The Alestle Vol. 80, No. 2

THE

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SIU System forms A little pizza heaven: task force to determine Check out the best future of AI at SIUE pizza places around

Men’s soccer beats Webster Gorloks 3-0 in Sunday home game

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Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Thursday, September 24, 2026 Vol. 80 No. 2

THE student voice since 1960

RECORD ENROLLMENT:

Challenges on campus hamper historic milestone KATY ARTERBURN reporter Editor’s Note: Freshman electrical engineering student Kaiden Owens, who was interviewed for this story, is the brother of The Alestle’s Online Editor Jaiyla Owens. Jaiyla Owens was not involved in this story or its reporting. On Tuesday, Sept. 8, Chancellor James T. Minor sent an email announcing record-breaking enrollment for the fall semester. Many members of SIUE are celebrating the historical moment and the university’s hard work admitting and accommodating new SIUE students. Some staff and students, however, are facing housing and dining challenges due to the increased population. According to Minor’s email, this fall, SIUE admitted 2,323 first-time, first-year students. This is the largest incoming class in SIUE’s history. “Parents and students are more in tune than ever before of the total value of … the college degree. When you look at what we offer here, in terms of outcomes, in terms of affordability, I just don’t think that you can beat us,” Interim Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management Kevin Wathen said.

Wathen also credited the admissions office and Director of Undergraduate Admissions Samantha Ray for the record enrollment numbers. The achievement has, however, come with some challenges for SIUE staff, students and departments. The Alestle attempted to interview Director of University Housing Mallory Sidarous, but Sidarous refused to interview without Director of Communications Nicole Franklin present. Freshman electrical engineering student Kaiden Owens lives in Bluff Hall next to a study lounge-turned-dorm room. He is sharing a bathroom with five other people. Owens said he was originally assigned a room down the hallway in late June. In mid-August, he received an email saying he would keep his suitemates, but their room assignment had changed. The six have faced some inconveniences because of the living situation. “My roommate woke up one day, and somebody was in the shower. Then somebody else went in the bathroom after they got out of the shower,” Owens said. “So, he had to go brush his teeth in the [social] lounge.”

LILY BERKENBILE reporter

ter for a second webinar, can be found on Marketing’s webpage. Marketing will be hosting the second webinar at 10 a.m. on Oct. 15.

The $10,000 question

Who is Christopher Svochak?

What to know, what’s to come

On Wednesday, Sept. 16, University Marketing and Communications hosted an hour-long webinar walking through the brand guidelines they released in August. Here are the biggest takeaways, as well as some of Marketing’s answers to questions from the SIUE community. The webinar was co-hosted by former Executive Director of University Marketing and Communications Paula Bridges on her last day on campus, per a Sept. 4 email from Chancellor James T. Minor. To “set the tone” for the webinar, Bridges said that the goal of the branding guide is “simple” and that the new branding guidelines are not a new hurdle for university departments and offices, but instead a “refresh” and “reaffirmation” of existing policy. “You guys have been doing it all along,” Bridges said. “We just want to make sure that people who are new to the process understand what’s at play. We remind others of what we need to do and sort of take a new focus towards making sure we’re all working from the same playbook.” Director of Creative and Design Phillip Sherrill and Lead Graphic Designer and Brand Manager Kris Crosby also co-hosted the webinar. A recording of the full webinar, as well as the link to regis-

Street preacher returns; Students moved to action On Monday, Sept. 14, and Tuesday, Sept. 15, Christopher Svochak, a self-proclaimed evangelist and street preacher, returned to campus. He has been a recurring figure at SIUE since 2023. This is in spite of threatening to sue the university last April for $30,000 over violating his First Amendment rights. Svochak claimed on social media that SIUE settled the dispute and that he used the payout to fund his return to campus. SIUE’s legal counsel has not yet confirmed the settlement, despite multiple attempts by The Alestle.

see ENROLLMENT on page 3

Marketing’s brand guidance:

GAVIN QUINLAN managing editor

Street preacher Chris Svochak speaks loudly into a megaphone while holding a Bible, telling students gathered to watch or protest that they are sinners and are doomed to hell. Students who protested Svochak’s presence and speech took issue with his use of slurs and singling out of various minorities. | Gavin Quinlan / The Alestle

Bridges began the webinar by addressing the $10,000 fine listed as the penalty for brand guideline violations. “I do know that there’s been some anxiety about this rollout, particularly around a fine for unauthorized brand use. Let me be very clear: this is not a new layer of approval or something like a ‘gotcha.’ University Marketing and Communications has always been the approving authority for our logos and for our signature marks,” Bridges said. Materials created before the guidance rollout and with the help of Marketing are not subject to fines, according to Bridges. Any materials that were already approved by Marketing before the rollout remain valid. “The fine targets ongoing unauthorized use, and going forward, we want to focus on that, not the past work that you’ve done in good faith,” Bridges said. Marketing has not responded to The Alestle’s request for comment regarding what counts as “ongoing.” Bridges said that the penalty further does not apply to personal belongings

see BRANDING on page 2

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram describes Svochak as a Christian supremacist. In the past year, there were disorderly conduct charges filed against him and Ricardo Yepez as well as an investigation into an alleged hate crime against Muslim students on two other college campuses. He consented to go on record with his statement at SIUE on Sept. 15 calling for the mass deportation of Muslim people. “It’s a sex cult, it’s a death cult, it’s wicked … They shouldn’t be allowed in our country. We should be deporting Muslims by the thousands, because they want to kill us,” Svochak said. “Some of their followers aren’t quite there yet, but they’ll get there if they have the numbers.” According to several onlookers, protestors and digital records, this is one stance among many Svochak has taken against minorities, including people with non-white ethnic backgrounds, members of the LGBTQ+ community and women. Svochak said his goal is “to give the message of Jesus Christ so that most people can hear about their sin and repent from their sin so that they, too, can walk in a new life.” Onlookers and protestors present on Sept. 14 and 15 cast doubt upon this. “He’s just here being disruptive for

no reason. He’s just filming us [and] clipping it for money,” freshman nursing student and CODES scholar Kastor Duff said. “He’s not actually here to actually do any pitching. He wants people upset so he can sue the school again,” sophomore anthropology student Dio Castelli said. Svochak denied making content for money and said that he first began filming as a safety concern. He does run semi-active X, Instagram, Facebook, Rumble, TikTok and YouTube accounts. He said he “does not make much” doing street preaching, but that sometimes people “donate.” “I only get paid when police officers don’t do their job and threaten to arrest me,” Svochak said. “I do make money on lawsuits and tuition money from students, like here.” “I would like to thank every Muslim, homosexual, liar and drunk [student] for funding my ministry. Every single one of you paid for me to be here today,” Svochak said. “You have paid out of your own tuition money for me.” He said he primarily evangelizes on college campuses because he is of the opinion that they are full of sin. “There’s a lot of wack-offs and homos and Muslims everywhere in the world, especially on college campuses,” Svochak said.

Learning from hate speech

On Monday, Sept. 14, an English 102 class led by Rodaina Mousa, an instructor in the Department of English Language and Literature, came to watch Svochak with the intent of engaging with his message academically. Mousa and her students spent a portion of class watching and interacting with Svochak and their next portion of class discussing his rhetoric. “I wanted to take whatever concepts or lessons we would learn in a traditional classroom and try to apply it to something that’s happening in real life,” Mousa said. “We were going there with an open mind, trying to genuinely

see PREACHER on page 4

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Marketing’s brand guidance: Main takeaways BRANDING | COVER

with unauthorized branding. However, as of last September, some university divisions have policies surrounding what branded merchandise can be worn by employees. “You might have this wonderful T-shirt that you’re wearing from a few years back or what have you. If you have some type of coffee mug sitting on your desk that has maybe the little ‘e’ from way back when, that’s not what this process is about. This process is about our public-facing documents, literature, signage, digital signage, ways of promoting ourselves out in the public,” Bridges said.

For student organizations Branding guidelines apply to registered student organizations, though no penalty is listed for unauthorized uses. The penalty fine does not apply to student organizations. Instead, student organization violations will be dealt with on a case-bycase basis. “We’re avoiding student organizations incorporating our logos into their identities,” Sherrill said. “The only thing we are asking is if they can incorporate our red into their logo.” Student organization logos are required to use SIUE red, a specific color defined in the branding guidelines. The guidelines do not specify a required amount of red to use. National organizations such as fraternities and sororities are exempt from this rule. “You can still use our footers and things like that, but obviously there are colors that are in a national organization that

just won’t work with our red,” Sherrill said. Sherrill said that student organizations are allowed, but not required, to use the university signature line on their flyers. According to Crosby, Marketing will introduce optional footers for student organizations to put on flyers to ensure the signature line is being used correctly, as well as to identify the flyer as a product of an SIUE organization without “taking away their creativity.” “When it comes to [student organizations], you know, they have freedom and creativity. We’re not stifling that by any stretch of the imagination. But we are asking them if they’re using our marks, then they have to follow our marks’ guidelines,” Crosby said. Student organization social media accounts will not be affected by the guidelines, and student organizations may maintain autonomy over their social media, according to Sherrill. Assistant Director for Student Involvement Aundrea Jackson addressed the guidelines at the Student Organization Summit on Sept. 19. She said student organizations should list their accounts as “at SIUE” rather than implying they’re associated with SIUE directly. “The safest bet is to avoid using the SIUE logo entirely,” Jackson said. Crosby said that the Kimmel Belonging and Engagement Hub will continue to be the authority for materials posted by student organizations, but Marketing will help oversee materials through the beginning of the guidance rollout. “If anytime there’s any

doubt about whether something is compliant, send it through our artwork review just to be safe,” Sherrill said.

While the guidelines recommend departments to “initiate the project request with at least 60 days notice,” Bridges said that this mostly applies to annual events with a set date, and Sherrill said that this is for work orders where Marketing has to design and create content themselves. According to Sherrill, Marketing is asking for seven days’ notice for asking for content to be approved, with potential exceptions for short-notice requests. “We’re not trying to make anybody miss a deadline or anything like that, so we’re flexible. We’re trying to keep up with the seven days for the reviews, but the 60 days is more for if you’re asking for a project that we would create,” Sherrill said. “We do get a lot of last-minute requests, because that’s just life, and sometimes things don’t come to our attention until the last moment, but we would prefer to stop what we’re doing and meet the need,” Bridges said. Sherrill and Crosby also said that departments do not need to run designs and templates by Marketing if they have already been approved and distributed before. “If it’s a templated item, we don’t need to see that template every time you’re sending it out. We just want to make sure that what we’re sending out represents the brand in the best way,” Crosby said.

According to Sherrill, there will be more resources to help units abide by the guidelines. Marketing has a library of photos for university units to use and will be providing them with a brand kit on Canva, which includes guidelines, templates, colors, fonts, logos, graphics and other graphic design resources. Sherill said that Marketing will soon transition to a new digital asset management system to expedite the photo-finding process. “Right now, it’s a little tedious to find specific photos for people, but eventually, my hope is that we will have curated libraries available of photos and assets like that that come directly out of our asset management system,” Sherrill said. Sherrill and Bridges said that changes will be made to the branding guidelines as suggestions are made and situations arise. “This is a fluid document. We are going to be adding to it, taking away from it, enhancing it every month as different situations come up, so we want to remove the angst and increase the collaboration on it and make sure that everybody has all the information,” Bridges said. Bridges said that Marketing is “making decisions” about holding monthly gatherings to help people understand the guidelines and answer questions. “If you see something that’s missing, let us know, because it probably needs to be added to the guidelines,” Bridges said.

of-mouth, the class has gained a small group of students. Matsiyevsky is continuing to advertise by attending several on-campus events to gain interest and hosting a conversation hour open to campus as a whole. Matsiyevsky said he is committed to bringing in student interest and sharing knowledge of his country. “I’m open to share it. I feel this is my mission. I act here as a cultural ambassador of my country, and I can never be tired of questions about my country,” Matsiyevsky said. The class is also advertised by the Department of Foreign Languages and Literature to gain student interest. Director Joaquin Florido Berrocal, the department’s director, said that supporting current students is important to growing interest in the class in other students. “The best way of getting students is that the students are happy,” Florido Berrocal said. Florido Berrocal said the lack of registration in the fall is due to the timing of confirmation for Fulbright instructors. Instructors aren’t typically confirmed until late summer, at which point most students

have already established their class schedules. Florido Berrocal said that even after student interest is built up, the language taught is not necessarily the same each year. Florido Berrocal said a different Fulbright Scholar is selected to teach each year, which can cause the interest built in a program to dissipate and continue the department’s struggles to bring in students. But this system can also bring in new language learning opportunities. “This program allows us to offer different languages that otherwise we wouldn’t be able to,” Florido Berrocal said. Both Florido Berrocal and Matsiyevsky said student satisfaction with this course is positive, and though the class is small, the future is bright. “Currently, I have three students, and I am happy with that because they are truly motivated,” Matsiyevsky said. Senior music education student Aerwyna Eastvold said she enjoys the class and the chance to learn so much about Ukrainian language and culture. “We’ve done some language basics, of course, as well

as going into all of the cultural aspects, both of just Ukraine’s national identity as a whole, and then of course, as it relates to the war … It’s been really interesting getting to hear the side of the story from a native Ukrainian,” Eastvold said. “If [students] have a free spot in the schedule, it’s a pretty lowkey class. It’s an interesting time.” Florido Berrocal said the Fulbright Program will continue to strive to provide different language learning opportunities for SIUE students despite past setbacks. They aspire for new languages that garner student interest, though certain languages present problems for the scholars themselves. “Scholars were having a lot of problems getting their visas,” Florido Berrocal said. “The idea of the Fulbright Program at SIUE is also to diversify our offer of languages.” “It takes time and advertising and reaching out to different offices and places and students, but if we can keep an interest, then we can turn three into seven or eight students. I think that is fantastic,” Florido Berrocal said.

Getting review and approval: Seven days’ notice

‘A living, breathing document:’ What to expect

New Ukrainian instructor works to raise student awareness despite setbacks LYN DIXON reporter

After struggling to gain class registrations, Orest Matsiyevsky, SIUE’s new Ukrainian teaching assistant, is continuing to strive for student interest in his class. Matsiyevsky was hired over the summer through the Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program. The program focuses on bringing in new instructors to teach a variety of different languages and bring opportunities to learn about foreign cultures and languages to American students. Matsiyevsky is the current Fulbright Scholar and will be teaching at SIUE for the fall and spring semesters. Alongside teaching a full credit course two times a week, he takes courses himself as a graduate student to further his own education in teaching foreign languages and American studies. Matsiyevsky said that at the start of the semester, the class had a slow start with a lack of student registrations. With further advertising and through word-

“Throwback Thursday” is a monthly print-exclusive column featuring noteworthy, impactful or downright silly events throughout SIUE’s history. Information for this column was obtained by Editor-in-Chief Dylan Hembrough from past issues of The Alestle.

SEPTEMBER 1960 (66 years ago) / i č iÃÌ i½Ã ÛiÀÞ wÀÃÌ Ãsue is published on Sept. 22 under the editorship of Dianne Bowker. The newspaper had just consolidated from the sporadically-published ARC News the year before. Leadership of the paper is split between the Alton and East St. Louis campuses, as the Edwardsville campus did not exist yet. The name “Alestle” was coined as a joke by Dave Peirick. 1966 (60 years ago) The editors of The Alestle attempt to rename the pap er “Spectator” and publish an issue with this name. SIUE administration conwÃV>ÌiÃ Ì i «>«iÀà > ` destroys them, forcing the publication to stick with the original name. 1970 (56 years ago) Student Body President Larry Sumner writes a letter to the editor accusing the Student Senate of conspiracy to remove him, singling out Student Body Vice President Ray Kerr as the chief conspirator and labelling it “the greatest single act of premeditated treachery in the history of the university.” 1997 (29 years ago) Editor-in-Chief Rebecca Hopkins resigns unexpectedly after just a few months in the role, leaving The Alestle without an editor-in-chief until January 1998. 2001 (25 years ago) A Day of Unity occurs at SIUE in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, where members of the campus community collectively mourn those who died in the attacks. 2004 (22 years ago) Street preacher Brad Branham speaks out against gay marriage, fueling a series of letters to the editor on the subject. 2014 (12 years ago) A candlelight vigil occurs on campus in honor of Michael Brown of Ferguson, Missouri.

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SIU System to create rules across campuses surrounding AI usage MATTHEW WOLDEN copy editor The SIU System created an AI task force to look into how the universities should use AI across teaching, workspaces and labs.

The task force Dean of the School of Business Mario Hayek and SIUC Assistant Director of the Center for Virtual Expression Tobias Merriman were chosen to lead the task force. While they took control of it recently, this task force has been around for years, according to Merriman. Merriman said the goal of the task force is to help students and faculty navigate a school environment that coexists with AI due to its effects on education. “For the last three or four years, this school has been trying to figure out, ‘What do we do?’” Merriman said. “Not just what do we do about AI, but what do we do with it? How can it help us? How can we use it? And where and how should we teach it? And that’s kind of what this committee is about: what do we do with AI?” The task force looked into the needs of faculty and staff to come up with changes that could better help the SIU System teach in this new environment. “What equipment do we have? What are faculty doing in their classes related to AI?” Hayek said. “Based on that, we put together this inventory, and we said, ‘Look, here are some next steps that we think should be followed.’” The task force is made up of people with a variety of perspectives on AI. “The committee is made up of a good mix of attitudes about AI. It is not all AI haters and it is not all pro-AI people,” Merriman said. While the committee is doing research on the ways SIU can use AI, Hayek said they are mainly doing initial research, setting up a plan and handing

it off to a research team. All the task force handles is the initial planning and research. The task force has come up with four different goals according to Hayek.

Goal one: An overarching framework

“One was that we needed an overarching framework of ethics, guidelines, principles, what do we do with syllabi [and] this whole governance part,” Hayek said. These expectations would involve guidelines on how AI could be used in classes. “If someone wants to implement AI, do we have to ask IT first? Do we have an ethical framework? How about student data? There have to be guardrails,” Hayek said. “What AI is it? What security does it have? We can’t be sharing personal information.” This framework would give more control to faculty in how substantially AI could be used in classes. “The faculty member can actually decide if AI should be used and how it should be used for that particular class. There are some classes where you’re like, ‘Well, I don’t want students to use AI. I actually need you to learn this material.’ And then there are classes where I would really like for you to use AI and anything in between,” Hayek said. “The best person to know where it should be used and where it should not be used is each faculty member,” Hayek said. Hayek said the School of Business is looking for ways to teach students how to use AI, since employers in the field are now looking for skills in that area.

Goal two: Coursework

“Goal two was just about coursework, programs, specializations, minors and all that,” Hayek said. This idea would allow for students to have some sort of record of using AI in transcripts or resumes.

“We would love for there to be some certificate of some sort for any student anywhere in the system to be able to get,” Hayek said. Hayek said there could also be classes in which AI could be used in possible minors for different departments, depending on what the classes are looking to teach. “Marketing says, ‘Look, I would love to offer a minor

“

The best person to know where it should be used and where it should not be used is each faculty member.” Mario Hayek Dean of the School of Business

in AI marketing, so how about you add two or three courses on top of this base certificate, but specifically in this area,’” Hayek said. The research team is also looking into systems implementation into existing tools like Blackboard.

Goal three: Operations

“Goal three was around operations,” Hayek said. “We have many systems here ... where you input your grades or faculty reporting or scheduling. So, how do we use AI to enhance operational systems?” Merriman said this included guidelines surrounding what should be banned and what people at SIU campuses would use. “When I say use, I don’t just mean students. I mean the department staff. The accountants might benefit from some of these tools, or they might

break the law accidentally by using the wrong one, so we want to put in some framework, some guidance, some structure across all three cities,” Merriman said. “Whatever tool we look at has to be legal, ethical [and] pass SIU and state policy. And then of course, it’s got to be useful. Even if it’s the most ethical, safe version of AI available and you guys don’t find it useful, then we might as well not spend money on it,” Merriman said. Hayek said SIU could switch to a paid version of an AI for certain class projects. “There are some faculty that would like to incorporate it into their classes, and by having access to the paid version of [Microsoft] Copilot, it helps them with that,” Hayek said. An example of an AI tool that is in the process of being added is Smart Plan, a product of Ellucian, a company that creates tools for higher education. “It will use Banner information, scheduling information and then Degree Works information to build semester by semester,” SIUE Registrar Patrick Sears said. “In theory, when the student decides, ‘You know what, I don’t want to take calculus with chemistry and these engineering courses. I’m gonna move that to next semester,’ it’s going to reroute that.” According to Sears, when the tool “reroutes,” it will hypothetically tell the student of any possible added years of schooling or tuition dollars. “It also uses scheduling offerings in Banner to map out that progression,” Sears said. “If you move that calculus class to next semester … it’s gonna add an extra year, because you have prereqs that affects downstream. It will add on a year and X amount of tuition dollars.”

Goal four: AI in research

Goal four included ways of handling AI in research. One of these ways surrounds using AI to implement software that will connect with a piece of equipment that may otherwise be ex-

pensive to use. “[Researchers] would, before AI, go out and say, ‘We need this software to run our testing equipment, and the software is $10,000, and it’s clunky and weird. It doesn’t work exactly right.’ Nowadays, they could maybe vibe code it because the software they’re creating is bespoke for this one singular purpose,” Merriman said. The other way is in researching AI itself. Merriman said that AI can be a way to increase computational resources. “[Professors] want to test [AI] and figure out what makes it work — why does it suck so much sometimes and why is it so helpful in other ways.”

What students think

Some students are worried AI will discourage critical thinking in the classroom. “It’s a win-lose situation,” sophomore social work student Sienna Thomas said. “People can still use it for their own benefit. They are trying to compromise, but you can only get so far with compromise.” “College is about using our brains, figuring out complicated things with our brains,” senior elementary education student Madelyn Dailey said. “I think that our university encouraging us to use AI is disappointing. Other students are against the use of AI due to concerns about the environment. Sophomore business management student Maysia Latham said she had concerns about AI’s impact on the environment and water usage. Some students, like Thomas, think classes that specifically revolve around AI are acceptable since these classes are supposed to teach you how to use AI effectively. “I think that’s definitely helpful then, because times are changing and technology is being implemented in different ways. So, I think that definitely helps prepare students for their future,” sophomore biology student Kiya Bradshaw said.

Record enrollment brings mixed feelings to students, staff ENROLLMENT | COVER

According to Owens, University Housing said students placed in study lounges were late applicants. Owens said he applied to and paid for housing before the deadline. “[I’m curious] how they decide … who gets picked to be the people who get the short end of the stick? I mean, it’s not terrible. But I’m not paying for this, so it’s kind of irritating,” Owens said. Wathen said it is common practice across the country to use lounges as dorm rooms. “I actually had two students from house calls who said, ‘I don’t want to move out of here. It’s a little bit bigger,’” Wathen said. “They were afraid they were gonna have to move, which I thought was actually kind of funny.” “I’m not gonna tell you that it was perfect, right? [University Housing] did everything that they could do to make it a good experience for our

students,” Wathen said. “We will continue to do that, and I will continue to work very closely with Miriam Roccia, the vice chancellor of student affairs, and her team to ensure that the students have a good experience.” Freshman speech-language pathology student Addie Daniels is also adjacent to a lounge dorm. “They are paying us like $15 [to] our Cougar account, I think, a week,” Daniels said. “So that’s nice, at least, because we’re getting a little bit of our tuition paid for. But it’s still kind of inconvenient.” Freshman psychology student Makenzie Fincher said she did not know the rooms at the end of the halls used to be study lounges. “Sometimes, when I went to Bluff, I did see the rooms at the far end of the hallway, and it had three names,” Fincher said. “I didn’t think they were putting [students] in study lounges. I thought it was just for students who had over two people they were dorming with.”

Wathen said faculty, especially deans, began planning for the large enrollment numbers in January, working to ensure fall classes had enough seats for new and continuing students. “The expansion of the hours in the MUC — that’s because Student Affairs recognized that we’re gonna need more time to be open,” Wathen said. “There was a lot of work that went on on this campus, not just to get this record, but to ensure that the record number of students came here and did not see less service.” A Dining Services employee, who requested to remain anonymous due to fear of retaliation, said the MUC has recently been understaffed and understocked. “I think partially us just running out of stuff is because of the bigger class,” the employee said. “There’s always a rush, but it has never been this bad.” Supervisors, workers and cooks have had to step into other positions to keep up during rushes, according to the employee. “This semester, [an Entrees employee] was working by herself when she was

supposed to have two student workers with her,” the Dining Services employee said. The employee said that as of Sept. 7, Dining Services had hired more student workers, including freshmen. Going forward, Wathen said Enrollment Management will continue to work with other SIUE departments to discuss capacity when considering class sizes in the coming years. “The last two years, we’ve had larger classes and the ones before that were smaller. So, even if we kind of just remain flat next year … we will gain [enrollment] overall, right? And what will that look like if we did that four years in a row? Will we have the capacity to do that [and] to make sure that services here are up to the standards that we expect for students?” Wathen said. “It’s something that we’ll be looking at as the numbers start coming in for this fall.”

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Students respond to street preacher’s return PREACHER | COVER

engage in whatever material that he was presenting us with.” Upon the class’s arrival, Svochak pointed out Mousa’s hijab and, according to her, said, “Oh, please don’t bomb me.” Several members of Mousa’s class corroborated her statement and said that Svochak continued to vilify and humiliate the Muslim community. According to sophomore psychology and English student Taylor Towns, Svochak was “falling on minorities and women … trying to get a reaction.” After academic observation and discussion, the class collectively came to the conclusion Svochak lacked a genuine argument. “We dissected his argument, or what he was trying to say, with everything that he did,” Towns said. “He wasn’t really there to try to get more Christians or anything. He was trying to make people angry … It’s affecting students’ well-being and mental health, and then also it might affect safety.” “If someone like him genuinely would want to engage in debate with us, they would do it in a much more reasonable and much less vocal, out-loud sort of way,” sophomore surveying and student Aiden Langhoff said.

Uniting to protest The night of Monday, Sept. 14, members of the student body discussed Svochak’s actions over Instagram and in person at Lovejoy Library. By the next day, the group had organized a protest against the preacher. “It wasn’t originally going to be a protest … then eventually we decided, you know what, we’re going to protest because that’s our right as students,” sophomore psychology student Silas Pinneo said. Pinneo is credited by his friend, freshman experimental psychology student Hallie Morgan, as the one who “got it rolling,” although Pinneo says it was him and “a few friends.” According to the group, called SIUE Student Unity, they prepared for Svochak’s return by making posters reading phrases such as “Love Yourself” and “Beauty = Diversity.” They also printed out QR code links to SIUE’s campus climate reporting form, put together a playlist of music to play over Svochak, created an Instagram page and offered water and food on the Quad. “We cannot let people like that think that they are [welcome] in a place where there are potential vulnerable students,” junior art student Haven Cain said. The original group quickly grew as others joined in protesting remarks and actions from Svochak that were commonly described by students as sexist, racist, homophobic, Islamophobic and pro-genocide. He used language widely considered derogatory and insulting, including slurs against women, the LGBTQ+ community, the dis-

abled community and Islam. According to Castelli and Pinneo, the student protest was meant to be peaceful. “I was here [on Monday] with him, and there was actually tension,” Castelli said. “People were trying to start fighting him. We decided to take a more civil approach to this and just kind of back off, but still keep an eye on him.” “We were just trying to make sure everyone stayed loving,” Pinneo said. Freshman student Ray Diaz was present for both of Svochak’s appearances, joining the protest the second day. Diaz said his approach to combating Svochak’s rhetoric, which he said was sexist and racist, changed from the first day to the second, which additional eyewitnesses took note of. “I know many students came out there and held signs instead of yelling yesterday. One of the students, [Diaz], was yelling and screaming and getting aggressive yesterday. Today, he is leading us to get away, to calm down,” freshman criminal justice student Dakota Ambrose said. “I think that’s a great showcase of how a peaceful protest can change things, can make things calm. Svochak repeatedly called Diaz “Nacho Macho Libre Man” based on Svochak’s perception of Diaz’s ethnicity.

Regardless, the protest was viewed by several attendees as a unifying community event. “The community grows strong because we’re standing together fighting against this man. You had disabled people come out here, queer folks, straight folks. Everybody was in our corner,” freshman nursing student Layla Norwood said. “The only good thing that has come out of this is that there’s a sense of student community … because people don’t want him here, so we come together to get him out,” Cain said.

A call to action Under the First Amendment, Svochak’s presence on public campus grounds and his hate speech is legal. There are general university policies dictating public conduct. According to Director of Communications Nicole Franklin, Svochak’s actions are allowed by the policy’s standards. “As a public university, SIUE has an obligation to respect and protect constitutionally-protected speech and expressive activity, even when the views being expressed are offensive, hateful, or inconsistent with the values of our institution,” Franklin wrote in a Sept. 21 email to The Alestle. “The activity in question was conducted pursuant to the Uni-

Students play music and dance on the Quad amidst others gathered to hear Svochak speak on Sept. 14. | Gavin Quinlan / The Alestle According to junior exercise science student Gavin Smothers, not all students seemed to share the same mission. “I think the response of the students could have been better. [Monday], they were chanting love, not hate, for a long time. And [Tuesday] when he left, I heard almost every student in unison yelling, ‘We hate you, never come back, you’re not welcome here,’” Smothers said. “I think all that’s doing is fizzing us down to his level. I think it’s more of an admirable thing if we were instead to wish better for him, pray for him, hope that things go better in his life to where he becomes a less hateful person.”

Thursday, 09.24.26

versity’s Policy on Expressive Activity, Policy 6E1.” Mousa and her class have expressed concern about the effects of his speech on students. “We saw lots of other students who were not there on a mission, and we could see that his words had gotten to them. A lot of them were visibly upset,” Mousa said. “There was a girl in a hijab who was beside herself. I was worried about her … A lot of [students] might not have family nearby, who live on campus, who are not even from this area, who just have to go to their dorm rooms and just think about this for the rest of the day and probably tomorrow and the day after.”

Students watch street preacher Ricardo Yepez speak on the Quad on Sept. 14. Yepez and Svochak were the subjects of disorderly conduct charges after an incident on another university campus last year. | Gavin Quinlan / The Alestle “What if he inspires somebody else who agrees with him to go and engage in violence or hate speech?” Towns said. “It’s kind of the big question for the university what to do with this … You can’t do anything about the speech, because that’s protected. I think that it’s really important for the police to consider [Svochak] being a public disturbance of the peace, because that’s a huge deal on a university campus,” Mousa’s student Maximus Katich said. “Whenever you have to do everything in this closed space … you can’t miss him.” Under Illinois law, one commits disorderly conduct or disturbance of the peace when one “does any act in such unreasonable manner as to alarm or disturb another and to provoke a breach of the peace.” According to the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, hate speech only becomes unprotected by the First Amendment if it is found to incite “lawless action,” be a “true threat” or cause “an immediate breach of the peace.” Several protestors have labeled Svochak’s conduct as distasteful. “He is spewing hate speech, and he is disrupting a learning environment. This is a college campus — we’re here to learn,” Duff said. “If I had known this [would happen] when I was coming to visit the school, I might not have come here,” Ambrose said. Svochak was asked if he considered his conduct disruptive and hateful. “The only oppression that’s happened on this campus between me and you is you against me,” Svochak said between calling students slurs. “Excuse my anger and offense towards campus, but I don’t think it’s the student’s responsibility to walk away from a situation adults should be han-

dling … I shouldn’t have to be standing out there yelling and screaming for my voice and for my peers’ voices to be heard,” Ambrose said. “It should be my dean, it should be my chancellor, it should be my advisers who are out there preventing this.” Under university policy, “SIUE does not assume any obligation or responsibility for the content of statements or materials distributed” by visiting individuals like Svochak. “We recognize that the language and conduct on Sept. 14 and 15 were deeply offensive and distressing, particularly for students who encountered the activity. We take the safety, well-being and sense of belonging of our students very seriously,” Franklin wrote. “The university’s permitting or allowing expressive activity does not constitute an endorsement or approval of the views expressed by a speaker or demonstrator.” According to Franklin, the university offers support during events like these when possible. During the duration of Svochak’s visit, university personnel such as the police and Cougar Care were present. “When conduct crosses established legal or university policy boundaries, including conduct involving threats, unlawful activity, disruption or other prohibited behavior, the university can and will take appropriate action consistent with applicable law and university policy,” Franklin wrote. “The only thing that can stop him right now is if the school creates a new policy that requires people who come onto campus and preach to sign a contract of due conduct,” Ambrose said. “But there’s no such policy like that in place.”

THE ALESTLE WILL PUBLISH ONLINE 10/8.

lifestyles

contact the editor: lifestyles@alestlelive.com (618) 650-3528

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Annual Xfest brings new theater experiences back to SIUE KATY ARTERBURN reporter

From Sept. 14-18, the SIUE Xfest brought performers from across the country to show SIUE students possibilities beyond traditional theater and dance. Xfest invites artists to teach student workshops by day and perform their craft for SIUE audiences by night. “To me, alternative means it is not a traditional form,” Xfest director Chuck Harper said. “Each group creates original work and usually has some kind of unique way of doing it. This year, we have a clown [performed by Madeleine Rowe] who does a one-woman version of Camelot.” This year, the festival brought in artists from New York, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, St. Louis and more. Some of the performers and workshop artists includKnight ed Orbital Knight Outpost: St. performer Madeline Louis AlterRowe native Dance,

SIUE theater and dance alum Ernie de Silva — who blends hip hop, comedy, music, poetry and storytelling — and Leggy Bones Physical Theatre Company. Dani Carey is a senior double majoring in psychology and theater and dance with a dance specialization. Throughout the week, Carey attended workshops to prepare for her part in the Leggy Bones Physical Theatre Company performance on Friday, Sept. 18. She learned staples of physical theater like weight sharing, lifts and counterbalancing. “[We have been] working a lot on breaking patterns,” Carey said. “Just breaking normal patterns of dancers and being on our feet and quick to think.” Giac Noelle, who uses the drag name Moxie Contin, led a drag makeup and culture workshop on Tuesday, Sept. 15. Moxie Contin hosts the drag show Midweek Microdose, performs with the Divas

of the Grove and serves as Board Director for Pride St. Louis. “I think it’s really important if you’re in the entertainment industry to know all different sectors of it, right?” Moxie Contin said. “I did go to a BFA program and musical theater program and things of that nature. A lot of times people get stuck in the bubble of where they are and what they’re doing ... It’s important to know what happens outside of this stuff.” During Moxie Contin’s workshop, she taught students about drag preparation, professionalism, local drag history, networking skills and more. The Orbital Outpost performed in the evening on Sept. 15, bringing hip hop, Butoh and krump choreography to the Metcalf Theater for a full crowd of theater and dance students and community members. “We’ve actually had two or three cases where a student saw something here that they didn’t know was a thing, and then went on to pursue that — and a couple of whom literally got hired by the companies who were there,” Harper said.

Warren Bridges holds a “Basics of DJing” workshop, teaching students ways to connect with audiences through music. | Hector Chaidez / The Alestle As an office assistant for the theater and dance department, Carey worked to get the word out on social media through the SIUE Theater and Dance Instagram, where more information and photos regarding Xfest can be found. Harper and two of his colleagues launched the festival 15 years ago. “We wanted to do something that would kind of set the department apart, make it unique,”

Harper said. “We tend to bring in people who teach things that we don’t teach, that we don’t know how to teach.” “Our audience is mostly our students. It was really important to me — I love experimental theater and alternative theater — and I just really wanted people to see and understand that experimental theater doesn’t mean weird and unpleasant,” Harper said. “It can be just as entertaining but also surprising.”

Catch up, unwind, get involved: The importance of SIUE’s ‘third spaces’ that fall under this definition, including, but not limited to the following: The Quadrangle is the physical center The term “third space” came from of SIUE. The space is open with chairs, American sociologist Ray Oldenburg to de- hammocks and ample exposure to nature scribe the places where people go to escape through the inclusion of trees and flowerfrom their responsibilities to converse and beds in and around the area. connect with one another. Depending on The Morris University Center, comwho you ask around campus, that definition monly referred to as the MUC and “the can take different shapes. heart of the SIUE campus” by the univer“[They are] really good for making us sity, has three floors with room to roam or feel like our lives are more than just school,” linger depending on student preference. freshman criminal justice student Dakota The food court is located on the bottom Ambrose said. level of this building. “[They] give staff or faculty that don’t The Student Fitness Center provides always engage with students … the chance workout equipment and resources, includto meet [them], ing a track, gymnasiums, a pool interact with and a rock climbing wall. The them [and] university also holds several social possibly even events in the space. mentor them,” The Gardens at SIUE is 36 Interactive Meacres of land that “includes a varidia Systems ety of natural areas, gardens, bridgSpecialist Chris es and student-designed sculpture Bray said. in a landscaped setting. [It has] According paved walking paths and plentiful to the Project benches located throughout, so for Public Spacfeel free to visit at your own pace.” es, third spacLovejoy Library has three stoes are defined Dakota Ambrose ries of student resources and holds as “accessible, Freshman several of SIUE’s museum exhibieveryday plac- criminal justice student tions. The library or other univeres that we go sity departments hold several social to unwind, to events in the space primarily focatch up, to feel involved in the goings-on cused on educational growth and benefits. of our neighborhood.” According to the Sophomore business marketing stuproject, they usually provide a strong con- dent Elizabeth Britt said that SIUE’s nection to the local community through options for third spaces bring variety to providing an outlet to socialize or to utilize student life. the community resources. “There are multiple places to go so The university has several locations you’re not stuck in the same spot. You can

LILY BERKENBILE reporter

“

[It’s] really good for making us feel like our lives are more than just school.”

Brody Yehling and Gage Perkins enjoy Chick-fil-A in the quad after class. | Gavin Rask / The Alestle have a change of scenery, and there are just a lot of places and choices that you can choose from,” Britt said. Third spaces are primarily meant to allow for casual socialization, according to the Project for Third Spaces, although each third space SIUE offers is tailored to fulfill other needs of the community as well. The Gardens, for example, offers people a “respite” from the hustle of a busy daily life and acts as a draw-in for students to come to SIUE outside of an academic pull. “I think it allows people to first of all breathe fresh air to interact with nature. You’ll see people out here that will find their own favorite spot,” Jerry Weinberg, volunteer for The Gardens and emeritus dean of the Graduate School, said.

SIUE’s third spaces often provide important resources and core memories for students. Senior finance student Stan Forestal has been using the gymnasium in the Student Fitness Center since his arrival to SIUE for this reason. “I remember my freshman year when we used to be here pretty late … I was just an eighteen-year-old kid running around … not really knowing what to expect,” Forestal said. “I feel like that was a way for me to bond with the guys I’m close with till this day. Being able to come in here and live those memories in a way I feel definitely helps me personally.” According to the Project for Third Spaces, “The conversations that happen in the places we visit regularly can have a tremendous impact on society.”

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Thursday, 09.24.26

— GOURMET PIZZA —

Pizzeoli Wood Fired Pizza: Knot your average pizza place DESTINY ALBRECHT lifestyles editor

Destiny Albrecht / The Alestle

Pizzeoli Wood Fired Pizza in Soulard is such a fun restaurant with a cozy atmosphere, delicious food and an impressive selection of fresh ingredients. The pizza was a little thinner than I prefer, but the amazing garlic knots and service make this a place I’d go back to. The atmosphere was probably my favorite part. There were string lights everywhere, which made the restaurant feel warm and inviting. They also played some great music, including some Italian songs, which fit the vibe perfectly. One of the coolest things I noticed was that the kitchen and wood-fired oven were out in the open, so you could actually watch the cooks make your food. All of the drinks sounded delicious, but I decided to go with the Summer Sangria, which was $13. The price wasn’t too

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bad for an alcoholic drink, but a mix of Pink fresh ingredients of ItalianDc0073 red wine, Flor de Cana White Rum, Cointreau, Orgeat, Teal 98b9ab orange and fresh berries made it worth it. Blue garlic knots I also tried the chili-kissed 6665dd topped with oregano, chili oil and served Purple with marinara sauce for $13. These were 841f7a amazing and easily my favorite thing I ordered. They were warm, fluffy and flavorful with just enough spicy kick. For my meal, I got the $25 Lumberjack Snack pizza that consisted of smoked mozzarella, bacon, pepperoni, sweet peppers and parmesan. It was good, but the dough was a little too thin and floppy for my taste — as well as expensive. The service, on the other hand, was fantastic. My waiter was incredibly kind and attentive, which made the experience even better. The desserts sounded fantastic, especially the maple-glazed cinnamon knots, but I was way too full to get any. Overall, I’d revisit this sweet pizzeria.

Dewey’s Pizza: Tasteful, local cuisine HECTOR CHAIDEZ photographer

Hector Chaidez / The Alestle

This pizza place lays low in Edwardsville but will leave you wanting more. The pizzas were cooked perfectly and tasted amazing, with many specialty options and the abilities to make your own. Though their menu was limited, they did offer some delicious salads as well. When I first entered, I was greeted by two large windows facing the kitchen. This itself enhanced my experience, as they display their workers prepping and placing them in the oven right in front of you. If you stare long enough, a guy will even throw flour at the window to catch you off guard — I jumped, completely forgetting the glass was there. Their menu was not massive, but still had a variety of options including a handful of pizza specials, build-your-own pizzas and salads. They also offered a drink menu which I too spent money on. The pizza I chose was a 14-inch buildyour-own. I basically created a meat lover’s pizza but with hot honey and paired this

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with a side caesar salad. To drink, I had a diet Coke and a glass ofPinkUno Moscato. Dc0073 Though pricing depends on the size of Teal my total was your pizza, salad and drink, just around $30 before tip.98b9ab Dewey’s shocked meBlue with how deli6665dd cious their dough was. Each taste was flaPurple vorful from my first bite to the crust. The pizza was slightly on the 841f7a flatter side, but the crust was fluffy and bouncy. If you love crust, you’ll love Dewey’s. The service was uniquely done. No actual hosts are involved and they request that you seat yourself. The interesting part was that we were helped by a multitude of people throughout our visit: one person for our drinks, one for our order and another for our check. The only problem that occurred was due to multiple people serving us, miscommunication happened and certain requests like refills took longer than expected. The restaurant itself was nicely decorated and felt very relaxing. With a few overhead lamps, the lighting felt warm and cozy. Overall, it was a great experience and I will definitely be coming back.

Roma’s Pizza in Bethalto an inviting, delicious experience DYLAN HEMBROUGH editor-in-chief

Dylan Hembrough / The Alestle

If you’re looking for a reliably great pizza experience, look no further than Roma’s Pizza in Bethalto. I was first introduced to Roma’s by the best man in my wedding and his fiancee, and it has since become a go-to double-date location for us. Every pizza restaurant has its own unique vibe, and Roma’s is no different. It feels inviting and welcoming. This time around, I came in with a party of seven around noon on Sunday, and we were greeted warmly and seated promptly. Our service was immaculate, especially considering how large our party was. Roma’s serves their drinks in very large cups, and they have plenty of appetizers to munch on before your entree. I chose the order of five bosco sticks. I love a good cheese pizza, so I ordered a 10-inch pizza for myself, but they

Orange have plenty of other options for toppings if ff5400 you like those. Their menus have a handy Pink chart showing the price ofDc0073 each size of pizza by how many toppingsTeal you request. If you’re not a pizza person,98b9ab they also have Blue choices and 10 pasta options, several salad 6665dd even chicken wings, which my wife got. Our food didn’t takePurple long to come 841f7a out, and it was all delicious. Nothing was under or overcooked, the cheese in the bosco sticks was the perfect consistency and my wife’s wings were not wanting for sauce. Our server was incredibly attentive and personable, and it was just an allaround great time. My singular complaint about Roma’s is the pricing, as it is a tad on the steep side, but I think it’s mostly worth it. Between my meal, my wife’s meal and the five bosco sticks, it came out to just under $50 before tip. In my experience, though, Roma’s lends itself well to leftovers, so in a way, you’re paying for a future meal as well. I will no doubt be going back soon.

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Alfonzo’s Pizzeria: Great prices, great pizza LILY BERKENBILE reporter

Lily Berkenbile / The Alestle

With agreeable prices, varied selection, great seating, Alfonzo’s Pizzeria should be on your list for pizza in Troy. Alfonzo’s Pizzeria looked unassuming on the outside. However, the spacious interior was inviting with its low lights and welcoming decor. I went with two of my friends, which meant I got to try a little bit of everything. I ordered the Fonzoboli, their speciality calzone, and took very shameless bites of one of my friend’s pizza slices topped with pineapple and spinach and the other friend’s pasta. What really stood out to me was the

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food’s size. For the price, itPinkalmost felt like robbery to receive such Dc0073 a massive plate Teal 98b9abof marinara with more than my fair share sauce — I barely clearedBlue half the plate. 6665dd The pizza slice was similarly massive, alPurple 841f7a though the pasta was a fairly regular portion size. Still, it was more than worth the money. Flavor-wise, my friends and I both agreed that our dishes were great — nothing life-changing, of course, but still fantastic. Ultimately, Alfonzo’s Pizza is a grand choice for a late dinner or a friendly gathering. I most enjoyed my Fonzoboli, which I tragically forgot the leftovers for at the restaurant. In honor of my egregious loss, I recommend the Fonzoboli.

Pantera’s Pizza: Pay like a pauper, eat like a king GAVIN QUINLAN managing editor

Gavin Quinlan / The Alestle

Pantera’s Pizza in Edwardsville offers a range of delicious meals and a laid-back atmosphere, and when they’re offering their all-you-can-eat buffet, you can get more than your fill for only $9.99 plus tax. The pizza was delicious, especially the Ultimeat Pizza. The breadsticks packed a flavorful punch, and the cinnamon sticks were a nice, light dessert to round the meal off. The ziti was strangely watery and lacked flavor though. I didn’t try anything from the salad bar, but it was very nicely presented. All of this was available for cheaper than a personal pizza at Paavo’s. The buffet is only available at lunchtime on every

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day except Saturday and in the evening on Pink Dc0073 so be sure Mondays through Wednesdays, to schedule around that. Teal 98b9ab The service was fast Blue and effective. A cashier came to an empty 6665dd register as soon as I approached and rangPurple me up in sec841f7a onds. Unlike some buffets, I never had to wait for something to be replenished after it ran out — employees promptly and regularly brought out new pizzas. From the old-fashioned marquee sign menu to the ‘70s rock on the radio, Pantera’s atmosphere feels like a time capsule. The wood paneling, stained glass light fixtures and hot air balloon mural add to its comfortable vibe. As one of my friends noted while we were there, its casual atmosphere makes it a great place to hang out.

Rosati’s Pizza: Large selection, even larger portions ASHTON STANBERRY copy editor

Ashton Stanberry / The Alestle

Located right off of I-270 in Pontoon Beach, Rosati’s Pizza boasts delicious, authentic Chicago-style pizza and great service. I was initially a little put off by the confusing access road to the restaurant and the construction in the area, but the building itself looked nice from the outside. The inside of the restaurant felt a lot like a sports bar, with low lighting and loud music. The workers were very nice, and the atmosphere was relaxed. Surprisingly, the restaurant wasn’t very busy for a Friday night. I was also surprised to note how many options they offered. Besides pizza, Rosati’s has a wide variety of appetizers, salads, pasta, sandwiches and much more. I would probably go back just to try an order of

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wings or one of the many appetizers. Pink To start, I got a half order of the anDc0073 tipasto salad, which was $7.29. It was very Teal good, and the half size was98b9ab a decent appetizer for two to three people. Blue 6665ddCity pizza, I ordered The Windy which had gourmet Italian sausage, fresh Purple garlic, onion and Rosati’s 841f7a hot giardiniera. The combination was a little different than I’m used to, but it was very good, and the double dough crust was especially delicious. I got a 12-inch pizza, which was $21.99 and was more than enough for two people. The Zeppole — fried dough covered with powdered sugar and Nutella on the side — were delicious as well, and the size of the portion was way more than I expected but made me feel better about the price of $10.99 All in all, the food here wasn’t cheap, but to their credit, Rosati’s also doesn’t cheap out on portion sizes.

Peel Edwardsville wood-fires flavorful pizza Orange

AUDREY O’RENIC sports editor

Audrey O’Renic / The Alestle

Edwardsville’s Peel Wood Fired Pizza offers a wide selection of fresh, wood-fired pizzas in a bustling dining atmosphere. I went on a Thursday evening, and despite the place being packed, I was able to be seated next to the bar. The restaurant is large, and the noise of the many people and TVs was a little overwhelming. Our server was friendly, though, and even went the extra mile to recommend his favorite flavor combinations. Peel has a wide variety of unique pizza flavors, including Bacon Pickle and Maple Bourbon Pork. Pizzas are cooked in a Mugnaini-built wood-burning oven that gives the crust its signature charred bubbles. I ordered a classic Margherita pizza

ff5400 for $17, not including tax or tip. In adPink dition to pizza, Peel offers salads, wings, Dc0073 sandwiches, pastas, soups and more. Teal 98b9ab We got our food relatively quickly considering how busy itBlue was. The piz6665dd za itself tasted incrediblePurple — the tomato sauce was sweet, the basil841f7a was fresh and the creamy texture of the mozzarella tied everything together. Unfortunately, all of the toppings and sauce slid straight off when I tried to pick up a slice. There were no napkins at the table, so I had to wait until the server came back to ask. It took long enough that I ended up finishing my food before getting napkins or a refill of my drink. I would definitely visit Peel again, but I recommend going on a day that’s less busy or even visiting one of their other locations in O’Fallon and Clayton, Missouri.

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What does your major sound like? DESTINY ALBRECHT lifestyles editor We asked SIUE students what songs best represent their majors. From classic rock to R&B, these students had plenty of ideas about what their field of study sounds like.

“Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” Tears for Fears — Mass Communications A little dramatic? Maybe. But the song’s dreamy pop sound gives the major a creative, unpredictable energy where no two days — or assignments — are quite the same.

“Back in Black,” AC/DC — Engineering The heavy guitars and opening riff

give the major a more intense, dedicated energy that keeps students up until 2 a.m. figuring out how to make something work.

“Training Season,” Dua Lipa — Exercise Science With its energetic beat and title that sounds like it belongs on a gym playlist, it’s the kind of song that can make walking across campus to class feel like part of your workout.

“Mr. Brightside,” The Killers — Business One student in the major described business as the “default” or “basic” major, so you can’t go wrong with a song that everyone knows. “Mr. Brightside” is almost guaranteed to make an appearance

at a party once the night gets going.

“Don’t Stop Believin’,” Journey — Speech Pathology Speech pathology gets a little classic rock optimism with Journey’s inspirational anthem, bringing an upbeat energy to the major.

“How to Save a Life,” The Fray — Nursing It’s emotional, dramatic and matches the energy of a major where students study until their brains can’t take it anymore — all to save lives.

“The River of Dreams,” Billy Joel — Anthropology Giving anthropology a more reflective feel, “The River of Dreams” sounds

like the kind of song that makes you stop and think about the big, life-defining questions.

“São Paulo,” The Weeknd feat. Anitta — Accounting The energetic collaboration in this song is about as far from the stereotypical image of spreadsheets and calculators as you can get, giving accounting students a soundtrack that might help them stay locked in on assignments.

“Welcome to the Party,” PARTYNEXTDOOR — Biology This smooth R&B track brings a relaxed, late-night energy to biology, giving the major a more effortless vibe than its typical lab-filled reputation.

A mental health resource refresher in honor of Suicide Awareness Month ASHTON STANBERRY copy editor September is Suicide Awareness Month, and talking about it, spreading awareness and having empathy toward those who may be struggling is important. If you have dealt with or are dealing with mental health struggles, you don’t have to tackle them alone. Here are a few resources that can provide you with the tools to help you or anyone you know who might be struggling.

The Illinois Warm Line (866359-7953) is available 8 a.m. to 8 p.m Monday through Saturday. and is staffed by professionals who have personally had mental health struggles before. The Compassionate Ear Warm Line in Missouri (866-927-6327) is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The Trevor Project, a suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization, acts as a hotline (866-488-7386) but also has counseling and other resources available on their website.

Have a safety network

LOOK INTO SIUE resources

The most important thing to do if you are at risk of a mental health crisis is to have a plan before you need to utilize it. Know the people you can trust and who you can call in an emergency. It’s a good idea to talk to those people and make sure they know what to look out for and what you might need if the situation arises.

DEVELOP Coping strategies It can also be helpful to have some coping strategies available in order to manage stress or mental health issues before they turn into a crisis. Some popular options include grounding activities like counting backwards, describing your surroundings or playing mental games, but anything that keeps your focus on the here-andnow can provide distraction and keep distress at bay.

TAKE NOTE OF Important phone numbers In a situation of emergency, calling a hotline might be the right thing to do. The Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which you can reach by calling or texting 988, is free, confidential, and open 24 hours every day. The Crisis Text Line (741741) is another option that relies on volunteer counselors. Warm lines are also a great resource for those not in active crisis but still in need of support.

SIUE has several resources available on campus, as well as online resources specifically for students. SIUE Counseling and Health Services is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays in the Student Success Center. Appointments and walkins for counseling are available, and their phone number is 618-650-2842. The ACCESS office, also located in the SSC, can be helpful in providing accommodations if your mental health significantly impairs the way you’re able to complete your coursework. ACCESS accepts appointments made online. The Counseling Services’ Outreach and Prevention Resource Library, located on Blackboard under the “Organizations” tab, also has an extensive and comprehensive list of resources. These resources, some SIUE-specific and some more general, are organized into labeled folders. Most professors also include SIUE mental health and academic support resources in their syllabus as well.

TRY Counseling and therapy Going to therapy might sound daunting, but it can be very helpful in many cases. In addition to in-person therapy, there are increasingly more online services available. TimelyCare is one example of a virtual counseling service and is free for SIUE students.

Mental health support groups can also be helpful by reminding you that you aren’t alone and providing you with a space to share your experiences and struggles with peers that understand. You can find support groups that meet in person or join a space online.

You matter Dealing with mental health struggles is hard, and getting help can sometimes feel harder. But asking for help is never a bad thing, and your well-being is worth it. You are not alone doesn’t just mean that there are people who have gone through the same thing. There are people who care for you and would love to help. The first step is reaching out.

An Important Message About Gas Safety Natural gas is delivered to the university from Ameren IP through an underground piping system. It is used to provide fuel for clean, efficient heat to all campus buildings and residence halls. It is also used for hot water and food preparation. Overview of Hazards of Pipeline and Prevention Measures Used The hazards associated with the pipeline include fires, explosions, leakage, damage to the facility and loss of service. In order to prevent these incidents, the pipeline is maintaned and inspected according to state and federal regulations. Facilities employees receive ongoing training to ensure the continued safe transport of natural gas to the campus. In order to prevent damaage to the pipeline due to construction excavations, SIUE participates in the one-call system knows as JULIE. Within 2 days of a call for a planned excavation, SIUE will mark the location of underground gas as well as other utility lines. Recognizing and Responding to Gas Leaks Pure natural gas is colorless and odorless. Before gas is delivered to the SIUE campus, an odorant called mercaptan is added to give gas its distinctive odor so you can smell a leak immediately. The odorant makes the gas smell like sulphur or rotten eggs. If you smell a faint odor in any campus building, notify Facilities Management at 618-650-3711. If the gas odor is strong and/or you hear a hissing or leaking sound, you should leave the building immediately. I

If the odor is strong: • Do not use telephones, cell phones, computers or elevators. • Do not smoke, use a lighter, match or open flame. • Do not operate vehicles near where the leaking gas could be. • Do not re-eenter the building to retrieve personal effects. If you smell a strong gas smell in the air outside or you see or hear unusual occurrences such as: high-pitched whistle or hissing sound, blowing dust, dead vegetation in a normally green area or ground fires, you may be observing signs of a leak in a natural gas line. Always use caution near an outdoor gas leak and recognize the possible hazards such as fire, ignition or explosion. In these conditions: • Do not use any device or equipment that may generate a spark or flame. • Do not start up or shut down motor vehicles or electrical equipment. • Do not use a telephone or cell phone in or near the area.

THE ALESTLE WILL PUBLISH ONLINE 10/8.

OPINION alestlelive.com

PAGE 9

Share your thoughts: opinion@alestlelive.com (618) 650-3527

Thursday, 09.24.26

DYLAN HEMBROUGH Editor-in-Chief

GAVIN QUINLAN Managing Editor

DESTINY ALBRECHT Lifestyles Editor AUDREY O’RENIC Sports Editor

JAIYLA OWENS Online Editor MADISON STEFFEN Opinion Editor

GAVIN RASK Multimedia Editor

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SAM MUREN Podcast Producer

CHLOE WOLFE Video News Producer

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The editors, staff and publishers of The Alestle believe in the free exchange of ideas, concerns and opinions and will publish as many letters as possible. Letters may be submitted to: The Alestle Morris University Center Room 0311 All hard copy letters should be typed and double-spaced. Letters should be no longer than 500 words. Include phone number, signature, class rank and major. We reserve the right to edit the letter for grammar and content. Care will be taken to ensure that the letter’s message is not lost or altered. Letters to the editor will not be printed anonymously except under extreme circumstances. We reserve the right to reject letters.

The name Alestle is an acronym derived from the names of the three campus locations of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville: Alton, East St. Louis and Edwardsville. The Alestle is published bi-weekly, alternating between print and online-exclusive issues during the fall, spring and summer semesters. Publication dates in summer are on Wednesdays. For more information, call 618-650-3527 For advertising, email advertising@alestlelive.com

THE ALESTLE STAFF editorial board Finding the joy in the little things in life can provide peace of mind away from the noise. Take a moment for yourself to breathe, relax and feel the moment. In recent years, it’s gotten increasingly easier to get distracted, whether it be by the busyness of our thoughts or by all of the easily accessible screens tearing our attention from the world around us and negatively affecting overall mental well-being. Taking a moment for yourself can be extremely important. It helps you connect with the

world around you. Disconnecting from devices and responsibilities helps to simplify and enjoy the calm moments in life. Exploring the outdoors can be a great way to see and experience the small things you may take for granted, improve your mental health, de-stress and improve your overall mood. Spending time outside can positively affect your overall quality of life. A beautiful sunset with a quiet, comforting breeze, the smell of fresh air — these moments may be small and happen all the time, but all of these things are worth taking in. They make life all the more rich and beautiful — mo-

Enjoying the little things can brighten your day ments that feel like a warm embrace, like the laughter of a close friend or like a smile — should be cherished. These moments can make life all the more wonderful to experience and bring a special sort of happiness to your day. Enjoying these little moments can also benefit you in a scientific capacity. It can help you in the long-term physiologically by regulating vagal tone, which in turn regulates the body’s heart rate, breathing, and other processes part of the body’s autopilot system. It can also help with mental health, self-regulation and general well-being. It helps to slow down and truly see the

world in a way that you may not be used to. Enjoying the small things in life comes in a variety of ways: collecting a favorite object, or finding little trinkets you like, and trying a new food or drink — or going back to an old favorite to brighten your day. You could go to a new shop you’ve never been to, or go to a bookstore or library just for fun. Even just spending a quiet moment with a friend can help bring a new appreciation to life. Parts of life that could be seen as small moments can be some of the happiest, most beautiful moments in your day.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Kansas student paper stands with The Alestle in admin conflict Editor’s Note: In their editorial, The Washburn Review initially reported that Director of Communications Nicole Franklin had recorded an interview in secret. The Alestle reached out to The Washburn Review to request a correction before running this letter, as Franklin did not actually secretly record any interviews. When a university crosses a line, the line gets pushed until it dissolves entirely. This is what happened to The Alestle, the student-run news organization at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. According to the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, a reporter for The Alestle was reported to university police for harassment, simply for defending the first amendment. To quote the reporter’s email that was reported to the police

as harassment, “Marketing and words have truth or simply echo Communications’ insistence on the university’s perspective. interfering with our newsgatherThe problem continues ing process is dangerous and det- deeper with the university directrimental to both press freedom ly criticizing and undermining and freedom of speech.” the credibility of The Alestle in The Washburn Review stands a university-wide email that was with The Alesalso submitted tle. A universias a letter to the ty should not editor to The put up walls Alestle. The Washburn to control P a u l a the narrative, Review stands with Bridges, ex-exdemanding ecutive director The Alestle. a public relaof University tions represenMarketing and Washburn Student Media tative be in all Communicainterviews. tions at SIUE, Once a public relations officalled The Alcial is in the room, a source can estle’s reporting on the issue, become nervous. A student re- “fiction presented as facts” in her porter can become uncomfort- email. However, emails prove that able. Both reporter and source Nicole Franklin, SIUE’s director begin to censor themselves, of communications, said that she creating a chilling atmosphere would not allow an interview to that surrounds it all. A reader’s occur without her in the room. thoughts transform from reading Damaging a reputation, rethe news to questioning if the porting a student to campus po-

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lice and actively attempting to censor the press while claiming otherwise harms The Alestle, the campus community and the university itself. SIUE should protect The Alestle. Campus news organizations can help incoming students decide where they want to spend the next years of their lives–the place of education they add to their resumes, the place where they proudly wear sweatshirts and buy bumper stickers. We don’t know about you, but a university that bars free speech and censors the press doesn’t sound like a university worth showing off on sweatshirts or bumper stickers. Want to tell SIUE to stop interfering with student journalism? Fill out this form from FIRE.

WASHBURN STUDENT MEDIA TOPEKA, KANSAS

Thursday, 09.24.26

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COUNTERPOINT: Information POINT: Information is truth, and truth is power may be power, but with DYLAN HEMBROUGH editor-in-chief

of brevity. Nobody would read one of Minor’s emails if it was 10,000 words long and included budget charts — that’s what the Ever since the internet became acces- Board of Trustees agendas are for. It does sible to the masses, information has never matter, however, how that information is been easier to access. Some may say it’s too presented and if one side of the narrative is easy to access and thus detrimental, but I outshining the other. disagree. Everyone, everywhere, should be I have been pleasantly surprised at how able to find out what’s going on in their well students on this campus are informed world at a moment’s notice. about what’s happening in university leadInformation is absolutely critical to ership. This is the reason change happens a functioning society. With very few ex- — not because Marketing films the chanceptions, any limit on information access cellor talking to a couple of students, but opens the door to a curated narrative. A because hundreds of students make their properly objective and informative piece of voices heard through discussion, petition media should offer all relevant sources to a and protest after reading about what’s really reader — hence why we attribute and link going on. our sources. But, there is a downside to this. The Being able to know what is happening counterpoint makes the argument that the in the world around you enables you to take unfettered access to information we have action. Many fundamental rights rely on the today can be detrimental to mental health. right to information. How could you take I’ll concede that point. It’s true, and there’s to the streets in protest if you don’t know no good argument against it. But knowing what to protest? How could you circulate a this is half the battle, and combating those petition if you don’t know challenges is possible, what to petition against? even if it is difficult. How could the press inDoomscrolling is form the people if it can’t the result of an intenget ahold of information Information is tionally-designed algoin the first place? rithm to keep your atInformation limita- absolutely critical tention on your screen. tion leads to an unin- to a functioning I would argue that this formed citizenry. There algorithm is not repreare only two ways an un- society. sentative of the idea of informed citizen is capa- Dylan Hembrough unlimited information ble of taking meaningful Editor-in-Chief access. Social media alaction — either because of gorithms keep your atinformed citizens around tention either by feeding them, or because they have been told how to you content it knows you like or content it act via a curated narrative with purposefully knows will make you angry — both fueled limited information. by engagement. You can see the effects of a curated You can probably see this effect in your narrative on this very campus. Take SIUE’s own social media feed. I certainly do — I record-high enrollment and recent raises, get a lot of stupid cat videos because I think for example. Chancellor James T. Minor they’re adorable, so I engage positively with recently wrote to the university that we that content by liking it or sending it to my shattered our own records for enrollment, wife. I also get a decent amount of left-leanwhich helped the Board of Trustees approve ing political and social justice content, bea 3 percent raise for non-union-represented cause I engage positively with that content employees. This is all true, and on paper is as well. However, I also get a lot of far-right very impressive. propaganda and Christian fundamentalist What Minor didn’t tell you is that SIUE content, even though I only engage with is facing massive pressures from this surge these posts by hitting “not interested” and in enrollment. First-year students are being moving on. housed in makeshift dorms that were study That might seem like unlimited inforlounges last year, or even in the Cougar mation access, but it really isn’t. It’s a verVillage apartments. The lines in the Dining sion of the curated worldview that limits on Hall are ridiculously long, to the point that information inevitably result in. Sure, you some have given up trying to get food there can search for pretty much whatever you altogether, and the Dining Hall is also criti- want, but social media and search engine cally understaffed at the same time. algorithms are not set up to objectively inBut that doesn’t make SIUE look good, form you. You often have to fight through and that’s why news is often perceived as slop to get to anything worth consuming, negative. Ethical news presents all sides of and with artificial intelligence on the rise, a story, but when only one side is airing the that slop pile is growing exponentially. It’s negative effects of a decision, it’s easy to getting more and more difficult to do your call it negative by comparison. And, unfor- own research, and the more distracted you tunately, some news is unethical and cares are, the less you’ll know about what’s really more about engagement than information. going on. To a point, you can’t blame someone Information is truth, and truth for omitting some information for the sake is power.

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power comes responsibility obligation to check those facts. “News” is often just gossip. Now, I won’t discredit gossip entirely. While access to information sounds Every one of us partakes in it to a certain like a deal worth taking, the technology of extent, and I would even argue that it’s an today’s society makes instant access more important part of a functioning democracy detrimental than empowering. Having ac- critical of those in power. But taking news cess to relevant news might be a good thing “with a grain of salt” is inherent when you in a perfect world, but we don’t always get know what you’re seeing is just a rumor, to decide when that news appears, where it and often social media blurs that line until comes from or how accurate and relevant we forget it was ever there in the first place. Because of this issue, I would argue it is. It’s not exactly a secret that instant that consumers of information via social access to information — especially when media have a duty to do their own research. it comes in the form of an attention-grab- Cross-examine that TikTok headline with a bing headline on social media — is bad for real article from a credible news source. The our mental health. Social media and mental issue is, doing that feels to us like it defeats health are two deeply intertwined things in the purpose of “instant access.” We know we might not be consuming 100 percent our society. News, by definition, is unpredictable. accurate information, but switching apps to Sometimes the top headline of the day is an double-check isn’t worth it when our anxiunexpected scientific breakthrough that will ety can be soothed by the adorable cat video help millions of people, and sometimes it’s we know sits just below in the algorithm. In a fundamentally selfish society, peoa war your country has declared on another ple are already incredibly susceptible to while you were sleeping. This unpredictability can understand- things like confirmation bias and guardably cause stress, especially when as the ing against opposing viewpoints on issues they feel strongly about. viewer, we feel as though Social media and the we have little control over internet are algorithmiwhat happens. But tradically built to facilitate tionally, digesting the news echo chambers and end has always required one key Digesting the up enabling this practice choice: tuning in. The men- news has always so much that it pushtal shift required to change es people into extremthe radio station or stop required one key ist versions of their own the TV channel on CNN is choice: tuning in. pre-existing beliefs. necessary to be prepared to Ashton Stanberry Our society is built process news. off of discourse, which With the increasing use Copy Editor relies on sharing our of social media to spread news, consumers don’t always — in fact, thoughts with others, hearing their perspecrarely — get that choice. The resulting tives and, occasionally, changing our minds. emotional whiplash is constant. It condi- Consistent validation of our beliefs by the tions the viewer to live in a state of anxiety only sources we allow to enter our feed erases that essential ability. and exacerbates feelings of hopelessness. The instantaneousness of social media Another downside of social media news is that it’s intentionally designed to grab at- news conditions us to be more reactionary. I don’t believe that finding out about news tention and dissuade verification. When news outlets post breaking news, quickly is inherently bad. Of course, being the reader can be sure that that news, no an informed citizen is incredibly important, matter which form it comes in, has gone and part of that means being informed on through numerous people and has been time rather than a week later when the news rigorously fact-checked. This is true for finally makes it to you. But the combination of the undeniably organizations from us here at The Alestle to reporters at The New York Times. Oc- horrific state of our world and the way news casionally, details might slip through the is presented online results in a key drawcracks, but all in all, journalists are trained back, which is that news is inescapable. So much of it exists all of the time. to uphold their duty to truth. I don’t think deleting TikTok and only The result is that sometimes “breaking” news isn’t published as soon as it oc- checking the major news outlets is going to curs. Sometimes it comes a day later with all change that fact, but having access to all of of the substantiation it needs to hold true, the news all at once definitely lessens the and sometimes it comes bit by bit in the impact of the news we see. News is important — we here at the form of updates — all equally scrutinized. When posting jarring headlines online, newspaper know that better than anyone. the poster, with no such journalistic integ- I’m not arguing for less information, just rity and instead a hunger for views, has no more intentionality.

ASHTON STANBERRY copy editor

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Save the press, save the people

DYLAN HEMBROUGH editor-in-chief Last week, President Donald Trump took the jaw-dropping action of banning CNN, Politico and MS NOW from the White House, calling their reporting “fiction and lies” with no evidence. Regardless of how one person feels about negativity in the news, it is crucial to an informed and actionable populace. According to the Associated Press, when asked to explain his statement, the president resorted to his old tactics: calling all unfavorable reporting of him “fake news,” threatening more news organizations and voicing his desire for an

“honest” press. Honest news should be the standard, but “honest” means something different to Trump than it does to the media. “Honest,” to most people, means “truthful” and “accurate.” To leaders like Trump, it simply means “favorable to me” — and now we have our own state-run media to portray the president as he sees fit. According to PBS, reporters from those outlets have already been denied access to the White House and the president. All three outlets released statements shortly afterward defending their fundamental and constitutional right to report the truth. “The White House belongs

to the American people and the decisions made inside are funded by our tax dollars,” MS NOW said in their statement, according to NPR. “MS NOW intends to take any and all steps necessary to defend our First Amendment rights and the essential role of independent journalism in our democracy.” And that’s what you want to see in a functioning press — persistence and perseverance, especially in the face of resistance. A free press is absolutely vital to a free people. Press freedom is, in many ways, a prerequisite for our other fundamental freedoms. You can’t protest or petition an administrative decision without

knowing what’s going on, after all. And when action is taken to silence those who dare speak up, it’s the press that alerts everyone else. Calling out the press for inaccuracies is one thing. Baselessly discrediting the press because you don’t like what they’re reporting is another. And the people who disparage the press with little to no evidence are often those with the most to hide. I discussed the “do now, ask later” mindset of this administration in my last column, and unfortunately, it is just as applicable here. These reporters have been barred effective immediately, and while a decision like this will surely make its way through the courts,

the wheels of justice turn agonizingly slowly for those with the money to clog them up. Thankfully, Trump has not tried something as ridiculous as siccing law enforcement on the press quite yet. A move like that would generate enormous backlash, and rightfully so. But when corrupt leaders are desperate for a distraction, they start making irrational moves. We as a society must keep an eye out for this and respond accordingly by making our voices heard. And nothing is more important in making our voices heard than the First Amendment.

contact the editor: sports@alestlelive.com (618) 650-3528 Thursday, 09.24.26

sports alestlelive.com

THE ALESTLE WILL PUBLISH ONLINE 10/8. PAGE 11

Cross country returns home after seven years JOYCE WOODARD reporter

Cross country hosted the Cougar XC Challenge on Friday, Sept. 18, marking their first home meet in seven years. The women’s team placed second out of four teams. Because the men’s team only had three runners, they did not qualify for a team score. The women’s cross country team ran a 5k while the men’s team ran an 8k. SIUE opened the season with a meet at Southeast Missouri State University, where both the men’s and women’s teams placed in second. The Cougars competed against University of Tennessee at Martin, Missouri Baptist University and Chicago State University. Junior Erica Woodard finished in third for the women’s 5k at 19:38.3 despite the uncomfortably hot weather. “I’m pretty happy with it, considering the conditions and everything,” Woodard said. Head coach Marcus Evans was also happy to see the outcome of the meet. “It’s really tough conditions with the heat,” Evans said. “We’re really happy with how the result came out, especially on the women’s side.” SIUE had not hosted a home cross country meet since the John Flamer Invitational in 2019. Woodard said this meet was particularly special to her. “I was super excited, because this is the first time we’ve

had a home meet in a really long time,” Woodard said. “It’s awesome to be able to represent the 66ers as well.” While the men’s team couldn’t place a team score, junior Jack Willenborg placed seventh with a time of 27:34.8 for the 8k. The men’s team knew the challenge they were facing from missing so many runners. “We were kind of limited on our guys, so I really just wanted to come out here and give my best showing and try to represent us the best way I could,” Willenborg said. Other than Willenborg, only two other members of the men’s team ran. Sophomore Aaron Conderman ranked in at 11th and freshman AJ Ince finished in 15th. “Only a few [men] ran today, just trying to make sure we’re staying healthy,” Evans said. “I thought it was a really good result for the guys who ran.” According to Evans, the home meet has prepared the men’s and women’s teams for the other courses throughout the season. “This is probably the toughest course we’ll run all year, so I think it sets us up to know that we can run a really tough course and do a slightly easier or flatter course,” Evans said. The Cougars’ next meet will be the Nike XC Town Twilight starting at 6:00 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, at Indiana State University.

Freshman Sophia Ramirez takes the SIUE Cross Country Course in the first race of her college career during the Cougar XC Challenge on Friday. | Hector Chaidez / The Alestle

Sophomore Aaron Conderman ranked 11th in the men’s 8k.

| Hector Chaidez / The Alestle

COUGAR COMMON GROUND: Outdoor Adventure Club gives students chance to explore beyond campus DESTINY ALBRECHT lifestyles editor Starting off the semester strong, the Outdoor Adventure Club has spent their time taking students beyond campus with activities ranging from a 10-mile kayaking trip on the Meramec River to camping,

hiking, fishing and zip lining. The club plans trips throughout the semester, along with smaller events such as biking, disc golf and badminton on campus. According to senior computer science student and current President Hayden Shubert, the club focuses exclusively on outdoor activities.

Members of the Outdoor Adventure Club hike at Pere Marquette State Park. | Courtesy of Hayden Shubert

The club’s most recent outing was a 10-mile float trip on the Meramec River, where 17 members went kayaking. Shubert said nearly half of the students who attended were interested freshmen. When officers tabled at SIUE Late Night with Campus Recreation on Aug. 28, Shubert said about 30 freshmen signed up to get updates on upcoming events the club was to host — bringing in many students who are brand new to the organization. Shubert joined the Outdoor Adventure Club last year after finding it through Get Involved, which has been replaced by Engage. He said being around people who enjoy being outdoors is one of the reasons he continues to participate. The club uses funding from Club Sports to help lower the cost of outings. Members coordinate carpools before trips, allowing students to join even if they don’t have access to transportation — which has been an important part of the club for

dental medicine graduate student and former officer Campbell Beeler, who didn’t have a car for much of her undergraduate years and relied on other members for rides. Beeler first learned about the club during her freshman year after a friend gave her a flyer advertising its events. She later became an officer who helped organize activities for the club. During her time as an officer, Beeler said the club planned at least one larger trip each month, with some months having two. Activities included “ice skating, cave tours, various volunteering [opportunities], hikes, camping, zip lining, paintball, [going to the] zoo, kayaking, skiing and snowboarding, [observing] Christmas light displays and ropes courses.” Camping has become one of Shubert’s favorite pastimes. He said the trips generally run from Friday through Sunday with members spending time around a campfire, sleeping in tents, hiking and exploring the area around the campsite.

Members also sometimes bring yard games and prepare food together. Shubert said a camping trip he participated in last year was his favorite, as the group watched an unexpected shooting star show. The Outdoor Adventure Club’s upcoming activity list includes zip lining, camping at Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park, hiking and fishing at Beaver Dam State Park, a Little Grand Canyon hike and possibly ice skating later in the year. Beeler said she hopes more students learn about the club and find people they enjoy exploring nature with. “I think that learning the landscape around you helps to stay connected in the community,” Beeler said. “I feel like we should be taking in its beauty intentionally.” Students interested in joining the Outdoor Adventure Club can find the club through Engage and access its Discord, where members can receive announcements about upcoming events.

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Men’s soccer defeats Webster 3-0 in final nonconference match of season AUDREY O’RENIC sports editor

Men’s soccer swept Webster University 3-0 in the final nonconference game of the season last Sunday at Ralph Korte Stadium. SIUE set the tone at the 18-minute-mark when junior midfielder Anthony Faupel sent the ball across the box to junior forward Ryley Gibbs, who knocked it over the goalkeeper and into the net. “That one got us on the board. It was super important,” head coach Cale Wassermann said. “Really happy for Ryley to punch that in. Ryley’s been one of our hardest workers. So, I’m glad to see him getting rewarded with a couple goals to give him confidence in the attack.” The second goal came just nine minutes later when senior defender Archie McDonnell headed in a shot attempt by junior defender Anton Mosley. “[The goal] feels really good, especially at home,” McDonnell said. “I’d seen [the ball] bounce over, and I thought, ‘I’m gonna try to get my head on it. I hope it goes in the back of the net.’” McDonnell secured his second collegiate goal that night. His first one was the sole goal for the Cougars in the previous game against Bradley University on Sept. 16.

“Archie scored his first goal last week from center back,” Wassermann said. “It was a volley tonight, obviously a little bit easier to tap into, but still an important moment for us to go up two to nothing.” With a 2-0 lead entering into the second half, junior midfielder Dominic Bartoni continued the momentum with a shot to the back post at the 54-minute-mark, securing the final 3-0 victory for SIUE. The Cougars outshot the Gorloks 17-8 and limited their opponents to zero shots in the second half. “We made some midfield overloads with an extra [player] in midfield, and I think that just helped us get into their attack a little more consistently, which then in turn prevented them from getting near our goal as much as they did in the first half,” Wassermann said. SIUE ends its nonconference season 2-4-1. Wassermann said the seven games are important as they allow the team to focus on the small margins and show depth by subbing. Wassermann said Mosley is an example of this depth, taking the field in his first career start and earning his first career assist. “We gave him some opportunities off the bench in the past, and he played about

Ryley Gibbs scores the first goal of the night to kick off SIUE’s 3-0 victory against Webster University on Sept. 20. | Gavin Rask / The Alestle 60 minutes off the bench last game,” Wassermann said. “So tonight, we wanted to try him as a starter, and [junior defender] Robbie Spain, who was our normal starter, came off the

bench tonight and they both did really well with their minutes. I’m really happy for Anton to start, but even more happy for him to perform well and help us get a clean sheet.”

The Cougars will begin OVC play as the 66ers in the homecoming matchup against Southern Indiana University 7 p.m. Saturday, at Ralph Korte Stadium.

OPINION: Women’s sports becomes backdrop for sexualization once again with Sydney Sweeney ad DESTINY ALBRECHT lifestyles editor Sydney Sweeney’s new advertisement for sports prediction company Novig has drawn criticism from female athletes who argue it sexualizes women in sports. While Sweeney has defended the campaign, justifying her actions with the fact that female athletes have done it before, the ad sends the wrong message at a time when women are still fighting to be recognized for their athletic ability. The advertisement, released Sept. 9, features Sweeney with little to no clothing while athletic equipment covers parts of her body as she pretends to play several different sports. The campaign quickly went viral, receiving more than 22 million views in its first two days. The issue is not Sweeney’s decision to embrace her body or sexuality. Women should be able to make their own choices regarding their bodies without them being treated as a problem. The issue is more so the question of why sexuality needed to be the central focus of an advertisement for a sports betting company in the first place. Novig’s campaign was specifically designed to emphasize

that it’s the best sports betting app compared to competitors. Sweeney herself said the concept was to “cut through the noise and put the focus entirely on sports.” But the ad doesn’t meaningfully demonstrate any kind of athleticism or explain what the app does or how it works. Instead, sports equipment became a collection of props used to promote Sweeney’s body. She poses with footballs, “plays” tennis and swings a golf club, but the focus remains entirely on her appearance. The distinction matters when recognizing that women in sports have spent decades working to be acknowledged for what they can do rather than how they look doing it. Female athletes train for years to develop strength, endurance, coordination and skill — just like male athletes — yet they have also had to deal with coverage and marketing that emphasizes their appearance and sexuality, as if that’s the only reason spectators should be interested in watching them perform. Four-time Olympic gold medalist swimmer Ariarne Titmus called the advertisement “infuriating” and said that it was a “kick in the face to every woman who had dedicated her life to perfecting her craft.”

English sprinter Amy Hunt responded as well, sharing her competing time of 21.4 seconds at the World Athletics Ultimate Championships in an interview with BBC and stating, “This is what women in sport look like … muscles, hard work, blood, sweat and tears.” Among many other female athletes’ reactions, social media has taken the ad and turned it into a trend that celebrates women in sports. There is a difference between celebrating an athlete’s body as part of athletic achievement and using a sexualized image to attract attention to a product that has nothing to do with sex. That raises the simple question of why Sweeney needed to be nearly naked for an ad about sports betting in the first place. Nothing about sports prediction requires nudity. Sweeney could have been fully clothed, acting as if she is participating in a sport or explaining how Novig works. The company could have featured a professional athlete competing in their sport or wearing their uniform. There were countless ways to connect the advertisement to sports without making Sweeney’s body the central selling point. Not to mention, there is also the question of where an ad like this can appear and who can

see it. Because the campaign was distributed online and circulated widely through social media, younger viewers could encounter the sexualized advertisement while watching content on platforms such as YouTube. The concern also fits into a much larger pattern in advertising and media, where women’s bodies have been used to draw attention to products that have little to nothing to do with sexuality. If it was relevant to the product being sold, the controversy wouldn’t be as stark. If Sweeney had been promoting lingerie, for example, her appearance would have an obvious connection to the product. Sports prediction doesn’t, so her being nude has no bearing on whether someone understands or uses Novig. Northeastern University Assistant Communications Studies Professor Stephen Warren argued that the controversy itself may have been part of the campaign’s strategy. He described the approach as an “instigating troll” tactic, suggesting the company made the obscene ad to get people talking about it. The campaign’s enormous reach certainly demonstrates that the strategy worked. Attention, however, is not the same thing as a meaningful connection between an ad and

the product it’s selling. A campaign can succeed at going viral while still sending an important message to its audience — one of substance. Sweeney isn’t just the face of the campaign, but an equity partner and creative director in Novig who had significant involvement in shaping the campaign’s music, camera angles, shot coverage and script revisions. She defended the advertisement by pointing out nude photographs of professional athletes. But the context remains the most important. A good example to observe would be ESPN’s “The Body Issue,” as it does include nude athletes, but the entire point centers around a larger discussion of athleticism and the power, diversity and beauty of the human form. The Novig ad uses the body as a way to sell. Those are fundamentally different purposes, even if both involve nudity. Women have spent decades fighting to be seen for their strength, skill and accomplishments rather than the attractiveness of their appearances. To turn around and make the body the most marketable part of a woman’s connection to sports is not progress — it’s the same old message dressed up as something new.