PRESENTS THE Rally with ’BIRD

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2016 videtteonline Reggie Vol. 129 / No. 28

ISU’s Red Alert keeps fans in on Redbird action

JOSH TOLENTINO This year, 3,800 students joined Red Alert. great bosses who really help us grow as busi- different ISU athletes to control the Snap- Sports Editor | @JCTSports However, attendance, primarily at men’s ness people and marketers.” chat on game days. basketball games, has been down in recent Red Alert sends out a campus-wide email “We did a pretty big study on Snapchat eh i nd every Illinois State Univer- years. Schroeder realizes the challenges that every Monday to all students, which informs and found 90 percent of students are on sity athletics event, there is a team come with living in a technology-first gen- them of upcoming ISU games. During the Snapchat,” Schroder said. “We discovered B dedicated to providing the best pos- eration along with ISU being a mid-major week, Red Alert spends time promoting if students have a relationship with the ath- sible student atmosphere. program. games throughout campus. Red Alert also letes, even if it is on the screen, they’re more This team is not the one taking the bas- “There’s so much thrown at students in works with student athletes to help adver- likely to come out to games.” ketball court or football field. Rather, this today’s world. It’s hard to get through that,” tise games. ISU men’s basketball players Red Alert has gone as far as giving stu- group devotes time to promoting games and Schroeder said. Paris Lee and Tony Wills handed out post- dents free rides to and from games. Last making Red Alert the best social activity on Schroeder has 10 Red Alert student ers at Watterson Dining Center before the year, ISU Athletics collaborated with the campus. interns who assist him throughout the year. Redbirds’ home-opener last week. Student Government Association to fund “It’s not about the quality of the team,” Interns are interviewed and selected in the “When fans know more about an athlete’s “Reggie Redline,” a free shuttle service to Zach Schroeder, director of Redbird athlet- spring semester in preparation for the fol- personality and what they do on game day, . Reggie Redline averaged ics marketing said. “It’s about the experience. lowing academic year. they’re more inclined to come out and sup- just over 100 students per game during If you come to the game with your friends, “Seeing a lot of positive energy from the port them,” Schroeder said. its first year. The shuttle begins one hour there’s no experience like it on campus.” student body ... I think it’s a good stress In addition to getting around campus, before games and picks students up outside Red Alert was officially named ISU’s stu- relief for most people,” Red Alert Involve- Red Alert heavily relies on social media and Hewett-Manchester. dent section during the 2006-07 season. ISU ment Intern Danny Bugg said. “It’s a great to reach students. Red Alert created a has experienced record crowds since then. department to be involved in and we have Snapchat account last summer and allows see RED ALERT page 7

ABOVE: prepares to shoot T-shirts into the crowd at Wednesday’s basketball game. Game gallery at Photograph by KELLY MCNAMARA | Vidette Photo Editor videtteonline.com

PUT FINALS STRESS ‘ALT-RIGHT’ SHOULD ON A LEASH BE LEFT BEHIND FEATURES 6 VIEWPOINT 4 CUT YOUR Check out the photo gallery of REDBIRDS ISU’s first snow of the season at our STRESSES website videtteonline.com TOP LOBOS NEWS 5 SPORTS 8

MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2016 videtteonline Vol. 129 / No. 29

ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY’S NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1888 Portillo’s picks future Normal location Long-awaited Chicago restaurant will open its doors near Walmart

ALI RASPER community has been awaiting the going to be there every day,” Wilson News Reporter | @AliRasper4 decision of the location since the added. company announced it was planning Sophomore Marie Lindgren also A Chicago favorite, Portillo’s, on opening a restaurant in April. shared excitement in the opening of announced it will build its new Students at Illinois State University the chain restaurant. restaurant at 202 Landmark Drive in are excited to hear about the new “I’m super excited to have access Normal. Portillo’s restaurant. to food that reminds me of home,” According to a Pantagraph interview “I’m very excited because I love Lindgren said. “Definitely going to be with Portillo’s Vice President of Portillo’s. They have the best Italian rewarding myself with their famous Marketing and Public Relations Nick beefs, and their malts are amazing, chocolate-cake shakes.” Scarpino, the Chicago-style hot dog hotdogs too,” senior Christopher One thing is for sure, chocolate cake chain restaurant hopes to break Wilson said. “I can’t wait for them to shakes are on the top of everyone’s list. ground early next year and then open open because I’m going to get my dad “I am excited for chocolate cake its doors late summer 2017. to send me money and I’m going to shakes because I haven’t had them in Scarpino also told the Pantagraph spend it all at the register.” a long time because it’s not out here at that the chain plans to knock down the With the new location only 2.5 miles school,” freshman Alyssa Parsons said. Kelly McNamara | Vidette Photo Editor motel and build the restaurant, which from campus, it is easily accessible for This will be the chain’s first The Normal restaurant will be the chain’s first downstate will include a drive-thru. students. downstate location. location. The Bloomington-Normal “It’s also walking distance, so I’m Recycling deemed Say it ain’t snow: first flurries of the season ‘too expensive’ for Normal apartments

KEVIN SCHWALLER News Reporter | @kevschwa

Editor’s Note: This is the first installment of a two-part series exploring recycling at student realty companies in Normal.

h i le Illinois State University offers recycling ser- vices in classrooms and residence halls, students W who live off-campus have to fend for themselves. ISU started using a single-stream recycling system in 2011, making it possible for students and staff to put all recycla- bles in one container. The material is sent to Midwest Fiber in Normal, where it is sorted through. However, the system is separate from the Town of Normal’s recycling program, which offers drop-off box locations across the town. The town only offers curbside recycling to residents in single family and duplex homes, which means students living in apartments must rely on the drop-off boxes. Young America Realty Property Manager Randy Paulissen said one of the reasons the company does not offer recycling services is because it would be too expensive. “We’d love to have individual recycling bins at every single apartment complex. Unfortunately, it just isn’t feasible from a cost-effectiveness standpoint and a user standpoint,” Paulis- sen said. “Much like anything, it works only if people use it. We would love to be way more active, but the problem is, how do you do it, offer the service to the tenants, and get the town to come by and do pickup? The town doesn’t have the resources, and so we’d have to reach out and hire third party, and that’s where the cost-effectiveness on this gets out of control.” Paulissen also said if the company was to invest in recycling, the services would be similar to Normal’s drop-off system because of the lack of space. “It’s not at convenience to the tenants, because it would be like, one spot on one street. We have a contract with a trash company that comes once or twice a week, but from there, there’s a lot of different opportunities, like bulk recycling or sorted recycling, and it’s hard because we run out of space on-site,” he said. “The dumpster takes up parking spots to begin with, and if we were to utilize recycling bins, that eats up other people’s parking and it’s hard to get it into every single building.” Kelly McNamara | Vidette Photo Editor While the Town of Normal does not have the resources to With December in its early stages, snow covered Illinois State University and the surrounding areas Sunday. Students were out on expand on its recycling system, other college towns in Illi- the Quad throwing snowballs and walking to the Student Fitness Center and Milner Library. nois do. see RECYCLING page 2 THE VIDETTE PRESENTS THE ’BIRD Tie up

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2016 videtteonline Vol. 129 / No. 30 your year

Celebrate through timeless traditions

DEB BETHEL Features Reporter | @thedebbethel

hether it is Michael Buble’s “White Christmas” on the car radio, the peppermint added to a cup W of hot chocolate or the abundance of ugly sweat- ers, people have favorite ways of showing their holiday spirit. Whether observing Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or other holidays, many look at the winter months as a time to be with family and to celebrate the end of the year. Some choose to cozy up during the snowy days and enjoy classic holiday movies like “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “Elf,” “Eight Crazy Nights” or “Home Alone” adorned in fuzzy socks while sipping on some eggnog. Others are more inclined to enjoy the cold weather festivities outdoors by ice skating in the city, having snowball fights or going to the lo- cal tree farm to pick out a Christmas tree. Assistant Professor of Sociology and Anthropology Michael Dougherty said symbols and traditions play an important role in culture and society. “These symbols and traditions are special to us because they have been consistent symbols throughout our lives,” Dougherty said. “Without these symbols and traditions, the holidays would be any other day.” He said these symbols and traditions also shape our ideas on holidays. “If we referred to our Christmas trees as ‘lost opportuni- ties to sequester carbon’ instead, or our Christmas lights as ‘unnecessary consumption of fossil fuels,’ then these things would produce very different feelings in us. So, we should embrace symbols and traditions, they help us make sense of our lives,” Dougherty said. While many may only think of Christmas when imagin- ing the winter holidays, Illinois State University’s diverse population celebrates in many different ways. Stephanie Nold, a sophomore English education major, enjoys being around family and giving presents, but as a Buddhist she also celebrates the Winter Solstice. “The Winter Solstice is just celebrating the start of the winter season,” Nold said. “There’s a lot of different things someone can do to celebrate. On the night of Dec. 21, I medi- tate, and the morning of Dec. 22, when the sun rises, I light candles, eat, drink and be merry.” Another student who celebrates the holidays in a different way is sophomore geography major Yael Uziel, who cele- brates Hanukkah. During the eight days of Hanukkah, many Jewish families light the menorah, eat traditional meals and sing prayers together to remember the story of Hanukkah.

see TRADITIONS page 6

Senior speech pathology major Desiree Moretti decorates her Christmas tree for the holiday season. Photograph Jenna Kadziulis | Vidette Photo Editor

COUNCIL DISCUSSES ALL-GENDER BATHROOMS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL FUTURE OF PORTILLOS GOOD FOR ISU FALLS TO MILWAUKEE NEWS 3 VIEWPOINT 4 SPORTS 7 GLASS RAISES REDBIRD STARTERS, BIG BUCKS YOU’RE OUR ONLY HOPE FEATURES 6 SPORTS 8

MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2016 videtteonline Vol. 129 / No. 31

ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY’S NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1888 Deaf cheerleader makes herself heard Student uses voice throughout her life, even when she couldn’t hear it

MORGAN KUNIEJ “I knew I was not going to wear hearing aids, Features Editor | @moekuniej because of the look of it, I was very insecure of people judging me for wearing them,” Watts said. lthough Illinois State University Watts’ doctor, Dr. James Klemens, told her freshman cheerleader Lily Watts she qualified for a cochlear implant shortly A couldn’t hear the squeaking of bas- after she was diagnosed. He left the decision ketball shoes or the sound of her own singing up to Watts, who was struggling to accept her voice for many years, she has been cheering diagnosis. since she was 8 years old and singing since “I was still in a lot of denial and frustration, middle school. and I had been kind of depressed,” Watts said. Watts grew up in Mapleton, Ill., near Peoria, In January 2015, after talking with her hear- and she participated in everything from soft- ing specialist, Rebecca Snook, Watts’ mindset ball and volleyball to cheerleading and singing was changed forever. Watts was inspired by and acting. It was not until age 16 that Watts Snook’s career helping hearing-impaired kids realized something was off, when friends at meet their needs. Snook told Watts she went school began to tease her for having a lisp and to ISU and has a degree in special education being ditzy. — specialist in deaf and hard of hearing, and “I thought I had ADHD because I felt like Watts had always wanted to come to ISU to try I had a focusing problem, I couldn’t focus on out for the cheerleading team. what people were saying,” Watts said. “I really “Instantly the denial stage was over, it was felt like I was dumb, like I just needed extra in five seconds that I was like, ‘That’s what I help.” want to do with my life,’” Watts said. “She’s the As an only child with a stay-at-home mom, reason why my attitude changed. She is the the communication in her home was mostly one that absolutely changed my life, led me in one-on-one. the right direction.” “I read lips very well because that’s how I At this point, she knew what she would major compensated all these years,” Watts said. “If in at ISU. Watts is currently working toward a teacher was giving a lecture in class I would a degree in special education deaf and hard of just look at my book and start writing notes, hearing, and she hopes to become a deaf edu- I wouldn’t even pay attention to what the cation teacher in the future. teacher was saying.” Watts decided to go through with the Finishing high school with a 3.2 GPA, get- cochlear implant procedure, but in order to do ting good grades was never an issue for Watts. so she would go through the extensive process Watts’ best childhood friend, Audrey Durham, of a five-hour psych evaluation, a hearing aid has been in numerous classes with Watts and trial, two vaccines, therapy and much more. has known her since sixth grade. The surgical procedure was finally completed “Teachers were shocked to find out Lily had in October 2015, but Watts had to wait one a severe hearing impairment,” Durham said. month for the scar tissue to heal until the “We all thought she was choosing not to pay implant could be turned on. attention, but instead she was paying atten- “The main reason I got the implant was tion ten times more than the average student.” because I wanted to talk normal, and I didn’t Fed up with being teased to the point where want people to judge the way I talked,” Watts Watts was nervous to talk in front of the class, said. she talked to her mom about what to do and her Three weeks after surgery, Watts performed mom suggested they get her hearing checked. a lead role in “Seussical the Musical,” her After two audiograms, Watts was diagnosed school play, and won the award for best female with bilateral sensorineural profound hearing performance of the year. loss in November 2014, the fall of her junior “I could not hear myself at all,” Watts said. year in high school. Doctors estimated the pro- “I was probably hearing 10 percent at the time gressive hearing loss began around the time of the musical.” Monica Mendoza | Vidette Photographer she was 6 or 7, and the cause is completely Freshman special education — specialist in deaf and hard of hearing major Lily Watts is a deaf cheerleader at ISU. unknown. see WATTS page 6 What’s next for university construction Redbird Plaza, Mennonite College of Nursing complex have been developing throughout the fall semester

MALLORY LOVINGS significant memories attached,” as stated in the Redbird Plaza Nursing building. News Reporter | @MalloryLovings Rambo Site Justification document. “There are no plans, no approvals, no schedules, not even con- The gathering area will display a bronzed Reggie Redbird ceptual ones at this point,” Director of Facilities Planning and Illinois State University is continuing to revamp its grounds head in the middle of it, as well as three pedestals presenting Construction Management David Gill said. with new additions to the southwest end of campus. the university hymn, the ISU fight song and the university seal. He said the new facility will consolidate all nursing functions A big addition coming to campus is a new facility for the Men- The planning for the plaza started in 2015 after the Board of and allow growth throughout the program, which is what some nonite College of Nursing program. It will be across the street Trustees approved a $750,000 plan in February 2014 for the students are hoping for, even if they are graduated by the time from the State Farm Hall of Business and next door to Student demolition of the former Rambo House. the facility is done. Fitness Center. Later on, $150,000 was added to the demolition plan, and the “I am looking forward to the school hopefully being able to Another addition, Redbird Plaza, will be located behind Fell project was officially named Redbird Plaza on Feb. 19. accept more nursing students with a bigger facility and such a Hall and across the street from the Student Fitness Center. “Construction work is currently underway with a target com- high need for RNs today,” junior nursing major Graci Bastert “Redbird Square will be a gathering place on the Quad for pletion and official dedication ceremony being planned in the said. the Illinois State University community to unite in times of joy spring of 2017,” stated the justification document. and sorrow and after graduation as a campus landmark with The other project development is the Mennonite College of see CONSTRUCTION page 5