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THE DEAD
Photo by gabi wy | The Shield
Local dance instructor Heidi Garza leads attendees at the university’s Day of the Dead celebration in a salsa dance. The annual event featured Garza’s Latin dance lessons as a new component of the three-hour celebration in the Liberal Arts Center.
Three student groups collaborate for Mexican holiday by gabi wy features@usishield.com @GabiCWy
On Día de Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, Gabriela Aguilar feels a connection to her half-sibling Ramses. The sophomore biochemistry major admired the festive display with a friend at the university’s Day of the Dead celebration Tuesday in the Liberal Arts Center.
“This is a day that you take to remember lost loved ones,” Aguilar said. “I feel a connection to Ramses. I feel almost nostalgic, going back through memories and happy times.” She said she wasn’t able to attend the university’s celebration last year, but she always celebrates the holiday. “It’s a nice thought that the university considers the diversity of its students,” Aguilar said. “Even if you don’t know what’s going on, you can just come and find out. I hope everyone learns something.”
The event is a collaborative effort between Student Government Association, Spanish Club and the Hispanic Student Union. At the past several years’ events, there have been groups of students from Mexico in attendance through the International Studies Department. During the three-hour celebration, Spanish professor Manuel Apodaca-Valdez led students on a candlelight walk outside through the “labyrinth of solitude,” which organizer Damien Burge said signifies moving into the afterlife.
day of the dead, PAGE 5
Interim director given ‘special’ opportunity by sarah loesch editor@usishield.com @seloesch
Leslie Townsend, the director of Community Engagement for the University of Southern Indiana’s Outreach and Engagement was recently named the interim director of USI’s Historic New H a r m o n y. The Shield spoke with To w n s e n d about the transition and her connection to New HarTownsend mony.
The Shield: How did the opportunity to take this position arise? Leslie Townsend: The director for Historic New Harmony is retiring at the end of this year, Dec. 31. So the university was looking at what to do with the replacement. I’ve done a lot of work with New Harmony, I was of-
fered the job on an interim basis for one year. At that time the university will look to fill the position. The Shield: Do you think at the end of the year you will want to stay on? Townsend: I think a lot of it has to do with what’s going on in my current job as well as the opportunities in New Harmony. I’m excited to see how we can get students and faculty engaged with New Harmony. At that point the university will decide how to proceed. The Shield: Is there anything with your current position that has prepared you for this position? Townsend: Yes, I am director for Community Engagement. We are a part of Outreach and Engagement. I work specifically with two programs in that area. One is Connect with Southern Indiana. I really see myself heavily involved with New Harmony, with the staff and the programs. We do have our connect program in January so I will be involved with that as well. I think a lot of the work that we’ve done in Community Engagement is like a heritage-based program. His-
tory education. I think a lot of those kind of skills will translate well with New Harmony. We’ve been heavily involved with Global Crossroads. I already have quite a bit of knowledge about New Harmony and the staff. The Shield: Do you have a personal connection to New Harmony? Townsend: Yes, it’s a very special place to me. I used to go there a lot as a child with my grandparents. My husband and I went there quite a bit when we were first dating. Even outside of work it has been a special place. This is an opportunity to continue the connection. The Shield: What made you keep coming back over the years? Townsend: I think it’s just besides the history and what a unique place it is. It’s world-renowned. I think people in the area don’t realize the importance of what that community meant to our history. There’s so many things, the feel of the town, the people, the architect and art. I always feel reinvigorated when I go there.
townsend, PAGE 3
Griffin Center claims architecture award at design competition by riley guerzini news@usishield.com @Guerzwinski
The Indiana chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) awarded the university’s Griffin Center with the Honor Award for New Construction at the 2016 Annual Indiana Design Awards. “They were very pleased with its openness and the lighting within the building,” University Foundation President David Bower said. The Griffin Center was chosen as the top architectural achievement from the 66 projects submitted. Only six projects were selected for an award. The submissions included a variety of buildings from all across Indiana and not just university buildings. The criterion for the award is that the buildings had to be constructed within
the past five years. According to AIA Jury comments, “This small academic building utilizes a simple, direct organization to connect the work to its bucolic site. The result is a sophisticated, mature work that will become better with age.” The Griffin Center is the second building to win the Honor Award for New Construction. The Business and Engineering Center also won the award in 2013. Jackson Faber is an architect for Hafer, an architectural, design and engineering firm in Evansville. He was the lead architect and designer for the Griffin Center. “My original vision was to try to match what Robert Griffin had envisioned for the campus,” he said. He said the design team wanted the building to be timeless and the intent was always for it to look both modern and historic.
griffin center, PAGE 3
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The shield | November 3, 2016 | Usishield.com
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The shield | November 3, 2016 | Usishield.com
townsend continued from Page 1
The Shield: Do you have any plans that you hope to carry out during your time as interim director? Townsend: I think I’m looking forward to working with the staff. They do a great job with the community. A challenge we always face is educating the USI community about New Harmony and the resources there. I think we have a lot of opportunity for faculty and staff, internships and class projects. A lot of time people
griffin center
hear New Harmony and they think only art and history but really any major can fit in there. It’s a living community, there are a lot of opportunities. The Shield: Was the offer a surprise? Townsend: It wasn’t really a surprise. We had talked about it for a little bit and what would be the best fit after retirement. I had been in some talks with it but I’m excited that it’s now a reality.
The Shield: Have you transitioned easily with the staff? Townsend: It’s been great, I have been attending staff meetings over the past year. I’ve become familiar with them and the programming they work on. We’ll continue to meet, meet the staff. Moved forward starting in January.
20 QUESTIONS Election edition
There are 6 days left until the general election. Until Nov. 8 The Shield will answer a question a day that concerns how, where and when to vote. Like The Shield on Facebook for the next question.
Q:
continued from Page 1
Faber also said the white walls on both the exterior and interior were used to contrast nature. The planning for the building, which was named after longtime university board member and donor Robert E. Griffin, began in 2010 for the university’s campaign, Elevating Excellence. “We knew there was more need for conference space for student affairs and for faculty,” said
Bower. The Griffin Center is a 14,000 square-foot facility for uses such as USI Foundation meetings, University President meetings, community meetings and weddings. Faber said internal university meeting and external public meetings were taken into consideration when designing the building. The facility is located across Reflection Lake on
A:
the west side of campus, facing towards the Liberal Arts Center. “By putting it across the lake, the sunlight from behind the building just bathes the campus and it looks really beautiful,” said Faber. Faber called the Griffin Center “a jewel in the woods” and said it was an honor to serve as architect and designer.
Is there a voting center on campus ? No, but there are two vote centers within 10 minutes of campus.
For students who live farther away from campus see our map to find the most convenient voting center.
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Bethel Southern Baptist Church A New 4301 Broadway Ave. James United Methodist Church B St. 3111 Hillcrest Terrace
Alcohol Offenses - Alcohol - Underage Consumption OʼDaniel South Apartments - Dunning Building - 8125B OʼDaniel Ln. 10/29 1:05 a.m.
Violation of University Policy OʼDaniel North Apartments Welsh Building - 7844A Mahrenholz Rd. 10/31 12:57 a.m.
Violation of University Policy Solicitation On Campus 10/26 11:40 a.m.
Illness Report OʼDaniel South Apartments - Dunning Building - 8125B OʼDaniel Ln. 10/29 1:05 a.m.
Found Property Report On Campus - Bent Twig Outdoor Education Center 10/31 7:50 a.m.
Welfare Check Forum WIng - Forum 1 10/26 3:05 p.m.
Fire Alarm - Cooking McDonald West Apartments Hanly Building - 913 A Eckels Ln. 10/26 9:13 p.m.
Violation of University Policy McDonald West Apartments Hanly Building - 913 A Eckels Ln. 10/26 9:13 p.m.
Injury Report McDonald East Apartments - Matthews Building - 907 University Court 10/27 3:40 p.m.
Illness Report McDonald East Apartments - WIllard Building - 970 Varsity Dr. 10/28 12:15 a.m.
Fire - False Alarm (Construction or other means) OʼDaniel South Apartments Hendricks Building - 8037A OʼDaniel Ln. 10/28 10:12 p.m.
Alcohol Offenses - Alcohol Incident Parking Lot E 10/29 12:36 a.m.
Alcohol Offenses - Alcohol - Underage Consumption McDonald West Apartments Durbin Building - 908B McDonald Ln. 10/29 1:09 a.m.
Alcohol Offenses - Alcohol - Underage Possession McDonald West Apartments Durbin Building - 908B McDonald Ln. 10/29 1:09 a.m.
Fire - Alarm - Cooking OʼDaniel North Apartments Townsend Building - 7944B OʼDaniel Ln. 10/29 6:33 p.m.
Alcohol Offenses - Alcohol - Public Intoxication McDonald East Apartments Hammond Building - 962 Varsity Dr. 10/30 3:36 a.m.
Alcohol Offenses - Alcohol - Underage Consumption McDonald East Apartments Hammond Building - 962 Varsity Dr. 10/30 3:36 a.m.
Animal Complaint Parking Lot E 10/31 12:49 p.m.
Injury Report Non-Campus - Other 10/31 1:31 p.m.
Traffic Accident - Hit and Run Parking Lot G 10/31 2:17 p.m.
Code of Conduct - Tobacco Smoking OʼDaniel North Apartments - Orr Building - 818B Crawford Ln. 10/31 8:25 p.m.
Injury Report OʼDaniel North Apartments Welsh Building - 7844B Mahrenholz Rd. 10/31 11:!3 p.m.
Welfare Check Non-Campus - Private Property 11/1 10:30 a.m.
Dating Violence Non-Campus - Private Property 11/1 10:30 a.m.
Theft Orr Center 11/1 4:32 p.m.
Information gathered from USIʼs Public Crime Log, provided by USI Safety and Security.
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Square Mall K Washington 1138 Washington Sq. John’s East United Church L St. 7000 Lincoln Ave.
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Bethlehem United Church of Christ
United Methodist Church F Fairlawn 2001 Parker Dr.
Fire - False Alarm (Construction or other means) On Campus - Applied Engineering Center 10/26 9:38 a.m.
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4-H Auditorium
Church Educational Building E Zion 1800 S. Governor St.
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Baptist Church D Memorial 605 Canal Street
USI Security Incident Log
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Temple Assembly of God C Calvary 5050 N. First Ave.
Alcohol Offenses - Alcohol - Furnishing to a Minor McDonald West Apartments Durbin Building - 908B McDonald Ln. 10/29 1:09 a.m.
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Traffic Accident Parking Lot J 10/26 12:10 p.m.
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Temple G Methodist 2109 Lincoln Ave.
Church Community O Bluegrass 14240 Petersburg Rd. Community Church P McCutchanville 9505 Petersburg Rd. Catholic Church Q Nativity 3635 Pollack Ave.
Park Baptist Church H Northeast 1215 N. Boeke Rd.
Paul’s United Church U St. 8701 Big Cynthiana Rd.
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Southern Indiana Career & Technical Center 1901 Lynch Rd.
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Bethel United Church of Christ 3029 N. Green River Rd.
Side Christian Church R West 1200 N Red Bank Rd.
briefs University adds political science major concentrations
Dental Hygiene Clinic offers free cleanings for veterans
Daylight saving time ends this weekend
The University plans to add two new concentrations for political science majors beginning in the spring of 2017. Students can select concentrations in either Government, Law, and Diplomacy (GLAD) and Public and Nonprofit Administration (PNPA). The GLAD concentration will focus on politics, the law and international relations. It will prepare students for a variety of careers in government, law, business, education, nonprofit organizations and the media. Students interested in law will be able to participate in the law school admission test preparation courses or moot court. The PNPA concentration aims towards careers managing public and nonprofit organizations. Students will absorb management and leadership skills, organizational behavior, human resources, public policy and budgeting. They will find opportunities for internships and study abroad.
The University Dental Hygiene Clinic will offer free dental cleanings, fluoride, and X-rays on Nov. 2, 7 and 9 for military veterans. The program has expanded its hours from previous years to be able to serve more veterans. The Dental Hygiene Program works with the Southwest Indiana Area Health Education Center (SWI-AHEC) and the University’s Veteran, Military and Family Resource Center to provide the care for the veterans. The University Dental Hygiene faculty will be supervising the students working at the clinic. Proof of military affiliation and picture identification is required. Patients should plan on approximately three to three and a half hours for their appointment. Appointments can be made by calling 812-464-1706. The Dental Hygiene clinic is located in the Health Professions Center Room 1040.
Clocks will fall back an hour on Sunday, Nov. 6 as daylight saving time ends at 2 p.m. Check all clocks around your residence and be sure to change any batteries that are low.
University welcomes O’Connor award recipient Lisa Graley, the 2015 Flannery O’Connor award recipient for Short Fiction, will read some stories from her debut story collection, The Current That Carries her fiction on Thursday, Nov. 10 at 4:30 in Traditions Lounge. The speaker is a part of the College of Liberal Arts and Society for Arts and Humanities’ Southern Indiana Reading Series, which brings published authors to campus for engaged readings and talks with students. Graley teaches English and humanities at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
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Features
The shield | November 3, 2016 | Usishield.com
Empty Bowls fills stomachs, hearts Fifth annual event to raise funds for local groups by gabi wy features@usishield.com @GabiCWy
After losing the use of his arm in a wreck in 2005, Jarrod Fawks faced a challenge last year in the university ceramics studio. “The ceramics wheel only spins one way,” the 2015 alum said. “It was an obstacle, but by collaborating with (professor) Al Holen, I was able to learn a way to throw with one arm.” Soon after he learned to use the pottery wheel, Fawks was teaching others for Empty Bowls Evansville. “There are big smiles watching the bowls being made,” Fawks said. “Their eyes go big and they say, ‘Oh my god, I made that.’ It’s really rewarding.” Empty Bowls is a national nonprofit movement which works to end hunger across the United States. The university first hosted Empty Bowls Evansville five years ago under ceramics professor Alisa “Al” Holen. At Empty Bowls Evansville, community members receive a bowl and soup for a $10 donation. This year’s event, fueled by both students and volunteers like Fawks, is set for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Sauced. The proceeds will go to mostly to ECHO Housing Inc., as well as Aurora Inc., United Caring Services and the House of Bread and Peace. Last year, Fawks handed the proceeds check to ECHO Housing Inc., an organization that specifically helps veterans in need. As a veteran, he said he felt empowered giving the money to that kind of charity. “After I lost the use of my arm, if I didn’t have friends and family, I could be in that situation (of needing help from ECHO),” Fawks said. Because of his personal connection to last year’s charity, Fawks said there’s a difference between the art he makes for Empty Bowls and otherwise. “I seem to put a little bit more en-
ergy and passion into Empty Bowls,” he said. “It’s helping people. I wish it could happen more often.” As Fawks teaches others and learns from those experiences, his work with both ceramics and Empty Bowls has come full circle. One of his goals is to open a ceramics studio, and if he succeeds, Fawks said he’d definitely introduce the Empty Bowls event. In the meantime, he volunteers every day at the university ceramics studio and will help with Evansville’s Empty Bowls event for as long as he’s available. Holen said through her five years of organizing Empty Bowls Evansville, students like Fawks always want to come back and help after their first year. “I think the reality is that none of us have a lot of money we can give, even if we believe in these charities,” she said. “If we can help and rally people to make bowls with skills we have and enjoy using, it’s an awesome cause at no cost.” Restaurants providing soup include Sauced, Perfectly Fresh, Tom & Chee, Bokeh Lounge, Smitty’s/ Gerst Haus, Deerhead Siddewalk Cafe, Pangea, Just Rennie’s and Mary and Martha’s Catering. “Empty Bowls has opened a lot of doors in terms of getting USI involved with the community, and I love seeing that,” Holen said. “The students get to teach shortly after they learn, and that just embeds the knowledge like crazy. It’s really cool how their confidence grows.” Holen said she hopes Empty Bowls Evansville grows and involves more schools in the coming years. “This year, I hope we sell all the bowls and make an impact on the malnourished and undernourished in Evansville, and for students to have a really positive experience,” she said. “We’ve made the bowls, and we’ll sell the heck out of them.”
Photo by The Shield
An Empty Bowls volunteer carries multiple bowls in her left arm during the 2015 event at Kirby’s Private Dining. The proceeds from the event benefit a chosen charity each year.
FASt FACTS What: When: Where: Cost:
Empty Bowls Saturday 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sauced $10 donation
Spooky sights, styles TOP: Jenni Wilkins, junior nursing student (left) and Megahn Constantine freshman pre-nursing student (right) decorate paper ghosts with various stickers and jewels at the Halloween Bash Monday night. Wilkins decorated her ghost with a bra, and referred to it as a Victoria’s Secret ghost. Wilkins could not decide if the ghost was a him or her, however, and decided it could be either. “He can wear a bra if he wants to,” Wilkins decided. Constantine decided to call her ghost “fun loving ghostly” as she pasted peace signs and purple flowers all around her ghost. “We actually forgot today was Halloween,” Wilkins said. “We just happened to be walking by when this started.” BOTTOM: Freshman Taylor Volk fills in the background of her pumpkin painting during Cookies and Canvas Halloween afternoon. She and her three suitemates came to the event in the Student Life Lounge dressed as strawberries and pineapples. They have attended several of Activities Programming Board’s Cookies and Canvas events this semester. Photos by sarah rogers & gabi wy | The Shield
The shield | November 3, 2016 | Usishield.com
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REVIEW
day of the dead continued from Page 1
Continuing with an old sound On Spotify
Photo by gabi wy | The Shield
Spanish professor Manuel Apodaca-Valdez shares the flame of his candle with attendees at the university’s celebration of the Day of the Dead. Apodaca-Valdez led students, faculty and visitors in a candlelight walk in front of the Liberal Arts Building, signifying the transition from life to the afterlife. The Day of the Dead celebration, put on by Student Government Association, Spanish Club and the Hispanic Student Union, has had about 100 attendees in past years.
When Apodaca-Valdez brought the attendees back inside, he explained some of the history of Día de Muertos. After enjoying some refreshments, local dance instructor Heidi Garza taught several Latin American dances. “We try to bring a new and different element every year,” Burge, a constructive member of SGA, said. “It’s really exciting to be able to learn about different cultures in ways like this.” The senior international studies major said holding cultural events at the university brings global education directly to students. “It’s in a comfortable at-
‘
This is a day that you take to remember lost loved ones ... I feel almost nostalgic, going back through memories and happy times.
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- Gabriela Aguilar Biochemistry sophomore
mosphere, and people feel more safe,” Burge said. “Traveling abroad is great, but this is right here.” He said he hopes students left Día de Muertos with more knowledge and
having had a good time. “If you incorporate learning with fun, it makes it more relatable,” he said. “This is about fun and togetherness.”
Work for us
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PITCH IN! community service opportunity! ALL USI STUDENTS ARE INVITED TO THE CLEAN EVANSVILLE PROJECT WITH THE USI ROTARACT CLUB SATURDAY NOVEMBER 5 9 A.M. - 11 A.M. MEET AT LORRAINE PARK AT 1201 S. BOEKE RD. Trash bags and gloves provided plus free t-shirt for volunteers
For questions contact USI ROTARACT PRESIDENT - Betzy Ramos at 317-512-5884 or bjsuarezra@eagles.usi.edu LIKE US ON FACEBOOK @USI ROTARY
“Winter Wheat” is the second solo album for Canadian singer John K. Samson. Samson is the former lead singer of the indie rock band The Weakerthans, which is currently on hiatus. With The Weakerthans on hiatus, Samson is able to use his experience from fronting the band for 17 years to help further that same indie rock sound. Much of the music on “Winter Wheat” is misleading in its true meaning. The deeper meaning of the borderline melancholy lyrics is hidden beneath the surface on many of the songs by the uplifting music that accompanies them. At first listen, songs like “17th Street Treatment Centre” (which is about receiving treatment for drug addiction in a rehab facility) and “Select All Delete” (which is about relying on social interactions through
social media and how it’s easier to avoid negativity online, if you “select all and delete”) come off with a tone of happiness that is only later disregarded after a closer examination of the lyrics. Of course, there are a few exceptions. There are songs on the album that avoid using happy sounding music to mask the depressing lyrics and instead just focus on happier topics. For example, “Postdoc Blues” feels less alternative, more poppy, and has a simple message to the listener
of not giving up even after they have experienced failure in the workplace. As well as “Fellow Travelers,” which is a song about personal growth and the change that occurs after that happens. The song focuses on specifically what happens once a person has finally grown and they find their “fellow travelers” or people similar to them that they can relate to. What “Winter Wheat” does well is cover an assortment of topics from workplace struggles, social media, growing up and even drug addiction. This is accomplished by songs that succeed in telling the listener a story. However, when the album slows down on “Quiz Night at Looky Lou’s” in particular, it feels like a chore to get through and it takes away from an otherwise enjoyable experience.
Rating 5/5 BY Taylor O’Neil Hall
The Walking Dead returns Sundays on AMC Unless you’ve been living under a rock, it should be widely known that the seventh season of “The Walking Dead” premiered last Sunday October 21, and has had a huge emotional impact on fans everywhere. The show has had a successful run for the past six years, and has enchanted audiences everywhere with the concept of headstrong, yet lovable characters surviving an apocalypse where other humans pose more of a threat than the actual zombies. It is how long we have known the characters that makes it so much harder to let them go. The show’s tendency of killing off main characters is known to all fans, and the brutality that comes with it takes second place in comparison to “Game of Thrones”. The new season’s premiere had a very brutal and anguishing start, perhaps one of the most messed up deaths in the show. Two major characters were murdered in the most awful way possible, and the effect it had on the other characters in the show was absolutely heartbreaking to watch. Watching the murders of two major characters you’ve grown with through the years is not easy, especially when the one responsible for them is the worst villain yet.
If you thought the Governor was bad, he seems tame in comparison to Negan’s vicious rule. What makes the new villain of the series so horrifying is the fact that he’s not a madman, but a charismatic and collected character. He jokes around and he claims he’s trying to be nice at times, but when he brings out a barb-wired wrapped bat named Lucille, you know he means business. There will now forever by a twinge in pain in the hearts of Walking Dead fans whenever Lucille is mentioned. Despite the trauma-inducing premiere of the season, the second episode was much lighter and easier to watch. It is now a tradition on the show to follow up a heartbreaking episode with a much lighter one to bring the audience back to their
Rating 5/5 BY Darrian Breedlove
senses, and that’s exactly what the second episode of the season did. It gave the audience a break from experiencing heartbreak all over again by focusing on two other main characters that were thankfully not present during the meeting and introduction of Negan. It introduced some new characters that will undoubtedly soon become fan favorites, along with an awesome tiger that already has audiences mesmerized. But the second episode also importantly alluded to aspects of hope and perhaps even revenge for the future of the lovable cast of characters. One can only hope that after all the hardships the characters have faced, that they will somehow be able to find peace in the end one way or another. The beginning of the season may have been painful to watch, but it was also a very strong start. It guarantees more than anything that fans are in for a wild and terrifying ride. One of my favorite aspects of the show is that it centers around the idea that humans are their own worst enemy, and this season will definitely shed more light on that idea than any othe season in the show’s past.
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Opinion
The shield | November 3, 2016 | Usishield.com
Wishful whitewashing by gabi wy features@usishield.com
I always dreamt of being white. When I was seven years old, I used to sit on my bathroom counter and poke the ends of my almond-shaped eyes together, dissatisfied when I removed my fingers and realized I could never be like my classmates. At 14, I started dying my hair blonde. I spouted to my mom that it was because I didn’t want to look like a “typical Asian.” I kept coloring my hair for four years, all radical and wholly unAsian styles. I was never, ever proud of my heritage. I refused to learn the native language of my parents’ home country as a child because any other language than English was “pointless.” It didn’t strike me until this summer how utterly ignorant and ungrateful I’ve been. Last semester, I applied for VOICES, a college program through the Asian American Journalists Association, and I got in. When I got that acceptance letter, I was so excited, but that night, I felt guilty. I saw the resumes of the other students in the program with me, and they’re studying Asian cultures at Ivy Leagues or have covered those topics in their own news stories. They’ve got fluency in their home languages listed under their skill sets.
It hit me like a slap in the face, one that leaves stinging for ages and a red flush of embarrassment. I label myself Asian when it’s convenient, and I abandon and even shame it to fit in with my white friends. It’s true that for years I resented my family for the academic pressure Asian parents seem to be notorious for. My father is one of 12 children, and nine of them are doctors. (So is my mother.) No pressure. But this pressure from my family isn’t necessarily an Asian thing. My lola (Tagalog for grandmother) was widowed while my dad and his siblings were still in school, some of them still incredibly young. My lola took it upon herself to run the family farm single-handedly, keeping all 12 children in school. She, on her own, paid for nine of them to go to medical school. Basically, she’s a boss, but because I had such a hatred for the basics of who I am, I’ve neglected her and my entire family for years. The Asian stereotype exists because of amazing people like my lola---parents who will strain themselves, move themselves across the world and put everything they do into making sure their children get an education. As with anything, it can get extreme, but it all boils down to love and sacrifice. I choose whether or not I embrace being Asian, but I can’t change my family.
Illustration by Philip Kuhns | The Shield
Before, I ached for a pill that would turn me blonde with blue eyes. This year, I’ve had a change of heart. I’m never going to pass for “Midwest, born and
raised---just like you!” But I’m never going to pass for “Filipino, born and raised--just like you!”, either. Hi, I’m Gabi. Where I’m from, you ask? I’m from a loving home full
of hugs and comfort food. My parents met in medical school and happen to be immigrants from across the world. I may check “Asian” on standardized testing and medical forms, but
Vote Elevator smart insights
by sarah rogers
sgrogers@eagles.usi.edu
September 20 through 22 campus offered voter registration for USI students. Squawk the Vote, the organization that ran the registration booth, had a goal to register 1000 students to vote. The ultimate goal, however, would be for every student to register and every student to vote. Let us pretend that in some alternate universe, that goal would actually be feasible. Would it be beneficial to have every single person in the United States vote? Please do not misunderstand me. I think we have a duty as American citizens to vote. We have a duty to be informed citizens who play active roles in our local and national government. But that is the catch. Informed. Let me ask you this: what is better; to have every single student on campus vote when half of them couldn’t give you a sentence about the candidates and their policies, or to have less than fifty percent of USI vote, but every one of them are properly informed. Bring out the stress ball. I will not hide the fact that the thought of a citizen playing eenie meenie minie mo with the ballet box just so they could say they voted does not exactly bode well with me. I am not going to lie, that actually makes me hyperventilate a little bit. Nothing would make me happier than to watch students flock to the voting booths. Nothing would make me
more disappointed than to watch uninformed students flock to the voting booths. I am right there with those that think people my age do not play our part in politics. I could not agree more that students should vote. However, the answer is not shoving an 18 year old into a voting booth when they have no desire or knowledge about the election. I am not trying to condemn students or make students feel as if they are not allowed to vote. I am simply trying to motivate those who want to vote to do research on candidates. Do not let your parents tell you who to vote for. Do not let stand-up comedians tell you who not to vote for. Do not simply ask your friend who they are voting for. Dear Lord, please do not do that. We have this amazing access to information, and I encourage you to use the information being gladly given to you. Educate yourself on the candidates. Think critically as you read. Read multiple news outlets. I understand this may seem overwhelming, but if you are going to walk into a voting booth, you are in part deciding who runs our country. That should not be taken lightly. Yes, you should vote. Please vote responsibly.
by megan thorne opinion@usishield.com @MeganRThorne
This past week I had the amazing opportunity to attend the College Media National Fall Convention in Atlanta, Georgia. From learning how to cover music festivals to finding out how to “breathe life” into captions, to keynote sessions on the Orlando nightclub shooting and the Black Lives Matter movement, the conference was everything I could have ever wanted as a journalist. But that’s the thing, before I went to this conference I wasn’t sure I had made the right decision in my career path. Nothing I did with my major seemed to click. I watched all of my friends plan out their 4-year plans, I would sit back and question if journalism was a step in the right direction. I would drift with ideas and never found one that felt right. Until I attended a workshop on how to fake it ‘til you make it, with a radio journalist who openly admitted to hating journalism during parts of his career. Although I’ve never hated journalism, I haven’t loved every aspect of it that I’ve experienced over the past few years. After asking the speaker
multiple questions, I asked him, “What kept you coming back to journalism as a career?” “I never saw myself doing anything else,” he said. Shortly after that, I left the conference room, made my way to the elevator and hit the tenth floor button. And as I stared at all the people in the Hyatt Regency Hotel walking around through the glass walls of the elevator, I realized I wanted to know their stories and why they were there. In that 10-second elevator ride, I knew that I enjoyed journalism for a reason. By the time I reached the door to hotel room 1011, I realized that I couldn’t see myself doing anything else. I never thought that my worries about my career would be answered in a 10-second glass elevator ride in Atlanta, but they were. I always had this idea that journalism is sitting behind a computer and occasionally going out to cover events, but I’ve been going about it all wrong. Journalism is going out in Atlanta and photographing the city and hearing about people’s stories. Journalism is wanting to tell people’s stories. Journalism is what I want to make it. This workshop and con-
ference helped me prove to myself that photojournalism is what I want to pursue. Sometimes answers to our problems come in all different places, we just have to go out and experience new things. My guard was finally down about worrying if I was making a mistake in my career and like a sponge I soaked up everything the speakers were saying. If you’re like me — a sophomore who struggles with making a commitment to a major — go to a conference with your organization if you’re in one, go to a speech, go to something you wouldn’t normally go to and instead of worrying about that pesky commitment, immerse yourself in everything that person in front of you has to say. Embrace it and ask them those pressing questions that you’ve been dying to ask someone in your profession. Because I guarantee you that one question can be life changing. Whether that’s going to a conference, attending a keynote session, or going to a special event on campus, sometimes life answers us in the craziest ways. Mine just happened to be in an elevator.
there’s so much more to me, my family and my heritage than those five letters. My culture is beautiful. I hope one day, everyone can feel the same way about theirs.
THE
SHIELD Editorial Board
Sarah Loesch Editor-in-Chief Riley Guerzini News Editor Gabi Wy Features Editor Megan Thorne Opinion Editor NOW HIRING Sports Editor NOW HIRING Chief Copy Editor Jessica Stallings Visual Editor
S ta f f NOW HIRING Special Publications Manager Abigail Stanley Page Designer Philip Kuhns Illustrator NOW HIRING Chief Photographer Gavin Gaddis Community Engagement Manager
Sales & Marketing S ta f f Anthony Ross Sales & Marketing Director Olivia Meyer Business Manager NOW HIRING Marketing Manager Danielle VanHooser Layout & Design Coordinator Gavin Gaddis Circulation Manager
Opinions expressed in unsigned editorials represent a consensus opinion of the editorial board
Have an opinion? Write a letter to the editor at shield@usi.edu
Sports
The shield | November 3, 2016 | Usishield.com
‘Excited, but focused’ Rugby wins fifth championship, aims for nationals
Photo by The Shield
The men’s rugby team runs down the field during a game in 2015 at the USI rugby fields.
by Sarah Loesch editor@usishield.com @seloesch
The men’s rugby team won the Indiana Rugby Football Union Championship this past weekend. This is the fifth consecutive year the team has won the championship. The Shield spoke with Dave Lepp, team captain, about the successful weekend. The Shield: Can you take us through the weekend? Dave Lepp: We left early at about 7:30 from USI Saturday morning, it’s about a 3 1/2 hour drive. Got there early enough to watch the game. We were on the field about 3 that day. And then we had a game on Sunday as well. We have a player who lives there that we were able to stay with. The Shield: What was the mindset as the team headed
to Indianapolis? Lepp: This is our fifth year, playing and winning state, so just about everyone going up has been through it before. You can be relaxed going up but once you get back there you have to focus up and get the wins like we have been doing. The Shield: Were you guys expecting to have a good weekend? Lepp: Every year we have high expectations of winning nationals. But you can’t overlook teams, every weekend is an elimination game. We have to take every team serious and go out and play one team at a time. The Shield: Was there a particular team that was difficult this year? Lepp: Bethel gave us a good game, they had some yellow cards which helped us. It was probably one of the best teams we have faced thus far.
The Shield: Did you have anyone who it was their first experiences at a championship? Lepp: We have some freshman, younger guys, other guys it’s their first time playing in state. There is definitely a lot of new players The Shield: Did the veterans have any advice to help them? Lepp: Just to be able to stay focused on the goals ahead, not overlook any teams. Don’t worry, don’t get too nervous, just go out and play the game. The Shield: What’s next for the team? Lepp: In two weekends, we will head back to Fishers, for another two game weekend. If we win those, we will be back on our way to nationals. The Shield: Did you guys expect to get back to nationals again? Lepp: Yeah, last year we
placed third. We placed by a close margin, they are out of our league now. We feel like this is our year to win nationals. So we are excited to get back, and put in work until then. The Shield: Is there anything you need to work on to make sure nationals happen? Lepp: We have a couple of injuries we need to work on, and fill in gaps. Depth was really important this past weekend. We had freshmen step up. Finishing off games in the end is something we will be focusing on. The Shield: What’s the team’s mindset right now? Lepp: We were excited to win state, we are really proud of the accomplishment but once we get celebrating out of the way we will be going over film and having practices. We are excited, but focused at the same time.
Men’s soccer advances in semi-finals The men’s soccer team has won 10 GLVC men’s soccer titles since the creation of the conference in 1979. It won in 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1991. This year the team is advancing in the semi-finals for the first time since 2012. Shown here are an array of photos from some of those years.
1979
1980
Photos courtesey of Rice Library Archives
1982
1981
1989
1988
1991
7
8
The shield | November 3, 2016 | Usishield.com
Upcoming Games Men’s cross country Nov. 5 10:30 a.m. NCAA Midwest Region Championships Angel Mounds
Men’s Soccer Nov. 4 7:30 p.m. University of Indianapolis GLVC Tournament Indianapolis, IN
Women’s basketball
briefs Van Winkle leads men’s golf to fourth place Junior Men’s golf player Preston Van Winkle placed ninth individually to help the University place fourth as a team at the Trevecca Men’s Invitational at Foxland Harbor Golf and Country Club in Gallatin, Tennessee on Monday and Tuesday.
Van Winkle shot a threeover 75 in round two after being tied for third with an even par 72 in the first round. The Men’s team ended their fall season by placing fourth out of 11 teams with just one stroke behind third place Ashland University and second place Tiffin University.
Nov. 6 Noon Butler University Exhibition Indianapolis, IN
XC championships set for Saturday The University Department of Athletics and the Evansville Sports Corporation plan to team up for the third consecutive year to host the NCAA Division II Midwest Cross Country Region Championships on Saturday, Nov. 5 at Angel Mounds.
The men’s 10-kilometer race will begin at 10:30 a.m., while the women’s 6k is slated for an 11:45 a.m. start time. Around 30 teams and more than 200 student athletes are expected to compete in each race. The women’s team enter the week ranked No. 2 in the Midwest Region and No. 6 nationally. The men are ranked No. 2 in the Midwest Region and No. 7 in the national rankings.
Scores
WOMen’s cross country
Men’s basketball
Nov. 5 11:45 a.m. NCAA Midwest Region Championships Angel Mounds
Purdue University
Nov. 1 85-63
WOMen’s soccer
USI
men’s Golf
WOMen’s volleyball
Oct. 31- Nov. 1 Trevecca Nazarene University 4th of 11 teams
Nov. 4 7 p.m. University of Missouri St. Louis St. Louis, MO
University of Missouri St. Louis
Oct. 30 0-1
USI
volleyball Missouri University of Oct. 28 3-1 Science and Technology
Drury University
men’s soccer
Nov. 5 3 p.m. Maryville University St. Louis, MO
Oct. 30 2-0
Truman State Unviersity
USI
Oct. 29 3-0
USI
USI
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