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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2025

Poshard reads poetry, page 3

Beauty shop hits milestone, page 9

VOL. 109, ISSUE 7

Getting muddy in Murphy, page 11

‘Recreating the atmosphere’: Halloween festival aims to bring back Carbondale spirit ANNALISE SCHMIDT ASCHMIDT@DAILYEGYPTIAN.COM

Carbondale will shut down the Strip on Oct. 24 for the Halloween Homecoming Music Street Festival, a celebration that brings together two of the city’s biggest traditions: SIU Homecoming and Halloween. The free, family-friendly event runs from 3 to 10 p.m. and features live music on two stages, food trucks, vendors, carnival games and a community-wide costume contest. Halloween celebrations in Carbondale have long been a defining part of the

city’s identity, though they’ve also been controversial. From the late 1970s through the 1990s, thousands of people crowded Illinois Avenue each year for parties, parades and concerts, often overwhelming police and city officials. By the early 2000s, ordinances restricting alcohol sales on Halloween weekend slowed the tradition, but the memories of packed streets and festival-like atmosphere remained. With The Strip being shut down for Halloween festivities for the first time since 1996, organizers said they hope this

year’s combined event will recapture some of that energy in a more communitycentered way. Headlining the night is St. Louisbased ska-punk-alt-rock group The Urge, known for their 1990s hits like “Jump Right In.” Also taking the main stage is Keller Williams Presents DeadPettyKellerGrass, a genre-bending project that reworks Grateful Dead and Tom Petty classics with bluegrass instrumentation. The parking lot stage will feature HALLOWEEN | 3

SIU Star Party brings the cosmos to the community

Ben Hozie, Adam See, and Adam Shumski (left to right), from Bodega, play for a live audience Sept. 26 2025 at Hangar 9 in Carbondale, Illinois. Daylin Williams|@photosbydaylin

Post-punk band Bodega rocks Carbondale Gives philosophy lecture at SIU, caps off global tour at Hangar 9

BRAYDEN GUY GUY@DAILYEGYPTIAN.COM

A man looks into a telescope as the sun sets Sept. 27, 2025 at the Southern Illinois Star Party in Carbondale, Illinois. Riley Sembler | @riley_sembler TREVOR JOHN TJOHN@DAILYEGYPTIAN.COM

On the evening of Sept. 27, more than 400 people — a mix of students, families and seasoned astronomers — gathered at the sprawling fields of the SIU Farms to share a view of the cosmos under the moonlit sky during the annual SIU Star Party. For some, like SIU Philosophy Professor Randall Auxier, such an event held a significance that went beyond simply looking through telescopes; it served as an antidote to a modern form of isolation. “For as long as there were humans, we lived with the Milky Way above us, until about 125 years ago, when the light on the ground occluded our vision,” Auxier wrote in an email interview with The

Daily Egyptian. “Now our stories are left to experts. We don’t feel qualified to tell a story about the universe without technical training ... it makes the earth lonely. But I feel less lonely when I think about the shared night sky,” Auxier said. From the moment it began, the event was buzzing. At one table, STEM Education researchers helped children build models of the Earth and moon. At another, glow sticks were given out, creating crisscrossing paths of light in the growing twilight. For the student organizers, this energy was the payoff for six months of hard work in preparation. “I love working in production,” said Brooklyn Lewis, a junior in SIU’s cinema program who helped

manage the event. “It’s fun to collaborate with people ... a lot of working parts like this make a whole big thing.” Her colleague, cinema senior Kyleia Glass, agreed. “This is a good, real-life learning experience that’s outside of class,” she said. The event wasn’t just for university students. A group from the Saluki Entrepreneur Corps, which mentors college entrepreneurs, was also in attendance. “We are here to volunteer,” said Noah Nekic, PR & Marketing Chair in the Saluki Entrepreneur Corps. “This is really cool. The big Earth is awesome.” As darkness fell, the main event began. Lines formed behind dozens COSMOS | 12

The Brooklyn-based post-punk art rock band Bodega ended its global tour in Carbondale with a performance on Friday, Sept. 26 at Hangar 9. The band gave a lecture on the philosophy behind their music and art in Morris Library on Thursday evening. Bodega received a DIY cardboard ATM from the philosophy department that would be behind them on stage during their performance at Hangar 9. ATMs are symbolically significant in the band’s records, songs and artwork. After arriving from opening for the Viagra Boys in Montreal, Canada, Bodega members Ben Hozie, Nikki Belfiglio and Adam See gave the Daily Egyptian an exclusive interview at Hangar 9 on Wednesday, Sept. 24. The band said they were interested in lecturing on campus when SIU philosophy faculty reached out to them about the opportunity. Bassist See also had a personal interest in visiting the campus. “I have a special connection with this philosophy department, not that I have ever been here before, but my favorite philosopher is John Dewey,

and they have the Dewey Archives here,” See said. “I’m not even sure I would be the same person I am today if it wasn’t for that particular philosopher, so I have always wanted to come here.” Vocalist and percussionist Belfiglio said that coming to a college campus was a unique opportunity to reach a wider audience. “The 50-, 60- and 70-year-olds are still our biggest fan base to this day, but we know there are young people who would really relate to what we are doing,” Belfiglio said. “But how do we reach them, because we can’t rely on the algorithm to reach people? We don’t want to stand with the algorithm. We want to actually go out there and speak to people ourselves.” Post-punk, as defined by vocalist and guitarist Hozie, is influenced by philosophy, literature and fine art. “The term (post-punk) has lost a lot of meaning,” Hozie said. “I think a lot of bands that are called postpunk now are not even remotely punk. Punk isn’t a sound. It’s an attitude. At the very basic level, it has to be against the status quo.” BODEGA | 6

Page 2 | Entertainment and Culture

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Published by the students of Southern Illinois University Carbondale on a weekly basis in print, and every day on dailyegyptian.com. Fall and spring semester editions run every Wednesday. Free copies are distributed in the Carbondale, Carterville, and Springfield communities.

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The Daily Egyptian, the student-run news organization of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, is committed to being a trusted source of news, information, commentary and public discourse, while helping readers understand the issues affecting their lives.

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@2025 The Daily Egyptian. All rights reserved. All content is property of the Daily Egyptian and may not be reproduced or transmitted without consent. The Daily Egyptian is a member of the Illinois College Press Association, Associated Collegiate Press, College Media Advisers Inc. and the College Business and Advertising Managers Inc.

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Letters and guest columns must be submitted with author’s contact information, preferably via email. Phone numbers are required to verify authorship, but will not be published. Students must include their year and major. Faculty must include rank and department. Others include hometown.

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Hangar, DE partner to host RSO karaoke contest

Participants will compete to earn $1,000 for their RSO DAILY EGYPTIAN STAFF EDITOR@DAILYEGYPTIAN.COM

Hangar 9 and the Daily Egyptian are collaborating to host the first ever RSO Karaoke Cup. Free to enter, RSOs can sign up to compete in a bracket-style karaoke competition every Tuesday at 10 p.m. from Oct. 7 to Nov. 18 for a chance to win a $1,000 donation for their RSO and a trophy courtesy of Hangar 9. “We know these student groups are going to be amazingly talented, and we can’t wait to see them compete on the Hangar 9 stage,” Hangar 9 co-owner Scott Moller said. There are about 300 Registered Student Organizations, or RSOs, on campus and Hangar 9 gives anyone the opportunity to perform on the same stage that hosts traveling acts from around the world. Hangar 9 will be accepting a maximum of 16 RSO’s into the competition. “This contest creates a unique experience for SIU students to get to know their fellow students in a fun and memorable way,”co-owner Andrew Perlmutter said.

Karaoke nights have been hosted by Frank Burke since before Moller and Perlmutter took over. “It adds a new level of depth to karaoke night at Hangar and gives students a chance to represent their club,” Burke said. “It’s going to be a ton of fun.” The Daily Egyptian was approached by Moller in early September about collaborating to host the Karaoke Cup. “Daily Egyptian staff love to hang out and connect at Hangar 9 and especially at karaoke nights,” Daily Egyptian editorin-chief Lylee Gibbs said. “When we got approached about this partnership, we were thrilled to be included. We consider ourselves a community newspaper as much as a student one, and we hope this gives us an opportunity to connect with the community that we cover.” Rules and info: Competing students must be in a Registered Student Organization (RSO) at SIU. Each RSO can choose between one and five members to compete, and can rotate members each week as they advance through the bracket.

RSOs may choose their own song, but you must choose in-person each week with karaoke host Frank at Hangar 9 before 10 p.m. First come first served; get your team there early to secure your song. Competing members must be 18+. Judging criteria: Karaoke performances will be judged overall on a score 1-10 by the Daily Egyptian editorial board in the following categories: • Stage presence • Crowd participation • Singing ability/performance • Outfits/costumes • Wild card How to enter: You must sign your RSO up by Oct. 5. To sign up, choose one representative from your RSO to fill out the sign-up form with your RSO name and contact information. Your performance dates will be emailed to the contact person after registration has closed. To sign up, visit dailyegyptian.com. Have questions? You can email editor@dailyegyptian.com.

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Entertainment and culture | Page 3

Poshard reads poetry for food pantry ORION WOLF OWOLF@DAILYEGYPTIAN.COM

Glenn Poshard, a former SIU president, was fed on surplus food from the Town Supervisor growing up. While his father thought Poshard would be embarrassed that he couldn’t put food on the table himself, he saw his father’s willingness to ask for help as something to be admired. Not only is Poshard a former SIU president, but also a former Illinois Senator for the 59th District and a former U.S. congressman representing southern Illinois. He and his wife, Jo Poshard, also founded the Poshard Foundation for Abused Children. The Poshard Foundation operates out of John A. Logan College in Carterville, where Poshard has previously done readings of poetry to assist food pantries. Their mission focuses on assisting children in tough situations, wherever they may be. His past experiences serving the community have led him to create the Poshard Foundation for Abused Children with his wife, he said, inspiring him to continue serving the community well past his years in office.

HALLOWEEN

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Chicago funk-rockers Hot Like Mars, along with Carbondale’s own Modern Day Saints, a band with roots in SIU’s 1980s music scene. Molly Hudgins, executive director of the SIU Alumni Association, said the lineup was chosen to blend nostalgia with discovery. “Our lineups are great,” Hudgins said. “We made a bunch of phone calls, and our goal was to have some local ties, but also bring in music aficionados that would come from Chicago, St. Louis and Nashville and make this a destination for homecoming and Halloween weekend.” For the Modern Day Saints, the performance is more than just another show. Terry White, who co-founded the group with Phil Bayer, Kevin James and Chris Obren, moved to Carbondale as an SIU student before the band formed in 1984.

“We have a lot of small towns throughout southern Illinois that no longer have grocery stores and many of those families and communities are having to depend upon food pantries for their food,” Poshard said. Because of these food deserts, people have to drive long distances to acquire basic necessities, namely food — even people who could usually afford it. “We decided that as part of our work we needed to help the local food pantries survive,” he said. Poshard read poetry for the Saluki Food Pantry on Monday, Sept. 29 to kick off a food drive event aimed at stocking the facility for the new academic year. Poshard prepared an hour-long reading for the event starting at 11 a.m. and running until noon. He said he was inspired by the works of Robert Frost and Ted Kosier and even wrote some poetry of his own that was included in the reading. “Poems help us with understanding the great questions of life: Who am I? Where am I going? What’s my purpose in life? What decision should I make,” he said. Poshard recounted a story behind one

of his poems titled “Hunger,” which is one of the many original poems he has written and will read at the event. When discussing “Hunger,” he attributed his compulsion to help to his upbringing, where he said, “I grew up in a very poor area. My father only had one arm, so it was difficult for him to find work…” Emily Spann, Student Center associate director, said in an SIU news release that during the 2024-2025 academic year, 280 SIU students and their dependents were able to obtain food at the Saluki Food Pantry. More than half of those students visited the pantry on more than one occasion, and 236 of them did not have a meal plan, according to Spann. Nearly all the students who obtained food attended full time, and more than half were working at least 11-20 hours a week. Over one-third were between the ages of 18 and 23, and 63% were firstgeneration students. Since the pantry opened in 2016, it has served more than 7,300 Salukis and their dependents. SIU opened the pantry in response to research that indicated as many as one-third of college

students were “food insecure,” meaning they were unable to obtain an adequate amount of food and sufficient nutrition at any given time. The plight of food insecurity is closely related to why this event is so important to Poshard. He has a history of growing up poor in a small Illinois town. He said that there was one time where he was waiting at the kitchen table for his father to come home from the Township Supervisor with surplus food, which was the main inspiration for his poem “Hunger.” He said that when his father returned that night and put all the surplus food in front of his son on the kitchen table, “he could not meet my eyes because he was so embarrassed for having to depend on government help to feed his children.” He spoke of the stigma of embarrassment and humiliation that exists for those who have to rely on others for help with these things. The Township Supervisor looked down on his father for being unable to provide on his own, Poshard said. People with disabilities, like Poshard’s father, are disproportionately impacted by food insecurity. They are given a

smaller pool of opportunities for work, and beyond that, face belittling and embarrassment from the people that are meant to help them, Poshard said. Poshard said he was not embarrassed of his father. He knew there was nothing to be ashamed of in relying on support from the community and the government. He knew that it required courage to go through what his father had. He said he admired his father’s courage to go through humiliation to help feed his kids. “I’m just hopeful that folks will come out and be as generous as they can and help our student pantry because a lot of students need help,” Poshard said. “They’re no different than anyone else.” In addition to accepting donations at Poshard’s poetry reading, officials noted that donations can be dropped off in the Student Center administrative office, located on the second %oor, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

After graduation, the group spent years crossing the country in a converted school bus, performing at nightclubs, colleges, roadhouses and small theaters. Carbondale remained their base until the band relocated. “It’s very meaningful to be asked to play at Halloween and Homecoming,” White said. “We are grateful and proud. It’s a full circle thing. We think of it as giving back to the community that helped shape us. We’d hope to inspire any young, aspiring student musicians to work hard and pursue their dreams.” He said fans can expect a “very energetic set of hard-driving pop or punk rock ‘n’ roll.” Hudgins said inviting the Modern Day Saints back was an intentional nod to Carbondale’s music history. “The Urge has played here before, Keller Williams has played here before, and the Modern Day Saints are alums who consistently performed in Carbondale in the ‘80s and ‘90s,”

she said. “They’re kind of a known factor. It’s important that our lineup re%ects the music that shaped this town,” she said. Hudgins emphasized that the festival is not just about concerts. “The whole goal was, it’s a festival,” she said. “And back in the day, Halloween here was a festival. We didn’t know to call it that in the late ‘70s, early ‘80s, but that’s what it was. It was costume contests, it was families out on the street, there was a parade that went up and down, so you had that atmosphere. We’re recreating the atmosphere.” The festival opens at 3 p.m. with Carbondale Main Street’s annual Halloween Candy Walk, carnival games hosted by SIU student organizations and activities like climbing SIU’s Touch of Nature rock wall. A costume contest will run from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m., with winners announced at 8 p.m. The Varsity Center will also unveil a Día

de los Muertos community altar, created with contributions from local residents and organizations. Hudgins said she hopes students, alumni and community members will all take part. “We want Carbondale to be known as that great college town again,” she said. “So for this, it brings our alumni back to see Carbondale as a great college town again. It gives you all as students the chance to see SIU as a place that is in a great college town, and it gives that vibe.” For alumni, she added, the event offers more than nostalgia, it has also become a reason to return to SIU. “I’ve been coast to coast to talk about it, and our alums, whether we’re in Washington, D.C., or Chicago or St. Louis or Nashville, every time we say, ‘Hey, Halloween is back. Halloween is back in a new way,’ they’re booking a hotel room,” Hudgins said. Illinois Avenue will be closed

from 11 a.m. Friday until the festival concludes, stretching from College Street to Elm Street. Parking will be available in designated lots and throughout downtown. The event falls within Carbondale’s Entertainment District, which allows open alcohol containers on the street, though glass bottles will not be permitted. Hudgins said the ultimate goal is to bring back a tradition that defined Carbondale for decades. “This gives not only our alums, but all of the southern Illinois region, the ability to relive a tradition in a new way and with a new twist,” she said. For more information and a full lineup of events, visit the City of Carbondale website. For more information and a full lineup of events, visit the City of Carbondale website.

Staff reporter Orion Wolf can be reached at owolf@dailyegyptian.com or orionwolf6 on Instagram

Staff reporter Annalise Schmidt can be reached at aschmidt@dailyegyptian.com.

Page 4 | Sports

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Missouri Valley Conference settles on new basketball postseason bracket ELI HOOVER EHOOVER@DAILYEGYPTIAN.COM

The Missouri Valley Conference is left with only 11 teams this season, following Missouri State University’s official departure on July 1. That meant the conference had to change the men’s and women’s basketball postseason tournaments for the second time in four years. According to an email sent to the Daily Egyptian by MVC Senior Associate Commissioner Mike Kern, the conference is keeping it simple: There will now be only three games in the first round, compared to four from the past three years. Those games will include the sixthseeded team taking on the 11thseeded team, the seventh-seeded team facing the 10th-seeded team and the eighth-seeded team going up against the ninth–seeded team. The biggest change takes place in the second round, as both the fourth and fifth seeds will get a bye to the

second round and face each other. The previous three years, the No. 5 seed had to face the No. 12 seed on Thursday. The other three games in Round 2 will include the third seed facing off against the winner of the sixth vs. 11th seed game, the second seed going up against the winner of the seventh vs. 10th seed game, and the first seed taking on the victor of the eighth vs. ninth seed matchup. The semifinals and finals will be unchanged from the previous iterations of the bracket. The 2026 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament will take place March 5 to 8 in St. Louis and the 2026 Credit Union 1 Missouri Valley Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament will be held March 12 to 15 in Coralville, Iowa. Sports reporter Eli Hoover can be reached at ehoover@dailyegyptian.com or on Instagram @hoovermakesart

SIU Guard Drew Steffe (21) pushes towards the basket in the quarterfinal round of Arch Madness March 7, 2025 at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri. Lylee Gibbs | @lyleegibbsphoto

SIU Volleyball deals with the Aces, flushes Evansville 3-1 NOAH PETSCHKE NPETSCHKE@DAILYEGYPTIAN.COM

Following a win against Murray State to begin conference play, SIU volleyball returned to Carbondale on Saturday and faced off against the University of Evansville Purple Aces on Sept. 27, 2025. The first set of the evening’s matchup featured an extremely efficient offensive performance by the Salukis. SIU made a statement, jumping out to an 18-8 lead, propelled by a multitude of kills

and aided by attack errors from Evansville. Outside hitter Annabelle Sulish led the offensive charge with four kills, allowing the Salukis to coast to a dominant, 25-12 firstset victory. The barrage of kills, combined with the meager two attack errors, worked in favor of SIU. The Purple Aces did not quit to begin the second set, jumping out to an early 5-point lead at 13-8. The set featured riveting rallies, with the defensive players contributing

heavily to the action. Ultimately, SIU could not overcome the firm lead Evansville established and dropped the set by a score of 25-18. Set 3 was underway, and it was another offense-heavy contest. The Salukis persisted at the net, racking up a total of 16 kills, four from middle blocker Larissa Seger, and three from outside hitter Ella Swansiger. In addition to the attacks, SIU took advantage at the service line, shelling out an impressive four aces on their path to a 25-19 win.

The Salukis celebrate their win against Evansville Sept. 27, 2025 in Carbondale, Illinois. Deangelo Handley | dhandley@dailyegyptian.com

The last set was one to remember for the Salukis- a dogfight featuring an astonishing 10 lead changes. The score swung back and forth, with quick sideouts from both teams. After a score of 19-17 in favor of the Salukis, the point margin never grew above 2. Outside hitter Kelly Franklin tallied five kills in the set, and the SIU defense put up blocks when it mattered most. The score was 25-24 when a Ceci Bulmahn kill, an Aces attack error and an SIU block sealed

the match at 27-25 with the fans at Davies Gym on their feet. The exciting match between the two Missouri Valley teams leaves SIU with a conference record of 2-0 and an overall record of 7-7. SIU Volleyball looks to continue the winning streak as they travel to face off against the University of Memphis on Wednesday, Oct. 1. Sports reporter Noah Petschke can be reached at npetschke@ dailyegyptian.com.

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

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Page 6 | Entertainment and Culture

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

BODEGA

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!e band does not mind being labeled post-punk since it allows them to find an audience and is accurate to the attitude and ideology of the band. But they do not want to be restricted creatively. “Ultimately, we want our band to be bigger than one genre,” Hozie said. Bodega’s discography draws inspiration from different types of rock and electronic dance music, from bands like !e Smiths, Daft Punk and Radiohead. !eir albums “Broken Equipment” and “Endless Scroll” are riddled with references from these genres, but their influence comes from more than just other musicians. Filmmakers such as Jean-Luc Godard, novelists like James Joyce and philosophers like Martin Heidegger have heavily influenced the band and their music. !e band explained Heidegger’s example of how a hammer can be seen as an object for hammering nails, but when it’s broken, the hammer is seen as just an object and not as a means to an end. !is core concept is expanded upon to phones, the internet and algorithms in their “Broken Equipment” album. “We make broken music, for broken people, written by broken people,” Hozie explained. When performing live at Hangar 9, Hozie would shout out the inspirations that fuel many of their songs, like the friend he lost on “Charlie” and the actress Gena Rowlands on “Knife on the Platter.” Many of Bodegas’ songs are inspired by current events, social justice and like many post-punk bands, sticking it to the man. On the body of See’s bass was tape that read “Free Palestine,” and before playing their hardcore song “Guess What,” Hozie gave another shoutout: “!is is for the genocide in Palestine,” he said as the band began playing their fast-paced, heavy hardcore song. Hozie said he likes rock that isn’t slick and clean, but rather, messy and damaged. !is is reflected in the band’s music, especially in their new hardcore album “Rot In Helvetica.” !is album is released under the band’s alter ego, NODEGA, and features tracks with faster tempos and more distortion. NODEGA is the band’s way of messing with the internet and algorithm, and also a new potential creative outlet. !e percussionists of Bodega have a unique aesthetic — they are all standing and none of them sit at a drum kit. While she sings, Belfiglio plays the high-hat that See described as having “an electronic music function” that is separate from the drums played by Adam Shumski, making their sound feel different. Hoize said that this emulated electronic beat is “in order to make rock ‘n’ roll relevant” to “21st century music like EDM and hiphop.” !e band members agreed that this gives the stage the presence of a theatre set.

Nikki Belfiglio, a vocalist and percussionist for Bodega, points to the sky with her drumstick Sept. 26 2025 at Hangar 9 in Carbondale, Illinois. Dominique Martinez-Powell | @d.martinezphoto

Bodega was not the only band to perform theatrically that night at Hangar; one of the opening bands, named Tr!cks, surprised and impressed audience members with its blend of rock and operatic vocals. “At first, I was like, is this a warm-up or is this how it’s going to be?” An audience member named Christopher asked of Tr!cks’ performance. “!en she started, and it blew me away!” “I like the riffs. !e vocals were a little theatrical for my taste, but I like the style,” audience member Darren Snow said. Tr!cks lead vocalist and guitar player Jane Doe has a degree in vocal performance, where she “studied more operatic and classical styles.” She said that the performance at Hangar 9 “was the full new album.” “!is was our last show, and then we’re gonna go and record all winter and hopefully have a new album out soon,” Doe said. Members of Tr!cks include percussionist Brandon Gill, bassist Andy Brower, vocalist and guitarist Jane Doe and guitarist Evan Neumann. !e second opening band, !e Strumms, started with a spoken word performance by Nina Donovan, who goes by “Simp Goddess.” !e poem covered a range of political and social issues, including but not limited to racism, misogyny, white privilege, wage gaps and the industrial prison complex. “I’m from Nashville, Tennessee, and I’ve been doing spoken word since I was 16. So, I grew up doing poetry slams and performing at different events in Nashville,” Donovan said. On performing with the Strumms, Donovan talked about the importance of the explicit and political nature of the band’s music. “!at’s the whole point of art,” Donovan said. “!roughout history, art has been at the forefront of activism. If you’re an artist, especially coming from Nashville, if you’re an artist in the south without a message, then you’re kind of a clout-chasing coward.”

Bodega is no stranger to the radical atmosphere of places like Carbondale. !ey began playing in punk houses in New York that are similar in nature and spirit to Carbondale’s Lost Cross and Commune, but they play at those spaces “less so now,” said Belfiglio. Hoize said that in those kinds of spaces, there is no symbolic divide between the band and the audience. “Even if we play at a place like this, we try to still encourage, like, yell something out,” Hozie said as he gestured to the stage in Hangar 9. “Let’s have a conversation. You wanna hear a certain song? Tell us, we’ll play it. Nikki often brings people up on the stage to either grab an instrument and jam with us or to dance.” !e band said that with “more engagement” comes more “money, separation and bigger stages” like in Pink Floyd’s “!e Wall.” “I could see if the band, you know, gets bigger than what we already are,” Hozie said, knocking on a Hangar 9 wooden table, “maybe we could do the smaller shows as NODEGA.” !e band delivered on this sentiment of bringing people on stage and interacting with the crowd. During their song “Territorial Call of the Female,” Bodega had crowd members join them on stage and dance while the band performed. Belfiglio would bring her microphone down to the crowd so they could sing along during the choruses of multiple songs. A unique spectacle occurred during Bodega’s song “Quantify” when the band had Dalton Winfree from !e Strumms and the SIU philosophy department destroy the cardboard ATM featured during the performance with a baseball bat. Winfree then threw it out into the crowd, where a few members of the audience further ripped and tore through the fake automatic teller machine. Its cardboard carcass lay with the crowd for the rest of the performance. Bodega’s music takes stances against mindless consumption and late-stage capitalism with fast and

constant lyrics on tracks like “Doers” and “Can’t Knock the Hustle.” !e band covers other serious topics like sex work and masculinity within “GND Diety” and “Jack in Titanic,” respectively. !e band’s lyrical songwriting can be what brings listeners in, or what pushes them away. “One of our biggest critiques from people will be like ‘Yeah, I like you guys, but your lyrics are too on the nose,’” Belfiglio said. “!ey think we are just saying, ‘Oh, you’re on your phone too much,’ but there is a lot more to it than that,” Hozie added.

Faced with this criticism, the band said it does not want to create surface-level art and wants to challenge listeners. “Popular music listens to itself for you,” See said, citing philosopher !eodor Adorno. “Don’t worry, you’re not going to miss anything.” Bodega members said they are a band that wants to be present with the audience and have an intellectual conversation with them. “We respect our audience and we think they like being challenged,” Hozie said. While intellectual conversation is an important part of Bodega’s music, they also put on a performance that encourages audiences to dance, sing along and express themselves in fun ways that draw fans in. Crowd members Colleen and Martin Ewell said they came from St. Louis to see Bodega at Hangar 9. “We picked up the album and we have listened to them ever since,” Martin said. Some audience members had never heard of Bodega and gave the show a shot, like Jaiden Mitchelle. “I have never gone to a random show before, but I absolutely fell in love with these guys,” Mitchelle said. “I ended up buying their t-shirt. I got the vinyl, I have like three vinyls at home, and one of them is these guys.” When asked if they would play again at Carbondale, Bodega members Belfiglio and See said “hell yeah” and “absolutely.” Staff Reporter Brayden Guy can be reached at bguy@dailyegyptian.com

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entertainment and culture | Page 7

Emily How and Spillway bring a night of raw emotion to PK’s EMILY BRINKMAN EBRINKMAN@DAILYEGYPTIAN.COM

Illinois musical acts Emily How and Spillway joined forces on Sept. 26, 2025 for a performance at PK’s, bringing a night of raw emotion and energy to the streets of Carbondale. Spillway is a local midwest emo band based in Carbondale. !e band consists of three members: Avery Smith, who moved to Carbondale from Oklahoma five years ago, and brothers Sheldon Griffith and Hunter Griffith, who are southern Illinois natives. “It’s the music that we listen to and the music we grew up listening to, it’s kind of our own spin on it,” Sheldon said. Brothers Sheldon and Hunter have been playing music together since they were kids. !e band formed in January 2024 and plan to start traveling soon for shows with Champaign being their first stop. !e band said they will be working on recording and releasing a fulllength album in the future. “We want them (listeners) to feel comfortable and like they’re not alone in facing a lot of the issues that people face today,” Sheldon said. “A lot of our music is about addiction and losing people to addiction.” Spillway has two other performances scheduled in Carbondale. !ey will be at PK’s again on Oct. 4 and at Lost Cross on Oct. 12. Emily How is an alternative-indie rock singer from Petersburg, Illinois. How said she has

been singing since she was about 7 years old, and got her start a year later when a judge at a local talent show told her that she should learn to play guitar and he would teach her. Even though How doesn’t listen to her music that much anymore, she said she got into music from Taylor Swift. How started performing old Taylor Swift songs at live shows at local bars when she was around 9 or 10 years old. She eventually got into the alternative, indie music scene listening to bands like !e Lumineers and Cage !e Elephant. !is type of music resonates with How, and serves as a form of therapy. “I write when I’m really upset,” How said. “I feel like that’s really the only time I can write. I just kind of gravitated toward songwriting because I have a lot of big feelings, and I have to put them somewhere so I don’t self-destruct.” How is currently wrapping up her tour. Her last stops are Des Moines, Iowa on Oct. 1 and Indianapolis, Indiana on Oct. 2. When the tour ends, How and the band hope to have something new to put out in the spring or summer time of next year. “I feel like once the fall and the colder weather starts to creep in, I’m gonna probably be writing some songs,” How said. Staff photographer Emily Brinkman can be reached at ebrinkman@dailyegyptian.czom

Emily How performs in Carbondale, Illinois Sep. 26, 2025 at Pk’s. Emily Brinkman | erb_photo_

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Page 8 | Entertainment and Culture

Wednesday, october 1, 2025

Pizza is more than just a slice of Carbondale — it’s part of the culture

PEYTON COOK PCOOK@DAILYEGYPTIAN.COM

For SIU alum Serina Cinnamon, owner of Quatro’s, pizza is everything. She bought the business in 2023 from Steve Payne after living in North Carolina for a decade. People would give her recommendations on pizza places; however, she would still make frequent trips to Carbondale just for the pizza. “There are towns that have pizza, and then there are pizza towns,” Cinnamon said. “I think Carbondale qualifies as a pizza town. You can get just about any kind of pizza that you want.” Pizza is one of the biggest industries in Carbondale, which consists of around six local and seven chain restaurants. Most of the local spots are within a half of a mile from downtown. Most of the business owners agreed that they do not feel like the other local pizza restaurants are their competition. Lucas Rose, co-owner of Rip’s Brickoven Pizzeria and a 2018 SIU alum, said “everybody kind of has their own lane that they stick to.”

Dena Rendleman | @dena.rendleman

“Not only is there a good variety… but everybody has their own style,” Rose said. Rip’s opened a little over a year and a half ago and is one of the only pizza places in Carbondale that serves brick oven pizza. They also serve rotisserie chicken and meatballs and have been working on home-brewed beer as well, which Rose is hoping to start serving within 60 days. “I think there’s room for all of us because they are all so standout,” Leslie Light, owner of Italian Village, said. “I support anyone who wants to go to any of them because it’s what you have taste for that day.” Light is a SIU alum and said that part of being an SIU student is trying all the different pizza places. “That’s part of the fun of being in a college town,” she said. Light said she is not in competition with chains, either. “I’m not out to compete with like the Dominoes and the Pizza Huts of the world, because we’re not, you know, cranking out commercial pizzas like that,” Light said. “We are handcrafting, making inhouse dough, much like, I’m sure, Quatro’s and Pag’s does.” Light is new to the pizza industry as she and her husband bought Italian Village at the end of November 2024. She is not new to business, though. She has a background in the concrete industry. Simply Slices is the newest edition that serves a drive-thru style pizza that can be purchased by the slice

Open sign flashes in Rip’s Pizza window. Riley Sembler | @riley_sembler

A Rip’s Pizza employee carefully places toppings on a pizza being prepared to be put in the oven. Riley Sembler | @riley_sembler

A bright Simply Slices sign hangs down from the ceiling of the restaurant Sept. 26, 2025 at Simply Slices in Carbondale, Illinois. Riley Sembler | @riley_sembler

along with shaved ice and slushies. They opened on Sept. 9, and the Carbondale location is the third the owner has opened. The business may be new to Carbondale, but it’s not new to the pizza industry. “I had two of them up in Chicago, and I came down here to kind of retire and I saw this building, so I was like, I’m going to open a thousand Simply Slices,” Simply Slices owner Dino Pavoni said. “I got three down and 997 to go.” Pavoni started working for a pizza company in 1972, and bought Mango’s Pizza with the help of an investment from a professor after he graduated from college. It inspired Pavoni to push for a dream of a drive-thru pizza establishment and in 1998, with help from a childhood friend, the first Simply Slices was built. The business has Illinois locations in Crestwood and Mokena as well. Pavoni has also been featured in an episode of “World’s Strictest Parents” and was almost featured on “Shark Tank.” Pavoni sees Carbondale’s other local pizza places as indirect competitors while the fast food places nearby are his competition. “I don’t have a phone here. I don’t do mobile. I don’t do delivery,” Pavoni said. He said he offers quick pizza that is easy to eat in your car. Lots of the pizza businesses in town have started growing as well. Quatro’s, which just celebrated its 50 year anniversary, expanded the restaurant and is planning to make some kitchen upgrades in the near future. “We did our first expansion in March of 2024, just in time for the eclipse,” Quatro’s owner Cinnamon said. “That’s when we put a hole in the wall and moved and expanded into the former Jerry’s Flower Shop.” They even added a ramp connecting the upper and lower dining room, making the restaurant fully accessible. Rip’s Brick Oven Pizzeria recently expanded its menu, adding items like different types of salads and a skillet cookie. They still remain committed to their $5 rotisserie chicken, as well,

Aiden Craft, a Simply Slices employee carefully placed meat on a pizza being prepared for a customer. Riley Sembler | @riley_sembler

co-owner Rose said. Rose is interested in expanding more but said he is doing so slowly to focus on continuing to serve high-quality items. “It started off very simple and then we just sort of grew as things made sense,” he said. Pizza is part of the tradition and culture of Carbondale. Every

pizza place in town is one slice of a whole pie. “That tradition and those stories that we hear from our customers and the signatures on the walls, are just, there’s something,” Italian Village owner Light said. ”It’s something that you just can’t experience unless you really go there or you hear the stories.” At Quatro’s, Cinnamon, who has traveled a lot, said Carbondale’s pizza scene rivals any other town’s offerings.

“I’ll put our pizza town up against other pizza towns,” she said. It can be overwhelming to enter such a large market. When Rip’s first looked into options for offering more than pizza, they decided to research and look around for equipment rather than taking out a loan to buy brand new equipment. “We thought it was pretty cool, and then we realized, like, how expensive it would have been to purchase, because it’s a custommade rotisserie,” Rose said. “It’s open, it’s not like a lot of traditional ones you might see where… you don’t really get to see what’s going on. So ours are like directly open fire, and you can see them kind of spinning.” Light talked about how going from one market to another is challenging. “We had to learn everything from the brand up,” Light said. “Was it challenging? One hundred percent, but it was so exciting to do, and I don’t regret a minute of it.” Digital editor Peyton Cook can be reached at pcook@dailyegyptian.com, or on Instagram at @cookmeavisual.

News | Page 9

Wednesday, october 1, 2025

Rahim’s Beauty Supply hits 30-year milestone YAHRI EDMOND YEDMOND@DAILYEGYPTIAN.COM

When customers walk into Rahim’s Beauty Supply Store just off East Oak Street in Carbondale, they’re immediately met with the distinct scent of hair products and essential oils. The store offers a wide selection of wigs, clothing and accessories, making it a go-to destination for customers seeking both beauty and style. Before opening his storefront in Carbondale in 2009, Abdul Rahim Khalil spent years traveling with a truck of beauty products, driving to different areas in Illinois and across the nation to build his business and raise money while pursuing studies at Southern Illinois University. Although he initially planned to enter the clothing industry, a compelling article in EBONY magazine inspired him to shift his focus to beauty supplies. Today, his store stands as the only Black-owned beauty supply store in Carbondale and the surrounding deep southern

Rahim shares his experience as a business owner and the importance of supporting local shops Sept. 27, 2025, in Carbondale, Illinois. Inside the store, the shelves are lined with colorful hair products that reflect the needs of African American customers. Amilia Estrada | aestrada@dailyegyptian.com

Illinois region, underscoring its cultural and economic importance. Before establishing his business in 1995 by selling products from the back of a truck, Abdul Rahim

Khalil faced a tumultuous personal journey. Spending 22 years in and out of the penitentiary due to struggles as a dope fiend, Rahim credits his healing to receiving the right guidance in his life. “What really turned me around was my mother and Islam, and Allah brought me both.” Rahim said. Following his release, he pursued higher education, earning both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in social work from Southern Illinois University. After receiving his degree at SIU, the business found its permanent home in Carbondale, where it has continued to serve customers from diverse backgrounds for 16 years. Black-owned businesses remain a minority in Carbondale. In

the beauty industry especially, ownership can shape the kinds of products and knowledge available to customers. Rahim emphasized the importance of the Black community supporting Blackowned businesses as a way to strengthen the culture and promote economic empowerment. “We built this country. Black labor was the foundation of America’s economy — but we still don’t own our fair share of it,” Rahim said. “There’s got to be a reason why you only see a handful of African Americans in this business. It’s expensive to get into, and access to capital is a real barrier.” Over the years, Rahim’s Beauty Supplies has become more than just

a retail space. It has grown into a community hub, connecting people through shared experiences of culture, style and entrepreneurship. Rahim also reminds customers that the beauty industry is about more than just products —it’s deeply tied to identity and self-worth. “When you talk about beauty, you’re talking about self-image. And for some people, that means feeling like they have to look like someone else to feel accepted. But it should be about improvement and self-love,” Rahim said. The store’s 30-year history re$ects resilience and adaptation, from its beginnings as a mobile operation to its established storefront today. The journey also illustrates the challenges and triumphs of being a Black entrepreneur. Rahim expressed the desire for more Blackowned business but also sheds light on the financial difficulties. “I tell people who say they want to open a beauty supply store, ‘I hope you’ve got $100,000.’ That’s the kind of investment it takes just to get started,” Rahim said. For many customers, Rahim’s Beauty Supplies fills a critical gap in the market by offering products that are often difficult to find elsewhere in southern Illinois for the African American Diaspora. A common phrase used by Rahim is, “If it’s not here, I will go get it.” Staff reporter Yahri Edmond can be reached at yedmond@dailyegyptian.com

Rahim’s Beauty Supply stands next to Artnette’s Barber Shop. The two neighboring storefronts serve as a cornerstone for Black hair culture in the community.

Rahim peeks out from behind an aisle lined with rows of brightly packaged hair products inside his beauty supply store. The aisles are stocked with shampoos, braiding hair and styling tools often tailored for African American hair care.

A family steps out of Artnette’s Barber Shop next to Rahim’s Beauty Supply. The plaza’s storefronts sit side by side, their signs catching the afternoon sun.

Page 10 | Opinion

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

COLUMN

In rural Missouri, community, care - and my camera LYLEE GIBBS LGIBBS@DAILYEGYPTIAN.COM

Last week, I found myself in smalltown Missouri for a week on an incredible photojournalism opportunity. Alongside 37 other photographers, I was accepted into the 77th cohort of the Missouri Photo Workshop and starting on Sunday, Sept. 21, I had one week to find, pitch and execute a story in the community of Union, Missouri — and I could only do it in 400 photos or less. No pressure, right? The Missouri Photo Workshop brings up to 40 photojournalists and photographers from around the world together for a week in small towns around Missouri to document the community. The archive consists of thousands of images ranging from the bootheel to the Ozarks, documenting the growing communities in the heartland. It is hosted by Mizzou’s photojournalism program and participants range from current students to journalists well into their career. Honestly, you can think of it as a bootcamp for photojournalists. I arrived in Union at around 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 21, but before I drove to the Franklin County Resource Center where our MPW headquarters would be for the week, I stopped at a gas station where a $5 bill rolled up to me in the wind when I got out of my car. I took this as a sign that it was going to be a good week — and then I eventually used it to buy a Peach Vibe Celsius to keep me awake during my long days. I checked into the workshop, got my headshot taken and then was set free in the streets of small-town Missouri until we would meet as a team that evening. And then I realized what I signed up for. I had the next 24 hours to find and pitch a story to the faculty — some big dawgs in the journalism field who work for outlets like AP and the Los Angeles Times — and hope they approve. The community hosted a welcome dinner for us Sunday night, and it was there that I caught wind of an equine center just 5 miles from town that provides people with disabilities affordable horsemanship experiences

Tobias Edwards, 10, watches as bubbles float around him while he sits in the driveway with his nurse, Bri Rollhaus, and plays with a bubble machine Sept. 25, 2025 in Union, Missouri. Lylee Gibbs | @lyleegibbsphoto

and therapy. Early Monday morning, I made my way to Exceptional Equestrians of the Missouri Valley. My goal was to ask if I could hang around and photograph the center for the week and maybe even connect with a family. I spoke with the owner of the center and she told me she woulzd connect me with a family before I could even ask. I raced back to headquarters, found a quiet spot and called the family, who was more than willing to be a part of my project. I then pitched my story to my faculty, it got approved, and thus began my weeklong journey to document the Edwards family in only 400 photo frames. Tobias Edwards, 10, loves loud music and loud toys. He holds toys up to his ear as they play soft songs, occasionally cracking a grin. He is the only son of Cindi and Josh Edwards, who live in the hills of Union. Tobias is one of about 250 people in the world with ATR-X Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder caused by mutations in the ATR-X gene located on the X chromosome that affects males. Tobias, born under 3 lbs, spent 86 days in the

NICU before coming home and didn’t get a diagnosis until he was more than a year old. Symptoms include delayed motor skills and intellectual disabilities. Between his family and friends, he is known as “Super-T.” “Since he was born early and was so little, he had to fight hard from the start,” Cindi Edwards said. “Ever since then, we knew he was a tiny superhero.” A fifth grader, Tobias’ routine is filled with therapy, school and quiet afternoons at home. His world is filled by mom, teachers, therapists, nurses and his dad, who makes him laugh the most. To make it through his routines, Tobias uses leg braces, electric chairs and lots of hands to carry him through the day. At home, the braces can come off and the family spends time together doing things like blowing bubbles until the sun gets tired and the bubble machine runs out of soap. Through the week, I spent a lot of time with the Edwards family. I went to their home, to therapy, to school and through the routines with Tobias. I was given incredible access to their

lives and had the opportunity to spend meaningful time to photograph what their lives looked like. Through the week starting on Monday, we photographed our stories all day and then met in groups to discuss our stories, critique our individual frames and listen to the visiting professionals each evening. Friday, we finalized our stories at headquarters starting in the afternoon and late into the night — some people not leaving until after 1 a.m. Not me, though — I was the first person of 38 photographers to finalize their story. Saturday, the community all showed up to the city auditorium to see the 38 photo stories printed and displayed, and there was so much wonderful feedback from the community. The Edwards family came and it was such an honor to see how much they loved my photos from the week I spent with them. I learned so much about slowing down and knowing what photos are in my frame when photographing and how to sequence photo stories better than I

did before. I brought home a plethora of knowledge that hopefully will improve the newspaper you are reading now. I also learned a lesson of trust. The Edwards family kindly let me into their lives, and I trusted them as much as they trusted me to tell their story. I know this entire article is pretty niche for the typical reader, but I am so thankful for the opportunity and experience. It mirrored that of our weekend workshop that was held for the photo program by professor Julia Rendleman in April of 2024. While MPW elevated my mentality on photography and journalism, the SIU workshop changed my life. I am beyond grateful to have participated in both and I am writing this to hopefully inspire the up and coming photojournalism students to get involved at the opportunities at hand. To see the whole story, visit this article at dailyegyptian.com. Editor-In-Chief Lylee Gibbs can be reached at lgibbs@dailyegyptian.com or @lyleegibbsphoto.

This week’s crossword answers: E A

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Amanda Bradley, a paraprofessional at Central Elementary School, works with Tobias on reading letters during school Sept. 24, 2025 in Union, Missouri. Lylee Gibbs | @lyleegibbsphoto

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News | Page 11

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Mud Run treks through Murphysboro mucky miles Murphysboro’s Monster Mud Run is a traditional Spartan-style race that has been been reintroduced to southern Illinois. Aaron Kelly, head of coursework, says that “since we brought it this is its fourth year, and it’s kind of taken its own accord at this point.” Kelly also said the newest auditions of vendors, beer tent, bounce houses, and music to give participants a reason to stay longer after finishing the run. Runners from all around the region gather in Murphysboro to tackle this muddy beast of a course. Dodging some of the peculiar obstacles and overcoming the challenging hurdles fuel the minds of runners to repeat this run year after year. Others are first-timers who will experience the lifestyle of the Big Muddy Monster. Issac Compton walks through foam with a smile at the Murphysboro Mud Monster Run Sept. 27 2025 in Murphysboro, Illinois. Daylin Williams | @photosbydaylin

Jake Ryan and Andy Titsworth shake hands while wading through water, just moments before before Andy pulled Jake down into the water. Lee Chambers | lchambers@dailyegyptian.com

Rob Walls slides down the first obstacle of the Mud Run course. Rob, along with his friend, wore outfits that followed the idea of the mullet with business in the front party in the rear. Lee Chambers | lchambers@dailyegyptian.com

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Page 12 | Crossword

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

WEEKLY CROSSWORD