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Thursday, April. 25, 2019
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Leak causes temperatures to rise on ISU’s campus Payton Jarrett Reporter
This week, several buildings on campus faced rising temperatures due to complications with the chilled water system that ISU’s campus uses. The issues arose following a major leak underground in the chilled water line between Fifth and Spruce Street. Consequently, Fifth Street will be closed from Spruce to the entry of Parking Lot 24. To facilitate the repairs, ISU’s maintenance has had to shut down the Air-Conditioning systems in more than 30 buildings across campus. Some temperatures have reached 80 degrees or more. “It definitely made me appreciate the weather outside,” said freshman Annie Drappos. Many students worry about how the heat will affect their preparation for the end of the semester and studying for finals. “It is hard to concentrate on anything but the heat,” Martha Alsip, a freshman who lives in Rhoads Hall, said. “It has even kept me up all night.” Residential Life encouraged students to contact their hall staff if they felt that their living space is unsafe due to the heat. Jim Jensen, Director of Facilities Operations and Maintenance, reassured students that the issues are only temporary. “We expect the repairs to be completed and all A/C to be back online by the end of this week” Jensen said. Samantha Layug | Indiana Statesman “I can’t imagine going from sweating due to heat Fifth Street is closed from Spruce to the entrance of Parking Lot 24 for repairs on the cool water line that gives campus to sweating for finals, hopefully it gets fixed before it’s air conditioning. then,” freshman Thomas Stucker said.
Students enjoy a Tropical Terredise Brea Haller Reporter
Over 250 students attended “Tropical Terridise,” an end of the year party put on by the Indiana State University Student Government Association on April 22. This event began at 6 p.m. and ended around 9 p.m. and was located at Wolf Field next to the towers on campus. Students were required to swipe in upon arrival. The first 100 students were given shirts to tie
dye, and others were given leis due to the shirt sup- ply running out. Along with signing in, students were given a ticket to turn in to receive pizza, a cook- ie and drinks. Little Caesars was the food provider for this event. There was plenty of pizza for everyone to have as much as they desired. Some
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Georgetown students vote on proposal to pay reparations to slave descendants Nelson Oliveria
New York Daily News (TNS)
Paul Marotta | Getty Images | TNS
Lori Loughlin exits the John Joseph Moakley U.S. Courthouse after appearing in Federal Court to answer charges stemming from college admissions scandal on April 3, 2019 in Boston, Mass.
Videos of Loughlin and Huffman in college scandal become legal flashpoint Matthew Ormseth
Georgetown University could become the first U.S. institution to offer reparation funds for descendants of slaves as students voted on the controversial proposal Thursday. The plan is to charge undergraduate students a mandatory $27.20 fee per semester to benefit the families of 272 slaves sold by the university in 1838. The referendum was called by the Georgetown University Student Association, but the school is not required to take up the fee even if the majority of students votes for it. Officials said the Washington, D.C., university would review the results of the vote and decide what to do with them. The vote comes at a time of increasing public debate over proposals to offer reparations to descendants of enslaved people. A new bill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in January calling for the creation of a commission to study reparation proposals. Several Democratic presidential hopefuls, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren and former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke, have expressed support for the idea.
Los Angeles Times (TNS)
Daniel Slim | AFP | Getty Images | TNS
A view of the Georgetown University campus in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. on Aug. 19, 2018.
The student association said the university’s “horrific” trade of slaves in the early 19th century saved Georgetown from collapsing into bankruptcy. “This issue affects Descendants, both on campus and across the country,” the group said in a recent statement. “The (association) is in support of comprehensive implementation of genuine and meaningful engagement and reconciliation of our history of slavery and with the Descendant community.” The association recommends the fund be enacted in fall 2020, with annual adjustments for inflation. The money would be con-
trolled by a new committee comprised of five descendants of those 272 slaves and five undergraduate students. Critics say the proposal is flawed because it penalizes students for something the university should be accountable for. One descendant, Jessica Tilson, told a campus news outlet that the mandatory nature of the fee is not the right approach. “The Jesuits forced my ancestors to come here, and how can I say that forcing someone to do something is wrong, but then I turn around and agree with forcing you all to pay us,” she said.
Video footage of Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin has become part of a legal battle in the college admissions scandal, with prosecutors asking a judge to restrict access to evidence it will begin turning over to defense attorneys. Over the past year, federal investigators in Massachusetts have amassed a trove of emails, wiretapped phone calls, surveillance photographs and video and financial records that they used to build a case, unsealed last month, implicating 50 people in a vast conspiracy to subvert the admissions process at some of the country’s most selective universities. Huffman and Loughlin, two of 33 parents charged with fraud, conspiracy and other crimes, headlined a list of defendants including well-known names from Hollywood, Silicon Valley and Newport Coast. Huffman has agreed to plead guilty to a single charge of fraud conspiracy. Loughlin has pleaded not guilty to charges of fraud conspiracy and money laundering. Prosecutors must begin turning over evidence to defense attorneys next week. The first tranche of digitized records comprises 130 gigabytes, according to an attorney for Donna Heinel, a former athletics
official at the University of Southern California who is accused of conspiring with the scheme’s admitted mastermind, Newport Beach college admissions consultant William “Rick” Singer. Prosecutors have asked a judge to curtail by whom and where the evidence can be viewed because it contains sensitive personal information and the names of people who are targets of the investigation but have yet to be charged. Defense attorneys strongly oppose such an order, calling the request “draconian,” “unfounded” and a “strong-arm” tactic. In a meeting Monday, prosecutors told Heinel’s lawyers that they were asking the judge to restrict access to the evidence because they were concerned that a defendant might leak video from Huffman’s or Loughlin’s home to the press, an attorney for Heinel wrote in a motion. “This laughably cannot qualify as a reason to deny Ms. Heinel, a 58-year-old woman with no criminal history who stands accused of a nonviolent, white-collar offense, her rightful access to discovery,” said the attorney, Nina Marino. It’s unclear what the videos show. Heinel, a longtime fixture of USC’s athletic department, was indicted last month on a charge of
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NEWS
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Thursday, April 25, 2019
Measles’ next target in LA: Unvaccinated college students Soumya Karlamangla Los Angeles Times (TNS) Los Angeles health officials warned this week that students and staff at the University of California, Los Angeles and Cal State L.A. may be at risk of catching measles, an announcement that has raised questions about universities’ susceptibility to disease outbreaks. Not only can cramped dorm rooms and crowded classrooms be breeding grounds for contagion, but young adults in California are less likely to be vaccinated than other age groups, experts say. One of the people infected in L.A.’s measles outbreak is a UCLA student, university officials confirmed Tuesday. People who are now in their early 20s are part of what’s known as the “Wakefield generation,” because they were infants in 1998 when British scientist Andrew Wakefield published a now discredited paper claiming that vaccines cause autism. Scared of the side effects of vaccination, many parents chose to opt out. California implemented one of country’s strictest immunization laws in 2016 to try to push up vaccination rates, but high school students and young adults who had already finished their school-
ing when the law took effect were not required to comply. That has left a large pool of young people especially vulnerable to infections, experts say. “Our eyes are always focused on these elementary schools … but (vaccine refusal) been going on for a while now, so you have undervaccinated kids becoming undervaccinated adults,” said UC Riverside professor Richard M. Carpiano, a medical sociologist who studies vaccine hesitancy. “This is a higher education issue.” Nationwide, health officials are grappling with a surge in measles cases that is approaching a 20-year high. California is one of 22 states where measles cases have been reported in 2019, according to federal officials. L.A. County officials announced Monday that they are investigating an outbreak involving four people as well as one standalone case. There have been at least 25 measles cases in California this year, most linked to a cluster in the northern part of the state. The UCLA student who was recently infected attended classes for three days in early April while infectious, according to a statement from UCLA spokesman Ricardo Vazquez. Though there is currently no risk of catching measles on campus, of-
ficials say that people who came near the student may have contracted measles. Measles spreads through coughing and sneezing, and up to 95 percent of unvaccinated people who are exposed to measles will develop the illness, said Dr. Vikram Anand, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Even after a sick person leaves a room, the virus can linger in the air for up to two hours, waiting to infect an unsuspecting victim. “Measles is probably the most contagious disease on the planet,” Anand said. L.A. health officials say the majority of people who came down with measles were unvaccinated, but would not provide specific information about each patient. Democratic state Sen. Richard Pan of Sacramento, who authored California’s vaccine law, said that people now in their early 20s have a high chance of not being vaccinated because they were young children when Wakefield appeared on “60 Minutes” in the U.S. and anti-vaccine activist Jenny McCarthy began warning of the dangers of vaccines. “It’s that generation,” he said. “It’s accumulated over time — a large number of unvaccinated people.” The last big measles outbreak in L.A.
County, which was in 2017, centered around unvaccinated older adolescents. In the fall of 2011, roughly 11,500 students starting seventh grade did not have all their shots, largely because their parents said it was against their personal beliefs. That number dropped to approximately 2,100 by the fall of 2017, in large part because of a law Pan authored barring parents from skipping vaccines because of their personal beliefs. But people who already crossed seventh grade in 2016 when the law took effect were grandfathered into the law and did not need to get vaccinated to complete their schooling. Kids who were in seventh grade in 2011 would be college sophomores now — and still may not have their vaccines. Some young adults whose parents did not vaccinate them are now choosing to get vaccinated on their own, but that is rare. Some children say they didn’t know their parents didn’t vaccinate them. “Policy-wise, the approach our country has taken, and many other countries, is that we require vaccinations for school,” Pan said. “What happens if someone
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Trinity College professor tweets ‘Whiteness is terrorism,’ Neil Vigdor
The Hartford Courant (TNS)
A Trinity College professor whose racially charged social media posts created an uproar in 2017 is once again facing a firestorm from alumni of the Hartford liberal arts school for tweeting “Whiteness is terrorism” on Easter and referring to Barack and Michelle Obama as “white kneegrows.” In a second tweet Sunday, Johnny Eric Williams, who is black, wrote: “All self-identified white people (no exceptions) are invested in and collude with systemic white racism/white supremacy.” Earlier this month, the tenured sociology professor said “ ‘White’ kneegrows really need a lot of therapy and a good ‘ol ass kicking,” in a Facebook post. When asked whether he was referring to Candace Owens, the black conservative commentator and political activist, who is from Connecticut, Williams said it wasn’t just her. “I’m referring to her other and less
brazen but more insidious dangerous ‘white’ kneegrows like Barry and Michelle Obama and many other white kneegrows you encounter daily,” Williams posted. In an emailed response, Williams said “there are many socially defined black folks who have internalized whiteness — as a way and knowing and being in the world. They like others who believe themselves to be ‘white,’ act on these ideas in ways that create and sustain systemic white racism.” “Such whiteness internalization lead folks like Candace Owens, Barry and Michelle Obama to engage in actions and policy creations that are existential threats to humanity, particularly the racial oppressed. Thus my post denotes the urgency of exposing these individual as enemies of humanity’s well-being,” Williams said. Williams’ latest posts recall a 2-year-old controversy, during which he took a mutually agreed upon leave of absence from Trinity because of the national attention his social media comments about race
generated. An investigation by Trinity cleared Williams of any wrongdoing and determined the tweets were protected by academic freedom. The controversial pair of Facebook posts by Williams in 2017 included an inflammatory and profane hashtag — “Let Them (expletive) Die” — that was widely shared on social and conservative media, leading to the threats against Williams and calls for him to be fired. Trinity President Joanne Berger-Sweeney reported that the college lost $200,000 in donations due to the controversy. Sixteen incoming students also withdrew their enrollment. At the time, Berger-Sweeney said she supported Williams’ right to express his views, but found his words personally offensive. “They also contradict our fundamental institutional values and run counter to our efforts to bridge divides and to promote understanding, both among members of our college community and between us
and members of communities beyond our own,” Berger-Sweeney said. A Trinity spokeswoman was not immediately prepared to comment on the latest controversial tweets. “This stuff is not for the faint-hearted,” Williams told The Hartford Courant in an interview Tuesday. A group of Trinity graduates, commenting on the Facebook page Alumni for a Better Trinity College, condemned Williams’ remarks. “I think he’s telling us he’s a hateful bigot,” wrote Steve Musicant, a 1985 graduate of Trinity. Musicant told the Courant that even as a philosophy major and a liberal Democrat from Bloomfield who is the parent of a current Trinity student, he finds Williams’ comments disturbing. “I don’t believe there’s any room for that,” said Musicant, who has been auditing classes the past two semesters at his
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WT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 alma mater. “He’s a bigot and I think he should be fired.” Musicant characterized the controversy as a “black eye” for Trinity, where he said there’s an assumed progressivism because it is a liberal arts college, but is stereotypically preppie. He was not aware of Williams’ Facebook comments about the Obamas. “He’s a piece of … ” Musicant said. Howard Scott Nesbitt, a 1983 Trinity graduate, first posted Williams’ tweets on the Alumni for a Better Trinity College Facebook page. He said he reached out to Williams for an explanation and received a thoughtful reply from the professor. “Absolutely nothing should happen to Professor Williams,” Nesbitt said in a text message Tuesday. “In my opinion freedom of speech, thoughts, and expression, our absolute. Although I think Twitter is not the most efficient place for this kind of in
LA CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 misses that window? We haven’t really developed a mechanism to go back.” In 2015, the UC system approved a regulation requiring that students be fully vaccinated before enrolling at any campus. At California universities in the past decade, there have been outbreaks of mumps, meningitis and norovirus. But amid pushback, UC officials did not begin enforcing the regulation until fall 2018, the beginning of the current school
depth conversation, I do think different opinions must be welcome — and, in fact, are welcome at a liberal arts school like Trinity. Students must be encouraged to think outside their comfort zone, and to discuss, in a civil manner, differing viewpoints.” Nesbitt said quashing a discussion about race isn’t the solution. “Regardless of whether I personally agree or not, conversations like this must happen … (another close relative of mine went to a different New England liberal arts school, and any conversation that went away from the prevailing beliefs of most college students today was immediately shut down,” Nesbitt said. “I do not believe this is healthy for a liberal arts institution, or our country.” Williams said he is not anti-white and that he is trying to get people to think about the oppression of African Americans, which can be a provocative topic. He said his tweets were not in response to Sunday’s deadly Easter terrorist attacks in
year. Therefore, most students at UCLA enrolled before the requirement took effect. Nationwide, an estimated 626 people have come down with measles as of Friday, the second-highest number of cases reported since measles was declared eliminated in the country in 2000, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Experts say the increase is due to fewer people being vaccinated in the U.S. and across the world; Americans are now more likely to encounter measles abroad,
TROPIC CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 students were even able to take boxes home of the leftover pizza after the event ended. Besides the free food, this event had other fun activities set up for students
SCANDAL CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 racketeering. She has pleaded not guilty. Loughlin and her husband, fashion designer J. Mossimo Giannulli, are accused of paying $500,000 to have their two daughters admitted to USC as rowing recruits according to an affidavit filed. In the indictments unsealed last week, the couple and 14 other parents face two charges: fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy. Prosecutors said Huffman paid $15,000 for a 36-year-old Harvard graduate to correct her daughter’s an-
Sri Lanka or any other specific incident. “Whiteness breeds terrorism, the exploitation of other people’s bodies and minds for profit,” Williams said. “It’s academic freedom. That’s the role of a professor to try to help students see their complicity and collusion with white racism.” House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, a Derby Republican, the top Republican female office holder in the Connecticut Legislature and a 1987 Trinity College graduate, blasted Williams’ social media comments. “This is hate speech, plain and simple,” Klarides said. “It is a toxic. It is polarizing and it is not anything we need in this country, particularly in this day and age.” Klarides said she is all for sharing dissenting viewpoints in a college setting, but that Williams has crossed a line. “I’ve spoken to the president there. Their answer is, ‘he’s a tenured professor and free speech,’ ” Klarides said. “It’s a cycle of vicious language. You’re supposed to be shaping their lives.” Williams
and when they return, the infection is more likely to spread here. L.A. officials say the outbreak as well as the single case were both linked to international travel. The Northern California outbreak began when a man contracted measles in the Philippines. This week, health officials also warned that someone infected with measles spent time in the library at Cal State L.A. for a few hours in April. University spokesman Robert Lopez said health officials had not said if the patient was a student.
said his comments are being taken out of context by those “just looking to get rid of black intellectuals” at Trinity College. “First of all, they don’t understand what I’m talking about, which reveals their shortcoming of knowledge about white supremacy,” Williams said. “Trinity is a very hostile place. I know that many of them think a black person’s humanity is negotiable. As of now, the environment here is hostility to anyone who isn’t white and from the upper crust. All of them are not bad, but there’s a preponderance of them who try to get their way.” Williams said he wasn’t referring to the school’s administration. “I think this time they have my back,” he said, downplaying the loss of donations to the school. “As far as I know, there was only one person who withheld the money.”
The Cal State system requires that all students be vaccinated against measles and hepatitis B to begin classes, though it often allows a one-year grace period for students to catch up on their immunizations. Starting in fall 2020, CSU students will also be required to also be immunized against meningitis, whooping cough and chickenpox. Though measles is most deadly for babies under a year old, children younger than 5 and adults older than 20 are more likely to suffer from other serious complications, such as pneumonia,
brain swelling and ear infections that can lead to permanent hearing loss. Public health officials encourage vaccination, estimated to be 97 percent effective in protecting against measles. The measles vaccine is believed to work for a lifetime. “We will likely see additional measles cases in Los Angeles County, so … the best way to protect yourself and to prevent the spread of measles is to get the measles immunization,” said L.A. County health officer Dr. Muntu Davis in a statement.
to participate in. There were a variety of different inflatables for students to enjoy. Along with the inflatables, there were different areas set up for games. The SGA also provided volleyballs for students to play sand volleyball, which was a big hit. swers on the SAT, giving the girl a 400-point boost over a previous score. Huffman later discussed pursuing a similar scheme for her younger daughter but decided not to follow through with it, according to court records. “I am in full acceptance of my guilt, and with deep regret and shame over what I have done, I accept full responsibility for my actions and will accept the consequences that stem from those actions. I am ashamed of the pain I have caused my daughter, my family, my friends, my colleagues and the educational community,” she said in a statement.
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Thursday, April 25
Meet your fellow ISU Sycamores
Dossier by Cheyenne Fauquher Photos by Anna Bartley
Freshman Name: Alex Lichlyter Birthday: July 12, 1999 Hometown: Evansville, IN Major: Exercise Science Best thing to happen to you today: Going to the gym Leader or follower: Leader Sophomore Name: Mykala Wolf Birthday: March 24, 1999 Hometown: Robinson, IL Major: Speech Language Pathology Best thing to happen to you today: Getting toys at the McDonald’s Drive-Thru Leader or follower: Leader Junior Name: Mia Stutts Birthday: April 12, 1997 Hometown: Chicago, IL Major: Speech Language Pathology Best thing to happen to you today: Dossier Interview Leader or follower: Leader Senior Name: Harrison Williams Birthday: June 5, 1996 Hometown: Terre Haute, IN Major: Insurance and Risk Management Best thing to happen to you today: I woke up and the sun was shining Leader or follower: Leader
Sycamore Video hosts film expo Students showcase their creativity
Rain and pie for Theta Chi
Fraternity raises money for USO by letting people pie them in the face Nicole Nunez News Editor
Lauren Rader News Editor
The Sycamore Video Expo showcased 17 student films on campus Tuesday, April 23. This was the 18th year that the expo has been put on, and there are many more to come. Students interested in film or making movies were able to enter their pieces with a submission form. There were a few different categories of film which consisted of: long form film (which was 5-12 minutes), video was 2-5 minutes, there was an unjudged category, movie trailer/music interpretation/PSA and a video short was under two minutes. Students competed against others within their category and winners were awarded ‘Woody awards’ resembling an Oscar, a movie and a popcorn carton filled with candy. As students won, they went up and delivered an acceptance speech for their awards and thanked the crowd. Winners include the following: Matthew Lester with “2019 State Dance Marathon,” Erin Mckeeman, Katie Higginbotham, Tessa Shepard and Kyle Vlcek with “The Demming Witch Project,” Katie Higginbotham with “The Darkest Night,” and Paige Kimbrew with “Star Prisoner.” The audience showed their appreciation for the creativity of the students with laughter and applause, which filled the room. “This is my second year of doing Sycamore Vid-
eo and the expo,” Katie Higginbotham, an Assistant Production Manager with Sycamore Video said. “I think Mr. Perkins started it for the students who weren’t interested in just news, but also in film. It’s like our school’s film festival or mini Oscars!” Audience members were offered refreshments such as water and lemonade and there was also a popcorn machine. Students ate their snacks during the films like they would in a movie theater. The films were introduced by senior members and officers of Sycamore Video. “It took a lot of time and patience. I’m definitely excited to do more of these videos in the future, and enter them into the expo,” Nayeli Castro, a Volunteer with Sycamore Video said. “Hopefully, I can get my name on even more videos next year!” It’s never too late to start working on films for next year, and Sycamore Video is excited to see what students come up with next year.
A little rain did not stop Theta Chi from holding a philanthropy event this past Wednesday called, “Pie a Chi” near the Fountain from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Students could walk up to the table, make a donation, and would have the chance to throw a whipped cream pie at one of the brothers of Theta Chi. These donations not only go to Theta Chi, but to philanthropies as well. “We are just raising a little bit of money, we have philanthropies and stuff we like to do at Theta Chi. We are trying to do one for Matt Lueking… We also raise money for [United Service Organizations],” said Zachary Zmyslo, Theta Chi Fundraising Chair. “We are just trying to raise some money so we have more funds to put on better philanthropies.” Theta Chi wishes to support and honor their brothers with great academic standing. “We also have scholarships that we like to give to people with a 3.5 GPA or higher,” Zmyslo said.
This is an amazing achievement that does not go unnoticed by the fellow brothers of Theta Chi. With finals week and study week coming, this event was a great way for students from all over campus to take a few minutes out of their day for something fun. “It can be a good way to relieve some stress before the difficult few weeks ahead of studying and finals,” said Zakk Dawson, a Brother of Theta Chi. “My favorite part of the event is seeing all of the support from campus and the fellow Greek organizations on campus,” said Dawson.
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Thursday, April 25, 2018 • Page 5
The anti-’Avengers’: In indie gem ‘Fast Color,’ a powerful new superhero story is born Jen Yamato
Los Angeles Times (TNS)
In the age of Marvel and DC domination, “Fast Color” is a very different and long overdue kind of superhero movie. Just released in theaters ahead of the impending “Avengers: Endgame,” director Julia Hart’s indie darling is a revolutionary take on superpowered beings with the power to change the world: not Hulks who smash, but women who create. “There’s no Spandex and there are no capes,” said Gugu Mbatha-Raw, smiling. She stars as Ruth, reuniting in Los Angeles with Hart and 12-year-old Saniyya Sidney, her on-screen daughter, on a recent April afternoon. “It’s about the energy and the power that we already have inside of us, and I really appreciated that,” she said. “The world is so saturated with a certain type of superhero, and that’s great. But there was something for me about this that was really refreshing and necessary.” Three generations of heroines seek to set their immense gifts free in “Fast Color,” scripted by Hart and her husband, producer Jordan Horowitz (“La La Land”). But first the characters must face the Herculean task of defying a world that would seek to control them _ not to mention their own self-doubts. Those challenges haunt Ruth (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), a broken wonder woman on the run, who finds her way home to the family she left years ago as “Fast Color” unfolds across an unforgiving dystopian American West. Opening in a crowded frame this past weekend alongside fellow female-led indies including “Little Woods” and Kenyan film “Rafiki” _ which also center on heroines of color _ “Fast Color” has fought an uphill battle since debuting last year at South by Southwest. “Fast Color” was acquired last fall by Lionsgate’s Codeblack label, which had some modest successes, including the Kevin Hart concert documentary “Let Me Explain” and the Tupac Shakur biopic “All Eyez on Me,” but the studio axed the division in January. When “Fast Color” opened in 25 U.S.
theaters on April 19, it did so with a limited marketing campaign. Passionate social media boosts from supporters such as Ava DuVernay, Brit Marling, April Reign and Kumail Nanjiani could only do so much in a marketplace that has become increasingly treacherous for smaller films. With a modest per-screen average of $1,500 in its first weekend, the film’s theatrical future looks bleak. In Los Angeles it will move to the Laemmle Glendale on Friday, but Horowitz noted on Twitter that the filmmakers are already looking ahead to digital and home entertainment release, where the film may stand a stronger chance connecting with audiences. On the heels of record-breaking returns for female-led superhero films including “Wonder Woman” and “Captain Marvel,” a scrappy superheroine tale like “Fast Color” would seem to serve at least some fraction of a fandom already hungry for more inclusive heroes on screen. “Superheroes don’t have to be a Hulk or a Thor,” said Sidney. “They don’t have to have something in their hand to make themselves feel that they are powerful. ... I think it’s going to be an eye-opener for people to see that not all superheroes need to be Shazam, or the Avengers, or Black Widow.” Mbatha-Raw, whom Hart and Horowitz had admired in Gina Prince-Bythewood’s “Beyond the Lights,” was on the set of a space-bound sci-fi movie when she read the script for “Fast Color” in under two hours. “I loved the writing and the world,” she said. “Reading this was like a breath of fresh air. This homecoming is not the end of the story; it’s actually the beginning of her connecting to her powers and her family and her identity.” In the parched, muted world of “Fast Color,” it hasn’t rained in years for reasons science can’t explain, but Ruth has bigger worries. Cursed with elemental powers she can’t control, she’s afflicted by seizures that rattle the earth as she returns to the rural homestead where her mother, Bo (Lorraine Toussaint), and 10-year-old daughter, Lila (Sidney), live in cautious isolation. Inspired by the idea of motherhood as superpower, Hart (who made her directo-
rial debut with 2016’s “Miss Stevens”) and Horowitz wrote “Fast Color” for her to helm and secured financing through LD Entertainment and embarked on a 28day shoot in New Mexico. Their aim was to tell a kind of superhero story antithetical to Hollywood blockbuster franchises. In “Fast Color,” there are no Spandexed warriors pummeling megalomaniacs over magical bejeweled gloves _ only mothers and daughters, just trying to get by. “Most superhero movies are about men destroying things to save them,” said Hart. “When Jordan and I decided we wanted to tell a movie about women with superpowers, we decided that their powers absolutely could not be destructive but that their powers should be creative.” The story took on deeper layers after Mbatha-Raw signed on to play Ruth, a former punk-loving wild child written with no specific ethnicity on the page. “In the script it was just ‘Ruth,’” she said. “I really respected Julia for casting in this way. It’s not about making something about race because it isn’t, and we never discussed it ... we just are ourselves. But that is powerful. You’re not making it an issue. You’re just showing this potential in these three women of color.” Veteran actress Toussaint (“Orange Is the New Black”) boarded the film as Bo, the grandmother safeguarding the legacy of the long line of extraordinary women from whom Ruth and Lila descend. “Lorraine is just so soulful, and she has so much wisdom and gravitas that she just exudes,” said Mbatha-Raw. “She was so perfect for the matriarch.” When the search for Ruth’s daughter landed on Sidney _ who plays Lila, a bright girl with a knack for fixing things and a sense that greater purpose awaits outside her small town _ the youngster came in to test with Mbatha-Raw, and the two bonded instantly. “She strolled into the room and said, ‘Hi! I’m Saniyya,’” Mbatha-Raw said. “I was like, what does that mean? And she was like, ‘Brilliant and radiant.’ And she asked me what my name meant, and I said ‘Gugulethu, which means pride,’ and I thought, ‘We’re going to get along.’” She called Hart that day and declared: “’That’s
my daughter.’” Sidney was 10 when she filmed “Fast Color.” Now 12 and starring on Fox’s sci-fi series “The Passage,” she’s seen the impact of “Fast Color” firsthand in the eyes of the little girls who come up to her after screenings, as they did last Friday when she and Hart made a surprise opening-day appearance at a Baldwin Hills theater. And she’s reflective about what she hopes “Fast Color” will mean to young viewers. “I hope they take that their power that they might have is important, and it’s OK to go out there and show people that it’s important and that you are capable of anything,” Sidney said. Women connecting with one another is an important element of the film to Hart, who points to inspiration she finds in the real world. “I think about the new young women in the government right now in our country, and how what they’re doing is working together to create positive change,” she said. “ ... It’s about finding ways to bring ourselves up in order to make things better.” There’s also a sense of pride that Bo, Ruth and Lila enjoy in the beauty of the superpowers they’ve inherited, an artistry that manifests on screen in dazzling, intricately detailed and VFX-aided bursts of matter. To Hart, that element of “Fast Color” is also an appreciation of the legacy of women who have paved the way for her. “On the surface it is about these women and their abilities, but it’s also about female artists and getting to tell your story and share your art _ and how hard that is in a world that doesn’t necessarily want to hear that,” said Hart, whose next film, “Stargirl,” is set to premiere on Disney+ next year. The underlying theme of daring to embrace power that’s already inside you resonates loudly with Mbatha-Raw. “I’m reminded of that quote by Marianne Williamson: ‘Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate; our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure,’” she said. “I hope people are inspired and empowered.”
Page 6
On Being Black and Queer
Wyatt Holland Neice Contributor
Life isn’t always easy. From dealing with family drama to challenges day to day, this is particularly so for black-queer people due to latent homophobia and racism in their dual communities. Unique issues arise within these dual communities from conditions created by historical oppression and inherited systemic racism. Their black communities and their queer communities often subject them to exclusionary practices or cast them into stereotyped roles and ideas that lead to existing in a kind of in-between space. “Not just black people but the world, society has a negative outlook on gay people, being gay and black, well that’s two things against you, the world already doesn’t like you because you’re black and now they won’t like you because you’re gay,” Indiana State University alumnus Marvin Bills said. Stemming from this history of degradation, the black community has found strength and unity to survive. The pillar of this strength often is the black church; however, the churches have also led to issues of contemporary queer acceptance. “I would go to a black church on Easter, special occasions, when family was in town. There was one sermon I listened to about how gay people are full of sin and don’t belong within the church community,” Indiana University-Purdue-University of Indianapolis junior William Fairrow said. Although, this has not been the sole factor leading to this general lack of queer acceptance. Systemic racism and oppression has led many black communities to experience issues of a lower socioeconomic standing then many white communities. Thus, white communities have the luxury of less stress and more freedom in much of life. “I’m mixed so I’ve come out to my entire white family almost, and I have not felt comfortable enough to tell anybody on the black side of my family about me being gay because of the way they would mention a few family members who were also gay, so I’ve never felt comfortable telling them that because I value my relationships with them and don’t
want anything to come between that,” Fairrow said. These conditions create attitudes about how young black men should act and behave to become strong members of their community who can be relied on and survive in the broader society. “Black men are held to a standard that they’re supposed to be better, that they’re supposed to carry themselves in a way that doesn’t hinder who they are or their culture,” Bills said. The struggles that have been faced are not unique to only their black community. Within the queer community systemic prejudice is alive and well too. “It’s more of me noticing that if I were a certain color I would have not have received a certain response from people – there is a prejudice against minorities in the gay community for sure. I would always wonder why in the queer movies and shows, for instance Queer as Folk, I would always wonder why whenever they would mention a black guy or when a black guy was in a scene or involved in the show at all, I wondered why the black guy had to be characterized as this real big buff Mandingo guy. They didn’t characterize black guys any other way, so that always confused me,” Bills said. The prevalence of these attitudes may exist for a number of reasons. One that has been seen is as the queer community gains more acceptance, the desire or need to remain as relatable and appeal to society at large becomes a pressure on its own inclusiveness. Those that do find success then may become “gatekeepers,” such as RuPaul has shown with comments about transgender drag contestants. “Growing up I never saw myself represented, especially after I came out. I never saw myself represented in gay media. There was no one that was brown out there,” former ISU student Elliott Sandifer said. While strides have been and continue to be made in the realms of racial and queer acceptance, it is important to stay vigilant. Clearly, issues do still exist and solutions are necessary. “Educating people – I think that’s the biggest thing. Especially the older generation,” Sandifer said. “Exposure absolutely [as well]. The more seen it is, the less shocking it becomes.”
OPINION
Thursday, April 25, 2019
Molly Hennessy-Fiske | Los Angeles Times | TNS
Crowds gather to celebrate Buddha’s birthday near the Swayambhunath temple in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Culture and Religions of Nepal
Ashima Sitaula Columnist
Customs and traditions differ from one part of Nepal to another. A conglomeration lies in capital city Kathmandu (capital city of Nepal) where cultures are blending to form a national identity. Centuries-old traditions and social customs produce the rich, multi-ethnic and multi-dimensional culture of Nepal. Its diverse range of mountain communities and social strata are expressed in music, dance, folklore, language and religion. Religion in Nepal is in many ways unique. On May 18, 2006, Parliament declared Nepal a secular country. Religions practiced in Nepal are Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Jainism, Sikhism, Bon, ancestor worship and animism. The religious landscape erupts from a long history that evolves around Hinduism and Buddhism as the two main religions, although many Nepalese practices a unique combination of both mixed with a degree of animism. They coexist in a strong syncretism in which they often merge into one another. The
two have co-existed in harmony through centuries. The traditions of both go back over two millennia to the birth of the Buddha in Lumbini and the ancient Hindu rituals that are still strong today. Definitions of Hinduism are often very complex. For many, Hinduism is not so much a religion as a way of life. In Kathmandu, it is seen in the way that culture, respect for family traditions, and ancestors are naturally intertwined with everyday chores and religious rites. Hinduism is not a homogeneous religion at all, but rather a mix of religions, doctrines and different attitudes towards life, rites, moral and social norms that are determined by the many different ethnic groups in Nepal. Hindu Nepalese worship the ancient Vedic Gods. Bramha the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver and Shiva the Destroyer; together described as the Supreme Hindu Trinity. People pray to the Shiva Linga or the phallic symbol of Lord Shiva in most Shiva temples. Shakti, the dynamic element in the female counterpart of Shiva, is highly revered and feared. Mahadevi, Mahakali, Bhagabati and Ishwari are some of the names given. Other popular deities are Ganesh for luck, Saraswati for knowledge, Lakshmi for wealth and Hanuman for protection. Krishna is believed to be the human incarnation of Lord Vishnu is also worshipped widely.
Hindu holy scripts are the Bhagawat Gita, Ramayan and Mahabharat, which are widely read in Nepal. Knowledgeable Brahmin Pundits read Vedas, Upanishads and other holy scriptures during special occasions. Buddha is widely worshipped by both Buddhists and Hindus of Nepal. The five Dhyani Buddhas; Vairochana, Akshobhaya, Rathasambhava, Amitabha and Amoghasiddhi, represent the five basic elements: earth, fire, water, air and ether. Buddhist philosophy conceives these deities to be the manifestations of Sunya or absolute void. Mahakaala and Bajrayogini are Vajrayana Buddhist deities worshipped by Hindus as well. Tibetan Buddhism is the most popular variety of Buddhism in Kathmandu, but often is categorized as a subcategory of Mahayana Buddhism. Mahayana Buddhism originally started as a reform movement within the Theravada tradition. The name derives from Sanskrit and means “the Big Vehicle,” due to its open-mindedness towards lay people. Many argue that Mahayana Buddhism started as a compromise between Hinduism and Buddhism. Mahayana Buddhism incorporated a pantheon with numerous deities. The pantheon of Mahayana deities is subordinate to the Buddha and is not represented in the same light as
ing tough on illegal immigration. But now, it appears that Trump may be cracking on that stance. In a broadcast on Fox News on Wednesday, Aug. 24, Trump said that he would be open to letting illegal immigrants stay (sans citizenship) if they paid “back taxes.” This is a huge shift in policy for Trump. Again, he’s built his entire campaign on how tough on immigration he is. But now suddenly he’s okay with illegal immigrants as long as they pay taxes? This shows to me that he doesn’t actually say what he means, and that he won’t adhere to his promises like many other people believe he will. Trump’s shift has already caused some backlash from his most staunch supporters, even his former opponents who now support him. In an interview on radio station WABC, Jeb Bush called Trump’s flip flop “abhorrent” and
said that “I don’t know what to believe about a guy who doesn’t believe in things.” Ann Coulter, such a Trump supporter that she just released a book titled “In Trump We Trust,” went on a Twitter rant about Trump’s flip. In a series of Tweets, Coulter skewered Trump for allowing illegal immigrants to pay back taxes, as well as saying that Trump’s new stance on immigration. I think that this shift could really hurt Trump’s campaign. He may pick up a few voters with this softer rhetoric, but then he would also lose the supporters who supported him when he promised total deportation. I think Trump waited too long to scale back the attacks on minorities. As Whit Ayres, former Rubio campaign staff member, said “he finally figured out that you can’t win a national election with just white voters.”
NEPAL CONTINUED ON PAGE 7
Your Guide to Summer Festivals Erin Bradshaw Columnist
Donald Trump really doesn’t like illegal immigrants. This isn’t exactly an uncommon opinion; immigration is an extremely contentious issue. In a January 2015 Gallup poll, it was found that 33% of Americans are satisfied with immigration in the United States. So if 66% of the population is displeased with how immigration works in the US, what makes Trump so special? Obviously, he’s super rich and running for president, but apart from that, the thing that separates him from the rest of these
people is that from the beginning, Donald Trump has built his campaign around the idea that he will be the president who finally stops illegal immigration, and he even went a step farther and said that he would deport every illegal immigrant already in the country. In Donald Trump’s campaign announcement speech, he made the promise to build a wall on the border between the United States and Mexico, and he promised that Mexico would be the ones to pay for it. Trump has since rolled back his comments on his proposed border wall; however, the wall is not something that he’s flipped on, just kind of stopped talking about at this point. In the same speech, Trump also talked specifically about the people who are coming to the United States from Mexico, saying, “they’re sending people that have lots of problems, and
they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.” How magnanimous is Trump that he would recognize that “some” illegal immigrants “are good people,” instead of just painting every single one of them with the same broad brush? Trump even talked about his deportation plan in more detail in the coming months. In an appearance on Morning Joe, Trump said that he would have a “deportation force” in order to accomplish his goal of deporting all 11 million illegal immigrants in the country. He did say that the deportation would be done “humanely,” but that’s not much of a reassurance that a mass deportation of 11 million people would be a good idea. Trump has legitimately built his entire campaign around be-
Editorial Board
Tuesday, Nov 27, 2018 Indiana State University
www.indianastatesman.com
Volume 126 Issue 55
Claire Silcox Editor-in-Chief isu-statesman@mail.indstate.edu Rileigh McCoy News Editor isu-statesman@mail.indstate.edu Rachel Modi Opinions Editor isu-statesman@mail.indstate.edu Alex Trby Features Editor isu-statesman@mail.indstate.edu David Cruz Sports Editor isu-statesman@mail.indstate.edu Danielle Guy Photo Editor isu-statesman@mail.indstate.edu The Indiana Statesman is the student newspaper of Indiana State University. It is published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays during the academic school year. Two special issues are published during the summer. The paper is printed by the Tribune Star in Terre Haute, Ind.
Opinions Policy The opinions page of the Indiana Statesman offers an opportunity for the Indiana State University community to express its views. The opinions, individual and collective, expressed in the Statesman and the student staff’s selection or arrangement of content do not necessarily reflect the attitudes of the university, its Board of Trustees, administration, faculty or student body. The Statesman editorial board writes staff editorials and makes final decisions about news content. This newspaper serves as a
public forum for the ISU community. Make your opinion heard by submitting letters to the editor at statesmanopinions@isustudentmedia.com. Letters must be fewer than 500 words and include year in school, major and phone number for verification. Letters from non-student members of the campus community must also be verifiable. Letters will be published with the author’s name. The Statesman editorial board reserves the right to edit letters for length, libel, clarity and vulgarity.
indianastatesman.com NEPAL CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 the pantheon in Hinduism. The purpose of a deity in Mahayana Buddhism can vary from practitioner to practitioner, but in general, they are used as an aid to focus on an aspect (such as compassion), personified by that deity, during meditation, leading to transformation and eventual-
Thursday, April 25, 2019 • Page 7 ly liberation and enlightenment. Enlightenment ultimately means a release from dukkha, the mental and physical pains of life that keep a person attached to this world. The various deities are not used as supreme powers in which to put all one’s faith, but as guides to motivate practitioners towards different individual goals.
The power of the mind is the only true source of spiritual attainment and can ultimately be the seed of true enlightenment held within everyone. It is, however, important to emphasize that most lay Buddhists uses the pantheon in a similar way as in Hinduism, while they seek guidance and comfort with their deities. Another important aspect of
Tuesda y, April 23rd f r 11:00 2:00 pm o m
Buddhism is the cyclic understanding of life, as well as karma. It is the idea that actions in this life influence the individual’s following reincarnations with personal karma as the determiner of this. Karma is determined not only by one’s actions, but also by one’s thoughts. Nepal may be dragging itself slowly into the 21st century, but its diverse people still hold true
to their ancient cultures and beliefs, which were formed over millennia and still exert an influence in everyday life. Each region and tribal area has its own festivals and rituals even in the most remote mountain villages. People live as they have for hundreds of years despite the country’s drive toward modernization.
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SPORTS
Page 8
Thursday, April 25, 2019
SIU baseball visits Terre Haute for weekend Garrett Short Reporter
Indiana State’s baseball team will host the Southern Illinois Salukis for a three-game series this weekend at Bob Warn Field. Indiana State, 6-3 in Missouri Valley Conference play, comes in looking to keep pace with the league leading Illinois State Redbirds. The Sycamores continue to enjoy a historic season, just one win away from passing the 30win mark that every team hopes to reach. With plenty of season remaining, ISU will have to stay focused against an SIU team that
has been underwhelmed in 2019. SIU is 17-19 overall, with a 1-8 conference record. The series against SIU is sandwiched between two of the best teams the Sycamores will face in the regular season. They recently just took the series with two wins over Evansville and are visiting the conference-leading Redbirds next weekend. Before the Sycamores took down Evansville last weekend, the Purple Aces and Illinois State were the top two teams in the conference. While this weekend against the Salukis may be seen as a chance to rest against a lower caliber team, ISU must treat this as busi-
ness as usual. Even so, it is easy to see ISU’s advantage. SIU has struggled at the plate this season, and although they kept it close with Illinois State in game two, the Salukis are hitting just .234 overall. That is the worst team batting average in the conference. Their troubles in the batters’ box have translated onto the scoreboard. They rank ninth in the conference in runs scored. Indiana State’s strength is on the mound holding an overall 3.15 ERA. But for SIU, the pitching has been a problem. Their pitching has gotten worse as the season has progressed. Their conference ERA (8.02) is over
two full points higher than their overall ERA. In fact, the last time SIU kept an opponent to under seven runs was April 6 against Missouri State. Unlike the Salukis, ISU has gotten better in MVC play. The Sycamores are hitting .282 against conference opponents. This can be credited to a wide array of players. Five different Sycamores are hitting .300 or higher in conference play. One of those players is senior Dane Tofteland, who has only started in seven games this season. The towering first baseman came on strong against the Purple Aces last weekend collecting
five hits and four RBIs including a homerun in the series win. Tofteland’s production at the plate as ISU’s first baseman is promising, especially since the first base position has been an issue offensively over the last two weeks. The main focus for ISU needs to be maintaining focus and momentum through the weekend. Keeping their bats hot into next weekend’s test against Illinois State will be key in where the Sycamores finish the season in the standings. Game one against the Salukis is set for Friday at 6:30 p.m.
Big first inning propels Sycamores to win Patrick Walah
Athletic Media Relations
Indiana State scored all of its runs in the first inning and used big defensive plays and strong pitching to carry the Sycamores to a 3-2 win over Evansville Wednesday afternoon at Price Field. The win seals the series win for the Sycamores (16-29, 4-16 Missouri Valley), the third straight year Indiana State has claimed the season series over the Purple Aces (16-26, 6-13). The teams had previously split a doubleheader in Evansville on April 10. Indiana State’s prolific opening frame began with a leadoff infield single by Leslie Sims, who promptly stole second. Two outs and a walk later, Bella Peterson made the first of two key plays in the game with a single through the left side that sent Sims across the plate. Brooke Mann added two more to the ISU tally with an
RBI single through the left side that scored Peterson and pinch runner Kristen Kelly. Mann would finish the day 1-for-2 with two RBI and a walk. While the Sycamores wouldn’t score any more runs in the game – despite putting runners in scoring position in four of the next five innings – Indiana State’s pitching and defense held up. While an error led to an Evansville run in the third, Peterson made her second critical play with a diving catch in right field in the fourth to prevent an extra-base hit. Evansville would pull within one with an RBI single in the fifth but a fly ball to left ended the threat and ISU pitchers recorded three strikeouts over the final two innings to seal the win. Gabbi Schnaiter (9-12) was credited with the victory after allowing one earned run on six hits while walking four and striking out two. Arielle Blankenship (2) claimed the save after allowing
Athletic Media Relations
ISU leads the all-time series over Evansville 51-47.
just a walk and a hit in the final 1.2 innings. Emily Lockhart (8-13) was charged with the loss after allowing three runs on six hits and not recording a strikeout in 2.0 innings. Haley Woolf led UE with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate but was constantly thwarted with
no RBI or runs scored. Bella Peterson was making plays both at the plate and in the field, earning the honor of the player of the game. With a 1-for-3 performance at the plate, Peterson both scored a run and drove one in. But she also was impressive in the field with four
put outs, including a diving catch in the fourth inning that most assuredly saved a run. Indiana State now leads the all-time series over Evansville, 51-47. The Sycamores are 33-21 all-time over the Purple Aces in Terre Haute and have won the last three season series.
Track team heads to Iowa for Drake Relays Emari Washington Reporter
On Thursday, April 24 the ISU men’s and women’s track teams will be gearing up to compete in the Drake Relays. In their last three meets they’ve finished in the top three. In their last meet at the Pacesetter Sports Invitational both the men’s and women’s teams finished second to Illinois State. Together they ended up beating seven other schools’ which were Marian 99, Oakland 64, Detroit, Mercy 53, Xavier 78, Dayton 78, Rose Hulman 17, and Illinois Wesleyan 3. Head coach Angela Martin said to GoSycamores that when senior day and alumni day ending the meet with a win is always the intention but she thinks even though
the teams had lower scores than what they hoped for they fought well and Illinois State is a good team and finishing close behind while missing a few athletes is one they will accept. On the other hand, Erin Reese is now the best women’s thrower to come out of the Gibson Track and Field Complex. Reese had a fantastic toss of 55.88m, which won her the first place in discus. She remains in second place in the Missouri Valley Conference, number six in the NCAA Eastern Region and 15th in the country. Cassaundra Roper decimated the competition with a toss of 16.04m. This further solidifies her place on top of the MVC conference, eighth in the Eastern conference, and 16th in the country.
In the track events, Deandra Greer had a nice showing with a time of 11.63 in the 100m dash. Though this was not a conference meet, her time still would have been the fastest in the entire conference. It’s not too bad considering she still remains second in the MVC conference. All together each Sycamore is making a strong case to enter in the post season. The women’s team has especially been taking over the conference with strong performances coming from all sides of the field. Coach Martin and the rest of the coaching staff are pretty satisfied and confident in the ability and will their athletes have shown throughout the season. This just foreshadows a trend for what to expect when they compete in the Drake Relays tomorrow.
Athletic Media Relations
Post season for track is looking great. Coach Martin is confident and satisfied with the team.
The Sycamore softball team heads to Peoria, Ill. to face the Bradley University Braves Jay Adkins Reporter
This upcoming weekend, the Indiana State University Sycamores softball team will travel to Peoria, Illinois to compete against the Bradley University Braves as part of a weekend triple-header series. The Sycamores are currently 16-29 on the season so far and are riding a two-game winning streak, with victories coming against the Valparaiso University Crusaders (9-1) and the University of Evansville Purple Aces (3-2). In their latest matchup against Evansville, junior in-
fielder Leslie Sims recorded two stolen bases to push her season total to 29 swipes and her career total to 75 career stolen base, fifth all-time in school history. Sims run in the first inning of the game also pushed her career runs scored to 101, tying Sara Lemond for third alltime in school history. Senior catcher Brooke Mann’s walk in the fifth inning of the Evansville matchup moved her in a tie for third alltime in school history alongside Jessica McGivney, from 2004-2007 and Alexa Cavin, from 2013-2016. After their victory against Evansville, the Sycamores now
have 75 stolen bases on the season, which is third all-time in school history. The single season school record for stolen bases is 100 stolen bases, which was recorded in 2013. For the Sycamores, Leslie Sims leads all batters in games played 45, games started 45, runs 42, hits 57, and at bats 147. Brooke Mann leads the team in RBIs and home runs with 30 and six on the season, respectively. Sophomore first base andcatcher Amanda Guercio leads the team in putouts by a wide margin with 256. The next closest player is
Brooke Mann with 156. Senior infielder Shaye Barton leads the team in assists with 79 on the season. On the pitching side of things, junior pitcher Gabbi Schnaiter leads all pitchers with nine wins and two shutouts on the season, respectively. Sophomore pitcher Arielle Blankenship leads all pitchers in saves on the season with two. The Sycamores will compete against the Braves this Saturday at 1 pm, this Saturday at 3 pm, and this Sunday at noon. All three games can be watched on ESPN+.