The Alestle Vol. 79, No. 3

alestle THE

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

‘A

Thursday, October 30, 2025 Vol. 79 No.

lot more pressure is coming’

Union president leaves SIUE

vice president.

Amy Bodenstab, former president of AFSCME Local 2887 and office manager in the Department of Teaching and Learning, left SIUE on Oct. 20 after accepting a new job.

Bodenstab started as an office support specialist at SIUE in 2016 and joined the AFSCME Local 2887 union in 2019. She said several factors contributed to her decision to leave.

“My health is not handling working three jobs, which I’ve basically done for a majority of the last 20 years,” Bodenstab said. “I thought that coming here was going to make that better, and instead of working two jobs, I now have to work three. There’s only so many hours in a day, and when you don’t get to sleep for many years, your body says nasty things to you.”

“Amy worked very diligently to make sure our voices were heard, and she was always very willing to listen to the membership [of Local 2887],” Dawn Olive, an administrative aide in the STEM Center and clerical representative for Local 2887, said.

“She was such a large figure in the community. Her absence will be felt, but we’ve got an excellent executive board, and Ben Kaminski, who is taking her position, is going to be an excellent representative,” Olive said.

Bodenstab has accepted a full-time position at Oasis Women’s Center in Alton, where she had previously worked part time on top of her job as office manager.

In Bodenstab’s absence, Benedict Kaminski, a financial aid coordinator and former vice president of AFSCME Local 2887, has become president. Building Service Worker Tyler Toussaint has become

Bodenstab served as vice president of Local 2887 for many years before becoming president in 2024.

In 2024, Bodenstab oversaw the merger between AFSCME Local 2232 and Local 2887 and wrote the new union’s constitution.

A 13-person executive board was created and voted on by the membership of the newly-formed Local 2887 so every worker’s job could be represented.

“This structure that we currently have … her fingerprints are all over that,” Ariel Kallisto, the people chair of Local 2887 and an office support specialist in the Department of Teaching and Learning, said. “Amy had a lot to do with that, but so did a lot of other people who are in those leadership positions.”

“Being president of the union is an important role, but

it shouldn’t be the end-all be-all, and she made a point of that,” Kallisto said.

Bodenstab said she turned down a job offer last year because she wanted to continue training the union to operate in her absence.

“I would not be leaving if I thought that … [the union was] going to fall apart,” Bodenstab said. “The thing I’m most proud of is that I’m going to be leaving behind a functioning local that really is going to stand up for itself, that takes care of each other, that cares about other unions [and] that cares about the students.”

Kallisto said that one major aspect of Bodenstab’s preparation for leaving was communication with the union.

“[Bodenstab] had a lot of conversations with [Kaminski] about what her job entailed and made sure that the communications that were going to her would go to him as well, and also … to everybody else,” Kallisto said. “She made sure that lots of opportunities existed for people to go and get steward training … [and] she always made sure to help people build up to what they were capable of.”

Bodenstab said that she’s “100 percent confident” in the future of Local 2887.

“A lot more pressure is coming. [Administration] doesn’t realize it yet,” Bodenstab said. “This [union] is not a group of people who are going to sit down and go, ‘I just don’t think we can do anything about it.’ That’s not going to happen.”

Student services adapt to higher enrollment

MORE FUNDING ON THE WAY

TORRE JOURNEY reporter

While many student services are showing high service capacity, administrators say resources remain stable. The SIU Fiscal Year 2026 operating budget indicates a major increase to funding for student services over the next year.

According to the FY26 operating budget, appropriated and income funds for student support, funding from the state and tuition fees allocated to student services, saw an increase of more than $3.9 million. This is in contrast to a budget cut of more than $900,000 between FY24 and FY25.

This semester has seen higher enrollment compared to previous semesters. A 7.7 percent increase in enrollment has led to an overall student population of 12,813. High enrollment has had a major impact on academic programs, and student services offered on campus have reported a steady increase in usage of services and

program activities. Some student services, like University Housing, have already had to respond to increases in housing capacity by offering study rooms as temporary dorms.

The number of first-year students in residential halls, who typically reside in Bluff, Prairie or Woodland Hall, increased by 28 percent compared to Fall 2024.

the variety of factors, we want to make sure we have a good fit for them,” Sidarous said.

Sidarous said that while occupancy remains high, Housing has options for making space available.

Pharmacy professor shares story of breast cancer survival

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Lovejoy Library goes extra mile to connect with students

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Men’s basketball crushes St. Ambrose after banner reveal

PAGE 11

LITTLE ‘e’ PURGE

Student Affairs tells employees to stop displaying old logo while at work

DYLAN HEMBROUGH editor-in-chief

Any merchandise or apparel with old SIUE logos is no longer allowed for employees of Student Affairs at work, according to a Sept. 25 memo sent by Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Miriam Roccia. Some staff said they see this new order as unnecessary and burdensome.

The new directive extends to all areas of work at SIUE for the affected employees.

“University-branded clothing, uniforms or accessories worn while working at any university location or at university-sponsored events should ONLY bear currently approved university logos or marks,” Roccia wrote in the memo. “Previous university logos or marks should no longer be worn while working at any university location or at university-sponsored events.”

The memo gives Student Affairs workers until Oct. 31 to comply with the new rules. The memo also has provisions for union-represented staff.

“Departments with staff whose collective bargaining agreements include issuance of uniform or clothing provisions must develop a plan to ensure that employees have the appropriate apparel to meet the expectations of both the collective bargaining agreement and the guidance of this memo.”

SIUE unveiled its new logo almost three years ago, but there has been no binding order like the Student Affairs memo until now.

“It is expected that employees in the Division of Student Affairs meet the apparel guidelines as communicated,” Franklin wrote.

Some staff members are reluctant to give up the old logo — and the merchandise that came with it. For two union-represented staff members, both of whom wished to remain anonymous due to fear of losing their jobs, prohibiting previously-allowed apparel forces faculty and staff to spend money they may not have.

“[At SIUE], I’m making what I made back in the 1980s. I did it to support where I worked, because I was proud of where I worked. When you make 75 percent less of your salary coming here, and now you can’t wear what you bought? I won’t be replacing it, I know that,” the second anonymous staff member said. “[New merchandise] is not a necessity for me. Food and roof, that’s necessity. I don’t understand [Minor’s] obsession with the little ‘e.’”

“The thing that bothers me the most is a lot of people don’t make much money around here,” the first anonymous staff member said. “We bought this [merchandise] with our own money, so if you’re telling people they can’t wear that merchandise with the old logo, that could create a hardship for some people who can’t afford to go out and buy [new clothing].”

With the variety of factors, we want to make sure we have a good fit for them.”

Director of University Housing Mallory Sidarous said students in temporary dorms are still being permanently assigned.

Mallory Sidarous Director of University Housing “

“Our occupancy rate across University Housing is in the 90s. We have a lot of tools we can use to project the level of occupancy and make adjustments as needed. I think we are well-prepared going into the next year,” Sidarous said.

“We are hoping to get that wrapped up in the next few weeks. Most students have been assigned their permanent space. We have two students that we are still working on getting them moved. With

As of now, there are no major plans to develop more residential halls.

Campus Recreation saw increased use of the Student Fitness Center and other facilities offered

The Alestle attempted to reach Roccia for comment on the new directive but received no response. Instead, Director of Communications Nicole Franklin responded.

“Since SIUE’s visual identity standards were released … the memo was issued to clarify expectations, in writing, for all Division of Student Affairs employees,” Franklin wrote in an Oct. 21 email. “When updated marks are released, a period of transition is expected. The Division of Student Affairs has determined that an appropriate amount of time has passed to make the transition.”

Franklin did not answer The Alestle’s question regarding disciplinary action if employees refuse to comply with the new directive.

“Let’s face it — we’ve gotten one raise in the last three years, and it was 2 percent,” the first anonymous staff member said. “We don’t have a lot of extra money.”

Meanwhile, Chancellor James T. Minor was given an 11 percent raise when his new contract was approved just last month.

While the memo does allow departments to issue new apparel if they wish, SIUE maintains the right to sell apparel “at a cost” to its own employees instead.

“Departments may issue two pieces of clothing to any new staff as they begin their employment, provide one piece of clothing for any continuing

THE student voice since 1960

GAVIN QUINLAN reporter

Amy Bodenstab

CougarNet acquires new look, prioritizing function, accessibility

SOPHIE HAWKINS online editor

CougarNet, the platform used by SIUE students, faculty and staff to access personal, academic and financial records, received system updates on Oct. 12, improving upon its landing page and navigation systems.

“Our main hope is that [the updates] provide the information in a more convenient, more usable manner,” Director of University Information Systems Jeremy Fuller said.

CougarNet’s collection of self-service applications are part of the student banner and employee information systems that is provided by Ellucian, the university’s enterprise resource planning software vendor.

As Ellucian makes new updates available, they are tested by the functional administrative areas and go through a standard testing cycle. The updates are then applied to system production.

“Ellucian is on track to end-of-life the old version eight that we were using, so we wanted to go ahead and get that new version out and in production before the end of life of the previous version,” Fuller said.

One of the biggest changes is the system’s responsive design. This will allow users to access CougarNet from any mobile device.

“The hope is with the mobile friendliness, it will be a lot easier for users to access the information they need on their mobile devices, [to] have it at their fin-

gertips rather than having to find a computer on campus or log into a computer somewhere else to access the systems,” Fuller said.

Tools like the menu bar have been changed to make the interface more mobile user-friendly. The menu is now a four-square icon located on the top left of the landing page and serves as a main menu button to access various modules.

Other tools, like the Advising Student profile, were consolidated with Student Information and the Employee Dashboard with Employee Information for easier access.

Along with mobile friendliness, the new updates bring more accessibility with improved browser compatibility. This allows users to access CougarNet easily from any modern web browser.

Accessibility also comes in the form of an updated look to the landing page. The page’s higher color contrast, clearer icons and semantic HTML aim to improve readability as well as improved support for assisted technology.

The system also received a modern redesign, giving it a fresh look and cleaner aesthetic.

In preparation for the CougarNet updates, messages about the change were posted on the front page of the old version of the website. Information Technology Services also partnered with Enrollment Management and Marketing and Communications to post a notice in the E Today and to send out communication to the students.

Along with the announcements of

the updates, an overview video of the new changes was provided on the new landing page and navigational menu.

Some students, like sophomore political science student Vance Hays, said these updates only hinder CougarNet users.

“I’m always for more simplified and easy-to-use designs, but this one looks like a preschooler made it. It’s missing so many buttons — I have no idea how I’m supposed to see my bursar bill [or] how I’m supposed to get to my financial aid page,” Hays said.

Others, however, said that the changes have improved upon the old system.

“I think it [is] easier to get around. There were some barriers when hitting the back button in CougarNet, and I think that’s been updated, and it’s a lot easier to see everything,” freshman social work student Laynie Taylor said.

“I think it’s easier to find what I’m looking for on CougarNet [now],” freshman early childhood education student Maggie Oliver said.

SIUE student news organization, The Alestle, wins 18 national college journalism awards for general excellence, reporting

EDWARDSVILLE —

The Alestle, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s student news organization, recently won 18 national awards during MediaFest 25, the annual convention for student journalists and industry professionals sponsored by the Associated Collegiate Press and College Media Association, held this year in Washington, D.C.

The Alestle won first place in five CMA Pinnacle Awards — Arts and Entertainment Story (Audio/ Video): Tahzive Avi Islam; Investigative Story: Dylan Hembrough, Brandi Spann and Chloe Wolfe for their salary sweeps investigation; Column: Dylan Hembrough; Best Editorial: Alestle Staff; and Best Advertising Special Section for its 2025 Survival Guide.

The Alestle also won two second-place Pinnacle awards — for general excellence as Periodic Newspaper of the Year and for Hembrough’s general news story on housing media policy.

The staff brought home two third place awards for Hembrough’s breaking news story on the physics open forum, and T. Weltzin won third place for their editorial

cartoon work.

There were several honorable mentions as well — Feature Story: Chloe Wolfe, Dylan Hembrough; Podcast: Hannah Ledford, Chloe Wolfe; Sports Column: Sam Muren; Game Story: Audrey O’Renic and Multimedia Sports Story: Audrey O’Renic.

While at the convention, The Alestle also collected awards from the Associated Collegiate Press in their annual individual awards competition and their convention Best of Show awards. Chloe Wolfe and Dylan Hembrough won third place in the Story of the Year competition for Best Feature Story. Hembrough also won fifth place in the Story of the Year competition for Best Breaking News Story.

The staff won seventh place for Best Newspaper/Newsmagazine for four-year campuses with 15,000 or fewer students and 9th place in Best of Show for Best Website.

“Overall, I’m beyond proud of this staff, their accomplishments and their capabilities. We had some stiff competition and we still held our own,” Alestle Editor-in-Chief Dylan Hembrough said. “The most meaningful one to me, personally, was the first place award for our investigative story on salary

sweeps. We put so much blood, sweat and tears into that story, and I think it really is a testament to what The Alestle is capable of.”

“This year’s collection of awards shows the recent evolution of The Alestle to really focus on its writing and content in addition to design elements. The

general excellence awards are particularly impressive. They have a lot to be proud of,” Student Publications Program Director Tammy Merrett said.

Back row (left to right): Program Director Tammy Merrett, Editor-in-Chief Dylan Hembrough, Online Editor Sophie Hawkins, Sports Editor Audrey O’Renic, Podcast Producer Sam Muren; Front row (left to right): Opinion Editor Brandi Spann, Lifestyles Editor Chloe Wolfe | Olivia Whitlock / The Alestle

SIUE increases effort to foster stronger student life

PARIS THOMAS IV reporter

From redesigned campus spaces to consistent planning of housing programs and student events, SIUE has been reshaping its campus around one central goal — fostering a strong sense of community and belonging among students.

For many students, the changes around campus have been felt and seen. Sophomore computer science major Lauren Goff said she has seen significant improvement in student presence and morale from last year.

“Overall, SIUE is a really great school,” Goff said. “With the community and how many events they have, it’s really wonderful. I feel like it’s more welcoming now than last year. There’s more going on, and the energy feels more positive.”

Much of that positivity students derive from the MUC and Quad areas. For Goff, the addition of lights and extra seating has made these areas more inviting to her.

“With more chairs and different kinds of food, it brings in more students,” Goff said. “Last year, there weren’t enough places to sit. Now, it feels more open and

“It’s not always about big programs. Sometimes it’s about smaller connection points — students feeling seen, heard and knowing who to go to when they need help.”

Mallory Sidarous Director of University Housing

social. The food’s even better, and I find myself coming to the MUC more often

instead of buying groceries.”

Associate Director of Morris University Center and Student Success Center

Nicholas Rachowicz said that while many of the recent Quad upgrades were championed by the Chancellor’s Office, Student Affairs played a meaningful role in making them a success.

“Everything out there was something the [Chancellor] wanted done, and I think he nailed it,” Rachowicz said.

“We hear constantly from visitors that the Quad has never looked better.”

While campus design plays a pivotal role in community-building, University Housing director Mallory Sidarous said that programs are also intentionally designed to help students feel supported from their first year to graduation.

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR:

“University Housing plays a critical role in students’ engagement on campus,” Sidarous said. “We’re creating spaces that give students the opportunity to engage, belong and find the people they connect with.”

Sidarous said Housing uses a residential curriculum to ensure all students have equitable experiences across communities. These programs evolve each year to reflectstudents’ current needs, with firstyear students focusing on time management and belonging. Upperclass students often receive support in career preparation and leadership.

“It’s not always about big programs,” Sidarous said. “Sometimes, it’s about smaller connection points — students feeling seen, heard and knowing who to

Do you trust The Alestle’s reporting? Tell us!

DYLAN

editor-in-chief

It’s no secret that trust in the media has eroded recently, and with many media outlets prioritizing clicks over quality reporting, it’s easy to see why.

We at The Alestle pride ourselves on our accurate, ethical and credible reporting, but we want to have a conversation with our readers and answer whatever questions you have about the way we do things.

That’s why we’re launching the Trust Project, an initiative inspired by some of the sessions we attended at the recent convention in Washington, D.C. News means nothing without readers, and as journalists, it’s our responsibility to be transparent and accessible. We are the student voice, after all.

So, if you have a few spare minutes, we invite you to fill out a short Google Form to evaluate your trust in The Alestle’s content and submit any questions you have about our processes. We’ll advertise this project for the rest of the semester, and we’ll publish your questions — and our responses — in our print

edition on Jan. 22, 2026. If you wish to submit your questions and answers anonymously, there is an option for that too.

Not only do we want to answer your questions, but we want to identify any areas we can improve on. We’re all students, and we’re all learning, so we do make mistakes from time to time. But part of learning is improving on

past mistakes, and shying away from that would be a disservice to you.

We will also be tabling in the MUC each week after publication to help foster these conversations. So, feel free to stop by our table and ask us anything — we’ll answer as best we can.

Thank you in advance for your time and attention!

go to when they need help.”

Sidarous also said that Housing collaborates closely with other campus partners, such as the Career Development Center and the Campus Recreation, to make sure students feel connected to the campus environment.

For some students, fostering belonging also means addressing inclusivity within some spaces academically. Finley Krampf, a sophomore civil engineering major, said she’s noticed an increase in campus events and believes more can be done to promote equality in STEM.

“In my first year, I had a lot of problems with sexism in engineering,” Krampf said. “A lot of people wouldn’t want to work with female engineers. SIUE has a [Society of Women Engineers] club, but I think we could do more — more events, more awareness — to make it feel inclusive.”

Even then, Krampf appreciates the university’s efforts and resources.

“I love the career fairs here,” Krampf said. “Even if you’re not looking for an internship, it’s great to get your name out there and meet people.”

Sophomore marketing major NaRenzo Gardner also said he appreciates the university’s inclusive atmosphere, saying that the SIUE’s culture is inviting.

“SIUE definitely promotes diversity and makes every student feel welcome,” Gardner said.

“It can be hard when you’re new,” Sidarous said. “But there’s always someone to connect with — your RA, your community director, your peers. Once you take that first step, you realize there’s a whole community waiting for you.”

New logo guidance released

REBRANDING | COVER

staff annually, provide clothing for student-centered events and initiatives to employees directly involved in the execution of the event or initiative [or] sell department clothing to staff at cost,” Roccia wrote in the memo.

Both staff members also questioned the university’s decision to continue selling old logos on merchandise in the Cougar Store, branded as “vintage.”

The second anonymous staff member said she will continue wearing her old apparel.

“I’m gonna continue wearing my little red ‘e.’ I’ll have a change of clothes here. I just think it’s wrong,” the second anonymous staff member said.

While this directive currently only applies to Student Affairs, both anonymous staff members said they believe it will eventually extend to other divisions of the university.

The staff members also said such a directive creates a lot of waste, as any apparel or merchandise that hasn’t been “distributed” yet must be discarded completely.

“Departments must immediately audit their inventory of promotional items, uniforms and apparel. Any items bear-

ing previous university logos or marks that have not yet been distributed must be removed from circulation and should not be given to students, staff or visitors,” Roccia wrote in the memo.

“

I’m gonna continue wearing my little red ‘e.’ I’ll have a change of clothes here. I just think it’s wrong.”

Anonymous Staff Member

“We threw a bunch of stuff away that I don’t feel like we should’ve thrown away,” the first anonymous staff mem ber said.

According to both Franklin and Roccia, the directive is meant to present the university more professionally.

“Our consistent use of current university branding strengthens our institutional identity and presents a professional, unified image to our campus community and external stakeholders,” Roccia wrote. “Thank you for your attention to this matter and your ongoing commitment to representing SIUE with pride.”

HEMBROUGH

Students walk on the newly revamped Quad, which has newly-added lights and extra seatings.

| Gavin Rask / The Alestle

COUGARS IN THE WILD: Pharmacy professor, breast cancer survivor calls for mental health care in cancer treatment

GAVIN QUINLAN reporter

Pharmacy Professor Kelly Gable was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2024. Now, she has had the story of her treatment published — and the mental struggles that came with it.

Her article, released in the Journal of Patient Experience on Sept. 30, is titled “Dear Breast Cancer Oncology: Where is the Behavioral Health Care?” Gable said she wrote about her experience to raise awareness about the problems she faced and help alleviate the lack of mental health support for other breast cancer survivors.

Gable, a psychiatric pharmacist, has been teaching at SIUE since 2007 and helps oversee the School of Pharmacy’s psychiatry specialization.

“Working with cancer survivors in general was not a space that I had worked in, and it opened a door,” Gable said. “I felt even more of a pull to continue my work in mental health, because there was a clear lack of mental health services offered to me in that space.”

Gable’s cancer was surgically removed in June 2024. She said most of her struggles came from the chemotherapy and hormone suppression treatments that followed.

“Everybody leans towards chemotherapy and wants to help you through that, but really, for a lot of women, I think it’s the deprivation of hormones after that’s so abrupt and life-altering that that’s where people ideally need the most support,” Gable said.

Gable said that running created a space of mindfulness and wellness during a time she experienced anxiety, depression and insomnia. The physical pain she experienced during treatment prevented her

from running.

Gable’s medication also caused a “mental impairment” that interfered with her work.

“I felt like I had to put so much energy into just making sure cognitively that I could teach … When you’re in academia for so long, it’s your job, you love it and you do it, but it was so much more work just to do the little things,” Gable said. “The forgetfulness that would come with that was really pretty brutal.”

On top of navigating her personal and professional life, Gable had to find care in a “disconnected and convoluted breast cancer treatment system.” Gable said she had eight different healthcare

| Courtesy of Kelly Gable providers by the end of her treatment.

Gable said as a psychiatric pharmacist, she knew she wanted to start an antidepressant at this time. Due to the amount of providers she had, she didn’t know how to.

After four months of mental and physical pain caused by hormone suppression, Gable stopped treatment in March. She said she has since started a different treatment with less intrusive side effects.

“That treatment was supposed to be for 10 years, and I knew that was just not sustainable [for me],” Gable said. “[I have] a higher recurrence risk by coming off of treatment, but I had to balance that with my quality of life.”

Gable said that self-advocating was important to changing treatments and getting out of her depression. She encourages cancer patients and survivors to do the same.

“I wasn’t willing to just sit on the sideline. I would proactively ask for certain things, and if I didn’t get what I was looking for, then I would just do it myself. Never be afraid to be proactive and advocate for yourself, because you’re your best advocate,” Gable said.

Gable said she hopes more clinicians will see the value in integrating mental health professionals into breast cancer care because of her article. She said it’s important to talk about the mental effects of cancer treatment to validate patients and survivors and allow them to obtain the help they need.

“[Treatment] also really showed me some of the gender inequities that show up in healthcare and that we have an obligation to talk about it … and to empower women to continue to talk about it and to seek out the medical help they need,” Gable said.

As Breast Cancer Awareness Month comes to an end, Gable said it’s important not just to think about pink ribbons and cancer screenings, but also to talk about the mental experiences of breast cancer patients and survivors.

“I can’t think of a time when I’ve seen a post or a message about breast cancer that involved depression or anxiety,” Gable said. “I feel like people are often living that in silence, so I would love for that to be part of the conversation so people don’t feel so alone.”

Pharmacy Professor Kelly Gable has survived breast cancer and is telling her story.

SENATE SCOOP THE

Monday, October 20, 2025 - Goshen Lounge

DYLAN HEMBROUGH editor-in-chief

At their Monday, Oct. 20, meeting, the Student Senate approved this academic year’s Fee Commission and voted unanimously in favor of the new senator for students with disabilities.

The Fee Commission is an advisory body that makes a recommendation to the Board of Trustees after reviewing proposed student fee increases.

The members of the Fee Commission are Senators Evan Cooper, Mallory Detmer, Michael Kraft and Garrett Ord, as well as student Kaysar Revelle. Student President Jenna Nestor said she chose the freshman senators because they will “bring a unique perspective” to the commission.

The new senator for students with disabilities is Brynna Allen, who also serves as president of New Horizons. New Horizons is a student organization dedicated to promoting awareness of disabilities among the campus community.

The Creative Writing Club was also officially recognized as a student organization. Though they had

Student services at ready for increased enrollment

ENROLLMENT | COVER

around campus. Associate Director of Facilities and Informal Recreation Dave Hagedorn said Campus Recreation has a strategy for dealing with the demand of new students.

“When enrollment is up, we hope engagement is up too. We saw those [enrollment] projections live out. We do month-to-month tracking of equipment and facility usage across the campus, including in residential fitness centers and the school of dentistry. In September, we saw that numbers were up, which is great. We are then able to adjust the type and quantity of equipment we have available to meet rising needs by students. Preparations for higher enrollment were good,” Hagedorn said.

landlocked like other universities. If the need arises, we have the ability to build more parking lots. We do not have any new lots planned in the near future,” Hamil said.

Currently, Parking Services has issued 9,145 parking permits between faculty, staff and students. Parking citations are down by 353 this semester.

Counseling and Health Services has seen a steady increase in students using its services.

Director of Communications Nicole Franklin said in an email statement that Counseling and Health Services is well-prepared with flexible scheduling options for appointments.

been meeting informally beforehand, the club can now reserve university spaces and receive monetary allocations from Student Government.

The Senate also approved $3,000 to the South Asian Students’ Association for their “Dhol and Dance: A South Asian Wedding Experience” event. The event is a mock wedding meant to showcase South Asian cultural traditions.

Two travel requests of $600 each were given to Alpha Phi Omega and InterVarsity Chris-

tian Fellowship for their respective national conferences.

Student Vice President Mitch Baldwin also confirmed that Senators Gaby Allen and Abdulsalam Odofin-Kamorudeen both resigned after missing every meeting this academic year.

Student Trustee Mo Abuzaneh was absent without an excuse.

The next Student Senate meeting will be 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 3, in the Mississippi/ Illinois Room of the MUC.

On a smaller scale, we are still being a little reactionary to impacts like certain sports programs filling up and needing to increase availability for students.”

Parking Services has methods for dealing with spacing needs as enrollment increases. Director of Parking Services Mike Hamil said that, even with an increase, there is no shortage of space.

“We have seen a little uptick in parking permit sales, but there is no shortage of permits for students. One advantage of SIUE is the landmass it has available. We are not

“Student demand for wellness services continues to increase this semester. Counseling and Health Services has observed steady growth in preventive care visits, behavioral health consultations and health promotion programming, and immunization compliance remains high,” Franklin said.

“To further meet these needs, we have expanded our non-clinical support groups and introduced single-serving skills sessions. Overall, campus wellness operations remain stable and well-prepared. Resources are sufficient, and flexible scheduling options continue to ensure timely access to care,” Franklin said.

by

filling out this Google Form!

Senator for Students with Disabilities Brynna Allen (center) is sworn in by Director of the Kimmel Belonging and Engagement Hub Stephanie Weiskopf while Senator for the College of Arts and Sciences David Ferrier holds the microphone.

| Gavin Rask / The Alestle

contact the editor: lifestyles@alestlelive.com (618) 650-3528

Tools for domestic violence survivors to heal and advocate

DESTINY ALBRECHT

copy editor

Sometimes, life can get overwhelming, and it can feel like there’s no clear way forward — especially for those navigating the hidden pain of domestic violence.

Domestic violence affects people from all backgrounds, frequently leaving victims isolated and unsure of where to turn. Many suffer in silence simply because they don’t know what resources exist or how to access them.

In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, here are a few ways to begin finding support systems and building a safer path forward.

Make a safety plan

Before anything else, your safety matters most. Whether you’re still in the abusive relationship or have just left, creating a plan can be life-saving. Identify safe places on and off campus — dorms with resident assistant support, friends’ apartments

or public buildings.

Memorize emergency contacts and consider packing a go-bag with essentials like your ID, medication and chargers for your devices. Digital safety matters too: disable location sharing, change passwords and log out of shared devices. Planning ahead doesn’t mean you’re paranoid — it means you’re prepared.

Check out local shelters and hotlines

You don’t have to figure this out alone. Organizations in the local area often offer confidential support, emergency housing, legal advice and emotional care.

The National Domestic Violence Hotline (800-799-7233) is available 24/7, and many services now offer text or chat options if calling feels unsafe.

These resources exist to support you, not judge you. And they’re often just a call away.

Some local support services include Oasis Women’s Center in Alton, Metro East Every Survivor Counts in Wood River, Violence Prevention Center in Belleville

and many others in the surrounding areas of St. Louis.

Go to the school health center

SIUE itself can be a powerful support system. Most colleges offer free or low-cost counseling and health services, and staff are trained to help survivors navigate trauma and next steps.

Whether you visit the Counseling and Health Services front desk or speak with a personal counselor, you can ask for information to learn what your options are. Even one conversation can be a turning point, showing that you don’t have to go through this alone.

Know your academic rights

You shouldn’t have to choose between safety and school. Title IX protects students from relationship violence, stalking and harassment. You may be eligible for accommodations like deadline extensions, excused absences, housing changes or leaves of absence.

Contact SIUE’s Director for Equal Opportunity, Access,

and Title IX Coordination Mary Zabriskie or Dean of Students Rony Die to learn more. Your education matters and so does your well-being.

Seek therapy

Therapy is another essential tool for healing. Abuse affects more than just your physical safety — it can shake your sense of self, trust and emotional stability as well. Trauma-informed therapists can help you process what happened, rebuild confidence and reconnect with your voice.

You are not broken. You are healing, and therapy is a powerful way to start.

Join an advocacy group

Community can be a lifeline. Joining a community advocacy group — whether it’s a women’s center, LGBTQ+ alliance or a social justice club — can help you feel seen, heard and supported. These organizations often host events, support groups and training.

You don’t have to share your

story to belong. Just showing up is enough. Healing in community reminds you that you are not alone, and you are not invisible.

Set small goals

As you begin to rebuild, set small goals. Recovery isn’t straightforward. Start with manageable steps, like attending a class, journaling, cooking a meal or texting a friend.

Celebrate progress, not perfection. Use planners, apps or sticky notes to track your wins, even the small ones. Every step forward is an act of courage.

Celebrate your strength

You’ve survived something incredibly difficult, and that deserves recognition. Write yourself a letter of affirmation. Create a playlist that reminds you of your perseverance. Share your story when you’re ready, or keep it to yourself. Either way, you are not defined by what happened to you. You are defined by the way you conquer it and become stronger.

‘There is a future:’ Alpha Phi Omega to amplify LGBTQ+ stories

DYLAN HEMBROUGH editor-in-chief

The Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity will be putting on a two-part event on Nov. 6 and Nov. 8 to showcase LGBTQ+ stories from older generations — and send a message to younger generations that there is hope for the community.

voices from the past

The fraternity puts on National Service Week every year, and this year’s theme is “The Future of Service” to commemorate the fraternity’s 100-year anniversary.

Sophomore psychology student Taylor Mungai, who serves as president of Alpha Phi Omega, said the theme inspired them to create a project focused on the future of the LGBTQ+ community.

“This year, we were trying to focus on service projects that will help the future, and a big part of society right now is the stress over the political situation, especially for LGBTQ+ people,” Mungai said. “So, I thought it might be a great idea to interview LGBTQ+ people from the past to hear their stories.”

“A lot of the people in our fraternity are LGBTQ,” junior psychology student and vice president of service for Alpha Phi Omega Paige Bierma said. “With everything going on right now, we should do something that shows there is a future out there for

LGBTQIA+ individuals.”

The first part of the event will feature Associate Curator of Community History at the Missouri Historical Society Ian Darnell as a speaker. Darnell will bring the audience through the history of the LGBTQ+ community in St. Louis and major turning points for the community throughout time. This talk will take place from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, in Room 1033 in the Engineering Building.

The second part of the event will feature older LGBTQ+ individuals speaking about their experiences as members of the community in an intolerant past, as well as their outlook on the future for the community. This portion will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, also in Room 1033 in the Engineering Building.

Mungai and Bierma both said they feel hopeful for the future of the LGBTQ+ community, even despite the current political atmosphere.

“I believe there can be hope. Things look a little rough right now, but there’s always gonna be hope for the future,” Bierma said. “Maybe not now, but in the next couple years, next couple decades, it will get better over time.”

“Right now, I’m feeling a little bit more hopeful, hearing stories — at least secondhand — how excited people are to converse with us … I really enjoy that,” Mungai said.

Bierma said she wants the audience to leave with a more optimistic outlook as well.

“I hope that they become inspired and

hopeful. We’re in such a doomerist society — especially with social media, everything just seems bad,” Bierma said. “I hope that people can be enlightened and feel a sense of hope and determination that things will get better in the future, and with the help of younger people, we can probably push forward to that sooner rather than later.”

SIUE’s lgbtq+ history

SIUE’s LGBTQ+ community goes back several decades. The first time members of the LGBTQ+ community formed their own university-recognized group was in late 1985, led by student Gabriale St. Constantine.

The Gay and Lesbian Student Association, a thematic precursor to the modern-day Gender-Sexuality Alliance, was approved by the Student Senate in 1985 with just one dissenting vote, though the Senate was much smaller at the time.

The dissenting vote was cast by Student Senator Byron Hicks, who, along with Student Senator Craig MacIntosh, then circulated a petition against the group. This petition proved controversial, and an informal group who called themselves “Straights for GLSA,” led by student Matthew Huntley, came together to protest the petition.

Hicks submitted the petition to the Senate on Nov. 22, 1985, amidst a crowd of some 30 onlookers. Two people dressed as clowns showed up to watch the meeting as well.

“There are students out there who disagree with [the GLSA],” Hicks said.

Hicks blamed the controversy on Straights for GLSA and coverage given to

the situation by The Alestle. Student Senator Bill Easton, an “adamant opponent” of Hicks’ petition, disagreed with accepting the petition.

“I’m disappointed in the entire Student Senate for this petition against the GLSA,” Easton said. “I don’t feel right about this.”

While St. Constantine opposed the petition, he was not upset about the attention Hicks had garnered for his group.

“I think it’s really neat. This is really going to make us pretty popular. Everybody is talking about us on campus. They may not be saying nice things about us, but they are talking,” St. Constantine said.

The issue fizzled out soon afterward as then-Student President Jim McCurley was impeached and removed from office on charges of malfeasance, dereliction of duties and improper use of funds. Four decades later, SIUE still has an organization advocating for LGBTQ+ rights and a thriving LGBTQ+ community.

Mungai said it’s that community that gives them hope for the future.

“It’s really exciting, especially around here. I come from a small town just 45 minutes outside of Edwardsville, and it’s not particularly the greatest for LGBTQ+ people,” Mungai said. “Seeing how much support we have … especially around SIUE is very important, because I just didn’t get that in my small town.”

To learn more about Alpha Phi Omega, visit its Get Involved page.

Human fgure throughout time and culture: University Museum exhibits art until Nov. 4

CHLOE WOLFE lifestyles editor

Spanning time, medium and meaning, The University Museum at SIUE’s current exhibit, “Embodiment: Figures and Identity Across Cultures,” seeks to tell the story of human identity through art until Nov. 4.

According to Executive Curator of the SIUE University Museum Erin Vigneau-Dimick, the exhibit, which features about 60 pieces, is a rare collaboration between the Art & Design department and the museum.

Vigneau-Dimick said that in the 11 years she has been a curator for the museum, they have only showcased one other exhibit in the SIUE Art & Design West Gallery in 2015.

When the Art & Design department asked Vigneau-Dimick to put together an exhibit about a year ago, she wanted to build an exhibit that would speak to students and faculty.

“I was thinking a lot about the art department … We have a lot of [items in our collection], but I was trying to think of how to have an exhibit that would really speak to people in this department — students that are taking classes here,” Vigneau-Dimick said. “Although this is open to the entire university and external community, some of the most frequent visitors would be students and faculty here.”

She focused the exhibit on the human body and how humans across the world use art to replicate their unique bodies, which has been done for thousands of years.

“Artists and creators and makers have been making images of themselves for centuries,” Vigneau-Dimick said. “So, we have materials as recent as 2024, and we have materials from about 8,000 years ago in this exhibit.”

Vigneau-Dimick designed the exhibit around the diverse materials that the University Museum has in its collection.

“There are oil paintings, sculptures, porcelain, wood and fabric. There are lots and lots of prints … and particularly drawings, which is a huge part of the curriculum here,” Vigneau-Dimick said. “[I’m] trying to talk to student artists, to faculty, to visitors who are nonart and design people about all of what’s possible in making and creating items.”

The exhibit she curated features many different types of art — from political cartoons and artists’ reactions to tragedies across the world, ceremonial and religious pieces, practical items and everyday objects.

“[I wanted to show] how the [human] figure is used as an object of contemplation, in nudes and contemplative art, but also how the figure is used in context, like socially conscious work,”

Vigneau-Dimick said.

A section featured in the exhibit shows how artists have reacted to tragedies.

One of the focal pieces is a photo screen-print titled “Biafra” by Carlos Irizarry, which is the artist’s commentary on how the media portrayed the victims of the Nigerian-induced famine in he short-lived Republic of Biafra in West Africa.

“Biafra” is a pop art piece of

a group of children experiencing famine. The pixelated photo is overlaid three times in the colors of the Biafran flag, according to Vigneau-Dimick.

“The way that he shifts the colors — these are the three colors of the Biafran flag, the green, red and black — and he’s kind of asking the viewer to think differently,” Vigneau-Dimick said.

Along the same wall is a political cartoon from Francisco de Goya’s “The Disasters of War,” series, which commented on the Peninsular War in Spain during the early 1800s.

The print, titled “Plate 74 from the Disasters of War, This is the worst of it,” features a group of people gathered around a wolf holding a document reading “miserable humanity, the fault is yours,” placing the blame for the state of the world on the Catholic Church, according to Vigneau-Dimick.

Aside from pieces across history and the world, the exhibit also features four pieces by students throughout SIUE’s own history. According to Vigneau-Dimick, they range from pieces by recent graduates to a piece from 1967.

“There’s stories here that are told in ways that are not told in our culture. There’s different ways of thinking about things like race, gender, class, birth and death [and] deities. It’s art, but I’m also trying to give [the community] a sense of the whole of humanity,” Vigneau-Dimick said.

The exhibit will run until from 10 a.m. to noon on Nov. 4 in the Art & Design West Gallery. The exhibit is free to the public.

“Biafra” by Carlos Irizarry Chloe Wolfe / The Alestle

“Plate 74 from the Disasters of War” by Francisco de Goya

Chloe Wolfe / The Alestle

“Image 8E37” by Benjamin Mahmoud Gavin Rask / The Alestle

“Ready for War” by Nkosi Wan Gavin Rask / The Alestle

Art student Toni Tyler examines Ushabti fgures. These fgures were found in ancient tombs and used to represent laborers who would assist the deceased in the afterlife. Gavin Rask / The Alestle

Beyond the books: Lovejoy Library seeks higher engagement with students

MICHAL KATE REYNOLDS managing editor

Through social media and a new partnership with the Library Speakers Consortium, Lovejoy Library is finding new ways to engage with the campus community.

According to its website, the Library Speakers Consortium is “a community of libraries cultivating lifelong learning, cultural understanding and connection through a wide selection of literary experiences.”

Lovejoy Library’s Diversity and Engagement Librarian Simone Williams said through the Consortium, Lovejoy Library can host online author talks for a lower price.

Some of the most recent online author talks have been with bestselling authors Malala Yousafzai, Leigh Bardugo and Philippa Gregory.

Before the author talks, Williams said registrants can send in questions for authors to answer. She said the author talks have been well-attended, with around 130 people watching the Bardugo conversation alone.

When organizing outreach events, Williams said one of her goals is to make everyone feel welcome in the library. She said she also desires an engaging learning experience for the community.

“Some of the feedback I have gotten from a lot of events is to try to make events more relevant for what’s currently going on,” Williams said. “A lot of people want to see us tackle current events.”

Recently, the library has set up an exhibit called “Unissued Diplomas.” According to Lovejoy Library’s Get Involved page, the exhibit is presented by the library, the John Martinson Hon-

ors Program and the Department of Political Science to commemorate the lives of 40 Ukrainian students who were killed during the ongoing war.

Williams said the library hosted supplemental lectures to that exhibit, as well as a screening of the Sundance Festival Grand Jury award-winning Ukrainian film “Porcelain War.”

“The Consortium itself is minority-owned,” Williams said. “So, the aim is to focus on a lot of women authors and authors of color.”

Senior Library Specialist Allison Barrows said she enjoys engaging with students through patron-centered, creative work. Barrows works with Lovejoy Library’s social media, graphic work, exhibits and book displays.

“I think it’s extremely important to let students know this is a living space,” Barrows said. “A lot of times people stereotype libraries as the place that has books or somewhere to study, but it’s more than that — we have events, we have exhibits. It’s very much a place for everyone to come and get help and assistance.”

Barrows’ hope is for library patrons to feel a sense of community during their visit.

“[We want to] include everyone and allow people to be involved as much or as little as they want,” Barrows said. “I think [events] bring a sense of festivity throughout the semester. They remind people to just take a break and enjoy what is happening in the library that day.”

To extend its outreach, Barrows said the library has increased its usage of social media.

She said her goal is to inform the community about library events and resources through its online platforms.

As the library’s social media

assistant and student supervisor, senior marketing major John Bartee said he is responsible for creating and posting short-form video content for the library.

Through his social media content, Bartee hopes visitors realize the value of the library as a third space. Bartee’s goal is to make students aware of what the library offers beyond books, such as the MakerLab.

“Anyone who follows the library on social media knows I do

a lot of skits,” Bartee said. “While those are funny and entertaining, they also have the effect of showcasing all the different ways in which you can use the library. It’s about awareness.”

Some of Bartee’s content includes informing students about different library resources, such as the I-Share program, printing in the library and checking out materials.

“When I took the role here, I noticed I had a little bit of cre-

ative freedom in my particular role, and I am able to speak the language of students in the 18-22 age bracket, where most college students are,” Bartee said. “You make things that are both relatable and informative, and that does a good job of meeting students where they are.”

To learn more about Lovejoy Library’s events and resources, visit its website or follow Lovejoy Library on social media.

Paranormal author Troy Taylor gives chilling presentation at Wildey Theatre

Conjuring” franchise, among other true stories.

A setlist for your shower stage

Let’s be real: The shower is where it all goes down. You’ve cried in there, rehearsed arguments and maybe even danced like you were at a club. It’s the one place you can be dramatic without judgment — and the soundtrack matters.

Whether you’re feeling like a pop star, a heartbroken poet or someone who just needs to scream, this playlist guide has you covered.

Illinois author and ghost tour guide Troy Taylor presented the true stories that inspired famous horror movies at the Wildey Theatre in Edwardsville on Oct. 16.

Taylor, who lives in Alton — one of the most haunted small towns in America — is an author specializing in true crime and the paranormal. He has written books detailing the hauntings of various major cities like St. Louis and Chicago.

The event, which was sponsored by the Edwardsville Public Library, opened with the story of the nine real-life deaths that occurred on the set of “The Exorcist.”

“I didn’t promise you guys this would be sunshine and roses,” Taylor said to the audience. “These are the true stories behind some horrifying films, sometimes scarier than what ends up on screen.”

He talked about the real-life Chicago murder that inspired “Candyman,” the newspaper articles that inspired the creation of “A Nightmare on Elm Street” and the careers of the real-life Ed and Lorraine Warren, who inspired “The

“When I see something is based on a true story, it always intrigues me,” Taylor said. “But a little bit of knowledge can be a bad thing sometimes.”

Taylor said that he was frustrated by “Monster: The Ed Gein Story,” the most recent season of a Netflix anthology series about the real-life serial killer who inspired movies such as “Psycho,” “The Silence of the Lambs” and “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.”

“I was really excited about this [event], because I love horror movies,” attendee Kelcey Stewart, an adult services assistant at the Edwardsville Public Library, said. “[My favorite part was] probably [Taylor] dogging on ‘The Conjuring,’ because I love those movies so much, and I want[ed] to know what is actually real — and apparently nothing was.”

This year marks the third year Taylor has presented at the Wildey Theatre. Past presentation topics include the 1949 St. Louis exorcism that inspired “The Exorcist,” which is the topic of Taylor’s book “The Devil Came to St. Louis: The True Story of the 1949 Exorcism.”

The event was originally hosted in the library but garnered a large audience that required a bigger space.

Taylor said he tries to do as many events with libraries as he can.

“Anything that you can do to support the library that gets people out, gets people in seats somewhere hearing about books and encourage[s] them to read something, I think is definitely beneficial,” Taylor said.

Stewart said that events like this are important to spread awareness for public libraries and their services.

“I think a lot of people in general don’t realize the library is still current and [a] very relevant presence in our community,” Stewart said. “There are a lot of things that we can provide for the community, whether you have a library card or not.”

Greg Guntren, another adult services assistant at the Edwardsville Public Library, said that events like this also help connect the community to local authors.

“A library’s a good, free source for local authors or the community in general [to] lean on and interact with,” Guntren said. “It’s a really good feeling to provide that free service.”

DESTINY ALBRECHT copy editor

GAVIN QUINLAN reporter

A new exhibit in Lovejoy Library “Unissued Diplomas,” honors students who were killed during the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.

Gavin Rask / The Alestle

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Service

hours should be recognized as more than just requirements for students

THE ALESTLE STAFF editorial board

Whether it’s to meet a scholarship or organization requirement, build a resume or enhance social life, spending just a few hours volunteering each month can beneft students more than they might realize.

A 2023 umbrella review conducted by Northumbria University found that 43 unique studies reported an increased sense of self-effcacy, self-esteem, pride and empowerment among American adults as an effect of volunteering. Service requirements further help students expand their social networks and engage with the campus and the community. Social organizations on campus with service requirements allow people to share ways to serve the community with each other, lessening the individual burden of fnding places to volunteer.

Avery Wasser, the foster manager at Metro East Humane Society, said that a lot of

people volunteer for their own mental health.

“People come here just to spend an hour with a kitten or a dog, and it helps get them out of their kennel. Anything at all is helping the animals, even if people think that they’re not doing as [much] benefcial volunteer

their wide variety of volunteers benefts college students by allowing them to work side by side with people in the community, which helps them learn about the feld they’re going into.

“We’ve got [SIUE] students painting, [and] we’ve

work as others,” Wasser said. “Getting that socialization with a human helps [the animals] more than they might think.”

Restore Décor Executive Director Dana Adams said that

also got a lot of retired ladies. Those folks have a wealth of experience they can share with our students. We have retired doctors and lawyers. I’m a retired forensic scientist … There

are always life lessons that get exchanged during volunteering,” Adams said.

Zachary Riebeling, service coordinator for the John Martinson Honors Program, said that students enjoy seeing the impact they make through volunteering. By making it clear what the program expects out of service submissions, Riebeling said, students are better able to beneft from their experiences.

“What we look for the most is refection,” Riebeling said. “What were the expectations? What was the experience like? And then refecting on that difference. Is there something learned? Is there a new insight? It doesn’t have to be life-changing … It really can be that simple. We’re looking for, ‘What did I learn from it?’”

Volunteering can expand students’ social networks, connect them to the community, improve their wellbeing and serve people in need. Service requirements should be treated as an opportunity, not an obligation.

BRANDI SPANN Opinion Editor

MICHAL KATE REYNOLDS Managing Editor

DYLAN HEMBROUGH Editor-in-Chief

AUDREY O’RENIC Sports Editor

CHLOE WOLFE Lifestyles Editor

SAM MUREN Podcast Producer

SOPHIE HAWKINS Online Editor

Yazmein Terrell, the vice president of events and planning for Beta Alpha Psi, and her son Avery, volunteer at The Church of the Living God’s fall festival.

| Gavin Rask / The Alestle

Censorship has no place in student journalism

DYLAN HEMBROUGH editor-in-chief

On Oct. 14, Indiana University fred Jim Rodenbush, adviser for the Indiana Daily Student, because he would not dictate his students’ content — a blatant act of press censorship. It’s up to us — all students, faculty and staff — to keep our reporting independent from university meddling and fght against all forms of censorship.

According to Rodenbush and the Indiana Daily Student staff, Indiana University wanted the newspaper to publish only special editions with zero actual news coverage. Rodenbush refused and was fred shortly afterward. Within hours, the university shut down the Daily Student’s ability to print at all. While it has been framed as a fnancial decision by the university, it’s clear that this is retaliation.

“Your lack of leadership and ability to work in alignment with the university’s direction for the Student Media Plan is unacceptable,” Rodenbush’s termina-

DESTINY ALBRECHT copy editor

“A Matter of Opinion” is an opinion column that features a personal, anecdotal account of an experience relevant to college students. Each edition, a staff member will write about something important to them in order to share advice, start conversations and invite our readers to connect with one another.

Content Warning: This story contains discussion of emotional abuse, manipulation and trauma.

Experiencing domestic violence and sexual assault at the age of 16 was devastating. The trauma lingered, and the abusive relationship held a tight grip on me for years. I’m writing to shed light on why so many women fnd it incredibly diffcult to leave these situations — not because they’re weak, as our culture tends to assume — but because the psychological chains are often invisible.

If someone you know has experienced this, offer support in whatever way you can. When survivors feel seen and supported, they’re more likely to reach out for the help they deserve.

Looking back, one thing that stands out is how little education I received about intimate partner violence. I didn’t know what the warning signs were. I dismissed red fags as normal because the culture I grew up in taught me that it’s okay for men to be “a little aggressive” sometimes. That normalization was the frst betrayal.

This is why I believe schools, primary through college, must do more than just raise awareness. They need to educate students about the realities of domestic violence, emotional abuse and coercive control.

Young people deserve to learn what healthy relationships look like for longer than a week in high school taught by their gym teacher. They need to learn how to set boundaries and how to recognize manipulation before it escalates.

This education isn’t just for women — it’s for men too. Everyone should be equipped to make responsible decisions

tion letter said, according to the Indiana Daily Student.

“If the abrupt ousting of the student media director was related to his refusal to participate in such censorship, the message is clear: IU no longer welcomes a free student press,” the Student Press Law Center said, according to the Indiana

Daily Student. “The Media School must reverse course immediately, before more damage is done to its reputation and to its students’ rights.”

This move from a university administration is not just frightening — it’s downright illegal. No government within the United States, including public universities, has the right to dictate what the press can and can’t publish. It also demon-

strates a common misunderstanding, that the adviser has any sort of power over what does and does not get published. It is the student editors who decide what to publish and what not to publish, with the adviser being available to give guidance as a professional in the feld. In Illinois, this is codifed by the College Campus Press Act. Many other states have similar laws or precedent from court cases to refer to.

Student journalism is also not public relations or marketing. Journalists serve the public.

Censorship is not to be taken lightly, and when I had the privilege of meeting Rodenbush at our recent national journalism convention in Washington, D.C., even he said he didn’t bring up censorship until just before he was fred. But when a university attempts to control the free fow of information — and trample on their students’ constitutional rights in the process — action must be taken.

While legal action can be handled by the courts, everyday students also have the opportunity to show their support as

well. Writing letters to the editor, staging protests and engaging with and reposting student journalistic content goes a long way in showing support. In a time when people in power are trying to bend the truth to their whim, every bit of resistance matters.

SIUE has not ordered The Alestle to stop printing or news coverage. However, with a shrinking budget, we have been forced to cut our publication drastically. Just two years ago, we published in print every week. Now, publishing online once every three weeks and printing every six weeks is the new normal. That makes it very diffcult to cover the news.

Good student journalists publish uncomfortable stories because they care about access to the truth. They care about the students, faculty and staff having access to the unfltered truth. It’s our duty as student journalists to hold those in power accountable, and that can be uncomfortable sometimes.

The power of learning to recognize domestic violence and its warning signs

about who they trust with their hearts and safety.

In the beginning, the abuser always wears a mask. They show you everything you want in a partner — kindness, loyalty, respect. Just when you start thinking, “This is the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” they fip the switch.

From that point on, hostility and rage became the dominant emotions in the relationship, interrupted only by false affection used to reel me back in after every argument. When the name-calling started, followed by violent threats and attacks on my self-esteem, forgiveness always followed.

It became a cycle I couldn’t escape — the same cycle that traps so many victims.

Abusers know how to dismantle a person’s self-worth. They chip away at your confdence until you believe you can’t do better, that no one else would want you. That isolation is purposefully strategic, and it keeps you dependent on that person.

For a long time, I believed the cruelty was accidental — just a “spur of the moment” lapse. I couldn’t reconcile the person I fell in love with and the person who hurt me. So I made excuses, normalizing the abuse and telling myself it was only temporary.

From receiving texts urging me to end my life to declarations of love and marriage, the emotional whiplash became unbearable. Yet this is often the moment when victims fnd it hardest to walk away. There’s no pain quite like the heart-wrenching realization that the change you hoped for was short-lived — and the abuse has returned to haunt you once again.

And then came the moment that changed everything.

He sexually assaulted me. I remember feeling frozen — not physically, but emotionally. I couldn’t believe someone who claimed to love me with everything in him would damage me forever. And yet, I still stayed. The fear of being alone and never fnding someone else kept me tethered to him. That fear was louder than the pain.

Getting out wasn’t something I could do alone. My mom stepped in when things began to escalate, especially when he start-

ed to threaten suicide. With her help, we got him the mental health support he needed, and I fnally escaped the role he confned me to.

But even then, he still had a cosmic grasp on me. He made me feel guilty for his hospitalization, as if I had betrayed him. He manipulated me into thinking that was the truth, leaving me feeling so much guilt that I was then emotionally bound to him for another two years.

I continued to fall for his toxicity — the apologies, the promises and the absolute control he had on my soul. His presence was like a drug I couldn’t quit, and every time I tried to walk away, I relapsed into the comfort of chaos, drawn back into the same destructive cycle.

It’s a pattern so many victims know too well. No matter how much you want to leave, sometimes it’s hard and you simply can’t — your mind won’t let you.

What fnally set me free was the support of my wonderful friends. They didn’t pressure me or judge me, although my mind tricked me into thinking so a few times. They were able to distract me, remind me of my worth and help me rebuild my identity.

When I fnally cut my ties with him and gave myself space to grow, I met someone new: a man who treats me with respect, who loves me unconditionally and who never makes me feel small.

Even so, healing isn’t linear, nor is it magical. I found myself carrying abusive habits into my new relationship such as defensiveness, fear and emotional withdrawal. It took time, patience and a lot of understanding from my partner. But slowly, I’ve been able to unlearn the malice that I was taught in my previous relationship. I’ve rebuilt my self-worth from the ground up, and today I’m happier than I’ve ever been.

If there’s one thing I want people to take away from my story, it’s this: don’t judge women who stay in abusive relationships. It is not weakness, but survival. It’s fear and trauma. Leaving isn’t always a door you can just walk through — sometimes it’s a maze you have to crawl yourself out of with your bare hands, on your own or with assistance.

I wish I could say that SIUE offered that help, but despite all of their visible outreach efforts around domestic violence and sexual assault, when I experienced harassment from a man in my campus workplace this year, the university failed me. My coworker, supervisors and I reported the behavior several times, and we were met with inconsistent communication and an extreme lack of protection. It clearly states in the SIUE Sexual Violence Victim Packet, originating from policies listed in the Title IX section of the Education Amendments of 1982, that, “When an institution ‘knows or reasonably should know’ about an incident of sexual harassment or sexual violence that creates a hostile environment, the institution is required ‘to take immediate action to eliminate the harassment, prevent its recurrence and address its effects.’”

But because the harassment didn’t meet their narrow defnition of sexual misconduct — at least that’s what I was told by my supervisor, not even by the director for Equal Opportunity, Access and Title IX Coordination — they dismissed the concerns.

It was a painful reminder that institutional support often looks good on paper, but disappears when you need it most. Survivors don’t just require resources — they need action. They deserve more than lip service: schools that listen, believe and intervene, institutions that don’t just talk about zero tolerance but actively enforce it and education that goes beyond pamphlets, teaching students how to recognize danger, protect themselves and support others who are suffering.

My story isn’t unique, and that’s the tragedy. But it’s also the reason I’m speaking out, because if even one person reads this and feels seen, or if any university personnel reconsider how to respond to reports of harassment, then the pain I endured will have served more than just a personal purpose.

What survivors need most isn’t judgement, but compassion and support from the community that surrounds them. Healing and change is possible, but it starts with listening, believing and understanding victims.

contact the editor: sports@alestlelive.com (618) 650-3528

Thursday, 10.30.25

Men’s basketball unveils historic banners, dominates 100-60 in exhibition play

AUDREY O’RENIC sports editor

After the best season in SIUE men’s basketball history, the team returned to the court with a 100-60 victory over St. Ambrose University on Sunday at First Community Arena.

Before the game, the SIUE community gathered to celebrate the unveiling of the historical 2025 Ohio Valley Conference Champion and NCAA March Madness banners.

OVC Player of the Year and OVC Male Athlete of the Year Ray’Sean Taylor said he couldn’t wait to see the banners go up.

“I want my family, friends, fans, coaches [and] everybody to enjoy this moment,” Taylor said.

Before the reveal, Taylor had a message to share with his former team.

“To my teammates — remember what it took to get there, remember how you got there and how fun the journey was every single day,” Taylor said.

“To my coaches, to coach [Barone] — I appreciate y’all not giving up on me,” Taylor said. “It was one of the best times of my life.”

With a roaring applause and standing ovation from the crowd, the team pulled the cover to reveal the two banners which now hang in front of Eddieville.

“That right there is togetherness, that’s trust, that’s loyalty, that’s love, that’s us,” head coach Brian Barone said as he pointed at the banners.

The energy from the reveal carried into the exhibition game against St. Ambrose.

Within just 15 seconds of play, senior guard/forward and OVC Player to Watch

Ring Malith knocked in a 2-pointer and set the tone for the rest of the game.

The Fighting Bees were quick to put up a fight with the Cougars, but were never able to completely take the lead. By half, the Cougars remained on top, 45-34.

In the second period, the Cougars kicked into high gear and scored 55 points. Senior forward Kyle Thomas led the team with a total of 17 points scored. Malith racked in 14, and senior center Arnas Sakenis followed close behind with 13 points.

In the final minute of the game, graduate student guard and newcomer CJ Hall swished a 2-pointer for an even 100 points.

The Cougars will open the regular season against East-West University at 6 p.m. on Nov. 4 at First Community Arena.

“Let’s get back to work,” Barone said.

VIEW FROM THE SIDELINES: New season means new identity for SIUE basketball

SAM MUREN podcast producer

Basketball has officially tipped-off for the 2025-26 season at First Community Arena. Both basketball teams entered the season with two very different stories, and each needed to focus on creating a new identity.

Every team at every level faces changes during the off-season. Any set of players or coaches enter the season with the mindset that things won’t be any different and neglect tthat every season is different. This year, both SIUE teams need to focus on the narrative they are going to create early in the season.

Building up women’s basketball

It’s easy to rewrite the culture for a team when there are so many new faces. Women’s basketball has not had a winning conference record since 2017-18 (13-5). Last season showed signs of growth but limited improvement in the win column.

The major loss was to the graduated players. Seniors Molly Sheehan, Sofie Lowis, Halle Smith, and graduate KK Rodriguez all graduated at the end of last season.

The Cougars also lost two notable players to fellow Ohio Valley Conference competitors in the transfer portal. Senior Brianna Wooldridge, who was third in points scored last season, transferred to Tennessee State University.

SIUE also lost junior Ava Stoller to Eastern Illinois University.

However, with the notable exits, there are notable arrivals. SIUE added four freshmen faces to the roster. Three of the four registered at 5’10” or taller.

Seven new faces will join this season, and the Cougars still have their own developed talent like senior Macy Silvey.

Things could be leading to a turnaround season

for the women’s program. Head Coach Sam Quigley Smith is entering her fifth season with a developed and matured roster.

The women will begin their regular season against Missouri Baptist University at 7 p.m. on Monday for their first home appearance at First Community Arena.

Titles can turn into targets for men’s basketball

In contrast to the women’s team, SIUE men’s basketball is coming off their best season in program history. Their trip to the NCAA March Madness bracket has put this team on the map. It may also set their bar higher than ever before.

Men’s basketball celebrated their historic run last year with a banner raising and a 100-60 victory over St. Ambrose University at Iowa on Oct. 26.

Their feel-good win gave the fans something to enjoy on the celebration night. However, this should be the last moment to dwell on the prior season. SIUE will have tough competition ahead to reclaim an OVC title.

The men’s team faces similar losses as the women’s team. Most notably will be

the graduation of SIUE’s all-time leading men’s point scorer Ray’Sean Taylor. The Cougars also lost Brian Taylor II when he transferred to East Tennessee State University. It will be up to the names that led them to the dance last year along with new additions to guide them back.

SIUE’s path through the playoffs had to create some desired revenge for Southeast Missouri State University. The Cougars knocked the Redhawks 69-48 in the OVC Championship game.

They also only beat Tennessee State two points in the OVC semifinals. Their run hasn’t guaranteed them the number one place in the OVC. The early prediction on the OVC’s Instagram has SIUE projected to finish third.

SIUE earned the rights to enjoy the hype of last season, but they can’t stay stuck in the past if they are going to attempt a visit back into the bracket.

East-West University from Chicago will be the regular season opener for the defending OVC champions at 6 p.m. Tuesday at First Community Arena.

Guard CJ Hall slides past St. Ambrose to score a 2-pointer. | Pedro Henrique G-M / The Alestle

Guard Jordan Pickett dribbles through St. Ambrose to score a 2-pointer. The Cougars defeated the Fighting Bees in a 100-60 victory. | Pedro Henrique G-M / The Alestle

Men’s soccer ends losing streak in match up against EIU

BRANDI SPANN opinion editor

SIUE golf won three tournament titles during the spring season. Head coach Derrick Brown said that the success of the spring had the players feeling confident as the fall season began. Six players are averaging under 73.

“We had a really good season last year,” Brown said. “I think there was a lot of hope, a lot of confidence. We knew we had some good depth coming into this year.”

“Our big highlight is our home event every year,” Brown said. “We’ve had about 18 teams the last four or five years. It’s turned into a pretty good Midwest, Division I event. This year, we finished third out of 18 teams.”

The Cougars placed in the top five at the Grover Page Classic at UT Martin, and they finished 6th out of 17 teams at the Wichita State Grier Jones Shocker Invitational.

Freshman Tomas Rascon is currently placed at tenth in the conference with a scoring average

of 71.8.

“As a freshman this year, my goal was to try to make every event, and I have succeeded in that so far through the fall season,” Rascon said.

Rascon said he had to trust his capabilities and not put too much pressure on himself as a player, because he knew Division I college golf was competitive.

“With golf, you can get pretty greedy — there’s always something you can work on,” Rascon said. “I’ve actually drove the ball pretty well. Hitting the driver off the tee is important, especially in college when the courses get longer … but my short game, I feel I could have some improvements. I’ve definitely left a lot of strokes out there.”

Senior Will Simpson is currently seventh in the conference and was selected as the Prairie Farms Cougar of the Week following his performance at Wichita State.

“We had a couple rain delays, and I was just fortunate enough to try and stay in it as well as I could and come out with the top 10,” Simpson said.

Simpson said that Brown

does an excellent job of preparing the team by having them practice in uncomfortable weather conditions.

“He makes us get comfortable with being uncomfortable,” Simpson said.

“We’re getting better and better, and you can see that in our results. We’ve got 10 guys that can play in our lineup pushing each other, and I think it’s gonna click for us here soon, and we’re gonna be in a really good position,” Simpson said.

The Cougars will compete on Nov. 5 at the Pearl at Kalauao Invitational. With the Hawaii match coming up, Simpson said he has been excited about the schedule that SIUE golf has.

“Last year, I saw the Pacific and the Atlantic Ocean within, like, two and a half weeks,” Simpson said. “It’s been unbelievable, the places we’ve been able to go.”

Brown said that consistency will be an important factor throughout the rest of the season.

“I’m looking for overall consistency from the team in Hawaii, and then going forward in the spring. If we do that, and we get better with our wedge play, I think we’re going to be good by the time [the Ohio Valley Conference] rolls around,” Brown said. Brown said the team is looking forward to Hawaii. Baylor

and West Virginia will be some of the Cougars’ top competitors.

“I don’t usually try to pick where I think we should finish. I just want to go out there and compete at the highest level we can. I’m hoping we can finish on a high note,” Brown said.

Cross country teams prepare for conference push

PARIS THOMAS IV

reporter

The Cougars have set their sights high this year, aiming for a top-five finish in the Ohio Valley Conference for both the men’s and women’s teams.

Head coach Marcus Evans has worked to restore the program’s prominence.

“It feels like we’re building something special,” Evans said. “We’ve had some really good performances across the board, and it feels like the rest of the team is coming along in a really good spot too.”

Evans credits much of that

progress to the team’s chemistry and work ethic.

Evans said performances from athletes such as grad student Ian O’laughlin and sophomore Tanner Emerson on the men’s side, and sophomores Erica Woodard and Kinze Shea leading the women’s team, have been great as well.

“We’ve been as far back as almost dead last in conference championships before,”

Evans said. “So, for us to feel like we can compete for titles is exactly what we came here to build toward.”

For Erica Woodard, the season has been one of growth and reflection. One

key element to her improvement was learning to balance her drive for improvement with patience.

“I’ve learned to put that in the past and refocus myself and that each season is a new opportunity,” Woodard said.

Woodard’s connection to the program runs deep — her three brothers also ran for SIUE. Woodard said she feels a strong connection to her team at SIUE.

“Cross country really feels like a family,” Woodard said. “We spend so much time together outside of practice, and that helps us bond.” Woodard also credits Evans and associate coach

Josh Wolfe for creating that environment.

“Even if you have a bad race, they’re still supporting you,” Woodard said. “They care about us as people, not just as athletes.”

Sophomore Kinze Shea transferred from Western Illinois University last year. After a rocky start marked by coaching carousels and lack of resources, Shea found SIUE to be a better fit.

“At Western, it was really toxic,” Shea said. “Here, everyone is close and the coaches are proactive about helping us.”

As the team heads toward the OVC Championship on Oct.

31 in Charleston, Illinois, the Cougars are planning to keep their focus sharp.

Evans said the team’s top finishes and individual victories are signs that the program is on the right trajectory.

“Running fast is great,” Evans said. “But if you’re doing it at the expense of the rest of your life, it’s not worth it.”

However, Evans measures success in the growth of athletes in and out the sport.

“We want to see our athletes grow academically, athletically and socially,” Evans said. “That is what this program is about.”

Women’s basketball plans to create momentum early

PARIS THOMAS IV reporter

As the 2025-26 season gets underway, the women’s basketball team is eager to have a strong start.

Now in her fifth season, head coach Samantha Quigley Smith said the preparation for this season has been heavily influenced by the team’s ability to adapt and get stronger.

“The generation of players has changed to the point where it’s more about retaining people and making sure they are happy in their experiences so they can stay longer,” Smith said. “That has been the most challenging part, coaching-wise.”

Despite these challenges, Smith said the new changes encouraged her to find creative ways to build a stronger culture and team.

“It takes time to adjust and learn a new landscape of college

athletics, but it is a challenge I welcome,” Smith said.

Assistant coach Liz Doran said this year’s roster stands out due to players’ effort and competitiveness compared to previous years.

“This team is a high-motor group,” Doran said. “They bring energy every day, whether it’s an early morning workout or a late-night film session. It’s not something we have to ask for — it’s already built into their culture.”

Senior guard Macy Silvey said she also enjoys the energy and unity within the squad.

“We’ve been competing in practice and working hard every day ... we’re all focused on being better than we were last season,” Silvey said.

Silvey said open practices have given the team an opportunity to grow closer while allowing new players to adapt quickly to the program’s tempo.

“It’s been great seeing how the freshmen are coming along,” Silvey said. “We’ve all been helping each other and building trust. That connection off the court really helps on the court.”

Smith said player development remains central to the program’s success. The coaching staff combines full team sessions with one-on-one workouts and individual film reviews to target specific areas for improvement.

“They understand that every rep matters,” Doran said. “They’re not just practicing to practice — they’re practicing with purpose. That’s what separates good teams from great ones.”

As the Cougars prepare for the new season, both coaches and players aim to build trust, play with intensity and compete every day.

The Cougars will play their first game against Missouri Baptist University at 7 p.m., Nov. 3, in First Community Arena.

Junior guard Kyra Williams dribbles down the court in an open practice on Oct. 17. | Pedro Henrique G-M / The Alestle

Freshman Thomas Rascon measures up the green and prepares to putt. | Courtesy of Thomas Rascon