THE Daily Egyptian
e Daily Egyptian’s semester in photos
Editor’s Note: is review contains spoilers.
Blumhouse Productions released their anticipated sequel to “Five Nights at Freddy’s” on Dec. 5, 2025. “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” is a supernatural horror lm based on the iconic video game franchise of the same name, which opened to not-so-great reviews. Don’t panic yet; this movie still has a lot of great moments for fans and casual moviegoers. To give a spoiler-free summary, “FNAF 2” resumes the story a year following the events of the rst movie. Josh Hutcherson and Piper Rubio reprise their roles as Mike and Abby Schmidt, a brother and sister duo, as both try to move on from the events of the rst lm by starting a new life. Abby, still grieving the potential loss of her animatronic friends from the rst movie, tries to reunite with them throughout the lm
while Mike tries everything in his power to stop her. e movie reiterated its central theme of dealing with past trauma while also diving deeper into topics of childhood grief and PTSD. I thought the inclusion of these themes in the sequel was OK, but needed to be polished a lot more in the writers’ room. ese themes also leave a few plot holes, but again, the writers’ room should have xed them.
Salukis wreck Redhawks 76-71 in regional rivalry
NOAH PETSCHKE
Hoping to snap a 6-game skid, the Salukis hosted the Redhawks of Southeast Missouri State University on Saturday, Dec. 6, for a matinee women’s basketball game. While searching for a victory over their rivals, the Salukis struck gold with a team win over SEMO by a score of 76-71 e Redhawks won the tip, but had their rst shot blocked. Relentless defense from both teams led to multiple blocks and drawn charges early in the quarter. e scoring was opened up by a SEMO 3-pointer, and
not too long after, SIU center Mia Gaines and guard Kayla Cooper responded with a few layups to knot the game at six points apiece. Guard Karris Allen converted an impressive and-1 to put an exclamation point on a 10-point SIU run, giving the Dawgs the lead for the rst time. e quarter concluded with the Salukis on top with a score of 16-14. Strong rebounding and defense from the Salukis slowed down the Redhawks’ o ense to begin the second quarter. SEMO’s o ense started to break through the Saluki defense and got within two
points by e ciently driving into the paint and scoring. e Salukis were quick to respond and regained the lead, bringing it back up to ve. e Redhawks found themselves in foul trouble, and the Salukis developed their lead from the free-throw line. To close out the rst half, the Salukis held a 2-point margin over the Redhawks. e second half was underway, and the Redhawks quickly regained the lead. Guard Alayna Kraus answered with a oater and knotted the intense match at 39-39. e Salukis
BASKETBALL
Above: Beau Hanshaw, dressed as Ghostface, lays on the lawn of John and Linda Hu man’s house in the smoke of dry ice as he trick-or-treats along Glenview Dr. Oct. 31, 2025 in Carbondale, Illinois. Lylee Gibbs | @lyleegibbsphoto
Left: Kids jump in a bounce house Sept. 20, 2025 at the Day of Hope event in Marion, Illinois. Daylin Williams | @photosbydaylin
Right: A child waves among a group of people that climbed on a structure atz the No Kings Protest Oct. 18, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Dominique Martinez-Powell | @d.martinezphoto
Right: Karen Rodriguez poses for a portrait in the Rec Center pool with the Mexican ag oating behind her Sept. 26, 2025 at the Student Recreational Center in Carbondale, Illinois. Dominique Martinez-Powell | @d.martinezphoto
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Photo Editor: Dominique Martinez-Powell dmartinez-powell@dailyegyptian.com
Editor-in-Chief: Lylee Gibbs lgibbs@dailyegyptian.com
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Published by the students of Southern Illinois University Carbondale on a weekly basis in print, and every day on dailyegyptian.com. Fall and spring semester editions run every Wednesday. Free copies are distributed in the Carbondale, Carterville, and Springfeld communities.
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Meet the editorial board
Left to right: Dominique Martinez-Powell, Jackson Brandhorst, Lylee Gibbs, David Starr-Flemming, Carly Gist and Alee Quick. Morrigan Carey | mcarey@dailyegyptian.com
To see the rest of the Daily Egyptian sta , visit page 11.
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Local orgs face uncertain future after Carbondale cuts NPO funding
YAHRI EDMOND YEDMOND@DAILYEGYPTIAN COM
e City of Carbondale’s decision to scale back nonpro t funding has sparked concern among organizations that rely heavily on city support to serve vulnerable residents.
In a letter sent Oct. 31, 2025, City Manager Stan Reno announced that community agency funding will be signi cantly reduced beginning in Fiscal Year 2027. e change follows the exhaustion of federal American Rescue Plan Act funds, which previously helped sustain many local programs. Under the new rules, only groups funded in FY26 will qualify for FY27 support — and even then, they will receive just 50% of last year’s amount. No new applicants will be considered. For some organizations, the cut is devastating.
Deborah Woods, Vice President of Women for Change at the Eurma C. Hayes Center, held the annual Stepping Into e Essence of Elegance fundraiser on Nov. 15, a few weeks after they were noti ed about the budget cut. Woods said the loss of funding threatens the core of their mission.
FNAF
CONTINUED FROM 1
“It represented three-quarters of our budget, to tell you the truth,” Woods said. “It goes for the sewing room and our other projects, as well as the community e$orts we do — whether it’s somebody
to do,” she said. “ ere are a lot of organizations that are going to be lost without that money.”
She also questioned the city’s spending priorities.
downfall for what nonpro ts do.”
Carbondale Mayor Carolin Harvey acknowledged that the cuts place nonpro ts in a di!cult position, but said the city is trying to stabilize its
“I don’t know what we’re going to do...There are a lot of organizations that are going to be lost without that money.”
- Deborah Woods Vice President of Women for Change
burned out of their home or someone who lost their job and needs help.”
Woods said the city told them simply that the money is no longer in the budget.
“I don’t know what we’re going
While on the topic of writing, this movie’s dialogue is painful at times, making it di!cult to listen to. e script was written by the creator of “FNAF,” Scott Cawthon, and you can tell which sections were his and which ones were rewritten by an industry professional. Before you raise your pitchforks and throw on a $5,000 animatronic bear suit, I will say this script added juicy lore to the movie.
But the lore, in fact, left more questions than it answered. is also brings in a major issue with the movie — it’s written for the fan base, not general audiences.
Essentially, I needed a PHD from Harvard in “FNAF” lore to understand this movie. A wider audience is going to struggle comprehending the plot because of how complex the lore dropping is. I’d much rather catch up on “Muppets” lore than “FNAF” lore.
Speaking of the Muppets, the animatronic characters become a lot more quirky in this installment. e Jim Henson Creature Shop returned to the lm and came back swinging, as always, with the new animatronics that appeared on screen. ey looked and moved incredibly and were more terrifying than in the rst lm.
Spoilers below!!!
I can’t believe Jim Carrey came in toward the end and teamed up with Sabrina Carpenter to defeat Ariana Grande from “Wicked” in a pingpong match. ese are not spoilers, but a bu$er to make sure people don’t accidentally read them. Spoilers actually begin now!
e ending of this lm was absolutely confusing and unnecessary. e animatronics from the rst movie coming back to save Mike, Abby and Vanessa from Michael was an ok choice, but also was a complete scapegoat to make sure FNAF 3 happens. Don’t get me wrong, it totally would have been a crazy moment if it were written and set up properly, but truly, that was terrible writing. Also, the main con%ict is disappointing and poorly written. Why is Mike pushing Vanessa away because she can’t deal with her trauma? She was doing what you were instructing, and you pushed her aside like it was her problem?
“We’re building this big structure for concerts, but that doesn’t seem to help the community at large,” Woods said. “Next year, some groups won’t get anything. at’s going to be a
e writing in this movie is just awful. FNAF fans should go full 1985 Chicago Bears and demolish Scott’s script with their own. e ending was also dissatisfying because what do you mean, Vennessa is turned evil for no reason, just to cut to the credits? I understand it’s gameaccurate, but it makes zero sense.
Also, Michael Afton’s appearance was a treat. I know a little bit of the lore, so seeing Michael show up and instigate all of this was perfect; however, he escaped too easily. Also, that teacher, who I found out was played by Wayne Knight, AKA Dennis Nedry from “Jurassic Park” or Al from “Toy Story 2,” had one of the worst acting performances of his career.
It was not his fault because mainly the dialogue got him, but also, you are Wayne Knight. You are funny, and you can totally make those lines better.
Overall 4/10
First o$, this movie is not as bad as everyone thinks. I grade movies not on story alone, but include cinematography, production design, editing and sound design. I used to study lm theory and production before changing my major, so I have a very interesting perspective on why these critics are wrong for bombing this movie.
e movie, as I have previously stated, has terrible writing. I do not even know how this movie got greenlit, but everyone is sleeping on the production design. e movie looks like it takes place in the early 2000s. Every %ashback, overgrown building and murderous robot bear feels authentic to that time period.
e cinematography was great. ere were a lot of shots during which I actually said, “Wow, that’s pretty.” e lighting in this movie was done well and deserves more recognition. It successfully captured the ability to light a subject and make them look like they are in the area without sticking out.
e post side of production did an incredible job. e score of this movie is from the infamous Newton Brothers, who killed it on the last movie with the score and continued their hot streak. e sound design for this movie is also very high quality and deserves recognition. If the script were better and the production crew hired an acting coach, maybe this film
long-term nancial outlook.
“ARPA funding has been exhausted, and it’s just not in the city’s budget to continue to fund nonpro ts,” Harvey said. “ e funding was never to be the
would have been higher on my list. Critics love to only look at the story and the writing of movies, so I can see why this film was ranked lower in critics’ eyes compared to
main source of funding for any agency.” Harvey said the city will continue looking for ways to support nonpro ts, even if direct funding is reduced. e mayor also encouraged nonpro ts to apply for private or state grants. Carbondale City Council member Nathan Colombo said the cuts did not come as a surprise to city sta$, though the timing may have caught organizations o$ guard.
“I think this is something that had been planned for at least a couple of years now,” Colombo said. “ ese were conversations that had occurred in some way, but this was everything nally coming down all at once and saying this funding will not continue to occur in this way.”
As Carbondale moves into FY27, many nonpro ts say they will need to reduce programs, seek new funding, host more fundraisers or ght for the restoration of city support.
“We’re not the only organization,” Woods said. “A lot of groups are hurting — and the community will feel it.”
Reporter Yahri Edmond can be reached at yedmond@dailyegyptian.com
mine, but hey, that’s just a film theory.
Videographer Will Elliott can be reached at welliott@dailyegyptian.com
Free job training in southern Illinois covers tuition, childcare costs
TREVOR
JOHN TJOHN@DAILYEGYPTIAN COM
When Stephanie Robinson arrived at Southern Illinois University in 1999, she planned to get a degree and leave the region.
of this year, she was officially announced as the CEO of ManTra-Co, leading a workforce development organization that spent more than $3 million on training and support services
“I can teach someone rules and regs...I can’t teach them how to have a heart to serve the community.”
- Stephanie Robinson CEO of Man-Tra-Co
Robinson grew up in Centralia, Illinois, watching as manufacturing plants shut down and families lost their livelihoods in the 1990s. Her goal was to work for a nonprofit on the East Coast.
“It was never the goal to stay,” Robinson said. “But it just kind of happened.”
Robinson married a local teacher and stayed in southern Illinois. Eighteen years later, on Nov. 2
during the past year.
Robinson described what she referred to as “the silver tsunami.” She said the region faces what workforce experts call a demographic shift as Baby Boomers retire from skilled trades.
“There’s not people to fill those roles,” Robinson said. “Your HVAC people, your welding people now are coming out making more money than a four-
year graduate.”
Man-Tra-Con provides tuition assistance and support services to low-income students and displaced workers. The organization covered $251,149 in student tuition in the 2024-25 program year and spent $315,076 on childcare, transportation, uniforms and textbooks, according to the Southern Illinois Workforce Development Board annual report.
Robinson said federal grant regulations limit how the organization can advertise its services, making the programs difficult for potential participants to discover.
“I don’t know if they think it’s too good to be true or there’s some gimmick to it,” Robinson said. “But you basically come out debt-free.”
The organization served 436 participants in the last program year and placed 105 youths in work experiences. Man-Tra-Con paid $408,384 in wages to participants and served 52 local employers.
On top of leading Man-TraCon, Robinson is currently enrolled in SIU’s workforce education program. She will graduate with a Master of Science in Organizational Learning, Innovation and Development, specifically focusing on the Human Resource Development track, in May 2026.
“One of the
fund with federal grants, she said. Robinson recently met with university o cials to discuss micro-credentials: shorter specialized certi cations that would allow the organization to fund SIU
“I can teach someone rules and regs,” Robinson said. “I can’t teach them how to have a heart to serve the community.”
Robinson said she now
“If you have a strong workforce, you have strong communities,”
- Stephanie Robinson CEO of Man-Tra-Co
things with my degree at SIU is learning some of those new techniques to recruit and retain good talent,” she said.
Man-Tra-Con has partnerships with John A. Logan College and Rend Lake College. e relationship with SIU is in a rebuilding phase, Robinson said.
Higher tuition at SIU limits the number of students ManTra-Con can
students without the cost of a full degree.
Man-Tra-Con opened a satellite resource room inside the Carbondale Amtrak station at 401 S. Illinois Ave., and Robinson said the location was chosen to serve residents who rely on public transportation.
Robinson started at ManTra-Con in 2007 as a career specialist working with clients on college campuses. She moved into compliance and performance management, ensuring the organization met federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act requirements.
Robinson said she has a Type A personality from years of regulatory work. But in her first months as CEO, facing staff turnover, she changed her approach to hiring.
prioritizes character over experience in hiring decisions.
Man-Tra-Con received a $2.3 million Clean Energy Jobs Act grant. Robinson said she plans to use the funding to diversify the region’s economy and show young people they can build careers locally.
“If you have a strong workforce, you have strong communities,” Robinson said.
Robinson lives in Herrin with her daughter, who attends local schools. Twenty-six years after planning to leave southern Illinois, Robinson said she is committed to the region.
“I do love the region,” Robinson said. “It’s beautiful here.”
Stephanie Robinson, CEO of Man-Tra-Con Corporation, poses for a portrait at the American Job Center Southern Illinois Dec. 5, 2025 in Marion, Illinois. Riley Sembler | @riley_sembler
Focus on: Features and portraits
Bu, a professor
mathematics education in the school
while using a tool to lift up a 3D printed model he designed Oct. 2, 2025 at
University in Carbondale, Illinois. Bu teaches both undergrad and graduate courses. These courses help prepare future teachers who want to teach math education. He also teaches grad level courses in design, speci cally instruction design. He uses 3D printers for a lot of the design courses, to help other teachers, and to work on projects in the Southern Illinois University STEM Education Research Center. Riley Sembler | @riley_sembler
Berget Borowitz, 23, sits at her drums set in the Lost Cross living room next to a Mosquito mask she made to wear while playing with her band Pet Mosquito during the Blackout Musical festival back in April 2024 Oct. 1, 2025 at the Lost Cross punk house in Carbondale, Illinois. Dominique MartinezPowell | @d.martinezphoto
Jake Owens walks into the crowd of fans while performing at the Du Quoin State Fair Aug. 29, 2025 in Du Quoin, Illinois. Emily Brinkman | erb_photo_
Tobias Edwards, 10, balances on his own on top of a horse during horse therapy at Exceptional Equestrian of the Equine Valley Sept. 24, 2025 in Union, Missouri. Edwards participates in horse therapy every week to help his ATR-X syndrome and set a personal record of 80 seconds balancing on his own. Lylee Gibbs | @lyleegibbsphoto
Linggue
of
of education poses for a portrait
Southern Illinois
Children peek out the window of a re truck with a stu ed animal Oct. 25, 2025 at the Homecoming Parade in Carbondale, Illinois. Peyton Cook | @cookmeavisual
Brittany Schwien climbs up The Scout, a climbing area located in Giant City State park Sept. 14, 2025 during the Becoming An Outdoors Women Workshop, in Makanda, Illinois. Libby Phelps | @libbyphelpsphotography
Focus on: News
aestrada@dailyegyptian.com
Pastor John Annabelle walks down the aisle holding a commemorative candle during the nal service at University Baptist Church on Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025, in Carbondale, Illinois. Amilia Estrada |
RIGHT: Tim Rich is lifted out of the water by Stephen Linke as he is baptized during an evening candlelight vigil held for Charlie Kirk Sept 14, 2025 in Marion, Illinois.
Lylee Gibbs | @lyleegibbsphoto
A protester dressed like Kermit the Frog stands on the sidewalk among other protester and signs as the No Kings Protest passes by Oct. 18, 2025 in downtown Chicago, Illinois. Dominique Martinez-Powell | @d.martinezphoto 27,
Sophomore during Illinois.
Carmella Cesario is walked out of Lawson Hall in handcu s after an incident involving SIU’s Turning Point USA on Oct. 1, 2025 at Lawson Hall in Carbondale, Illinois. Riley Sembler | @riley_sembler
A group of women dress up as handmaids from “The Handmaid’s Tale” at the No Kings protest Oct. 18, 2025 in front of the Illinois State Capitol in Spring eld, Illinois. Peyton Cook | @cookmeavisual
Focus on: Sports
Linebacker Colin Bohanek (16) catches beer into his mouth from the stands after the Salukis beat the Panthers 31-17 in the homecoming game Oct. 25, 2025 at Saluki Stadium in Carbondale, Illinois. Lylee Gibbs | @lyleegibbsphoto
Kynnedi Davis jukes the opposing defender and nds a clear path to the basket Nov. 4, 2025 at the Banterra Center in Carbondale, Illinois. Claire Stroh | @cstrohphoto
Eva Krakowski celebrates with her teammates after gaining another point Sept. 27, 2025 in Carbondale, Illinois. Deangelo Handley | @_deevisuals4
Lukus McDaniels (40) holds up the wheel surrounded by the rest of the SIU Football team after the Salukis beat SEMO 59 to 31 Sept. 20, 2025 at Houck Field in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Dominique Martinez-Powell | @d.martinezphoto
Sophomore guard Quel’Ron House takes a moment on the bench during a timeout Nov. 3, 2025 at the Banterra Center in Carbondale, Illinois. Claire Stroh | @cstrohphoto
focus on: Design
Graphic made for an article discussing how transgender individuals are navigating the changing political landscape. David Starr-Fleming dstarr emming@dailyegyptian.com
Graphic made for a story about how Saluki basketball fared in an uno cial Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll. James Jamason | jjamason@dailyegyptian.com, @XTOMIC_COMIC
Gus Bode comic for Solar Bear. Yasmin Martinez-Powell ymartinezpowell@dailyegyptian.com
Graphic made for a “Chromokopia+” review by a member of sta Dena Rendleman @dena. rendleman
Graphic made for an article discussing the ban of AI for thereaputic use. AJ Sullivan | @sullinks.art
If time is money, I am stone broke: My prolonged journey to graduation
DOMINIQUE MARTINEZ-POWELL DMARTINEZPOWELL@DAILYEGYPTIAN COM
I started working at the Daily Egyptian in late 2021 to delay some burnout I could see coming my way as a pre-med student. Also, I had just been red from my maintenance job at Evergreen Terrace. It was a way to indulge in a childhood hobby and something that brought me joy while I clawed my way through organic chemistry and physics.
My father made a bet with my mother when I started at the Daily Egyptian that I would switch majors in two weeks. Joke’s on him because it took two years, which is part of the reason why I am graduating later than I would have wished. But if I have ever been one thing in my life, it’s stubborn. So I guess the joke’s on me, too.
I never wanted to be a doctor until I got to college. I love psychology, and the goal was to become a psychiatrist. All I knew was that I wanted to help people. I could get into the social activism reasons as to why I wanted to go into medicine, but I won’t. Just know, I went across the country for a fellowship program in family medicine, and I talked so much about journalism that the woman hosting me in her home asked me why I wasn’t going into journalism. e journalism bug was clinical at that point.
From the rst month of my time at the DE, everything I heard or saw was a story and/or a photo. rough the ups and downs of this paper, I have loved it from the bottom of my heart. I have met so many people and lifelong friends, and it’s given me so many opportunities. I am sad to say goodbye, but it’s long overdue. I don’t know if it’s hit me until now how much I am going to miss it. But life moves on, and things change. Bigger and better things to come and all that jazz.
In my time at the DE I have done many things. One of those things was redesigning Gus. I was just doodling one day and came up with the new design. I wanted him to feel a bit more ambiguous than the previous iterations and I think I have succeeded in that. I am happy to see how the current sta have embraced Gus Bode. One of my favorite things to do was to draw the people in the o ce in the new style of Gus. He is meant to be all of us and we are Gus. I’m excited to see who redesigns him in the future.
I leave the DE with a decent-sized body of work. Some that I wish to never look at again and others that I am very happy with. Some of my favorite work was done when we were sent out of town. For example, last year we drove 12 hours to Washington, D.C. to cover the inauguration. is year, we went to cover the No Kings Protest in Chicago and we were able to have coverage all over the state. I would have never imagined doing these things before becoming a part of this program. e fact that I got to do these things as a job is still mind-boggling to me.
I have planted a lot of project seeds in my time here. Some have yet to bloom fully, from podcasts to doing more DE Tries videos. Hopefully, a few more DE Tries videos I have had some hands in will go up sometime after I leave. I hope some of these things will come to fruition with the new sta . I will be checking to see what they do next regardless.
I wish I could say my goodbyes and thank yous to everyone, but it would take too long, so here are some acknowledgements.
To my rst EIC Oreoluwa Ojewuyi, you gave me the opportunity to work at the DE and been a great mentor and friend to me, even after you graduated. ank you for opening the door for me. I de nitely would not have started this without you.
Managing editor Alee Quick, you came at the end of my journey at the DE, but you’ve pushed me in ways that weren’t happening before you came. You were exactly what the DE needed at exactly the right time. I’m excited to see the future of the DE with you as a part of it.
To professor Molly Parker, I haven’t seen you much in my last semester. I regret not stopping into your o ce more because I already do. You made me excited to write, even if it didn’t seem like it at times. I still have your slides saved on my computer and I am sure I will be using them in the future, but I will also message if I have questions or need some more mentoring. is is normally where I would put a heart emoji, but this is not a text message, unfortunately.
To Enan Chediak, you are like a little brother to me. I cannot believe we barely spoke in the rst two Julia Rendleman classes I took. e D.C. trip really started and solidi ed our friendship and I am so happy you keep in touch almost every day. Even when it is 6 a.m. and you and Lylee are blowing up my phone so bad I have to mute Snapchat. I say this lovingly, you will never be rid of me.
To my last EIC at the DE, Lylee Gibbs, who knew we’d be here now. Colleagues, roommates and friends. One day we will go our separate ways, like our friend Enan Chediak, and we will cover an even wider range of the U.S. than we do now. Your drive always makes me want to do better for myself. To the biggest dawg amongst dawgs, you will also never be rid of me.
I think this last one will be one of the hardest ones to write. I have been in tears most of the time writing this, which makes me not excited for graduation because I am an ugly crier. Being friends with photographers means I know someone is likely to catch it. Super not excited for that photo in whichever of the hundreds of group chats we have.
To professor Julia Rendleman, we both know this isn’t goodbye. I, along with your other students, bother you way too much for that to even be a consideration. I have only improved since you became the photojournalism teacher, and I will miss sitting in your o ce with everyone. You have been the most supportive and caring professor I have ever had. I hope that I will make you as proud as part of your rst round of students graduating. If there is one thing that makes me happy I stayed this long, it’s the chance I had to be taught by you.
I hope those that I haven’t mentioned know how much their support means to me. is already feels really overdramatic, and I am sure that in ve years, when I read this over it will feel even more so. I am excited to join the many DE alumni and I hope I am able to get enough experience to give back to the Daily Egyptian the way other alumni gave to me.
Photo Editor Dominique Martinez-Powell can be reached at dmartinezpowell@dailyegyptian.com
My time as chief editor has ended, but you’re in good hands
the position for an additional semester — something I am incredibly thankful for.
For the last year and a half, I have spent a lot of time pouring myself into this newspaper through my role as editor-inchief. Leaving at 10 p.m. most nights — and even 3 a.m. on some nights — shedding a few tears and having high expectations for the print editions you are reading. As I approach my final semester at SIU, I am passing on the torch.
As we return in January, this newsroom will be led by the incredibly hardworking Carly Gist, who is our current deputy editor, and I will take on a new role as senior editor. She’s been learning the ropes this past semester and I have full faith she will thrive.
This newspaper is completely produced by SIU students, and we typically keep our editor-in-chief terms to just a year. The Daily Egyptian publication board was kind enough to let me go an extra step and hold
My time as editor-in-chief made me a better leader. I know more about myself and the people around me and I am more confident as a journalist. The DE was a little down and out when I joined a few years ago, and with the help of our faculty managing editor Alee Quick, I’d like to think we’ve breathed some sort of life back into this place.
It was never a walk in the park. A lot of errors fell back on me and there were many mistakes I could have avoided. So, if you have ever noticed a misprint or seen our
faults, I am both apologizing to and also thanking you for your patience. We are learning, and I have learned a lot, too.
In my time as editorin-chief, I somehow managed to lead this staff through some pretty wild scenarios. Like the 2024 election — that was one of those late nights, thanks to the Jackson County state’s attorney race resulting in a tie — or the inauguration in January — for which a few of us traveled to Washington, D.C. We successfully brought home some pretty shiny awards from the Illinois College Press Association Awards in February.
Carly came to the DE during my sophomore
year and has constantly produced portfolioworthy work — she’s even freelanced for the New York Times. She was an easy choice as a news editor during my first year as editorin-chief. She pours her all into her work and I am confident that that will translate to the entirety of the newsroom — and the work you’ll see while she’s in the top spot. The job will be hard, but it will be so worth it.
Don’t worry though, I’ll still be around — hopefully a lot less burnt out, still a bit too enthusiastic and I’ll be taking a substantial amount of more photos than I did this semester.
If you read our stories and view our photos, thank you. Please keep reading, supporting and bearing with our blunders down the road. Also, know that Carly will lead this newsroom as a big dawg — just as I have.
Soon-to-be senior editor Lylee Gibbs can be reached at lgibbs@dailyegyptian.com or on instagram @lyleegibbsphoto
COLUMN
Dominique Martinez-Powell
Lylee Gibbs
ELI HOOVER
Salukis stun Panthers 86-84 in buzzer-beating comeback
As the clock ticked away, it was a race to the basket as Damien Mayo relayed it to Drew Ste e, and Ste e sent it down the court for guard Davion Sykes, who made a layup for the Salukis to take the lead against the High Point University Panthers with just 0.4 seconds to go, cementing a 86-84 win for the Dawgs.
e Salukis men’s basketball squad looked to build on a home victory as it made its way to High Point, North Carolina to take on the Panthers on Wednesday Dec. 3. Despite trailing by as many as 16 points, the Salukis were able to give High Point its rst home loss in nearly a year.
Despite turning the ball over in both of their rst two possessions, the Salukis only trailed 10-7 after four minutes. Ste e was the hot hand for SIU early, scoring ve of those seven points.
High Point proceeded to turn up the heat on their home oor. After a rough start on o ense, they went on to make six of their next seven shots. e Salukis couldn’t keep up, and fell behind 25-14 with 12 minutes until the half.
e Salukis were able to nd their footing and went on the attack throughout the middle portion of the rst half. A 6-0 burst helped SIU cut the Panther lead to 28-24. at seemed to be as close as the Salukis could get for the moment.
High Point was able to keep SIU at a distance, punching the lead back up to
BASKETBALL
racked up three fouls in the same amount of minutes, putting themselves in a tough situation coming out of the half. Both teams continued to display an e cient o ense, and the neck-and-neck battle persisted with a plethora of lead changes.
e fourth quarter began, and the Redhawks jumped out to another lead with a strong interior presence. Cooper would add to her highscoring game with a big 3-pointer, keeping the Salukis’ hopes alive. Kraus sprinted down the court and completed a fast break with a layup, tying the game at 66-66. Gaines would give the Salukis a late lead with a drive layup, and the Banterra Center crowd’s excitement was on full display. Guard Tkiyah Nelson dropped in a clutch basket to add to her well-rounded game.
“When you go through her
11 with the score at 41-30 with 3:51 left in the rst half.
Guard Rob Martin’s bucket with 55 seconds left in the half pushed his total points to 16 and made the score 46-32
(Nelson) statline, it’s a little bit of everything,” Coach Kelly BondWhite said. “She’s going to have a triple-double before this is over with.”
With the clock winding down, SEMO needed to put up a good shot, but Nelson swooped in for the steal with 15 seconds left. A technical foul allowed the Salukis to get a 5-point lead and secure a home victory.
“We just needed to stay together and get that stop… and we won,” Nelson said.
With this victory, SIU snaps its 6-game losing streak and holds a record of 2-6. SEMO now has a record of 3-5. e Salukis will return to action on ursday, Dec. 18, to face Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois for the rst conference match of the season.
Sports reporter Noah Petschke can be reached at npetschke@dailyegyptian.com
Panthers. Saluki head coach Scott Nagy was forced to call a timeout to stop the bleeding.
A putback dunk for guard Jalen Haynes brought the score to 46-34
going into the half with Ste e’s 16 points seeming to be the Salukis’ saving grace.
e Salukis came out of the half on re, outscoring High Point 9-2 in the rst three minutes. at forced the Panthers to take a timeout to try and stop the Salukis’ momentum while holding onto a 48-43 lead.
e blitz continued for the visitors, and back-to-back three pointers for guard Damien Mayo Jr. with feeds from Ste e tied the game at 51 with 15 minutes left in regulation. A minute later guard Isaiah Sta ord nailed a straightaway 3-pointer to give the Salukis their rst lead of the contest.
Mayo played like a man possessed in the second half, scoring 19 points in the rst eight and a half minutes.
A driving layup from Mayo forced a High Point timeout with 11:28 to go and SIU leading 63-58.
e Salukis continued to extend the lead, getting as far ahead as 7566 with 7:55 to go before Nagy took a timeout to keep the Salukis on track.
From there the Panthers made a charge, coming within 2 points with four minutes remaining. ey nished the 9-0 run after the nal media timeout with two free throws from guard Conrad Martinez. at tied the score at 80-80 with 3:23 remaining.
From there the score went from
the Salukis up two to tied multiple times. A review with 25 seconds left gave High Point the ball with the score tied at 84.
e Panthers tried to hold for the last shot but Mayo scooped the ball from Martinez, and a layup from Sykes gave the Salukis the lead 0.4 seconds to go. High Point’s last ditch full-court pass was tipped by forward Max Pikaar, and the Salukis survived 86-84.
Mayo led the team with 22 points, all in the second half. He also led the Salukis with 3 steals.
“Mayo, what a player,” was all Nagy could say postgame.
Steffe added 17 points and also led the team in assists with seven. The two were joined in double figures by Haynes (10) and forward Prince Aligbe (10).
Haynes continued to impress the coaching staff with what he’s been able to accomplish as a freshman.
“We’re super proud of him. It’s not easy,” Nagy remarked.
The now 5-4 Salukis have a week off before their last home nonconference game of the season. They welcome the Tennessee Martin Skyhawks Banterra to Wednesday, Dec. 10 at 7 p.m.
Sports reporter Eli Hoover can be found at ehoover@dailyegyptian.com or on Instagram @hoovermakesart
Photo provided by Saluki Athletics
Tkiyah Nelson (23) is defended by SEMO’s Raissa Nsabua (2) Dec. 6, 2025 at the Banterra Center in Carbondale, Illinois. Emily Brinkman | erb_photo_
P U Z Z L E A N S W E R S
Reporters - left to right: Will Elliott, Noah Petschke, Leo Castro, Mariah Fletcher, Carmen Tapley, Jackson Brandhorst, Orion Wolf, Brayden Guy, Morrigan Carey, Eli Hoover and Trevor John. Not Pictured: Annalise Schmidt, Kristin Borchers, Nick Pfannkuche and Yahri Edmond
Photographers - left to right: Dominique Martinez-Powell, Emily Brinkman, Daylin Williams, Claire Stroh, Lee Chambers and Riley Sembler. Not pictured: Libby Phelps and Amilia Estrada
Designers - left to right: Audrey Sullivan, David Starr-Fleming, James Jamason, Yasmin MartinezPowell, and Dena Rendleman
PUZZLE PAGE
*answers on page 11
which
Brenda and Ringo 10. Adorable child 11. Author unknown
12. Mathematician --Descartes 13. Adele’s dancing brother
Pigs out
Locks or strands
Ram’s dam
Tip sellers
Largest Moroccan city 30. Portable player 31. “Two Mules for Sister ---”: Eastwood/MacLaine lm 32. Pulitzer winner Jennifer ---
Salad sauce 35. Fulcrums
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*To play Sudoku, ll a 9x9 grid with digits 1 through 9 so that each row, each column, and each 3x3 subgrid contains each number exactly once.
