Daily Egyptian Housing Guide

PAGE 2

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016

Obama seeks $1.1 billion to fight heroin and opioid addiction TONY PUGH MCCLATCHY WASHINGTON BUREAU

President Barack Obama called Tuesday for $1.1 billion in new federal money to combat the growing abuse of heroin and prescription painkillers in the U.S. The president’s 2017 budget proposal will include $1 billion in mandatory funding over two years to increase addiction treatment for heroin and prescription opioids and to make the services more affordable.

Most of the proposed new money – $920 million – would

fund cooperative agreements with states to provide more drug-based treatment for people addicted to painkilling opioids such as OxyContin, Percocet, hydrocodone and morphine.

The money would be allocated based on the severity of a state’s problem and its strategy to address the issue.

Republican U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan of Florida said he supported Obama’s proposal.

“This is a problem destroying lives and families across America that needs to be addressed,” Buchanan said in an email statement. “I

strongly support efforts to fight the heroin and drug abuse epidemic in this country and look forward to reviewing the president’s proposal.”

Obama’s proposal would also use $50 million in National Health Service Corps funding to expand services at roughly 700 drug treatment facilities, including those in areas with a shortage of behavioral health providers.

Another $30 million would go to evaluate drug treatment programs that provide medication-assisted treatment services.

Obama’s proposal also calls for the Department of Justice and the

Department of Health and Human Services to get roughly $500 million – an increase of more than $90 million from 2014 – to help expand overdose prevention efforts, provide more medication-assisted treatment for addicts and improve access to naloxone, an emergency-use drug that reverses overdoses.

Part of the Justice and HHS funding would target rural areas, where opioid use and overdoses are increasing. The money also would fund an HHS project that allows nurse practitioners and physician assistants to prescribe buprenorphine, an opioid addiction

treatment approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

From 2010 to 2012, the death rate from heroin doubled across 28 states that represent 56 percent of the U.S. population, according to a 2014 government report.

The increase in heroin overdoses — from 1 per 100,000 deaths to 2.1 per 100,000 deaths during that time — was driven by increasing supplies of the drug and the widespread use of and addiction to prescription opioid pain relievers.

Obama’s plan will be part of his 2017 budget proposal, scheduled to be released Feb. 9.

PAGE 3

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016

5 things you should know about the Zika virus RIANNE COALE | REDEYE, CHICAGO

The outbreak of the mosquito-borne Zika--pronounced ZEE-kah--virus has been declared a global emergency by the U.N.’s World Health Organization.

Prior to 2015, major outbreaks of Zika occurred in areas of Africa, Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands, but more recently, a big outbreak has hit Brazil.

It’s believed that the most vulnerable to Zika are pregnant women. Officials suspect there’s a link between pregnant women catching the virus and babies being born with a neurological condition known as microcephaly, which causes a baby’s head and, in many cases, brain to be abnormally small.

1. What is the virus, and how do you catch it?

The Zika virus is a pathogen that can be transmitted through a mosquito bite.

As of now, a person needs to be exposed to a mosquito that is carrying the virus in order to be infected with it. That said, health officials say a patient in Texas was infected after having sexual contact with an ill person who returned from a country where Zika was present.

The World Health Organization declared a global emergency Monday over the spread of the virus, whose current epicenter is Brazil but is circulating in many countries and

territories across the Americas.

2. What is the Illinois connection?

So far, the Illinois Department of Public Health has reported three cases of Zika virus in Illinois in people who have returned from travel in places where Zika is circulating.

Two pregnant women tested positive for the virus after traveling in Honduras and Haiti, as did a man who traveled to South America.

3. How can we protect ourselves against it?

“Anyone who is traveling to countries where the Zika virus is circulating needs to take necessary precautions to prevent mosquito bites,” said Michael Angarone, assistant professor of medicine in infectious diseases at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a Northwestern Medicine physician.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has advised pregnant women to postpone travel to Brazil and other countries and regions with Zika outbreaks.

4. Are the mosquitos that can transmit the virus found here in the U.S.?

Yes. Aedes albopictus, the Asian tiger mosquito, and Aedes aegypti, the yellow fever mosquito, are both found in the U.S. Taken together, “there are many parts of the United States that

are vulnerable because of where the mosquito populations are,” Laura Harrington, chair of Cornell University’s entomology department, told the Tribune.

But so far, there have been no cases of local Zika transmission in the U.S. 5. What are the symptoms of the Zika virus?

People infected with the Zika virus may experience a fever, a rash, joint pain and red, irritated eyes.

These symptoms could last for a few days or up to week and will usually occur within a few days of becoming infected.

These symptoms may sound very similar to ones associated with other, more common viruses that are circulating this time of year, like the flu, but there is no need to assume you’re infected with the Zika virus, Angarone said.

“As far as we know right now, it’s only affecting people who have traveled where it’s circulating, like Central and South America,” Angarone said. “If you have only stayed locally, it’s highly unlikely you’d have a Zika infection.”

Doctor’s advice: If you’ve traveled to a country where there have been Zika transmissions and develop a fever within 1-2 weeks of your return, Angarone suggests you visit a doctor.

PAGE 4

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016

PAGE 5

Ohio State, Ohio University allow ‘therapy animals’ in dormitories MARY EDWARDS Columbus Dispatch

The “emotional-support animals” that Kent State University tried unsuccessfully to ban from its residence halls are welcome at Ohio State University and other Ohio schools.

That makes every day better for Kaely-Marie Clapper, a first-year graduate student who shares an OSU apartment in the Neil building with her Chihuahua, January. Clapper has anxiety and “a little PTSD” from events of recent years that she didn’t want to discuss. January, whom she got as a Christmas present three years ago, has become a significant source of comfort and calm.

“If I didn’t have my dog, I wouldn’t be doing as well in school,” Clapper said. “I’d go back to my room and be moping.”

January also goes with Clapper to some classes, as long as professors and classmates don’t object.

“I don’t take her to the ones where we’re singing,” said Clapper, who is pursuing a master’s in vocal pedagogy.

“That wouldn’t be fair — she would want to sing, too.”

Kent State agreed last Monday to a $145,000 settlement in a lawsuit brought by Jacqueline Luke, who in 2010 was denied permission to live in university housing with her dog. A psychologist had recommended the dog as a way to ease Luke’s anxiety.

Under the settlement, which must be approved by a federal judge, Kent

State also agreed to establish a policy providing “reasonable accommodation” of therapy dogs. It will pay $100,000 to Luke, $30,000 to an advocacy group that backed Luke and $15,000 to the federal government.

At Ohio State, Ohio University and Miami University, “therapy dogs” and other animals have been allowed for years, subject to a few qualifications.

Students must have a statement from a therapist or doctor saying that they need the animal; also, the animal must behave.

Emotional-support animals are distinct from service animals such as guide dogs and dogs trained to aid people with physical disabilities.

Universities must allow those animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act. That law doesn’t address animals needed for emotional support, said Scott Lissner, Ohio State’s ADA coordinator.

But in Luke’s case, the court ruled that under the Fair Housing Act, the need for an emotional-support animal supersedes a no-pets policy.

The number of requests to accommodate therapy animals has risen in recent years, Lissner said. Students have asked mostly for dogs and cats, although requests have come in for a ferret, a guinea pig and a miniature horse.

Miami University has about 15 emotional-support animals, including at least one lizard, a bearded dragon, according to spokeswoman Ritter Hoy. Ohio University has five emotionalsupport animals.

When the issue of therapy animals arose a couple of years ago in a separate lawsuit involving the University of Nebraska, Ohio State wrote a policy expressly addressing it.

When requests come in, Toni Greenslade-Smith, Ohio State’s director of housing administration, works directly with the students. Many already have a willing roommate; if they don’t, she works to find a compatible one.

Lissner makes sure to call any student who might be randomly assigned to a room with an animal in it.

“The only response I have ever gotten is, ‘Cool!’” he said.

Clapper took extra steps to make January a success at school. She and the dog took a six-week training course, which taught a stereotypically excitable breed to lie calmly with Clapper, to be comfortable with young children and to ignore distractions such as birds. January is even learning to rein in her barking, Clapper said.

“She barks at something three times, and she’s done,” Clapper said.

Clapper knows that some people view the need for an emotional-support animal skeptically, and for that, she blames people who game the system, falsely claiming a psychological need just so they can keep a pet with them everywhere.

“So many people abuse that privilege, it drives me up the wall,” she said.

“I have this dog because I need her. I wanted to be as responsible and on top of it as possible.”

Live Brookside On The

Call Today! 844-447-6209 Ask For Brookie The Wookie

BrooksideLife.com

Pet-Friendly - Dog Park - Free Tanning Saluki Express Bus Stop - 24 hr Emergency Maintenance - Self-Serve Coffee Bar Specials All. Year. Long.

Spring/Summer/Fall One Month Free on a 12-month lease Apply by 2/29/16

PAGE 6

Pulse

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016

‘Room’ is emotionally gripping JACOB PIERCE | @JacobPierce1_DE

It is a rare occurrence to walk out of a film emotionally drained and destroyed, yet happy to have experienced it.

“Room,” directed by Lenny Abrahamson and starring Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay, falls into this category. It is a film that will be overlooked, but should never be counted out.

Jack, played by Tremblay, is a 5-year-old boy who has lived his life inside a small garden shed with his mother, played by Larson. His mother was kidnapped at an early age and placed in the room by a man the two call “Old Nick.”

“Room,” which is what the mother and child call their prison, is Jack’s whole universe. His mother, trying to hide the child from the dark nature of their reality, makes up rules and a fake

outside world to keep Jack sane.

But when Jack’s mother realizes they cannot keep living in the room, she must expose the boy to reality so they can escape — something neither may be ready for.

A little warning for anyone planning to see “Room,” prepare yourself for an emotional rollercoaster. It became hard to calm myself down as I drove home from the theater, which is the sign of a film that deeply resonates with you.

Every actor in this movie gives a phenomenal performance.

Larson, who has already shown her acting range in movies like “21 Jump Street” and “Short Term 12,” leads this superb cast in what might be the performance of her lifetime. She deserves the Academy Award for Best Actress, even with such a stiff competition.

The actress has a tough job.

The entire film is told through

the eyes of Jack, which is a terrific story choice, but causes Larson’s character to take a backseat.

Through understated facial expressions and fantastic line delivery, the character becomes the audience’s emotional connection in the first couple minutes.

To mention Larson and not mention her younger companion would be a travesty. Finding good child actors is hard, especially for a drama such as this. For every Joseph Gordon Levitt there are a couple hundred Jake Lloyds giving child acting a bad name.

Tremblay gives everything he has for this role, and it makes Jack relatable to even the oldest audience member.

He helps add a child perspective to this story, playing the character with right combination of ignorance, bliss and fear in a way only a kid could.

The actor, and the dialogue written for him, creates a great

parallel in this film. There is both the soul-crushing nature of being an adult stuck in this situation, and the hope of being a child, with a lot of life ahead of you.

Seeing Jack accept normal life by playing with kids’ toys in comparison to ma’s fall deeper and deeper into rage and depression is an experience that will tear you apart.

“Room” never comes off as melodramatic, and this pushes it to its highest potential. It places itself in a good range of realism and bleakness, which makes gripping scenes even more intense.

Even when the characters are out of the room, the movie does

not end. It takes the happiness of escaping and turns it upside down to tell a harrowing tale of posttraumatic stress and depression.

It shows like scenes of Ma having to talk to the media for money and it only making her emotional state worse, which shows how frighting the outside world can also be.

Go see this film as soon as possible. As heartbreaking as it sounds, it’s the good kind of painful movie experience — the one where you will leave saying, “That hurt, but I’m glad I saw it.”

Jacob Pierce can be reached at jpierce@dailyegyptian.com or 536-3325.

Multimedia To see a video report visit: www.dailyegyptian.com

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016

Opinion

PAGE 7

What did the Iowa caucuses prove? Not much THE BALTIMORE SUN

Now that out-of-towners aren’t hogging the best tables at the Hamburg Inn in Iowa City, the campaign buses no longer clog downtown Des Moines and the lines of voters at the Hillis Elementary School precinct won’t be stretching out the door for at least another four years, it’s time to assess the significance of the first-inthe-nation Iowa caucuses.

In two words? Nothing much.

While the breathless commentariat littered across the cable television landscape Monday night would have you believe that the Iowa results were historic, stunning or even unexpected, that wasn’t especially true. Prior to Monday, the most recent polls suggested the Republican presidential race was essentially a threesome, with longtime front-runners Sens. Ted Cruz and Donald Trump battling each other and a surging Sen. Marco Rubio, and lo and behold, they finished 1, 2 and 3. The Democrats have known for months that it was a two-person race for that party’s nomination, and so it was with Sen. Bernie Sanders coming up a wee bit short in his quest to top Hillary Clinton.

The takeaway? Perhaps the ageold wisdom that winning Iowa requires a ground war, an army of motivated organizers spread out

Jerry Mennenga | Tribune News Service Woodbury County Democrats Sheryl Berberich, left, and Gabriel Pecoraru, both first time caucus-goers, fill out forms to caucus for Sen. Bernie Sanders at Spaulding Elementary School in Sioux City, Iowa, on Monday.

across the state and a candidate willing to press the flesh, was proven once again. Cruz was just such a candidate, Trump was not, and Rubio has emerged as the most viable alternative to the intemperate duo. Meanwhile, Sanders’ rise from obscurity outside his home state of Vermont over the past year has been impressive, but if he can’t win in Iowa, what happens when the election heads to the South where he has so far demonstrated little appeal to African-American voters?

History suggests the Iowa caucuses are not so much kingmakers as weed-whackers.

Michael Dukakis came in a distant

third in 1988 but eventually won the Democratic nomination. The last two GOP winners were Sen. Rick Santorum and Gov. Mike Huckabee. John McCain came in fourth in 2008 but eventually became the nominee. Strike out in Iowa, however, and you can call it a day: As it was this week for Huckabee (how soon they forget) and Maryland’s Martin O’Malley, both of whom quietly bowed out after receiving mere trace support.

The campaigns can spin the actual totals as much as they want. Yes, Clinton looked a bit more certain as the Democratic nominee months ago, Rubio has come on strong in

recent days and Trump may not be the juggernaut he portrayed himself to be. But, as previous results indicate, finishing within hailing distance of the winner is generally good enough. The next stop, New Hampshire, has only a slightly better predictive record.

(Bill Clinton’s second-place finish to Sen. Paul Tsongas in 1992 solidified his reputation as the Comeback Kid after he finished with a miserable 2.8 percent of the Iowa vote).

Thus, Iowa appears to be a place not so much to win but to overcome. It favors local candidates and believers in ethanol. Say what you will about 2016 being the year

of the outsider, politics is rarely so simple that it comes down to one type of voter, one issue or one region of the country, let alone one state.

This is February. The first delegates have just been selected, and although the election already seems to have been going on for years, the primary season has just begun.

One more word about O’Malley.

As much as his candidacy never took flight — unless serving as a late night TV host’s punch line counts — even his critics acknowledge he can leave the battlefield with his head held high. Issue by issue, he tapped his party’s zeitgeist as well as anyone, and his analysis of the race — that Democratic primary voters would be receptive to someone running to Clinton’s left — was entirely correct. It just wasn’t him. Even Marylanders who elected him to statewide office by big margins showed little interest in his presidential bid. It’s an intriguing contrast to that other Maryland-connected candidate, Dr. Ben Carson, whose appeal sparked broad support early but faded the more Republican voters heard him muddle through the issues. That the former Johns Hopkins pediatric surgeon has opted for trips to Florida, D.C. and North Carolina rather than to spend the full week campaigning in New Hampshire suggests he will be joining O’Malley on the sidelines soon enough.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016

PAGE 7

McLafferty now home to beer, fish and lasers ANNA SPOERRE | @annaspoerre

During winter break, a nearly empty McLafferty Annex was transformed into what is becoming a state-of-the-art research center.

The Board of Trustees in 2012 approved $3 million for developing McLafferty Annex — which previously stored books during renovations to Morris Library — into a research facility. An additional $1 million was approved for equipment, according to Jim Garvey, interim vice chancellor for research.

“The idea was to make this a building that was available for interdisciplinary research and creative activity on campus,” he said.

So far, three interactive lab spaces are ready for research.

In a new, glass-walled classroom students will be able to make, taste-test and analyze alcoholic beverages as part of the first fermentation lab at SIU. Matt McCarroll, professor of chemistry and biochemistry and director of the fermentation

institute, said the lab is one of the first in the Midwest.

Fermentation science, he said, includes beer, wine, spirits and food production.

The lab portion of the class — Chem 180/181: the Chemistry of Beer and Brewing — is restricted to students 21 years and older and involves beer-tasting and yeast and flavor analysis. The lecture component has no age restriction.

“There’s so much growth potential and need for brewing [sciences],” McCarroll said. He said the research is necessary as it becomes more popular for people to own and operate their own breweries.

He said the four-year degree program in fermentation sciences is pending final approval by the state this spring. However, some brewing classes are available this semester.

It takes the eyes a minute to adjust to the glowing blue light coming from many corners of the large wet lab.

Dozens of pallid sturgeon swim in a rounded, deep tub,

occasionally sticking their pointy noses out of the water.

“These are federally endangered fish,” said Andrew Coursey, a researcher at the center.

He said the space is dynamic, for example, every tank has the capability of being either fresh or salt water.

“We need to be flexible because research is always changing,” Coursey said. “Each student that comes in has a different project.”

One group of tanks will soon be used for research on octopi using underwater iPads.

“The octopi can actually communicate underwater through the iPad to the researchers to get a piece of food, a play toy or a visual stimulant,” Coursey said.

A shelf with 100 small tanks is set aside for behavioral psychology research using zebra fish. He said staff will potentially knock out specific genes in the fish to give them autism, allowing for research on the disorder.

Although the room has many tanks, there is still empty floor

space. Coursey said they hope to continue developing the area, with the biggest expansion being an 8,000-gallon display aquarium once they are able to find private funding.

A lab in the annex’s basement requires cool temperatures and the ability to eliminate natural light. Here, researchers have the ability to explore molecular structures using lasers.

In the dim room is a long table filled with a series of mirrors, lenses and a white box omitting a glowing green when slightly opened. This is the home of infrared lasers used to study the movement of biomolecules.

“This is my main instrument for my research,” said Sean Moran, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry.

“The whole goal of this is to change colors of light.”

He said the light can shine on samples, like proteins, to observe movement and reveal previously unseen properties of molecules.

Moran said he primarily researches how molecules

come together to build larger structures, like tooth enamel.

“This is cutting-edge technology,” Moran said.

Garvey said the building still needs work. They were unable to finish up some small details, like trim and finish, because of the state’s budget impasse.

He said the board approved funding before the impasse, but he hopes donors will help fund the final steps.

“The idea with the building is that it’s supposed to attract outside funding from grants,” Garvey said.

McLafferty Annex will eventually be a one-stop shop for all types of interactive research, he said, including art, the humanities and engineering.

“We’re talking about not only the potential for great training opportunities for our students, but also lots and lots of grant support,” Garvey said. “Maybe there’s a cure for cancer in that spot.”

Anna Spoerre can be reached at aspoerre@dailyegyptian.com.

PAGE 8

THE

RIGHT CHOICE.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016

+ Free Parking for Residents & Guests

+ Private Washer & Dryer

+ Computer Lab & Printing Services

+ Basketball Court

+ Private Bedrooms & Bathrooms

+ Fitness Center

+ Extended Cable & Community WiFi

+ Shuttle Service

+ Theater Room & Movie Rentals

+ Storage Units

+ Exciting Community Events

+ Tanning Dome

APPLY & SIGN ONLINE TODAY. ReserveAtSalukiPointe.com

SIGN A 12-MONTH LEASE FOR 2016

$150 VISA GIFT CARD! While supplies last. Certain restrictions apply.

Office Phone: 618.529.3500 | 500 Saluki Boulevard | Carbondale, IL 62903

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016

PAGE 9

High-end ‘super dorms’ find home in the Loop JOHN HANDLEY | Chicago Tribune

The Spartan college dorm is out.

The luxury student apartment is in.

College grads of the past will marvel at the newest student residences that have cropped up in downtown Chicago.

You can’t call them dorms since they’re loaded with such amenities as fully furnished interiors, Euro-style kitchens with granite countertops and stainless-steel appliances, double-door refrigerators, in-unit washer/dryers, free Wi-Fi and cable, fitness centers and rooftop decks with barbecue grills. Bellhops are provided for moving in and out.

The demand for fancier student housing has grown as the Loop has evolved into an urban college campus, where thousands of fulltime students attend classes at more than 20 colleges and universities.

The new “super dorms” are finding homes in historic Loop buildings that are way past their prime.

Developers of historic buildings that are renovated can apply for a 20 percent federal tax credit if the structures are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Of several student housing projects in Chicago that have used this benefit, the newest is the Arc at Old Colony, located in the 17-story former office building at 37 W. Van Buren St. It dates from 1893, the same year as Chicago’s World’s Columbian Exposition. Students started moving in this past August.

Kristen Norman | Chicago Tribune The enclosed section of the rooftop deck is seen at the Arc at Old Colony, a former office building that was converted into a campus apartment on Dec. 14 in Chicago.

The $58 million restoration and conversion by CA Student Living, Chicago, created 137 furnished apartments with bedrooms for 380 students.

Apartments are not rented, but rather beds. Rents range from $855 a month for each of four students in a four-bedroom unit to $1,500 a month for each in a two-bedroom apartment.

“Renovating the Old Colony was special because of its historic character,” said Andrew Hansen, vice

president of property management for CA Student Living. The South Loop landmark went on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

Hansen added that the economic feasibility for the project was driven by the tax benefits.

“Office buildings convert very well for student housing,” said Allen Johnson, partner in the Chicago office of MacRostie Historic Advisors, the historic consultant for the Arc at Old Colony and Infinite Chicago, another CA Student Living rehab.

What’s it like attending college in the busy city?

“I’m a city girl so I love going to college downtown,” said Melissa Jimenez, who is working on a master’s degree in art management at Columbia College. “I like the art scene downtown and the museums.”

To aid in compatibility the Arc offers roommate matching. Students fill out questionnaires that ask about their attitudes toward neatness, studying, smoking, drinking, personality type, socializing,

overnight guests and sleeping times.

What the Arc does not have is a garage — because students walk, ride bikes or take nearby public transportation. Within walking distance are DePaul University, Roosevelt University, Columbia College, Robert Morris University, National Louis University, the School of the Art Institute and others.

“Restoring the 122-year-old Old Colony building to its former elegance was like an archaeological dig,” said Keith Giles of MCJ Development who worked on the renovation along with McHugh Construction. The architect was Pappageorge Haymes Partners.

“More students are living downtown than ever before. It gives the city a collegiate atmosphere,” said Mark Kelly, vice president for student success at Columbia College.

“Students like the urban lifestyle of the city — the cultural attractions, museums, galleries, the theater and the music scene. It’s all part of a student’s education,” Kelly added.

“Ten years ago downtown was very quiet. Now it’s brimming with energy.

The student vibrancy continues to build. The power of Chicago with its employment opportunities is another enticement.”

“New student housing options offer more amenities than in the past, but while students may want all the bells and whistles, there is the issue of affordability,” Kelly pointed out.

PAGE 10

AL

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016

!

E V I S U L C L IN

! t e n r e t n I d n a le b a C , h s a r T , r e w e S , r e t a W e d lu c n I e W ! s Ye Look within & Lease 48 Ho urs and y ou’ll get a

$100

We are

Giftc

ard! *

UNIVERSITY VILLAGE St udent APARTMENTS Also Featuring:

24-Hour Fitness Center • Game Room • Swimming Pool • Furniture Packages Available Pet Friendly, No Weight Limit • Pet Park • Outdoor Fireplace • Lighted Sand Volleyball Court Outdoor Grills • Coffee Bar • Roommate Matching Services • Free Guest Parking On-site Professional Management Team • Private Study Room ...and Coming Spring 2016: 24-Hour Business Center with Free Printing *Conditions Apply

800 E Grand Avenue | Carbondale, IL 62901 | 269.430.3002

UNIVERSITYVILLAGE-SIU.COM

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016

Sports

PAGE 11

Surging Salukis run through Rodriguez BRENT MESKE | @brentmeskeDE

If the point guard is like the quarterback of the basketball team, consider SIU junior point guard Mike Rodriguez the Tom Brady of the Saluki men’s basketball team.

They’re both in-game leaders who want to win above all.

The young guard may not have the accolades of Brady yet, but his leadership and team-first mentality are traits his coaches admire.

The Boston native leads his team with 76 assists through 23 games, which is more than junior forward Sean O’Brien’s team-high of 54 last season.

Assistant coach Anthony Beane, Sr., who recruited Rodriguez while he was at Marshalltown Community College in Iowa, said he knew Rodriguez needed to be a Saluki.

“When I first saw him play, I fell in love with him ... I knew he would be the type of point guard we really needed in our program,” Beane said. “He was a floor general and had all the things we were looking for ... great IQ, talent, very explosive and athletic, could get to the rim and shot the ball really well too.”

At SIU, Rodriguez has developed into more than just a scorer — he leads the team with a 2:1 assist-to-tunover ratio. That ranks him in the top 10 percent of all men’s basketball players in the nation and No. 4 in conference.

Rodriguez said playing with teammates who can shoot the ball allows him to be a true point guard for the Dawgs.

“In [junior college], they needed me to score,” he said. “[Here] I can be more of a point [guard]. I don’t have to score as much.”

Senior guard Anthony Beane, Jr. leads the team with 451 points while Rodriguez is No. 4 with 209.

Senior center Ibby Djimde said Rodriguez playing point guard allows Beane and other scorers to get open looks.

“Mike helps out a lot because he makes it easy for Anthony Beane and [junior guard] Leo [Vincent] to get the easy baskets,” he said.

“Mike attacks and can pass, which is good for us.”

More consistent playing time has led to Rodriguez finding the confidence he lacked in high school and junior college, when he doubted he would ever play Division I basketball.

Brent Meske | @brentmeskeDE Junior guard Mike Rodriguez drives to the basket during a 79-66 win against Indiana State on Jan. 20 at SIU Arena. Rodriguez finished the game with nine points.

Rodriguez said he had to find confidence in himself after sitting on the bench at Marshalltown, where he posted a 1.53:1 assist-to-

turnover ratio.

“I was playing 10 minutes here and there ... I knew I wasn’t a factor,” he said. “I was on the

bench of a junior college team that wasn’t that good and behind someone I thought I was better than, but I wasn’t proving it on the court.”

This season Rodriguez has started every game for the 18-5 Salukis and has taken pressure off of Beane. That has led to a 7-3 record in conference and 8-1 record on the road.

Coach Barry Hinson was forced to use Beane as a point guard last season. After watching tape, Rodriguez said he could compare Beane to himself at Marshalltown.

“He looked like me in [junior college], he was trying to make a play every time he touched the ball.” he said. “Now he can pick and choose, and I think that’s why he’s been so efficient this season.

He can focus on scoring.”

Hinson said Rodriguez is the best point guard he’s had at SIU, but that he is capable of doing even more.

“He’s played well enough [in conference],” he said. “But I don’t think we’ve seen Mike Rodriguez’s best basketball.”

Brent Meske can be reached at bmeske@dailyegyptian.com or 536-3333.

PAGE 12

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016