SPORTS
OP/ED
CURRENTS Pedal to Divestment gets resolution passed.
Softball team claims two wins.
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THE SPECTATOR THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-EAU CLAIRE’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1923
spectatornews.com
Thursday, April 22, 2021
VOL. 101 NO. 3
‘Students have been burned out already’ Blugolds are grateful and frustrated by creation of two ‘wellness days’ shared governance call April 7. The shared governance
bodies
share their thoughts on the proposal.
have been made more stressful because
TA’LEAH VAN SISTINE / The Spectator An email sent to students on April 8 announced there would be two “wellness days” on April 16 and 29 in lieu of a spring break. Some Blugolds still have assignments due on those days, preventing them from fully stepping “away
Ta’Leah Van Sistine
Lea Kopke
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
MANAGING EDITOR
are aware the circumstances surrounding this decision are not perfect.
The Spectator reached out to several voiced negative opinions regarding the but received no responses.
Eau Claire would be giving students two
decision was made late in the semester significant amount of time to adjust their course schedules.
Van Sistine can vansistr6741@uwec.edu.
and Student Senate began receiving an
be
reached
at
Kopke can be reached at kopkelg3003@ uwec.edu.
Blugolds feel impacts of police brutality Grace Olson OP/ED EDITOR
officers involved with the arrest were
where she allows herself to go online. Young said the trial has been because he wants to be more educated on social justice and his culture.
>> CHAUVIN page 2
GRACE OLSON / The Spectator The death of George Floyd sparked a national Black Lives Matter movement.
NEWS THE SPECTATOR
THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-EAU CLAIRE STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1923
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Thursday, April 22
PAGE EDITOR: Timothy Spierings
UW-Eau Claire hosts 2021 Ann Devroy Memorial Forum Phillip Rucker of The Washington Post shares “Lessons From Reporting in the Age of Trump” for virtual audience COVID-19 research possibly to lead to viable HIV vaccine
EDITORIAL Editor-in-Chief Ta’Leah Van Sistine Managing Editor Lea Kopke
Timothy Spierings
News Editor Timothy Spierings
NEWS EDITOR
Currents Editor Evelyn Nelson Sports Editor Sam Janssen Op/Ed Editor Grace Olson Multimedia Editor Owyn Peters Chief Copy Editor Ashlie Fanetti Copy Editors Amira Lunderville Reonna Huettner Staff Writers Allison Hinrichs Avery Shanahan Emma Steiler Grace Schutte Miles Plueger Rosa Gómez Sabrina Ftouhi Sami Geiger Thomas DeLapp Freelance Writers Caleb Doyle Madeline Fuerstenberg Staff Photographers McKenna Dirks Mitch Pettijohn Graphic Designer Bethany Mennecke
ADVERTISING Advertising Manager Abigail Girard
BUSINESS Business Manager Joel Meier PR Representatives Mikayla Soltis Vee Kie Tan
ASHLIE FANETTI / The Spectator Phillip Rucker talked of interactions he had with Trump during his reporting in the White House.
Ashlie Fanetti CHIEF COPY EDITOR Journalism has changed over the past few years, especially in the White House. These changes were the focus of the main presentation given at the UW-Eau Claire Communication and Journalism department’s annual Ann Devroy Memorial Forum on Thursday, April 15 via Zoom. The event was emceed by Jan Larson, the chair of the CJ department. Kristine Knutson, acting CJ department chair and forum organizer, said there were a lot of things that went into planning the event during this time of COVID-19. “It was challenging to plan the forum virtually, but the department is just glad to be able to hold one this Knutson said the 2020 forum was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and while the 2020 fellow’s work experience at The Washington post was moved out, she doesn’t foresee further delays. According to the event program, the annual forum is a memorial to the late Ann Devroy, a UWEau Claire journalism alumna who worked as a white house correspondent at The Washington Post for 15 years before she passed away in 1997. The presentation, titled “Lessons from Reporting a former White House Bureau Chief for The Washington Post, who spent the last few years of his career covering the Trump Administration. He has also co-written a bestselling book about Trump’s first three years in office. Rucker is now senior White House correspondent at The Washington Post but is currently on leave working on the sequel to his book, which Rucker said will cover Trump’s last year in office.
During his presentation, Rucker shared memories from his time covering the Trump presidency, anecdotes of the woman of honor — Ann Devroy — and answered audience questions from the audience as he took the virtual stage. Those watching the virtual forum even caught a glimpse of Rucker’s puppy named Axel while Rucker spoke about the mantra “We’re not at war, we’re at words in mind when interacting with Trump. In addition to the remarks by Rucker, a new recipient was announced for the Ann Devroy fellowship. The Devroy fellowship awards an outstanding UW-Eau Claire journalism student a scholarship and a three-week fellowship at The Washington Post and eligibility to apply for a paid summer internship at a Wisconsin daily newspaper. The 2021 Devroy fellow is Ta’Leah Van Sistine, a third-year journalism and English student and editor-in-chief of The Spectator. The announcement was made by the 2020 fellow, Madeline Fuerstenberg, a fourth-year journalism student. “Ta’Leah is so deserving of this. She has so Fuerstenberg said. Fuerstenberg said she hasn’t gone to Washington D.C. for her internship yet because of the pandemic but plans to do so in the fall. She is also going to intern at the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism this summer. “The Washington Post is the ideal place to learn just excited to learn from people who have so much Knutson said as of right now, Van Sistine will get the same opportunity as Fuerstenberg over UW-Eau Claire’s 2022 winter break. Fanetti can be reached at fanettar2861@uwec.edu.
CHAUVIN from page 1 The Spectator is a 100 percent student-run university publication published under the authority granted to the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. CORRECTION POLICY: While The Spectator continually strives for excellence and accuracy, we resign the fact that we will occasionally make errors. When these errors are made, The Spectator will take responsibility for correcting the error and will maintain a high level of transparency to be sure all parties are formation does not spread. Contact Editor-in-Chief Ta’Leah Van Sistine at VANSISTR6741@uwec. edu or (920) 676-4268.
“Reflecting on the fact that this is a person’s mother, father, brother, dad, sister, cousin best “These are humans whose lives are being lost and When specifically thinking about the Black community, Jackson said symptoms of anxiety, depression and PTSD may arise after watching videos of police killings. Jackson said a lot of PTSD is trauma you either experienced or the threat of something that could happen to you. She said when the person on screen looks like the individual watching, and that person is being harmed, they may put themselves in the victim’s shoes and think about whether this could happen to them. Jackson said there can also be symptoms of depression when watching these videos.
“We’re in an era now where we’re seeing it a lot on of the sadness you feel in regards to witnessing that over and over again comes from repeatedly seeing She said while it’s important to stay informed, continuing to constantly watch videos of police brutality may continue to negatively affect viewer’s mental health. She said being Black adds another layer to this impact, and it’s important to take a break and separate the video from the viewer’s life. “You don’t want to start to feel like that is you, “It’s something you are witnessing and are separate
Olson can be reached at olsongm1225@uwec.edu. one female subject near the south end of the footbridge. Officer 1 exited the vehicle and approached one of the male subjects. He was
CONTACT THE SPECTATOR: ADDRESS: Hibbard Hall 104, Eau Claire, WI 54701 EDITORIAL E-MAIL: c-j02@uwec.edu ADVERTISING E-MAIL: c-j03@uwec.edu BUSINESS E-MAIL: c-j51@uwec.edu FACULTY ADVISER: Mike Dorsher MDORSHER@uwec.edu Like our Facebook page (The Spectator) Follow us on Twitter (@spectatornews) Follow us on Instagram (@spectatornews) Add us on Snapchat (@spectatornews) and check out our website (spectatornews.com) for exclusive, up-to-date
Male 1 attempted to walk away and refused to identify himself to Officer 1. The officer said to Male 1 that he was not allowed to leave because of a case he was investigating of a male subject tipping over a garbage can. Male 1 attempted to walk away again and would not identify
Drunken misconduct occurs and sleeping man found in the Towers Hall Miles Plueger STAFF WRITER Last week, UW-Eau Claire police
content.
subjects and a man sleeping in the Towers Hall entrance.
Talk to the hand At 10:18 p.m. on April 15, two officers were sent to Garfield Ave. because a male subject created a disturbance by knocking over a trash can. The officers arrived and observed two male subjects and
not to leave. He observed that Male 1’s eyes were glossy and he would sway side to side when standing still. Male 2 and Female 1. They both Officer 1 again told Male 1 to identify himself but walked away for a third time. Read more at spectatornews.com.
UW-Eau Claire found no new cases of COVID-19 infections among those tested at the McPhee Center yesterday. As of 3:30 p.m. on April 20, there were no new positive cases of COVID-19 among the weekly 210 on-campus student tests, 165 off-campus student tests and 44 staff and faculty tests. According to the UW-Eau Claire COVID-19 dashboard, there have been 42,760 COVID-19 tests given since Jan. 23. A total of 75 tests have come back positive in that time, which is an increase of eight cases since last week. There are currently no students living in isolation on campus. Additionally, there are two oncampus students in quarantine. According to the Barron County data provided, there are no new positive cases of COVID-19 among the 15 student tests and 13 staff and faculty tests given weekly. The dashboard also has a new statistic to view, regarding vaccination data. According to the dashboard, the data is selfreported through the Blugold Protocol app. Up to 75.3% of staff and faculty at UW-Eau Claire are currently vaccinated, which translates to 984 people. Vaccination for staff became available on March 3. Additionally, 31.8% of students are vaccinated, which translates to 3,112 people. Vaccination for students became available on April 5. In national news, the United States has administered 200 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine as of today. According to NBC News, this accomplishment has come about within the first 100 days of Joe Biden’s presidency. Additionally, the leap in research through finding viable COVID-19 vaccines may have also led to a potential vaccine for HIV. According to Discover Magazine, an HIV vaccine has not yet been achieved because HIV often tricks the immune system and doesn’t trigger it to react to an infection, like an immune system treated with a vaccine normally would. The surface proteins on the HIV virus look remarkably similar to those on healthy cells, so any vaccine would have to be fine-tuned in order to correctly train the immune system to recognize a genuine infection. New research due to the two-dose, mRNA vaccines like those from Moderna and Pfizer, now may make it possible to create an efficient HIV vaccine. Moderna in particular is looking to start human trials for a HIV vaccine by the end of 2021, according to Insider. In Eau Claire County, there have been a total of 11,410 positive cases of COVID-19 infections, according to the Eau Claire County Information Hub. There have also been a total of 50,986 negative tests for COVID-19. There have been a total of 106 deaths due to COVID-19 in Eau Claire County. Threeh u n d re d - a n d - n i n e t y- o n e cases of COVID-19 infections have resulted in necessary hospitalizations, which is 3.4% of all the cases reported. Read more at spectatornews.
NEWS Sonnentag referendum passes NEWS EDITOR: Timothy Spierings
Thursday, April 22
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Construction of Sonnentag Complex to begin this year as students vote in favor of new facility The fee will be added to the segregated fees in the non-alcable section of tuition, Ziebell said. Every year, the fees for leasing and maintenance of the building will go under review, so it will likely change from year to year, she said. “The fee will never be more than $90 per semester,” Ziebell said. Kimera Way, president of the UW-Eau Claire Foundation, said the facility will be located on Menomonie St. across from Carson Park. The project costs roughly $70 million and includes an event center, fitness and wellness center and a 50 to 60-yard turf field house, she said. The Sonnentag Complex will be used for sports events and games, recreation and fitness and concerts and events, Way said. The purpose of the student fee increase is to mainly benefit the students, faculty and staff, she said. However, the community will be able to utilize it as well. “This would replace Zorn Arena and its functionality as a community and event center,” Way said. “Eventually that facility will be torn down.” The land it is being built on is worth about $10 million dollars, Way said. It was gifted to UW-Eau Claire by John and Carol Sonnentag, two alumni of UW-Eau Claire. Way said the project is funded in part by the Sonnentags, the city of Eau Claire and other additional philanthropy.
SUBMITTED The Sonnentag Complex is expected to be completed early in 2024, Way said.
Miles Plueger STAFF WRITER The Sonnentag Complex, a new sports facility and event center at UW-Eau Claire, is set to begin before the end of 2021. From April 12-14, students had the opportunity to vote in a referendum in favor or against the new complex. The referendum passed with 1,019 students (61%) voting in favor and 640 students voting against (38%). This also included the consent of tuition to be raised by no more than $90. Anna Ziebell, a fourth-year political science student and current student body president, said the $90 is per student per semester. However, tuition will not be raised until the building is complete and students have access to it. The fee is likely to be less than $90, Ziebell said, and is necessary because it pays for maintenance and leasing of the facility. Because of the partnerships UW-Eau Claire has with the city and other entities for this project, it makes more sense to lease the space, she said.
team and construction team. They will help determine and estimate how much it will cost. The UW System would then need to approve the fee and the lease, Way said. After that, there will be an “extensive” approval process with the City of Eau Claire. Finally, she said the university must gather $10 million of private funding. Ziebell said she has been sitting on the Sonnentag Complex planning committee for two years. Her role was to get as much information as possible and also lower the fee as much as possible, she said. “Because I have been working on this so long, I know why we need this,” Ziebell said. The reason UW-Eau Claire needs the Sonnentag Complex, Ziebell said, is because the infrastructure of Zorn Arena is “crumbling.” She said she voted in favor of the new complex because there is no room for renovations or expansions of Zorn. Systems like the heating, ventilation and air conditioning are in bad shape, Ziebell said. In the past, people have fainted from heat exhaustion, so there are real health and safety concerns, she said, as well as quality. With the Sonnentag Complex, there is a lot to look forward to, Way said. “I am personally looking forward to one: watching the first graduation and two: watching our Blugolds play and have the facility full of our students,” Way said. Plueger can be reached at pluegemf2903@uwec.edu.
Student Senate elections Plans for the 65th session include internal reform
64th session concluded with closing reports and swearing in of new senate members
SUBMITTED Jaden Mikoulinskii and Justin Schilling are the new student body president and vice president.
Avery Shanahan STAFF WRITER Jaden Mikoulinskii, a thirdyear Sociology student, will lead as president of the 65th session of UWEau Claire’s Student Senate. Mikoulinskii, a first-generation college student, said she became invested in campus climate over the summer and decided she wanted to be more involved with the government on campus. She said she originally had no idea what went into the senate but saw a post from one of the members of the current cabinet on their social media page about running for office. After a brief conversation with Anna Ziebell and Joe Murphy, the current president and vice president of Student Senate, Mikoulinskii was put on the nomination ticket for the 64th session. Mikoulinskii said she saw a lot of issues with the process of how senators and positions of directorship were appointed. In her first semester in the senate, Mikoulinskii was appointed Commission Director of the Academic Affairs committee. In this directorship, Mikoulinskii was in charge of managing a $10.8 million budget and oversaw the commission. Mikoulinskii describes herself as someone who gets things done and takes certain matters very seriously. She said she found a running mate that has been able to balance her out.
Justin Schilling, a third-year Broadfield Social Studies student, will be UW-Eau Claire’s Student Senate’s Vice President. Mikoulinskii praised Schilling for his easy-going attitude, institutional knowledge and overall senate experience. “Justin really balances me out,” Mikoulinskii said Schilling said he joined Senate his After previously being the mascot at his high school, his family and advisors encouraged him to apply to become Blu the Blugold. “I meant to click performer, but apparently I applied for the (student mascot) coordinator,” Schilling said. He was the student mascot coordinator for two semesters and moved on to be the chief of staff for the 63rd session. Schilling is currently the Commission Director of Communications in the 64th session. Both Mikoulinskii and Schilling discussed taking care of internal affairs reform within the Senate for the next session. Their goal for their ticket nominations was to include more representation throughout the senate. “We were looking at first-year students, students of marginalized identities and athletes,” Mikoulinskii said. “Now a third of our tickets come from the first-year class and a third are students of color.”
comprehensive political science legal studies student, said she is excited to join the body in the 65th session. “They are consistently trying to allocate more money to help students, or do things to support different voices,” TenBarge said. “It is just really awesome and something I’m excited to be a part of next year.” TenBarge was introduced to Student Senate when she took on the role of Student Senate representative for Bridgeman Hall on campus. To get more involved and discover more about the logistics of Senate, she joined the Academics Affairs commission as well as the Housing Accountability Committee. These organizations and specific connections within the Academic Affairs commission led TenBarge to a spot on the Mikoulinksi-Schilling nomination ticket. Mikoulinskii talked about the passing of the Sonnentag Complex referendum and a lack of the Rally for Excellence project, and said the senate now has more time to work on internal and campus issues. She said she is really pushing for requirements of meetings between senate members and departments that are applicable to written legislation. Schilling said he will be focusing on the construction and reform of new projects in the 65th session. Read more at spectatornews.com.
The final pieces of legislation for the 64th session of Student Senate were introduced and voted upon at the last meeting of the semester. The meeting began with weekly reports from the cabinet, commission directors and coordinators. President Anna Ziebell gave a closing address reflecting on this current session and her past semesters in the Senate. “You will never realize how much impact every person you meet in college, especially in a leadership position,” Ziebell said. “Student Senate has given me some of the most memorable experiences I will ever have.” Vice President Joe Murphy also reflected on his time as a member of Student Senate, specifically the shortened timeline of this session. “This has been one of the most challenging years ever for our student governance, but this legislative team made sure that we responded to COVID-19 with resounding success,” Murphy said. Following announcements, the body moved to unfinished business. Bill 64-B-16 voted on the approval of the Information Technology Commission Budget. This budget goes toward the maintenance of technology on campus and the funding of technology projects at the university. The Senate also voted to adopt the Green Building Certification of the Sonnentag Complex. Bill 64-B-17 proposed hiring a third party to ensure the construction of the newly approved Sonnentag Complex utilizes sustainable practices. The final bill of the 64th session supported changes to the Student Senate Bylaws. These changes included updates to reallocations voted on during the session and an emergency response clause. “I think the redundancies they have eliminated, the gender-inclusive language they’re adding and the emergency operation clauses are necessary if something like COVID were to happen again,” Senator Nolan Buss said. All three of these bills passed with a vote of 25-0-2. After the unfinished business section closed, the 64th session was concluded. The election committee moved to certify the election results and the new senate members of the 65th session took the oath of office. The 65th session began with the introduction and vote of resolutions to the new body. Bill 65-R-1 was a resolution introduced in support of Fossil Fuel Divestment in the UW-System and Foundation. This resolution calls for the removal of fossil fuel investment and the reinvestment in clean energy options and local community controlled companies to combat social injustice and the climate crisis. Read more at spectatornews.com.
THIS WEEK IN PHOTOS PAGE EDITOR: Ashlie Fanetti
Thursday, April 22
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Annual CERCA event continues virtually
PHOTO BY EMMA STEILER / The Spectator search is being held virtually on Canvas this year throughout the week of April 19-23.
KT opens its doors on Water St.
Love through a lens
PHOTO BY REONNA HUETTNER / The Spectator
KT: Sushi, Poké & Noodles menu has a variety of options including seven types of regular sushi rolls and specialty sushi rolls selection which comes with 10 pieces per order. There are also two piece options and a combo with 14 pieces per order on the menu that offers variety. If sushi doesn’t seem appetizing, the restaurant also serves burritos and bowls (including chicken teriyaki bowls), appetizers and soup, a bento box and three types of ramen. SUBMITTED PHOTO A portrait of second-year student Paul Agbashi, captured by Olu Famule.
UW-Eau Claire hosts 24th annual Ann Devroy Memorial Forum
PHOTO BY ASHLIE FANETTI / The Spectator Phillip Rucker, a senior political analyst for The Washington Post, answers questions from local media and UW-Eau Claire professors over Zoom prior to the start of the 2021 Ann Devroy Memorial Forum. Rucker served as keynote speaker of the event.
SPORTS SPORTS EDITOR: Sam Janssen
Thursday, April 22
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UWEC softball sweeps UW-La Crosse, splits with UW-Oshkosh Blugolds move to 6-2 in WIAC competition and lost the second 11-9. In both games, the Blugolds were able to score early and continue scoring throughout the event. Sadie Erickson hit a homerun at the top of the three runs. That momentum carried on into the second game. night, UW-Oshkosh came back with renewed determination. Despite taking a two-run lead in the top of the second inning, Oshkosh scored four runs in the fourth. From there, each team matched the other run-for-run. Both teams scored two “It was a slugfest,” Huntington said. In the second game, the teams tried to
SUBMITTED / The Spectator Sivak described the doubleheader against La Crosse as a pitchers duel, while the games against Oshkosh were a battle of the bats.
sought to “score often and score early,” Sivak said. Abbey Place, a fourth-year catcher and
Grace Schutte STAFF WRITER The UW-Eau Claire softball season continued with two doubleheaders this past weekend, one against UW-La Crosse and a second against UW-Oshkosh. UW-La Crosse doubleheader The Blugolds swept UW-La Crosse on Friday, April 16 at home. In game one, Morgan Sivak, a fourth-year pitcher, tossed a complete-game shutout with only two hits given up to lead the team to a 1-0 victory. Leslie Huntington, the Blugolds’ head coach, says the wins were secured through a combination of excellent pitching, key defensive plays and timely base hits. In traditional Blugold fashion, the team
The sole run of the game was earned in the bottom of the second inning, batted in by Ellie Decker, a third-year catcher and
following close behind later that inning. In the last two innings, Maddey Zerr and Abbey Cook, second-year Blugold pitchers, recorded four strikeouts and two pop ups to “Our defense was solid, and we had high energy and focus for both games, which was crucial,” Sivak said, “since we weren’t scoring
as much as usual.” Both games were close and quick, with three-up-three-down innings throughout, Sivak said. “It was a good old-fashioned pitcher’s duel — that was the highlight for me,” Huntington said. “It was a fun afternoon to be a part of.” Sivak said after this shutout UW-La Crosse is going to want those games back. “We’re preparing for the intensity and the short game we know they will bring next time UW-Eau Claire is scheduled to play UWLa Crosse again on May 4. UW-Oshkosh doubleheader The bats were alive in the second doubleheader on the road against UWOshkosh on April 17. The Blugolds secured
pitchers often; however, both teams were able to adapt and continue their momentum. “Each team was hitting up a storm, but we eventually ran out of innings,” Huntington said. Like UW-La Crosse, UW-Oshkosh likes to play the short game, Sivak said, and they play it well. They also are a loud team and try to get into their opponents’ heads — but Sivaks said they were able to stay mentally strong despite this. “We did what we could,” Sivak said. “We kept scoring runs and answering back, but it just didn’t end up coming out on our side.” Despite the loss, Sivak said she and her teammates are still happy to be able to play in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic. Coach Huntington is grateful to the players for following the protocols and being responsible so they can continue to play. The Blugolds return to action at home
Schutte can be reached at schuttge3524@ uwec.edu.
Men’s tennis loses to UW-Whitewater, comes back against Coe College Blugolds will enter last match 9-2
Sam Janssen SPORTS EDITOR It has been a busy offseason for Aaron Rodgers, the quarterback of the Green Bay Packers (for now) and the
SUBMITTED / The Spectator Grant Mauthe serves during one of his last college matches as his father and the rest of the Blugolds cheer him on.
Sam Janssen SPORTS EDITOR This weekend, UW-Eau Claire’s men’s tennis team had matches against UW-Whitewater on Saturday, April 17, as well as against Coe College on Sunday, April 18. UW-Whitewater match The Blugolds lost the away match
Mauthe and Adam Burk, along with a win from John Foley and Matt Gilbert. UW-Whitewater, a formidable opponent, has a history of sweeping the doubles, Brian Biernat, the head coach, said. His advice to Mauthe and Burk was to hold the serve and keep it close. Coach Biernat said by executing this tactic properly, the team would be able to force the opponents into a tie-breaker. They then would capitalize on their opponent’s nerves and claim the win. “That’s exactly what happened,” Coach Biernat said. The team took up an I-formation in time with the serve, forcing the returner to change their approach suddenly during match point. “The goal wasn’t to go for an ace, but to put the ball in play,” Coach Biernat said. “Make them change their
mind. The timing and execution are a testament to their hard work — it was unbelievable.” This is an example of the set plays the teams have practiced thoroughly in practice. To see it come to fruition, as they had practiced it so many times before, was the highlight of the match, Coach Biernat said. In addition to the wins in doubles, RJ
“In all honesty,” Mauthe said, “We were taking out our anger about the loss the day before. We had been a hair away done that day.” As a senior, Mauthe’s remaining matches with the Blugolds are numbered. He said he felt as though he
John Foley, a second-year tennis player, 6 singles, respectively. For Grant Mauthe, a fourth-year tennis player, one of the highlights from the UW-Whitewater match came after it had ended. As the team prepared to meet after them, Mauthe said, and complimented the team on how classily they conducted themselves. He admired how they represented not just UW-Eau Claire but the sport, too. “It’s easy to be a good sport when you’re winning,” Mauthe said. “This just goes to show our mentality and integrity as a team.” Coe College match The matches the next day in
had, despite having clinched his match. Mauthe wasn’t the only player making the most of his time on the court, though. “We have a lot of players who can play up in the lineup,” Coach Biernat said. “And now that we have some strong seniors graduating, I’ve started bringing up some players who have never gotten the chance to play one before. This way, they get a sense of what that pressure is like.” Hunter Roseth, a second-year tennis player, played one match alongside Matt Christensen, a third-year tennis player, and it was, to Coach Biernat, one of the highlights of the day. “That was probably one of the best matches he’s played all season,” Biernat said.
Read more at spectatornews.com
Rodgers announced his engagement to actress Shailene Woodley in February, filled in as the host of Jeopardy for two weeks and launched an online sports platform called the Online Sports Database with his friend actor Ryan Rottman. Despite him turning in one of the best seasons of his career and winning the MVP last season, ever since the team drafted Jordan Love in last year’s draft, speculation has been rampant about when Rodgers will exit Green Bay and under what terms. This speculation intensified again when Rodgers discussed his future with the organization on the Pat McAfee Show earlier this month. Rodgers had this to say about his uncertain future with Green Bay: “My future, really, a lot of it’s out of my control,” he told McAfee. “All I can do is play my best, and I feel like last year I did do that, and may have thrown a wrench into some timelines that have been thought about or desired.” In other words, after drafting Love in the first round last year, the organization may have planned to move on from Rodgers maybe even as soon as this year, but after Rodgers played as well as he did, he’s forcing them to leave him in the lineup. The decision to draft Love last year was criticized by many, and it seemed like a strange decision for a choose that route — using their first-round pick on a player who was never going to see the field instead of addressing their needs. Most of the needs Green Bay should have addressed last year still loom large this year, and after the resigning of Aaron Jones, Green Bay’s star running back, they had almost no cap space. This forced them to largely sit out free agency in typical Green Bay fashion this year — short of the The biggest need Green Bay has to address is the wide receiver position. Davante Adams is one of the best receivers in the game, but aside from him, Rodgers has a fairly weak cast of characters to throw to. Read more at spectatornews.com
CURRENTS CURRENTS EDITOR: Evelyn Nelson
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Thursday, April 22
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Pedal to Divestment event succeeds in resolution pass UW Divestment Coalition rallies against UW-Eau Claire’s investments in fossil fuel industry Grace Schutte STAFF WRITER
Amira Lunderville COPY EDITOR Event preview Due to UW-Eau Claire’s lack of transparency, it is difficult to know how deeply invested they are in the fossil fuel industry, but Maddie Loeffler, a third-year environmental geography student, believes there may be more to it than meets the eye. “Unless an organization or company says outright that they do not invest in fossil fuels, it’s more than likely that they do,” Loeffler said. Loeffler is a member of the UW Divestment Coalition, an organization dedicated to getting the UW-System Foundations to divest from fossil fuels and reinvest in clean energy solutions, equitable companies and ethical practices overall. “Our main goal is to persuade the UW-System Foundation to stop trying to profit from the exploitation that comes from the fossil fuel industry and start investing in the future of Wisconsin and the world,” Loeffler said. Leah Woodward, a second-year English student, is also involved with the Divestment Coalition. She said the upcoming Pedal to Divestment protest UWDC has organized will help further their cause. At around 4:30 p.m. April 19, participants will meet on the campus mall, Woodward said. Some representatives from UWDC and the Conservation Club will talk about the importance of divestment. Next, they’ll move on to making wearable posters, Woodward said. The posters will be pinned to the shirts of the bikers and walkers as they move throughout Eau Claire.
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“When you see a big group of students, you’re going to look at them — see their posters, hear their chants and get curious about what it is they’re protesting.” The group will rejoin at Davies at roughly 5:45 p.m., Student Senate through Zoom, Woodward said. Afterward, posters will be collected and sewn together into a banner and displayed somewhere on campus. “Seven schools in the UW System have already had their Student Senates pass a resolution related to fossil fuel divestment. We want to be one of those schools,”
“We’ll have a cleaner community,” Dockter said. “Green living and green energy are becoming more popular and future incoming students will start to be looking for in schools like UW-Eau Claire.” Participants gathered at 4:30 p.m. on April 19 at the campus mall and wore wearable posters pinned on their clothes, Loeffler said. Although the group was smaller than originally planned, because of the weather, it was still meaningful to have discussions about divestment, Loeffler said. People will be able to spread the word about divestment in the future. The group attended the Student Senate meeting to introduce Loeffler’s Fossil Fuel Divestment resolution which passed unanimously, she said. Loeffler was surprised by how well-received the resolution was by the Student Senate, she said. Beforehand, she thought there would be quite a bit of pushback from student senators, but they just asked for more information regarding divestment. “They understood the importance of divestment in the context of the existential threat of climate change,” Loeffler said. Dockter and Woodward were also excited about the news, they each said. “It was exactly what we were hoping for,” Woodward said. “We are really excited that it’s gone through Student Senate and we have their support,” Dockter said. “There’s power in the passing of the resolution and being able to Pedal to Divestment was a part of the UW Divestment Coalition occurring across UW System schools. According to the website, their goals are “transparency and disclosure of all UW investments, the cessation of all new investments in oil, gas and coal companies, the sale of existing investments tied to oil, gas and coal in the next three to five years and the investment in clean energy solutions.” By working with UWDC, Woodward, Dockter and divesting from fossil fuels, each of them said. Interested people can sign the petition to “unite students, faculty and alumni of the University of Wisconsin System and demand a just divestment from fossil fuels to combat the climate crisis.” Outside of the petition, Woodward and Dockter recommend checking out the UWDC’s website and stay upto-date on their goals and how else to support them. Lunderville can be reached at lunderar0406@uwec.edu.
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Schutte can be reached at schuttge3524@uwec.edu
Diversity in the UW-Eau Claire student body Students and community members take part in CultureFest Rosa Gómez STAFF WRITER The Eau Claire inclusive of a broader community and UWrange of cultures, Eau Claire campus are Batdelger said. celebrating the diversity According to the of cultures represented CIE website, there are a in the 2021 CultureFest. variety of virtual aspects Formerly known for this year’s Culturefest, as the International in addition to several onFolk Fair, the 55th campus highlights. anniversary of this There are live Zoom event is being held events and pre-recorded April 17-23. videos throughout the Huslen Batdelger, week that give insight a fourth-year finance into the cultures of student and intern the participating with the Center organizations. Some for International of the videos feature Education, said the international students name was changed that are currently living under the direction of in their home country. Yiliu Yang. The volunteers and Yang, the interns that helped in coordinator of the planning process for CultureFest, updated this event said coming the name to be more to CultureFest helps
Event Review
PHOTOS BY MCKENNA DIRKS / The Spectator
Hanna Dockter, a third-year communication sciences and disorders student and another organizer, said there is a bigger picture in relation to divesting from fossil fuels. “Climate justice is social justice,” Dockter said. “The negative impacts of global warming and climate change is disproportionality affecting people of color and low socioeconomic status and I don’t want our school system to be promoting that.” Divesting in fossil fuels and holding the school accountable, forces UW-Eau Claire to be transparent with its decisions and where it is investing money, Woodward said. There were many benefits to divesting in fossil fuels and the people who donate the money will receive better rewards long-term, Dockter said.
Photo one: Students gathered around the campus mall to create posters and participate in the pedal to divestment bike ride on Monday, April 19.
strengthen the Eau Claire community. “This is a chance to make connections and be a part of the community,” Lan Yang, third-year finance student and CultureFest volunteer, said. Batdelger said CultureFest is a way to get to know international students better. Yang — in agreement with Batdegler — said that as an international student, she has been able to meet lots of people from around the world. Nuo Xu, a thirdyear computer science student and volunteer, said that this week’s events help people of come together over their shared interests and appreciate their diversity. Sally Thompson, a third-year marketing student and intern with the CIE, said CultureFest is a great way to start learning about other cultures. She said it is
Photo two: in fossil fuel? Not my Blu.” Photo three: Leah Woodward, a second-year English student, creates a poster to participate in the bike ride. Photo four: Another poster created by a student at the Pedal to
important to be openminded when educating ourselves on the diversity found globally and also in the local community. “Not everyone has the privilege of being educated properly,” Thompson said. “ I think CultureFest is a great way to give people that opportunity.” Xu also said because most students are likely to study abroad during their academic career, or do some sort of international travel, they should have an understanding of cultures — aside from their own — to be respectful to other people’s ways of living. The complete schedule for CultureFest, the participating organizations and links to the virtual events can be found on their website. Gómez can be reached at gomezrd4749@uwec. edu.
MITCH PETTIJOHN / The Spectator The complete week-long schedule for CultureFest virtul events can be found on their website.
CURRENTS PAGE EDITOR: Evelyn Nelson
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Thursday, April 22
Love through a camera lens Olu Famule, UW-Eau Claire student, showcases culture through photography Rosa Gómez STAFF WRITER Cultivating a relationship with your inner artist and growing in awareness of how art influences society will prove beneficial — regardless of your area of study — according to the Department of Art and Design at UW-Eau Claire. Visual artist Olu Famule has used photography as a creative outlet and an avenue in which he has begun to explore other forms of art and expression. Famule, a fourth-year biology student, said being artistic is in his genes. His father is a professor of art history at UW-Superior and gifted him his first camera. “Photography is what led me into art, what got me confident to start creating,” Famule said. Famule said he has taken a few introductory art courses but also has taught himself a lot. Photography plays an important role in connecting people to memories, feelings and stories. Famule has used the art of photography to connect people to culture and push the boundaries of what society associates with diverse representation. Famule said photography is an embodiment of what art is. “It connects to a narrative, connects to stories — it’s a fusion of different perspectives,” Famule said. Two UW-Eau Claire students — Saba Seyoum and Paul Agbashi — have been subjects of Famule’s work and echoed this same belief. They said photography is a form of self expression, but it also allows the artist to showcase their skills and incorporate other inspiration. Seyoum, a second-year marketing student, said when working with Famule, she could tell how much he valued his work. For her and others, they said his style and method of shooting helped them feel more comfortable with their bodies and in front of a camera. “Just like music and poetry, photography can be very soothing and shows a lot about different people from different cultures and backgrounds,” Agbashi, second-year biology student, said. Famule said he draws inspiration and influence from his home country of Nigeria. His artistic style continues to evolve as
he aims to diversify art and what his photography represents, he said. Taking inspiration from African music, art and relationships with other Black students on campus, he is currently working on a documentary that showcases what it is like being Black in Eau Claire, Wis. Famule said he wanted to show a different side of art when it comes to depicting what it means to be Black. “Blackness is not something you can really define,” Famule said. “It goes beyond gender and beyond sexuality.” People have preconceived structures in their minds of what it means to be African and this is a way to showcase how much more there is than what the typical Western lens portrays, Famule said. Agbashi said Famule’s appreciation for his culture is shown through his art. Despite living in a predominantly white space, he always highlights the greatness of being Black, Agbashi said. “Being a person of color, I have to put a little bit of myself in it. I have to tell a little bit of my story,” Famule said. Famule also uses photography as a way to feature the beauty of individuals. He said he tends to photograph people that have parts of themselves that should be highlighted. He wants their stories and importance to the world to be celebrated through his work, Famule said. While the meaning of photography is unique to each artist, Famule said the message he wants people to take away is the importance of diversity. Often, when it comes to art, the same white artists are showcased, Famule said. Representation of artists of color is a strong first step in aiding people toward greater appreciation of how beauty is celebrated in cultures aside from their own. “Anyone can create,” Famule said. “If you’re inspired and motivated and you’re doing something you really love, you can be an artist too.” To see more of Famule’s work, head over to his Instagram page, @kehfam. Gómez can be reached at gomezrd4749@uwec.edu.
SUBMITTED Famule captures a self portrait of Paul Agbashi, a second-year student and friend of Famule.
A new chapter of LIT looks to bring about change at UW-Eau Claire Leaders Igniting Transformation hosts bi-weekly meetings to discuss change on campus Amira Lunderville COPY EDITOR A brand new chapter of Leaders Igniting Transformation has started at UW-Eau Claire. studies and elementary education student and the president of the UW-Eau Claire chapter of LIT, said LIT 2017. LIT is a statewide coalition of student leaders across various UW System campuses, high schools and other colleges in the state, Hoeksema said. They work on collective strategizing, power mapping and direct action on issues that are important to them. or student organizations on each of the campuses they present on, which are open to students and community members interested in organizing. “It initially was based in Milwaukee, WI, building political power amongst Black and brown youth in the state,” Hoeksema said. They are building and mobilizing Black, brown and young leaders across the state, Hoeksema said. They are seeking to grow its community of young organizers and activists that are stepping up to make the changes they want to happen.
TAYLOR WILKINSON As an organization, Leaders Igniting Transformation will meet with 17 legislators across the state to grow support for their work and the students.
to advocate for the values within the State of Wisconsin Legislature, Hoeksema said. As an organization, they are meeting with 17 legislators across the state to grow support for its work and its students. For more about LIT, visit their website. Silviana Amethyst, assistant professor of mathematics, is the faculty advisor of the UW-Eau Claire chapter of LIT. Amethyst’s role is to empower the students to take on pursuits and to make the changes they think are important. She wants people to understand this is all about what the students want. “I am not the one driving the change,” Amethyst said. “I’m the one to help facilitate what the students want to do.” Some of the changes LIT is looking to make on campus involve transformative justice, community care
and the abolition of a policing system that systemically and communities, Hoeksema said. “We want systems of public safety that don’t criminalize students but work to protect our health and well-being,” Hoeksema said. “We believe in a vision of public safety rooted in equity and justice.” Another subject of change they are discussing is better resources for students on campus, especially for students with backgrounds that have been historically excluded and marginalized, Hoeksema said. At UW-Green Bay, the LIT chapter recently got its student wage on campus increased from $7.25 to $12 as well as made changes so that campus leaders are now instructed not to contact campus police for wellness checks, Hoeksema said. Instead, there is a collaboration between the counseling/health center and residence life to do wellness checks on students, Hoeksema said. “We are thrilled by these massive victories and believe there is no reason these changes can’t be implemented at UW-Eau Claire as well,” she said. chapter is important because when students work together, they can share knowledge and resources to achieve the change they want. As students, they know what their needs are and recognize how they’re not being met by an institution, Hoeksema said. “It is absolutely critical for us to come together to address the impacts of these issues at a campus level,” Hoeksema said. As a brand new student organization with a unique mission to center student power and potential, LIT recognizes and honors everyone’s contributions to collective energy and forces, Hoeksema said. “Student power has been historically stripped and diminished systemically precisely because it is such an
Read more at spectatornews.com
OPINION/EDITORIAL
OP/ED EDITOR: Grace Olson
Thursday, April 22
people and places Out of body experiences — the individual feels like they are watching a movie of themselves • Other mental health illnesses or disorders like depression, anxiety and thoughts of suicide • A sense of detachment from their emotions • A lack of self-identity There are also three different types of dissociative disorders defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 1. Dissociative amnesia: The main symptom is difficulty remembering important information about one’s self. It could surround a certain event or information about their identity and life history. 2. Depersonalization disorder: This involves continuous feelings of detachment from actions, feelings, thoughts and sensations. Symptoms can last just for moments or return at times over the years. 3. Dissociative identity disorder: This used to be known as multiple personality disorder and is characterized by alternating between multiple identities. The individual may feel like a voice is trying to take control in their head. Usually these identities may have unique names, characteristics, mannerisms and voices. COVID-19 has changed life in almost every way and you’ve probably heard the phrase “life isn’t real” during these times. For many, life feels that way and this time in quarantine has caused them to dissociate. Dissociation is a main symptom of dissociative disorders and many have adapted it as a coping mechanism for these stressful times. Mental Health America describes dissociation during COVID-19 as a way for individuals to block out the uncertainty and scary events occurring in real life. There are things that may help an individual who is experiencing dissociation, such as being grounded, talking to others, adding a routine to their life and getting outdoors. Grounding can help an individual get out of their head and reconnect with the world around them. A common technique is to surprise one of their five senses, like dipping their hands in ice water. If you feel you are struggling with a dissociative disorder contact your mental health professional, talk to a trusted family member or friend, or — in an emergency — call 911. •
COVID-19 life may not feel real for a reason Grace Olson OP/ED EDITOR I believe mental health in general isn’t talked about enough, but there are some disorders that are commonly not even believed to be real. This includes the three types of dissociative disorders. According to the National Alliance on Mental Health, dissociative disorders are characterized by involuntary escape from reality. This involuntary escape is characterized by a disconnection between thoughts, identity, consciousness and memory. Symptoms of dissociative disorders usually first develop as a response to a traumatic event — such as
“Grounding can help an individual get out of their head and reconnect with the world around them.” GRACE OLSON Op/Ed Editor abuse — to try to keep those memories under control. Stressful situations can also worsen symptoms and cause problems with keeping up with everyday activities. Like many disorders, symptoms can differ from person to person, and depend on what type of dissociative disorder they have. Some common symptoms include: • Significant memory loss of specific times,
Olson can be reached at Olsongm1225@uwec.edu.
Theories of beauty Beauty doesn’t have to be a physical attribute Grace Schutte STAFF WRITER My dad called me the other day – out of the blue – claiming he’d had an epiphany. While standing in the bathroom brushing his teeth, blurry-eyed and in only his underwear, he’d been struck by a moment of intellectual genius at 8:00 a.m. “Gross, Dad,” I said. “Didn’t need to know that whole underwear thing.” He claimed it added to the suspense and continued to tell me what it was that had occurred to him. Usually, when my dad updates me on his most recent philanthropic discoveries, they’re comparing midichlorians to world religions – not commenting on beauty standards. But, he’d piqued my interest, so I encouraged him to go on. “Listen here, Gracie,” he began.
“As a young woman who has been subjected to the beauty standards of today’s day and age, I am no stranger to the concept.” GRACE SCHUTTE “Society claims that beauty is on the outside – and beauty itself, is, I believe, what’s hard to achieve at a given moment in time,” he said. He explained that throughout history the standards of beauty have shifted based on the climate of the world and the status of people. During the renaissance for example, men, women and children were depicted as my father would put it, “not size two’s.”
The women are full in shape and are the picture, ha, of health. However, it is important to recall what other historic event Europe had recently crawled its way out of the Black Plague. In a time of sickness, death and poverty, being able to maintain a healthy weight was a feat all on its own. Granted, the subjects of these portraits were likely wealthy socialites – the influencers of the day. Or, in times where people had to work in the fields, living off the land, where they’d spend hours in the sun, lighter skin was idolized because it was harder to obtain. Depressingly, there is a trend here between “beauty” and privilege that cannot be ignored. “But that’s only half of the theory,” Dad said. Society claims beauty is whatever is hard to achieve, he said, when in reality, beauty is on the inside. “That’s nice,” I said with a smile, although I couldn’t help but reflect on the hundreds of times I’d been told that by relatives, friends’ moms and cheesy Pinterest pins. As a young woman who has been subjected to the beauty standards of today’s day and age, I am no stranger to the concept. “Remember, beauty is what’s hard to achieve. I think for today’s society, that means –” a dump truck,
I thought, “– kindness.” Oh. It wasn’t what I’d been expecting. Looking back on it now, though, I’m not sure why. It’s about as cheesy as “Keep Calm and Love Yourself,” but it resonated with me. At the time of this conversation, the Black Lives Matter protests were still fresh on everyone’s minds, and it didn’t seem so far-fetched that kindness would be hard to obtain in light of the racial injustices our country has failed to address. “And get this,” he continued. “Everyone has a metaphorical cup that holds all that kindness and goodness. But sometimes a person has too much wonderful that the cup overflows and a little spills out – that little spill is true beauty.” Now and then, I get a text from him saying something like “Unsolicited Theory of Beauty hotties: your mom.” While those make me laugh, for obvious reasons, the idea is certainly thought-provoking. Waiting for the world to proclaim my body type as the epitome of beauty will take too long. But, being a genuine, good person? I can work with that. Schutte can be reached at schuttge3524@uwec.edu.
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Sexual Assault Awareness month Stop being so gross
SUBMITTED Why do you care about what’s in everyone’s pants?
Sabrina Ftouhi STAFF WRITER Trigger warning: This opinion piece will be discussing matters such as sexual assault and problems with sexualization. April is Sexual Assault Awareness month. For those readers who are unaware, the Minnesota Supreme Court recently decided “a person who is sexually assaulted while intoxicated does not fit the designation for a more serious charge if he or she consumed the alcohol or drugs voluntarily.” Only in cases of blackout drunkenness is a rape charge admissible. It truly baffles me that in this new decade, Minnesota claims to be progressive. The disrespect the state has just shown this rape survivor proves to me that the state is indeed garbage. Rape culture is so ingrained in our society and social media platforms are equally to blame. TikTok is constantly facilitating rape culture. The other day I kept seeing TikToks on my “for you” page regarding a “national sexual assault day.” Allegedly, there were some boys who made a TikTok about how to properly sexually assault people for this holiday. This definitely sparked fear amongst a lot of us. I lost count of how many posts I saw telling women to stay inside on April 24. Don’t tell women to stay inside. Tell men not to be rapists. TikTok’s safety team claims that they’ve found no evidence of the original video posted. Yet, social media platforms facilitate predatory behavior by allowing inappropriate interactions between minors and adults. Take Danielle Bregoli — more often known by her stage name “Bhad Bhabie” — for example. Right after her 18th birthday she announced she was making an
OnlyFans account. OnlyFans is a platform where people can exchange sexual content, often for profit. As a minor, Bregoli had millions of fans begging her to make a presence on the platform. A lot of them are the same kind of predators who “can’t wait until she’s 18.” I’m stating the obvious, but the way our society sexualizes children shows up in our schools. For middle schoolers and highschoolers in Florida, the sexualization doesn’t stop at the dress code. Florida recently legalized genital inspections for “disputed” girls who want to join sports. This is statesanctioned sexual assault. For any person that is in support of this I just have two quick questions. Why are you so concerned with other people’s genitalia? Why do you get to decide what’s masculine and what’s feminine? No one has the right to put someone’s gender in dispute. That kind of thinking is extremely predatory. I know someone who has a baby on the way and I was made aware they wanted their baby to wear the colors associated with the baby’s gender. They didn’t want a stranger assuming that the baby was a girl when it was really a boy. An infant is proof that gender is fluidity. A baby doesn’t know anything about being feminine or masculine. The infant has not yet succumbed to societal gender norms. Heterosexism and status are not the reason to be having a baby. Bringing a child into the world should be about celebrating a new life. Attaching gender norms to a brand new being just creates a new cycle of toxic masculinity. Ftouhi can be reached at tunsieftouhi715@gmail.com.
OPINION/EDITORIAL OP/ED EDITOR: Grace Olson
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Thursday, April 22
Sonnentag Complex referendum sparks discussions on administration, sustainability and student dollars
Meredith’s death beach welcomes Mark Sloan and Lexie Grey Sami Geiger STAFF WRITER SUBMITTED The Editorial Board feels there was not enough time for students to knowledgeably complete the referendum survey.
On Wednesday, April 14, it was announced a student majority voted to support the funding operations of the new Sonnentag Complex Event and Wellness Center after its construction. However, many students are concerned with the results of the referendum, specifically its lack of notice and background detail from administrators on the UWEau Claire campus. The voting for the Sonnentag student funding took place alongside the 2021 spring Student Senate elections, which were held April 12 to 14. Students first received an email notice of the election from Anna Ziebell, student body president, on Tuesday, March 30. Ziebell guided UWEau Claire students to the Sonnentag Complex student informational webpage, with “necessary details” on the project. This measure was passed with a 61% approval (1,426) out of 1,651 students who voted in the election. The Spectator editorial staff believes the student body did not have enough time — in the two-day
window — to make a well-rounded decision on whether they were in favor of student dollars being put toward the complex. The amount of students who participated in the election is drastically smaller than the amount currently enrolled at UW-Eau Claire: There are currently 11,255 undergraduate and graduate students, according to Data USA. “Once again, we are calling on the university’s lack of transparency of when information is being released to students,” A Spectator staff member said. “This is not the first time where the campus staff, faculty and students have been made aware of an administrative decision with little to no notice.” The referendum detailed a fee of no more than $90 a semester for the use and maintenance of Sonnentag. It was made aware by Chancellor James C. Schmidt that students will not begin paying the fee until the Sonnentag complex construction is completed. The Chippewa Valley YMCA was originally meant to be a partner in the project until the organization made the
decision in 2019 to no longer contribute funding, the Spectator wrote in 2020. The Davies Student Center, constructed in 2010, had a similar approach in acquiring its funding. The Davies Student Center was paid for by students through segregated fees, the Spectator wrote, with a final cost of $48.8 million. Students who voted to pass a referendum to build the student center didn’t have to pay for the fees added to student tuition after the building was constructed — as many did not attend UW-Eau Claire by the time the center was constructed. The Spectator editorial staff feels this structure of voting does not benefit the future student body of the university. Students who will not see the completion of the Sonnentag Complex were the ones voting on whether future students should pay for it. Another topic of debate has been the sustainability
All avid “Grey’s Anatomy” fans have learned it can be quite predictable at points. I mean come on, we’ve been watching this show for 17 seasons now, we know how the show works. I wouldn’t expect Shonda Rhimes, the creator of “Grey’s Anatomy,” to start changing it up now. But dare I say, in this week’s episode there’s a bit of joy and hope. A glimpse of light is shed onto Grey Sloan Memorial. Speaking of, memorialized this week on Meredith’s death beach is none other than little Lexie Grey and Mark Sloan. “Grey’s Anatomy” Instagram page of Lexie handing Meredith a towel on the beach. Sloan and little Grey were one of the only ones I wanted to see appear on the beach — besides McDreamy. Meredith, Lexie and Mark soaked up the imagined sun on Meredith’s death beach. Now we all know why they are visiting Meredith. They were there to remind Meredith of some lessons that she should already know deep down. Lexie and Sloan reminded her to not waste the precious time she was given, that the depth of the grief she feels for those she has lost stems from the depth of love she had for them. Sloan shared that he haunted and talked to his loved ones such as Callie Torres and I’m not sure how I feel about the talking part because it sounds a little creepy, but the idea behind it is bittersweet. Back to reality, Meredith was taken off of her ventilator because her stats and lung function has improved. Her team of doctors had to be 100% sure she was ready because the hospital
had ventilator shortage. If things were to go downhill with her again, she might not have a ventilator at her side. In the other part of the COVID-19 wing, a mother and daughter duo came in — Marcella and Veronica. Marcella was originally in the hospital because her COVID-19 case was severe, and Veronica was at home with a much milder case — unfortunately that didn’t last long. Surprise, Rhimes made it where both mother and daughter are in desperate need of a ventilator and the doctors have to make the choice of who gets it. In the end, Maggie Pierce gives the last ventilator to Veronica — the daughter. Being the genius she is, Pierce got an idea to have patients share the ventilators, meaning the mother and daughter duo would be able to share one. Emotion ran wild at Grey Sloan, mother-daughter intern duo — Alma and Sara Ortiz — have been working the mother-daughter case and it hit a little too close to home for them. They shared a few tears. By the end of the episode Pierce had a shiny fat engagement ring on her finger. Yes you heard me, Pierce and Winston are engaged. Winston got down on one knee outside of the hospital and put the ring in his ear buds’ case. It’s kind of romantic, but also neither of them were wearing a mask so it kind of made me uncomfortable. Geiger can be reached at geigersa6816@ uwec.edu.
being discussed for the complex’s construction — or a lack thereof. Read more at spectatornews.com
After sheep dog, Peggy, lost her hearing, her owners were worried she would never herd again
SUBMITTED Pictured is a border collie holding his favorite toy. Peggy is a 10-year-old Norfolk collie who
STAFF WRITER According to National Geographic, the practice of herding developed around 10,000 years ago. Prehistoric hunters discovered that by controlling the animals they once pursued, like sheep and goats, they were able to have a steady supply of meat, milk and hides. It is believed at some point around this time a wolf ancestor likely initiated contact with the first humans. This would lead the less-fearful wolves in the pack to lose their skittishness and shyness and in the years to come, they would evolve into the friendly, domesticated pals
we know today. This human and wolf contact initiated the discovery and creation of the working dog. Herders began to realize the indispensable value of dogs and through selective breeding they managed to minimize the animals’ natural instinct to treat cattle and sheep as prey while simultaneously preserving the dogs’ hunting skills. In essence, they selected the perfect traits and mixed them altogether into a concoction that would become the basis for a man’s best friend as well as a perfect herder. “From managing stock to guarding stock and guarding properties…dogs can do
it all,” said dog historian, behaviourist and author of “The Dogs That Made Australia,” Guy Hull. The herding dogs helped their owner by keeping the herd together and even leading the herd when necessary. It was as if herding was instilled in the blood of these dogs, this was their purpose and their passion — besides their owner of course. Read more at spectatornews. com.
PUZZLES PAGE EDITOR: Lea Kopke
Thursday, April 22
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April showers, May...bring answers?
ACROSS
DOWN
2) Name of new UW-Eau Claire building in the making
1) “Hang-out” place of college students once the sun comes out
5) Disorder covered in this week’s “Mental health in isolation”
3) Workplace of both Ann Devroy and the forum’s speaker
9) Team who won three out of four of its weekend games
4) Number of weeks left in the semester, as of April 22
10) Goal an Eau Claire event is pedaling toward
6) Vice president of the 65th Student Senate session
11) President of the 65th Student Senate session
7) Type of flower found in abundance by the footbridge 8) This team is traveling to Chicago next week 12) Name of the new sushi place on Water St.
Mikoulinskii and Schilling run unopposed in Senate race after other prospective candidates declared missing
(Disclaimer: This article is satire and is not meant to be taken seriously. It does not reflect the views of The Spectator or UW-Eau Claire.) As Blugolds went to vote in Student Senate elections this past week, many were surprised to see that the presidential ticket had only one option. After a heated presidential race last fall, it was odd to This past weekend off-campus senator Kelly Stone revealed how Mikoulinskii and Schilling won the race without even needing to campaign. Stone exposed two other presidential campaigns were planned by other senators, but Mikoulinskii and Schilling were not fond of the competition. “The other campaigns were Meyer and Muraski, and Erickson and Irving — all off-campus senators,” Stone said, “and Mikoulinskii and Schilling showed aggression toward anyone who mentioned they were running for president.” According to Stone, the other four senators who were running were bullied for weeks by the Mikoulinskii and Schilling campaign before anything changed. “The other candidates were strong, and never let up even amid the intimidation,” Stone said, “but then, oneby-one, those senators started disappearing.” Over the course of three weeks, friends of the senators who were running didn’t hear from them and they didn’t show up to the Senate meetings, all right around the time when Mikoulinskii and Schilling started campaigning on campus and online. “The coincidence here is too big to overlook, and
“I feel like they may be restraining themselves in fear that they might be next.” Kelly Stone Off-campus student senator Stone thinks that no one has done anything about the missing students due to fear of going missing as well. “I am putting my life on the line here and begging others to look into this,” Stone said. “It’s not a conspiracy theory if we can prove it.” Student Senate elections will be held online from April 12-14.
Doyle can be reached at doylecb9058@uwec.edu.
Crossword Answer Key:
FREELANCE WRITER
yet no other senators are speaking up,” Stone said. “I feel like they may be restraining themselves in fear that they might be next.” The four senators Meyer, Muraski, Erickson and Irving were all added to the missing persons list this past weekend, only days before the election. Without any proof, accusing Mikoulinskii and Schilling will do nothing since they run unopposed, but Stone believes that there may not be a way to prove her point, given the methods available today to make people disappear. “My theory is that Mikoulinskii and Schilling hired some sort of hitman from the dark web,” Stone said. “There would be no way to track that. I just hope that I am wrong.”
Softball, 10) Divestment, 11) Mikoulinskii, 12) KT
Caleb Doyle