IVCC_IV Leader_090723

IV Leader

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Eagles Peak food pantry opens

School year brings revamp of campus food pantry

By Lucy Zavada IV Leader Writer

The Eagles Peak is located inside of the counseling center, CTC-202R. The food pantry is open on Wednesdays and Thursdays or by appointment. After talking to IVCC’s Special Populations coordinator, Crystal Credi, she answered some questions regarding the pantry that students may ask.

Q: How do students access the items and is there a limit?

A: Students may visit Eagles Peak once per week for groceries. They sign in and a volunteer packs their selections. The pantry is open from 11 am – 1 pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Students can request an appointment outside of these hours at www. ivcc.edu/foodinsecurity.

Q: Is there eligibility criterion?

A: IVCC students, students enrolled in Illinois High School Diploma classes, and

students enrolled in English as a Second Language can visit the pantry once per week.

Q: How can people help in terms of volunteering or donating?

A: Anyone interested in volunteering or donating should contact Crystal Credi at 815-224-0575 or crystal_credi@ivcc.edu.

Q: What are the main food insecurities you see in college students?

A: The 2022 Community College Survey of Student Engagement results showed that students sometimes eat less, skip meals, or simply do not have the means to purchase an ample food supply.

IVCC partnered with River Bend Food Bank to open this mini food pantry on campus. The mini pantry has non-perishable items that do not need refrigeration, so we can continue to support our students as they face food insecurity.

More information on The Eagles Peak Pantry can be found at, IVCC’s Eagles Peak Pantry, or by simply contacting Crystal Credi crystal_credi@ivcc.edu 815-224-0575.

Fitness Center available for IVCC students

By Tanisha Waskiewicz IV Leader Staff Writer

There is so much to do once college begins, so keeping up with assignments and life can be extremely difficult. However, stopping at the Illinois Valley Community College Fitness Center is one way to stay healthy.

The fitness center is equipped with treadmills, cross-trainers, stair-steppers, recumbent and upright bikes and is located in the gym.

In addition to cardiovascular equipment, the fitness center is equipped with a complete weight training system.

Use of the fitness center is free for IVCC students.

The hours of operation are 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. for faculty, students, and staff.

There are designated hours for teams only from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

So, stop by the fitness center located in the gym building on the main floor. If you need to get in, call (815) 224-0333.

Graphic by Tanisha Waskiewicz

IVCC photo

Volunteers unload items to stock the Eagles Peak food pantry, located in CTC 202R.

Activities planned for Spirit Day

By Eric Lockwood IV Leader Arts Editor

The Student Activities Department will host its annual Spirit Day for students and staff from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 13 in the IVCC courtyard.

“We have a variety of activities, food, drink, information, and music for the campus to enjoy,” said Cory Tomasson, Coordinator of Student Activities.

Spirit Day also provides the opportunity to learn more about the student organizations at IVCC, many of whom will have set ups in the courtyard.

“Many departments also participate in the event, which makes it even more interactive and successful,” said Tomasson. “It is also a way for students and staff to socialize outside of the classroom and show school spirit.”

“It’s a good environment,” said Ricky Hernandez, a second-year student at IVCC who attended last year’s Spirit Day. “Everyone’s so happy and just seeing what IVCC has to offer. The free pizza is pretty nice, too.”

“We would love to see a courtyard full of people,” said Tomasson. “We try to offer a wide variety of activities, so that everyone can enjoy something.”

A number of activities are available for students during Spirit Day, including learning about clubs on campus.

Fall graduation deadline approaches

Are you ready to complete a degree or certificate from IVCC at the end of the Fall semester?

If you think that you might be eligible for a degree or certificate, you must apply for graduation in order to have it posted to your academic record and to receive a diploma.

Participating in the spring Commencement ceremony is optional.

The deadline to apply

for Fall graduation is Monday, Oct. 2. There is no fee to apply for graduation, but there is a one-page form to complete.

This form is available on the college website at http:// www.ivcc.edu/graduation and in the Counseling office (Room CTC 202).

The form takes a couple of minutes to complete and lets the college know that you will be ready to complete a degree or certificate

in December.

If you are unsure as to whether or not you are eligible at this time for a degree or certificate, you are encouraged to speak with a counselor (815-224-0360). A counselor can review your academic record and program of study to determine if you have all of the requirements for completion.

Another option to determine your eligibility is to review your degree audit on

your personal WebAdvisor

account.

At IVCC, there are a number of Associate in Applied Science degrees that have corresponding Certificates that you can earn along the way. If you think that you have the requirements fulfilled for one of the certificates, you may want to apply for graduation for that certificate so your academic record will show your progress toward your degree.

The college has one commencement ceremony, which will be Saturday, May 18, 2024. All students who have graduated in the Summer and Fall terms are invited to participate in commencement. There is no fee to participate.

Information is provided in the early part of the Spring semester. Any questions can be directed to Karen Gregorich in the Counseling office at 815-224-0444.

Several events have been scheduled for the college’s One Book One College selection, “Parable of the Sower.”

Butler book chosen for OBOC

Octavia Butler’s “Parable of the Sower” has been chosen as the college’s One Book, One College selection for the academic year.

Several classes will use the novel or portions of the novel for assignments and discussion during the year. Free copies of the book

are available in IVCC’s Jacobs Library, according to librarian Jayna Leipart Gutilla.

In addition, the library

IV LEADER STAFF

Editor: Emma Coss

Arts Editor: Eric Lockwood

Sports Editors: Logan Bland Jake Gerding

Multimedia Editor: Tanisha Waskiewicz

Photo Editor: MaKade Rios

Staff: Lucy Zavada, Grace Mertel, Trysten Riddle.

has ebook and audiobook options available.

For more information on OBOC, visit www.ivcc.edu/ onebook.

Whightsil hired as new IVCC instructor

Greg Whightsil has been selected as the college’s new industrial maintenance instructor.

Where are you from originally?

Grew up in a small town (Bement) just outside of Champaign Illinois.

Where did you attend college and what degree do you hold?

IVCC (AAS Electronics) - Northern Illinois (Bachelor’s Manufacturing Technology) - Currently enrolled at Illinois Institute of Technology (master’s Manufacturing Technology) This path was made possible through IVCC’s 3+1 program through Northern.

What classes or positions are you currently assigned?

Industrial Electronics, Industrial Electricity, and Industrial maintenance.

Are you new to teaching? If not,

where did you teach before IVCC?

I am not new. I was an adjunct in electronics for 17 years here at IVCC.

What are your initial impressions?

The staff and students are engaged.

So far, what is your favorite aspect of IVCC?

This is an excellent learning and teaching environment.

What is your favorite thing about the Illinois Valley area?

Some good food in the area.

What should a student know about you?

I am fully committed to assisting the students create a successful career path. I started at IVCC. With the knowledge I’ve gained I was able to have a successful career. I feel that its my turn to pass this on to the next generation.

IV Leader, a member of the Associated Collegiate Press, is published monthly by students of Illinois Valley Community College. Editorials and columns express opinions of student and staff members and do not necessarily express the views of IVCC, the administration or the Board. Editorial opinions are those a student editorial board.

Letters to the editor must be signed and should be addressed to the IV Leader Office B-316, IVCC, 815 N. Orlando Smith Rd., Oglesby, IL 61348-9691.

IV LEADER ONLINE

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Read the IV Leader online, meet the staff, apply for a staff position, and explore the newspaper’s long, distinguished history online.

Greg Whightsil

Jacobs Library graphic

New school year brings new SGA plans

Hello Eagles! Welcome back!

I am your 2023-24 Student Government- Student Trustee, Libby Boyles. I am back to update you about what Student Government and myself have been up to, both over the summer months and now as we are back in school!

Over the summer, the IVCC Board of Trustees convened every month, approving many new hires, bills of funding in many parts of the school, and most significantly, have begun to form our Master Plans for the following years at IVCC.

Dr. Tracy Morris is heading the Strategic Master Plan. They are currently in step one of the plans, getting Focus Groups together throughout the college to look at different missions, visions, values, and goals. More updates for this plan to come, hopefully by the end of October. The Facilities plan has gone through meetings with many

internal and external Focus Groups. Student and Faculty Focus Group meetings have not gotten together yet, because many students and faculty were gone over the summer months.

Student focus groups are scheduled for Sept. 11, 15, and 22, times to be announced. These focus groups are meant for students to bring their ideas about what we need and want to improve student life at IVCC.

In our latest Student Government meeting on Aug. 23 , we planned many activities for our upcoming Spirit Day event, improvements for our game rooms in the Student Life Space, planned our office hours for the SGA office in the Student Life Space, and set our individual goals as Student Government Officers for the school year that we will present to the President’s Council. Student Government will be holding our annual Spirit Day event

on Wednesday, Sept. 13 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Courtyard.

We have many fun activities planned for everyone, so make sure you put it in your Calendars... Speaking of calendars... Have you gotten your free Student Planner?

We have more outside of our SGA office in the Student Life Space! On the “Stay Connected & Get Involved” page in the Student Planner, there is a QR code to scan that will allow you to subscribe to our Student Calendar, created by our very own Student Government President, Daniel Sack!

Other PERKS as an IVCC student: All Student can use the Fitness Center in Building G, during the set hours. All printing in the Academic Support Center is now FREE! Get your FREE parking pass at the Information Desk by the front doors or downstairs in the Security Office. This allows our Security staff to con-

tact you if anything may happen to your car in the school parking lots.

WEAR PURPLE ON FRIDAYS!

As a member of Student Government, one of my goals for the year is to promote school spirit! We invite all students and staff to wear IVCC purple with us on Fridays from now on!

As Student Trustee, I will be giving the closing at the Presidential Investiture Ceremony for new IVCC President Tracy Morris, on Thursday, Sept. 21 . Thank you for staying up to date with me!

Trustee’s Corner

BY LIBBY BOYLES STUDENT TRUSTEE

Online gig platform market, exploitation, next steps

What is the “Online Gig platform market?” Who are the Providers?

The “online gig platform market” is an opportunity and low barrier for those who are struggling to find employment, who want to make some extra money, and to cover gaps in their income along with other jobs they are employed in.

Companies like Doordash, Uber, Lyft, Instacart, and TaskRabbit are the main providers of gig-related work on mobile devices. Uber and Lyft provide transportation, Doordash and Ubereats provide a food delivery service, Instacart provides an online shopping-delivery service and Taskrabbit is more general, as primarily the audience are people who are looking for “contractors” on the platform to assemble furniture, and move furniture, clean houses, run errands, walk dogs and other free-lance related work.

However, the means of the work achieved are not subject to the same fair

treatment or rights you would get at other places if the online gig platform workers were employed traditionally.

What rights and fair treatment are they exempt from? And why?

The rights the online gig platform workers are exempt from include a minimum wage, worker protections, and job security. Benefits include sick time, insurance, paid time off, the guarantee of being paid, and the guarantee of the hours to work.

Another struggle online gig platform workers have is that they have to declare their income manually as it is not taken out (taxed out) of their paycheck. These workers aren’t always given a paycheck either as platforms like TaskRabbit deposit money to the “taskers” bank account in a 24-hour timespan after a “task” is completed. The reason why they are “legally” allowed

to be treated this way is because they are “legally” considered “Independent Contractors.”

This is a loophole in the U.S. labor system these companies are fully aware of and take full advantage of to increase profits for themselves.

What is legally considered an independent contractor, according to the Internal Revenue Service website, in a section titled “Independent Contractor Defined?” “The general rule is that an individual is an independent contractor if the payer has the right to control or direct only the result of the work and not what will be done and how it will be done.” It goes on to say “If you are an independent contractor, then you are self-employed.” However, we don’t typically think of an Uber driver as “self-employed” or in control of their work at all. We think of them as a taxi service. This

is because people working for companies like Doordash have to sign contracts with provisions that are horribly one-sided and exclude them from any of these legal rights “independent contractors” are entitled. The work environment this creates is highly exploitative and discriminatory towards not only everyone but also those who suffer most from intersectional discrimination.

Who is being exploited and How?

According to the Pew Research Center in a study titled “The State of Gig Work in 2021,” the online gig platform market disproportionately impacts those who are people of color, living in places with fewer employment opportunities, people aged 18-29, women, and people who are living in the lower income bracket. This particular group of people is the most likely to be “contracted” by the online gig platform market

and, therefore, the most vulnerable to exploitation due to their intersectionality. Ja’Han Jones of MSNBC in the subtly titled article “Apps like Uber and Lyft exploit their workers. We can’t ignore it any longer” interviews Cherri Murphy. Murphy is quoted saying in regards to Uber “I’d spend more and more hours of unpaid time waiting for rides and personally covering work expenses like gas and rental fees, while it became harder and harder to sustain a living.”

The cost subtracts from the amount earned, and goes beyond what Cherri describes, especially if a worker experiences an unforeseen emergency or crisis.

BY GIO ROMAGNOLI IV LEADER COLUMNIST

COURT SIDE

BY LOGAN BLAND SPORTS EDITOR

‘Untold’

takes on story of Manti Te’o

The story of former Notre Dame football player Manti Te’o is a tough one to learn about.

The Netflix documentary “Untold: The Girlfriend Who Didn’t Exist” does a terrific job of telling his story.

The documentary starts with telling who Te’o is as a person and who he is as a football player.

Netflix allows us to understand the elite level of a football player Te’o was in his high school years.

However, the main plot of this documentary is, of course, the story of the catfishing incident that took place in 2012.

As this is a review and not a summary, the rundown of the situation is simple. Te’o received a friend request on facebook before his senior year at Notre Dame began.

This friend request was from a male posing as a female. This led to a whole mess of manipulation, faking death, all putting Manti Te’o in a hole that got deeper and deeper.

Netflix goes the extra mile humanizing Te’o and lets the viewers understand what he truly went through. If you are a sports fan and have not seen this documentary, it is a must watch.

Novel’s depth, tragedy make impact

Ocean Vuong’s debut novel, “On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous” deserves a grander introduction than I can give. Published in 2019, this semi-autobiographical work is structured as a letter from a son to his illiterate mother, revealing a profoundly moving narrative. Its rightful place on the New York Times Bestseller list is a testament to its impact.

Vuong masterfully weaves his experiences as an immigrant and a gay man into the fabric of this novel, resulting in a heartbreaking, captivating and beautiful work of art.

At the heart of the story lies, Little Dog, a young Vietnamese American, who is grappling with his identity and heritage. Little Dog is in his 20s as he writes to his mother, revealing a family history rooted in Vietnam, that began long before he was born. He navigates class, race, sexuality, the American dream, masculinity and the contemporary state of America today as he tries to gather his thoughts for his mother.

shedding more tears than I ever have reading a book. Vuong’s prose, both graceful and concise, confronts the darkest aspects of human existence, shedding light on the most unsettling parts of our nature.

“Days I feel like a human being, while other days I feel more like a sound. I touch the world not as myself but as an echo of who I was. Can you hear me yet? Can you read me?”

— Little Dog, an Ocean Vuong character

Little Dog’s prose is poetic and stands in poignant contrast to the exploration of past trauma that haunts him and his family.

The novel unravels the stories of his mentally ill, PTSD-stricken mother, and his schizophrenic grandmother, survivors of the harrowing Vietnam War. Through their eyes, we witness the agonizing journey of immigration in America where Little Dog’s mother works at a nail salon and even once strikes him with a Lego set. The depiction of his childhood years in Hartford, Connecticut, where the concept of “color” assumes new dimensions, leads him to an encounter with Trevor, his first love. Little Dog writes, “color was one of the first things we knew of yet knew nothing about.”

The last section of the book stands as Vuong’s triumph, drawing together a multitude of themes encompassing survival, freedom, beauty, mental health, addiction, and the immigrant experience in America. I found myself annotating and

One passage that resonates deeply captures Little Dog’s vulnerability: “Days I feel like a human being, while other days I feel more like a sound. I touch the world not as myself but as an echo of who I was. Can you hear me yet? Can you read me?” This poignant exploration of vulnerability echoes throughout the novel, making readers question their understanding of humanity itself. Another powerful line unearths the commodity that is human suffering: “Did you know people get rich off of sadness? I want to meet the millionaire of American sadness. I want to look him in the eye, shake his hand, and say, ‘It’s been an honor to serve my country.’” The eerie concept of profiting from others’ distress is exposed in Vuong’s writing.

Vuong’s portrayal of imperfect characters, each damaged by their flaws, elevates the novel even further. This authenticity makes the story relatable and deeply profound, reminding us of our shared humanity.

Vuong also discusses the concept of masculinity, unveiling societal expectations that suppress vulnerability with phrases like “boys don’t cry” and emphasizing the need to be “strong” and “big” to be a “real boy.”

One line reads: “. . .he cried skillfully in the dark. The way boys do.”

Growing up, Little Dog was bullied by other boys in the neighborhood for riding a pink bike.

Vuong also discusses the language used for praise when it comes to creativity: “You killed that poem, we say. You’re a killer. You came in to that novel guns blazing. . .”

Vuong’s exploration of masculinity intersects effortlessly with discussions on race, class and sexuality, resulting in a narrative that is both powerful and poignant. This novel’s

depth and tragedy find revelation in many breathtaking quotes, each serving as a tribute to Vuong’s introspective prose. His writing, thoughtfully crafted, offers insights into society’s most pressing issues.

Ocean Vuong is a once-in-a-generation writer, and I am so grateful that I am alive to read his work. His contribution to literature is nothing short of exceptional and this novel stands as an outstanding piece of art.

“On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous” entices readers to read it at least once in their lifetimes. Its timeless relevance demands readers to discover meaning amid the world’s chaos.

So, in a world where our moments of beauty are fleeting, Vuong’s work stands eternal, reminding us of the everlasting impact of his words.

WRITTEN WORD

BY EMMA COSS IV LEADER EDITOR

Ocean Vuong’s novel “On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous” weaves his experiences as an immigrant and a gay man.

IVCC golf season preview

High expectations for young squad

By Jake Gerding IV Leader Sports Writer

The 2023-2024 IVCC Golf season has just begun as the team looks to have another good year.

The team has already played a match this year, the Highland 36 on the 26th of August.

The IVCC Golf team sent two teams to compete, a purple team and a grey team. The purple team finished 4th out of 19 teams led by Drake Stoudt who finished Top 5, scoring +6 (75/75). The grey team was led by Jake Delaney who finished Top 9 scoring +9 (77/74).

The IVCC golf team has seven matches scheduled in September and one final match scheduled in early October, according to ivcceagles.com.

IVCC Golf coach Pat Guilfoyle answered a couple of questions about the upcoming season, and this is what he had to say.

About the upcoming season, Guilfoyle said, “I’m feeling really good. We

have a lot of great talent this year and we are a deep team with talent.”

When asked about his expectations for the upcoming season he stated, “I’m expecting to compete, to win at every event, to make it to nationals, and win conference. It sounds like a big ask but I know these guys can do it.”

Coach Guilfoyle said some things people should look forward to this season are, “Wins. We have the talent, and these guys have the drive and put in the effort every week.”

Guilfoyle has high expectations for the team as they gain more experience.

“We are young,” he said. “We have a strong freshman group so expect the golf team to build on their strengths and they will only keep getting stronger with experience.”

With a roster full of young talent and a confident coach, this 2023 IVCC Golf team is looking to have a promising year this upcoming season.

AT THE NET

Sophomore Ella Sibert (above) spikes the ball during a home contest for the Eagles. Erica Antle (left) rises above the next to block the ball from a Kishwaukee hitter. The Eagles defeated Kishwaukee College to move their record to 5-1 overall and 1-0 in the conference.

BACK PAGE: Freshman

Katie Bates sets the ball for an Eagle attack.

Women’s basketball benched for season

By Grace Mertel IV Leader Sports Writer

Early this August, Illinois Valley Community College announced that the 2023-2024 women’s basketball season had been canceled.

Athletic director Cory Tomasson said several factors played into the decision to cancel women’s basketball.

First, the head Women’s Basketball coach resigned in late May.

A press release from the college noted, “The timing of the coach’s resignation left the college with the

inability to fill the roster for the season.”

Tomasson said hiring of a new coach is a process.

The position for a new head coach will be posted in November this year. For next year, the goal is to get a new head coach on board between January and August, who will be ready to recruit a team for the 2024-2025 campaign.

Another factor that weighed in the decision to cancel the season was the scarce amount of committed players for the upcoming season.

Tomasson says, “that was the fac-

tor.”

The team had two returning players as well as two high school graduates with signed letters of intent to join the team.

Of those committed players, one is recovering from an ACL surgery and another revoked their letter of intent, leaving the college without enough players to field a team.

Recruiters even began searching for out-of-district players, but it wasn’t an option financially.

Ultimately, Tomasson says, “It wasn’t that we didn’t have a coach in any way, shape, or form. It has noth-

ing to do with gender. It just wasn’t going to work out for us to put a program together that was fair to the players.”

Despite the disappointment, the committed players are invited to play next year and they will still have two years of eligibility.

The decision “gives us a chance to adequately prepare a complete team to compete at a college level,” Tomasson says.

Planning for next year’s season has already begun and will be put in motion in order to field a team next year.

IVCC Athletics photos

IV Leader sports

Volume 58

Issue 1

September 7, 2023

volleyball team Gets strong start

Women’s basketball season canceled

Page 7

IVcc athletics photo