IVCC_IV Leader_110322

News:

Ivcc’s new hires pages 2-4

opinion:

fInish out the fall time for new tech page 5

art:

Tickets for mame! available Black Adam review Page 7-9

IV Leader The award-Winning Student Newspaper of Illinois Valley Community College

Volume 57 Issue 4 November 3, 2022

IV Leader photo

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news

NOVEMBER 3, 2022

IV LEADER

Denton hired as director of IT services

By Drake Weber IV Leader Staff

Justin Denton’s extensive education and professional background in the technology field has led him to his current role as Director of Information Technology Services at IVCC. Denton earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Telecommunications Management from Devry University and a Masters in Network and Communication Management from Keller Graduate School of Management. He went to WAlden University for his PHD in Applied Management and Decision Sciences but never fully completed it due to needing to finish 2 residencies and a dissertation.

Denton stresses the importance of continuing education and one’s knowledge by stating, “I would argue that on top of college you will need to stay current on technology trends and certifications which are an important and necessary complement to college.” He himself has been certified in several areas including ITIL Foundations Certification, Microsoft Certified Professional and Crystal Reports Certification to just mention a few.

Denton has spent 27 years in the IT field, as he began his career as soon as he graduated from high school.

When asked who inspired him to work in this field, he responded, “I think it would be “what” inspired me.” His elementary school had computers available introducing him to this world of technology. Denton commented, “I would do anything I could to get time to work on those computers which drove my love for computers.”

His various positions prior to coming to IVCC included a job at IBM as a computer

technician and later a supervisor role at IBM. This led to a becoming a technical lead over the Lucent Technologies account, being responsible for 100 technicians and 125 thousand users. While at IBM Denton helped to develop and create the Thinkvantage tool set which is still in use today. After IBM Denton moved to the Illinois Valley area to become manager for the IT Department at UnionBank. Helping merge the technology for UnionBAnk and CentrueBank company merger.

During Denton’s time at the bank he got more involved with higher education by continuing his education and taking a new job at Rasmussen College as the Program Coordinator of IT Curriculum. After only six months he was promoted to Interim Dean of the School of Technology which included overseeing technology programs for over 24 campuses. From there Denton went to work for Collegis Education (a parent company of Rasmussen College) and now IVCC. Director of Continuing Education and Business Services, Jennifer Scheri stated, “In the short time Justin has been with IVCC, he has been responsive to the needs of the Continuing Education and Business Services Division. It’s easily apparent that Justin’s wealth of experience and expertise will advance technology at IVCC, which in turn will further provide a top-notch education to students.” Dean of Humanities, Fine Arts, and Social Sciences, Lirim Neziroski shares his experience working together with Justin. He states, “I believe he has a strong understanding of how the IT Department can be more effective and more service-oriented so that IT serves as a partner and consultant for

IV LEADER STAFF

Editor: Elisabeth Farrell Assistant: Ryan Nolasco Staff: Drake Weber, Izabella Nanez, Julian Godina, Phalen Hessenberger, Eric Lockwood, John Cheli, Ricardo Diaz, Noah Simon, Logan Bland, Erin Brooker, Katriene Sibbaluca, Grace Spolec.

IV Leader photo/Drake Weber

Justin Denton projects on campus”.

Denton explained, “Being able to build technology environments in Higher Education that encourages and supports the highest quality learning possible” is one of the favorite parts of his job.

Denton’s advice to anyone going into the IT field is to be prepared. He stresses, “IT continues to change almost on a daily basis, love learning it will help you succeed.”

This is also one of the things that motivates Denton to continue his career in IT, he mentioned he gets bored easily so the fact it is ever changing keeps him fascinated in technology.

In addition, Denton feels “it’s important that all of us are focused on technology because it continues to be adopted into everything we do and almost anything we have.” Examples to this include the small computer most people carry with them daily, our cell phone, as well as most cars have a computer system. This is especially as Denton reflects on how technology has changed during his career. He states, “the biggest difference is that

everything became smaller, faster and more feature enriched over my career.”

Furthermore, Denton feels there are certain qualities one needs to be successful in this field. The qualities he deems necessary are the willingness to always learn and to have a passion for technology. Neziroski who served on Justin’s hiring committee for IVCC. Neziroski states, “I was very impressed by Justin’s technical expertise, leadership experience, and his strong understanding of technology needs in higher education.”

Additionally Denton does balance his work-life by maintaining a rigorous calendar utilizing Outlook’s tool, but also enjoys being spontaneous. He elaborated, “it is not uncommon for me to wake up at 5:00 a.m. look over at my wife and say we’re going to Michigan today. The reason may be just to eat at a BigBoy restaurant.” Outside of his duties as a director, Denton has several hobbies. He is big into 3D printing and enjoys tinkering with cars, as he has had over 200 cars in his lifetime.

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

IV Leader is a member of Associated Collegiate Press and the Illinois Community College Journalism Association.

IV LEADER

NeWS

NOVEMBER 13, 2022

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Solar OBOC, Zonta Club march through Ottawa On Oct. 27, the One Book, One College program (OBOC) farms to partnered with Zonta clubs from Ottawa, Streator and La Salle-Peru for the club’s annual luminary walk. fill in This luminary walk was created to raise awareness about domestic violence---one of the main themes of this year’s book, “Maid.”

Lot 3 Held in Washington Square Park in Ottawa, the group

By Ryan Nolasco IV Leader Staff

Matthew Seaton, the college’s vice president for business services and finance, has discussed the development of a possible solar farm on the IVCC campus.

Seaton told the Leader that the board discussed putting a solar array where Lot 3 is currently located, as earlier in October it was decided that the lot would be demolished.

The board is also considering areas around the Truck Driver Training Facility and Building J. Seaton told the Leader that the proposed solar farm would be used to power campus buildings and offset the usage of those included in the array.

The school received a grant of $100,000 in August which will be used to fund the project.

It is unknown how large the solar farm would be, but the college is currently in talks with a consultant to secure the best possible deal.

In similar news, Seaton also told IV Leader that the electric vehicle charging station project is moving forward.

Currently, the college is deciding which model to install.

Recently a $5,000 grant was awarded to the school, meaning IVCC has a total of $13,500 to use for the electric vehicle chargers.

According to Seaton, two to four chargers will be ready to use by early spring.

marched around town with candles, before ending at First United Methodist Church. There, they listened to guest speakers Heather Steele from Safe Journeys and Grace Norris, a librarian at IVCC. Norris discussed the OBOC program and its significance within the Illinois Valley. She explained that books picked for OBOC reflect what is relevant to the community.

Steele spoke about the effects of domestic violence on homelessness and poverty. According to the Family and Youth Services Bureau, “approximately one homeless woman in four is homeless because of her experience with violence.”

Students at IVCC interested in the fight against domestic violence can contact Kimberly Radek Hall, president of the Golden Z club at the college.

LUMINARY WALK

Members of local Zonta clubs and the community joined with Safe Journeys for a luminary walk Oct. 27 in Ottawa to raise awareness of domestiv violence. English intructors Jean Forst and Kimberly Radek Hall participated in the walk.

Hall also is president of a local Zonta chapter.

IV Leader photos/ Elisabeth Farrell

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NOVEMBER 3, 2022

news

IV LEADER

Get familiar with new IVCC staff Jennifer Timmers Agriculture instructor

Where are you from originally?

I’m originally from Edgewood, Kentucky – it’s a small town in the northern tip of Kentucky just outside of Cincinnati.

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

I’ve attended a few. First up was Berea College in Berea, KY where I got my Bachelor’s in Biology with a minor in Agriculture and Natural Resources Then I attended Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, KY where I obtained my Master’s in Agriculture. Most recently I attended the University of Florida where I graduated with my PhD in agronomy What classes or positions are you currently assigned?

I currently teach Introduction to Field Crop Science, Introduction to Agriculture Business Managemnt, Advanced Agriculture Business Management, Agriculture Credit and Finance. I also teach Crop Pest Management and Introduction to Cannabis Production.

Are you new to teaching? If not, where did you teach before IVCC? I’m new-ish to teaching. I have some teaching background, but not an extensive one. I student taught an undergraduate plant science lab at Western Kentucky University I taught crop nutrition for a semester after I graduated at the University of Florida.

Sara Legrenzi Nursing Instructor I'm originally from the Illinois Valley.

I received a BA in Psychology from Aurora University then after a 20-year career decided to change gears and returned to IVCC to get my ADN. I continued on and received my BSN from Western Governors University and will graduate with my MSN soon.

I'm currently teaching lab and clinical for NUR 1200. I'm new to classroom teaching at the college level.

I previously had a career in the Early Intervention program for the State of Illinois as a developmental therapist and service coordinator. Along with that, I did work in grant writing and prevention education. I have worked as an RN in ICU, inpatient behavioral health, and PACU/same day surgery.

My favorite part about IVCC is that it is big enough that there are many programs and opportunities offered, but small enough that students and instructors aren't just numbers, they are real people you can talk to and interact with.

What are your initial impressions, not only of the students, but also the atmosphere at IVCC, and your fellow faculty and staff?

Welcoming.

So far, what is your favorite aspect of IVCC? I really like the small community, I’ve had experience in colleges and universities of various sizes, and there’s nothing that compares to the environment found at a smaller community college.

What is your favorite thing about the Illinois Valley area?

I like that it’s a smaller town, but it still has a diversity of things to do.

What should a student know about you?

I love my dogs, I like baking, and I can probably tell them more about photosynthesis than they ever care to know.

Sara Legrenzi

opinion

IV LEADER

E D I T O R I A L

NOVEMBER 3, 2022

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Escaping the midterm mindset History papers, literary analyses, tests, exams, et cetera... Every college student knows the pain the middle of the semester can bring, but, hey, at least we can share in some solidarity.

Now that it’s November, most of those assignments have been turned in and out for a grade. However, it can be just as hard to escape the funk you’ve fallen into; after days of staying up, working late and cram-studying, the last months of the semester can seem like a never-ending crawl.

So what can you do to get back on your feet?

One option may be attending a counseling session. Transformative Growth Counseling (TGC) is a non-profit organization working with IVCC to aid students who are going through just about any kind of struggle.

According to the IVCC website, the TGC staff can “help students with a variety of needs that range from depression to stress to crisis.”

Students are offered four free counseling sessions with either Merek, Megan or LaShay.

Although TGC specializes in Attachment and Emotionally Focused Therapy, they offer plenty of other therapy types and exercises that can serve students.

The TGC can assist you with issues re-

lated to anxiety, addiction, OCD, gender or sexual identity, trauma, and sexual health and much more.

Jacob’s Library is also running a Self Care series this month. Destress and Play Day took place Nov. 1, but you haven’t missed your chance: Nov. 9 is Self Awareness Day, and Nov. 17 will focus on Life Balance. Self Awareness Day will entail a visit from Ruby the therapy dog, as well as a Resource & Self Care fair. Students should RSVP online to reserve their spot for life coaching on Life Balance Day, and a demonstration for eating healthy on a budget.

Perhaps you prefer physical therapy—a fitness routine, that is. According to the CDC, students who are exercise regularly often perform better in school and are more likely to stay on task in the classroom.

IVCC’s fitness center is open for students Monday and Wednesday from 6 a.m.-7 p.m., and Tuesday and Thursday from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. It also open on Fridays from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m., and Saturdays starting at 8 a.m. until noon. See the IVCC website for more information and schedule changes.

Trying out a new hobby—like sketching, skateboarding, or scrapbooking— might be a fun alternative if you’re short

on time, or would rather not get all sweaty.

If you’re feeling burnt out by this point in the school year, consider switching up your study routine. Maybe a group study session every week can lift your spirits by better preparing not just you, but also your friends, for an upcoming test. Creating a kahoot together can be an awesome upgrade from flashcards.

Have you heard of the SQ3R technique?

This method for reading comprehension starts with surveying your material and asking questions about the content.

After you’ve done that, begin reading— the first R—and then recite what you just learned. Once the chapter or section is complete, review what you want to remember.

Sure, it’s a little more nuanced than shoving four chapters of psychology into your brain before a big test, but you’ll almost certainly retain the information for the next time you might need it.

There are all kinds of study systems out there, from the Leitner system to the Pomodero method to the Feynman technique.

Check out the article “10 Effective Study Techniques to Try This Year” for one that works for you. Just over a month to go.

Keep your eyes on the finish line, Eagles!

We can make it.

Time for new tech Every year there are more and more advancements in technology and science.

Almost everybody nowadays has a computer, phone or television. These important pieces of our lives have become part of us, so it’s crucialto have a reliable other half!

Rather than beating around the bush, I’ll break the ice right now...the pricesof PC components have dropped significantly because of the recent crypto market crash.

Prices of important computer components such as the GPU and the CPU are among the most affected. These also happen to be among the most important parts inyour computer.

GPUs are arguably the most important part of many people’s computers nowadays.

The market crash saw the RTX 3090 TI--an extremely high-end GPU--drop as much as 16% under its MSRP. While that model may be top of the line, many other GPUS were also affected.

On top of this, the price of other components such as motherboards and heat-sinks

also saw a drop in price. The prices make it much cheaper and appealing to build your own dream computer, as well as making many pre-builds more affordable.

This season, I suggest going to Micro Center in Westmont, Ill. They are an all-aroundstore dedicated to selling computers, phones, components, televisions, cords, chairs, and other cool tech stuff.

Buy some tech now---you’ll be happy you did!

TECH TIME

BY JOHN CHELI IV LEADER COLUMNIST

Photo Credit/United Soybean Board

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NOVEMBER 3, 2022

SGA freshman election winners In recent Student Government Association freshman elections at Illinois Valley Community College, Gracyee Funderberg was elected representative and Libby Boyles and Drew Knipper were picked for the freshman programming board. All three are from Princeton.

“I am very pleased with the overall interest in this election. I know all three of these students, and think they will do an amazing job representing the student body,” said coordinator of student activities Cory Tomasson.

ABOVE: LIBBY BOYLES, AN OUTSIDE AND DEFENSIVE SPECIALIST ON THE IVCC VOLLEYBALL TEAM, WAS PICKED FOR THE FRESHMAN PROGRAMMING BOARD.

INTERESTED IN BROADCASTING? The IV Leader staff is looking for students who want to try their hand at radio or broadcasting for IVCC home basketball games.

For more info, contact Lori Cinotte by email at lori_cinotte@ivcc.edu or at 815-224-0289.

news

IV LEADER

Spring registration incentives discussed at board meeting IVCC is offering a number of incentives for students Students looking to register up for spring classes, as discussed in the October board meeting.

Illinois Valley Community College is incentivizing students to register early for the spring semester that begins Jan. 9, board members learned Thursday.

One of these incentives is a $100 gift card for the bookstore, food service or local vendors for students who pay tuition (or make payment arrangements)

by Dec. 15. Another is---for students registering for at least 15 hours---tuition will be waived for any additional hours.

HEERF reimbursement checks will also be mailed around Nov. 15.

“Releasing HEERF in mid-November will allow students to use that money for spring enrollment,” said Vice President for Student Services Mark Grzybowski. (The amount a student receives in Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds will depend on several factors.)

“In a time of fierce competition for students, we are rewarding those who have chosen IVCC and urging them to recommit well before spring classes begin,” Grzybowski said.

The board also announced that, as of Wednesday, fall enrollment was up 4.2 percent in credit hours and 3.3 percent in head count.

At the meeting, trustees approved protection, Health and Safety (PHS) projects including campus-wide lighting upgrades for $676,698; 16 parking lot cameras for $362,462; and Medical Assisting lab upgrades for $183,650.

Trustees also approved deferred maintenance projects for 2023 include resealing and recoating lots 7 and 8 and removal of lot 3 for $1.17 million; replacement of all parking lot lights for $520,000; and removal and replacement of the salt shed south of campus for $250,000.

More that trustees approved at the board meeting included: - College calendars for fall 2023 through summer 2025.

- High-deductible health savings account (HSA) contributions for full-time employees.

- Hiring Lyndsey Beetz as interim dental hygiene instructor effective Oct. 17.

- Textbook and online course material management by eCampus.com Higher Ed for a minimum of five years at no cost to the college.

The 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. custodial shift was also eliminated at the meeting, and will be replaced by a new third shift from 3 to 11:30 p.m. This change begins Monday, Oct. 24.

“This will improve efficiency and make more employees available during ‘occupied’ hours of operation,” Seaton said.

October’s board meeting

brought to light some events that took place recently at IVCC, especially concerning current and possible incoming students. For example, 73 Ottawa High School seniors visited the college.

“This was the first time we arranged for bussing students to campus for a half-day of activities,” Corcoran said.

More than 70 people attended the Sept. 23 Crop Research Field Day. The ag department partnered with University of Illinois Extension on the event.

Corcoran noted that ag has grown from two courses in 2016 to 21 today.

The college also recently learned it would receive $3.5 million in U.S. Department of Economic Development Administration (EDA) funding to construct a new agriculture education facility. The grant will cover 80 percent of the cost of an ag classroom and lab building south of campus. Corcoran credited Seaton and special assistant to the president Reed Wilson for helping secure the grant.

Additionally, the IVCC Foundation will award $420,000 in scholarships to 266 students in 2022-23. In a campus update, Executive Director of Community Relations and Development Fran Brolley said the scholarship reception in September drew a record 441 recipients, donors and parents.

Presidential search approaches end On Oct. 28, Jim Carlson, the IVCC presidential search consultant, informed the college that the Presidential Advisory Committee will soon be completing their work. With semi-finalist interviews finished, the selection of finalists will be held during the week of Oct. 31.

These finalists will be on campus the week of Nov. 14. On that week, they will interview with the IVCC Board of Trustees and meet with a number of con-

stituency groups. A schedule for these meetings will be released sometime during the month.

Stakeholders are encouraged to meet with the finalists. During the constituency group meetings, interested stakeholders will be given a chance to listen to finalists and ask them questions.

According to Carlson, “stakeholders will be afforded an opportunity to provide the Board input on the finalists using a Google form.”

Carlson stated that the Presidential Search Advisory Committee has done very well leading up to this part of the process.

“They have handled a very challenging interview schedule gracefully, thoughtfully, and with extraordinary professionalism,” he said. “In short, they have represented Illinois Valley Community College and its stakeholders steadfastly ensuring the integrity of the process.

arts

IV LEADER

NOVEMBER 3, 2022

7

‘Black Adam’ packs a punch Action scenes, if executed well, can be the best part of a superhero movie.

“Black Adam,” the newest movie based on DC Comics, doubles down on the action.

The movie almost feels like one long action scene from start to finish.

I enjoy action scenes, but, in some movies, they can make me zone out.

In “Black Adam,” most of the action kept my attention because the fights were exciting and on a massive scale throughout.

This is mostly thanks to the Justice Society of America, a group of superheroes that Black Adam must battle.

Some of their powers are reminiscent of heroes from Marvel. For example, Dr. Fate has magical powers similar to Doctor Strange, and Atom Smasher can turn into a giant like Ant-Man does.

However, the way the characters and their abilities interact with each other makes the fighting interesting.

Unfortunately, the worst action scene is the finale, which should be the biggest and most thrilling of them all.

Even great superhero movies, like 2017’s “Wonder Woman,” are guilty of having incredibly lazy third act fight scenes.

Just like in “Wonder Woman,” “Black

Adam” features a towering CGI villain that doesn’t even fully appear until the last third of the movie.

I don’t want to spoil the ending or who the villain is, but I’ll say this: This type of ending always feels tacked on, and it feels like filmmakers use it as an easy excuse to have a character access or unlock their full potential.

But, as they say, it’s about the journey and not the destination, and everything before the third act of “Black Adam” is extremely entertaining.

For this reason, I would recommend “Black Adam.”

Also, if you see it, make sure to stay through the credits.

SCREEN TIME

BY ERIC LOCKWOOD IV LEADER COLUMNIST

Black Adam Movie poster created by Warner Brothers is available for promotion and publicity through Fair Use.

Ghost hunting gets scary

This picture is a screenshot taken from within the game.

IV Leader photo/John Cheli

Halloween brought plenty of scary movies and shows to watch, costumes to wear, and people to scare, but nothing comes close to a particular game that has been soaring up the ranks in the market.

This game is non-other than Phasmaphobia. It is a spooky game based on ghost hunting in eerier locations like haunted homes and buildings.

You can team up with three other people to search these locations for proof of hauntings.

This game is such a popular hit because of its amazing communication and objectives.

You and your team must explore haunted locations and gather as much proof of ghosts or monsters as you can.

This comes with a twist, however, because much like real life, you can die in the game from these ghosts!

Communicating with your team, along with properly observing these ghosts, will keep you and your team alive.

If you have a adequate computer, then try this game out for 15$. It will be worth it if you like to turn the lights off and become one with horror itself!

MOVIE SCENE

BY JOHN CHELI IV LEADER COLUMNIST

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arts Harry Styles performs in Love On Tour NOVEMBER 3, 2022

By Izabella Nanez IV Leader Staff

A feather boa, an outfit you look good and comfortable in, and that’s all you need to have the best night ever at a Harry Styles concert.

I recently experienced a Harry Styles concert at the United Center in Chicago during his residency, in which he would perform for six nights. I had tickets to go to the Thursday, October 6th show, which was supposed to be the first show to kick off the beginning of a sequence of shows, however, the concert was canceled due to illness within the band and was rescheduled for Monday, October 10th. Upon hearing this news, I was disappointed and sad because I had been looking forward to this concert for months and had preparations for the show. But I was grateful that they were able to reschedule the show within a few days instead of completely canceling it or postponing it to a much farther date.

On the day of the concert, I had classes to attend beforehand and I couldn’t concentrate on any of them to save my life. My mind was too preoccupied with the Harry Styles concert, what time my friends and I would leave, what I’m going to eat before the concert, what merch do I want to purchase when I get there, and so many other thoughts running around my mind.

After inishing school for the day, my mind was now in ‘concert mode’. I had my bags packed to get ready at my friend’s sister’s apartment and it was time for us to leave town. We were about a half hour from the apartment and horror came upon me. I realized that I had forgotten to put the dress that I was going to wear, back into my bag. I immediately

IV Leader photo/Izabella Nanez

There were many people there, it was like a bee hive. All of us concertgoers swarming around taking pictures, buying merch and food, and getting ready to see the queen bee, Harry Styles.

We sat in the one-hundred section and had a spectacular view of the stage. When sitting and playing the waiting game, I was antsy and beaming with excitement. The atmosphere was welcoming and comforting because everyone around felt the same way.

When it was showtime, the crowd went crazy. I never felt so alive and carefree. Seeing him on the stage performing songs that I always sang in my room or in my car was a surreal moment. I had to pinch myself a few times to make sure I was awake and not in a dream.

The colors that were displayed fit perfectly with the songs he would sing. He was interactive with the crowd and danced the night away with thousands of other people.

Harry knows how to put on a show with his impressive singing skills that would involve a few note changes in some songs and his dancing skills as well. He kept us entertained constantly.

Harry ended his Chicago residency on Saturday, Oct. 15, and then started his L.A. residency with a total of 15 shows beginning Oct. 23.

STYLIN’ Harry Styles performs during his tour stop in Chicago.

told my friends and we made a quick pitstop at a nearby Target to find a new dress.

At this point, we were on a bit of a time crunch so I had to quickly try on a few dresses as fast as I can. I settled on a red, satin dress that would go well with the other

accessories I had packed.

We made it to the apartment, got ready, and hit the road to United Center. When arriving there were many boa feathers scattered around the ground and we knew we were in the right place.

IV LEADER

CONCERT SUITE

BY IZABELLA NANEZ COLUMNIST

arts

IV LEADER

NOVEMBER 3, 2022

9

ROSALÍA

Rosalia delivers a sassy performance at the Aragon.

IV Leader photo/ Julian Godina

Rosalía’s performance shines in world tour

By Julian Godina IV Leader Staff

Rosalía is a Spanish singer and songwriter whose first international hit was “Con Altura” with J Balvin and was named the best songs of the year by Billboard. Rosalía is also a recipient of the Latin Grammy Award for the album of the year.

Rosalía has recently gone viral on TikTok for the “Rosalía challenge,” which is when her song “Bizcochito” starts playing and she stands on the stage with sass and chomps on her gums with her eyes rolling at the same time.

After Rosalía announced that she was going on her “Motomami World Tour,” I knew that I had to go.

The concert was Sept.

28 at the Aragon Ballroom.

If anyone has been to the Aragon Ballroom, they will know how the line works and how the temperature is in the building. If I am being honest, the temperature in the ballroom is very hot and it seems like they do not have any air conditioning.

As for waiting in line.

it is in a sketchy alleyway where all the fans wait for the venue to open for everyone. The body heat of everyone singing and dancing is so uncomfortable because it becomes so hot and suffocating at the venue.

Other than that, all the songs that Rosalía sang were perfect and her performances with her backup dancers were excellent.

Rosalía sang her whole album “Motomami,” which was lifechanging to see her perform this album live because it quickly became one of my favorite albums ever.

Rosalía did a perfect job of performing and singing at the same time. Her performances were top tier and with the backup of her dancers she created a performance that was very iconic and sassy.

THE RIGHT NOTE

BY JULIAN GODINA ARTS COLUMNIST

‘MAME!’ The MAME! cast does a table read prior to stage rehearsal.

IVCC photo

Tickets go on sale for MAME! Reserved seating is now available for the Illinois Valley Community College theatre production of MAME!, the classic musical comedy with music by Jerry Herman.

All seating is reserved and may be purchased online at https://www.showtix4u. com/event-details/68327 or Google “Showtix4U.com” and type Illinois Valley Community College in the “Search for an organization” prompt.

Tickets will also be available for purchase one hour prior to curtain on performance nights.

MAME! plays at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday,

Nov. 10-13 and the same times Nov. 17-20.

Tickets are $22 per person, $15 for students grade school through high school (with student ID).

MAME! is IVCC’s first major musical since December 2019, following the shutdown of most performance spaces.

“To say we’re happy to finally be back is an understatement,” said Don Grant Zellmer, director and choreographer.

“The energy and charisma of this cast — made up of seasoned community members, theatre students and faculty — is contagious, and our audiences will definitely enjoy a true ‘feel-good’ show.”

IVCC photo

PRACTICE The cast of Mame! practices a dance number before the show opens Nov. 10

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NOVEMBER 3, 2022

sports

IV LEADER

ATTACK Andre Mendes of Lisbonne, Portugal, advances the ball down the field during an Eagles soccer match.

This year’s team featured six players from Portugal.

IVCC Athletics photo

Men’s soccer finishes 11-8, falls in regional By the IV Leader Staff

DRIBBLE IVCC Athletics photo

Danny Cruz, a midfielder from Centrailia, takes the ball along the sideline during a soccer match.

The men’s soccer team saw their season come to an end Oct. 31 when they lost in the regional tournament to Rock Valley.

The Eagles dropped the game 2-0 in a match that was played at La Salle’s Rotary Park, and the Eagles finished with an 11-8 record on the year.

Defender Francisco Pereira said the team’s overall record, while good, did not fully reflect the team’s performance for the season.

“Those losses are a bit deceiving since every time we lost a game, we didn’t have our full team because of too many yellow cards or because someone was injured,” he said.

Pereira said the team benefited during the season because of the support of teammates and playing as a team.

“In some matches, when we play as a team and forget about individuality, we become so much better. Of course having some strong and good guys always helps, but in the end of the day, the team that plays more as one will always win.”

One struggle, according to Pereira, was the number of players on the roster. He not-

ed that some of the Eagles’ opponents had rosters of more than 30 players. Because the Eagles had fewer players, in weeks where multiple games were scheduled, players had a short recovery window.

IVCC won the Arrowhead Conference title and made it through opening rounds of the regionals before falling in the regional quarterfinals to Rock Valley, marking backto-back seasons where the Eagles made it far into the post-season.

IVCC’s team benefited from its international flavor. The team had six Portuguese and two South African players.

“In Portugal, when we reach college or university, it’s very hard to study and play soccer at the same time because our schools don’t have college soccer,” said Pereira, who hails from Leiria, Portugal. “If you want to play soccer, you will play in a team that it’s not connected to the college, and sometimes it’s hard because the team that you are playing for it’s an hour from your college and then it’s hard to combine practices and games with college.”

Pereira enjoyed the international aspect of the team: “the adaption is easy because ... we are a family.”

sports

IV LEADER

NOVEMBER 3, 2022

11

NBA Western Conference predictions NBA season still young with wide open field for championship trophy 1.

Golden State Warriors: There is alot to like about this Warriors team.

They have veterans, they have shooters, they have youth, but most importantly they have experience. A championship run is obviously the best thing to happen to any franchise but for last year’s Warriors team it was extra important. It gave their great young core an early preview of what is expected of them going forward.

2.

Los Angeles Clippers: Perhaps the deepest roster in all the league. A healthy Kawhi and Paul George. Having those two in a whole gives you a fighting chance. This is it for the Clippers. This team is not getting any younger and you don’t know how many fully healthy years of Kawhi you are going to get.

3.

Memphis Grizzlies: Yet another deep roster with superstar Ja Morant this team can be scary. I fully expect Ja to take yet another leap and I expect Ziaire Williams to take the year 1 to year 2 leap of progression.

4.

Denver Nuggets: You have the back to back MVP in Nikola Jokic and you are finally getting Jamaal Murray back from his ACL injury and getting Micheal Porter Jr back hopefully healthy. Jokic was able to carry the Nuggets to a 6 seed in the stacked West last year.

5.

Phoenix Suns: They managed to bring back Deandre Ayton but all in all really

didn’t improve all that much.

Nevertheless they are still talented with Devin Booker and Chris Paul leading the team.

6.

Dallas Mavericks: Luka Donic is him. However, they didn’t do enough to put them atop of the West. I love the Jaden Hardy selection in the draft and the Christian Wood pickup was great. But they lost Jalen Brunson and as mentioned just didn’t add all that much to improve the roster. But once you get into the playoffs with Luka Doncic, anything can happen.

7.

New Orleans Pelicans: This team is still learning but talented nevertheless.

This team’s success really relies on Zion Williamson’s health. I don’t think they can produce to the maximum level without him and Brandon Ingram healthy.

8.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Does Rudy Gobert really put this team over the top? Maybe. They were the 7 seed last year and improved the roster to an extent. Just really a confusing squad.

9.

Portland Trail Blazers: A healthy Damian Lillard does not boost this team is a stacked West. Anfernee Simons is a stud and they added Jerami Grant and drafted Shaedon Sharpe. Not good enough.

10.

Los Angeles Lakers: Two words, No shooting.

11.

Sacramento Kings:

The Kings and the Lakers could go either way for the last play in spot but I’ll give the upper hand to the team that has LeBron James. Keegan Murray is my pick to win rookie of the year and De’Aaron Fox is going to continue playing good basketball along with Domantas Sabonis but they just are not there yet.

12.

Utah Jazz: The Jazz don’t have a lot of explanation, I feel this roster has too many good pieces to be the worst team in the NBA. Danny Ainge has a bit more trades to make.

13.

Houston Rockets: The great young core is going to have some very high highs and some very low lows. The defense is a problem and needs to be fixed.

14.

Oklahoma City Thunder: The Thunder with Chet Holmgren being out for the year with a foot injury are nearly identical to last year’s team resulting in them being one of the worst teams in basketball. The tank lives on.

15.

The San Antonio Spurs: Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassel, Jeremy Sochan and one of the greatest coaches of all time in Gregg Popovich is going to result in some nice things. It’s hard to say such a well coached team is going to finish a bottom 3 team in the league but, I think they are going to do everything right in the hopes to draft French phenom Victor Wembanyama.

Created by Alan Siegel; NBA logo available under Fair Use

COURT SIDE

BY LOGAN BLAND SPORTS COLUMNIST

soccer season ends Page 10

NBa predictions made

IV Leader sports volume 57 Issue 4 november 3, 2022

Page 11

IVCC athletics photo