highlight food justice and sustainability issues. “That’s something that touches all of our lives and that what you choose to eat has a big effect on all sorts of people beyond yourself,” Sampeck said. Harvard lecturer Carla Martin will be the speaker at the event. “Her career is devoted to looking at that commodity

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chain of chocolate,” Sampeck said. “Trying to improve it, trying to bring more justice, more awareness, and more education to as many people as possible.” In most cases, cacao farmers do not earn much money for the work they perform. There is an aspect of social justice to the topic. Seeing how farmers can make alterations to the product to help with industry reform could have long term benefits for those putting in the effort. “We’ll be looking at the history of how cocoa became a global crop and how chocolate became a recipe that is known by people around the world,” Martin said. “Then we’ll be looking at what different decisions have been made at a national level by individual governments and also at an international level that have impacted what types of chocolate people have access to.” Founder of the Fine Cacao and Chocolate Institute, Martin is concerned with sustaining cacao producers. “I think it’s fundamentally going to end up changing the industry as a whole, those sorts of programs,” Sampeck said. The event will take place Wednesday from noon to 1 p.m in the Escalante Conference Room of Vrooman Center in Hewett-Manchester.

Features

PAGE 6 | THE VIDETTE

MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 2017

Bushels of fun

Sweet Corn Blues Fest brings out corn fanatics MADALYN LOISELLE Features Reporter | @madalynJeanL3

he aroma of kettle corn and fairground foods circled the Normal community this weekend. Uptown Normal hosted its 14th annual Sweet Corn Blues Festival, featuring musical performances and vendors from the area and across the state. Young families and college students alike browsed the many vendors and businesses lining the Beaufort and North streets. The festival is scheduled every year to immediately follow the first week of classes at Illinois State to welcome students back to Normal. That being said, the festival gives new students the opportunity to explore Uptown and its features. The first day, Saturday, started with the Gamma Phi Circus at 9:45 a.m. on the roundabout and ended with the Joe Zaklan Band at 3 p.m. Junior agribusiness major Mady Mckeown visited the festival in the afternoon. “I very much enjoyed the Sweet Corn Blues Festival,” she said. “I think it’s a good way for the community to get exposed to the businesses close to them and support them.” Between food trucks, crafts and antiques, the festival had a variety of options for the visitors. Although local blues bands performed well throughout the day, the vendors received the most attention from the crowds. The festival is a way to showcase the local talent of the vendors. Crafts included home décor, unique jewelry, decorative towels and clothing for all ages. There was even a booth for pet supplies. Among the vendors was Gavin Finefield, owner of Fine Field Pottery in Streator. His booth featured handmade clay mugs and dishes and other decorative items for the home.

TOP: Ben Sands, of Dwight, helps in the corn shucking process. RIGHT: Bloomington-Normal residents chow down on the tasty sweet corn. Photos by Alex Harrison Vidette Photographer

“It’s been a good show,” Finefield said of their first day at the festival. “We have a neat group of people coming through here, everybody from young families to senior citizens.” Finefield said depending on the sales at the end of the day, they may return to the festival next year. On one side of the Uptown Circle, there were booths from local politicians, the Army and nonprofit organizations benefitting causes such as LGBTQ rights and breast cancer research. The businesses in Uptown, such as the Garlic Press, Coffee Hound and Medici also

had booths right outside their front doors. For example, Babbitt’s Books had posters, comic books, $1 books outside that drew customers inside to pay and browse the other items. In addition to buying corn on the cob and uncooked corn by the dozen, ISU students received one corn on the cob for free. Overall, the Town of Normal reported over 50,000 ears of corn were consumed on the first day. Bloomington resident Kaitlyn Prehoda shared her enthusiasm for the sweet festival. “I loved enjoying the sweet corn with my mom. The corn dogs, snow cones and

lemon shake-ups were perfect ways to end the summer.” As the Sweet Corn Blues Festival ends, so does the summer festivities in BloomingtonNormal. The summer will return, however, just as the beloved sweet corn will sprout again in the state of Illinois.

Check out the related photo gallery on at videtteonline.com

College creates unique stress for unfamilar parents STUART STALTER Senior Features Reporter | @VidetteStuS

Childbirth is the greatest event in most parents' lives. From the moment they behold their new bundle of wonderment, a connection begins that lasts from the cradle to the grave. The process of morphing a newborn into a responsible adult crescendos when college begins. At that time, an emotional blender tears through the hearts of proud, yet paranoid, parents. When firstborns voyage away from the comforts of home into the unexplored area dubbed "the real world,” concerns intensify. Safety tops the list of parental concerns. Amidst thousands of unknown students that harbor varying beliefs and emotions, potential for unprovoked violence exists. Luckily for Illinois State University affiliates, a dedicated police force patrols the university. ISU Police Chief Aaron Woodruff provides safety advice for students. "I would advise students to pay attention to their surroundings," Woodruff said. "Oftentimes students are not looking at their intended destination because they are busy texting, checking social media or listening to music with ear buds. This puts

them at risk of not just being struck by a car or passing cyclist, but also makes them an easier target for other crimes." Once safety needs are met, parental concerns usually involve money. ISU's estimated yearly direct cost of $23,912 for 15-credit hour students living on campus is cheaper than University of Illinois' in-state estimated range of $30,876 to $35,880 for 12-credit hour students. Still, bills quickly accumulate for parents fronting ISU expenses. As costs increase, so does stress. Financial stress impacted Jim Doyle, father of first-semester freshman Lera Doyle. "When realization set in that Lera was going to college, I was very nervous," Doyle said. “We had several issues with FAFSA and they are still not resolved, so a huge concern was paying for college." Inexperience augmented Jim Doyle's frustration. Many parents who did not attend college feel as unprepared to handle mishaps as their children. "On top of financial issues, this is my first child to go to college," Doyle explained. "I never went, so I was not familiar with any of the processes. With that comes worries if she will be safe and have everything she would need to be successful."

Doyle is not alone in wondering if his first college attendee is ready to bear adult responsibilities. Lisa Lew, mother of freshman finance major Brandon Lew, experienced similar anxieties. "As we dropped Brandon off last week, all I felt, and still feel, is complete excitement for him," Lew said. "I still had some worries about would he know how to get to his classes, would he get there on time and will he be able to stay focused on his schoolwork, while also having to balance all the training, competing and traveling that come with playing a sport [tennis]." In seeing their kids experience a successful first week, Doyle and Lew's trepidation lessened. "I am completely assured Lera is safe now," Doyle said. "She is having a blast, which as a dad I happily worry that she is having too much fun." "I know Brandon is ready for this and will do great, even if he stumbles a little along the way," Lew added. "Brandon, if you're reading this, I do know that you got this and am just as excited as you are for what is ahead of you." Any parent who has not acquired the optimism Doyle and Lew possess should call the Parent and Family Services office at (309) 438-2008.

LEELIVEBRICE & THE CADILLAC THREE AT THE CORN CRIB IN NORMAL - SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2017

THE VIDETTE | NEWS | PAGE 7

MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 2017

Local star picks Redbirds Bloomington High School junior Chris Payton verbally commits to ISU NATE HEAD Sports Editor | @NateHead51

Bloomington High School basketball star Chris Payton also had offers from Saint Louis University, Illinois and Bradley. But he is staying home. Payton announced his verbal commitment to Illinois State via Twitter Thursday, marking the program’s first recruit of the 2019 class. The 6-foot-6 forward averaged 12.4 points and 8.7 rebounds in his sophomore season at Bloomington High last year. He particularly excelled in the Class 3A State Tournament, netting a double-double in both contests to lead his team to a third place finish. Payton still had two full prep seasons remaining to potentially garner more offers before it was required he make a decision regarding his collegiate career. However, the Bloomington native knew he wanted to stay in the area. “It is home. It’s a place where I love to be and feel most comfortable,” Pay ton said. “ISU definitely made me feel welcome, and everything is positive.” Although Payton has hit his stride in basketball, he grew up playing football throughout elementary school. In fact, if it were not for his older brother, he may have never pursued the sport that will pay for his college education. “I was primarily into football until sixth grade,” Payton said. “My brother made a bet to me that I wouldn’t make the basketball team. Then I made it

Photo courtesy Bloomington High School Boys Basketball Twitter

Chris Payton, left, averaged 12.4 points and 8.7 rebounds for Bloomington High School last season. Teammate Dazon Farris is shown with Payton. and started playing [Amateur Athletic Union]. From there, I started working constantly on ball handling, decision-making, shots and pretty much everything.” Payton will bring size and athleticism to the Redbirds in 2019, as he is a strong rebounder capable of playing fast in transition. Multiple highlight videos online showcase his ability to elude defenders to score at the rim. By the time he steps into Redbird Arena, he hopes to be a more versatile scorer. “I’d say I am an athletic rebounder that likes to run the f loor,” Payton said. “I am a

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Technique Tumbling & Cheer Prep is looking for Tumbling and Cheer Instructors for a new facility opening close to ISU in Normal this Fall! We have openings for Tumbling Instructors as well as instructors for Cheer Skills and Stunting. We are looking for mature, dependable, high-energy individuals willing to work with children of all ability levels. Experience is preferred but not required as we will train the right individuals. Background check and references are required. Email us with your interest and experience or a resume to info@ techniquetumbling.com and we will contact you!

slasher type of guy, but I’m more of an inside presence than outside, which I’d like to change a little bit because my jump shot isn’t as reliable as I’d like it to be.” While Illinois State has posted a winning record in the Missouri Valley Conference six times in the past 10 seasons, the program undoubtedly turned the corner a season ago after winning a share of the conference and posting an undefeated regular season record at Redbird Arena. Payton says he is impressed w ith the improvements his hometown team has made in recent seasons.

“Growing up, I never necessarily heard of ISU as a basketball school,” Payton said. “But in the last couple years, they have definitely made that transition. I think they should have an awesome season again this year.” Illinois State head coach Dan Muller — who is unable to officially comment on Payton per NCAA rules — and his staff were the first of the four programs to present a formal offer. “All positive vibes with them,” Payton said. “They think of me pretty highly and I think of them the same way.” Payton is expected to sign in November 2018.

Cavins returns to cheer KOURTNEY CUNNINGHAM Sports Reporter | @kourtcunningham

Sophomore special education major Shannon Cavins is entering her first season as an Illinois State cheerleader. Cavins cheered all four years of high school, but walking into a new atmosphere can be nerve- wrecking for anyone. After taking a year off of cheer after

the girls in a positive way,” Cavins said. Over the summer the team went to a Universal Cheerleaders Association camp in Wisconsin Dells where it focused on game day performances, stunting and tumbling. Tumbling is important to cheerleading and each team member has a diverse skill set ranging from back handsprings to a full. When it comes to stunting, the team can do full ups,

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ISU sophomore Shannon Cavins is returning to cheer after taking a year off. high school, Cavins said she was nervous during tryouts. “I was hoping for the best but expecting the worst,” Cavins said. “When I did make the team, I was very excited.” Luckily, her new teammates were very motivating and helped her throughout the adjustment process. “They set a good example of what the team should look like and critique

toe baskets and various types of pyramids. The team has held camps and practices three days a week in preparation for its first performance. The team’s focus is getting the crowd involved at games and cheering on the football team. The cheer team is set to make its 2017 debut 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Hancock Stadium.

NEWS IN BRIEF Junior transfer Zach Copeland ineligible for 2017-18 season Illinois State men’s basketball transfer Zach Copeland will miss the 2017–18 after failing to meet required academic standards set by the NCAA, The Pantagraph reports. Copeland signed his letter of intent in April. Last season, as a sophomore at City College of San Francisco, Copeland earned California Community College Men’s Basketball Coaches Association’s Co-Player of the Year honors after averaging 18.7 points a game. If Copeland is able to meet his academic requirements next season, he will still have two years of NCAA eligibility remaining. The loss of Copeland opens the door for six available guards on the ISU roster: juniors Keyshawn Evans and William Tinsley; sophomores Madison Williams and Matt Hein; and freshmen Elijah Clarance and Isaac Gassman. NATE HEAD | SPORTS EDITOR

Bloomington Thunder changes name The Bloomington Thunder hockey team has officially changed its name to the Central Illinois Flying Aces. Brendan Kelly, the team’s chief operating officer, appeared on WGLT on Aug. 15 and suggested that a new name was imminent, but did not reveal the new identity at that time. The name change is effective immediately, as the Flying Aces are set to begin the 2017–18 season Oct. 7 at Youngstown. “We’re really excited for the next chapter of our history,” Kelly said in a statement. “This organization has had numerous accomplishments in its three seasons, from the five NHL Draft picks to moving nearly 40 players onto NCAA Division I programs. The rebrand not only reflects that success, but unites our area as one large hockey community.” NATE HEAD | SPORTS EDITOR

ISU football names three captains for 2017 season The Illinois State football team has named three captains for the 2017 season. Redshirt juniors Jake Kolbe (offense) and Brannon Barry (special teams) and redshirt senior Dalton Keene (defense)will assume the roles after players and coaches each voted last week. Kolbe is set to enter his second full season as the team’s starting quarterback after leading the Redbirds to a 6-6 overall record last year. Keene will look to lead a defensive unit that is expected to compete at the top of the Missouri Valley Football Conference. He earned All-MVFC Second-Team honors last season after recording 65 sacks. Barry is a versatile utility player who has seen time as wide receiver, tight end, long snapper, defensive end and linebacker. He is primed to be a key piece in Illinois State’s special team effforts. NATE HEAD | SPORTS EDITOR

Sports

PAGE 8 | THE VIDETTE

MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 2017

‘The Money Fight’ worth the hype

MY VIEW MICHAEL MARRA | Sports Editor

Ali Rasper | Vidette Photographer

Illinois State freshman forward Sarah Lafayette evades University of Illinois defenders during Sunday’s game at Adelaide Street Field.

Soccer drowns out Illini, 2-0 Redbirds and new head coach Brad Silvey picked up the first win of the 2017 season Sunday, as Silvey also notches first career win at the helm NICK LANDI Sports Reporter | @TheDon1033

On Sunday at Adelaide Street Field, in the pouring rain, Illinois State head soccer coach Brad Silvey and his team finally were able to get over the hump. Thanks to goals by freshman Sarah Lafayette and senior Kelli Zickert, ISU (1-2-1) beat in-state rival Illinois (1-3-0) 2-0. The victory gave Silvey his first win not just with the team, but also as the leader of a Division I program. “Obviously, [I’m] really excited for the team,” Silvey said. “Full credit to them. They earned it. They earned every ounce of that win. And we talked about just sticking to the process, believing in the process. And tonight, all the pistons were firing.” “I think the struggle to get here is

what made it so sweet,” sophomore goalkeeper Haley Smith said added. “Everyone worked so hard and we bought into our plan and it finally just all came together tonight and it was beautiful to watch and be a part of it.” As early as the first minute of the match, ISU was able to attack the Fighting Illini early and often. Twenty seconds into the contest, senior Emily Dickman had a header that narrowly missed going in the net. After Friday’s, 1-0, loss to Saint Louis, Silvey went back to the drawing board to revise his starting lineup. On Sunday, he put Lafayette, sophomore Brittany Paganucci, and senior Angel Krell into the lineup while taking out freshman Jessica Denney, sophomore Mikayla Unger and senior Hannah Rodgers.

The Redbirds nearly went into the half in a scoreless tie until at 44:31; Lafayette had a shot deflect off an Illinois player into the goal. It is the first goal of Lafayette’s collegiate career. After multiple chances to increase the lead in the second half, the Redbirds finally did so at 76:08 when Zickert got a rebound off her own shot and was able to knock in her first goal of the season. Five saves from Smith would lock up the win for ISU. “Personally, I’ve played them twice and they’ve both been really great games and it’s great to finally beat a big team like this,” Smith said. “And I think it’s really going to help everyone’s confidence moving forward and show them that, if you keep working, you can accomplish great things.” Even with the convincing win,

Silvey still sees more things to work on. One point of emphasis was the Redbirds not converting on more scoring opportunities. “Twenty-nine shots and to only get two goals out of it? We got to do better,” Silvey said. “We have to do better in front of the goal because, let’s be honest, we are not going to have 29 chances in every single contest moving forward, so efficiency in that area.” Now the team will look to build off this victory and start putting more wins together in the near future. “I hope to keep going,” Smith said. “One win is nice, but I hope to keep going. We need to beat our victory streak like we did last year.” ISU travels to Pittsburgh, for two matches this weekend, starting with a game on at 6 p.m. Friday against Duquesne.

Volleyball goes 1-2 over the weekend ISU wins season opener Friday before dropping two matches Saturday NICK DAMIANI Sports Reporter | @nGdamiani

The Leah Johnson era began this weekend when the Redbird volleyball team went 1-2 at the Baylor Invitational. The Redbirds opened the season Friday with a win over UC, Santa Barbara (UCSB) before falling in matches Saturday against nationally ranked No. 15 Florida State and host Baylor. The Redbirds dominated in Friday’s season opener, cruising to a 3-0 win against the Gauchos. Junior Lexi Wallen paced the Redbirds with 13 kills, while senior Jaelyn Keene chipped in 12 of her own to go with three blocks. For Johnson, Friday’s opener was a culmination of this team’s off-season work. “This weekend, we wanted to stay true to the offensive style we run, true to our serving and side out concepts,” Johnson said. “I thought the team really bought in and we saw the results immediately against UCSB.” Saturday’s matches proved to be a true test for the Redbirds, as they dropped a five-set

thriller to No. 15 Florida State. After dropping the opening set, the Redbirds won back-to-back sets 30-28 and 25-23 to take 2-1 lead. In the fourth set, ISU found itself in a 15-8 hole before surviving three set points to even the score at 24. The final set seemed to be all Seminoles as they owned a commanding 12-5 lead after five straight points. The Redbirds would cut the deficit to 12-7, but then were shut out the rest of the way in a 15-7 loss. Leah Keene set a new career Johnson high while leading all players with 24 kills. Ali Line also chipped in 16 kills to go with a team-high seven blocks for the Redbirds. Freshman Stef Jankiewicz impressed while running the offense, collecting a match-high 64 assists. Jankiewicz showed great composure as a freshman facing off with one of the country’s top teams.

“She [Jankiewicz] got the call to run the offense right out the gate and she was smooth she made great decisions and she played the whole game defensively and offensively, I was really pleased with her performance,” Johnson said. The Redbirds wrapped up the weekend with a 3-0 loss to host Baylor just hours after their five-set marathon with the Seminoles. ISU never found its groove dropping the matches, 25-9, 25-15, 25-19. Keene and sophomore Machayla Leonard paced the Redbirds with five kills each, while junior Courtney Pence picked up 18 digs. Despite the 1-2 outcome on the weekend, coach Johnson was pleased with her team’s early performance. “This is a new team for me and I wanted to see how much the team would buy into the process and I was so excited to see the risks they were willing to take this weekend,” Johnson said. The Redbirds will be back in action at the Marcia E. Hamilton Classic in St. Louis next weekend, where they will face off with Saint Louis, Kennesaw State and University of California, Irvine.

For three hours on Saturday, America’s eyes were glued to television screens for one of the most anticipated sporting events in recent memory: The Money Fight. I, like many others, just wanted reassurance that the stiff $99.95 pay-per-view price would all be worth it. After seeing the bout go down, it’s safe to say, all the hype was worth the build-up. When this whole thing began, the thought of the biggest fight in sports being “fixed” couldn’t help but cross one’s mind. The amount of money being dished out, the trash talk and the fact the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s shining star wanted to go toe-to-toe with boxing’s undefeated Floyd Mayweather in a boxing ring all seemed a little to good to be true if you asked me a few months ago. Just as predicted, Conor McGregor came out swinging, looking to land a few blows. To his credit, McGregor arguably took the early rounds from Mayweather. Both fighters said the fight would not go the distance, which proved to be true. McGregor ran out of gas in the middle rounds and by the time Mayweather seized victory with a TKO in the 10th round, one could visible see the fatigue in the UFC star. For McGregor fans, it was a somber end to the MayweatherMcGregor hype, which captivated the sporting world for the last few months. McGregor came into Saturday’s boxing match never having stepped into a boxing ring prior to booking this prize fight. The Irishman had a career record of 21-3 and was making his pro boxing debut. McGregor winning Saturday’s fight would have been detrimental to the sport of boxing. I was rooting for McGregor to give Mayweather his only loss inside the ring, but for the world of sports, Mayweather’s 50th victory saved boxing as we know it. An outsider like McGregor coming in against all odds and handing Mayweather a loss would have caused the world champion boxer’s legacy to be destroyed on the spot. Sure, a nice $100 million payday could get anyone out of retirement,. But the fact that a legacy was on the line and Mayweather’s opponent was more than capable of taking a victory would have left me a bit uneasy leading up to the fight after not stepping foot into a ring since Sept. 15, 2015. The only satisfying thing for me about Mayweather’s victory is that he did not come out like he did against Manny Pacquiao and dance around the ring. Mayweather showed poise and composure as he let McGregor come sprinting out of the gate each round, just waiting to go in for the knockout of a fatigued McGregor. When all is said and done, “The Money Fight” lived up to its hype. Let’s just take the time one more time and say thank God the fight wasn’t the scam we all feared.