The Alestle Vol. 75 No. 10

THE

alestle

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

the student voice since 1960

Thursday, November 4, 2021 Vol. 75 No. 10

Tampering with period products in men’s restrooms leads Facilities Management to consider new vending machines

The Hub ends LGBTQ+ History Month with classic lesbian film ‘But I’m a Cheerleader’ & costume contest SEE PAGE 5

SEE PAGE 3

Sophomore environmental sciences major Blake Warfield climbs glow rock wall during one of Campus Recreation’s Spooky Week events | Jihun Han / The Alestle

| Emily Sterzinger / The Alestle

alestlelive.com

PAGE 2

BY THE NUMBERS

COVID-19 at SIUE

New confirmed positive cases (from tests conducted by SIUE and self-reporting):

Oct. 22 - Oct. 28: 10 students, 6 faculty/staff Oct. 15 - Oct. 21: 10 students, 3 faculty/staff

14-day new positive tests: 20 students, 9 faculty/staff All prior weeks positive tests (Aug. 6 - Oct. 14): 172 students, 27 faculty/staff Total positive cases: 192 students, 36ca faculty/staff

Thursday, 11.04.21

Madison County confirmed cases by day

225 200 175 150 125 100 75 50 25 0

10.26.21

OCT - NOV

1

31

30

29

28

27

26

25

24

Source: Madison County Health Department COVID-19 Dashboard under the Cases by Day tab as of Nov. 3

Percentage of isolation/quarantine space available on campus (as of November): 97 percent Source: Health, Reporting, and Testing page on SIUE’s COVID-19 website, as of Nov. 3

Tests conducted by SIUE Oct. 22 - Oct. 28: 1,886

COVID-19’S impact on Madison County

14-day new tests conducted: 3,769

All of Illinois’ regions remain under Phase 5, which went into

Oct. 15 - Oct. 21: 1,883

All prior weeks tests conducted (Aug. 6 - Oct. 14): 16,364

effect June 11. All sectors of the economy reopened with new health and hygiene practices permanently in place:

Total tests conducted: 20,133

• •

Positive cases identified by SIUE testing: Oct. 22 - Oct. 28: 11 Oct. 15 - Oct. 21: 10

14-day new positive cases: 21

All prior weeks positive cases (Aug. 6 - Oct.14): 136 Total: 157

• •

Large gatherings of all sizes can resume.

All sectors of the economy reopen with businesses, schools and recreation resuming normal operations with new safety guidance and procedures.

Conventions, festivals and large events can take place.

On June 30, Illinois returned to mandated masks indoors regardless of vaccination status.

Source: dph.illinois.gov

| Kirsten O’Loughlin / The Alestle

Final four chancellor candidates selected FRANCESCA BOSTON reporter

As the University searches for a new Chancellor, four candidates have made it to the final rounds of interviews and the University is asking for student opinions.

James T. Minor James T. Minor is the assistant vice chancellor and Senior Strategist for the Division of Academic and Student Affairs at California State University. He has held that position since 2016 and has worked in higher James T. Minor, candidate for education for more chancellor than 20 years.

Minor has a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Jackson State University. He earned his master’s from the University of Nebraska in Sociology, before receiving his Ph.D. in 2001 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in educational leadership and policy analysis.

During the Open Forum, Minor spoke about expanding the visibility, reputation and reach of the university and how to reach those goals even when obstacles are in the way.

“To be clear about a distinct set of goals and, be clear about the path to accomplishing those goals, to be clear about the resources and the difficult choices that might need to be made as a university community to accomplish those goals,” Minor said.

He has written for HuffPost and Inside Higher Ed, and has taught at universities since 1996. He was also appointed by the White House to work for the U.S. Department of Education several years ago as Deputy Assistant Secretary.

Andrew Daire Andrew Daire is currently the Dean for the School of Education at Virginia Commonwealth University and has been in that position since June of 2016. He has worked in higher education for 25 years, including 13 years at the University of Central Florida.

Daire has a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling from Stetson University. He received his Ph.D. from Florida State University in counseling psychology and Andrew Daire, candidate for school psychology.

Daire’s platform chancellor is aimed at community involvement on campus as well as personal and professional development to promote excellence among students and faculty. When he spoke at the third Open Forum he said to meet the goals that both the university and he himself have, it will take everyone helping out and working together.

“We’re also helping to meet the goals of the system, so if I was going to take all of this and titrate it down to one word it’ll be together. Together, we can accomplish so much. Together we can really accomplish anything,” Daire said.

Shari McMahan Shari McMahan is the current Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at California State University San Bernardino and has been in that position since 2016.

McMahan has a Bachelor of Arts Shari McMahan, in Social Ecology candidate for from the University chancellor of California Irvine.

She earned her master’s from California State University in Health Science with a focus in Environmental and Occupational Health. She has a Ph.D. in Social Ecology with a focus on Environmental Health from the University of California.

McMahan spoke about the importance of sustainability in her Open Forum. She said that sustainability and green efforts are important for the planet but also build a campus culture of belonging.

“It’s important because students want a place of purpose. They want that sense

of belonging and environmental sustainability is one of those areas that students find that purpose,” McMahan said.

McMahan has been published nearly 50 times in journals, textbooks and reviews.

Robert Mock Robert Mock is currently the Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore since 2018.

He has worked in higher education since 1995.

Robert Mock Robert Mock, is an SIUE alum- candidate for nus. He earned a chancellor Bachelor of Science in Engineering, with minors in physics and mathematics from SIUE. He has a master’s and doctorate from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in interpersonal and organizational communication, and higher education administration respectively.

Before working in higher education, Mock worked in the corporate world and military. He was a quality control manager at Pepsi-Cola, then joined the Army National Guard as a hospital administrative officer after 9/11. He was enlisted in the military from 2002-2010.

One of Mock’s main points of focus during his Open Forum was giving value and understanding to everyone at the university, especially to those who are working behind the scenes.

“I’ve learned that it’s important that you stand on the shoulders of other individuals, even when you’re not in the room.

When that student is in crisis, there is an RA somewhere holding that person’s hand. I’ve learned that early in my career it’s important that you give value and give opportunity and voice to those individuals who are working when you cannot see them,” Mock said.

Students have the ability to voice their opinions on each candidate. The recorded Zoom videos and survey forms can be found on the SIUE Chancellor Search website. The surveys are due at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 5.

Officer spoke with an employee that advised there was a suspicious vehicle.

Officer made contact with the owner of the vehicle and there was nothing suspicious.

Officer responded to a report of a flyer in the library that could possibly be of political nature. Officer advised there was nothing criminal about the flyer.

Officer responded to a report of a subject purchasing a vehicle from another subject and the seller not providing a title or receipt for the vehicle. Officer advised the seller was contacted and will be providing documents.

Officer took a report regarding a subject stating there was a note left on his vehicle that another vehicle hit his. Subject only wanted an informational report.

10.27.21

Officer responded to a report of a possible disturbance. Officer made contact with a resident and the resident advised she was talking loudly on the phone and did not need police assistance.

10.28.21

Officer responded to a welfare check request by a mother on her daughter.

Officer made contact with the subject and she did not need police assistance.

Officer responded to a report of suspicious activity. Officer advised a student fell for an internet scam and was trying to print checks.

10.29.21

Officer responded to an active fire alarm and advised the alarm was activated due to a candle.

Officer responded to a welfare check request from a mother for her son.

Officer made contact with the subject and he did not need police assistance.

Officer assisted the Edwardsville PD with crowd control on a suspicious vehicle.

Officer assisted ISP with traffic control on a traffic stop.

10.30.21

Officer escorted subject back to campus after an incident outside of SIUE. Officer took a report of a subject stealing food from the food court.

Investigation continues.

Officer assisted Edwardsville PD with crowd control on a call.

10.31.21

Officer assisted Edwardsville PD with crowd control on a possible fight.

Officer assisted Edwardsville PD with crowd control on a call in their venue.

Thursday, 11.04.21

alestlelive.com

PAGE 3

Vandalism hits Mensi Project, ‘Squid Game’ comes to new vending machines possible Evergreen Hall, candy prize ALEX AULTMAN editor-in-chief

Period products in men’s restrooms around campus were thrown out or defaced by individuals, causing Facilities Management and the Title IX Office to search for other distribution methods.

Facilities Management Director Craig Holan said the vandalism was most notable in the MUC and Peck Hall after SIUE began complying with HB 641, which requires period products in all campus restrooms.

“First in the MUC, who were the first folks to get that installed. And then we have had it at a couple of other locations, notably in Peck Hall, three of the four men’s rooms have had their baskets taken and thrown in the trash,” Holan said.

Jamie Ball, Director of Equal Opportunity, Access and Title IX Coordination, said the university is considering changing to a vending machine model with a delay after each product is distributed.

“You push a button, a product dispenses and then it won’t dispense another one for 10 seconds. So you can’t just sit there and bang the button and get all the products out and throw them away,” Ball said. “If someone needs something, they can get it and then the products are still there for everybody else.”

Another machine the university is looking at is one that requires a text to be sent in order for a product to be dispensed.

Holan said the department is paying attention to the usage rate of products to inform future distribution plans.

“Now that we [have] the free model where you can take out as much as you want, we’re watching that to see what impact that has, if any, on the rate of use of the product,” Holan said. “We need to be able to maintain it.”

Holan said until a solution is agreed upon, Facilities Management will continue replacing any damaged products.

“In the meanwhile we’ll continue with the next project. And unfortunately we will have to continue to replace baskets and products [that are] removed or trashed,” Holan said. “It’s just an expense

that we’ll have to bear until we can figure out the solution that not just accommodates, but provides a service.”

Instructor Christy Ferguson, creator of the Mensi Project, released an email to supporters before going on medical leave stating the project will continue with its mission despite the vandalism.

“This project will continue to stand against the sexism, misogyny and transphobia that bring shame and fear to every human on the planet who menstruates.

We will not be silenced. We will not back down. Rest assured that those kits will be replaced,” the email said.

Business professor Robyn Berkley will be taking over the Mensi Project while Ferguson is away.

Ball said if students notice damaged or missing baskets they should file a Bias Incident Report and the team will follow up on it. She said when they receive reports they try to strike a balance between informing the campus community of what’s going on and amplifying hateful views.

Ball said there is also a line between expressing opinions and committing acts that warrant a student conduct response.

“In my opinion, this situation with the hygiene products being tampered with [is] a very clear situation in my mind. It’s not like we’re trying to address someone’s opinion about that situation,” Ball said.

“No, you did something. You damaged property. You don’t get to do that. There’s a clear limit on your ability to express your opinion in that way.”

This vandalism comes after anti-trans stickers were placed around campus in previous weeks, which Ball says is also a student conduct matter. Students recently came to Ball with leads on who may be behind the stickers.

“The super sleuthers were out in force and I was so excited and proud of our community for making that effort to use whatever resources they have to share the information that they have,” Ball said. “Because truthfully, I think that these types of incidents are hard to investigate, unless we have a starting point like that.”

NICOLE BOYD social media manager

Inspired by the popular show “Squid Game,” Evergreen Hall hosted Squid Game for students with games from the show, as well as safer alternatives.

Michael French, a junior computer science major from Danville, Illinois, is the resident assistant who came up with the idea to have the games. He said he saw something similar on social media and thought it would be a cool idea for a social event, so he mentioned it to Aaron Batiste, Evergreen community director.

“I mentioned that I was thinking about doing it to Aaron and then he kind of took over, which I was kind of happy about because I don’t have much budget for my own events,” French said. “But Aaron has a much larger budget and there’s a lot of stuff you have to get.”

French said chips and candy were offered as prizes.

“If you lose the game then you’re out of the entire competition, and then for every person that loses more candy is put into the final prize,” French said.

Batiste said the game consisted of seven games including the card throwing games and cookie-related games from the show, but some of the more dangerous games were tweaked. French said in place of the final game, he had a mix of rock, paper, scissors and tag.

“It’s a real game in Korea and it’s a very physical game. So we obviously don’t want residents pushing each other, so we decided to tweak it to something that involves a lot less physicality,” French said.

Batiste said they ordered costumes to make the games more realistic, and wanted to tie in an educational component. “[We’re going] to have a conversation about poverty, have a conversation about other things pertaining to the game, other societal and political things that were not necessarily shown, but more so hidden within the idea of what the game is,” Batiste said.

Batiste also said he and French designed invitation cards similar to those

from the show.

“I ended up creating a voicemail through Google Voice and I was able to download this text-to-voice type thing and try to make it as real as possible, so to speak. You can actually call and it’ll actually ring and it will actually tell you about the event,” Batiste said.

Batiste said they try to cater events to students, which is why the event came about.

“Anytime we get word from our students about, ‘Hey, you know this will be fun,’ or, ‘Maybe we can do this,’ we always try to make sure that we cater all of our events and everything that we do to the students’ needs,” Batiste said.

Emily Dion, a sophomore computer science major from Newton, Illinois, said she and her roommates attended the games because they watched the show and thought it would be fun to participate.

“I really like intense shows like ‘Squid Game.’ I also like the character development. It’s really well-written,” Dion said.

Brenen Seward, a sophomore CMIS major from Canton, Illinois, said he thought having Squid Game as a social event was a great idea.

“I love the show, and I love the idea of actually competing in these games. It’ll be a different experience than just watching it,” Steward said.

Sydney Witherspoon, a freshman undeclared major from St. Louis, also said she was excited to have a different experience than just watching the games on TV. “It’s quick thinking, that’s the main thing. As long as you stay calm and think fast, I think it should be good,” Witherspoon said.

Adriana Akers, a freshman computer science major from Springfield, Illinois, said she liked that the event was inspired by a current pop culture hit. She said she is halfway through the show.

“I like how it kind of critiques capitalism a little bit. I know South Korea has different laws, especially when it comes to debt, and that once you get into debt you can’t go to banks, you can only go to the loan sharks,” Akers said.

Sensitivity of Cougar Village smoke detectors set as intended FRANCESCA BOSTON reporter

SIUE police responded to 41 fire alarms in October alone, according to the police blotter.

The cause of the incidents setting off the smoke detectors ranged from cooking to steam from showers. One incident occurred after a vaping pen set off the alarm, according to SIUE PD police records. The police also reported that hair dryers, hair straighteners and steam from a shower have all set off the alarms in the last month.

Craig Holan, director of Facilities Management, said it is most commonly smoke from cooking, and while steam from a shower has set it off before, it is not a typical trigger.

“Cooking I think is probably the larger reason. I don’t think that [steam] is as common because the alarms are not really right [near the bathrooms],” Holan said.

Mallory Sidarous, the director of University Housing said the most common reason the detectors go off is that particles in the air trigger the sensors in the alarms.

She said that it is fairly common for the alarms to be triggered by aerosol sprays.

Smoke detectors work by reacting to particles in the air either through light detec-

tion in the chamber or an electric current that reacts to ions in the air that come from smoke, according to the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

“Particles can make the detectors go off. While cooking can be one of those things, any type of aerosol particles in the air can trigger that alarm. Often, it’s not necessarily somebody’s blow dryer, their straightener, but often, it’s more the aerosol or the prep to your hair that’s in the air, that can indicate something that’s not supposed to be there to the detector,” Sidarous said.

Sidarous said that the sensitivity of the smoke detectors is at the current standard for building code.

Kendra Mackey, a junior English major from Columbia, Missouri, lives in the 500 block of Cougar Village. Several weeks ago, she set off the smoke alarm while blow-drying her hair in her bedroom. According to Mackey, she always dries her hair next to her window to blow the air away from the detector and doesn’t use any product in her hair. She said she didn’t even realize at the time that she was the person to set it off. She assumed it was one of her neighbors as the alarm had gone off earlier in the month by someone who lives below her. Mackey said after the

Despite the large number of fire alarms that occur regularly in Cougar Village, Director of University Housing Mallory Sidarous said the sensitivity of the smoke detectors is at the current standard for building code. | Jihun Han / The Alestle

incident where she set off the alarm, she pushed a mini desk fan to help prevent any hot air from reaching the fire alarm in her room. “[The alarms are] super inconvenient.

You’re minding your own business and then you hear the alarms go off, then everybody has to leave and you’re like, ‘What is it now?’” Mackey said.

Sidarous said her main advice is

to avoid spraying aerosols near the fire alarms.

Holan said Cougar Village has updated its smoke detectors in the past few years, and that they are in good condition.

“I will say that housing has done a good job with their alarm systems.

They’ve upgraded the alarms in Cougar village and they’re in good working order,” Holan said.

NEXT WEEK: WRITER MEG CASS VISITS ENGLISH DEPARTMENT PAGE 4

lifestyles alestlelive.com

contact the editor: lifestyles@alestlelive.com 650-3527 Thursday, 11.04.21

Pumpkin glow walk displays artistry of SIUE students The glow walk is a great way to unite students in SIUE housing under one cause: creating some spooky imagery to be shown in the Gardens. Enjoy these photos from this year’s glow walk.

| Clair Sollenberger / The Alestle

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Thursday, 11.04.21

PAGE 5

‘Pumpkins and Period Packing’ collects hygiene products with Halloween theme NICOLE BOYD social media manager

Support The Girls hosted “Pumpkins and Period Packing Party” as part of their mission to eliminate period poverty, a term that refers to the added financial burden of needing period hygiene products.

Samantha Reynolds, a junior nursing major from St. Louis and president of Support The Girls, said they organized community-donated feminine products that will be distributed to those in need.

According to their faculty supervisor, Alicia Alexander, the organization donates to places such as food pantries, homeless shelters and domestic violence shelters.

“We were going to do Spooktacular this Wednesday but it actually got canceled, so we’re just going to use the bags … for any needs, so people will contact [the organization] from schools and other organizations,” Reynolds said.

Reynolds said the products will be donated on an as-needed basis, and Alexander finds places that need them through social media.

Trinity Lowe, a junior psychology major from Collinsville, Illinois, and treasurer for Support The Girls, said groups also contact Alexander to tell her what

drives specifically for period products bespecific types of products they need.

“We’re affiliated with a larger group cause the need is there.

“Menstrual products or feminine from D.C. That’s where it started, and so Alicia runs the chapter in Edwardsville. products are expensive, and they’re neeAnd our new chapter is kind of like the ded for women or whoever uses the promain one for us, so they have connections,” ducts to not affect their activities of daily living. So we don’t Lowe said. want their period “We have to be the reason connections why they’re missing all around school or work,” the world.”

Reynolds said.

Meghan Lowe said doMcKinzie, a senations are still nior mass comnecessary despite munications SAMANTHA REYNOLDS HB 641, a bill that major from junior nursing student from St. Louis was recently signed Belleville, Illiwhich requires uninois, said she attended the party because she believes versities to have period products available all women should be able to take care of in all restrooms.

“It’s actually provided by The Menthemselves and their bodies without feesi Project, which is actually based on ling ashamed.

“I felt really good knowing that I donations in general. So even though was helping other women, regardless of campuses are supposed to provide therace or anything else. We’re all women se products, these are not state funded,” at the end of the day and we all experien- Lowe said. “They’re still being community ce different menstrual cycles along with donations in general.”

Reynolds said they chose to have a similar bodies, [similar] issues as well,” McKinzie said. “So I felt really good packing party rather than a standard drive about it, just knowing that I was helping to gather and motivate as many people as they can, and so that they can use a cute another woman out.”

Reynolds said it’s necessary to have name. She said they packed tampons, pads

“We don’t want [someone’s] period to be the reason why they’re missing school or work

and menstrual cups.

“We also distribute underwear and bras at events. And we also have a few makeup brands like mascara, and then we have little glitter hand sanitizers that we give to the younger kids who don’t really need pads yet,” Reynolds said.

Lowe said in addition to packing period products, volunteers wrote encouraging notes to include in the bags.

Reynolds said she was really happy with the party’s turnout, because she’s been figuring out how to advertise events throughout the pandemic. Lowe said they are still transitioning back to being in-person.

“I think it’s across all clubs that they’re trying to revive themselves, being on campus. I understand, like people that were maybe more active in the past, maybe they’re not even on campus this semester, or they can’t go to [events], so there’s a lot of things to consider,” Lowe said.

Reynolds said they are in the process of organizing a tabling event so they can distribute little bags she worked on at the party. Lowe said they are also talking about offering safe-sex kits in the future. “[They have] tampons, pads [and] a little info paper, more about our group and donations and chocolate, so that’s fun,” Reynolds said.

Movie night and costume contest closes out The Hub’s LGBTQ+ History Month events FRANCESCA BOSTON reporter

After a month honoring the history of the LGBTQIA+ community, The Hub closed out the month with a Halloween-themed event, featuring a classic lesbian romance — “But I’m a Cheerleader.”

Amira Abuazza, a grad student from St. Charles, Missouri, studying Criminal Justice Policy, works in The Hub as a graduate assistant and helped put on events during LGBTQIA+ month events. She said while planning the night, they wanted to make sure to have a happy and uplifting ending to the month, which is why they choose “But I’m a Cheerleader” to show. “But I’m a Cheerleader” is a 1999 movie about a high school girl who is sent to a conversion camp, but ultimately falls in love with one of the other girls at the camp.

“I find that like a lot of LGBTQIA+ movies sometimes end in tragedy or something that’s not as uplifting. So with closing the month out, we want to have just a fun party for everyone. I think we’re still trying to find a healthy mix of having fun events mixed in with educating people about the certain history and heritage months,” Abuazza said.

The event included a costume contest. Maya Sante, a senior environmental science major from Belleville, Illinois

won. They said they were super excited that “But I’m a Cheerleader” was playing as it is their favorite movie, as well as for the chance to dress up as Mike, one of the counselors from the movie.

Senior Jo Moulton, an English secondary education major from Chatham, Illinois, works at The Hub and helped put on the events during the month. Moulton said when the committee was planning the event, they wanted to have a fun closing ceremony that celebrates the joy of the LGBTQIA+ experience instead of focusing on the bad.

“Since it [was] the Friday before Halloween we were like, ‘We have to have Halloween.’

We thought we’d show a movie that is fun and kind of matches the vibe without being a tragedy,” Moulton said.

Emily Brooks, a junior business major from Dunlap, Illinois, who attended the event with her friends, said she heard about the event from one of her friend’s sisters and she thought it sounded fun and a chance to see a new movie.

“I thought it sounded like a lot of fun and a great opportunity to branch out, maybe meet some new people, see a movie I’ve never seen before. I thought it’d be fun,” Brooks said.

Junior Rylee Hammonds, an exercise science major from Marion, Illinois, came with Brooks and said she hadn’t seen

Maya Sante (right) posed with friend Jo Moulton (left) to get a photo of their costumes for the contest. | Clair Sollenberger / The Alestle the movie before and wanted to come to the event.

“I’m here to support the LGBTQ community,” Hammonds said.

Abuazza said she is excited for upcoming heritage and history months. She said that one of her coworkers is working on Native American

Heritage Month events.

“I think having all these amazing heritage and history months, we need to always try and plan events that are fun, but also educational for our students to appreciate all the cultures,” Abuazza said.

Before the movie started,

Laura Baker, staff counselor and coordinator of social services, spoke to the attendants. She said she wanted to make sure everyone knows that counseling services are there for everyone no matter what they may be going through.

For more information, visit the Counseling Services website.

NEXT WEEK: GYM ETTIQUETTE IS IMPORTANT

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Some college students need food stamps, too THE ALESTLE STAFF editorial board

Food stamps are a hot button issue in the U.S. On almost any major news network, social services like this in America are often cited as being “too left-wing”, and have brought about the concept of “welfare queens,” which is totally untrue and based in negative stereotypes.

Regardless of these negative stereotypes, many people, including staff members here at The Alestle, grew up eating the proverbial government cheese. Again, despite these stereotypes, some of us are proud of that fact. We bear the badge of our government support as proof that it is beneficial.

Once students reach college age, however, and have to start fending for themselves, issues quickly arise. The Illinois Legal Aid Online website states there are some straightforward

guidelines for college students and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, like a minimum of a 20hour work week, and require other conditions.

However, some of the guidelines are far less understandable.

It says students must also be under the age of 18 or over the age of 50 and be responsible for the care of a child between ages 6 and 12. There are plenty of students at SIUE, as well as other colleges statewide, where there are plenty of students who don’t fall into those guidelines, but still live on their own and need financial support.

Food stamps aren’t even typically part of the main discourse when it comes to college students and economics in this country.

That debate usually focuses on the price of tuition and college debt. As we found out recently, President Joe Biden has changed

his plans regarding student debt.

Biden seems to not want to do what he previously promised, which was $100,000 of student debt canceled per person. So, if that is not on the table anymore, why not aid college students financially in another way?

In 2019, the American Psychological Association (APA) found that one in three college students cannot meet their basic needs financially. And with 90 percent of college students in the U.S. under the age of 24, that means 90 percent of college students in the U.S. are immediately not allowed to receive financial aid in Illinois. So, it is almost certain that the one in three college students who cannot meet their basic needs financially will overlap with the 90 percent who cannot receive SNAP benefits in Illinois.

SIUE does an okay job of supporting students who need financial aid already, with organiza-

tions and assistance from Cougar Cupboard, which is a food pantry on campus. However, Cougar Cupboard can only do so much.

They only allow visits from clientele once a month.

We appreciate SIUE doing what they can, and since they obviously don’t control the federal or state guidelines for SNAP, this is not directed at them. A change may be upcoming from those who can give it to us in this field. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the government passed The Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021.

In a statement released in March of this year, SIUE stated that this meant SNAP benefits were now offered to students with no estimated family contribution on their FAFSA for the current year and/or students eligible for the work study program. That change expired in June of this year, but hopefully, this trend continues, and more changes come.

training sessions.”

Obviously, these name, image and likeness deals aren’t for an hourly wage. These players are getting compensated in most cases far more than they ever could at a minimum wage job. The point is that college athletes are putting just as much time, if not more time, into a sport that would be the equivalent of a full-time job.

Also, having even one player that may be a star player on a sports team for a big Division I school, can drastically change recruiting. This can show prospective players that want to play at that school that many things are possible and that you can achieve your dreams if you trust the coaching staff. Even though the name, image and likeness deals are about the players, the school that the player attends definitely plays a part in getting a deal.

Now, players can go to college and know they have some sort of paycheck because they are an athlete. They still may have the stress of classes, but they can relax knowing that they can

benefit from their skills on the sports field.

Sports are also very draining, tedious and exhausting, so at the end of the day when athletes, especially from large DI schools can benefit from name, image and likeness deals, it can be reassuring.

Unfortunately, athletes at smaller DI schools or Division II or III schools don’t have a legitimate chance at getting the name image and likeness deals that athletes from larger DI schools can, because of the lack of recognition being at a small school brings.

Athletes can look back at a long day full of practice and maybe even a game, and they know they are being appreciated.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association allowing college athletes to benefit financially from name, image and likeness deals was the right decision. The main reason is that athletes have other options than going to college, such as developmental leagues for basketball that would allow them to be paid, but not have the stress

of college courses hanging over their head.

High school basketball players who are high five-star recruits can potentially either get drafted out of high school, which is happening less and less these days or they can sign with the NBA’s G League, a minor league basketball organization, if they are really good. This gives them the opportunity to play basketball without the stress of class.

However, I think this new decision from the NCAA will make them want to choose the college route, play on a big stage and not have to play at the G League, potentially for multiple years.

All of this should have happened a long time ago, because it’s obvious how hard college athletes work. They sometimes work harder than professional athletes because they still are working for something in terms of an ultimate dream. This is a good thing for all the athletes that are now able to benefit from the name, image and likeness deals financially.

College athletes have always deserved financial compensation ANDREW CROWDUS reporter

Though it’s a divisive topic, college athletes deserve pay just as much as any other student employee does, as they put in just as much work and effort into benefiting their universities.

College athletes should have already been able to financially benefit from their name, social media accounts and anything else relevant to their sports career, and am glad the National Collegiate Athletic Association finally ruled in their favor.

As soon as it was announced that they could benefit from name, image and likeness deals, athletes have jumped on board and haven’t looked back.

One of the reasons college athletes should benefit financially is the required amount of time that they put into the sport.

According to College Sports Madness, “Various statistics show that college athletes spend at least 40 hours per week dedicated to their sport, including games and

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SIUE Standings WOMEN’S SOCCER

OVERALL OVC

SIUE Murray State UT Martin Belmont Tennessee Tech Southeast Missouri Austin Peay Eastern Illinois Morehead State

9-6 9-8-1 10-5-1 8-8-1 6-5-4 7-9-2 4-10-3 4-11-2 4-10-4

MEN’S SOCCER

OVERALL MVC

SIUE Bradley Loyola Missouri State Drake Evansville

5-9-2 3-11-1 9-4-1 14-1 6-7 3-12-1

SOFTBALL

OVERALL OVC

Morehead State Murray State Belmont Austin Peay SIUE Jacksonville State UT Martin Eastern Illinois Tennessee Tech Eastern Kentucky Southeast Missouri Tennessee State

11-30 22-29 15-25 27-16 18-21 24-25 27-19 25-19 19-30 35-17 30-17 9-33

All stats are from the OVC and MVC Websites Dodgeball club hosted a glow in the dark dodgeball game where sides competed in the dark with glow in the dark dodgeballs, makeup, glowsticks and shirts, creating a lightshow to solidify the Halloween sprirt. | Clair Sollenberger / The Alestle

From glow dodgeball to a Thriller dance party, campus recreation’s spooky week brings days of Halloween fun.

Hosted by the SIUE Dodgeball Club, the glow dodgeball event consisted of a dodgeball competition between two teams of players with glow shirts and makeup provided by the SIUE Makeup Club.

The Competititve Cheer and Dance team also got involved during the week, hosting a Thriller dance party where they taught people the “Thriller” dance from Michael Jackson’s 1983 hit music video Glow rock climbing also took place, with lighting in the room adjusted to a Halloween style glow and to highlight the bright colors used in the climbing gym.

Spooky Zumba with ambient purple lighting was also on the agenda last week, with the Student Fitness Center’s activity room being used to let students dance off their stress.

Junior biochemistry major Emma Warner from Vandalia, Illinois, is a frequent visitor to the rock climbing gym and also serves as the president of the climbing club. | Jihun Han / The Alestle

BRANDON WELLS sports editor

UPCOMING Volleyball vs.

Tennessee State 6 p.m., Nov. 5 Women’s Soccer at OVC Championship 7 p.m., Nov. 5 Women’s Basketball at SIUE vs. UMSL 1 p.m., Nov. 6 Volleyball vs.

Tennessee State 2 p.m., Nov. 6 Men’s Soccer vs.

Drake 7 p.m., Nov. 6 Wrestling at Bellarmine vs.

Indiana 11 a.m., Nov. 7 Women’s Soccer at OVC Championship 2 p.m., Nov. 7