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DAN MULLER’S CONTRACT STUDENTS REACT TO EXTENSION GREAT FOR ISU DACA DECISION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2017 Vol. 130 / No. 06

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Chatting with the

President

Dietz is ‘here to support’ students KEVIN SCHWALLER AND STEPHANIE RODRIGUEZ | News Editors | @kevschwa and @StephanieRoddd

I

llinois State University President Larry Dietz made a point this week to reassure students that the university will continue to provide support for Dreamers.

In an interview with Vidette News Editors, Dietz discussed President Donald Trump’s recent announcement to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, the school year’s decreased enrollment numbers and the future of ISU.

DACA and the Quad protest “I know people have differences of opinion on DACA, I understand that. I have my own

personal opinions. But as a university, our role is to provide an education for those who can meet our admissions criteria. It’s not our job to decide who’s here, according to some people, legally or illegally. Our job is to educate the folks and provide employment for folks who are qualified to work here. As long as they’re doing that, it’s our job to serve. It was easy for me to write that email yesterday and say ‘We’re here to support you.’

My hope is that Congress will figure out a strong resolution and a good resolution for this issue. Hopefully these folks who are caught in this predicament [are able to] get on with their

Above: Illinois State University President Larry Dietz discusses the school year ahead in his office Wednesday.

lives. In the meantime, our counseling staff is available for those folks, and our faculty will continue to teach them. We’re glad they’re part of the university community.

We’ve got a new group of folks coming in here, and they may not know me, so I wanted to communicate that as long as they’re here and part of this community, I’ll continue to support them.

I tend not to participate in the protests, but I want to honor the students and the people that are there. It’s part of my job to go out there and listen. I’m glad I went out there.” see DIETZ page 2

Photograph by MONICA MENDOZA | Vidette Photo Editor

PAGE 2 | NEWS | THE VIDETTE

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DIETZ continued from page 1

Enrollment numbers “Given that we’re in a declining market in terms of the new freshmen and high school seniors, it’s a demographic downslide for the last several years and it’s going to continue for a while. Given that, and the budget impasse, having almost 20,800 students, when we had only a couple hundred more last year, that’s a terrific victory in my estimation for everybody.

Admissions focus, financial aid folks, academic advisers, student advisers, it’s a team effort, and the team did really well as far as I’m concerned.

I’m really pleased.”

State budget “Having a budget, just the spirit that it brings of stability, is important. We can’t afford, as a state, to have more and more of our students going out of state to other institutions. We don’t just lose the revenue that goes with them, but we lose the intellectual capacity. You can’t keep all of them here, but we shouldn’t be the second biggest exporter of students in the nation. [The first is] New Jersey. We had 17,000 students across state lines last year.”

Challenges on a day-to-day basis “The biggest issues right now, really before the school year starts, we’re recruiting next year’s population. We start that in the summer and continue to do it all year long. Recruitment is everybody’s job. I try to do what I can to help with retention. Enrollment is the big drive financially for universities.

We’re going to kick off a campaign on Sept. 16. We’ve been in the silent phase of this campaign ever since I became president. There was a lot of talk about this campaign, and it seems to me we either need to do it or stop talking about it.

We’re the oldest public university in the state, and this is only our second campaign. It’s going to be a great evening.”

The future of ISU “There are some things that I think will be challenging. It’s going to be budget stability for higher education. Specifically here, we’re already investigating new ways of offering courses. We may get to the point where we’re offering more, which is not our traditional model. Always keeping the curriculum fresh is a great idea.

The value of diversity, I think, we’re doing better with it. We need to ... make sure we’re investing some money in helping the underserved. The biggest initiative in that area is international students; only 2 percent of our students come from another country. Most institutions of our size are between 10 and 15 percent. We’ll eventually get there, but one of the things I think is important is that we’ve been a pretty conservative, work-your-plan and plan-yourwork kind of an institution. We don’t just bring in 1,000 new international students and see how it goes. That’s a disservice to ourselves and would be a disservice to those students. We need to do it in a gradual kind of way, and we plan on increasing that number.”

Bone Student Center renovations “We’re going to expand the Brown Ballroom a little bit.

We’re putting in some partitions, so we’ll be able to have smaller events in there. We’ll be able to use the ballroom better. We’re also going to be making a way to get up on the second deck a lot easier from that side by putting in a stairwell. That’s the minor part of all of it. The most visible part will be on the east end, down by the coffee shop. We’ll be moving the bookstore on the second floor down there, so the first thing you’ll see when you park is the bookstore with a lot of insignia wear.

From Milner to the Bone, there’s just a giant wall. It looks like you have to pole vault to get up there. It’s just a visual obstacle. We’re going to take all that down and terrace it so your entry to the second floor will be a stairwell. We’re also building a new welcome center that will be at the top of it. When you’re in the top of the center, you’ll be able to see the Quad. There will be a lot of back of the house renovation, but something students will see is that little courtyard and patio. [Currently] it gives you the impression that you’ll have to figure out a rope or ladder to get down there, but we’re going to open all that up with a stairwell. We’ll open up the area that used to be the Dean of Students office and there will be some new food venues and you’ll be able to walk right out there and have a nice lunch.

It’s going to be a little messy, but it’s pretty exciting stuff.”

Final thoughts “Go Redbirds.”

ISU students, faculty react to DACA repeal STEPHANIE RODRIGUEZ News Editor

After President Donald Trump announced his move to phase out the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, Illinois State University students and faculty are speaking up.

DACA allows certain illegal immigrants who were brought to the United States as minors to receive deferred action from deportation for two years as well as eligibility for a work permit.

ISU students, faculty, administration and community members protested the president’s stance on the immigration program with a marches on the Quad and in Uptown Normal Tuesday.

Senior history social science education major Selena Gonzalez organized Tuesday’s rally in support of DACA. She said it is an issue that crosses cultural and gender

borders.

“It’s more than just an immigration issue, it’s a woman issue, it’s a black issue, white issue, Latino issue,” Gonzalez said. “It matters for us to be here and be present, especially at ISU. We need to push and grow. We need to be uncomfortable.”

Acting Director of Latin American and Latino/a Studies Juliet Lynd said she felt sick when she heard of what Trump planned to do with DACA and the feeling has only increased.

“It saddens me to know of the pain and anxiety and hardship this will cause students and their families. It angers me to see politicians put the young people who can benefit from DACA in jeopardy,” Lynd said. “DACA is already insufficient, as it is not a path to citizenship as I believe it should be.” see DACA page 3

The Vidette The Vidette is published Monday and Thursday every week, except for final examinations, holidays, and semester breaks. The Summer Vidette is published in June and July. Students are responsible for the content of the Vidette. The views presented do not necessarily represent, in whole or part, those of the Illinois State University administration, faculty, and students. The Vidette is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press and the Illinois College Press Association. Subscriptions are available by mail to anywhere in the United States for $150 per calendar year. © The Vidette 2017 University & Locust / Campus Box 0890 / Normal, IL 61761–0890

THE VIDETTE | NEWS | PAGE 3

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2017

ISU reports slight decrease in enrollment EMA SASIC Editor in Chief | @ema_sasic

W

ith factors like the budget impasse looming over Illinois State University the last two academic years, enrollment numbers released Wednesday show a slight decrease compared to fall 2016.

The university’s total enrollment stands at 20,784 students, with 3,352 freshmen deciding to become Redbirds for the 20172018 academic year, according to Media Relations.

The freshmen class averages a high school GPA of 3.4 on a 4.0 scale and an average ACT score near 24. Additionally, 215 students enrolled with an ACT score of 30 or higher.

Illinois State’s overall student population includes 18,330 undergraduates and 2,454 graduate students. New transfer students total 1,810, while new graduate students stand at 749. This is the highest number of graduate student enrollment in the last three academic years.

The number of undergraduate students is down 1.7 percent, or 313 students, and total enrollment is down 1.2 percent, or 255 students.

Graduate student enrollment compared to the fall 2016 semester increased 2.4 percent, or by 58 students.

“This fall’s strong enrollment figures show that students recognize the quality and value of an Illinois State University education,” President Larry Dietz said in a press release from Media Relations.

“Illinois State remains strong and stable and its track record of success continues in the midst of a highly competitive student recruiting environment and the lingering effects of an unprecedented state budget crisis. The University continues to prioritize personalized attention and student success.”

Nearly one quarter of the student population comes from traditionally underrepresented groups, with Hispanic students at 2,030, and African-American students at 1,706.

Official enrollment figures were computed after the 10th day of classes.

Graphic by Lee Walls | Vidette Art Director

Levester Johnson is ‘all-in’ for students on campus In his second year at ISU, Vice President for Student Affairs is full of Redbird pride

TIFFANY MORRISON News Reporter | @MorrisonTiffany

With a full year under his belt, Vice President of Student Affairs Levester Johnson says he is “all-in” on helping improve a university he said is already top-tier.

Johnson started his position at Illinois State University in July of last year, after he was sought out for his extremely reputable background within the field.

In high school, Johnson did not even have plans for college, as his family did not have much, and his other eight siblings never went.

Luckily, thanks to his friend’s mom, he got an opportunity to interview at Marquette University and after talking with a faculty member for thirty minutes he was accepted on a full ride for what is now considered an educational opportunity program.

After college, he went to get his masters at Southern Illinois University at Cabondale and then transferred to Butler University as an Assistant Dean.

Eventually he worked his way up to the Vice President of Student Affairs there and stayed in that position for the next 20 years.

ISU President Larry Dietz reached out to him and told Johnson there was a position available and even though he was torn between ISU and Marquette, he ultimately picked ISU because it impressed him the most.

“The students really impressed me by how engaged and active they were in the community. The university really did welcome me with open arms,” Johnson said. “The mission statement drew me as well, and I realized ISU was a real gem. It has truly exceeded my expectations.”

After arriving at ISU Johnson spent late hours in his office studying and researching

DACA continued from page 2

“I can only hope that Congress will act to pass humane immigration reform, including the DREAM ACT, though I fear that won’t be the case. I know I will be doing everything I can to demand more just laws.”

Lynd said that as a parent, she empathizes with those who make the decision to bring their children to another country in search of a better life.

“I would just like to defend and applaud those parents who risk everything for their children, who make harrowing journeys with

Photo courtesy of Illinoisstate.edu

Levester “LJ” Johnson is Vice President of Student Affairs at Illinois State University. LJ is heavily involved on campus and strives to make students feel welcome. the university’s history, what it has accomplished and what it could accomplish.

Being in charge of student affairs, his main goals for the next three to five years are focused on diversity and inclusion, Greek life and residence presence on campus.

“Students need to know that diversity and inclusion is crucial in our campus community, and we have been trying to pursue efforts in making students feel that this is their home away from home,” Johnson said.

Greek life, in previous years, has shown that it needs improvement and Johnson realized that right when he got here.

“Numbers have been increasing for

babies on their backs and little ones in their arms because they do not have other viable options,” Lynd said. “Humane immigration laws would seek to keep families together as sources of support and love, and would reward hardworking, devoted families.”

Freshman actuarial science major Alan Coronado said he joined the rally to show his support for his community.

“The fact is that I’m a Latino student here at Illinois State. I think that just because of that, I have to support my fellow Latino students, not just here, but all across the country, both at universities and high schools,”

students interested, so it makes sense to invest in that area now,” Johnson said.

“We already hired another position to help because in this case, actions are a lot louder than discussions about the issue.”

Johnson wants to create a community within Greek life where the students involved are respectful of one another and are able to establish leadership development within the chapters, University-wide and for some, hopefully nationwide.

Safety and security is also a necessity, as he has noticed that many students walk home alone at night around campus, which he feels could be a potential danger.

He also plans on figuring out a way to

Coronado said.

Coronado said he feels the removal of DACA does not represent American ideals.

“Trump is trying to take the opportunity away from our undocumented, young Latino citizens,” Coronado said.

“That’s un-American to take those human rights away from other people who work just as hard.”

Senior education major Casey Digan said he was able to join the cause thanks to a university faculty member.

“My teacher delayed the start of class so that [students] could help … it is a worthwhile cause,” Digan said.

eventually create a Greek community in one area, or a Greek row.

“I want alums to be able to come back to the same house they used to live in when they went here and be able to reminisce and appreciate their time at the University,” Johnson said.

“I also think we need to partner with national organizations to stop the revolving door of chapters and houses. This way we can reinforce good behavior.”

The university recommends that first and second year students stay in the residence halls, though a lot of exemption forms are given out due to the lack of space. Johnson thinks there is something special about being connected through oncampus living because students can be the most engaged in activities.

“We established a housing master plan committee and looking at what kind of TLC we need to put into current facilities and then what new facilities we need to build in order to meet student expectations,” Johnson said.

He wants to establish a residence hall with pod style living, which is a living area in which two or three rooms are connected, with the middle area being the kitchen and family room. Johnson says this type of set-up appeals to older students.

“It’s not just about the job they get after graduation, it’s about shaping what kind of person or what kind of citizen they are going to be.” Johnson said.

“There are three things I always ask myself that have put me at where I am today, and those are: am I being effective, am I having fun, and do I matter? In other words, am I making the impact I want in the position I want?”

“As a future educator myself, it’s worthwhile to protest these potential cuts because it’s important to the democratic and educational values that Illinois State has. Our efforts are to just get the word out to those who are unaware.”

Senior geography major Yenifer Mora said the best solution would be to help out all undocumented residents and give everyone an equal chance.

“We have to support our undocumented peers, but we have to do it in a way that doesn’t deem them more worthy than the other 10 million undocumented citizens who are either not qualified to apply for DACA

or came here as adults,” Mora said.

“It’s clear that Trump doesn’t care who is and isn’t worthy of being in this country, so we have to stop pushing the narrative ourselves that some are more worthy than others.

We need comprehensive immigration reform.”

“Somos Semillas, or ‘we are seeds,’ is just one organization hoping to help the fight for DACA,” Gonzalez said.

The phrase comes from a Mexican proverb, ‘quisieron enterrarnos sin saber que éramos semillas,’ or ‘they wanted to bury us without knowing that we were seeds,’ which Gonzalez said was the symbolism behind their entire rally.

Viewpoint

PAGE 4 | THE VIDETTE

VIDETTE EDITORIAL

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2017

Let’s be intolerant of intolerance

ith the “tolerant left” coming under fire for being extremely critical and intolerant of neoNazis and neo-Confederates, it is more important than ever to understand the paradox surrounding tolerance.

The paradox of tolerance was first proposed by Karl Popper in his 1945 publication “The Open Society and Its Enemies.” It follows the logic that for a tolerant society to remain tolerant, it must be intolerant of intolerance. See the paradoxical problem?

The tolerant must become intolerant to remain tolerant. This is a difficult concept for most to wrap their heads around, but it is reflected today in the rhetoric surrounding the “tolerant left’s” intolerance of hate.

The “tolerant left” is what those who follow right-wing politics call followers of left-wing politics. It is used in a mocking tone, poking fun at how the left promotes tolerance and acceptance of so much — sexualities, religion, gender, etc.

When groups hatefully speak and act out against minority groups, it is only the next logical step to react and denounce those groups. As seen with the counterprotest that happened in Charlottesville, Virginia, just last month, when counterprotester

Heather Heyer lost her life.

Being intolerant of these groups, and actively working to end their hate speech, is the obvious next step in promoting tolerance and acceptance of minority groups. That is why it is so important to be intolerant of intolerance.

Intolerance of intolerance is the only way to stop the spread of violent hate.

In Germany, it is illegal for anyone — except in instances of education — to display anything relating to Nazism: flags, insignias, uniforms, slogans and forms of greeting. This intolerance of intolerances is what has kept neo-

Nazism from reappearing in the country the way it has appeared in others.

The United States has no such laws.

Nazi symbols, confederate symbols, the Ku Klux Klan and other intolerant groups are allowed under the First Amendment’s freedom of speech. They are legally protected under the law and they cannot be charged or convicted over their speech and rhetoric.

But that does not stop society from being intolerant of hate speech and those who stand in support of it.

Being intolerant of intolerant hate does not make someone “just as bad”

as the original source of the intolerance. It means having a moral code for tolerance. Unlimited tolerance is not possible, because intolerance will sweep the feet out from underneath tolerance.

The philosophy of the paradox of tolerance was first realized in 1945, after severe fascism, intolerance and hate ravaged Europe. Over 70 years later, a resurgence of this ideology is rearing its head, seen in the xenophobic Brexit of 2016, Marine Le Pen’s platform in France earlier this year, and United States citizens recently marching outright with Nazi flags.

There’s a difference in disagreeing with opinion and disagreeing with an intolerant ideology that focuses on marginalized minority groups.

White, straight, cis people are not a marginalized minority group, they are still in the majority in many — if not most — places. From public offices to academia and executive positions, they do not fall into the category of marginalized minority groups that are usually the focus of hate groups and their rhetoric.

It is now more pertinent than ever to celebrate diversity and to be critical and intolerant of intolerance.

Editorial Cartoon by Lee Walls | Vidette Art Direction

EDITORIAL POLICY Editorial written by KAYLA JANE JEFFERS, 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.

Rauner’s minimum wage veto is a setback MY VIEW KEVIN SCHWALLER | Columnist

G

ov. Bruce Rauner vetoed a bill last week that would have raised Illinois’ minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2022. The measure, which passed both chambers of the legislature in late May, would have hurt employers, according to Rauner.

Rallies throughout the United States, including in Chicago, marked the Labor Day holiday Monday as workers marched in support of a $15 per hour minimum wage.

Minimum wage has always been a hot topic; horror stories of layoffs that would result from a higher minimum wage have created hysteria for some.

There are economically progressive reasons for increasing the state minimum wage. Raising the minimum wage

could be one of the best ways to revive a solid economy in Illinois. As other states have raised their own minimum wages over the last couple of years, I’m skeptical that phasing in a higher statewide minimum wage would have a catastrophic effect.

According to a 2014 report from the Center for Economic Policy and Research, an increased minimum wage experienced more job growth than states that allowed their minimum wage to stay the same. While this does not necessarily mean raising wages will lead to an increase in employment, it does mean these states did not immediately experience the loss of jobs so many predicted.

The wage hikes would have been good news for underpaid workers, who struggle to afford housing, transportation and education.

At the United States’ current federal minimum wage of $7.25, a full-time minimum wage worker makes roughly $15,080 annually. For a single parent with one child, this wage puts them below the poverty line of a $15,930 annual income.

It’s also baffling that too many politicians don’t seem to be bothered by this

fact. It’s entirely un-American to ignore these people. There are millions of underpaid workers not even just in the country, but in the state of Illinois.

As a college student, I couldn’t have been more optimistic about the state’s possible wage hike when it first broke news earlier this year. We all know the feeling: we have to juggle working a certain number of hours with taking classes, doing homework, having fun and more. No one can make a solid living off minimum wage, especially those recent college graduates that probably have piles of loans and debt to pay off.

Among the many contributing factors to college graduates’ stress is how much money they will end up earning at that job. It’s a serious concern, especially since it’s their life on the line and they have to make ends meet.

Though an increase in minimum wage may take away from employer profits, the increase in wages means much more spending, which in turn could make up for that loss of profit.

While small businesses may not initially like the idea of a mandatory increase in wages for their employees, it’s hard to imagine them complaining about the

REGGIE IN THE NEST by SAMANTHA MCINTYRE | Vidette Cartoonist

increase in spending.

An increased wage has been needed for a while. Most employees are working harder and longer than ever before, but too many of those people aren’t receiving the appropriate financial benefits for their work.

Now that the state has a budget, Rauner and other Illinois politicians need to look to the future and think of their citizens. So many people are working minimum wage jobs and barely making ends meet. They not only have to worry about making enough money for themselves, but many have families to support.

If a higher minimum wage were to ever come to fruition, people should know that it wouldn’t mean the end of small businesses, but rather a step toward revitalizing the state. I hope Rauner understands a minimum wage employee has to work a full day just to pay for a full tank of gas.

Kevin Schwaller is a senior journalism major and news editor and columnist at The Vidette. Questions can be sent to vidette_kschwal@ilstu.edu.

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Gough: Founders, statues and the problems they present Editorial: 2017 VMAs was the perfect platform to discuss social issues Letter to the Editor: Intolerant liberals need to take a step back Visit The Vidette’s website or mobile app for complete details on these web-only opinion pieces by Vidette Editorial Board

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EDITORIAL BOARD EMA SASIC Editor-in-Chief | @ema_sasic KEVIN SCHWALLER News Editor | @kevschwa KAYLA JANE JEFFERS Columnist | @KJJeffers TAMIA LITTLE Columnist | @sungoddessmiaa ALEX GOUGH Columnist | @jalexgough KAMARA TURNER Columnist | @kvmara

THE VIDETTE | NEWS | PAGE 5

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2017

New look, same Bone(s)

ISU student center undergoing makeover to give it fresh, modern feel Natalie Stuckslager | Vidette Photo Editor

ALEX CAMPBELL News Reporter | @alex_campbell98

The Bone Student Center is home to many different offices and plays a large role in many students’ lives. Whether it is a place to study, a trip to Barnes & Noble, or a meal at McAlister’s, students flock to the Bone in masses.

That is why the construction the Bone is currently undergoing is a focal point of student confusion around campus.

Students walk passed construction happening at the Bone Student Center.

“The revitalization is expected to take roughly three years with three separate phases,” Assistant Director of Marketing, Training and Hospitality Erin Watts said.

“During each phase, staff of the [Bone] and the department of Event Management, Dining and Hospitality are strongly committed to minimizing disruption to students and other visitors as much as possible. The building will

remain open during the entire project.”

However, perhaps the largest issue for students is not inside of the Bone, but in the parking lot.

Currently, there is very limited parking in the Bone lot compared to what it can hold at full capacity.

CORE Construction has set up a work

trailer between the Bone Student Center and the Bowling and Billiards Center where they have created a temporary sidewalk that gives the same level of access to the first floor of the Bone and the stairway to Milner Plaza that has always been there.

Junior special education major Kaitlyn Saam frequently visits the Bone where she holds office hours for her position on the University Program Board.

“It does not bother me once I’m inside the Bone. It does, however, affect me when I’m first getting there because it has affected traffic flow and parking,” Saam said.

Students should not worry too much, as most of the construction that is occurring in the parking lot is simply making it possible to move the Barnes & Noble to where Einstein Bros. Bagels and the Faculty/Staff Commons once were.

Alex Campbell is a news reporter for The Vidette and can be reached at ajcamp2@ilstu. edu Follow him on Twitter @alex_campbell98.

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Features

PAGE 6 | THE VIDETTE

C

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2017

Q&A

EMILY LONG Features Reporter | @emi2432

What can we expect from your upcoming show on Sept.

10?

I believe it’s my first time in the area. You know, I’m not good at promo-ing myself, it’s just me doing standup comedy, which might not sound exciting in print, but it’s exciting when I’m on stage. I feel like it’s a fun experience.

omedian Brian Regan is no outsider to producing big laughs. Through his experiences collaborating with stars such as Jimmy Fallon, Chris Rock, Jerry Seinfeld and David Letterman, Regan sets the bar for comedic excellence that many continually try to follow.

Regan has practiced his craft for over 30 years now. His journey began at Heidelberg University in Ohio when attempting to make his presentations in speech class include a glimpse of hilarity. The rest is history.

With his upcoming show at 7:30 p.m. Sunday in the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, Regan gave The Vidette an insight about his passion for stand-up comedy, his overall career and his life.

Being a stand-up comedian involves a lot of traveling.

What are some of the good and bad things about it?

For the most part, I enjoy it. I’ve been doing it a long time, so part of the traveling gets a little bit tiresome. But, at the same time, I realize I am very fortunate to be doing what I do, and there are people who have much more difficult challenges in life than me missing a flight every now and then. I put it into perspective. I get to travel around the country, tell jokes for a living, and in the grand scheme of things, I have no complaints. Life is good.

How did you get into comedy?

You have a Netflix special coming out, do you think it will bring a new audience to you?

I switched majors to communication and theater arts.

One of my first classes in that major was speech. I used to try to make my speeches funny. When I got the class laughing, I felt like a million bucks. That’s what got me heading into that direction.

I am excited about it and it is coming out in November.

Thanksgiving week they’ll premiere it. I’ve already shot it and I am proud of it. Whether or not it’ll bring a new audience, I mean, everything you do is an effort to open your audience up — and certainly TV and things like Netflix do that in a bigger way than night-to-night shows — so yeah, I hope some new odd balls head my direction [laughing].

Why do you prefer stand-up as opposed to improv or sketch comedy?

For me, I like all kinds of comedy. But, for me performing it, I like thinking of ideas and being able to work on them and deliver them to an audience. Improv is more on the top of your head and that’s a skill a lot of people have, and I can do that occasionally. I like formulating an idea ahead of time, working on it and doing it. As far as sketch, that requires other people and a lot of effort. When I do stand-up, I can be autonomous. You can get into stand-up comedy when you don’t have anything.

Do you believe that comedy was what you were meant to do, and why do you do it?

Well, I’ve always wondered what I would do if I was born 400 years ago. They didn’t have stand-up comedy then, so if I was born to be a stand-up, then I am certainly fortunate that it happened at a time that stand-up comedy exists. Stand-up comedy is creative in nature and I like to think about goofy things and share them.

I had a cartoon strip when I was in college, and I had a humorous advice column in my college newspaper. I was always doing things in that way on the creative side of the tracks.

When did you know you were good?

I’m still trying to figure it out. You’re good when people are laughing, and you’re maybe not so good when people aren’t laughing. It takes a while. I think if somebody is going to end up being good, they’re usually pretty good in a way and at the start you’re just not consistent. The key is to doing something more consistent. You have to learn little stage tricks, techniques, things about writing, things about performing, and you start diminishing your bad shows and start increasing your number of your good shows. It’s just a matter of trying to figure out what you already have and package it in a multi-systematic way.

Can you share some of your experiences getting to be on Jimmy Fallon or working with Chris Rock and Jerry Seinfeld?

What was the worst experience you had on stage?

The worst experience... I was doing a comedy festival.

It was being taped and I started off on the wrong foot. I asked the audience if I could start again. And what were they [going to] say? They can’t vote on it. And so I got on stage, I came out and it still wasn’t working, and I told them I had to start again. I did it four times. It never did go well. Bombing once is hard enough, but bombing four times in a row in front of the same audience is [worse].

What was the best experience you had on stage?

I’ve had a lot of nice opportunities. I would say the time I auditioned at the comedy club where I started and the owner said that I was good enough to be a local comedian. That was a huge night for me. There are bigger things prestige wise, you know, “The Tonight Show,” Letterman, specials, things like that. But that night where I auditioned, that’s the night where it changed my life. I was like, “Wow, I can do this now.” Everything after that was fun, but none of it would have happened without that audition.

Lee Brice kicks up dust at Corn Crib this weekend MADALYN LOISELLE Features Reporter | @madalynJeanL3

Country music star Lee Brice is coming to the Corn Crib, the minor league baseball field in Normal, Saturday.

Three acts will open before Lee Brice, including his brother Lewis Brice, the Cadillac Three and Ben Gallaher.

The parking lot opens at 12:30 p.m. for tailgating. Then at 12:45 p.m., acts Six String Crossing and Rick Monroe will perform in the parking lot for those tailgating.

Doors open at 4 p.m. and the concert starts an hour and a half later.

Brice is known for blues

Photo courtesy Brian Friedman

Brian Regan Stand-up comedian brings his wacky world to Bloomington

influences in the traditional country sound with his songs like “Parking Lot Party,” “Drinking Class” and “I Don’t Dance.” His other hits include “I Drive Your Truck,” “Hard to Love” and “Love Like Crazy.”

He has been nominated for several Song of the Year awards for “I Drive Your Truck” and “I Don’t Dance.”

Brice writes music for himself and works with other artists such as Garth Brooks, Jason Aldean and others.

Illinois State students are looking forward to seeing the singer live. Several, including sophomores McKayla Scroggins and Nikole Haberkorn, have seen him previously, but would not hesitate to attend another of his concerts.

"I've actually seen him when he came to Springfield," accounting major Haberkorn said. "So, I'm excited to see him again."

Psychology major Scroggins echoed Haberkorn’s thoughts. "I'm super excited that [he] is coming

Some of those people I knew before they sky-rocketed into super stardom. Chris Rock; I knew him from living in New York City. We were both trying to get on in comedy clubs and I was there the night that Eddie Murphy came in and met Chris Rock. Jimmy Fallon; I worked with him out on the road. I was the headliner and he was the middle act. It’s crazy. He remembers me from that and he’s very nice when I do “The Tonight Show” because, I guess, I try to be a nice guy on the road.

Jerry Seinfeld was a top guy in stand-up when I first met him, but he had not gotten his TV show. He was a big name in the comedy world, but he wasn’t a superstar.

I’ve known them all for a while, and it’s great whenever people like what you do and want to include you in some of their stuff.

When Chris Rock wanted to put me in his movie, that was tremendous for me, and when Seinfeld put me in “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee,” that was fantastic. After I stopped the Letterman show and Fallon wanted me, it was great, wonderful.

Full story online.

videtteonline.com/article

to the Corn Crib. I can't wait to see him again. He's great live," she said.

In mid-August, Lewis Brice was announced as an opener. Lewis Brice takes after his older brother by combining country with pop as well as rhythm and blues. He grew up in Sumter, S.C., and started his singing career in church choirs before moving to Charleston to start his music career.

His repertoire includes “Best Ex Ever” and “Ordinary Girl.”

He currently lives near Nashville, where he writes music for himself and others.

In addition, Ben Gallaher is an up-and-coming country artist with influences that stem from ’90s country and songs that are pulled straight from his life growing up in Pennsylvania.

He released his first EP Aug. 11 that features songs about love, loss and sticking to one’s morals. He takes pride in writing songs that are about real life so that listeners can find themselves in each track.

Ticket information at 309-434-2777

Photo courtesy of WME

Lee Brice and several other performers, such as his younger sibling Lewis Brice, are scheduled to perform at 5 p.m. Sept. 5, at the Corn Crib.

Finally, the Cadillac Three released its third album “Legacy” Aug. 25. The Nashville natives are not only popular in the states, but they have made their mark overseas as well, with fans in the United Kingdom and Europe.

Tickets are still available on the

website at www.normalbaseball. com, at the Mid-Illini Credit Union Box Office at the stadium on 1000 W. Raab Rd. or at (309) 454-2255.

Starting at $25 for general admission on the field, they increase to $35 for seats and $60 for the VIP pit section in front of the stage.

y

THE VIDETTE | NEWS | PAGE 7

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2017

ISU soccer readies for IUPUI Redbirds look to bounce back after straight splits NICK LANDI Sports Reporter | @TheDon1033

Do not expect this weekend to be as stressful for Illinois State soccer as the one before.

After f lying all the way out to Pittsburgh last weekend to play two matches in three days, the Redbirds (2-3-1) will be taking a near three-hour bus trip to Indianapolis this weekend to play only one match on Sunday against Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.

IUPUI (3-3) is winners of three of its last four matches after starting the season 0-2. With 1-0 wins over Manhattan and Wagner on the road last weekend, the Jaguars will host ISU as the second of two matches this weekend at

Michael A. Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis.

Sunday’s match should ultimately be a battle of t wo sophomore goalkeepers. While ISU will likely send Haley Smith between the pipes to go for her third win of the season, the Ja g u a r s are expected to Brad counter that by Silvey starting Sophia Lipka.

ISU head coach Brad Silvey says his team needs to find the back of the net more often.

“Looking ahead, we must do a better job of finishing our goalscoring opportunities. We have

Redbird men’s tennis set for 2017-2018 campaign KADE HEATHER Sports Reporter | @kade_heather

The Illinois State men’s tennis team has announced the schedule for the 2017-18 season. It consists of 12 home matches and one home tournament.

ISU will begin its fall season Sept.

15-17 at the Purdue Invitational in Lafayette, Indiana. The Redbirds will then head to Kalamazoo, Michigan for the Western Michigan Invitational Sept. 22-24.

ISU will travel to Oklahoma, Kentucky and back to Michigan in October before capping off its fall season at the Redbird Invitational in Normal. The Redbirds lone home tournament will be during Family Weekend, Nov. 3-5.

“I am really excited for the coming fall to start,” head coach Mark Klysner said. “We have a very young team this year, and the fall is filled with some quality tournaments which will provide these guys with a lot of matches.

Our new guys really need to get a feel for what college tennis is all about, and with six events this fall, I think it will benefit them a lot.”

The Redbirds will kick off its spring season in Kalamazoo, Michigan where they will face Butler Jan. 27 and Western Michigan the next day.

“The spring is going to be a busy one as we are playing our maximum

amount of dates, and it is filled with some great teams, many who played in the NCAAs last year,” Klysner said.

“I think the guys will be severely challenged this year, but there are a lot of opportunities for some good wins, and it’s really just letting these young guys mature through the season and getting prepared for our new conference members.”

ISU announced last April that they will part ways with the Missouri Valley Conference and join the Summit League starting this fall.

They will host their first four matches in February, then travel to Des Moines, Iowa for two matches.

The team will close out the month with three consecutive days of solid competitors in DePaul, University of Illinois-Chicago and Creighton.

The team will travel to Denver, Colorado to open its Summit League action against Denver March 4. The Redbirds will return home for a match against Eastern Illinois March 9 and then will hit the road for 21 days. The road trip will consist of Florida Gulf Coast, Grand Canyon and Valparaiso.

ISU will play South Dakota State on April 7 in Valparaiso, Indiana. The team will come back home for backto-back matches against Chicago State April 11. The team’s final road match of the season will be in Tulsa, Okla. against Oral Roberts April 14 before its final home match on April 21 against Nebraska Omaha.

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Apply in person or at ozarkhouse.com/ apply.

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SPACK continued from page 8

“They would probably say they’d probably like to play this weekend and next if they could. It doesn’t work out that way all the time for us.”

Spack on OL Drew Himmelman’s debut: “I think he did pretty good. I think he was really excited, he’s waited a long time to play. He grey-shirted then red-shirted. You’re talking about a guy who’s put on close to 70 pounds since he’s been out of high school. He’s never played tackle in his life, he’s been a tight end and to get your first college game, you’re playing at a position you’ve never played. But, he’s had a lot ... of reps over the last year and a half, so I thought he played pretty well.”

Spack on the O-line Saturday night: “I thought they protected well.

[Butler] had some nasty little blitzes in there and some movements that were difficult and I thought we picked them up pretty well.”

Spack on the defense Saturday night: “We didn’t do a whole lot, we played our base defense you see every Saturday. I don’t think we dialed up a whole lot of pressures, there wasn’t any exotic different looks that we showed. It was just trying to execute the plan. But, I thought the defense played well. No big plays.”

Stay on top of ISU Sports with “Redbird Report” podcasts at Videtteonline.com

Phone 309 438 7685 • Fax 309 438 5211 Corner of Locust & University, Normal, IL Monday – Friday. 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.

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plenty of talent, but we need to develop a confident and assertive mentality inside our opponent’s penalty area,” Silvey said.

After helping the Jaguars to back-to-back shutout wins in New York, Lipka won the Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week honor. This season, the Indianapolis native has a goals against average of 1.45 along with a save percentage of .714.

On offense, freshman Valentine Pursey has so far been the go-to player for the Jaguars. With two goals and two assists so far this season, Pursey’s six points is tied for the sixth best in the Horizon League.

Sunday’s match between ISU and IUPUI will start at noon.

FOR RENT: SPRING 2017 Various 1, 2, 3 and 4 Bedrooms and some single rooms available. $240 $570. Class Act Realty. 454-2960

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Sports

PAGE 8 | THE VIDETTE

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2017

Redbird football enters bye week 1-0 MIKE MARRA Sports Editor | @MikeMarraILSTU

Illinois State is coming off the 45-0 thrashing of Butler Saturday night.

The Redbirds improved to 9-0 in home openers under head coach Brock Spack with the victory.

Now, Illinois State enters their bye week just a game into the season, something unusual, but not phasing Spack and company.

On Tuesday afternoon, Spack met with the media ahead of the Redbirds’ week off and talked about leftovers from Saturday night and looked forward to the coming days of practice.

Brock Spack Spack on Saturday night’s game: “We had a pretty good outing the first game. There’s always things you could do better and improve on. We’ll address those things this week, I try to get our football team better. We came out of the game relatively healthy, I think... just got a couple things that are kind of nagging that hopefully we

can take care of this week and try to get some guys some rest, who need it.

We have a young team, we got a lot of work to do. Obviously we’re not a finished product and we know the schedule gets tougher pretty quickly here, starting next Saturday.”

Spack on the practice schedule during the bye week:

Drew Himmelman

“Tuesday and Wednesday will be more working on us than our opponent, we’ll probably take a look at them for a period or two both those days. We’ll go out Thursday and Friday with helmets only and try to polish up some things as well, but Tuesday (and) Wednesday will be a heavy work day for us to try and get better.”

Spack on having a bye just one game into the season:

“Optimally, you’d like to have it after probably three nonconference games if you could work that out, but it’s so difficult to schedule. see SPACK page 7

Photo courtesy of ISU Athletics

Two-time All-Missouri Valley Conference golfer Kiley Walsh enters her fourth and final year as a member of the women’s golf team.

Walsh swings for success ISU senior captain Kiley Walsh drives team on and off course

NEIL DOYLE Sports Reporter | @NeilPDoyle

M

uch of the time during a typical day for Kiley Walsh is either spent doing schoolwork or swinging a golf club. The long and countless hours of practice, tournaments and schoolwork are all but one year from being over.

Walsh enters her senior season as a Redbird, but this doesn’t faze the Mount Prospect native.

Instead, it makes her more motivated for one last go around.

Not a person who wants to live by the clichés of “college was the best four years,” or “this is the last first tournament I’ll play,” Walsh said that it’s been every single year and each moment

along the way that is so special to her — it won’t be just this season.

“I’m very excited and finally feel like I have a lot of the golf and school figured out, and I’m just looking forward to a year of good quality tournaments and getting to play the role of a senior,” Walsh said.

Along with fellow senior Abby Luchtenburg, the two captains will look to bring the 2017-18 group into the winning column.

With both Walsh and Luchtenburg taking the reigns, how they will lead has, in a way, been shaped during their time at ISU. Getting to see how past seniors have led teams will help give them insight and ideas for ways to bring the other six girls all together as one.

“Its really exciting for the two of us to look at our team and know that all of us together can do something special,” Walsh said.

The right-handed golfer has proved over her past three seasons that she has the game and work ethic to captain a team.

Walsh has improved on her stroke average each season, with last year being her best, as she led the team with a 77.5 average. She’s also been very steady within the Missouri Valley Conference, earning AllMVC accolades over her last two seasons.

Not only does she produce on the course, but also within the classroom. The Spanish education major has been voted a First

Team All-MVC Women’s Golf Scholar for two straight seasons.

She has shown that all the hard work it takes being a studentathlete can be rewarded.

The upcoming season slates five tournaments to begin the fall portion of the year. Most notably getting to start the season at home in the Redbird Invitational, a tournament Walsh believes the team can win.

“We’re really excited to play our home course … and we’re ready to show Illinois State we’ve been practicing and ready to win the tournament,” Walsh said.

Walsh and the team will tee it up Sunday morning to begin round one of the Redbird Invitational at Weibring Golf Club.

Redbird hoops add Martin for 2017-18 season NICK LANDI Sports Reporter | @TheDon1033

After losing Zach Copeland for the upcoming season due to him not meeting transfer academic requirements, Illinois State men’s basketball went looking for some additional help in the back court.

On Wednesday, ISU coach Dan Muller found his man as the team signed graduate transfer Jerron Martin. Since Martin enrolled as a graduate student, he will be eligible to play for the Redbirds during the 2017-18 season under the NCAA graduate transfer exception.

“We’re excited to add Jerron to the program,” Muller said in Jerron a press release from ISU athMartin letics. “He will give us added

Muller proves loyalty to alma mater

depth at the guard position. We look forward to getting to work with him on the court while helping him earn his master’s degree here at Illinois State.”

Martin, who is 6-0 and weighs 175 pounds, comes from Texas Southern where he played for two seasons from 2015-17. The Tigers won the SWAC regular season championship both years Martin was on the team and made the NCAA tournament in 2017.

A native of Prince George’s County, Maryland, Martin had a successful senior season at Princeton Day School where he averaged 18.4 points per game. While leading Princeton to a 38-11 record during his final season, he also set the school’s all-time double-double record.

The guard originally began his college career at Ole Miss in 2013. After playing in two games, Martin got a medical red-shirt before eventually transferring to South Plains Junior College.

During the 2014-15 season, his only one at South Plains, Martin played in 22 games. The guard then headed to Texas Southern, where in 2015-16, he started in three out of the 21 games he played and shot 40.7 percent from the field.

He finished the season averaging 2.7 points per game and shot 34 percent from three-point range.

In the 2016-17 season, Martin saw limited action as he only played in four games. He finished the year with 1.5 points per game.

With this addition, Illinois State has seven guards to use this season. Joining Martin in the back court will be juniors Keyshawn Evans and William Tinsley, sophomores Madison Williams and Matt Hein, and freshmen Elijah Clarance and Isaac Gassman.

Martin will also be ISU’s lone senior this season as well as its fifth upperclassmen.

MY VIEW NATE HEAD Sports Editor

I

llinois State men’s basketball coach Dan Muller has never once given any indication of a desire to leave Normal for other (perhaps more prestigious) programs.

But that didn’t stop his name from being mentioned when positions opened this summer at Illinois, Butler and Oklahoma State, just to name a few.

ISU athletic director Larry Lyons put an abrupt end to any future rumors or whispers regarding the Redbirds’ leading man Tuesday, as he announced the extension of Muller’s contract through the 2023-24 season.

Muller’s salary will increase to $500,000 this upcoming season, and it is set to rise an additional $100,000 in the following years of the agreement.

Sure, it may sound a bit peculiar that he will now earn 25 percent more annually than ISU President Larry Dietz.

But Muller is worth every penny.

The Redbirds are nearly unrecognizable since he returned to his alma mater in 2012, as Muller has shepherded a transformation of a perpetually average club into a potential Missouri Valley Conference juggernaut.

Following a shaky sixth-place finish in Muller’s inaugural campaign, ISU has progressively risen through the ranks of the MVC. The ascension reached its peak last season, as the Redbirds sported a nearly spotless league record on the way to claim their first conference title since 1998.

Past players like Daishon Knight, Reggie Lynch, DeVaughn AkoonPurcell, and more recently, Paris Lee, MiKyle McIntosh and Deontae Hawkins have obviously served a substantial role in shifting the basketball culture at ISU. But players come and players go.

Muller is truly the glue that keeps the ISU program thriving, and Redbird nation should be proud to have him roaming the sidelines for the foreseeable future.

We know one thing for certain: Muller is a tremendous coach on the court. He seems to always have his guys prepared no matter the circumstance, location or opponent.

His basketball knowledge is savvy, as shown by his exclusive invitation to lend a helping hand at the USA Basketball Camp this summer.

But it’s much more than just X’s and O’s he draws on his dry-erase board.

His character is the epitome of a strong leader.

It’s admirable the way Muller continuously shows his genuine care toward his guys, including a pair of assistant coaches, Luke Yaklich and DeAndre Haynes, who recently landed positions at the University of Michigan, after Muller reportedly reached out to Michigan’s Jim Beilein and personally recommended the pair.

And lastly, there is one characteristic that stands taller than the rest, perhaps even taller than Muller’s lengthy 6-foot-6 frame that solely justifies his hefty payday.

Loyalty.