The Daily Egyptian - [August 30, 2022]

THE

Daily Egyptian SERVING THE SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY SINCE 1916.

DAILYEGYPTIAN.COM

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2022

p. 2

p. 7

Glass, grass and John Prine influence shop owner

p. 10

Cars vs. scooters: The battle for Carbondale

Small Market, Big Variety: A Cultural Experience

VOL. 106, ISSUE 3

p. 13

Marvel Studios may be hurtling toward its own undoing

100 Years of the DU Quoin State Fair: A Family Tradition

Erica Loos | eloos@dailyegyptian.com

Less than 30 miles north of SIU campus lies the city of Du Quoin, home of the Du Quoin State Fair. This year, it is celebrating a century of events, livestock shows, parades and family fun.

The fair got its start in the early 1920’s when a group of go-getting local business leaders decided to sponsor an event; one they hoped would be as attractive as the Illinois State Fair in Springfield and bring visitors from all across Southern Illinois.

“Not shy about making big claims, even from the very start, the group called it ‘The Du Quoin State Fair,’”according to the fair’s website.

“It’s always a pleasure to host [the fair].

It’s a rich tradition for the town. I think it’s a time when not only the community, but the region, comes together and celebrates with their family,” said Du Quoin Mayor Guy Alongi.

In years past, the fair has offered southern Illinoisians the opportunity to enjoy entertainment from the likes of Johnny Carson, Bob Hope, Sonny & Cher and Johnny Cash. More recently the fair has drawn top talent such as REO Speedwagon, Ludacris, Brad Paisley, Sublime, Snoop Dogg & Friends, Hootie & The Blowfish and Reba McEntire.

There is truly something for everyone at the Du Quoin State Fair. Harness racing has been a staple since the fair’s founding.

Other racing events such as dirt car racing, motocross and ATV racing can also be seen.

Livestock shows and contests are a long-time staple of the fair, celebrating the long and deep-rooted history of farming and agriculture in Southern Illinois. Live performances by local and lesser-known bands are also available to attend.

Attractions for the younger crowd include carnival rides broken into different age groups and numerous games and activities that can be enjoyed by children of all ages.

History and tradition are celebrated the world over, Du Quoin has been helping Southern Illinois keep those alive over the past century.

The first night of the fair is Family Night

Nick Woodcock (left) and Emma Knapp spin around in an amusement park ride at the Du Quoin State Fair Aug. 27, 2022 in Du Quoin, Ill. Sophie Whitten | @sophiewhitten_

“It’s always a pleasure to host [the fair]. It’s a rich tradition for the town. I think it’s a time when not only the community, but the region, comes together and celebrates with their family” - Guy Alongi Du Quoin Mayor

and one of the biggest attractions of the evening is always the Twilight Parade. Held this year on Friday, Aug. 26, the streets of the fairgrounds were lined along the parade route to and from the grandstands with spectators. Eager children waited impatiently for the fair to begin, holding empty grocery bags in hopes of filling them

with candy thrown into the crowd.

“Get ready! Get your feet ready!” said one youngster to his friend as they saw the famous Budweiser Clydesdales approaching; the most recognizable sign that the parade has begun.

Walking along the parade route, the crowd is speckled with families of all

shapes and sizes, some old and some young. One such group was a family of four generations of fair-goers. The matriarch, Shirley Emling, a Du Quoin resident, sat in a side-by-side with her great grandson, Jordan Conte. Emling’s daughter, Denise Thompson, and granddaughter, Kelsey Conte, were standing nearby as they waited for the parade to begin.

“I’ve been coming to the races for …

60 years,” said Emling. “They used to have more stands you could go in and buy things. Now it’s mostly food and games,” she concluded.

Thompson said she has been coming to the fair for 54 years, and has brought her children since they were young.

Please see STATE FAIR | 8

1, 2, & 3

BEDROOMS (618)549-0335 | (618)549-0895

AVAILABLE Grab a roommate for $300-$350 per person!

805 E. Park Street

Page 2 | News

Wednesday, August 31, 2022

Contact Us Email: editor@dailyegyptian.com Faculty Managing Editor: Annie Hammock

Sports Editor: Joey Bernard

ahammock@dailyegyptian.com

jbernard@dailyegyptian.com

Editor-in-Chief: Sophie Whitten

Assistant Sports Editor: Cole Daily

swhitten@dailyegyptian.com

Design Chief: Seth Martin

smartin@dailyegyptian.com

Photo Editor: Domonique MartinezPowell dmartinez-powell@ dailyegyptian.com

Interactive Editor: Mallory Aukland

maukland@dailyegyptian.com

Multimedia Editor: Kylen Lunn

cdaily@dailyegyptian.com

News Editor: William Box

wbox@dailyegyptian.com

Ad Chief: Hannah Combs

hcombs@dailyegyptian.com

Assistant Ad Chief: Isaiah Wilkerson

isaiah@dailyegyptian.com

Social Media Editor: Logan Brown

lbrown@dailyegyptian.com

klunn@dailyegyptian.com

President Biden signs federal student loan relief for low-income students William Box wbox@dailyegyptian.com

President Joe Biden announced a plan today, Aug. 24 to forgive a minimum of $10,000 in federal student loan debt from all borrowers.

The plan, as directed by the President through the Department of Education, will forgive the minimum amount for qualified borrowers and $20,000 for Pell Grant recipients.

“Both of these targeted actions are for families who need it the most, working and middle class people hit especially hard during the Pandemic making under $125,000 a year,” Biden said.

In addition to loan forgiveness, monthly payments on federal student loans will be capped at 5% of the borrower’s income, reducing the previous cap by half.

According to a factsheet released on whitehouse.gov, the three part plan will include measures to provide targeted debt relief to ease Pandemic financial hardships, make the student loan system less cumbersome to borrowers and fixing the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.

“The Department of Education will work quickly and efficiently to set up a simple application process for borrowers to claim relief,” the factsheet said. “The application

will be available no later than when the pause on federal student loan repayments terminates at the end of the year.”

Biden has extended the student loan repayment pause through Dec. 31, 2022. Students currently enrolled or enrolled at the time of the rollout of the program will be able to receive loan forgiveness as well.

Updates for receiving debt relief can be found at studentaid.gov/ debt-relief-announcement.

Staff reporter William Box can be reached at wbox@ dailyegyptian.com or on Twitter at @William17455137.

Glass, grass and John Prine influence shop owner Kelsey McKee @kelsey.mckee_photography

About Us

The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of Southern Illinois University Carbondale on a weekly basis. Fall and spring semester editions run every Wednesday. Free copies are distributed in the Carbondale, Carterville, and Springfield communities. The Daily Egyptian can be found at www.dailyegyptian.com or on the Daily Egyptian app!

Mission Statement

The Daily Egyptian, the student-run news organization of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, is committed to being a trusted source of news, information, commentary and public discourse, while helping readers understand the issues affecting their lives.

Publishing Information

The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of Southern Illinois University Carbondale and functions as a laboratory for the School of Journalism in exchange for the room and utilities in the Communications Building.

The Daily Egyptian is a non-profit organization that survives primarily off of its advertising revenue. Offices are in the Communications Building, room 1259, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, Ill., 62901.

“A cool song about smoking pot” inspired the owner of a cannabis and tobacco shop which has three locations in southern Illinois: Carbondale, Marion and Harrisburg.

“Illegal Smiles” by American folk singer John Prine influences the decor and philosophy at the store, Legal Smiles, owner Halee Hicks said. The shop is filled with Prine’s merchandise, music and posters.

Carbondale’s own Legal Smiles opened in May of 2019. The shop supports the local artists’ community and other glass-makers across the country. SIU students and locals contribute to the sales.

“Definitely gets busier when students come back,” Hicks said. “[Legal Smiles] strives to carry affordable quality products that are sure to impress even the most experienced smoker.”

A variety of glass art, devices, clothing, tobacco, cannabis, and CBD is sold. The bold colors and variety of smells surround those who browse through the aisles.

Other products include

Bongs sit on display Aug. 27, 2022 at Legal Smile in Carbondale, Ill. Kelsey McKee | @kelsey.mckee_photography

“incense candles, ashtrays, rolling trays, and all the accessories that you would need to consume,” Hicks said.

She said the glass pieces are among the most popular products, each unique and handcrafted, “just because it is all one of a kind.”

Different types of hemp plants are sold throughout the store as

Copyright Information

@2021 The Daily Egyptian. All rights reserved. All content is property of the Daily Egyptian and may not be reproduced or transmitted without consent. The Daily Egyptian is a member of the Illinois College Press Association, Associated Collegiate Press, College Media Advisers Inc. and the College Business and Advertising Managers Inc.

Submissions

Letters and guest columns must be submitted with author’s contact information, preferably via email. Phone numbers are required to verify authorship, but will not be published.

Students must include their year and major. Faculty must include rank and department. Others include hometown.

Submissions should be sent to editor@dailyegyptian.com

Jacob Buckman touches a hemp plant in a grow box Aug. 27, 2022 at Legal Smile in Carbondale, Ill. Kelsey McKee | @kelsey.mckee_photography

well.

“We actually sell hemp too and then we sell hemp which is cannabis, which just has a 3% or less THC,” Hicks said.

Legal Smiles also provides a growing shop called Soil Grown, which supplies amateur horticulturalists with what they need to grow their own plants at home.

“We’ve got everything from soil fans, lights, anything you need to grow cannabis or vegetables, houseplants, stuff like that,” Hicks said All products are made for everyone.

“We just kind of want to bring this stigma that is around the community about cannabis, and smooth it out,” she said. “Basically make it something good, which is just to show that it can be good and it is good” Staff Photographer Kelsey McKee can be reached at @kelsey.mckee_photography

Wednesday, August 31, 2022

News | Page 3

Representation for cheer and spirit team under Title IX

Jamilah Lewis | @jamilahlewis

While Title IX has helped many women’s sports programs, other athletic programs that are still underfunded and never met the requirements of Title IX to be considered a sport.

Spirit teams Head Coach Cydnee Totzke has been coaching at SIU since 2019, with this being her fifth decade involved in the sport. She coached high school cheer for 25 years and has spent seven years coaching at the college level.

Totzke grew up dancing from middle school through college.

She says being in cheer means choosing to be an athlete without being recognized as one.

“There is a thing that goes like this, ‘athlete by nature; cheerleader by choice,’” Totzke said. “It is the same way someone might like basketball or field hockey. It’s just what is involved in it that draws them to the activity.”

Totzke said the addition of the competition factor of cheer in the 80s has made a big impact on the sport by giving the athletes their moment to show off their skills.

Along with competing, cheerleaders perform at other athletic teams’ events and show support at various campus and community events in addition to its athletic side.

“When people like to get into the ‘is it a sport or not debate, I always say no, it’s not, it’s more

than a sport,” Totzke said. “We are honing in on our athletic skills of stunting, tumbling, leaps, interns, and so all of that is packaged in a support role.”

Totzke said, as Title IX was enforced heavily, it dipped into the budget along with other programs such as dance and band. Cheer became somewhat of an “anti-sport” among other athletic programs.

Totzke said she appreciates what Title IX has done with bringing women’s sports into the conversation, specifically at the high school level for dance and cheerleading “What I loved about moving to Illinois [...] is that the High School Association recognizes both cheer and dance as a winter female sport,” Totzke said.

“Illinois high school athletes are used to… an athlete so when they’re moving on to a college team, that’s their mindset. That’s their expectation.”

SIU’s spirit teams do not compete like other collegiate spirit teams across the country, mainly because of costs, Totzke said.

“I think the missing component at SIU specifically is the funding to allow our Spirit teams to compete,” Totzke said. “They are support groups, they’re cheering and dancing on the sidelines 90% of the year. That one opportunity to compete with their peers, it’s just very expensive.”

Totzke said she would love

Photos taken by Brian Munoz

to see the funding for national cheer and spirit competitions as a reward for all the time and effort the Spirit teams give to SIU throughout the school year.

Some SIU faculty have been supportive in efforts to get the Spirit teams competing, like Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Jeffery T. Burgin Jr., Vice Chancellor for Diversity Equity and Inclusion Dr. Paul Frazier, and SIU Foundation CEO Matt Kupec, Totzke said.

“With all the time we’re spending supporting other teams and doing campus appearances and community appearances [it] often feels like we are already giving back,” Totzke said.

“Yet it’s not a student job or is not necessarily funded with scholarships.”

Totzke said the Spirit teams are allowed access to what most of the other SIU athletes get, including the athletic academic center, the fueling station, and the weight room. They do have to share a trainer with the Women’s Basketball team and don’t have their own.

They are also awarded a tuition waiver that’s under $1,000 with no other compensation for housing, food or textbooks, Totzke said.

To this day, cheerleading is not

recognized as a sport under Title IX. An up-and-coming female sport called STUNT was made that stems from cheer recognized as a sport under Title IX. According to the website Stunt the sport, STUNT is a competitive game between two teams executing “skills-based routines” in a variety of categories including jumping, tumbling, partner stunts, pyramids, tosses and different team routines.

“That [was] initiated in 2010.

I was actually part of some grassroots efforts to get that on the scene in Wisconsin,” Totzke said. “There are youth programs, there are middle school and high school programs, and it’s really taking off collegiately.”

STUNT is showing up in many Division II and III schools and more slowly at Division I schools, where their cheer programs are still flourishing, Totzke said.

“Locally, the University of Kentucky now has both, so you all know how strong Kentucky is [as a] traditional cheerleading program,” Totzke said. “What it’s really done is added 40 more female students to a sports roster.”

SIU currently does not have a STUNT team, but Totzke has brought it up to the administration along with having support from Saluki Gymnastics

smartin@dailyegyptian.com Photos taken by Brian Munoz

owners Kari Scott and Travis Walczynski, she said.

“She [Kari Scott] basically feels that Stunt is the next big thing for women,” Totzke said. “She doesn’t want to mess around with the all-star cheer and the glitter and the bows and you know all the pageantry stuff that kind of gets mocked.”

If SIU can get a STUNT program, Totzke hopes to start at the club level with the sport. “[At] a lot of the D1 schools, the cheer coach will also run the club team,” Totzke said. “And for students on campus that just cannot give up all that time to be on the spirit team because we give back about 500 hours a year in games and events and practice.”

Totzke said STUNT athletes are afforded their own athletic trainer, scholarships, and support from the NCAA that’s making a big difference with these athletes.

“They’re at the last step before officially becoming a sport. So to me, it’s a win-win,” Totzke said. “There are no cons that I can see.”

Staff reporter Jamilah Lewis can be reached at jlewis@ dailyegyptian.com or on Twitter @jamilahlewis.

Page 4 | News

Wednesday, August 31, 2022

Members of Omega Psi Phi dance to music to show students one of the very many things their fraternity does here at SIU Aug. 25, 2022 at Faner Plaza Involvement Fair in Carbondale, Ill. .

Michael Burton | @Akamai.Films

SIU kicks off the year with annual Weeks of Welcome

Janiyah Gaston | @DEJaniyah

With the school year starting back up, Southern Illinois University (SIU) is hosting its annual Weeks of Welcome from Aug. 22 through Sept. 24.

Throughout these few weeks, events will be hosted around campus for new and returning students to participate in, such as college department parties, RSO fair, and other fun events.

To kick off the first week, SIU hosted a breakfast for new transfer students on Aug. 24 in the student center ballrooms to get them to meet with other transfer students and learn more about SIU. Later in the day, a student job fair in the ballrooms allowed students to see what job opportunities are available on campus.

On Aug. 25, an involvement fair was held at Faner Plaza from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. as a way for students to see and possibly join many of the Registered Student Organizations (RSO) that are here on campus, from the Forestry Club to the Muslim Student Association.

Kayla Vaughn, a second year student and president of the Naturalistas, said she started the RSO because hair is her passion and she wants to educate people about what they can do with their hair. She said the purpose of her RSO is more than just discussing hair, it also creates a community.

“We can bring black women together because there’s a lot of people that do things in my RSO, like people do lashes and people do hair,” Vaugn said. “And then people do braids and I know there are a lot of people that want to get their braids.”

Vaughn said she wants to expand the RSO to focus on more than just hair this year, to focus on nails and wellness also.

Tyler Knupp, the president of the Furry Society and a sixth year undergraduate student, said he was determined to make a furry RSO here at SIU. He said the Furry Society is more than wearing costumes, it is a place where people can be themselves.

“Being able to express themselves through art and online is probably the biggest part of the fandom. It’s a lot of expressing themselves through their own characters and through art and animation and costuming,” Knupp said.

According to Knupp, the goal of the RSO is to bring like-minded people together who have an interest in creating furries. He said they also host bowling events throughout the semester and are planning a big event in October.

Not only were there clubs at the fair, but Greek organizations as well. Members of Omega Psi Phi, Keith Hoay and Jose Pedraza, had a lot to say about their fraternity. Both Hoay and Pedraza said people from within the fraternity inspired them to join.

Pedraza said his godfather was a big influence on why he wanted to join the fraternity.

“My godfather [...] he really directed me and guided me down the right lines of being a man and just upholding these principles that we have in our fraternity and I just always lived by them,” Pedraza said.

While Pedraza was inspired by his godfather, Hoay was influenced by his brothers in the fraternity.

“The guys that were a part of the fraternity when I came here were really outgoing and very easy to talk to,” Hoay said. “So it was good to try to give back to everybody and be a part of the community.”

Hoay and Pedraza also said they are excited for their fraternity to be back on campus, so it can make a positive impact on the campus and within the black community.

“I think it’s a big role in the black community.

Because we have famous people like Michael Jordan, Jesse Jackson, Shaq, Steve Harvey, it goes around,” Hoay said. “There’s a lot of famous black people that are positive role models in the world, so it’s always good to be just another black opportunity.”

According to Hoay, because so many influential

people have been a part of their fraternity, it inspired him and others to want to be another pillar of inspiration for younger black kids.

Pedraza said he is very excited for his fraternity to be back on campus and to be able to give back to the campus.

“We are happy to be back and give back to the campus. We are happy to combine with the campus to collaborate with the campus and everything, to be honest,” Pedraza said.

The involvement fair was not the only exciting event to happen on campus. On Aug. 26, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., the Center for International Education (CIE) hosted its International Coffee Hour in the CIE lobby.

Sam Bandy, the interim director of CIE, said his office does a variety of things to help international students get their degree.

“We work with immigration documents, and so forth, and services to support those international students in their undergraduate or grad and then we also work in tandem with other offices, the grad school, the CESL, which is our ESL program, and so we have that as well,” Bandy said.

Bandy said the CIE office works with a lot of departments here on campus and organizations in different countries to make sure international students get the help they need while they are attending school.

Events like international coffee hour are a great way for international students to meet each other and find common interests, he said.

“They like being able to come in to talk and relax and have a place where they can do that. [....] Some of the organizations for instance, last year I remember our Bangladesh organization did their celebration of their national day. [...] so it’s just making this like another home, a space for international students.” Bandy said.

According to Bandy, the CIE can be students’ home away from home depending on what

events they would like to have.

Elaine Conrad, the community and educational programs coordinator, said events like these are vital for newcomers.

“This is important because they can see that they’re welcome not just by our department, but by the entire campus by the community out there. [...] This one is sponsored by the international friends club. So everyone brings a little bit of something and so that’s why we have such a wide variety.

Conrad said a lot of different people come out to these events for the CIE. It can either be students, faculty or just volunteers wanting to help.

Faculty are not the only ones who think events such as these are a great way to bring the campus together.

Bedancur, a student from Columbia studying electronic systems engineering and taking part in the Center for English as a Second Language (CESL) program, said, although he is here just to improve his English, he can tell that CIE does its best to bring students together.

He said since he has been in the CESL program at SIU he has been able to hear about people’s different experiences, talk to people with different majors and even share recipes with other students.

Kamal Ibn Shafi, a second year grad student who is majoring in electrical and computer engineering, said he came to SIU because they have the top engineering program. He said the international program has a lot of helpful resources and allows students from all over to connect with each other.

According to Shafi, the CIE has a very diverse group of students from all over the world and has many RSOs for people to join.

Staff reporter Janiyah Gaston can be reached at jgaston@dailyegyptian.com or on Twitter @ DEJaniyah.

Wednesday, August 31, 2022

News | Page 5

Page 6 | News

Wednesday, August 31, 2022

Studying the algae in Campus Lake

Jamilah Lewis | @jamilahlewis

Southern Illinois University’s (SIUC) Campus Lake has closed once again because of harmful toxins coming from the algal blooms in the water.

The lake has had to close multiple times over the past several years because of how dangerous the algae in the water is.

According to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA), the algal blooms, caused by the explosive reproduction of cyanobacteria, occur in Illinois lakes and streams and are produced rapidly in warm shallow water that gets a lot of sunlight.

The blooms make stains on the water and float on the surface near the shorelines and typically happen in the summer months.

Zoologist Dr. Majorie Brooks and microbiologist Scott HamiltonBrehm have been studying the campus lake algae for years to see how it forms and how it releases harmful toxins.

“As soon as the lake water warms above about 30 degrees Celsius, or 86 Farenheit, I don’t know if you’ve ever put your foot in campus lake but it’s like stepping into a bathtub, that warm,” Brooks said.

With the lake being very shallow and in a non-windy environment, the water tends to be stagnant mostly in the arms of the lake, she said.

A warning sign sits in front of campus lake Aug. 25, 2022 at SIU in Carbondale, Ill. Saba Saboor Rooh Mofrad | @ssaboor_

Brooks said she collected water samples near the start of the school year to do a tracer study so she can determine the level of phosphate.

“That high phosphate is coming into the lake, so the lake has 23 storm drains,” Brooks said. “We

Algae sits on the surface of campus lake Aug. 25, 2022 at SIU in Carbondale, Ill. Saba Saboor Rooh Mofrad | @ssaboor_

know that some of them drain surface waters from campus, runoff from various parking lots and so forth.”

Brooks said the last time the school drained the lake halfway to clean it was in 2016. They cleaned out 23,000 tons of dry algae, testing it for contaminants and giving it to a local farmer to use as fill on his farmland.

“It’s actually not always an evil thing,” Brooks said. “It’s only [a] problem for society when it builds up to this extent and with climate change, it’s getting worse.”

With the school needing donations for the fountains, Brooks and Hamilton- Brehm are looking into the ecology and biochemistry of the organisms to see if they can find a way for the algae to release fewer toxins, she said.

Books said Facilities and Energy Management and the administration have been trying to find ways to improve the situation, one of them being adding fountains.

“We have to think about prevention of the cyanobacteria blooms, so that means oxygenating the water and lowering the nutrients,” Brooks said. “When you add fountains, it also helps cool the water, so that helps prevent that bloom.”

Brooks said it’s also something difficult to clean up since cyanobacteria is a single-celled organism that floats on the surface of the water.

“If you go out there with a rake in the campus lake, it’s just these cyanobacteria are floating, they just slide right through,” Brooks said. “People are actually starting to develop some, if you will, like

surface water weed eaters to be able to go out.”

Making big changes to the lake would be nice but severely expensive, Brooks said.

“Chang[ing] the shape of the lake to lower it, deepen it, so dig out the depths and make it much deeper and also to put wetlands,” Brooks said. “Large wetlands in all of the arms of the lake… that’s something that is on the table for consideration.”

Brooks said it would take a lot of resources and heavy equipment to put in wetlands, but overall it would be a very effective form of treating the water.

“There are some cities that treat their municipal water waste through wetland water treatment and have been doing so for a long time,” Brooks said. “So we have some models out there, [but] what we really need is some really highlevel funding to be able to do that in certain areas of life.”

Brooks said the Campus Center for Environmental Health and Safety tests the water during the summer every week for its toxin level. If the toxins are below 10 micrograms per liter level then it’s safe.

If it’s higher than 10 micrograms per liter level the center can call the IEPA to do a more conclusive test.

Hamilton-Brehm said cyanobacteria is an important organism to study with its effect on the world.

“I specialize in extreme organisms and the cyanobacteria are some of the [most extreme] organisms,” Hamilton-Brehm said. “They’re some of the original organisms that started terraforming this planet,

producing oxygen, and all that.”

Hamilton-Brehm said not all cyanobacteria produce toxins and the production of the toxins isn’t entirely unknown.

“You don’t want animals, pets like, drinking the water and all that. There’s a lot of nasty effects,” Hamilton-Brehm said. “What happens is, it’s a phosphatase inhibitor that affects our liver, and so, as animals, you know, dogs, cats, humans, whatever… it starts, this toxin starts, [that’s] really damaging [to] our liver and so that’s bad news.”

When the toxin levels get high in the water, it becomes very dangerous for humans to be around, but the organisms that already live in the water aren’t usually affected, Hamilton-Brehm said.

“It’s not amenable to humans so, you don’t want to be sticking your hands in it, you don’t want to drink it, you don’t want swimming in it,” Hamilton-Brehm said. “It’s just not a good place for mammals, [while] fish and other organisms, they deal with them on a regular basis.”

Hamilton-Brehm and Brook’s research is ongoing as they continue to find a way to slow the production of toxins in the algae down with encouraging results.

“They’re in a beaker and as you can imagine trying to scale up from a beaker to a lake takes many, many steps and a lot of very careful scientific investigation,” Brooks said. “But we have had some positive results and we’re very encouraged.”

Staff reporter Jamilah Lewis can be reached at jlewis@dailyegyptian.com or on Twitter @jamilahlewis.

Wednesday, August 31, 2022

News | Page 7

Anika Svancarek | @sw.an.ika

Cars vs. scooters: The battle for Carbondale

Mannie Henderson ehenderson@dailyegyptian.com

For weeks, Carbondale has been buzzing about the emergence of the electricpowered scooters manufactured by the company, Veo. While safety concerns have been raised by local officials, the scooters seem to be here to stay.

We decided to look into whether it makes more sense to drive your car or ride a scooter. The answer is, it depends.

First year student Tori Timmons said, “I’m from Chicago. Gas is almost $5.00 per gallon out there, so I would rather ride a scooter.”

This week, the regular cost of gas averaged around $3.786 in Carbondale, according to AAA insurance. On the other hand, Veo charges its riders a flat fee per minute and doesn’t require users to pay for its charging.

Conyers Lamb, operations manager for Veo, said, “The rate calculation is $1 for unlock and 31 cents per minute for each additional minute that you’re going to continue on your ride once you’ve unlocked it.”

Deciding whether to drive your car or ride a scooter seems situational, but the advantages and disadvantages must be examined when considering how close the two prices could be.

Former Lieutenant Governor of Illinois and professor of Law Sheila Simon is a known biking enthusiast. When asked about the advantages and disadvantages of both car and scooter options, she added the increased use of bikes on campus can be a gauge of increased gas prices.

“Fossil fuels, and particularly gas prices, have been high. It’s interesting,”

Simon said. “When the price of gas goes up, I see more people biking. There’s a little bit more risk involved in biking than in a car, but the risk is outweighed by the benefit of getting myself to work on the cheap side.”

With Carbondale being a college town, price plays a factor for many students when deciding their mode of transportation.

Driving a car requires people to keep fuel, hold car insurance and money for maintenance. On the other hand, riding a Veo scooter requires you to download their app, pay for the ride and adhere to the safety guidelines.

Ben Thomas, regional manager of Veo, said, “Everyone in Carbondale” is a member of Veo’s targeted audience.

“Through the first week of Aug., we did over 16,000 rides on about 300 scooters.

So this showed us that many people in the city of Carbondale want to use the scooters, whether for the community, just for fun or for recreational purposes,” he said.

When asked about Veo’s fears that people will prefer to drive rather than use scooters, Thomas said the company is not looking to compete with cars but is trying to offer another form of transportation.

“Suppose you want to ride a Veo instead of taking the car out of the parking lot and trying to find parking downtown or at the hospital,” Thomas said. “There are many scenarios where people could use scooters and drive their cars.”

Thomas notes a lot of people don’t bring cars to campus.

“For the students’ portion of it, as well as people that live in the city, they

don’t use cars as their main means of transportation; they might use buses or bikes,” Thomas said.

The verdict is still out on which method of transportation reigns supreme among town locals. However, several students who have ridden the Veo scooter weighed in with their thoughts.

Timmons said, “I would ride the seated scooter because gas prices are too high, and I will be able to get to class quickly.”

“I think anything over five minutes I’m taking my car. But if I’m just hopping around town, I might go Veo every once in a while,” Law student Ethan Konicek said.

Law student Tom Beley said, “I prefer driving my car because I have the money and prefer to be in my car. It’s easy and it’s my property. Parking isn’t hard to find in Carbondale.”

Cars and scooters seem to be the

primary modes of transportation in the city of Carbondale, but the decision for either seems to depend on your specific need and lifestyle.

Staff reporter Mannie Henderson can be reached at ehenderson@dailyegyptian.com

Please fill out our survey about Veo scooters on campus

Page 8

Wednesday, August 31, 2022

The Du Quoin State Fair

Two fairgoers hold out their arms on an amusement park ride at the Du Quoin State Fair Aug. 27, 2022 in Du Quoin, Ill. Sophie Whitten | @sophiewhitten_

State Fair1 continued from

Billy Barnard poses for the camera while he waits for a food truck customer at the Du Quoin State Fair Aug. 27, 2022 in Du Quoin, Ill. Sophie Whitten | @sophiewhitten_

500 companies and numerous state and community fairs.

The group of four will be performing three shows per day at the fair this year; with their 1950’s song and dance show, a kid’s dance workshop and their Pop show, these talented performers said they love what they do, especially the audience interaction and participation.

“One thing that we really love about the fairs is the interaction with the kids. It’s so important to us,” said Line Captain Lisa Michelle. “Our kid’s dance workshop is an anti-bullying program. We teach the kids ‘be a buddy, not a bully’ along with easy, fun dance moves,” she said.

Another fun and interactive event that took place in the free entertainment tent on

Sat An con lip win Th 12 you and sta Ad jud eve Th the

One couple, Tom and Diane Garner of Pinckneyville, have been coming to the fair since the 1980’s when they showed cattle at the livestock shows.

“There’s a lot less cattle now than there used to be,” said Tom Garner.

Local and state fair queens ride on floats, or in convertible cars, waving to the crowd as their crowns glisten in the last rays of the setting sun. School bands from all over Southern Illinois participate by performing their up-beat and energetic routines, including our very own SIU Saluki marching band and cheerleaders. The Shriners zip along in their mini cars, driving in a variety of choreographed patterns to the delighted squeals and cheers of onlookers.

Despite some changes over the years, the mayor said, there is still a lot to love.

“It’s 3,200 acres of bass fishing grounds and campgrounds, and we host a lot of people. The fair itself goes back 100 years, and the tradition over the years, some of it has changed because it’s had to change with the times, but it’s still the Du Quoin State Fair,” said Alongi.

The Du Quoin State Fair also provides a free entertainment tent with a wide range of family-friendly entertainment at no cost.

This year, organizers brought in the Chicago Honey Bear Dancers for their first appearance at the fair.

Originating from the talent troupe of the Chicago Bears Cheerleaders, the traveling song and dance show, the Chicago Honey Bear Dancers, have been singing and dancing independently of the Bears franchise since 1985. Traveling around the world, the Honey Bears have performed at over 180 United Cassie McBride eats fair food while talking with her fr States military bases, more than 70 Fortune 2022 in Du Quoin, Ill. Sophie Whitten | @sophiewhitte

Wednesday, August 31, 2022

Page 9

Cassie McBride eats fair food while talking with her friends at the Du Quoin State Fair Aug. 27, 2022 in Du Quoin, Ill. Sophie Whitten | @sophiewhitten

turday, Aug. 27, was the Lip Sync Battle. nyone was welcome to sign-up for the ntest, performing for the crowd their best p sync skills in hopes of walking away a nner.

The contest featured three age categories; 2 and under, 13 to 20 and over 20. The ungest performers showcased their lip sync d dance skills, often bouncing all over the age. The Miss Illinois County Fair Queen, ddisyn Calloni, was on hand as one of three dges and acted as awards presenter at the ent’s conclusion.

There’s still plenty of opportunity to enjoy e fair. It doesn’t close until Sept. 5.

Staff reporter Erica Loos can be reached at eloos@dailyegyptian.com

riends at the Du Quoin State Fair Aug. 27, en

Savannah Little pets a cow at the Du Quoin State Fair petting zoo Aug. 27, 2022 in Du Quoin, Ill. Sophie Whitten | @sophiewhitten_

Page 10 | Entertainment and Culture

Wednesday, August 31, 2022

Small market, big variety: a cultural experience Saba Saboor Rooh Mofrad @ssaboor_

The first time I walked into the International Market in Carbondale, Illinois, I felt very emotional. It was my first week in the United States and first time away from my family, and seeing all the traditional global products, spices and drinks such as mint water and rose water made me feel less homesick and truly warmed my heart. Many international students share the same story.

Many people from different backgrounds, local and international, visit the International Market to find unique products.

Nilanjana Bardhan, a former SIU faculty member from India says going to this store is a regular part of her routine and she added that this store is a very comfortable place to shop and the staff are very helpful and friendly.

“I’m just so glad we have a place like this here because Carbondale

has a really large international population and it just gives you a sense of belonging,” Bardhan says.

The environment of the market is cozy, compact and filled with many colorful products.The International Market has a variety of products from Asia, the Middle East, Mexico and many other locales.

Leslie Lloyd, a former SIU faculty member, says she is very pleased with the store and she can find things here that are not available elsewhere locally.

“Without this shop, we can’t get things that are unique from other cultures,” Lloyd said No matter where you come from you can find something between the snuggly placed shelves of this International Market.

Staff photographer Saba Saboor Rooh Mofrad can be reached at ssaboorroohmofrad@dailyegyptian. com or on instagram @ssaboor_.

Nilanjana Bardhan, a former SIU faculty member from India, shops for produce Aug. 26, 2022 at the International market in Carbondale, Ill. Saba Saboor Rooh Mofrad| @ssaboor_

Products sit on shelves Aug. 26, 2022 at the International market in Carbondale, Ill. Saba Saboor Rooh Mofrad| @ssaboor_

Leslie Lloyd, a former SIU faculty member,shops for Naan and Spiece Aug. 26, 2022 at the International market in Carbondale, Ill. Saba Saboor Rooh Mofrad| @ssaboor_

Wednesday, August 31, 2022

Entertainment and Culture | Page 11

Drinks and refreshments sit on the fridge shelves Aug. 26, 2022 at the International market in Carbondale, Ill. Saba Saboor Rooh Mofrad| @ssaboor_

Employee organizing the produce Aug. 26, 2022 at the International market in Carbondale, Ill. Saba Saboor Rooh Mofrad| @ssaboor_

x Jars of pickles, mint water and rose water sit on top of a shelf Aug. 26, 2022 at the International market in Carbondale, Ill. Saba Saboor Rooh Mofrad| @ssaboor_

Vegetables sit inside a box on the fridge shelves Aug. 26, 2022 at the International market in Carbondale, Ill. Saba Saboor Rooh Mofrad| @ssaboor_

Customer shops for kewpie Mayo Aug. 26, 2022 at the International market in Carbondale, Ill. Saba Saboor Rooh Mofrad| @ssaboor_

Page 12 | Entertainment and Culture

Wednesday, August 31, 2022

Anika Svancarek | @sw.an.ika

Column: Clogs and “cultured folk chic” define Carbondale fashion

Aaron Elliott aelliott@dailyegyptian.com

My ankles are just killing me. I bought these chunky little $12 platform clogs and fell absolutely head over heels for them. Literally and figuratively. I have always loved the style of the shoe, just never the aches and pains that go along with them. They aren't exactly heels, but they are not flats. A different breed.

Therefore, I am not contradicting myself from two columns ago, where I stated that there is no reason to wear heels to campus, to which I still stand firmly on. I just love the look of them.

I purchased my first pair of clogs in 2018 while perusing the clearance aisle (because I refuse to pay full price for fast fashion), when a great pile of nude shoes all sat pretty, lining the shelf. There had to have been at least 30 of the same shoe just in different sizes, all priced at the immaculate payment of $5. Of course, as any person who has an issue with shopping too much would do, into the cart they went. I wore those things to death, and they had about ten different lives. I mean they got puked on, slipped in, and farm worked by the time I gave up the ghost. I painted them a dozen different colors, covered them in ribbon, and eventually embellished them with vintage jewelry.

Filling the hole in my heart, the $12 replacements came to my rescue. I wore them for about a week, broke them, and then fixed them. I could have tossed the pieces of Walmart junk away, but I knew better than that. School was starting back up, and fall fashion forecasting was seeing these franken-shoes everywhere.

“Clip, clop, clip, clop” was the only noise I could hear as I sat in my English class. This was a familiar noise. Down the hallway came what only I could describe as the sound of a horse walking. I jolted my eyes to the door and waited in anticipation, hoping for a glimpse of this noble steed. A smile sprung to my face as a small statured woman wearing a long skirt and holding her stained up satchel bag walked past the open classroom door. I giggled to myself and said in my head, “Oh, Carbondale''.

Now, I could have thought about this person being up with the times on the latest trends, but there is a difference.

The free-love 70s style fashions have been strutting the runways lately and filling our storefronts for over a year now, but before that, it made a safe nest here on and off of campus.

If I could sum Carbondale up as any fashion accessory or garment, it would be the clog.

Think about it. When you sit and ponder the fashions of our bustling university town, it is hard not to imagine some sort of hippie outfit. I close my eyes and imagine a woman wearing a muted tone shirt with some variation of a busy patterned pant or skirt, paired with a necklace that was more than likely bought at a farmers market, and clogs.

They are funky, go in and out of fashion, but are always there when needed. They also contain smells very well, and after one wear, they usually stink.

Carbondale can sometimes seem to be stuck in that “Tuscan Sun” era of fashion.

That taupe-ish/ beige time between 2004 and 2010, where every single mother decided to tear apart their kitchens and put in tile. Everyone knows what I am talking about. You know, that time when fake grapes and wine themed decor put our mothers in a headlock.

I could roll my eyes out of my head at some of the things people walk around in, but I analyze the situation and move on.

A lot of people around these parts don't care about fashion. That is a controversial statement, but it is true. Most folks here aren't going out shopping for what looks good, but rather what feels good.

I grew up just a few towns over, and something that I always love to giggle and joke about is the choice of footwear people choose here as locals. The men usually wear a comfortable tennis shoe or a loafer. Very typical for a man. The women though, they seem to always opt for the open toe shoe. I don't mean a cute little peek-a-boo slipper, I mean that their toes are out. Their dogs are always barking and I can't help but shield my eyes as they grip over the front of their Jesus-esque sandals.

Most folks around here dress seriously, but always add a playful touch. It could be being surrounded by college students all day, but it keeps things level. Everyone here wears what they want, and I hope that is obvious to most as they look around, but there is a general aesthetic that seems to linger.

Cultured Folk Chic is the silly title I have deemed as Carbondale fashion. I

could have grouped it with something that exists already, but that wouldn't do it justice in the least bit. It is cultured because of the amount of diversity that our college brings to the area. The rich patterns and textiles that are brought here by students from all over the country, and the world really bring it to life. The country aspect comes from the long timers that have been around for decades, and the farm life that is in the country of Jackson county.

The world of academia brings a whole list of its own styles. Chunky coats and blazers in fabrics of wool and canvas, khaki pants with frumpy shoes, and a few more are what I consider to be fashion associated with academics and school.

This style mixes well with the grown-up Woodstock children outfits of the area, and has made the perfect blend. It pairs well with what is being manufactured right now for consumption, and what is in vogue.

It isn't that Carbondale is out of fashion. We have been out of the loop before, but right now we seem to line up with the newest trends. It will not last long, but soak it up as much as you can.

In about another ten years or so, the cycle will start again, and Carbondale will be high fashion again, as it is now.

Until then, I will continue to smile while clunking along in my clogs, proud to be where I am.

Staff reporter Aaron Elliott can be reached at Aelliott@dailyegyptian.com

Wednesday, August 31, 2022

Entertainment and Culture | Page 13

Column: Marvel Studios may be hurtling toward its own undoing Zaden Dennis zdennis@dailyegyptian.com

Just three years ago, Marvel Studios released “Avengers: Endgame,” a global phenomenon that, for a short period, was the number one highest grossing film of all time and still holds its place as the second highest grosser of all time (after Avatar re-surpassed it).

Since then, we have gone through a global pandemic, during which Marvel Studios took a year-long “break” from releasing content. In January of 2021, it returned with its first ever TV series, premiering on Disney Plus, “WandaVision.”

Since then, Marvel Studios has released six films, two animated series, and seven live-action series in less than two years, most recently with “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.” Just for comparison, prior to “Endgame,” in two years the studio would average six film releases every two years, which is a lot for movie-goers to handle. But by the end of 2022, Marvel will have released a total of sixteen projects between its series and films, nearly triple its previous release schedule. But that’s not what is most concerning.

Recently Marvel has announced its entire release slate up to 2025 (excluding a few projects kept under wraps). This will culminate with not one, but two new “Avengers” films released in the same year.

President and mastermind of Marvel Studios, Kevin Feige, also revealed that this era of Marvel releases, from 2021 to 2025, will be titled the “Multiverse Saga.” This Saga, in total, will encompass 37 live-action projects (not including various animated series). Between the television series and films, all of them are being considered integral to the overarching storyline being told within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

For another comparison, the original “Infinity Saga” of the MCU started with “Iron Man” in 2008 and ended with “Endgame” in 2019. It was composed of 23 films, over an eleven-year period, which, even in its own right, was unprecedented. But now the number of projects being released is nearly doubled and in less than half the time.

Even the franchise's most diehard fans have expressed a certain level of concern. With it becoming increasingly difficult to keep up with

Lane Frost | lfrost@dailyegyptian.com

the various shows and movies, which at the current rate, are releasing nearly every month, with all these still being considered “necessary viewing” for the franchise.

The aspect of quality-control has also been of concern for a lot of viewers.

With the Marvel pipeline churning out so much content in such a short amount of time, it’s likely nearly impossible for them all to maintain a consistent level of quality.

The recent release of “Thor: Love and Thunder” has been a pivotal moment for moviegoers at large, in

their perception of the franchise and the genre. For the first time in years, the consensus around a Marvel film has been largely negative. With “Thor” being one of the franchises longest lasting and most beloved characters, it’s even more shocking.

Many fans have stated their disappointment with the film’s mediocrity, which then opened a larger conversation about the current state of the franchise, with many calling out the relatively inconsistent quality of the Disney Plus shows as well.

With the franchise's recent projects

disappointing audiences, it becomes hard to be confident in Marvel’s larger plans going forward. While it doesn’t seem like the company’s profits are taking any hit currently, it begs the consideration of the sustainability of Marvel’s current business practices.

There has also been a magnifying glass positioned on Marvel’s relationship with CGI FX studios.

Many firsthand accounts from visual effects artists have come out stating that the working conditions with Marvel are simply unacceptable. Marvel will often outsource to third- party effects studios

for the CGI in its films/shows.

Many workers have stated the turnaround time to finish these effects is extremely strenuous, with the studio demanding last minute changes consistently, as well as those employees having to crunch in long workdays to meet their deadline.

Statements were made on social media from the artists, saying Marvel is the “worst VFX management out there.” Some effects studios have even stated they actively avoid working with the studio following previous negative experiences.

With the amount of CGI present in every Marvel project and the number of total projects in a short period of time, one must assume it can’t be possible for franchise products to be completed with a consistent level of quality, or ethical work practices.

Each Marvel show often costs around $150 million to produce, with their films typically doubling that budget. This requires that each project make a considerable amount of money to even earn back its budget, let alone turn a profit.

The superhero genre is consistently the most expensive, and the expectation of each one to gross at least half a billion dollars is becoming more and more unreasonable. Even outside of Marvel, there are no shortage of competitors trying their own hand. With all the emphasis placed on these films, it’s easy for smaller films to be pushed out and have their lunch eaten by these box office titans.

All these facts come together to paint a picture of the current state of the film industry at large, even outside of superhero films. With the industry having shifted towards these types of films, out of sheer profitability, there is a real sense of burnout among audiences.

Many find it impossible to keep up with the timeline of even just Marvel films, let alone the multiple other separate franchises. And when it has become a gamble whether the projects will even be enjoyable, it’s hard to look at Kevin Feige’s massive slate of releases for the next three years with excitement, rather than anxiety.

Staff reporter Zaden Dennis can be reached at zdennis@dailyegyptian.com and you can find his other reviews at letterboxd.com/Zadenator.

Page 14 | Sports

Wednesday, August 31, 2022

Saluki football has sights set on a national championship Brandyn Wilcoxen @BrandynWilcoxen.

Nick Hill transferred to Southern Illinois University in 2004 to play football under head coach Jerry Kill. At the time of Hill’s graduation four years later, the Salukis were in the midst of a stretch that would eventually reach seven consecutive playoff seasons.

Nearly two decades after Hill first came to Carbondale, he is at the helm of his alma mater’s quest for another run to the top. Entering his seventh season as head coach of Saluki football, Hill has accumulated a record of 21-14 across three winning seasons since 2019, including two consecutive playoff berths, the first since their seven-year streak ended in 2009.

“These seniors, the guys that came here in 2019, they’ve never had a losing season and now they’re in their fourth year,” Hill said. “That trickles down to the younger guys, when they see how it’s supposed to be done.”

Of the five FCS teams to win a playoff game in both spring and fall 2021, SIU was the only one to win road games in both years. This year, however, SIU intends on earning the right to host its own playoff game.

“Obviously we want to win the conference, then we want to go and win a home playoff game, go to the national championship and win the national championship,” junior quarterback Nic Baker said.

A national championship is a lofty expectation, especially with SIU sharing a conference with reigning champions North Dakota State, which has won nine FCS National Championships since 2011 and ranks No. 1 on the FCS Top 25 rankings. The Missouri Valley also features South Dakota State and Missouri State, which rank No. 2 and 5 respectively. Southern Illinois occupies the ninth spot on that list heading into the new year.

But if any team is prepared to take on that challenge, it is the team that beat North Dakota State when it came to Carbondale in spring 2021, and took down South Dakota State in overtime in the fall of that year.

“We take every game seriously, because as you saw last year, anybody can win any game,” Baker said. “We want those expectations. Why else would you want to come here and play?”

Southern Illinois won the 1983 FCS National Championship (then called Division I-AA). That season saw the Salukis finish 13-1, cruising their way to the title as the top seed in the country. Although, to most players and many fans, that may seem like a distant memory, this year’s Salukis have their sights set on that same result.

“There’s nothing that shows us that we can’t do it. The only people that can beat us is, ourselves,” senior linebacker Ma’kel Calhoun said. “We’re chasing that ring. We definitely want to get on that wall: 2022 Salukis, National

Head Coach Nick Hill runs onto the field on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, during the Saluki’s 7-21 loss against the North Dakota State Bison. Isabel Miller | @Isabelmmedia

Champions.”

While SIU has plenty of recent success to build upon, the nature of college football enforces a near constant roster turnover from year to year. COVID-19 created a onetime exception for players to stick around an extra year, but many key contributors, including All-MVFC players Qua Brown, Anthony Knighton and Bryce Notree, saw their Saluki playing careers come to a close in 2021.

To replace lost production, Southern Illinois has seen an influx of transfers. Calhoun recognized some of his fellow linebackers – Nick

make a name for themselves.”

A notable difference for this upcoming season is something that is relatively familiar under normal circumstances. Since the 2020 campaign was delayed until the following spring, followed shortly after by the fall 2021 season, this year will be the first in which teams will have the entire offseason to rest and prepare for the season.

The presence of a normal offseason may not seem like a significant change, but considering the circumstances surrounding most of the players’ collegiate careers thus far, it’s a welcome return to normalcy.

gotta take a step up. I’ve felt myself step up after starting for a year. You just have to. I feel myself talking more, being more vocal. You notice more people listening to you.”

Baker was named as an All-MVFC Honorable Mention in 2021, joining teammates WR Avante Cox and DB P.J. Jules on that list. Running back Javon Williams Jr. earned All-MVFC Second Team honors.

Cox in particular dealt with a lingering shoulder issue that kept him out of three games in 2021, including the final game against North Dakota State in the FCS Playoffs. With time to properly recover, Cox looks to

“We take every game seriously, because as you saw last year, anybody can win any game, we want those expectations.

Why else would you want to come here and play?”

- Nic Baker Junior Quarterback

Okeke from Louisville, Chris Harris Jr. from Georgia Southern, and George Douglas IV from Central Michigan – as transfers who have taken well to their new team.

“Those three guys, they play a huge role as far as defense and special teams, and they bring a lot of energy as well. That is a bonus to our team,” Calhoun said.

Hill added that, with starters graduating from last year’s team, younger players will have an opportunity to leave their own mark on Saluki football.

“A lot of those older guys that had a voice on this team are gone. That’s the exciting part about college football.

Every year you’re gonna have classes that can’t come back, they’re out of eligibility,” Hill said. “That just gives the excitement of new people getting an opportunity. New people get to

“Having a real offseason definitely was different. I feel like I haven’t had one in a couple years,” Baker said.

“It was huge, getting a whole spring ball in, getting the new guys in there and getting them acquainted with what we do. I think it’s been huge leadership-wise, and just team-wise getting everybody together.”

Baker’s most recent “normal” offseason as a full-time starting quarterback was back in his days at Rochester High School, where he led his team to the IHSA Class 4A state championship in 2017. During his transition to taking that role for Southern Illinois, Baker has felt himself coming into his own not only on the field, but in the locker room as well.

“It comes with the position,” Baker said. “But definitely getting older, becoming the number one, you’ve

return to form in 2022.

“Getting that spring and getting finally a break feels like it was huge,” Cox said. “Save our legs and our body wasn’t all banged up for this upcoming season. It’s great to be back.”

Recently during practice, Cox suffered a hand injury that will possibly see him miss the season opener. Despite this, both Cox and the coaching staff are confident that he will return early in the year and not miss significant time.

Southern Illinois opens the year on the road, traveling to San Antonio on Sept. 3 to take on Incarnate Word in what will prove to be a tough challenge. UIW comes into the year ranked No. 14 in the country.

“I think all of our guys have been working hard,” Hill said. “Probably the same excitement every team in the country around this time feels.

It’s time to go and play somebody different. We’ve practiced against ourselves 18 times, got some more important practices to go, but excited to get down to San Antonio.”

The first game at Saluki Stadium will come on Sept. 10, when SIU defends home field as well as “The Wheel” against rival Southeast Missouri State. The Salukis have won the past two entries in the “War For The Wheel” rivalry, which dates back to 1913 when teams would cross the Mississippi River by boat to get to their annual games.

Riding the momentum of recent success, in addition to the established rivalry, the Salukis expect an electric crowd to be on-hand for their first home game of the season.

“I can see the environment being pretty spectacular, just from us being a winning team for the last couple years, seeing more of a capacity at the football field,” Williams said. “I can see it being a big crowd, and just be out there and go win The Wheel.”

Cox, who has seen three “War For The Wheel” games during his time in Carbondale, hopes his team improves its 2-1 record against SEMO. “Ever since I’ve been here, it’s been by far the most live and exciting game to play,” Cox said. “I definitely love playing SEMO, they’re a great team.”

In addition to the aforementioned stakes, Hill has further investment in the rivalry through SEMO’s head coach Tom Matukewicz, who was an assistant coach under Kill when Hill played for the Salukis in the mid2000s. Matukewicz now stands on the sideline opposite Hill during one of the more intense games on the SIU schedule.

“I love that game. I have more respect for Coach Tuke [Matukewicz] than anybody in the country,” Hill said. “He’s a great man, he coached me, so it’s fun to be able to play for such a big game.”

After spring 2021 forced Saluki Stadium to greatly limit capacity, the fall season brought the highest average attendance for the program since 2016. With no sign of letting up, Saluki football can expect that same outpouring of support from Carbondale and the region as a whole.

“We took a year off with the COVID and everything like that. It kinda seemed like the fans dropped off, but as you look around, you can see the fans never left at all,” Calhoun said. “I’m just excited to see everybody come out here and show love, show their support.”

Kickoff for both the Incarnate Word and SEMO games is scheduled for 6 p.m. Both games will air on ESPN+, with the SEMO game also being broadcast on KFVS-TOO. Staff reporter Brandyn Wilcoxen can be reached at bwilcoxen@ dailyegyptian.com or on Twitter at @BrandynWilcoxen.

Wednesday, August 31, 2022

Study Break | Page 15

Sophie Whitten

Sophie Whitten swhitten@dailyegyptian.com

Wednesday, August 31, 2022

Page 16