THE Redbird ’BIRD fams fly THE VIDETTE PRESENTS
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 Vol. 129 / No. 08
videtteonline
to campus
There are a multitude of events to keep ISU parents and siblings busy this weekend. Full rundown, page 2.
Cover graphic by KAYLEE HAYEN Vidette Graphic Designer
SWEDISH GUARD COMMITS TO REDBIRD HOOPS SPORTS 8
Q&A WITH PRESIDENT DIETZ NEWS 3
PAGE 2 | NEWS | THE VIDETTE
Your guide to ISU Family Weekend
STAFF LIST Editor in Chief
Ave Rio
News Editors
Ema Sasic Mary Cullen
Features Editor
Morgan Kuniej
Sports Editors
Jason Klaer Josh Tolentino
Photo Editors
Jenna Kadziulis Kelly McNamara
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016
P
ast, present and possibly even future Redbirds will all be in attendance during this year’s Family Weekend. There are plenty of events available Friday through Sunday for people of all ages to enjoy.
Explore the past with Milner’s time capsule exhibit
Family Weekend Luau
Illinois State University will be unveiling its very first “Time Capsule: A Normal Tradition” exhibit in Milner Library. The exhibit will take place from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. beginning Friday for Family Weekend and will be open until the beginning of December. Included in the exhibit are a total of six time capsules and all of the materials found in the boxes. “The time capsules we found are from Old Main, Dunn-Barton, Walker Hall, Hamilton-Whitten and Atkin-Colby dorms,” ISU University Archivist April Anderson said. The exhibit is located on the main floor of Milner Library on the southwest wall and is free for current students. The materials found in Hamilton-Whitten in April 2016 sustained some damage due to a leak and can only display a couple of items from the capsule. The time capsules from Atkin-Colby, Dunn Barton and Walker were enclosed in cornerstone from 1950 to 1961. The oldest time capsule that will be featured in the exhibit is from Old Main, which was enclosed in cornerstone in 1851. “The exhibit has a reprint of an article from the October 7, 1857 edition of the Weekly Pantagraph describing what was placed in the capsule and who was on hand for the ceremony for the burying of Old Main’s time capsule,” Anderson said. The rest of the materials in the capsules, although the university is not fully certain, are believed to have been mostly chosen by students of the university at the time. “I think projects like these are always interesting, and time capsules offer unique perspectives in that the items are, to a certain extent, representative of the current culture,” Milner Library Copyright Officer Sarah Dick said. The burying of time capsules has been a tradition worldwide carried out for centuries so generations can learn about goods and information from that time period. “I’d say this is one of the university’s original traditions,” Anderson said. “Only two days after the start classes and the university community places a time capsule into the cornerstone of the first building on campus.”
Kevin Rizzo
8 - 10 p.m. Friday Prairie Room, Bone Student Center For people who did not get to travel to the tropics this year, the Luau is an option. There will be a showing of “Lilo and Stitch” and tropical smoothies will be served. The event is free and sponsored by the University Program Board.
Ad Production Manager
Horticulture Autumnal Festival
Night Editors
Laura Rocco Joe Martuzzo Social Media Manager
Bret Farrell
Art Director
Jeremy Burcenski Ad Sales Manager
Sarah Foote
Business Adviser
9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Saturday ISU Horticulture Center, Raab Road Attendees will be able to explore gardens, enjoy children’s activities, purchase pumpkins, gourds and popular fall desserts and bid on their favorite scarecrow or flower container. Tickets cost $5 for ages 13 and older, $3 for ages 3 to 12 and free for ages two and younger.
General Manager
Uptown Normal Entertainment
Business Manager
Zack Oldenburg Office Manager
Katie Murphy
Marketing Team Manager
Charlie Goodyear
Web Editor
Caleb Boma Madeline Smith
John Plevka
DIRECTORY EDITOR 309.438.8745 ADVERTISING 309.438.8742
Various times Saturday Uptown Normal Circle The Uptown Normal roundabout will be full of entertainers all day long. Bloomington blues group the Joe Zaklan Band will perform from 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Multi-genre
CASSIE MCNEILL News Reporter | @165_Cassie1
Vidette Archive Photo
artist Andrew Hedges will start his set at 1 p.m. Leah Marlene will finish off from 3-5 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
Redbird Football vs. EIU 2 p.m. Saturday Hancock Stadium Experience a true showdown between the ISU Redbirds and Eastern Illinois University at Hancock Stadium. Tickets and tailgate passes are available online. For more information, contact the Illinois State University Athletics Ticket Office at 309-438-8000.
“Minute to Win It” Challenge 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Saturday Student Fitness Center
Two-person teams of all ages will use everyday household items to try to complete tasks in one minute. Team registration takes place from 5:00 - 5:45 p.m. at the Student Fitness Center and will be on a firstcome, first-serve basis.
Bowling and Billiards Funday 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Sunday Bowling and Billiards Center Students and family members can enjoy bowling, billiards, table tennis and bags for just $2 per person. Giveaways and a brunch buffet will be provided as well. The first 25 people to enter will receive a free T-shirt. compiled by EMA SASIC | News Editor
BUSINESS 309.438.5929
Complete Family Weekend schedule at V idet teonline.com
CLASSIFIEDS 309.438.7685
Planetarium show soars
NEWS 309.438.2882 FEATURES 309.438.8746 SPORTS 309.438.3723 FACSIMILE 309.438.5211
The Illinois State University Planetarium is taking children and adults of all ages beyond the stars for Family Weekend. “Two Small Pieces of Glass: The Amazing Telescope” is a short film about the evolution of telescopes – from a child’s spy glass to NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope. Full story by Mallory Lovings on Videtteonline.com
The Vidette
SOC open house at Fell Hall The School of Communication will host its annual Family Day celebration from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday in Fell Hall. This year’s theme is “Lights, Cameras, Redbirds,” and students can look forward to raffles with great prizes and other activities. Full story by Cassie McNeill on Videtteonline.com
University Galleries introduces new shows University Galleries will host two new exhibitions in time for Family Weekend. The exhibitions are “Wonsook Kim: Lines of Enchantment” by alum Wonsook Kim and “Placelessness” by Marissa Lee Benedict and David Rueter. Full story by Stephanie Rodriguez on Videtteonline.com
The Vidette is published Monday and Thursday every week, except for final examinations, holidays, and semester breaks. The Summer Vidette is published every other week. Students are responsible for the content of the Vidette. The views presented do not necessarily represent, in whole or part, those of the Illinois State University
Worship Directory
Unitarian Universalist Church Sunday Service: 10:00am “A welcoming congregation” “A green sanctuary church”
210ÊS.ÊFellÊAvenue Normal,ÊILÊ61761 309-454-4903 www.ctk4u.org
Continue reading this online.
videtteonline.com/article
administration, faculty, and students. The Vidette is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press and the Illinois College Press Association. Subscriptions are available by mail to anywhere in the United States for $150 per calendar year. © The Vidette 2016 University & Locust / Campus Box 0890 / Normal, IL 61761–0890
Clear View Church Sunday Services: 9:00 & 11:00am 1503 East College Ave, Suite G, Normal (309) 451-8439 www.clearview-church.org
Christ The King Episcopal Church Adult Christian Education: Sunday at 9am Children's Sunday School: Sunday at 10am (2nd and 4th Sundays only) Holy Eucharist: Sunday - 10:15am 1
210ÊS.ÊFellÊAvenue Normal,ÊILÊ61761 309-454-4903 www.ctk4u.org
THE VIDETTE | NEWS | PAGE 3
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016
Dietz: lack of funding is ‘unfathomable’ MARY CULLEN AND EMA SASIC Vidette News Editors | @MaryCullen7 | @Ema_Sasic
This time last year, public universities across Illinois did not receive funding and struggled to make ends meet. As a result, many had to lay off employees and cut programs. Fast forward to this year; Illinois State University is a leader in public universities with rising enrollment and various national rankings. The Vidette News Editors Mary Cullen and Ema Sasic sat down with President Larry Dietz to discuss the year ahead.
Coming off of the budget impasse last year, how does your outlook on this school year compare?
How has the first month of the semester been so far? It’s been great. We’ve had a lot of good news about the enrollment. We have the largest freshman class now in the last 27 years, it’s kind of a three-peat, three years ago we had the largest freshman and most diverse freshman class in 25 years, last year was 26 and now this is 27. People believe in Illinois State University and our academic programs and they get jobs and well-paying jobs. Our default rate is only 2.8 percent compared to 11.7 percent nationally, so in my estimation, people are really voting with their feet, and we’ve got more feet on campus this year. It’s a very positive thing. I would [be] remiss if I didn’t talk about the success of our athletic program already. They had a good weekend, our volleyball team won and obviously the football team won, and this morning we just opened a new Starbucks over at the Student Fitness Center, so we’ve got all kinds of things going, whether it’s in the classroom, outside of the classrooms, in athletics or you just want to have a nice cup of coffee, so all positives.
Were there any initiatives you took to continue the rising enrollment numbers? That whole recruitment effort is a team effort and our folks that were responsible for that, admissions and enrollment management, financial aid, housing, academic advisors and all of those folks played a key role. We were basical-
Jenna Kadziulis | Vidette Photo Editor
President Larry Dietz said the university is strong due to increasing enrollment and does not anticipate layoffs or furloughs. ly doing what we had done before in terms of telling people about the quality of this place. More people were recognizing that, so you just get to the point where we’re responding to the demand and the demand’s been very strong here and we’re pleased about that. As far as me doing anything special, I go over and welcome folks at the open houses, so my role in that is to support the people who do the hard work.
Several public Illinois universities have reported decreasing freshman and overall enrollment numbers. How does ISU continue to be strong in this category? I think our retention rate is really terrific. We rank in the top 10 percent in the nation in our retention and graduation rates. There are about 4,600 institutions across the country, so being in the top 400 is pretty rare to find here. So the first part is that as you bring in people, you have to have the programs, the faculty have to treat those folks right in the classroom, our staff have to provide good service and then you keep the word of mouth going while they’re here. But the retention rate, as you bring in people and a high retention rate, and you add more people to that in the next class, you’re just going to have higher numbers. My colleagues at other places that have a different mission don’t have the retention rate that we do, so I think it starts there and then we have other positive brands. So I think those two things in combination are really working well for us.
Are there any challenges the university might face this year from increased enrollment or having funding only up to the end of the year? In terms of finances, we are in pretty good shape. The reason for that is our enrollment. The other part of that is our alums, donors, foundations and overall contributors and friends have also been contributing at higher levels. We don’t anticipate using those dollars to pay the utility bills — that’s not what attracts a donor. They want to make a difference, and so we are honoring that, but they are making contributions to lots of different programs, scholarships, academic units, co-curricular offerings,
athletics and other things. For this year, we think we will be okay without having to go through any layoffs or furloughs. If it continues, I think everybody is going to be in a bit of a bind, but I think during this year some of the other institutions may have difficulty getting through the entire academic year without any infusion state dollars at all. I’ll tell you that we are the only state in the union right now that does not have a budget. Last year it was Pennsylvania and us. I don’t think the Pennsylvanians are any brighter than we are to try and figure this out. So, if we can get the political will among the elected officials to come together, we can figure this out. The higher education group, the convener of all of the university presidents in the state, met just last week and we are on a conference call every Wednesday. We are happy to be a part of this discussion, but the idea that we don’t deserve some state money in a timely way, to me, is really unfathomable.
With increasing freshman enrollment, many wonder if there is enough space for all students to live on-campus. Is the university well-equipped for these growing numbers? Well, we’re not having major increases, overall we were up 1 percent—we were up 300 students in the freshman category. We require all freshmen and sophomores to live on campus. We have some facilities, as you all know, so it does get a little tighter. What happens with that is we can then become a little more generous with the exceptions we grant for some sophomores. Some sophomores want to move off, and there are some good reasons for retention to keep our freshman here. And, there is research that would say it is better for sophomores to live on COUPON
$
8.99
HAIRCUT CAMPUS: Main St Between Mcdonalds & Buff. Wild Wings NORMAL EAST: Veterans Parkway in front of Walmart NORMAL NORTH: Main & Raab By Moe's and new Schnucks
WALK RIGHT IN! Expires 12/15/2016
COUPON
VID899
campus, but that research is not as clear for sophomores as it is for freshman. And so, we are going to continue with the freshman, tweak the sophomores a little bit until we can get to the point where we can build a little bit more housing. We are talking about a new complex at the Cardinal Court area. We just did a land swap with the Town of Normal and we are getting the fire station by the golf course. Eventually, we will tear that down and probably build another facility there. But, we are not going to build another Watterson Towers. I think part of our success as an institution is that we have also been conservative with our planning and conservative with our finances. We have the lowest debt ratio of all public institutions in the state. So that means that when we start planning things, we spend time doing that so we make sure we are not doing something that we don’t have the population to afford.
Can you talk a little about the Campus Climate Task Force you initiated? What led to this and what are some of your plans?
What are some of the goals you hope to achieve this school year? Come to my State of the University Address on Thursday and I will tell you about them. I don’t want to blow my cover.
My plan right now is to listen. We
FRI. THURS. WED. TUES. MON.
We never had a budget last year, we had two stopgap measures. The last one was June 30. To me, it shows [Illinois lawmakers] can come together and take action and we hope they’ll do that a lot sooner than they did last year. The negative impact of that impasse was pointed out by lots of media outlets. We need to keep good Illinois students in Illinois, and unfortunately some left because they weren’t certain about the financial future of the state and they translated that into “we’re not sure about our future and enrolling in some institutions.” That wasn’t the case here, though I did get some personal calls from some families last year wanting that reassurance. There was one in particular who said, “Well, I appreciate that, I appreciate the time, I appreciate the reassurance, I know you’re doing your job, but I’m still sending my son out-of-state.” Now that’s terrible, so you’ll miss out on their academic talent and eventually you miss out on their tax money if they don’t come back and get a job in Illinois. I’m hopeful our elected officials will make a more timely decision and get a budget sooner rather than later.
did the survey last year and we got a report from the group that we contacted with to do that survey. It was a group out of the University of Pennsylvania that has a center for raising equity on their campus, and so they have a national reputation for being able to do this sort of thing. We got the report back and rather than just accept the report, there were a number of recommendations within the report, some are long term goals and some are short term goals. What I really want to do is get a group of folks on the campus that represent students, faculty and staff — and actually one of our board of trustees is also in that group — and ask them to review the report very thoroughly and start talking about what are short term gains, what are longer term gains, what are some extra things. We’ve already figured out one extra thing we could be doing, and we’ve done that, and that is the report that we received really didn’t say anything about what we’re currently doing. Well, we’re doing a lot in terms of diversity. So we took some time and did our own internal information gathering so they would have something else. It doesn’t mean we are doing enough or necessarily all of the right things, but we are doing a lot better. So, we have two reports and they are going to be wrestling with that most of this year. About next spring I expect we will have some recommendations from that group that will be more specifically identified for us to address. We’ve already done a few things. The Office of Equal Opportunity and Ethics — we have changed that and separated out the ethics component and moved that into our auditing area. We also are having some new leadership coming in for that office that we are advertising right now. There’s a couple of names of some problematic areas that people thought ought to be changed, so we are making some of those changes.
$5 Domestic Pitchers $3 Fireball Lunch Special: Ribeye Steak Sandwich $2 Domestic Longnecks $3 Rail Calls $3 Imports and Micro Brews Lunch Special: Reuben $1 Tacos (3pm-9pm) $5 Bud Family Pitchers $4 Vodka & Redbull $4 Bombs Lunch Special: Pork Tenderloin $2 Domestic Bottles $3 J.P. Wisers Rye Whiskey $3 Sailor Jerry Lunch Special: Ham & Cheese $3 Jack Daniels $2.50 Keeper Cup $2.75 Corona and Corona Lite Lunch Special: Cod Sandwich
Patio Open & Margarita Specials Everyday! 102 N. Linden St. | 309.452.0699
Viewpoint
PAGE 4 | THE VIDETTE
VIDETTE EDITORIAL
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016
Weekend to provide free family fun for Redbirds
F
amily Weekend is the weekend where the air seems warm and fuzzy. All the love turns memories into unforgettable ones. Every year, Illinois State University designates a weekend for students’ families to come down and check out college life. It’s a great opportunity to bond with your family away from home. There are tons of things to check out and experience, and most are free. Here is a breakdown of what to expect from this weekend’s events. On Friday, Milner Library is hosting a time capsule exhibit from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. The exhibit will include things people left behind from the old dorms, Hamilton-Whitten and AtkinColby. It will also feature capsules found by Old Main and U-High. It’s a great way to experience history by seeing things that were left behind, deliberately or not. This event is free, as well as admission to University Galleries located right by Uptown Circle. University Galleries is a great place to take your family. It will be open until 5 p.m. on Friday and will feature the work of a School of Art alum. Art galleries are something everybody can experience and discuss together. It’s a great atmosphere and kid-friendly as well. Bowling and Billiards Center will also be open on Friday from 1 p.m. to 1
a.m. Located right next to the Bone Center, the Bowling and Billiards Center is a perfect place to bond while not spending a ton of money. Students can bring up to four guests that can also receive student discount rates. Illinois State University Planetarium is also having “Two Small Pieces of Glass: The Amazing Telescope”, which teaches astronomy through a story. Planetariums are super cool, so it’s something to check
out as well. To end the night, the Bone Center is having a Luau starting at 8 p.m. which includes fun beach-themed activities for everyone. The biggest day is Saturday when ISU football takes on Eastern Illinois. Tailgate lots open at 7 a.m. The tailgate is a strongly encouraged event filled with food and beverages. Football games are a great time and place to show off your ISU spirit. Kickoff is at 2 p.m., but make sure to stop by
Reggie’s Fun Zone with kids at Horton Field House beforehand. There will be inflatable jump houses, coloring and an appearance by Reggie himself. If you’re not into football, there are plenty of other things to do instead. Uptown Circle is having live music and later at night there will be a magician performing at the Bone. Michael Carbonaro, who hosts his own show “The Carbonaro Effect”, will display his mind-blowing talents. A ticket is required for this
Editorial Cartoon by Jeremy Burcenski | Vidette Art Director
event and they are available on Ticketmaster or at the Braden Box Office in the Bone Center. If magic is not your thing and game shows are, the Prairie Room in the Bone is having an interactive show for the whole family. That event starts at 8 p.m. Sunday will be the day everything starts winding down. Bowling will still be open, as well as the University Galleries. Take your family out to a nice local restaurant for breakfast or lunch. They probably had a blast all weekend and want to go home to rest. Sunday will probably be homework day for the majority of us. Plan ahead, and don’t leave all your homework until the last minute. There are plenty of activites to do both in Normal and Bloomington that are worth checking out. Check out familyweekend.illinoisstate.edu for more information on Family Weekend. Everyone’s family is welcome to come down and hang out. Take your family around the Quad and show them your classrooms; they would love to see that part of your life. Take them for a bite at Watty, so they get to do some of the things you do too. Family Weekend is the time to relax and bond. Although you might not be missing your family as much as they miss you, enjoy the time you spend together.
Editorial written by IAN IVKOVICH, 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.
Stop hiding behind your cellphone MY VIEW MARY CULLEN Columnist
F
ew things manage to tick me off more than when you are trying to have a conversation with someone and they are too entranced by their cellphone to acknowledge your existence. Nothing is worse than coming home to your roommates after a stressful day with hopes of letting off some steam and being met with a piece of metal with a shiny image of an apple. You can talk all you want, as loud as you want and as enthusiastically as
you want, but that apple will not give you the time of day. As millennials, technology is second nature to us. We are known for being tech savvy and our elders look to us to shine light on the mysterious shadows that are present-day technological advances. I am not beating up on the fact that we use technologies such as cellphones or saying that use of these items is wrong, I am simply calling out the absolute ridiculousness that is cellphone dependency. No time in your life will you find face-to-face conversation a thing of the past. You can stare into the screen of that iPhone all day, whether it’s on FaceTime or Facebook, and never receive the required human contact stimulation that is necessary to our
biology. I am not selfish. I am not saying my conversations with you are more important than whatever is on that tiny screen of yours. I simply beg you to stop and “smell the roses” of life. Spending time staring at your phone when out to dinner with your friends during your senior year of college is a disservice to yourself. You might tick off your friends, or maybe they are doing the same thing, but most importantly you are putting that piece of technology as a higher priority. Surrounding you, there are friends with whom you only have so much time left with. What on your phone is more important than that? Do you really need to make sure Beyoncé hasn’t posted a new photo on Instagram? Your friend
may have just had a rough day or landed a second interview at their dream job. They need you, and that apple icon is not going to give them the words they want to hear. Not only do you appear rude and genuinely disinterested in anything and everything not having to do with your cellphone, but you give off the vibe that you are constantly waiting for something better. You’re on your phone at that dinner with your friends, for example. Sitting, staring at the screen of your cellphone shows your friends that you are hoping something more interesting comes up. Whether that’s Beyoncé’s new photo or a text message from someone else, you appear displeased and bored with where you are and whom you are with.
Oftentimes, this is an unintended effect. You likely are not maliciously staring at your phone, crossing your fingers for a Snapchat to come through. Unfortunately, it is a habit we all fall into — some more frequently than others. Stop using your phones in class, stop checking your Facebook at dinner and stop burying your nose in that piece of metal when the world around you is so beautiful. You are missing out on more than you think, and you will never get the chance to figure it out for yourself until you try. Mary Cullen is a senior journalism major and news editor of The Vidette. Any questions or concerns regarding her column can be sent to vidette_mmcullen@ ilstu.edu.
Call today for your apartment tour
1-, 2-, 3-, & 4-bedroom options available
309-454-4100
FREE high speed internet NO application fees FREE on-site parking Close to campus Sparkling clean, contemporary units 2309 E. Empire Street, Suite 600, Bloomington, IL 61704
www.meredithsproperties.com Find us on Facebook@MeredithsProperties
THE VIDETTE | NEWS | PAGE 5
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016
GRAND OPENING BLOOMINGTON | SEPTEMBER 18 Colonial Plaza
make home
YOURS for
SO MUCH LESS
Styles vary by store. ©2016 HomeGoods, Inc.
Inspiring Decor | Top Brand Furniture | Gourmet Cookware | Designer Bedding + More
BRING THIS FORM TO THE BLOOMINGTON GRAND OPENING FOR A CHANCE TO WIN.
WIN A $1,000 HOMEGOODS SHOPPING SPREE! OH SO MUCH INSPIRATION! Join the conversation, and share creative tips, tricks & ideas.
COLONIAL PLAZA | SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 | 8AM– 8PM NAME ADDRESS CITY
STATE
TELEPHONE
ZIP CODE
SIGN ME UP FOR HOMEGOODS EMAIL!
Get inspiration, plus news about seasonal finds and store openings. Visit homegoods.com for our privacy policy.
HomeGoods Bloomington Grand Opening Sweepstakes 2016 Official Rules. No purchase necessary. Sweepstakes begins at 8:00:00 a.m. local time on 9/18/16 and ends at 8:00:00 p.m. local time on 9/25/2016 at the HomeGoods located at 1608B East Empire Street, Bloomington,IL 61701; open only to legal U.S. residents of the 50 United States and D.C. who are 18 years old or older; see Official Rules at www.homegoods.com/gorulesbloomington for additional eligibility restrictions, prize descriptions/restrictions/values, odds, alternate method of entry, and complete details; limit one (1) entry per person and per email address per day regardless of method of entry; void where prohibited. Sponsor: HomeGoods, Inc., 770 Cochituate Road, Framingham, MA 01701
PAGE 6 | NEWS | THE VIDETTE
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016
ISU ranks 78th for best public university EMA SASIC News Reporter
As a result of several positive factors, Illinois State University was named the 78th best public university in the country according to U.S. News & World Report. The university moved up from last year’s 79th ranking. U.S. News & World Report factors in graduation and retention rates, undergraduate academic reputation, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, graduate rate performance and alumni donor rate when ranking schools. ISU fit and excelled in several of these categories. The university increased its graduation rate to 73 percent, above the national average of 60 percent for public universities. ISU is also high on graduates repaying student loans. The default rate is 2.8 percent compared to 11.7 percent nationally. “The word is out about our top 10 percent graduation and retention rates in the country, about our low student debt, our low percentage of students who default on their loans,” ISU Chief of Staff Jay Groves said. “Those are the kind of things that students and their families are looking for when investing in a university, and Illinois State fills the bill and more on those accounts.” ISU also has 32.7 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, keeping up with its 18:1 student to faculty ratio.
Ave Rio | Vidette Editor-in-Chief
Illinois State ranked 78th in Top Public Universities and placed 152nd in National Universities. Due to a lack of funding from last year’s budget impasse, alums, donors and others have been contributing to the university at higher levels. The money received is spent on programs, scholarships and other resources offered. One of the more notable features accounted in ISU’s report includes its
record-breaking enrollment numbers for this year. The university currently has its largest freshman class in 27 years, breaking its freshman enrollment records for the third year in a row. Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management Troy Johnson said all of the qualities ISU possesses make it a top choice
Burger Baskets:
across Illinois and the United States. “When you combine graduation rates, ability to get a job or graduate school … this is a great university,” he said. ISU also ranked 11th for Undergraduate Insurance, 152nd in the National Universities ranking and 218th for Best Undergraduate Business Programs in the U.S. News & World Report. The university also received other rankings earlier this week. The 2017 College Guide released by College Factual ranked ISU 22nd in the nation for Best Colleges for the Money. In-state tuition and fees for the 2015-2016 school year were $13,296 and out-of-state was $20,886, according to U.S. News & World Report. “As President Dietz always says, parents and students shop universities for the best value, for the investment and after making the comparisons they vote with their feet, and a lot of those feet are traveling to Illinois State,” Groves said. It also ranked 58th for the Best Colleges for Veterans, compared to over 1,400 schools. For the past six years, ISU has been named military-friendly by the Military Advanced Education and Transition Guide to Colleges and Universities. The university has a longstanding tradition of military support and services offered to veterans and ROTC students.
21 & Over After 6 pm
102 S. Linden St. Normal, IL 61761 (309) 452-7393
$2.00 Single Basket $3.50 Double Basket
FOR ALL BEARS GAMES!
Mon-Fri 5 pm - 9pm Sunday 12pm - 6pm
SATURDAY
THURSDAY
$1.75 $2.00 $2.50 $2.50
$1.25 Well & UV Flavors $1.75 Domestic Bottles $2.50 Red Bull & Vodka
FRIDAY $1.75 $2.00 $2.00 $2.75
SUNDAY
Bud Family 20oz Draft All Cider Bottles Fireball Friday Top Shelf Rum
4 bedroom/2.5 bath house has living room, dining room, kitchen with dishwasher and laundry hookups, huge unfinished basement & two car detached garage. Has front porch, 2 patio areas and large yard. Located at 501 Adelaide, Normal. $1100 monthly 1500 Hancock. 1 bdrm 1 bath. Furnished. Off street parking. $525/month. Call Skyline Properties 309-275-8454. Two bedroom, 1 1/2 bath end unit condo. Has central A/C, ceiling fans, an eat-in kitchen, dishwasher, electric stove, washer and dryer, and off-street parking. Tenant pays all utilities. Located at 703 Golfcrest #3, Normal. $750 monthly
IMMEDIATE MOVE-IN! 2 bedroom/2 bathroom www.sami.com (309) 888-4600 2nd Floor Efficiency in Vintage Home, located at 702 S. Fell, Normal. An easy walk to ISU campus. Central Air. Tenant responsible for 1/4 of total house utilities. Off-street parking. $480 monthly. Professional female is looking for a female roommate to share my 3 bdrm home. Communal spaces shared. I do have a small dog so no pets allowed. $525/month including utilities and wifi. Please be able to prove income/employment. Text me at 501.766.6245.
$2.00 $2.00 $2.50 $2.50
BAR & GRILL
CLASSIFIEDS IMMEDIATE FOR RENT
20oz Rolling Rock Well & UV Flavors Stoli Saturdays 20ozBud Family Draft Bloody Mary Well & UV Flavors 20oz Bud Family Draft Seagrams 7 Sunday
Phone 309 438 7685 • Fax 309 438 5211 Corner of Locust & University, Normal, IL Monday – Friday. 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Act Realty. 454-2960
SUBLEASES AVAILABLE! www.sami.com (309) 888-4600 Help Wanted- Business Opportunities Seasonal ag. help. Must have a valid class A CDL. Tobacco free. 3092754221.3092754215.
MISCELLANEOUS Welcome back ISU students! Bello nails is offering a basic mani for $13 from August 22-October 22nd with student ID. Call or text 309-824-9638 for an appointment today! 2310 E Oakland Ave Suite #3-105 Bloomington 61701
FOR RENT: FALL/SPR 17-18 2017-2018 School Year! 1,2,3 & 4 bedrooms www.sami.com (309) 888-4600
FOR RENT: SU/FALL/SPRING 17-18 808 S Linden: Large 1, 2, 3 and 4 person units. All Utilities Included. Next to the trail. Start at $360. Class Act Realty. 454-2960
301 S. WALNUT: Furnished 2 Bedrooms. Balcony, Covered parking, Laundry. Quiet Building. Start at ONLY $290 Class Act Realty. 454-2960 Linden Trails. Brand new construction. 4 bdrm, 4.5 bath with washer and dryer. Next to the trail. Utilities included. Start at $620/person. Class Act Realty 309-454-2960 104 E. Cherry St. 6 bedroom/2 bath house. Furnished, carpeted floors, large front porch, unfinished basement with washer/dryer. Off street parking and hardwood floors upstairs. $450/ per person. Call Excel Real Estate at 309-829-5885. 717 Hale. 3 people to share 2 unit house/duplex. Two kitchens, two bath. Off street parking, porch, laundry. Unit A: 2 BR $395/person/mth. Unit B: 1 BR $450/mth. 12 payments plus utilities. Call 309-530-7772
903 W Hovey 4 bdrm 4 bathroom. Covered parking. Backyard firepits. Furnished w/ washer/dryer. $525/person. Call Skyline Properties 309-275-8454.
401 N. Fell Ave. 4 bedroom/2 bath. Breakfast bar with stools, dishwasher, garbage disposal, washer & dryer in unit. Central air, secured building, off street parking, high speed internet provided. $555/per person. Call Excel Real Estate at 309-829-5885.
Flora Way: Large Furnished 1, 2, 3 and 4 Bedrooms. Start at ONLY $325. Class
105 E. Locust St. 4 bedroom/1 bath. Eat-in kitchen, large living room. Next
to the Constitution Trail. Off street parking and water paid by Landlord. $370/ per person. Call Excel Real Estate at 309-829-5885. TOWNHOMES: 2, 3 & 4 Bedrooms. Include Washer-dryer, central air, dishwasher, parking, patio and/or balcony, yard. ONLY $255-360 per bedroom. Class Act Realty. 454-2960 Fell: Spacious 1, 2 & 4 Bedrooms. 1 block from campus. Laundry. Start at $370. Class Act Realty. 454-2960 Linden Trails: Brand new construction. 4 bdrm, 4.5 bath with washer and dryer. Next to the trail. Utilities included. Start at $620/person. Class Act Realty 309-454-2960 412 Normal. 7 people to share 7 BR house. Close to Bone Student Ctr. Porch, laundry. Off-street parking. 12 mo lease. $395/person + utilities. Call 309-530-7772. IWU area. 113 E Division. 3 bdrm 2 bath furnished town house. Washer/dryer. Off street parking. $450/person. Call Skyline Properties 309-275-8454. Houses: 2 to 6 Bedrooms. Start at $330 per person. Walk to Campus . Class Act Realty. 454-2960 Large 7 BR House for 7. 2 blocks South of quad, 4 levels finished, nice &
unique. $535/person. Large yard. Call 309-287-1870. 414 W Willow. 6 bdrm 2 bath house. Furnished. Washer/dryer. Off street parking. $495/person. Call Skyline Properties 309-275-8454. 401 N. Linden. 5 people to share 5 BR house. Porch, laundry. $395/person/ mth + utilities. 12 mth lease. Call 309-530-7772 1500 Hancock. 2 bdrm 1 bath furnished. Off street parking. Deck. $360/person. Call Skyline Properties 309-275-8454. Spring 2017 Various 1, 2, 3 and 4 Bedrooms and some single rooms available. $235-$555. Class Act Realty. 454-2960 Need an apartment for Spring 2017? 1 & 2 bedrooms available! www.sami.com (309) 888-4600
FOR RENT FALL 16/SPRING 17 5 Delaine Dr. 5 brdm/4 bath house. $550/mo/person. House can rent up to 8 people (cost per person is less if more than 5). Includes water & free laundry. Off street parking. Across from Redbird Arena. Available to sign a lease now. Call Nick. 3092872842
Features
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016
THE VIDETTE | PAGE 7
Tour de Taco bikers will never run out of gas CASEY CHAN Features Reporter | @chancasey93
Improv Mafia member Troy Schaeflein performs with other troupe members Tuesday night.
Vivian Bahena | Vidette Staff Photographer
Improv Mafia: one funny family ERIN ANIOLOWSKI Features Reporter | @erinaniolowski
I
mprov Mafia had its first show with an all new cast on Sept. 13 and it was packed — no seats were left empty. In fact, most of the floor and back wall was occupied. Eight new memwere added to Know bers to the RSO that performs every Tuesday night in the Center for the Visual Arts Room 145. The show is roughly an hour long, and the improv troupe takes suggestions from the crowd to build characters and plots for scenes they perform. Drew Burningham, one of the copresidents, said one of his favorite games is ‘5-sided die.’ “It’s a mafia-created game and it’s just so much fun to play. It’s a very dynamic game,” Burningham said. “It depends on gibberish and is a guessing game, it’s a lot of fun to be in but also to watch.” Burningham has been part of the
RSO
organization for the past four years, along with his other co-president Bailey Inman. Inman is now a senior and said when she was a freshman the club had something she was in need of. “I think it’s a big energy on campus and it’s family-like and I needed something like that when I came to college,” Inman said. New member Jeremy Cifone also feels the troupe is like a family after only his first performance. “It was incredible. The first time I saw them perform was at Theatre Fest, and I’ve seen them on campus the last couple of shows, but sitting down with them is a different energy. It’s already feeling like a close-knit, real family,” Cifone said. Members say one of the benefits about having a show on a Tuesday night is students can come watch, laugh, have a good time and unwind a little during a stressful week. Chloe Nowicki, who has been a part of the Mafia for the past three years, said she can safely say this is a way for her to relax after a day full of classes.
“The audience’s energy is a great part of the show and big part of why I do it, but my favorite part is playing games with friends and after working all week getting to showcase our work and letting people see how hard we work,” Nowicki said. The Improv Mafia students take three days out of their week to prepare for a show. Inman said they have Monday practices from 7-10 p.m. “The first half of practice is a workshop focusing on something improv-related like character work or pantomime work — something of that nature — and then we go into the other half of practice, which is rehearsing the games that the audience will see in the show,” Inman said. “Then Saturdays we have a long rehearsal, which is practicing the longer parts of the show.” When performance days come around, the Improv Mafia members have a specific schedule they follow to make sure they are making the most of their time together.
“Tuesday, we come in way early, have dinner as a family, practice for an hour, have a show and then after the show we talk about it and break it down and we can understand what we did well and what we didn’t do well so we can improve for next week,” Inman said. Even though suggestions are welcome at the show, Improv Mafia is a family performance and plays to the height of the members’ intelligence. If an inappropriate suggestion is yelled out they will simply tell you “No way” and call on someone else. The show is tailored for anyone in any major to enjoy. Josie O’Shaughnessy, another new member, has worked with improv all through high school, but brought her roommate to a show who loved it. Improv Mafia is not so much about a particular department, but more about students enjoying themselves and having a great time. More information about this RSO’s upcoming shows can be found on its Facebook.
The fourth annual Tour De Taco bike race is set and riders can get excited for a bike ride featuring delicious tacos. The ride will begin with a 9:30 a.m. check-in Saturday at Gateway Plaza in Uptown Normal. Throughout the tour, riders will be stopping at a variety of restaurants and food trucks that are near the community’s three bike shops: Bloomington Cycle and Fitness, Vitesse Cycle Shop and Wilson’s Cycle. Participants will be grouped in pods and will start at different times to avoid congestion. Riders will then be led by an experienced Blo-No pod leader through the trails and roads of Bloomington-Normal. There will be plenty of tacos catered by the various food trucks, and there will also be time to browse the local bike shops. The goal of the event is to build the confidence of the riders cycling around town, promote safe and responsible riding, and increase the visibility of cyclists following the rules of the road. It will also help support local businesses. Riders are advised to wear helmets and bright clothing. Reflective vests are also suggested if riders own them. Proceeds from the event will go toward Bloomington-Normal’s advocacy efforts, which focus on the safety and expansion of bike routes in the community. Bike BloNo Vice-President Jacob DeGeal explained how the ride is conducted. “Riders will be organized into four pods,” DeGeal said, “Easy, intermediate, challenging and awesome. The easy pod will take the most direct route, about 10 miles round trip, and travel at the slowest pace. It will stick mostly to side streets and Constitution Trail.” The first pod will begin its trek at 11 a.m. DeGeal said he believes the ride is a great way to show how tight knit the community really is.
Continue reading this online.
videtteonline.com/article
8 Bit Beercade to bring variety to the Bloomington bar scene REBECCA DAVIS Features Reporter | @VRebeccaDavis
selection in the area and a huge variety of arcade games. “We are a totally different concept than anything Bloomington-Normal is a popular spot for local around,” Pacey said. restaurants and bars, visited by students from Illinois The barcade is set to open around mid-November State and Illinois Wesleyan on a regular basis. 8 Bit this year, and Pacey said 8 Bit Beercade will have a Beercade, a bar offering both craft beer and classic full service bar in addition to its beer selection. arcade games, will be joining the selection later this The opening gives students something to look foryear. The bar will offer something new and unique to ward to once the weather turns and they are forced the area for many people to try out. back inside for the winter. The space is bigger than Following the success of his Peoria location, Owner the Peoria location, which allows for a more open Jason Pacey decided to open a second location in floor plan and more arcade games. Bloomington. Building a business from the ground up “Absolutely I will check this bar out. It sounds like doesn’t happen overnight. a great time … I personally like to explore different “I was sitting at a bar with a friend, trying to figure kinds of craft beer and expand my love for it,” Abby out what kind of business I want to start up, and she Nieter, senior visual communication major said. suggested a ‘barcade’ and said there are several of While residents may have to wait a few months them up in Chicago, so I went up to check them out until Bloomington has its own barcade, by the end and instantly fell in love with the idea,” Pacey said. of the year the town will have an added variety to Once he was set on the idea of a bar with arcade Kelly McNamara | Vidette Photo Editor the bar scene. games, Pacey began to work on opening up a location Beercade is a bar where people can enjoy a beer while playing arcade games. “We are a destination for anyone who loves craft in Peoria. After working in management for 11 years, beer or for anyone who wants to relive their childof job I actually want to wake up and go to everyday,” Pacey he decided to try something new. hood,” Pacey said. said. “It was roughly 18 months from idea to bar opening … and Residents can find out more information on the 8 Bit BeerThe new Bloomington location, which will be located at [I] took one-and-a-half off to travel and figure out what kind cade Facebook page for updates on the Bloomington location. 236 E. Front St., will feature local pizza, the largest beer
Sports
PAGE 8 | THE VIDETTE
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016
6-foot-4 guard from Sweden commits to Redbird Hoops after visit JOSH TOLENTINO Sports Editor | @JCTSports
Elijah Clarence, a 6-foot-4 lefty guard from Hagerstown, Md., verbally committed to Illinois State basketball Wednesday evening. Clarence, a native of Sweden, took an official campus visit to ISU last weekend. He credited ISU associate head coach Luke Yaklich as his lead recruiter. “At the end of the day, it’s about the coaches who showed they really wanted me,” Clarence told The
Vidette on Wednesday. “Illinois State did that. They made myself, my family and my coaches feel comfortable.” Clarence is a senior at St. Maria Goretti High School (Md.) and plays AAU for D.C Premier. He spent a majority of his junior season injured, but when he played, he averaged 11.0 points per game during his Elijah senior year. Clarence
Clarence said he got along well with senior guards Paris Lee and Tony Wills on his visit. “They were hitting me up after the visit,” Clarence said. “Even though they’re going to be gone when I get there, those two really took care of me and showed I could succeed there.” Clarence most looks forward to playing with Saint Louis transfer Milik Yarbrough, center David Ndiaye and JUCO transfer Phil Fayne, stating he enjoyed how athletic the trio were when he played
with the team on his visit. “I really clicked with them. I feel like we will be a very hungry and athletic team. When we were playing, it felt like I had already known them for years.” Clarence thinks his versatility and athleticism will help him succeed as a Redbird. “I like to consider myself as a playmaker both on offense and defense,” Clarence said. “I like being able to reject my man and also blow by him with my athleticism. My speed and size allow me to be a playmaker.”
Clarence hopes to play professional basketball after his time at ISU and plans to work on “being an overall more consistent player.” “I need to be more consistent every time I step on the floor,” Clarence said. “Consistency with my shot and decision making.” According to Verbal Commits, Clarence had offers from Hofstra, Rice, Delaware and Towson. Clarence’s commit fills ISU coach Dan Muller’s last available 2017 scholarship offer.
Wes Ward battles flat feet, gets back on track with Redbird cross-country PAUL STEENO Sports Reporter | @KingSteeno
A lot of hard work went into turning a “flat footed, asthmatic kid” into a Division I athlete. He had to run obscene mileage even on days when the temperature was below freezing or when the heat index hovered around 100 degrees. He had to spend countless hours stretching and strengthening his muscles in the training room to either fix or avoid an injury. While you were sleeping, Wesley Ward was doing a 5-mile recovery run at 6 a.m. in preparation for an afternoon workout. Why does he go through all of this trouble? “I want to win,” Ward said. “I want to win conference championships. I want to make it to nationals.” Ward is a senior at Illinois State majoring in finance and minoring in political science and history. He competes on the Photo courtesy of ISU Athletics ISU cross country and track field teams as a walk-on and has junior eligibility in both Wes Ward runs a 5-mile recovery run every morning.
sports. Ward was born in Michigan but now lives in the Bloomington-Normal area. He spent his prep days as a standout athlete at University High School. While at U-High, Ward was able to run a personal best 14:58 three-mile time while also placing third twice at the state championship run. He helped the Pioneers reel off fourconsecutive conference and regional team championships. Ward was also the Valedictorian of his high school class. He faced an uphill battle as he transitioned from high school to college cross country. “I came to ISU hurt, a walk-on and already far behind [with my training],” Ward said. “I had to slowly work my way back into shape.” Being a walk-on at the Division I level isn’t an easy task. Run too slowly, and you get kicked off the team. Get a drinking ticket, and the same thing happens. There is little room for error, and you have to work hard every day or people begin to question
whether you deserve a spot on the team. “Yes, [it is hard being a walk-on],” Ward said. “You are already starting [behind] trying to prove that you have something to offer [the team].” In 2013, Ward redshirted and continued to work toward his goal of becoming a Division I athlete. Ward did not appear in an event until 2014. An unrivaled work ethic, good decisionmaking skills and strong academics allowed Ward to stick with the team for three seasons. Ward admits he is not the most talented runner on the team. But for everything he lacks in talent he makes up with his work ethic. In preparation for the upcoming cross country season, he logged several 100-mile weeks and ran between 18 and 20 miles for his long runs. “This summer, I went back to the thing that gets me in trouble, which is working my [butt] off,” Ward said.
Continue reading this online.
videtteonline.com/article
Game Preview Redbirds look to continue perfect season as Eastern Illinois visits Hancock Stadium for a Family Weekend showdown RYAN KELLY | Senior Reporter
THREE KEYS TO WIN Do not come out lazy After an emotional win last week over Northwestern, ISU must not underestimate the Panthers and come out ready to play. Othwerise, it might be another nailbiter.
Bread and butter Quarterback Jake Kolbe needs to go back to the well again and again, finding preseason All-American wide reciever Anthony Warrum who dominated against a B1G secondary last Saturday, hauling in nine passes for 116 yards. Warrum should have no problem finding space in the less talented Panther secondary.
Defensive front seven Last week the Redbirds’ defensive, which was undersized against Northwestern, won the battle in the trenches most of the afternnon. The talented Wildcats rushing attack had just 86 yards on the ground Saturday. If the Redbird line can create the same push at the point of attack, the Eastern running game will be held in check all afternoon. EIU does not have one player over 100 rushing yards through the first two games this season.
NUTS AND BOLTS
PLAYERS TO WATCH
REDBIRDS Illinois State (2-0, 0-0 MVFC) coming off a comeback victory over Northwestern on the road last week 9-7. It took a last second field goal for the Redbirds to complete its first win over a B1G opponent. ISU’s defence held Notherwestern’s powerful run game to 86 yards.
REDBIRDS Dalton Keene was all over the field last Saturday at Northwestern. The defensive lineman had two pass breakups and had a strong push up -front all afternoon. Keene recorded four tackles and one sack in the victory. Keene will be pumped up in front of a filled Hancock crowd.
PANTHERS Eastern Illinois (1-1, 0-0 OVC) is coming off a come-frombehind FBS victory themselves, after defeating Miami (Ohio) last weekend. Eastern fell to MVFC oppenent Western Illinois 38-21 in week one. The Panthers rushed for 142 yards last week, averaging 4.1 yards per carry, and threw for 174 yards.
PANTHERS Mitch Kimble has thrown for 473 yards and five touchdowns on the young season. The Panthers will need the 6 foot 3 quarterback to stay poised against a Redbird defense that surrendered just seven points last Saturday. Kimble threw three touchdowns last Saturday in the win over Miami (OH). Kimble has completed 60.7% of his passes this season. Last week Kimble led the Panthers with 49 yards rushing as well.
SPACK’S COMMENTS “We try to get right back on the horse on Sunday. I told the players enjoy the victory Saturday, but be ready to move on quickly ... We got right back into preperation and worked on some of the things we thought we didn’t do well in the game that need improvement ... I would be surprised if our team didn’t handle the success maturely ” TV: Broadcast live at 2 p.m. Saturday on Comcast Sports Net Chicago RADIO: WJBC (AM 1230) and WZND (FM 103.3) TWITTER: Follow live in-game updates, pictures and videos: @rkelly1122 @JCTSports @Vidette_Sports @RedbirdFB
PREDICTION ILLINOIS STATE 37, EASTERN ILLINOIS 20 Eastern Illinois will come out ready to play and will keep it interesting for the first half. The Redbirds coming off its biggest victory in program history will come out and have a little bit of a hangover from that
emotional win in Evanston. Eventually the Redbirds’ overall talent on both sides of the ball will take over. The combination of quarterback Jake Kolbe to Anthony Warrum will be too much for the Panthers to
handle in the end. Kolbe coming off a career high in yards (287) and completions (31) will have another big day. ISU’s defense will figure out the Panther attack and shut them down in the second half.
THREE KEYS TO WIN Quick Start If the Panthers want to pull off the upset, they will need a quick score or a forced turnover to give themselves the momentum early and take the sails out of the ISU crowd.
Win the turnover battle If the Panthers can play turnover free football and not make it more difficult on themselves, it will make it a lot easier to come steal a win from the Redbirds. Putting pressure on Jake Kolbe and forcing mistakes will be the best chance at making the Redbirds turn it over.
Balanced attack Keeping a nice balance of run and pass to keep the Redbirds defense on its heels all game is important if the Panthers want to have success against the ISU defense coming off a confidence building game. Kimble being a dual-threat quarterback will need to make good decisions on when to throw, and when to run to give the Panthers a chance to confuse the Redbird defense.