The Alestle Vol. LXXII No. XII

T H E

ALESTLE

thursday, 11.14.19

The Student Voice Since 1960

vol. LXXII no. XII

The protests on the Quad against returning preacher Tom Rayborn, of Alton, Illinois, continued on Wednesday. This time, some faculty members joined in with students, chanting “Your hate is not welcome here.”

VIRTUAL REALITY lab offers true-to-life experience for students | page 2

WHAT I WISH YOU KNEW

student leaves China to follow dreams | page 4

WOMEN’S SOCCER ends season at OVC championship | page 7 | MacKenzie Smith / The Alestle

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alestlelive.com

Spanish professor wins Ukrainian award A look at night-time SHANE WHEATLEY copy editor

Spanish professor Olga Bezhanova recently won the Medal for Contribution to Ukrainian Art and Scholarship from the Ukrainian Academy of Literature and Art. Bezhanova came to SIUE in 2009, and left Ukraine in 1998, She said she has been making massive steps to expand herself and get involved with spreading her knowledge and culture, this medal being just one of those steps.

According to Bezhanova, all of her degrees through school and graduate school are in Hispanic Studies. After starting out on the East Coast, she found she wasn’t a fan of the area and decided to search for jobs in the Midwest, leading her to SIUE where she has been ever since.

Bezhanova wants her message with the medal to be one of diversity. Along with English and Ukrainian, she knows several other languages including Russian, Spanish, German and French. She switches between multiple languages all day for work, between classes and phone calls in her office.

Bezhanova said she sees this award as a huge step toward the diminishing of the corruption in Ukraine, as her receiving recognition on the other side of the world is something that she says might not have happened a few years ago. Being the largest country in Europe by territory, Bezhanova thinks this medal represents a shift for the positive with Ukraine.

“Right now, the situation in Ukraine is difficult, [it is a] very difficult situation economically.

But Ukraine is really trying to im-

prove the country’s image on the world stage,” Bezhanova said.

Bezhanova hasn’t returned to Ukraine in 21 years. Receiving this medal despite the fact that she’s not closely tied to a position of power, according to Bezhanova, shows the country is making an effort to improve its biggest issue, corruption. She is proud to have the opportunity to represent her country, and hopes that the effort she is making here will eventually lead to a better view of Ukraine.

Bezhanova was recently given the opportunity to speak at the Edwardsville Public Library.

Her presentation was titled “The Revolution of Dignity and Birth of Democracy in Ukraine” and delved into topics such as the history of corruption in the country and the changes being made to move toward a functioning democracy. Bezhanova was very happy with the turnout, and she said she was surprised by the attendance and enjoyed the opportunity.

“There were many people, different ages; people were so engaged, and we had a lot of really insightful questions. So I’m thinking people are starting to follow it more. I think it’s working over time,” Bezhanova said.

Jacob Graves, a senior majoring in Speech-Language Pathology and Spanish, attended the recent talk by Bezhanova, and said it was a really amazing opportunity to see someone on campus that’s able to share their knowledge. Graves also said how big it is, with Ukraine’s situation, for Bezhanova to be awarded the medal.

“Being able to hear Professor Bezhanova’s personal narratives

building security on campus JENNIFER GOECKNER lifestyles editor

Spanish professor Olga Bezhanova

about her home country was an amazing experience,” Graves said. “Especially in the case of Ukraine’s heightened presence in the news, it’s important to recognize all the valuable cultural and artistic contributions of the country.”

Along with Graves, Allison Norris, a junior also majoring in Speech-Pathology, thinks Bezhanova’s presence on campus has been overwhelmingly positive.

“Olga has ensured that her students learn about other cultures. She is very passionate about teaching others about Latin American countries,” Norris said. “I have learned so much about Latin America this semester, and it has helped me to better understand their culture.”

Going forward, Bezhanova hopes to keep expanding her knowledge and insight into different cultures around campus.

While Bezhanova is happy about the medal, she is also excited to be a part of the positive change in her country and looks forward to having a country she can be proud of.

SHANE WHEATLEY 650-3527 @SAlestle swheatley@alestlelive.com

Recent email notices distributed by the Department of Theater and Dance warned students against using the dance studios in Dunham Hall for non-dance activities. The notices cited a specific instance in which paint and mud were left on the floor of one of the studios.

While The Alestle was told the incident did not result in any permanent damage to the studio, SIUE Chief of Police Kevin Schmoll said there are security measures in place to reduce the frequency of such instances, such as limiting access to buildings during non-school hours.

According to Schmoll, most of the classroom buildings close at 11 p.m. on weekdays, soon after the final classes of the day end, and are locked down by Facilities Management. Schmoll also said these hours have been in place for years but have been adjusted on numerous occasions to address changing student needs.

SIUE Police enforce these closing times by completing rounds within the buildings and informing anyone remaining that the building is about to close, according to Schmoll.

“Before [a building] is locked down, an officer will go in there and walk through the floors to make sure everyone’s cleared out and usually walk some of the staff out to their vehicles as well,” Schmoll said.

Once a building is closed, SIUE Police still monitor it throughout the night to ensure unauthorized individuals do not have access, according to Schmoll.

“We still do patrols,” Schmoll said. “We walk the buildings even

at night when they’re locked down.”

Campus buildings that stay open later for student use include Lovejoy Library, the Morris University Center and the Student Success Center. While the library currently closes at 1 a.m. and the MUC closes at midnight on weeknights, students can expect to see extended hours for each building return during finals week.

The SSC, meanwhile, is accessible to students 24 hours a day using a Cougar Card.

Nicholas Misiak, a building service worker who works in the MUC, said he believes having and enforcing a closing time has been an effective security measure.

“The SSC is different because it’s 24 hours, but here [in the MUC] there’s a time when people have to leave, so I don’t see [security] as being too big of a problem,” Misiak said.

Misiak also said building service workers such as himself who work past the closing times of these buildings would notify police of anything suspicious, which also increases security.

“There’s enough personnel that if we see anything we can call the police,” Misiak said. “And if we call the police, they’re here in like five to 10 minutes.”

Freshman history major Lizzy Newman, of Rochester, Illinois, also said she does not worry about campus security on a regular basis.

“Normally, I try to be back at my dorm before dark, but obviously with winter that’s a little more difficult,” Newman said. “[Security] is only a concern when I’m out late. It’s not something I think about too much.”

For more information on building hours, visit siue.edu/ facilities/building-information.

Virtual reality lab expands learning opportunities for students JOHN MCGOWAN reporter

Education, nursing and business students at SIUE are receiving more advanced training than ever before with the Department of Teaching and Learning’s Virtual Professional Practice Lab. The Virtual Professional Practice Lab is a resource for students where they can train for situations that are difficult to prepare for. When students sit down in front of the TV, they’re faced with virtual avatars they can communicate with as practice for real interactions.

Susanne James, project director for the VPP Lab, explained that one of the typical practice scenarios is classroom management.

“We purposefully set up the [virtual] students in a way that our typical [special education] students might act when they’re being ornery, and so we’ll have them practice those skills to help a child who’s unmotivated, or unwilling to learn, or who might be distracted, to better approximate what that behavior should look like when they’re interacting with a student,” James said.

Behind every virtual avatar is a trained simulation specialist who can control and act as multiple different avatars at once. Operating from a different location than the

trainee, the specialists use tracking devices and voice modification to hide that they are actors.

While labs like this exist in multiple universities across the country, SIUE is currently the only one in Illinois. According to Bernadette Sobczak, assistant clinical professor for SIUE school of nursing, it will not be long before this becomes a more common technology.

“I think they actually just put some information in The American Journal of the Nurse Practitioner that schools should be doing this, so I feel like we’re doing more cutting-edge stuff,” Sobczak said. “When you look at all the national guidelines, they’re pushing simulated learning more and more.”

Third-year graduate FNP/ DNP student Chelsea Pierce of Belleville, Illinois, spoke on her experience in a simulated training session with a virtual patient and father.

“We were interviewing her and then went through a real-life scenario that covered some sensitive topics for the patient, such as sexuality and provocativeness,” Pierce said. “So, we had to actually ask the patient’s father to step out of the room … they made it very lifelike in like, pushing back, asking questions — we couldn’t even whisper because they would react

A screen from the Virtual Professional Practice Lab showing a classroom. The lab is used to model classrooms for education students at SIUE. | Mackenzie Smith / The Alestle

like ‘What are you whispering about? Is it me? Is there something wrong?’ So, it provided a really life-like scenario in how to handle sensitive topics in a pediatric setting.”

James, Sobczak and Pierce were all clear that the simulations’ ability to help students prepare for sensitive situations is what makes it stand out. The simulations provide a risk-free environment for students to make mistakes when

they would have much less training for these situations otherwise.

“The nursing faculty use this a lot to work through issues like, a patient who’s considering suicide, or a patient who’s having a lot of issues with medical needs. It’s not appropriate to do that with actual people … So, in essence, it allows for a safe space for them to practice where we can stop a simulation at any time and allow them to change

what they’re doing … and then go right back into the simulation and do it again differently,” James said.

To learn more about the lab or to sign up for a session, visit the Virtual Professional Practice Lab page on SIUE’s website.

JOHN MCGOAWN 650-3527 @john_alestle jmcgowan@alestlelive.com

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School of Pharmacy takes action to fight opioid crisis 11.09.19 An officer responded to an active fire alarm at 415 Cougar Lake Drive and said the alarm was activated due to cannabis smoke. There was no fire, some smoke and no damage.

The case is being referred to Housing and Student Affairs.

11.10.19 Evan J. Howard was arrested on a Granite City warrant for failure to appear to court for traffic offenses.

Howard was transported to the SIUE Police Department, where he was processed and released after posting bond.

He was also issued state citations for having an expired registration, driving on a suspended license and operating an uninsured motor vehicle.

The vehicle was towed from the traffic stop.

11.11.19 An officer responded to a report of someone attempting to steal a computer tower from Lovejoy Library. An employee stated they returned the tower before the officer’s arrival.

MARCUS KEY reporter

The School of Pharmacy, in conjunction with the Boy Scouts of America, has taken measures to expand the opioid and substance abuse crisis awareness among adolescents.

The interactive program provides a fun and engaging way for young scouts to learn about substance abuse and its effects, and to test their knowledge.

Jessica Kerr, interim associate dean of the SOP, helped develop the program. She also served as team lead for the submission of the Meridian Society grant — which helped fund the project — and was the co-advisor for the students who created the content of the modules.

“The SOP is very active with other initiatives to combat the opioid crisis in our local, state and national arenas. Faculty from the SOP partnered with the Illinois Pharmacists Association to create the standing order sets and training for pharmacists in Illinois to dispense naloxone under a standing order,” Kerr said.

According to Kerr the program is not the only one of its kind in the Metro East.

“Kelly Gable, associate professor, department of pharmacy practice, along with St. Louis College of Pharmacy faculty, has developed similar training programs for the state of Missouri to expand continuing education op-

NASA weighs in: Meteor over STL was a basketball-sized piece of asteroid ERIN HEFFERNAN

St. Louis Post-Dispatch (TNS) By 9 p.m. Monday night the videos were already spreading online: a meteor streaking through the sky behind the Gateway Arch.

The same fireball caught on security cameras blazing over suburban homes.

By the next morning, a team of NASA experts had the answers on what that meteor, aka “Event: 20191112-025148,” turned out to be.

What thousands saw about 8:51 p.m. Monday was a basketball-size hunk of rock that broke off an asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter before entering Earth’s atmosphere as a meteor, Bill Cooke, of the NASA Meteoroid Environments Office in Huntsville, Alabama, said Tuesday.

Two videos, a standing shot of the Gateway Arch and another taken at the Missouri Skies observatory in Albany, Missouri, helped the NASA team track the meteor’s trajectory and path. It first appeared at an altitude of 59 miles above the town of Cedar Hill, southwest of St. Louis in Jefferson County, and continued for about 70 miles before breaking into pieces 12 miles above the ground, Cooke said.

“It’s not like the movies,” said Cooke, who spends most of his time helping NASA missions avoid meteor risks. “Meteorites are not flaming rocks of doom.

By the time a meteorite hits the ground, it’s completely cold.”

Meteorites also don’t typically make craters like the movies show, and are perfectly safe to pick up, Cooke added.

Finding meteorite is rare, only about 24 confirmed meteorites have been found in Missouri since 1839, according to a website maintained by Randy Korotev, a meteorite researcher who recently retired from Washington University.

While meteorites are few and far between, meteors themselves are common, said Erika Gibb, chairwoman of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

“If you go out on any given clear night you can see several meteors in an hour. There are all kinds of debris in our solar system and we’re getting hit by small stuff on a regular basis,” Gibb said Tuesday. “Most just aren’t very big and bright like the one last night.”

A typical meteor might only be the size of a pebble and burn up long before hitting the ground, Gibb said.

Will Snyder, manager of the McDonnell Planetarium at the St. Louis Science Center, said he hopes the fireball Monday will get people interested in keeping an eye on the night sky.

“It gets people looking up and curious about what they’re seeing,” Snyder said, adding that more prime meteor-spotting times are coming up.

The Alpha Monocerotids meteor shower is expected to have an outburst of meteors about 10:30 p.m. Nov. 21.

The Geminids meteor shower is expected to peak about 8 p.m. Dec. 13.

portunities surrounding these topics,” Kerr said. “ The Generation RX chapter program has awarded over $13,000 to create initiatives to help diverse populations with education opportunities.”

Fourth-year SOP students Jazmine Rosales of Elgin, Illinois and Paris Smith of Chicago, are co-developers of the program and have created the content of five educational modules, which teach the different aspects of drug abuse, the consequences of misuse and the associated risks.

“The target age for the program is very young because we want to educate them on substance abuse before they get to middle school, where there is more peer pressure and exposure to these substances,” Rosales said.

Smith designed the fifth module titled “Drugs of Abuse.”

In this module, scouts can show what they have learned and have the opportunity to discuss it with leaders and other young scouts.

To create the modules, Smith performed research on how drugs work in the body. Smith said this project was beyond an academic requirement, but an opportunity to give back to her community.

“I love giving back to the community, and this is a really great project for kids to talk about early on because the opioid crisis is huge, and having this program available makes it easier to talk about these things,” Smith said.

“It gives them the tools to say no, walk away and possibly be able to

Opioid overdose trends

Emergency department (ED) visits for opioid overdoses rose 70% from July 2016 through September 2017 in the Midwest Data unavailable

+1-24%

+25-4

+50% or more

Decrease

Source: CDC Graphic: Staff, TNS

help someone else avoid peer pressure and using drugs.”

Christopher Herndon, professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice, used the modules the students created and used Adobe Captivate to produce an online experience where young scouts can access the modules, quiz their knowledge and receive a certificate upon completion of the program. They then have an opportunity to engage in a face-

to-face interaction and increase the productivity and effectiveness of what they have learned by playing games such as bingo.

Eric Voss, professor of inorganic chemistry, serves as a troop leader and will be hosting the developers to run the active learning portion of the program on Monday, Nov. 18, and the scouts will complete their badges on Monday, Dec. 2, both events will be in Glen Carbon, Illinois.

NEXT WEEK READ ABOUT CHEAP DATE IDEAS NEAR CAMPUS page 4

WHAT I WISH YOU KNEW

contact the editor: lifestyles@alestlelive.com 650-3527 alestlelive.com

thursday, 11.14.19

Women can be whoever they want Upon her return, Lei’s parents made it clear they did not approve of her educational choices. One night the conflict came to a head, leading Lei to board a plane back to Idaho the next day.

ing her studies in English Literature, Lei navigated through the added stress of her increasingly MADISON LAMMERT strained relationship with her editor-in-chief family.

Lei and her father did not It sounds like something out communicate for of fictional novel: a young girl a year after her de“I think every girl leaves her home in the dead of cision, and while night to pursue her dream of beshe and her mother should know that ing a writer in a foreign country. did keep in contact, they have the possibility However, this story is far from communications make believe — it’s the story of to do what they want to do. revolved around Myra Lei’s life. trying to convince While the characters in Lei’s Lei to return to MYRA LEI writings vary, they all are Chinese China. Lei and her Creative writing master’s candidate women who experience some grandmother comfrom Changsha, Hunan Province, China grand revelations about themmunicated in secret selves, which the literary world “I still remember that night: for fear of further escalating the commonly refers to as an “awak- At 2 in the morning I packed ev- conflict. ening.” erything and I was waiting until Writing fictional stories “I only write about women all of [my family] went to bed greatly helped combat the deprotagonists,” Lei said. “There and fell asleep,” Lei said. “My pression caused by conflict in her are so many things a writer could home is in the center of the city, family, Lei said. write about, but women’s issues so outside of my room is the “I felt all kinds of stress and and especially women’s awaken- main road. I could hear all the car pain, [but] when I was writing ings is one of the most important sounds outside and the people stories, I could go into another, themes in my writing.” outside, and I tried to convince fictional world, so I could kind Lei’s own awakening came myself ‘You are a protagonist. If of escape from reality,” Lei said. after years of being under strict you are the protagonist, this is “For hours I could just write, parental rule while growing up your time to make the decision.’” and I felt so good. I think that’s in China. According to Lei, it is According to Lei, the hard- where my passion is; I really like common for women in China to est part of fleeing the house in it.” be pressured into specific careers the early hours of the morning This love for fictional writby their parents, just as her father was having to leave her grand- ing helped Lei decide to get a tried to persuade her to study mother behind — especially third master’s degree in creative business. since she had to do so without writing. Lei originally planned “I know in China, so many explanation. Lei said she and her to stay in Idaho, but found SIUE women are like me,” Lei said. “I grandmother were always close after she missed the application have many good friends who end and that her grandmother de- deadline for the program at the up doing work they don’t want fended Lei in the struggle against University of Idaho. to do. One of my good friends her parents.

Even though the road was became a police woman because “That was a heartbreaking rough, Lei said coming to her that’s what her father wanted her moment because I invited my own awakening greatly imto do. Her father was a military grandma to my home during that proved many aspects of her life, doctor.” summer because I missed her so namely her ability to form empaDespite her father’s wishes, much — I grew up with her,” Lei thetic relationships with others.

Lei decided to leave China to said. “She slept without her door “I felt like I was distant from study English as a second lan- closed, so I could see her and the whole world. If I had any guage at the University of Idaho she was snoring. I really want- kinds of relationships, for examed to say goodbye ple, friendships or a romantic reto her and I really lationship, I was distant from my wanted to explain to friends and my boyfriends be“I tried to convince myself her, but I couldn’t, cause it was hard for me to open ‘You are a protagonist. so I just closed her up and know people. I didn’t door, walked past know people: I didn’t know how If you are the protagonist, her room and went to know people or how to care this is you time out.” for people,” Lei said. “After [my For Lei, leaving awakening], I started to open up to make the decision.’ home signified her and I’m willing to have deeper own personal awak- relationships with people.”

MYRA LEI ening — the realizaIn reflecting on her experiCreative writing master’s candidate from Changsha, Hunan Province, China tion that she would ences, Lei said she wishes young no longer live her women knew that they have a life for anybody else. choice in who they want to bein August 2012. According to “For 25 years … I did not come.

Lei, she enlisted the help of her know that I could have a life — I “I think every girl should friends to talk her father into let- thought I lived for my family, for know that they have the possibilting her go abroad. my parents. I would do whatever ity to do what they want to do,” Lei eventually returned to they asked me to do,” Lei said.

Lei said. “They always have the her home city Changsha in HuHowever, this realization choice, and by doing what they nan Province in China during the was not without consequences. truly want to do, they can besummer of 2015.

On top of focusing on complet- come a better self.”

Here are illustrations of some of Lei’s favorite novels. Lei said these books helped inspire her own writing. | Jordyn Nimmer / The Alestle

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Sharing their stories:

SIUE veteran, ROTC cadets reflect on Veterans Day JENNIFER GOECKNER lifestyles editor

The first snow of the season dampened Veterans Day events this year, as the annual parade in Edwardsville was canceled. However, SIUE veterans and ROTC cadets recognized the day in their own ways and reflected on their experiences.

Senior Airman Amanda Depew

Amanda Depew, of Centralia, Illinois, joined the Air Force at 23 years old when she was already a wife and mother. Depew said she initially enlisted because she was looking for more stability for herself and her family. Depew comes from a military family, with her parents, grandfathers and all of her uncles having served, which contributed to her decision to enlist.

As one of the few women in the armed forces, Depew said she experienced unique challenges but was able to form deep and lasting bonds with those who served alongside her.

“I enlisted into a career field that was male-heavy, so that had its challenges,” Depew said. “But eventually it was just like I had a group of big brothers ... and a lot of us are still in contact to this day.”

Depew completed deployment tour in Afghanistan from August 2004 to January 2005 and worked as a munitions operator, which she said was both challenging and rewarding.

“I had an unusual career field working as a munitions operator,” Depew said. “So that meant working around and with anything that goes ‘boom,’ so that’s a very challenging career.”

The challenges Depew faced did not end when she left the ser-

MADISON LAMMERT editor-in-chief

Whether it’s the growing distance in a friendship one thought would last forever, being completely blindsided by a romantic partner(s) of many months/years or being left on read, breakups of any kind can do some serious damage for all parties involved.

Yes, one needs to feel all the emotions before moving forward, but life doesn’t stop because we are hurting. There is a time to cry to Kodaline in bed with your pet, and there’s a time to be angry.

Here are some tunes that hopefully can offer a new perspective in this tough time:

‘Bright Blue Skies’ by Mitch James

James acknowledges that sometimes it takes awhile to see the good after somebody who was once a big part of your life is

vice, however. According to Depew, her biggest challenge since leaving the Air Force has been readjusting to civilian life.

“It’s definitely different there than it is here, so that’s my main challenge actually — doing this transitioning,” Depew said. “And I’ve been out since 2007, so imagine 12 years later still trying to fit in.”

Depew is now seeking a bachelor’s degree in social work and is an active member of SIUE’s chapter of the Student Veterans of America, where she enjoys sharing her experiences with younger veterans.

“My experiences at my age are going to be different from most of the students here because, even though I’m in the SVA, which I love having that camaraderie and being around other veterans, I’m still a 40-year-old woman in this group of 20-something-year-old dudes,” Depew said.

Depew said she celebrated this Veterans Day by reconnecting with the airmen who served with her and remembering those who were lost.

“I celebrated Veterans Day by reconnecting with my old buddies and just reminiscing about the things that we did, the things that we don’t miss, and then, although it’s not Memorial Day, we still will always remember those that we lost,” Depew said.

Cadet Liam Elliott

Like Depew, Liam Elliott, a senior history major from Petersburg, Illinois, comes from a military family. Elliott said he initially enlisted in the National Guard before becoming a contracted cadet with SIUE’s ROTC program.

Elliott said the training he has received through the program has been more extensive and varied than most people assume.

“Here at the SIUE ROTC program, we’ve flown in Black Hawk helicopters, we’ve done repelling, we’ve done high rope courses, we’ve done obstacle courses,” Elliott said. “So, the training is a lot more than what people realize.”

In addition to the ROTC program, Elliott is also attached to 233rd Military Police Company out of Camp Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois, where he completes annual training for two weeks each summer.

“They let me shadow a platoon leader there and figure out what exactly their role is and where they fit into the bigger grand scheme of the operation, and I’ve gotten some very, very good training there,” Elliott said.

Elliott said his training has shaped his college experience and given him tools that he plans to use going forward in life.

“I couldn’t even imagine what my college life would be like if I wasn’t a cadet in the program,” Elliott said. “It’s given me a lot of opportunities, and it’s given me a lot of characteristics and traits that I can carry with through my entire life.”

For Elliott, Veterans Day is a time to reflect and express gratitude for those who have enlisted before him. Elliott said he especially looks to thank those who served in the Vietnam War because of the negative responses some experienced upon returning home.

“I kind of use it as a day to just reflect and try to go out of my way to find people who have served and just let them know this support is out there, especially Vietnam War veterans because they paved the way for veterans today to come home and get a clap on the back and a ‘Thank you for your service,’” Elliott said.

Members of the Cougar Battalion participate in in-field training exercises at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. | Photo courtesy of SIUE Army ROTC

“They came home and got treated quite poorly, and so they really paved the way, and I don’t think they ever got that ‘thank you’ that they earned.”

Cadet Nathan Goodsell

For Nathan Goodsell, a senior construction management major from Waterloo, Illinois, enlisting in the military was not his original plan. Goodsell said he planned to go to college on a baseball scholarship, but when his scholarship fell through, he decided to follow in the footsteps of generations of his family members by enlisting.

Goodsell said he was enlisted for nearly three years before his father encouraged him to contract and pursue becoming an officer.

“It got to about honestly a few months before I was told I was about to get my E5,” Goodsell said. “And then I talked to my father who is prior service, and he said, ‘Why don’t you look into the officer route? You know, you’re a pretty good leader, you should check that out.’”

Songs for surviving heartbreak gone, but things can’t stay shitty forever. Eventually, you’ll get back to hobbies you love that you have put off, discover a band that’s just yours and be able to love yourself like you loved the other person.

You survived just fine before your ex, now it’s time to make sure you’ll be better without them. It may take time, but you’ll be seeing “bright blue skies” soon.

‘Was it Me’ by Colony House

Here’s another more upbeat song. Romantic-centered or not, we all have those times where something ends unresolved that just leave us going “What the f—?” So many of us do what humans do: we start questioning ourselves. This is what Colony House is talking about. Oftentimes, we will never get those answers we want and we just have to accept it is what it is.

‘I’m Gonna Find Another You’ by John Mayer

He’s no Beyoncé, but man can John Mayer make me feel better. While he’s not being a totally vindictive ex, he is still throwing some shade at whoever stepped on his heart. “If I’m forced to find another / I hope she looks like

you / and she’s nicer too.” After something ends and it’s time to move on to the next person, the worst thing you can do is settle for someone on the same level as — or even worse than — your ex.

In this case, John is going to find somebody nicer and better for him, and you should, too.

‘Napkins’ by Riz La Vie

As the artist even states himself in a Milk.xyz article, ‘Napkins’ presents a cool vibe with some more melancholy messages buried underneath. To me, the song details being fine on the outside but then realizing everything is too taxing, there’s not much of yourself that nobody else hasn’t already seen. Relationships are the same way — you give so much of yourself to a person that once they are gone, life can become a very empty, lonely place. For somebody who doesn’t trust easy, this really hits me hard.

The lyric “You’re not entitled to my time or my passions,” is probably the most powerful in the song. If the person isn’t interested in all of you — including the things you love and that may take up more space in your life than them — it’s time to let them go.

Furthermore, once it’s over, you

have no ties to that person except to provide an explanation if you’re the one ending it. You don’t owe it to them to stay friends on Facebook so they can see all the wonderful things you’re achieving, nor do you owe it to them to be involved in their life in any other way. Hone in on those passions, babe, and be the best you that you can. You’re worth it.

‘Don’t Cry’ by Ruel

It’s hard to think of all that we are missing when we are no longer with a partner, however, look at all they are missing by losing you.

Often, it’s more than just a body to sleep next to. “I’ve always been your therapist / and you can’t say any more / you’ve lost the right to be my friend.” Here, Ruel also doesn’t shy away from some unhealthy aspects that often pop up in relationships: blurred emotional boundaries. I’ve been on both ends of this struggle, and all I can say is you cannot force a person to change when they’re not ready.

Yes, your partner should be a good friend to you, but you are not responsible for keeping their mental health in check, especially at the expense of your own. I was once in a situation where I was telling the guy I was seeing

For Veterans Day, Elliott said he has a tradition of attending the St. Louis parade with his father and listening to his stories.

“Usually, my father and I will go down to the St. Louis parade,” Goodsell said. “Unfortunately, we didn’t get to go this year, but usually every year, even if I can’t go with my dad, we have a pretty long conversation. He kind of tells me his war stories that he’s allowed to tell me.”

This year, Goodsell said he had a relaxed Veterans Day but was struck by the scene of restaurant-goers coming together to sing the National Anthem.

“Whenever I went to Texas Roadhouse [Monday], it was pretty cool because they actually stopped all the music, everyone was quiet, and they played the National Anthem, and everyone just started singing” Goodsell said.

Learn more about SIUE Army ROTC at siue.edu/rotc and about SIUE Veteran and Military Services at siue.edu/military.

at the time that something he did negatively impacted me, and soon enough the conversation switched to me coddling him. This isn’t healthy — everybody needs space to feel their own emotions without them being crowded out by those of other person.

Also, for the love of God, cut contact with the person. Being friends after rarely works, especially right away. Ruel is right when he says talking and having contact with their friends just complicates things.

‘Alaska’ by Maggie Rogers

Rogers paints an ethereal vision throughout this song, saying she traveled across beautiful landscapes in the process not only losing her ex-flame, but also becoming a new and improved version of herself. She’s learned to live without basing her decisions on the other person, and she’s loving it.

In the end, you cannot control the other person, only yourself. A relationship, even a toxic one, is never a waste of time if it turns you into a better person.

Sure, mistakes will be made, but don’t let it ruin you.

opinion

SEE OPINION ON GENDER IDENTITY NEXT WEEK page 6

share your thoughts: opinion@alestlelive.com 650-3527 thursday, 11.14.19

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Nonviolent drug offenders should be released THE ALESTLE STAFF editorial board

In light of the recent legalization of recreational marijuana use in Illinois, individuals serving time for petty drug offenses should have their cases reexamined.

Illinois became the 11th state to legalize recreational marijuana use with a bill which will go into effect Jan. 1, 2020. The bill will allow individuals to purchase and possess up to 30 grams of marijuana for recreational use.

Since the passage of this bill, many have begun to question

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With Christmas decorations making their way into stores earlier and earlier every year, SIUE students are left to ponder the right time to start decking the halls and cranking up “Jingle Bells.”

Junior graphic design and mass communications major Praither Williams, of East St. Louis, Illinois, said he has personally noticed the earlier start time for Christmas music while working at TJ Maxx, and this further solidified his belief that Christmas celebrations should not begin before Thanksgiving.

“I work retail, so we start putting out Christmas stuff in like October, but that kind of runs over Halloween and Thanksgiving,” Williams said. “Thanksgiving gets the brunt of it the most.

Christmas takes over and people stop worrying about family, eating and cooking and more about Black Friday … it’s horrible.”

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Beginning in 1971, the war on drugs has affected countless lives. The federal government has actively campaigned for drug prohibition in order to address the illegal drug trade in the U.S. However, changes to the recreational use of marijuana should also elicit changes to the sentences of individuals for marijuana-related crimes.

Support politicians who advocate for the commutation of nonviolent drug charges. The student voice matters. Help speak on behalf of the people serving sentences for crimes which are now legal.

When is it acceptable to begin celebrating Christmas?

MADISON LAMMERT editor-in-chief

The name Alestle is an acronym derived from the names of the three campus locations of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville: Alton, East St. Louis and Edwardsville.

ently violent.

Despite only having legalized the medical use of marijuana, Oklahoma released 462 nonviolent drug offenders. They also permitted offenders to have old felony charges expunged.

The release of offenders from Oklahoma prisons on Nov. 4, 2019 marks the largest mass commutation in U.S. history.

We should look to Oklahoma and their judiciary process for insight into bringing justice to prisoners in Illinois doing time for similarly nonviolent drug charges, especially considering the legalization of recreational cannabis use.

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what should be done in response to the mass incarceration issue within Illinois for drug offenses.

According to the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, 42% of arrests for drug offenses and 6.4% of drug admissions into prisons are related to cannabis. Based on population statistics, this indicates the yearly admission rate for cannabis offenses in the prison system is approximately 400 individuals.

Some states have decided to revisit the sentences given to nonviolent drug offenders — individuals who have consumed or possessed drugs but are not inher-

Williams is not alone in his views. Roughly 63 percent of sampled students believe Christmas activities, such as hanging stockings and listening to seasonal music, should be held off until after Thanksgiving dinner.

For senior mathematics major Andre Hood, of Orland Hills, Illinois, celebrating Christmas before Thanksgiving could turn into celebrations being moved up more every year, taking away some Christmas cheer.

“People would just start celebrating it earlier and earlier and then there would really be no point to the holiday season, because you [will] have people who literally start [celebrating] on Christmas in July,” Hood said. “I think that would be the norm and it wouldn’t be fun anymore.”

First-year pharmacy student Ben Eigenbrodt, of Edwardsville, is a big-time Christmas fan who doesn’t wait to light it up.

“I think after Halloween is good because you have to get

that out of the way, but any time after that is good,” Eigenbrodt said. “You gotta get in the spirit as quick as possible then maybe take a little break for Thanksgiving, maybe that week just not listen to Christmas music, and then get back into [the Christmas spirit].”

Junior business major Brandon Sneeden, of Buffalo, Illinois, said any time after Halloween is fair game to celebrate the winter holiday, as he feels Christmas and Thanksgiving are similar.

“I would say it’s acceptable after Halloween,” Sneeden said. “I feel like Thanksgiving and Christmas kind of mix together in a certain way, they’re kind of linked, so I feel like after Halloween is when we start getting towards the holiday season.”

However, Sneeden said he personally waits until after Thanksgiving to start thinking about Christmas.

Freshman computer science major Max Ludwig, of St. Louis, also sees similarities between the

seemingly back-to-back holidays.

However, he believes separate time should be reserved for each.

“I think [Thanksgiving and Christmas] are similar in ways that they all revolve around family and spending time with loved ones, but I also think they need to be kept separate because Christmas is giving and receiving things and spending time [together], but Thanksgiving is all about company and being in each other’s presence,” Ludwig said.

For others, the answer is not so clear cut. Freshman biology major Kerstyn Deichmann, of Pocahontas, Illinois, said while she listens to Christmas music all year, she waits until after Thanksgiving to partake in other Christmas celebrations.

Even though the majority of SIUE students said visions of sugar plums don’t dance in their heads until after Thanksgiving, it’s clear there is still heavy debate regarding the optimal time to start Christmas festivities.

sports

contact the editor: sports@alestlelive.com 650-3527 thursday, 11.14.19

COMING NEXT WEEK: CROSS COUNTRY NCAA REGIONALS page 7

alestlelive.com

SIUE Standings MEN’S SOCCER OVERALL MAC

West Virginia

6-8-2

W. Michigan

11-5-2 2-1-2

0-4-1

Bowling Green 11-6-1 2-3 SIUE

8-4-4

2-1-2

N. Illinois

7-9-1

2-3

Akron

6-9-2

4-0-1

WOMEN’S SOCCER OVERALL OVC

Junior outside hitter Gabby Wimes attempts a spike that is blocked by Belmont. SIUE went on to win the match with a score of 3-1. | Mackenzie Smith / The Alestle

SIUE Volleyball wins clean match against Belmont JOHN MCGOWAN reporter

Volleyball won their match against Belmont University on Saturday with a score of 3-1.

It was SIUE’s match for the first half of the four sets, with a score of 25-23 for set one and 25-18 for set two. Things took a turn when Belmont won a close third set with a score of 28-26, but SIUE was able to bring it back around with a clean score of 2521 in the final set of the night.

Two notable players were redshirt sophomore middle blocker Hope Everett and junior outside hitter Rachel McDonald. Everett managed 17 kills in one set, her second-most ever, and McDonald set a personal record for herself with 19 digs. Everett credited her success to the setters on the team.

“I just went in with the mindset of: we’re going to crush every ball,” Everett said.

“My setters gave me a lot of confidence in knowing, ‘Hey, I’m going to give you this

ball. I know you’re going to put it away.’”

A common sentiment among players on the team was they needed to focus on closing out matches as strong as they finish them.

When asked what they could improve on, Everett said the team needs to focus on not getting too cocky and making sure they understand they need to earn every point they get.

McDonald echoed these sentiments when discussing how she would improve strategy.

“The biggest thing right now is finishing ‘til the end of every set. We work hard in the beginning to create a lead for us then kind of just take a dip … We create a 10-point lead and then we kind of sit back on our heels and then the team comes back and then we have a battle at the end of the set,” McDonald said. “So that’s something that we still need to keep focusing on.”

Saturday’s match was unique because the team’s 2020 recruits were there to watch.

Senior middle blocker Kiana Fields said it was a good way to show them the ins and outs of what it’s like to be on the team.

“It was their official visit and just being able for them to see the Cougar atmosphere, what it’s like in the gym whenever we play matches, and who we are on the court. Also, what we do to prepare for matches, you know, like coming in a couple hours before the game, eating pre-game meals … just kind of showing them the dynamic of how being a cougar volleyball player works, and providing them as much experience as we can,” Fields said.

Fields added the team is having a senior night this Saturday, 1:30 p.m.

“We really appreciate any kind of community support to come out and cheer us on,” Fields said.

The volleyball team’s next match will be at 6:00 p.m., Friday, Nov. 15, against Southeast Missouri State University at the Vadalabene Center.

JOHN MCGOWAN

650-3527 @john_alestle jmcgowan@alestlelive.com

SEMO

11-5-1 8-1-1

UT Martin

8-6-5

6-2-2

Tenn. Tech

6-8-5

4-3-3

Morehead St.

4-12-2 2-6-2

Murray State

11-8

E. Kentucky

4-12-2 2-6-2

Austin Peay

4-10-4 3-5-2

SIUE

10-5-5 5-2-3

EIU

4-10-4 2-5-3

8-2

Jacksonville St. 4-14

1-9

Belmont

4-4-2

8-8-5

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL OVERALL OVC

SEMO

19-9

11-3

Morehead St.

20-7

11-3

Tennessee St.

12-15

5-9

Jacksonville St. 17-9

11-3

Murray State

16-10

10-4

SIUE

13-13

8-6

E. Kentucky

9-19

4-10

Tenn. Tech.

11-16

7-7

Austin Peay

10-18

8-6

EIU

3-24

1-13

Belmont

2-27

1-13

UT Martin

11-18

7-7

Women’s soccer season ends with OVC championship game MADISON LAMMERT editor-in-chief

Sunday’s Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Championship game marked the end of women’s soccer’s season, as they battled through regulation and two overtime periods to fall to Belmont in a penalty shootout.

Despite the Cougars outshooting Belmont, neither team was able to successfully reach the back of the net.

Redshirt sophomore forward MacKenzie Litzsinger made nine shots throughout the game, two of which were on frame.

“It was definitely frustrating

just because I know how high stakes that game was. I was getting frustrated that I couldn’t find that one shot that could hit the back of the net,” Litzsinger said.

“Most, if not all the coaches I’ve had, have told me that I have my nose to the goal, so it’s just part of my mentality and the way that I play, like I don’t want to stop pushing to find that goal.”

According to Head Coach Derek Burton, there were many opportunities to score on corner kicks and long throw-ins, and he kept pushing the Cougars to keep persevering. “[We had to] just keep doing what we’re doing because we’re obviously creating the chances

and sooner or later one would go,” Burton said. “We always felt like a goal was coming and, like I said, unfortunately on the day it just didn’t happen and that’s a part of our sport sometimes.”

Unable to see results in goal, the two teams entered a penalty shootout. Burton said at this point SIUE and Belmont had equal chances to continue to the NCAA tournament.

“Once the second overtime period is over and it goes into a penalty kick shootout, it’s really a crapshoot and it doesn’t matter what you’ve done the 100 minutes prior because it comes down to catching a break or being able to convert a penalty kick,” Bur-

ton said. “It’s so different from the actual game itself, but unfortunately that’s the way a lot of soccer post-season in college is set up: you know it’s a 50-50 chance once you get a penalty shootout so, at that point, it’s not like it was panic time, but certainly anything can happen and certainly it did.”

Belmont triumphed 3-2 in the penalty shootout. Sophomore defender and midfielder Kayla Klipsch made the first attempt for the Cougars and secured the first shot. Freshman defender Courtney Vollmer found the back of the net, making the second penalty kick point.

Litzsinger made the fourth shot for the Cougars and hit the post. She said while she and a number of her teammates had been practicing penalty kicks in prior weeks, they are all a matter of confidence.

“I thought, ‘It’s just a 12yard pass, and being a forward in that situation, the offense has more of an advantage than the goalie because if the goalie guesses the wrong way, there’s nothing [the team] can do about it,” Litzsinger said. “So, going into it I felt pretty confident and then last minute things went differently.” see SEASON ENDS on page 8

page 8

alestlelive.com SEASON ENDS I PAGE 7

Redshirt senior Alexis Royal said she did not believe the penalty kicks really showed the skills the Cougars showcased throughout the season.

“Our opponent was really solid as well, and I really just feel like PKs don’t necessarily show how the game went, it’s really based off of who [best] finishes those goals,” Royal said.

Even though the shootout did not lead to the result the team was hoping for, Burton said SIUE carried the game.

“We were the more aggressive team in terms of dictating the way that the attacking side of the game went and Belmont did enough to defend and keep us out. We … had some great chances and it just didn’t happen,” Burton said.

T H E

Burton also pointed out this was the sixth straight game the Cougars’ defense did not give up a goal during play.

“Defensively over the last six games we didn’t give up a goal in the run of play up against Southeast Missouri State in the semi-finals, there was a penalty kick, [but] there wasn’t a run of goal in the time of play and then we got another shutout technically Sunday in the finals,” Burton said. “We didn’t give up a goal for six straight games in the run of play, and that’s to the credit of our defense. Unfortunately, we ran into a little bit of a dry period in terms of being able to score.”

2016 marked the Cougars’ farthest advancement in their Division I era, as they made it to the second round of the NCAA tournament. Royal was a freshman at the time, and said both this year and 2016 were

characterized by strong team chemistry. Because of this, Royal said, she believed the team could win the championship.

“I feel like the team was very similar just because how tight we were. I think our team chemistry really reflected how we were in 2016,” Royal said. “I think that is the biggest part other than talent, because we’ve had talent every year, but I think the biggest thing is having really good team chemistry; that’s how you make it to winning championships.”

As Burton reflected on all the team’s accomplishments and their character, he said this was one of his favorite seasons.

“I’m super proud of the team and everything they did in the season ... They’re an amazing group and it may be the most enjoyable season as a college coach ever,” Burton said.

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