The Alestle Vol. 71 No. 46

wednesday, 07. 24.19

vol. LXXI no. XXXXVI

During the recent production of Mamma Mia at SIUE, Sophie Sheridan, played by musical theater and dance student Jamie Grawitch, along with her friends Lisa, played by senior musical theater student Maika Miller and Ali, played by junior musical theater student. Hannah Fink reads the diary of Sophie’s mother in hopes of finding her real father.

Campus Cyberattack | page 3

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Metro East Eats | page 4

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RecPlex sees use | page 7

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wednesday, 07.24.19

Students upset with dress policy infographic

SIUE gives Lindenwood Belleville students transfer opportunities MADISON LAMMERT reporter

After Lindenwood University-Belleville announced it will be closing its doors come Fall 2020, SIUE began taking steps to show Lindenwood-Belleville students that SIUE is a feasible option for them.

Director of Undergraduate Admissions Todd Burrell said it’s important to paint SIUE as an option for Lindenwood Belleville students who want to stay on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River.

“They have the option to go to Lindenwood in Saint Charles, and that is truly their option as a student, but we just want to say we are that option here on the Illinois side if you’d like to stay on the Illinois side,” Burrell said.

“Maybe that’s why they chose Lindenwood Belleville in the first place.”

According to Associate Director of Admissions Jennifer Harbaugh, the Transfer Center within the Office of the Registrar, admissions and advising all work closely together to make a transfer student’s transition to SIUE as easy as possible. “[The Transfer Center] develops and maintains a lot of the tools we use in the recruitment process with transfer students,” Harbaugh said.

The Transfer Center along with respective academic departments develop course equivalency guides. Recently, the transfer center developed a website that shows Lindenwood Belleville students how their courses will transfer.

The site also shows how the curriculum of some popular majors at Lindenwood Belleville line up with those at SIUE. Harbaugh said she recognizes how much of an impact this has in making a prospective transfer student feel comfortable with SIUE. “That’s huge because if a student is wanting to come into SIUE, that really helps simplify the process and they can see right away, ‘This is how my courses transfer, this is how things apply if I’m looking at one of these programs,’” Harbaugh said.

Once a transfer student is accepted to SIUE, communication with academic advising begins immediately, according to Tyler Phelps, interim director for the office of retention and student success. At the same time, the Transfer Center works on course equivalencies.

“It’s neat because what will take place is, typically the students will get their admission letter to the university that says [their] next step is to contact academic advising to schedule an appointment,” Phelps said. “All behind the scenes we are getting their

academic record [and] their transcripts; the Transfer Center is using that course equivalency guide and making sure those credits are evaluated properly.”

Phelps said after connecting with the transfer student, advising determines if they need to visit the general advising office or their major adviser.

With approximately 40 percent of SIUE’s new students being transfer students, the university offers a special visit day and orientation day to get them acclimated.

All transfer students are encouraged to attend admission’s Transfer Visit Day, where academic advising, housing and other departments come together to meet with transfer students. Phelps said advising has also recently created a special Transfer Orientation Program where they can also meet with their academic advisers.

“Our transfer students can either contact us directly and go through a regular old hour-long appointment, or more recently we’ve created our transfer orientation program that usually takes place one or two days out of a semester,” Phelps said. “What that consists of is students come to campus, they have an advising appointment, they get registered, they get their ID, they’re able to talk to people about housing, financial aid, student services and all kinds of stuff.”

Burrell said two students who were planning on attending Lindenwood Belleville this academic year recently attended a Springboard to Success session after they decided to go to SIUE because of the closure.

He said he does not think the closure will boost SIUE enrollment dramatically this year, as the university will not close until Fall 2020. However, giving prospective students options is still valuable.

“Lindenwood Belleville is going to be closing at the end of the academic year next year and they do have an option to go to their campus in St. Charles, which is not that far away and they can continue getting a degree towards Lindenwood Belleville, so I don’t think this is going to drastically boost enrollment, but I think it’s going to provide options for students who may not want to after next year make that commute [to Saint Charles] or may not want to start at an institution [that will close soon],” Burrell said.

Students who are thinking about transferring from Lindenwood-Belleville to SIUE can see how their courses will transfer at http://www.siue.edu/transfer/programs/lindenwood-belleville.shtml. Additionally, they may apply for transfer student scholarships at siue.edu/scholarships.

viruses and infections are cited on the infographic as the reasons behind the policy.

A lot of Campus Recreation’s standards are inspired by NIRSA: Leaders in Collegiate Recreation, according to Couch.

They also look at what other universities have implemented in order to minimize the risk of infections such as MRSA and staph.

One common recommendation is to maintain a layer of clothing between equipment and bodies.

“Having the material barrier between you and a piece of equipment is going to help protect you further,” Couch said. “We have spray around the facility that people should spray before and after they use a piece of equipment, but the reality is, does everybody do it? No. I see a lot of people do it after, does everyone do it before?

No. So it’s just one more layer, and it does help with preserving the equipment.”

however, he said it does not guarantee one will not contract a communicable disease or infection.

When he contracted a staph A new infographic explaining infection while using Campus Campus Recreation’s long-standRecreation’s equipment last year, ing clothing policy has become a White said his clothing had not topic of discussion for many conmade a difference. cerned students and alumni.

“I got staph while I was The graphic explained all there, and I was wearing a t-shirt clothing must cover the chest, and everything,” White said. “I midriff and back. Athletic shoes got staph on my forehead last must also have non-marking outyear. It was from using the weight soles. Pants and shorts must not room, and I had scratched my have exposed straps, strings or head; I had an open cut on my loose parts. Those in violation forehead. I [understand] the of the dress policy can check out whole spread of diseases and eva t-shirt free of charge at Equiperything, but there’s nothing you ment Issue. can really do. You could force evJunior criminal justice and erybody to wear long sleeves, and psychology major Hailey Dearit would still happen because with ing, of Chatham, Illinois, said the your hands, you’re touching evinfographic was concerning. erything.”

“With the what you shouldn’t Dearing said she wishes the wear [part], I don’t like how three graphic would have provided citout of four are women. I just ed information detailing exactly think that’s kind of sexist and how the clothing policy would aimed extremely at womhelp Campus Recreation en,” Dearing said. users to stay healthy.

“Trying to make people hide In addition to Dear“I would have to see ing, senior Spanish and their body who work really the statistics. SIUE has a vocal performance major habit of just throwing out hard so that maybe people Bel Da Silva, of Manchesthese things, like they just ter, Missouri, expressed state something, and they who aren’t at that level feel said the dress code was no proof to back it more comfortable is absurd have targeting women. Many of up,” Dearing said. “I think the over 40 shares and over they would get less backbecause everybody should 78 Facebook comments lash if they provided stabe able to dress to their own tistics or actual evidence on the post presented the same concerns. to support what they’re comfort level.

Campus Recreation saying.”

Fitness Coordinator Dearing, White and BEL DA SILVA Amanda Couch said while De Silva all said they Senior Spanish and vocal performance she did not read all of the would like to see more major of Manchester, Missouri social media comments education surrounding surrounding the policy, how to properly clean the she did see some about this and Even with this rationale, the equipment instead of just hearing said that was not the intent of the policy has left some, including about the clothing policy. poster.

Da Silva, to question why certain “I just feel like it’s not the “I didn’t get to read a majori- parts of the body are permitted to right way to go about it, and if ty of the comments but I did read be shown while others must be it’s really for disease and infecone of the very first comments covered. tions, then they would show a about the concern about the post“There’s nothing any more diagram of how they clean the er being sexist … that was a hard or less sanitary than your back equipment,” Dearing said. comment to read because in try- touching the surface versus your In addition to safety and ing to create the poster, we looked arm or your leg, and there’s no equipment preservation, Becherat what a lot of other schools dress code about shorts. It was er said the dress policy helps to had done,” Couch said. “With just the tops,” Da Silva said. provide an inclusive environment women, there’s a whole slew of Couch said the torso is most where all users — regardless of fitdifferent opportunities with tank likely to come in contact with the ness level or experience using the tops and how they’re cut and ev- equipment, which factors into the facility — can feel comfortable. erything like that, so we certainly current clothing restrictions.

“The part that is sometimes aren’t trying to target one gender “When you’re sitting against maybe not thought about much over the other, but it’s just trying a bench or doing anything, what’s from the students’ perspective is to help create that clear under- the main portion that’s going to that we are really trying to prostanding of what our policy is and be touching? It’s going to be the vide an inclusive environment recognizing that there’s a lot more torso,” Couch said. “I do think, and make everyone feel welcome variety of tops that females have yes, there’s still potential that in our spaces and in our facilities,” to choose from than males.” shoulders and shoulder blades are Becherer said. “What is that mesHaving been approached going to touch, there’s potential sage to all the students if I walk about a shirt that showed her that your arms are going to touch, into a facility and I use the weight midriff while working out, Dear- but… there’s really no way for me room if everyone’s in there with ing said she felt uncomfortable. to get around my torso touching no shirts on and power-lifting? It Dearing said she was not offered part of a bench.” doesn’t always send the most into check out a t-shirt, but rather Both Couch and Director of clusive message.” told to keep the policy in mind for Campus Recreation Keith BechDa Silva said she does not next time. erer recognize the clothing poli- see the validity in this thought Dearing said she fears what cy will not completely eliminate process and thinks it just comprothe implications of the policy chances of contracting an infec- mises the comfort level of the incould be for other women. tion or communicable disease, dividual wearing, or not wearing, “I don’t really see that many but believe it’s a good start. the clothing in question. women at the gym; it’s mostly “I don’t think you can ever “Trying to make people hide dominated by men, and I just feel [completely] eliminate risk,” Be- their body who work really hard like with them really enforcing cherer said. “You can’t prevent so that maybe people who aren’t the policy, we’re just going to see most things, but you try to min- at that level feel more comfortfewer women because it makes us imize. So, what we are trying to able is absurd because everybody really uncomfortable to go some- do is educate people on ways to should be able to dress to their where and wonder if our clothes potentially minimize those op- own comfort level,” Da Silva said. are OK and wondering if we’re portunities.”

More information on the going to be targeted or kicked Senior mass communications dress policy can be found unout to change or have to rent a major Blake White, of Effingham, der the policies and procedures t-shirt,” Dearing said.

Illinois, said he agrees the dress section of Campus Recreation’s Safety and protection against code can help one stay healthy: website.

MADISON LAMMERT reporter

wednesday, 07.24.19

www.alestlelive.com

Writing camp teaches youth expression

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Cyberattack causes outages campuswide ELIZABETH DONALD copy editor

Campers Cardin Weber and Violet Nesbit show Violet’s mother, Amy Nesbit, some of their favorite pieces that they and their friends created at SIUE’s writing camp at their end of camp reception last weekend.

| Spencer Peck / The Alestle

An incident SIUE officials have called a “high-level external cyberattack” has paralyzed multiple computer systems on campus.

The cyberattack hit in the early morning hours of Sunday, July 14, according to an email sent by Associate Vice Chancellor for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer Steven Huffstutler.

He wrote that information technology services workers were able to stop the attack before it caused irreparable damage and that no data was stolen.

Approximately 100 servers and backup servers were shut down.

However, multiple systems have crashed and some data has been inaccessible for more than a week.

Health services, housing, ID card and cash registers were among the systems restored first,

but faculty and staff home directories were still locked nine days later. Eduroam, the system that permits wifi access in many buildings on campus, has periodically been unavailable during the efforts to restore systems.

Among the systems impacted: The Alestle’s own computer system was severely hampered by the cyberattack, with its drive still locked up at press time.

As of Tuesday, the research system SPSS has been restored, along with the Early Childhood Center’s system, but faculty drives have “hit a few setbacks,” Huffstatler wrote.

“We will be working with an outside cyber insurance firm to try to secure and restore faculty access to files,” Huffstutler wrote.

The university also will be working with the outside firm to assess SIUE’s cybersecurity to prevent future attacks.

Anyone with questions is asked to contact the ITS Help Desk at help@siue.edu or call 650-5500.

BOT to split extra funding evenly between SIUC, SIUE campuses MADISON LAMMERT managing editor

July’s Board of Trustees meeting brought an unprecedented distribution of new state funds between the Edwardsville and Carbondale campuses and further talk of creating a fair distribution of recurrent funding between the two campuses.

BOT to split leftover funds The SIU system received a 5 percent increase in state appropriations for FY 20. Board Chair Phil Gilbert and Vice Chair Ed Hightower proposed to split what remains of these extra funds evenly between SIUE and SIUC after the traditional allocation of funds to the School of Medicine and System Office are awarded. The plan was approved at the meeting by the remaining board members.

This new plan differs from the traditional formula that awards Carbondale roughly 60 percent of the funds and Edwardsville 40 percent. Gilbert said the new plan will give Edwardsville approximately a million dollars more than it would have received under the traditional model.

SIUE Chancellor Randy Pembrook said this increase will allow proposals to increase faculty and staff salaries and said such a proposal will go before the board at the September meeting. “[It will be used] to increase support for faculty and staff as it relates to salaries, so we’ll be taking a proposal about salary increases back to the board at the September meeting,” Pembrook said.

Pembrook also said the additional funding will help to develop and improve academic programs, such as cybersecurity and starting physical and occupational therapy programs, as well as to balance out inflationary costs that come with running the university.

“There are what I call inflationary costs that just make it more

expensive to run a university every year, just like [how] the price of gas and the price of stamps go up and the price of electricity goes up, so part of that increased support helps us with the ongoing [costs] of running a university,” Pembrook said.

Gilbert said he and Hightower crafted the plan as a small step toward addressing the need for a new funding allocation model for recurring state costs.

“We wanted to be fair, and Dr. Hightower and I thought that as a start, we would split this new money fifty-fifty between Edwardsville and Carbondale,” Gilbert said. “It doesn’t mean that it’s always going to be the division allocation going forward.”

Mathematics and statistics professor Marcus Agustin, who was the 2017-18 Faculty Senate president, said while he views this fifty-fifty split of new money as a step in the right direction, he wonders if funding changes are happening quick enough. However, he said he appreciates the board’s consideration of SIUE’s needs.

“I think it’s going in a good direction, but is it fast enough?

It’s hard for me to make that decision,” Agustin said. “It appears that at least the current board probably are looking more into SIUE’s progress and the direction that we’re headed. It’s not about forgetting about all the things that are happening at Carbondale, but I think that it’s a good, positive direction that hopefully will have a positive impact on us.”

New funding allocation model coming in December While it did not provide a mathematical formula for allocating recurring state funds between Edwardsville and Carbondale, AGB Consulting firm gave the board a list of recommendations to create the formula themselves.

Gilbert said this was not the response he was expecting, as he

was hoping to gain more guidance from the firm and recognizes the board must take steps to create the large-scale model.

“They gave us the framework for it, but I was hoping for more from them,” Gilbert said.

“We didn’t get it, so as I said in the meeting, we are going to take the bull by its horns and finish this job. They gave us a good start, but we are going to finish it.”

The board committed to create a group with representatives from Carbondale, Edwardsville and the system as a whole, complete with financial experts, to examine the recurring state funding, according to Pembrook.

The team will be expected to present a recommendation for a new allocation model by December.

According to Gilbert, this will not be an easy task, as a variety of factors have to be considered beyond just enrollment, including how to best serve the different missions of each campus and the costs to educate students in certain fields.

“For example, it costs more to educate somebody in the dental school or in pharmacy than a person getting an English degree,” Gilbert said. “It costs more to educate somebody in aviation in Carbondale because you’re buying airplanes and simulators than somebody getting a history degree. So the missions are similar, but there’s also some differences between the missions of the two campuses, and we are going to take all that into consideration.”

SIUE’s budget director William Winter and Chief of Staff Kim Durr were asked to represent the Edwardsville campus in this group, according to Pembrook.

Facilities Management sees approvals of contracts The board also awarded contracts relating to the swing space used during phase two of the Founders Hall renovation.

This renovation is part of the 21st Century Buildings Plan. According to Director of Facilities Management Craig Holan, phase two includes working on the basement and first floor of Founders.

During phase one of the Founders Hall renovations, which included the top two floors of the Vadalabene Center and Science East to meet the needs of those who had to be relocated.

Holan said the relocated individuals are moving back into Founders and those who are impacted during phase two are moving into the swing space.

“As we move people back into Founders that are in the top two floors, we are taking the space that was configured for them and reconfiguring it for phase two use,” Holan said. “[There will be] more classrooms in Science East and the Speech Pathology over in the Vadalabene.”

The majority of the money awarded, which comes from the Facilities Fee, to Fry-Wagner Moving & Storage for reallocation services.

A system-wide water valve replacement for the Edwardsville and Alton campuses was approved during the meeting, as the Capital Development Board decided to fund the replacement of remaining water valves, hydrants and main distribution pumps of the Water Distribution System on the two campuses.

Many of the valves are from the original construction of the campus and have been failing, along with fire hydrants. Because of a lack in isolation valves, large parts of the system have to be shut down when doing repairs.

The $2.5 million funding was granted after this need rose higher on the Illinois Board of Higher Education’s Emergency Critical Infrastructure and Life Safety Projects List.

Holan said before this funding was approved, Facilities Management had been upgrading and repairing SIUE’s water distribu-

tion system little-by-little for three years using internal funding.

Now that they will be getting external funding for the project, Holan said the project will speed up exponentially.

“We were only approaching it in the neighborhood between $4,000 and $6,000 a year, and so now what we’ll be able to do is we have that plan set already, but we’ll be adding Alton in and we’ll have enough funds to just do it all in one year and finish everything up,” Holan said.

BOT approves continuation of Blackboard Other changes will be happening on campus as a result of July’s BOT meeting, including changes within the Vadalabene Center. The board approved a proposal to name the gym inside the Vadalabene the First Community Arena as part of a naming rights and sponsorship agreement with First Community Credit Union.

The agreement will provide SIUE with up to $2.76 million over the 10-year initial contract period, which ends June 30, 2029.

If SIUE receives a two-year extension, the end date would be June 30, 2031.

Changes in leadership also resulted from the meeting, as the BOT approved Mark Luer as Dean of the School of Pharmacy and Robin Hughes as Dean of the School of Education, Health and Human Behavior.

The university will also be using Blackboard Learning Management System for five more years as the board approved a fiveyear, $1,300,676 contract with Blackboard, Inc. The contract is set to expire on June 30, 2024 and is funded by ITS student fee accounts.

For more information on BOT affairs, visit their website.

Specific information on past meetings, including audio recordings and minutes, can be found under the site’s “meetings” tab.

READ MORE ABOUT SUMMER WRITING CAMPS AT ALESTLELIVE.COM page 4

LIFESTYLES

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

alestlelive.com

wednesday, 07.24.19

The Alestle staff visited six diverse restaurants around the Metro East that are known for their breakfast. We noted the atmosphere, service, taste and price while at each location. See what we found for the most important meal of the day!

Start your day off green at Lulu’s Local Eatery

Lulu’s Local Eatery started as a food truck in 2014, but eventually became a brick and mortar restaurant. When they rolled out a brand new brunch menu in early July, breakfast-loving patrons rejoiced.

The advertised menu features a variety of breakfast staples with one simple twist — every dish served at Lulu’s is 100 percent plant-based.

Upon entering the café, the ever-present line at Lulu’s served as an indicator of the restaurant’s consistently pleasing dishes. The introduction of a brunch menu brought the line further back into the quaint space. Even though the line was long, it moved quickly.

While waiting in line, we noticed the aesthetics were as pleasing as ever: featuring small eye-appealing plants, a gorgeous wall of moss and the most recent local artist displays.

Lulu’s Eatery is a community-driven restaurant if there ever was one. Diverse groups of people were laughing with their friends and families all while eclectic

music emitted from the speakers.

Mothers and fathers dined with babies strapped to their chests, while business people ate a quick meal during their lunch breaks.

We appreciated the laid-back nature of the service at Lulu’s. All of the staff seem to genuinely love the food and the atmosphere; this is reflected in their friendliness and willingness to offer suggestions for what to order.

There are always a plethora of mouth-watering options at Lulu’s, and their menu is updated often with new selections, making it hard to choose just one meal.

We ordered a latkes Benedict, a classic take on eggs Benedict but with potato cakes, pho egg, fresh avocado and creamy hollandaise sauce. The potato cake was crispy, the tofu eggs were fluffy and the avocado lent a rich and mellow taste, rounding out the dish nicely.

We also enjoyed the kimchi breakfast tacos. Perhaps a risky choice to combine classic American breakfast with traditional Korean food, but the dish knocked it out of the park with a garnish of

fresh cilantro and a perfect combination of spicy and savory.

We all shared a breakfast burrito. Lulu’s house-made, plantbased sausage is spicy and meaty, and the organic greens brought a satisfying crunch to the burrito.

We paired the burrito with an earthy, bright Bloody Mary. This mad for a gratifying and full-bodied brunch meal.

All food scraps and leftovers are composted, which is one of the many ways Lulu’s implements sustainability in every aspect of the restaurant.

They also grow their own organic herbs, use 100 percent compostable service ware materials, offer a seasonal menu using foods grown locally during the changing seasons and send only 5 percent, according to their website, to a landfill.

Lulu’s is a participant in the Green Dining Alliance, a program that offers restaurant certification using a five-star tiered system based on the establishments’ sustainability practices. For its efforts, Lulu’s has obtained a five-star rat-

ing through the Green Dining Alliance.

While the low prices, creative and approachable menu, tasty food and lively atmosphere already make Lulu’s a classic on South Grand, the restaurant’s commitment to sustainability also makes a beacon for people in the Metro East area. Those who want

As we walked down Locust Street towards the restaurant, we were surprised by the sheer amount of people we could see enjoying coffee, crepes and conversations inside.

Upon entering the restaurant, we were warmly greeted by the friendly staff, and our hostess snagged us the last available table (it was almost 11 a.m.). We made our way towards our table for two, passing table after table of families, couples and friends enjoying vibrant conversation.

It became very apparent that the Rooster embraces the hustle and bustle atmosphere. Tables are close together and wait times are usually long at Rooster. We’ve heard complaints about less than stellar service from friends, but in our experience, the staff was incredibly helpful and happy to see us.

We sat next to a set of large windows facing North 11th Street, and a large orange and black mural of a Rooster covered the wall in front of us. The restaurant has a more rustic, farmhouse vibe. Drinks are served in mason

jars, and fresh flowers decorate each of the tables.

We ordered the Nutella crepe, which came stacked with fresh fruit and finely powdered sugar, alongside the brunch burger which features two hearty biscuit sandwiches both stacked with thick breakfast sausage, locally sourced egg and creamy fontina cheese. It also arrived with a side of crispy breakfast potatoes.

The brunch burger’s biscuit bun was very filling. While a little dry on its own, when combined with smooth egg yolk and the mild, buttery flavor of fontina cheese, the bun becomes a treat in its own right. The sausage patty was flavorful and chewy and really pulled the sandwich together. The breakfast burger was an absolute treat to eat and the fact that you are given two is just an added bonus.

The only downside was the side of breakfast potatoes, which were cold when they arrived at the table. The portion we received was also on the smaller side; however, this was acceptable to me since the breakfast burgers were so filling.

The Nutella crepe was delicious. The hazelnut spread was sweet, savory and nutty. The pancake wrapping was soft and warm.

The banana and strawberry toppings provided a nice contrast to the chocolaty flavor, and the powdered sugar provided a nice finishing touch without being overpowering.

In addition to great food, Rooster has a great mission. Since its founding in 2006, Rooster has been committed to locally sourcing their ingredients from farms around Missouri and Illinois.

Rooster’s website says, “Our farmto-table mission is something we highly value. We love partnering with local farms in the Missouri and surrounding Midwest region. Thanks to them, our eggs, meat and produce are fresh, ethically raised, and locally sourced whenever possible.” Needless to say, they sound very fortunate to be able to provide such delicious food to the surrounding area using locally sourced ingredients.

Although Rooster can get crowded at times, their diverse selection of breakfast foods are deli-

cious enough to keep eager eaters lining up throughout the week.

Rooster is a perfect place to grab a bite before starting a new adventure in St. Louis.

not only a tasty breakfast, but also want to feel good about what they’re eating should pay them a visit.

LULU’S LOCAL EATERY 3201 South Grand St. Louis, MO 63118 314-300-8215 www.luluslocaleatery.com

| Tori Green / The Alestle

Rooster - Downtown: it’s so cluckin’ good!

ROOSTER- DOWNTOWN 1104 Locust St. St. Louis, MO 63101 314-241-8118 www.roosterstl.com

| Spencer Peck / The Alestle

alestlelive.com

wednesday, 07.24.19

Here comes the sun: Sgt. Pepper’s is a big hit With old-fashioned, Beatles-themed décor and a cheese sauce that should be a controlled substance, Sgt. Pepper’s Café is a great choice for breakfast in Edwardsville.

Sgt. Pepper’s Café opened in 2005, owned by SIUE alumnus Tarek Samara. It moved to Main Street in 2011, operating and surviving in a stretch that includes at least a dozen other restaurants, many of which compete for the breakfast and lunch crowd across from the courthouse.

The retro style includes the décor, with the natural brick walls of the historic Main Street building adorned with Beatles photos and album art. The music is solidly ‘60s, with other classic rock tunes interposed between the Beatles’ parade of hits.

It was a Thursday morning, but well after the early rush before the businesses open, so the crowd was light and we were seated immediately. The staff was friendly and attentive, but not intrusive.

First order of business for breakfast is, as always, coffee. Sgt. Pepper’s has a basic blend that is tasty but a little on the weak side.

Coffee is coffee, but since Sgt. Pepper’s is located across the street from caffeine queen Sacred Grounds and up the street from

the multiple varieties at 222 Artisan Bakery, the coffee does pale in comparison.

We ordered the ponyshoe, distinguished from the horseshoe by its smaller quantity. For those unfamiliar with this Midwestern delight, it is a slice of Texas toast, layered with some kind of meat or protein, covered with a mountain of fries or other form of fried potato and topped with gravy or cheese sauce.

We chose the breakfast ponyshoe with bacon and eggs, the square-cut country potatoes, and the spicy cheese sauce. In the past, we’ve tried the grilled chicken or shredded beef, both of which were decidedly tasty. But the breakfast ponyshoe might be our new goto dish.

We were literally scraping the dish for every molecule of sauce.

It’s a white cheese sauce that has just enough spice to be at the limit for a spice wuss, or quite mild for a spice aficionado.

We also requested a small cup of the sausage gravy, which was surprisingly flavorful and filled with small granules of ground sausage. The third alternative is a yellow cheddary-cheese sauce, which we did not get to try.

Note: one can order their horseshoe with two sauces, but if

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they ask for a side cup, it’s going to run them another $1.99. The waitress didn’t mention it and we didn’t think to ask, but if we’d known, we’d have skipped it.

We also ordered the pancake platter. These aren’t the basic Denny’s flatcakes — they were very thick, almost like Japanese hotcakes, browned to almost-crispy on the outside and still soft and fluffy on the inside. There’s a pleasant vanilla undertone, assisted by a scattering of optional chocolate chips.

The eggs that came with the pancake platter are real and taste like real eggs, which is a nice change of pace from the usual reconstituted diner eggs. The sausage links were acceptable, and the syrup was the standard thin maple-liquid.

In all, Sgt. Pepper’s can run as little as $7.99 for a meal, though our choices were more in the $9.99 range. It was hearty and filling, tasty and occasionally exceptional, so for those who like their diner food with a side of Beatles, Sgt. Pepper’s is the place to be.

SGT. PEPPER’S CAFE 218 N. Main St. Edwardsville, IL 62025 618-692-1345 Find them on Facebook!

| Elizabeth Donald / The Alestle

The Egg & I sizzles up a satisfying breakfast Last year, one of our staff members’ family took a trip to Colorado. On their return, they set out to find the closest Egg & I, which is in O’Fallon, Missouri.

If one isn’t a breakfast fan, maybe this Metro East Eats won’t be their favorite. Because we have heard non-breakfast fans gush over The Egg & I, we had high expectations for it.

For those who don’t remember, Saturday was a few days into the excessive heat warning that scorched Edwardsville. Because the restaurant was so crowded, we had to wait outside. We saw people shuffling in and out, but all who were leaving had big smiles on their faces. That made waiting outside in the heat a little more bearable.

After a 20-minute wait, we were seated at a table near the front, with a wall separating us

from the rest of the restaurant.

The light wood table and big, matching chairs are reminiscent of something that would be seen in an old woman’s kitchen. The decor matched the aesthetic: tan walls, artwork comprised of crimson, olive green and more tan. The appearance was mediocre, nothing spectacular.

Yet, it was oddly comforting.

Families gathered, and the collective chatter made it hard to hear whatever music was playing.

The punch their Pineapple Tonic packed snapped us out of our sleepiness. Pineapple, orange, cucumber, lime, organic ginger and coconut water combined to make one tart concoction. It was a bit too tart, but nothing two sugar packets couldn’t fix.

The strawberry-banana waffles did not disappoint. The Belgian waffle was cooked as perfect

as a waffle can be; it wasn’t burned at all, and the tartness of the strawberries was balanced with bananas and whipped cream. We could tell it hadn’t been sitting, as the waffle was warm and caused the whipped cream to melt, creating a gooey center of goodness.

The Cambridge skillet was satisfying, despite having too many potatoes. Our waitress made sure the eggs were cooked exactly how we ordered them, showing the restaurant really cares about their customers’ happiness.

In fact, everybody was super friendly, especially our waitress Nicky and the girl at the register.

Even though the restaurant was crowded, they didn’t seem stressed at all. The girl at the register told us she loved her job, and we could tell as she sent every customer off with a smile.

According to an article pub-

lished in the Belleville News-Democrat, The Egg & I will close for a week in early September and reopen as a First Watch, their parent company.

So, plan a trip to The Egg & I

Apple Tree looks small from the outside, but it’s big and welcoming on the inside. When we first walked in, it hit us that it’s a place to take a family. We noticed the booths on every wall and at least two smiling waitresses immediately.

We got there around 8 a.m. on Friday, and it was pretty busy.

It has a very specific atmosphere that is unlike others in the area.

And it certainly is not the place to play on your phone; it’s more of a place to talk over coffee and enjoy some company. Everyone seems to run into somebody they know — it’s very much a niche place in Granite City.

Before picking up a menu, get a coffee. They have creamer and sugar aplenty at the tables, and waitresses are always walking by with a pot for easy refills. It’s not strong but it’s the good stuff,

the kind made at home during early mornings.

On the downside, Apple Tree’s selection isn’t very diverse.

The menu is only a few pages long, and at first, the breakfast options seemed very limited to us.

After staring at the menu for a while, we realized they had breakfast specials above the condiments. For breakfast, make sure to skip the menu and find the little card with the specials!

The little side menu has staple breakfast combos at fair prices.

One could get a full country fried steak with hash browns, toast and eggs for less than $7. The main menu is considerably better for lunch or dinner foods.

The specials really stand out and are one of the menu’s highlights. One of our meals was a biscuit with gravy, hash browns, scrambled eggs with cheese and

a side of bacon. The food was not anything gourmet, but it’s the place to go when in need of a home-cooked meal.

We also got the country-fried steak. Right away, we noticed the smell: fresh and delicious, and it tasted how it smelled. It was juicy and had the perfect amount of salt and pepper. It’s honestly one of the best country fried steaks we’ve tried in the area.

Also, on can expect a good experience with the staff. No one dedicates themselves to any one table. The waitresses float from table to table filling drinks and checking on the customers. They are very smiley and willing to have conversations, adding to the homey feel.

Overall, Apple Tree is great for what it is — a family restaurant. The service was good. The vibe was good. The food was good. The secret is all in finding

the right menu.

This is the place to be when grandma’s house is too far. We won’t order eggs at any other restaurant again, and think our readers shouldn’t either.

before it’s gone!

THE EGG & I 991 Waterbury Falls Drive O’Fallon, MO 63368 636-329-8000 theeggandirestaurants.com

| Madison Lammert / The Alestle

Apple Tree’s food is the apple of our eyes

APPLE TREE FAMILY RESTAURANT 3717 Nameoki Road Granite City, IL 62040 618-451-6260 Find them on Facebook!

| Lauren Briggs / The Alestle

OPINION

TAKE OUR POLL ON IMMIGRATION @TheAlestle ON TWITTER

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MIRANDA LINTZENICH editor-in-chief

MADISON LAMMERT managing editor

t H E

share your thoughts opinion@alestlelive.com 650-3527 wednesday, 07.24.2019

ALESTLE VIEW

The border is a humanitarian issue THE ALESTLE STAFF editorial board

JORDYN NIMMER online editor

LAUREN BRIGGS VICTORIA GREEN reporters

SPENCER PECK photographer JENNIFER GOECKNER ELIZABETH DONALD copy editors ERICA GREEN podcast producer JOANN WEAVER graphics manager JONAS MALAVE CAMPOS advertising manager NATHANIEL JOHNSON ad representative CLAIRE FUESTING CRISHAWNA NASH office secretaries ANGIE TROUT office manager TAMMY MERRETT program director

Have a comment?

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Walking in front of a TV, scrolling on Facebook or turning on NPR, it’s hard to ignore the news of what is going on at the southern border.

Once the Associated Press revealed the conditions for child migrants in government custody near El Paso, Texas, it soon spread like wildfire. The story was all over social media, and some TV shows like Grey’s Anatomy started making their own statements on the issue through plot lines.

The situation showed 60 children in the custody of U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. Posts and photos show individuals lying on the floor, stories of critical medical issues and other problems. Families are being separated, and some children have even died.

As far as the issue of why they are there, it can be argued these individuals are escaping their own home countries for various reasons — jobs, danger, gangs, drugs, trafficking, etc. No matter the reason, it is not our job to judge others for their life stories, but to offer ways to gain immigration status legally and safely. However, many need help to do so.

The actual process of naturalization is possible, but lengthy.

In order to become a U.S. citizen, one has to have a permanent resident card for at least five years or three years if you are applying as a spouse of a U.S. citizen. Applicants must also be 18 years old, must be able to read or write basic English, as well as be a person of good moral character.

Next, individuals must go through a 10-step process, which includes a test that assesses their knowledge of the English language and U.S. civics and an interview that determines their eligibility. The fee just to apply for this

process is $725.

And it takes time. Last year, the U.S. State Department was reviewing applications from Mexico filed in 1995, according to the Dallas Morning News. That’s for Mexican applicants who are the sons or daughters of U.S. citizens; without a family connection, the wait can be much longer.

Approximately 700,000 people become citizens every year, but it is a selective process, according to the International Rescue Committee. Most people coming to the border don’t have the time, money or other resources to go through the process, or they don’t speak English well enough to understand it or what is happening when they cross the border.

The process is timely and takes patience. We at The Alestle believe there should be more efforts being made to help those at the border go through this process the correct way. The answer is not to put them in cages or treat them as anything less than human. Only improvement and easier access to resources can steer us away from this.

We also realize this issue is not unique to President Trump’s administration — this has been happening for years. But now

The Trump administration has ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to execute a series of targeted enforcement actions on migrant families who have illegally immigrated to the U.S. As of July 15, the New York Times reported Border Patrol had arrested 363,300 migrant family members from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala at the border. We understand that this is an issue that needs to be handled, but there has to be a better way.

For 2019, the number of people crossing the border has increased, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data. The number of individuals was more than 500,000, which is twice as much as the last five years.

Two years previously, the southern border saw the lowest amount of individuals since 1971.

While the current facilities used for holding immigrants at customs were already being used before, they were not intended to hold the amount of immigrants they currently do. With a growing population of migrants seeking asylum and legal immigration proceedings, our facilities should be updated accordingly.

We should open our arms and accept that there are good people

want to be here. People grow up and wish to experience the American Dream, as well as a better life for their loved ones. We are lucky to have advanced healthcare, education and the opportunity to get whatever job people wish for.

Who are we to deny them of that?

We do understand there is some reason to be cautious because there are also gang members and prositution ring leaders also crossing. In addition to the growing number of individuals crossing the border, there does need to be some sort of screening system, however this is not the way to do this. Most individuals crossing are not dangerous and we should recognize that individuals who fall into these harmful environments are also in America already.

Treating individuals like animals is not the answer, and, as Americans, we are above that. We should want to help these individuals, and we should feel enraged about the inhumane conditions and the costly process. Instead of pointing fingers and placing blame, we should be sending love and providing these human beings with the resources they need to help themselves.

We are better than this, America.

OPINION: College doesn’t always go according to plan - and that’s ok LAUREN BRIGGS reporter

Just like anything else in life, college does not hold the same experiences for everyone. Some people get in and out in four years, and others can only dream of five or more.

When I was in high school I cared a lot about my education. I put everything on the line and did what I had to. I had very specific plans for my future. It didn’t matter that I woke up at 6 a.m. and went to bed at midnight. A busy schedule is necessary when it’s the only way to fit every desired class. Honors courses and several extracurriculars were manageable when it was all I knew.

Upon graduating high school, it could feel like the hardest thing one had to work for.

Some might feel they “bled for this, sweat for this or cried for this.” But whatever “this” is depends largely on what is wanted.

For me, I knew I wanted to be a

Spanish teacher, and that I would be graduating as part of SIUE class of 2022.

What I didn’t know was that, after almost five years of having these plans, I would realize teaching wasn’t the right fit for me. I didn’t know that my financial aid would be so low. I didn’t know that my plans were crumbling.

I went from 16-18 credit hours to less than full-time. I am doing less than half of what I did my first semester, and it still feels unreal to be giving up so much. I had this big picture, this big plan, and was following it up until 6 months ago. The problem is life isn’t static or simple. Everyone says it’s OK for things to change, but I can’t recall anyone ever mentioning how much financial aid can change from year to year.

They all just say, “Be smart with your money!” But there’s nothing “being smart” can do to change my family’s financial situation in a way that will help me.

I am where I am, and I am

making the best of the situation — but that doesn’t stop how I feel. Inadequate. Confused. Backwards.

I can’t help but think I would feel less of this if someone had mentioned how financial aid can change so drastically before it happened.

Or if anyone had told me that award packages only estimate what you need. Advisers tell students it’s OK to change majors, and that’s what I’ve always heard in my college career. So for those that need to hear it: taking longer than four years is OK. Taking a break is OK. Being a part-time student is OK. My experience, for whatever reason, is valid and so is anyone else’s.

I feel less alone knowing there is research and numbers to say what I am going through is normal. According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, on average, it can take 5.5 years to finish an associate degree. Bachelor’s degrees are

taking an average of 5.7 years for completion.

Doesn’t that say something?

Associates are intended to take two years, but it commonly takes over twice as long. This isn’t an isolated issue — this is something so resounding in society that there is active research on it. It’s widely recognized, and yet it’s not something discussed enough.

Education and mental well-being is much more than a four-year program in a chosen field. Part of college is learning time management and life skills.

Mental health and financial needs are as much life skills as adhering to a schedule. No matter what anyone says, every path in college is unconditionally valid. One may not be able to finish it on time or even ever, but if you learned something while you were here and the value you put to it is was it becomes. Be open to the idea of a break or things changing, and be open to grow from any unexpected experience.

contact the editor: sports@alestlelive.com 650-3527 thursday, 07.24.18

sports alestlelive.com

FIND MORE PICTURES OF THE RECPLEX AT ALESTLELIVE.COM page 7

SIUE swings deal again: SWIBL uses RecPlex VICTORIA GREEN reporter

A shortage of fields and a dwindling summer student population at SIUE has sparked a more robust partnership between the Southwest Illinois Baseball League and the intramural sports department.

Thomas Dougherty, coordinator for Intramural Sports at SIUE, has been active in planning for the youth league to utilize the RecPlex more frequently this summer.

“We’ve had teams from that association run our field before the summer at differing levels and we saw a chance to reach out to the commissioner of the league,” Dougherty said. “Knowing how popular baseball is in the Edwardsville area, we had an opportunity with the summer months to rent [the field] out as a community partnership and to bring in some resume for the university, since many students are online now.”

League Commissioner Andy Mauschbaugh said SWIBL, which is in its sixteenth season, is the largest youth select league in Southern Illinois.

“SWIBL spans over seven counties with 162 teams,” Mauschbaugh said. “Our mission is to provide children in Southern Illinois the opportunity to learn and grow in the field of baseball, prep them for their future baseball career, and to have fun.”

The league has been experiencing a shortage of fields to play tournaments, according to Mauschbaugh.

“SWIBL has grown larger than I could have imagined,” Mauschbaugh said. “No matter what, it’s important to us that the kids keep playing ... we want kids to love baseball, it’s a great game.”

Dougherty said the league season runs from April to July, and the arrangement is a good fit for both SIUE and the league.

“It’s a great option to offer to the local [sports] community and the metro-east area for teams needing space,” Dougherty said.

“It’s also good use of our space.”

Director of Campus Recreation Keith Becherer said the installation of a multipurpose turf field in Spring 2018 created an ideal place for the league to play over the

SIUE’s Outdoor Recreation Sports Complex hosts many on-campus events including intramural and club sports games, student organizational activities and team-building activities. It even has access to university Wi-Fi. | Spencer Peck / The Alestle

summer. Grass fields require maintenance employees and present potential problems of game delays and cancellations during the rainy seasons, according to Becherer.

“With a lot of the rainy conditions in the spring in this area, if they were playing on natural grassy fields, they couldn’t get games, but on the turf, as long as it’s not lightning, you can play,” Becherer said. “We are getting teams that initially hadn’t signed on, saying they haven’t been able to play on a field in weeks.”

Becherer said he and Dougherty entered into conversation with Mauschbaugh about coming down on the rental rate for the field. The amount agreed upon was a fair market value that Becherer said is fair to both the league and the students who pay fees to the university.

“We’re still accountable to the students

… the students pay fees, RecPlex is theirs, we’re just the stewards,” Becherer said. “But every dollar we generate when they’re not here eliminates the need to raise fees, so the students benefit.”

Becherer said students also benefit in extended employment for the season.

“It allows me to keep some student employees on that might get a few hours at a fitness attendant or receptionist, but now can get additional hours,” Becherer said.

“So we’re providing student employment opportunities.”

According to Becherer, initial feedback from SIUE employees, league coaches and parents has been positive and the partnership will continue next year on some level. “[There have been] almost 60 games, you’re talking maybe hundreds of youth kids, prospective students, their parents and

maybe future community leaders,” Becherer said. “It brought them to campus when they may not have otherwise been here.

We’ve already started getting calls to schedule games for next year … it has far exceeded our expectations.”

Dougherty said he would be pleased to see more students participating in the activities the intramural sports division has to offer in the fall.

“When students get back in Fall 2019, students should be on the lookout for the intramural and club sports schedules so they can be involved and get on the recreational fields,” Dougherty said.

For further information about SWIBL, visit their website. For information on how to get involved with intramural sports at SIUE, visit the intramural page on SIUE’s website.

MLS soccer could be huge investment for STL MIRANDA LINTZENICH editor-in-chief

A Major League Soccer team coming to St. Louis could have positive effects for the city, as the Blues’ Stanley Cup win may have shown.

With recent talk of a Major League Soccer team coming to St. Louis, many individuals in the area are excited for another team to cheer. With the loss of the Rams, fans were left with two teams to root for — ­­ the St. Louis Blues and St. Louis Cardinals.

The Blues recently won the Stanley Cup for the first time in history, so one can easily say that fans were excited. In 2011,

the city also went crazy for the Cardinals’ World Series win.

St. Louis fans get hyped up about their favorite teams, and with the loss of one team, some feel it’s time to gain another.

This win meant big money for the city, as well, according to Mike Ozanian, a Forbes writer. Ozanian wrote that Blues owner Tom Stillman bought the team for $180 million back in 2012, and that he isn’t a rich owner that has multiple teams compared to other owners.

In late April, the MLS owners decided to expand the current 24 teams to 30, with the first new teams in Miami, Florida; Nashville, Tennessee; and Austin, Texas all

getting new teams by 2021.

St. Louis and Sacramento have been announced as the major bidders for the next round of expansion.

There is also a proposed MLS stadium that would be able to hold over 22,000 fans. It would be built by Union Station in the western part of downtown.

If the franchise is approved by MLS, the stadium would be completed by 2022.

At the end of June, Carolyn Kindle Betz, a potential St. Louis MLS team owner, took to Twitter to update St. Louis on the architecture work is continuing on the stadium with HOK, formerly known as Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum, and at City

Hall.

The city has started to take over the land the stadium would be built on, according to Betz.

If the city is awarded a team, they will build an exceptional team, according to the MLS4THELOUE website.

“We will strive to become an exceptional neighbor to the people, neighborhoods and businesses of downtown west. This includes investment to [the] infrastructure around the neighborhood that fits within the community,” the website reads.

For more information, search the hashtag #MLS4THELOU or follow her @BetzKindle on Twitter.

| Graphic by JoAnn Weaver / The Alestle

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