river's edge 9-28-2012 vol5 issue 1

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Rivers Edge VOLUME 5, ISSUE 1 September 28, 2012

Western Illinois University - Quad Cities

The Public Choice for the Quad Cities

Welcome Back From Summer Break, WIU-QC Students, Faculty and STAFF!

By Aaron Graf

Editor-in-Chie

During the course o

ground breaking orPHASE II o WIU-QCsRiverront campus, whichtook place on August 29th, Illinois Governor PatQuinn, WIU President JackTomas, and WIU-QC VicePresident Joe Rives liedceremonial spades o earthalongside state-and-areaelected representatives,community leaders, andUniversity o cials.Te Governor appeared

at 2pm, and was ollowedby WUs Marching Leath-ernecks parading up thegravel drive to the sound othe WIU ght song. At thetime o the bands arrival,the over-three-hundredpeople in attendance hadalready been treated toWestern Rocks! Whiteysice cream provided cour-tesy o the Student Recre-ation Association. SRA alsomade sure guests were well

hydrated by handing outbottles o water.Once all the dignitar-

ies were seated PresidentTomas extend his thanksto the Governor or his at-tendance and past supporto WIU, and to those indi-

viduals and organizations othe Quad Cities who helpedmake this day possible.President Tomas notedthat, Because o these re-lationships and the supportWestern Illinois Universityhas received rom a varietyo constituency groups, we

have moved the expansiono Western Illinois Univer-sitys Quad Cities campus

orward to provide theregion with outstanding,public, higher-educationopportunities.Gov. Quinn, who had beenat the Riverront campusseven months ago to cele-brate completion o PHASEI, made special note o theanniversary which WIU-QC celebrates this year, aswell as the signicance othis ground breaking orthe communitys uture:

oday, Im pleased to onceagain mark a milestonein the 100-year history o

the WesternIllinois Univer-sitys RiverrontCampus. Tis

investment willcreate jobs nowand in the utureby expandingthe educationalopportunitiesthat are so vitalto our studentscompeting inthe 21st centuryeconomy.o add emphasisto the unda-mental purpose

o this day, a rep-resentative rom the newly-created Freshman HonorsCohort, Class o 2016, wasasked to make a speech.Engineering student,Kieran Connolly was se-lected or this honor. Mr.Connolly described hisselection o WIU-QC beingbased on oering exactlywhat he was seeking whileearning his undergraduatedegree:

I applied to and wasaccepted by the Engineer-ing programs at both a

large state university and aprominent private school.Aer visiting both cam-puses, I ound that I wanted

the cheaper tuition rates oa state university, but I alsodesired the individualizedattention and small classsizes o a private school.Upon searching urther, Iound the perect balancehere in Moline. I believethat my classes will pro-

vide me with a top-qualityeducation at an exceptional

value.Aer Mr. Connelly spoke,several other key gures

rom local government andcivic organizations gaveshort speeches includingCongressman Bobby Schil-ling, and state Senator MikeJacobs. All o the represen-tative rom area businessand government touted thenew campus as the kind ocommunity resource thatcan keep the Quad Cites

vibrant and give its resi-dents an edge in todays jobmarkets.

PHASE II Ground Breaking Marks Major Milestone on the Riverfront

Gov. Quinn, Pres. Thomas, Vice-Pres. Rives brreakground to start PHASE II of the RIverfront Cam-

pus.

By: Aaron Graf

By Assitant Editor Bobby DillonContributing Bambi Suits

Te rst thing I did when I got home late in the eve-ning on Friday, September 7th, was dig around on theinternet to nd out more about the excellent bands onthis compilation. Aside rom eaturing two o WIU-QCs

own, ormer Financial Aid Coordinator Seth Knap-pen and Graduate student Bambi Suits band AmericanDust, this compilation eatures some o the best trulyindependent music the Midwest has to oer. Te Do-It-Yoursel mentality has been a staple o independent mu-sic since those young DC Punks started recording songsonto vinyl in the early 1980s. Tis LP is nothing like therough, brash, poorly-produced Minor Treat 7-inchrecords, but the DIY spirit remains and the resultingcompilation is rst-rate stu.

Te idea or Hello Quad Cities came aboutwhen Jason Parris, o the band New Beautiul, and talentbuyer at RIBCo, was going through his music collec-tion. He stumbled upon an old gem: the compilationQuad Cities Rock Stars that came out back in the mid

1990s. It was a whos who among the local scene kids othe time, and Jason wanted to bring that same local vibeback to the QC. Between the eorts o Parris and BobHerrington, owner o the QCs premier independentmusic store Ragged Records, this compilation, hopeully

the rst o many, came to ruition.

Johnnie Cluney, illustrator or Daytrotter.com, is responsible or the layout and excellent albumartwork. Te artwork on this album is reminiscent osomething youd pick up at a thri shop or a yard salejust or the cover. Like the music within, it is eclectic andgratiying.

Speaking o the music, its hard to get morebang or your buck than this record can give you. Even

more exciting is the act that all twelve o the bands/artists are local: Healing Power, Seth Knappen, CentaurNoir, Konrad, Chrash, American Dust, New Beautiul,ambourine, Break Up Art, Te Multiple Cat, SatelliteHeart, and Te Lion in Rome all hail rom the Quad Cit-ies. A common thread between these bands seems to bea (very modern) electronic fair that runs through theirmusic. Tough some bands make use o this sound morethan others, its always there in some measure thoughthose who attended on Friday at Rozz ox were treatedto what was essentially an acoustic set rom AmericanDust. Its hard to nail down a sound or this compila-tion other than really, really good music.

Tis compilation is only available on vinyl atRagged Records or rom any o the bands.

Hello Quad Cites is a Compilation with Local Flair


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2 September 28, 2012 RIVERS EDGE WIU-QC

A LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

How To Contact the Rivers Edge:Stop by the Rivers Edge ofce in 268A at

the 60th street campus and leave us a message!

Via e-mail: [email protected]

Like us: www.facebook.com/RiversEdgeNewspaper

The fall semester is always an exciting time for us at Western Illinois University-Quad

Cities. It signies the start of the new academic year with educational opportunities em-

phasizing academic excellence, personal growth, and social responsibilitythe core values

by which our great university is based, and that are clearly in action.

This fall we welcomed our rst class of full-time freshmen, each qualifying for the new

Western Commitment Scholarship in addition to other sources of nancial aid. We also

continued to see our Linkages dual enrollment partnership program with local community

colleges grow. We now have 110 freshmen and sophomores enrolled at the Quad Cities

Campus. Our undergraduate enrollment is at a historic peak. We now have 799 under-

graduate students, up 8.7 percent from last year and an overall enrollment of 1,377.

With students, faculty, and staff working together, we have seen many memorable events

occur on campus this fall. In the just the rst few weeks of the semester, we hosted the

annual Hallwas Lecture, Welcome Back Barbeque, groundbreaking for the next ve build-

ings on Riverfront, and the College of Business and Technology, Society of Accountancy

students, and Career Services hosted the Business Career Fair. I know there are many

more institutional events being planned by students, faculty, and staff in the weeks ahead

and hope that you will continue to watch our Website and Facebook page in order to take

advantage of the programs and services that we offer.

What makes the fall equally exciting is the celebration of our past. The September 25th

Founders Day Celebration marked the 100th year that Western Illinois University offered

classes in the Quad Cities. In 1912, Acting President McGilvery hired Professor E.E. Van

Cleve as a full-time extension teacher. Popular courses in those early years included Prin-

ciples of Teaching, Sociology 20, and Biology 424. Courses were held in local schools

and businesses.

By 1969, Western was a charter member of the of the Quad Cities Graduate Study Center;

and in 1974, the popular Board of Governors B.A. degree, now Bachelors of General Stud-ies, was rst offered in the Quad Cities. Many other degree programs followed.

As Western continued to grow, it expanded its physical presence in the Quad Cities. In

1987, the Regional Undergraduate Center opened at Black Hawk College and in 1997

Western rst taught classes at 60th Street. This fall represents the 15th year that we have

been providing courses at this location. In 2012, we opened Riverfront, broke ground on

even more facilities, and celebrated our 100th year in the Quad Cities.

Clearly, our past, present, and future are exciting. And for the future, we are excited for

you. You have committed to our great institution and we look forward to working and

learning with you. Have a great fall as you successfully achieve your educational goals

and participate in the exciting events inside and outside the classroom.

Dr. Joseph Rives

Vice President, Quad Cities and Planning

Student Photo Poll Asks:What advice do you have for new WIU-QC students?By:Alyssa Grimes

Staff Writer

THE VICE PRESIDENTS VOICE

Dont get overwhelmed. Slow down and enjoy your time here.

-Abby Piehl and Kara Orsborn, Liberal Arts and Sciences

Photos taken by Alyssa Grimes

Study hard, meet new people, and have fun.

-Ryan Chouinard, General Studies

Be prepared ahead of time. If you wait till the last min-

ute, your experience will be an extremely difficult one.

-Thomas Cross, Communications

Pack a lunch if you have class on Wednesdays!

-Trevor Taylor, Engineering

Volume 6, Issue One: CONTRIBUTING STAFF MEMBERS

Thank you for picking up this issue ofyour student newspaper. Now, please dont let

me be misunderstood. By referring to this paper at yours, I am not using some euphemistic

version of the term. This isyour paper, because whether you know it or not youve provided

both, the funding for, and the raison detre for this publication.

I could go into greater detail, and use less French, but its sufcient for now to say that, as a

student at WIU-Quad Cities, regardless of your major, course load, or lack of a parking pass,

you pay a fee to have a student newspaper published. Additionally, you are part of a powerful,

increasingly vital, and profoundly impactful, community. By meeting those criteria, it is the

viewpoint of every person who contributes to this paper that you are deserving of a messengerthat will, voice your concerns, trumpet your triumphs, and commiserate over the challenges we

all face as non-traditional students.

Oh, if you werent aware, we all qualify as such, if only because, no matter how much sleeping

you may do in class, we are not a residential campus.

It is this job, to be a voice for you, and everyone here, which the staff of the Rivers Edge takes

seriously. We will have some fun in the articles we bring to you every couple of weeks, but we

are also committed to making these articles, fun or otherwise, as informative and vital as pos-

sible. We may not succeed in every attempt, but given the makeup of our group, I am positive

we will never wholly fail in that mission either.

It is likely thatyour newspaperis going to experience some growing pains over the course of

the semester. But as any member of the, Freshman Honors Cohort could tell you, growing

pains are essential to the college experience. Just to name a few, there are plans to produce

a digital, as well as the physical, version of this paper by the end of the semester. Weve also

been offered the chance to start ofcially archiving the paper with the Universitys main library

in Macomb.

The archiving opportunity comes as WIU-QC plans to celebrate 100 years of classes being

taught in this area. While it is probably just coincidence, having your newspaper sent to Ma-

comb for preservation, and archival digitalization is slightly ironic. Weve been told that there is

very little actual Quad City Campus history on le there, despite reaching the centennial anni-

versary. Well, no time like the present to start. No doubt those who will walk these cork oors,

long after weve gone, will read these pages perhaps 100 years from now, trying to determine

if we ever rose in revolt after learning about laws banning the feeding of ducks.

On behalf of all staff members, I am extending an invitation to all persons interested in writing

anything foryour newspaper. Writing is essential to what you will do as a student, regardless

of your major. Feedback is also very welcome. If you are so inclined, post a comment to our

Wall about what you read. Its a safe bet insightful thoughts, or critical remarks regarding

the editor-in-chief will make it into the next edition ofyour newspaper.

Until then, Let the Father of Waters go unvexed to the sea.

Aaron Graf

Editor-in-chief

By: Patrick Olson

Staff Writer

Iowa is considering closing the Iowa School for the Deaf. Though this may not affect you, for the

deaf students at the school, their families, and any potential students, this will have a signicantly

negative impact. Unlike students with hearing, the deaf and hard of hearing are limited to special

education classes. Jennifer McKittr ick is concerned that her son Tristan will have to return to pub-

lic school. Tristan is fteen and a sophomore

Unlike students with hearing, a deaf student does not have equal opportunities in public educa-

tion. Jennifer explained that Tristan was limited to Special Education classes that are below his

intelligence. He was also socially excluded. Jennifer explained that, He is excluded from regular

classes because an interpreter cannot keep up with the fast pace of the classes. Tristan just start-

ed attending the Iowa School for the Deaf this year. While at public school, Tristan was depressed,

angry, and found ways to avoid school by getting into trouble.

Since attending the Iowa School for the Deaf, Tristan has built condence, looks forward to school,

and no longer experiences the negative emotions which hindered his school work. Unlike public

school, deaf students are not relegated to Special Education classes and each employee of the

school uses sign language. Tristan enjoys math which he was not allowed to take at public school.

Again unlike public school, deaf students can interact with their peers and are not excluded. The

Iowa School for the Deaf also opens up the opportunity of participating in sports. For those who

are not mentally limited by a disability, the Iowa School for the Deaf ensures that deaf and hard of

hearing will get the education they need to live productive lives. Many students at the school, and

their parents, believe that a public school education does not ensure an equal education for the

disabled.

When asked what she would tell those deciding Iowas budget, Jennifer McKittrick replied that

she would say, I understand that things are hard, but without ISD, I dont see [Tristan] doing what

he wants, [including ] everything that Tristan has built on. He will be taught that he is handicapped.

He is not handicapped. I am asking them to not take away the condence that he has gained.

Students Lack Suitable Alternative If

State Closes School for the Deaf

THE WESTERN WALL


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RIVERS EDGE WIU-QC September 28, 2012 3

FAMILIAR FACES ON THE QC CAMPUS

By: Caressa Clearman

Staff Writer

Western Illinois University is lled with many

creative students, and Matt Brown is no excep-

tion. However, Matt expresses his creativity in a

very unique way. When hes not working toward

his LAS degree, as well as his paired minors in

Psychology and Sociology, Matt builds skate-

boards.

Working in his garage, Matt tackles the process

from start to nish. He cuts the wood, presses

it, sands, shapes, and seals it, along with creat-

ing custom graphics for each board. He began

making boards about 4 years ago and has since

been perfecting his craft.

Matt stated, I skated all throughout high

school, and then my friend got some longboards, which are pretty much just longer skate-

boards [My friend] said, hey, we might be able

to make some of these. So we picked up some

really cheap lumber and some random wood

glue and messed around with it. We made a

few and they all broke.

My friend got a little tired of riding boards that

broke, and he quit. So then I started looking

for better sources, better materials. Eventually,

I hooked up with a lumber yard that imported

Baltic Birch from Russia. Thats [mostly] what

I use now. And then I found some better glues,

better sealers, and I started to nd my own style

with graphics. Its a huge artistic medium.

Hes not kidding. There are many combinations

at work here. Boards can be shaped in any

number of ways, not to mention the magnitude

of variations with graphics. Matt said, I just

made a board shaped like a cofn for this crazy

guy. I do a lot of custom boards. I can make

anything. I do wood burning, a little silk screen,stencils, hand paint, rice paper graphics. I do

really awesome dye jobs I love to do a mixing

of the different dyes, really abstract patterns. I

like the simple approach. I work with a bunch

of different woods too, not just birch. Recently I

worked with bamboo plywood, which was really

awesome but its hard to get.

Anyone can order a custom board online from

Matts site at mbskateboards.wordpress.com,

but if youre in the Sterling area you can stop in

at Air Play Sports. Matt recently worked a deal

to feature his boards there. They are com-

petitively priced, and he stated, My cheapest

board at Air Play Sports comes to about $98but thats just the wood, you have to buy the

trucks and wheels too.

Matt plans to graduate in the summer of 2013,

but claims he will still build boards no matter

where his career path takes him. According to

Matt, You dont ever lose interest in it. I saw a

photo online of this 97 year old man, and hes

bombing this hill thats bigger than anything I

would ever attempt. Its awesome. I was think-

ing about becoming a lawyer or doing some-

thing more serious in Sociology after Im done

here, but I will always have this. I love doing

this.

Wherever Matt ends up professionally, hes

certainly found a hobby that he loves that also

provides him a multitude of ways to express

himself as an individual and an artist. Betteryet, it even earns him some money. Most of us

dont ask for much more than that. Best of luck

to Matt and MB Skateboards!

Student Prole: Matt Brown

Faculty Prole: Dr. Maryan Wherry

By: Gina Wilkerson

Copy Editor

Brilliance is timeless, save it for the next pa-

per is a piece of advice offered by the new QC

writing center coordinator and Western Illinois

University faculty member, Dr. Maryan Wherry.

Her face may be familiar because she was a

professional writing tutor in the QC-Writing

Center for ve years prior to accepting her new

position.

Dr. Wherry comes to WIU with over 20 years of

teaching experience in the areas of composi-

tion, American history, and political science.

She received a Master of Science in History

and a Master of Arts in English from Illinois

State University. She earned a PhD in Ameri-

can Culture Studies from Bowling Green State

University. This semester, Dr. Wherry is teaching

ENG-180: College Writing I and ENG-380: Writ-ing in Humanities and Social Sciences.

When asked why Dr. Wherry likes what she

does for a living, her response is that she enjoys

working with students and watching them grow

intellectually. She accepts the challenge of nur-

turing students so they can develop their fullest

potential. Dr. Wherry says that there is noth-

ing as rewarding as seeing the light bulb go on

when a student nally gures it out.

In her role at the writing center, Dr. Wherry is

committed to overseeing the success of the

center. She emphasizes that writing is a way of

thinking, and every writer learns at a different

pace. She points out, Its not a question of right

or wrong; its all about development. The writ-

ing center offers a place for students to get out-

side help in thinking through that writing pro-

cess, brainstorming, organizing ideas, revising

drafts, clarifying points, and restructuring long

and short essays. She warns that the writing

center is not for editing but for helping students

become better writers, better thinkers.

On a personal level, Dr. Wherry enjoys research-

ing in the areas of womens studies and history,

local history, and popular culture. She is work-

ing on a book on local womens biographies

and is editing the March 2013 issue of the

Journal of American Culture.

If you are interested in scheduling an appoint-

ment at the WIU-QC Riverfront writing center,

please stop in or call 309-762-9481 ext. 64534.

The writing center is open Monday through

Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Fridays

Dr. Wherry mentoring a few of her students in English 180.By Aaron Graf

Images Courtesy of MB Skateboards.WordPress.com


4/8

4 September 28, 2012 RIVERS EDGE WIU-QC

What follows, in the tradition of the original publications of Dickens and Alcott, is a serialized story. For each issue of the Rivers

Edge, a new chapter will be published. Additionally we have decided that a new author will determine how the story progressses

in each issue. The staff of the Rivers Edge hopes that our readers will enjoy our experiment in creative writing. We dont know

where this will end up, but it will be fun getting there.

The Case of the Maybe Murdered MillionairesBy: Jason KunaStaff Writer

Some days the life of a private eye is only as exciting as the dame who makes the coffee in the morning. So when I interviewed Daisy May to be the

assistant Id been looking for, whether or not she even drank coffee each morning was my rst question. She told me she did, but only after insuring

that the texture of the select Peruvian beans, which shed ground fresh just seconds before, was to her satisfaction.

This information alone was enough to compel me to hire her. Her sultry red lips, sparkling teeth, sand colored blazer, and lighter hued matching skirt

and blouse, which reminded me of something out of Jack Darlingtons The Sands of Time Id been reading, were of little consequence. She got the

job, because next to the thought of a cup of fresh ground Peruvian java each morning everything else is just window dressing.

Your hired Daisy May, I said in the sternest voice I could muster.

She almost sang her reply to me, You wont regret it Mister Simon. Ill solve just as many cases as you do sir and thats a promise.

Well see about thatis it Mss. May? I replied botching the melody shed used. You can call me Frank.

Its Miss May, she corrected, but you can call me Daisy. She surveyed the ofce, Before I start solving your cases though, I am going to get this

furniture positioned correctly.

While her words were still arranging themselves in my mind, Daisy proceeded to rst pull, what was now her oak desk, out from the wall and angling

it at the door. She next grabbed mine, a considerably heavier mahogany federal style desk, which in a previous life had served my accountant Father,

and positioned it at an opposing angle to hers , but nearer to the back of the room.

She looked over at me sitting awkwardly in my chair in the middle of the room, seemed to look through me and announced, Yep right here is good,

there will be just enough room behind your chair for the ling cabinet I will bring in for you tomorrow. And over here, she said, nearly dancing towards

the other corner of the ofce, making rough measurements with her arms, we will want to put a book case and a palm tree- it will look like some-

thing wed hide behind when were on a stakeout that will give the clients a sense of security when their hiring us.

I was pulling my chair over towards my desk thinking of how maybe I should have advertised for a secretary rather than an assistant, but not know-

ing how to, or genuinely wanting too, burst Daisys bubble as she went on about the new calendar here, the vase with owers there, when the door

burst open. A heavy set gray haired man in a good imitation of a Brooks Brothers suit barged into the ofce, stopped in front of the desk I wasnt

quite behind yet, and frantically exclaimed, Mr. Simon! I absolutely must hire you! I am about to be MURDERED!

Ahh Mr. ahh? We charge two hundred dollars a day, plus expenses, but rst youd better sit down and have a drink. I think Ill have one too now tell

me all about it

To be continued

ATTENTION WRITERS:

Do you like CONTESTS?

Do you want a KINDLE?IDEAS (the Interdisciplinary English and the Arts Society) just so happens to have a CONTEST with the

winner receiving a KINDLE! How serendipitous for YOU, dear reader!

All you have to do is submit a short story by October 26th, 2012 in order to be entered into the contest.The winner will be revealed at the IDEAS Coffee House Bash (tentatively) scheduled for November 9th,

2012. The winner of the contest will receive a Kindle as a prize, as well as be published here, in theNovember 30th edition of the Riveredge! Its the love, admiration and recognition youve always

wanted!

Now, in order to be considered your story must meet the following specications:

1) Must be ve hundred [500] words or fewer

And, in honor of everyones favorite presidential election month, all stories should

2) Be politically themed3) ????

4) PROFIT!

Other than these specications, your story can be written in ANY WAY you want

we will pick the BEST, whether the best happens to be the FUNNIEST, the SCARI-

EST, the MOST INTENSE, WHATEVER the best story will win, and its author will

receive a brand new KINDLE!

Send all submissions as an e-mail attachment to [email protected], with the

subject heading Short Story Contest and remember, you only get ONE ENTRY

PER PERSON, so make sure its the absolute BEST story it can be.

MisunderstoodBy Patrick Olson

Staff Writer

Face the fury of haters,

They are the instigators,

Regardless what they say,

Be positive anyway,

So people believe you are unintelligent,

They are unknowing and ignorant,

Show them how you really are,

Being rude will not show your true caliber,

So the world thinks less of you,

No matter what, be you and stay true,

Being depressed or oppressed will make you lose sight,

Find strength and keep your might,

Whatever people say about you,

Reacting in the same manner is beneath you,

You are worthwhile,

So dont ruin your personality or style,

Regardless how you have been mistreated,

Never decide to be defeated,

Expect more from who you are,

And you will go far,

Let go what other people think,

Their opinion shall not put you on the brink,

Do not start insults, violence, or frown,

Stay cool and calm down,

No matter race, class, gender, disability, sexuality, situa-

tion, or neighborood,

We have all been misunderstood,

Its important to build humanity,

Without it, we will live in a world of insanity

PAGES


5/8

RIVERS EDGE WIU-QC 5 September 28

ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY

The iPhone 5 is out, and the Tech Guru has Your Review!

By: Bobby Dillion

Assitant Editor

Like many readers around the world, I was caught up in the whirlwind of excitement that tends to follow a universe-wide reboot, something

Marvel and DC are wont to do every decade or so. The rst wave of relaunched, rebooted, and refreshed titles have just wrapped up their

rst year, while six new series are set to publish their fth issues throughout September. With this in mind, amidst what essentially amounts

to mountains of comic books, there have been some real bright spots; fty-two comic series is quite a lot to dig through to nd the stuff that

is actually good, so allow me to point you in the direction of two series that have been true standouts in my mind: Swamp Thing and Animal

Man.

Swamp Thing and Animal Man have both spent their year building up to what will likely be the coolest crossover event since Marvels Civil

War. The big occasion (for which I am terribly excited) is called Rotworld, and essentially will be the story of how the Swamp Thing (aka

Alec Holland) and Animal Man (aka Buddy Baker) try to ght off the forces of the Rot. Describing the Rot is like describing air you know

what it is, but try explaining it to someone who lives in outer space but just imagine if you crossed the Black Death with mad cow disease

and threw in a strain or two of leprosy. Thats the Rot; pretty nasty stuff surely you can understand why these two would be more than

slightly worried.

Swamp Thing is penned by Scott Snyder and drawn (mostly) by a true star-in-the-making in Yanick Paquette (Civil War: X-Men), while Ani-

mal Man is written by Jeff Lemire (Sweet Tooth) and drawn by Travel Foreman (Superman) for the rst eight issues, with subsequent issues

drawn mostly by Dan Green (Uncanny X-Men). It is truly impossible to overstate just how wonderful these books are everything from theexcellent, crisp writing to the absolutely breathtaking artwork, even down to the way the panels are laid out, truly gives the reader a sense of

experiencing something other-worldly, rather than just reading about, and looking at pictures of, something other-worldly.

Do not let the towering backlog of history scare you away both issue #1s start at a place that anyone can just pick them up and read. I

highly recommend checking out the trade paperbacks that just came out (available at most bookstores) which collect the rst seven issues

of their respective series: Animal Man, Vol. 1: The Hunt, and Swamp Thing, Vol. 1: Raise Them Bones.

Two Series Standout Amid DC Comics New 52

By: Catherine BodenbenderAssitant Editor

The diversity of the Quad Cities theater scene rivals that of any major city. Dont believe it? Just ask locally-based actor and producer,

Tristan Layne Tapscott. According to Tapscott, The theatrical landscape [here] is as diverse and vast of some major metropolitan area.

This summer alone, I was able to do direct a reading of an important, hard hitting drama, an old school musical from the golden age, and

a new age Pulitzer Prize winning musical... That is astounding. The options are amazing. The company he leads, District Theatre, certainly

adds to the variety of live theater available to Quad City audiences. From the summer of 2008 to the summer of 2011, the group per-

formed under the name Harrison Hilltop Theatre and produced such varied shows as Rent, Chicago, Sunday in the Park with George, Long

Days Journey into Night, and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and The Rocky Horror Show in Davenport, IA. In the summer

of 2011, the company moved to downtown Rock Island and changed its name to District Theatre. Since then, District Theatre has produced

Jesus Christ Superstar, The Last 5 Years, Chicago, The Rocky Horror Show (which they mount annually for the Halloween season), Turn of the

Screw, A Tuna Christmas, Company, Scenery, Parade, and The Pillowman.

The company has a whole slate of upcoming shows, the next of which is the wildly popular and hilariously offensive Avenue Q. According

to the Broadway productions website, Avenue Q is a laugh-out-loud musical that tells the timeless story of a recent college grad named

PRINCETON who moves into a shabby New York apartment all the way out on Avenue Q. There, he meets KATE (the girl next door), ROD (the

Republican), TREKKIE (the internet sexpert), LUCY THE SLUT (need we say more?), and other colorful types who help PRINCETON nally dis-

cover his purpose in life! Adding to the comedy is the fact that the actors playing these roles are portraying them through puppets that look

like they come from a certain well-loved childrens T.V. show you know, the one with the large bird and his invisible friend. It is a brilliant

show, Tapscott says, Extremely funny and it has some serious heart. And it has puppets. What a cool challenge!

Avenue Q was named Best Musical of the Year in 2003, and critics have called its most recent New York production as sly and winning,

and one of the hippest theatrical destinations in New York. If you like humor that hasnt been censored by the PC Police, head down to

District Theatre and check out Avenue Q. The show runs from October 5th to 21st, showtimes are Thursday, Friday and Saturday 8 p.m. and

Sunday 2 p.m.. To reserve tickets, call 309-235-1654 or e-mail [email protected]. More information is available at districttheatre.

com. availablehttp://districttheatre.com

Upcoming Theater Season as Diverse as it is Acclaimed

By:Tek Guru

Staff Writer

On Wednesday, September 12th, Apple announced thelong awaited new iPhone 5. Excited was somewhat subdued due to the fact that

many of the specs had already been leaked months earlier. Here is what you can expect.

1. Physical The iPhone 5 has a thinner form factor that the 4S, measuring in at 7.6mm thick. The thickness reduction also resulted in a

26.0% lighter device. iPhone 5 will also sport a 14% bigger screen with 19% higher screen resolution, 640 x 1136 px. To achieve the new

specs, Apple also changed the standard 30-pin connector in favor of the Lightning. The new connector will require the purchase of newaccessories to work with the new phone.

2. Camera - With the camera improvements, Apple took direct aim at the digital point-and-shoot market. The iPhone 5 will have a 8 mega-

pixel sensor, a new fth lens, enlarged aperture, face detection, and improved video stabilization. The front facing camera has been

upgraded to 1.2 MP and 720p HD video. It will also have a dedicated camera button, which should make taking photos much easier.

3. Speed - iPhone 5 features the A6 Chip, which is reported to provide notably faster CPU clock speeds, 1.9x faster CPU clock speed that

the iPhone The A6 chip will enable users to launch and run applications faster, especially games or graphic intensive programs.

4. Battery Life - Even with the boost in power, Apple execs were quick to explain that battery life would not be sacriced but instead im-

proved. Executives boast battery life up to 8 hours of 3G talk time, 8 hours of 3G browsing (or 10 hours of WiFi browsing), and up to 8

hours on LTE.

5. Dual Networks - This version of the iPhone will offer dual support for CDMA and GSM networks. The iPhone 5 will also take advantage of

the LTE networks for faster data access.


6/8

RIVERS EDGE WIU-QC6 September 28, 2012

WESTERN 411

WIU-QCS SCIENCE OF ENGINEERING PROGRAM ACHIEVES MAJOR

MILESTONE AT BREAK-NECK SPEEDBy: Aaron Graf

Editor-in-Chief

WIU University Relations Contributing:

Given that the WIU-Quad Cities engineeringprogram began in the fall of 2009, the announce-

ment that the WIU Bachelor of Science in Engi-

neering degree had earned accreditation from the

Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technolo-

gy (ABET) is a little out of the ordinary. According

to School of Engineering Director Bill Pratt, three

year is typically not enough time to meet ABETs

standards. Ifyou are going to start and engineer-

ing program from scratch its going to take ve

years minimum [toachieve accreditation]. The

reason for this is that before the accreditation

team will even come, theprogram must graduate

one person.

Earning ABET accreditation with two years left onthe clock is just one of the hurdles the WIU-

Quad Cities program has faced and overcome in

its short existence. In a recent interview Dr. Pratt

wasasked to explain how the School of Engineer-

ing developed and what accreditation means for

its future. He explained that the need for a lo-

cal engineering degree program was something

which area businesses have been hoping to see

start for over two decades. Unfortunately, the will

to do so, and money that was needed, was never

available.

This scenario appeared to have changed when

the state of Illinois announced that it was going to

grant the nancial request WIU had been making

for many years. However, the grant process sooncame to a halt. Dr. Pratt described those initial

frustrations when the money never came through.

They [WIU], told me before I arrived that they

thought they were going to get a certain amount

of funding, and then things went into a tail spin

three years ago.

The challenge of circumventing these types of

budget shortfalls is a well-known headache for

thosein higher education today. But three yearsago, with this kind of seemingly insurmountable

obstacle blocking the path before they could

even begin, many groups would have given up.

However, as Dr. Pratt explained, So there was no

money. It is just one of these things were you say

OK. Some people would call it impossible; engi-

neers just call it a challenge. The impossible just

takes a little longer.

And not even that much longer. However, the brief

span of time from the engineering degrees

origins to its accreditation starts to make more

sense when you consider the commitment of a

groupof community businesses, the partnerships

forged with local community college, and thedetermination of its administrative leader. In addi-

tion to a Bachelors in Engineering from the United

States Military Academy at West Point, and a

PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Brigham

Young University, Dr. Pratt also had the experi-

ence of starting a similar engineering program at

Southern Utah State. While at SUS he obtained

ABET accreditation for the nations rst Integrated

Engineering Program. His prior experience helped

make everyone involved in making the School of

Engineering a reality aware of what challenges lay

ahead.

While his experience was integral to getting the

program off the ground, Dr. Pratt explained thatThe support and the welcome that we have

gotten from all the business around here, all the

manufacturing, and engineering rms, has been

nothing short of miraculous. The Moline Founda-

tion, and the Deere Foundation, combined to put

up a million dollars, and for the rst two years

every bit of that money was used to pay the rent

at the Caxton building. We had to have space in

Caxton because there was just no room for us at

the 60th street location, which was already full-to-over owing.

The site was also convenient for the program

because, the business development folks, led by

Jim Bowman, the former executive director of Re-

new Moline Inc., wanted us downtown. Everyone

in the middle of Moline has wanted this program

for twenty-ve years and it [the location] was a

way we could get everyone excited. The nice thing

about it too was that we had Shive-Hattery, a

big engineering rm, just above us helped lend

credibility to our group. Having local community

colleges in partnership with the program was the

nal piece of the puzzle to get underway and be-

gin working towards the goal of obtaining nation-

ally recognized accreditation for the degree.

Dr. Pratt emphasized the importance of those

partnerships, explaining that, Black Hawk Col-

lege, and Scott Community College, both have

pre-engineering programs, teaching the maths

and sciences the students would need. We recruit-

ed some of their students and we put them on the

fast track. From the get-go in August in 2009 we

created extensive binders for every course, along

with the student outcomes for each course. ABET

is outcomes based, so everything written in those

binders represents skills that students have to

have upon graduation. You have to prove to the

ABET team that youveaccomplished what you set out to do and to do

that we had to collect evidence and tests.

Engineering

Page 7

By: Hayleigh Covella

Staff Writer

For over ten years, Western Illinois Univer-

sitys University Theme Committee has chosen

a campus theme for the years featured speak-

ers and events. This year, the committee has

chosen the theme War and Peace: From Per-

sonal Conict to Global Resolution. Dr. Heather

McIlvaine-Newsad, professor of anthropology at

the Macomb campus and one of the committee

leaders feels that this years Theme speakers

demonstrate what can happen when creativity

and courage intersect during times of war.

As part of this years theme, four speakers are

being brought in throughout the 2012-2013 aca-

demic year to address students and members of

the public. According to Dr. McIlvaine-Newsad,

speakers for the years theme are usually chosen

through a brainstorming process in which the

committees suggestions and suggestions from

the community are considered. The committee

tries to nd speakers that bring in the most

holistic representations of the theme.

This years rst speaker, Haider Hamza spoke

at the Macomb Campus on September 12th.

According to a University Relations post on

the WIU website, Hamza is an Iraqi journalist,

scholar, and activist who has worked for major

news organizations since he was 19. His pre-

sentation focused on daily life in Iraq after the

U.S.led invasion, which he and his family lived

through, as well as the effect of the U.S. military

presence in Iraq and the challenges U.S. soldiers

face. Hamza also discussed the high cost of war,

including his own personal struggles.

The next theme speaker will be Arun Gandhi,

grandson of Mahatma Gandhi.

Dr. Gandhi will be speaking at both the Macomb

campus (Monday, Oct. 15th at 7:00 in the Union

Grand Ballroom) and the Riverfront campus

(Tuesday, Oct. 16th at noon in Room 111). The

University Relations post describes Dr. Gandhi as

following his grandfathers nonviolent philoso-

phy. He is a peace activist who was sent to live

with his grandfather after his parents found him

seeking ways to physically ght back against the

apartheid occurring in South Africa, where he

lived. After living with his grandfather, Dr. Gandhi

adopted his teachings and has successfully led

projects for economic and social reform in India.

In 1991, Dr. Gandhi and his late wife founded the

M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, which puts

Mahatma Gandhis nonviolent philosophy into

practice through workshops, lectures, and com-

munity outreach programs. Dr. McIlvaine-Newsad

was able to meet Dr. Gandhi on a study abroad

trip to India she and Dr. Sarah Haynes, Assistant

Professor of Religious Studies, led in January.

She describes him as, [T]ruly someone who has

tried to live a peaceful life and upon meeting

him, felt that if we could bring him to WIU and

QC campus he would be perfect for this years

theme.

The nal two speakers will be presenting in

2013. In February, WIUs Macomb campus

will host Peter Bergen, one of the few Western

journalists to have interviewed Osama bin Laden

(February 19th at 7:00 in the Heritage Rooms). In

April WIU-Macomb will host Joseph Sebarenz, for-

mer head of the Rwanda Parliament and survivor

of genocide (April 2nd at 7:00 in the Heritage

Rooms).

The Theme Speakers Series is not the

only theme-related event occurring at WIU this

year. The Macomb Campus is featuring an art

exhibit entitled Selections from the Permanent

Collection: War and Peace, which opened on

August 21st and runs until September 20th. The

exhibit is being curated by graduate students

in the Museum Studies Program. The Macomb

Campus is also featuring three major theatre pro-

ductions on the subject of War and Peace to be

performed throughout the 2012-2013 academic

year.

War and Peace at Western Illinois University


7/8

RIVERS EDGE WIU-QC

September 28, 2012 7

Engineering

page 6

While vital, the help from area business lead-

ers, and local education institutions still did not

make the initial going easy. Dr. Pratt noted that

for the rst three years of theprogram they were

extremely busy, The thing that is a little bitunusual is that we started with nothing.The rst

semester where we had students, it was just me

here. I was teaching two courses and we had the

director of the executive studies program, Bill Jor-

gensen teaching one course. The following year

we had senior design projects with industry and

we got those funded. The rst students gradu-

ated two years after we started.

As a result of these students crossing the stage,

the Bachelors of Science in Engineering took the

nal steps needed to being the accreditation pro-

cess. The primary reason for earning the accredi-

tation is to lend credibility to the program. But

another benet of ABETs requirement that every

graduating student must have a major design

experience, and this in particular is benecial

for WIU-Quad Cities students.

According to Dr. Pratt, [Major design experi-

ence] typically involves entering a contest of

somekind, but we didnt have any lab facilities[at Caxton]. So we looked at the requirements

very carefully and they didnt say you had to have

a team comprised of students. So we linked

them [the students] up with engineering teams

fromlocal companies. In every case so far the

students do a very good job, and the company

says, Well we just invested two years in this guy

we ought to keep him rather than lose him to

someone else. Nine-out-of-nine of the graduates

from our program have gone on to have good

paying jobs right here in the Quad Cities. By hav-

ing students being active parts of a companys

design team, ones like the Mandus

Group, or Shive-Hattery, we can tell perspective

students if you want to earn while you learn, and

you want to have a job before you graduate, then

you ought to consider this program.

Because of the high number of engineers in the

area who are predicted to retire over the next

decade, the next hurdle the engineering program

will have to overcome is its rapid growth. Startingwith just six students in 2009, the program now

has sixty-eight students enrolled this fall, and

that number is expected to more than double by

fall of 2013.

Dr. Pratt describes most of those soon-to-be-

vacant-jobs which are likely to be lled by WIU-

QC alumnus as being, Mostly mechanical and

electrical engineering positions and our gradu-

ates can workin all of these areas. That is the

benet of general engineering program. Even if

they dont go into an engineering eld we cover

specically, we teach them how to teach them-

selves, and they can pick it up as they go.

By: John Hartley

Assistant Editor

Every NFL season comes to us with plenty of questions that will ultimately determine how the whole thing plays out.

Here are some of the more intriguing questions that will be solved over the next several months as 32 NFL teams compete for a chance to hoist the Lombardi Trophy.

1. Can the Bears get it done?

The Chicago Bears seem like theyve been on the cusp of putting together some decent runs for the

last several years now, only to ultimately fall short each year for one reason or another. Quarter-

back play has been the biggest issue, as the Bears have had a playoff-caliber defense and excellent

special teams play (bolstered by the best return man in history, Devin Hester) for years now. When

Jay Cutler came to Chicago, it was supposed to solve the Bears quarterback issues and give them

a real chance at winning a Super Bowl. However, Cutler seems like hes spent as much time on his

back or injured as he has on his feet throwing touchdown passes over his rst three seasons with

the team. When hes been able to avoid being sacked, hes thrown a startling number of intercep-

tions- 49 in 41 games as a Bear leading into 2012.

Last year, when things really seemed to be clicking Cutler was injured and the Bears limped their

way to a disappointing 8-8 record. So, can the offensive line protect Cutler this year? If so, can he

avoid forcing passes and throwing interceptions in key situations? In the rst two weeks of the 2012

season, it hasnt looked good, but the jury is still out and Bears fans are hopeful, as always.

2. Can the NFLs big-name running backs return to form?Its no secret to anyone who has followed professional football for any considerable length of time that running backs generally have a shorter shelf life. Even so, last

year was a very disappointing year for two of the biggest stars in the NFL: Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings and Chris Johnson of the Tennessee Titans. In 2011,

an injured Peterson was limited to just 970 yards rushing, although his yards per carry stayed at about his career average, indicating that it wasnt so much his product

as much as the limited action that caused a drop. At the same time, staying healthy is important for any running back, and doubly so for one who a franchise depends

heavily on, as the Vikings do on Peterson.

Johnson didnt even have injuries to blame as he mustered just 1,047 yards over 16 full games in what was his least productive season as a pro. His yards per carry

dropped to just 4.0, also a career low and a terrible drop from his career high of 5.6 yards per carry in 2009. This year, Peterson needs to prove he can stay healthy while

getting the ball a lot, while Johnson needs to show the explosiveness and vision that made him a star. Through the rst two weeks, Peterson has done his part, although

the Vikings are clearly using him much less in the hopes of preserving him as the season continues, while Johnson has been extremely disappointing, racking up just 21

yards in two games.

3. Can Manning still perform?

Peyton Manning was one of the biggest stories in sports last year, even though he didnt play a single game all season. Why? Because after enduring a neck injury that

left his career itself in question, he and the Indianapolis Colts had an awkward will they or wont they? period that ended with Manning heading off to the Denver

Broncos and the Colts drafting a shiny new quarterback with the number one pick they earned from a dismal 2011 season. Can Manning take the Broncos deep into

the playoffs and add another impressive accomplishment to his resume at 36 years old? He doesnt have a ton of talent in his receiving corps, but so far hes looked

okay, with an impressive Week 1 performance being followed by a strangely erratic three interception game in Week 2s loss to the Atlanta Falcons. One things for sure:

without Manning playing well, the Broncos are going nowhere.

4. Will the Packers disappoint again?

Last season, the Green Bay Packers looked like a lock to be playing in the Super Bowl for much of the season, impressively racking up a 15-1 record in the regular sea-

son while putting up points by the dozen (they scored 42 or more points six times). Their lone loss was a stunning upset in Kansas City, who beat them 19-14 in a game

where Aaron Rodgers was somehow outperformed by Kyle Orton. Yes, Kyle Orton.

In the playoffs a few weeks later, the Packers welcomed the New York Giants to Lambeau Field after a rst-round bye, only to lose another shocker, 37-20. In this one,

the Packers literally dropped the ball, as their normally sure-handed receivers dropped nine passes throughout the contest. So, will this be the year that the Packers win

another Super Bowl to go with Rodgers previous victory in 2010? You cant count them out, even after they lost in Week 1 to the San Francisco 49ers at Lambeau Field.

However, the wonderful (and sometimes gut-wrenching) truth of the NFL playoffs is that any playoff team can win- or lose- a particular game, and Packers fans wont be

able to really relax until the Packers earn some impressive playoff victories.

5. When will the real refs show up?

Who would have ever thought that the referees would be one of the most compelling storylines of an NFL season? Well, were only two weeks into the season and thereferees are certainly at center stage. With the NFLs veteran ofcials on strike, replacement referees have been used to mostly poor reviews, with only a few fans giving

them the benet of the doubt thus far. It does seem like the replacement refs are working under a microscope that wouldnt usually be present in a normal NFL season,

but at the same time, theyve been pretty awful.

Unfortunately, it may take a clearly game-changing screw-up to give the striking refs the leverage that they need to get back on the eld.

The 2012 NFL Seasons Five Biggest Questions

SPORTS


8/8

RIVERS EDGE WIU-QC8 September 28, 2012

Duck, Duck, Noose

IN CONCLUSION

By: Amy aceySta Writer

Te Western Illinois Riverront Campus, here in the Quad Cities, pro-vides students with a unique campus environment. Instead o having aquad, as so many universities do, we are lucky enough to have access tothe beautiul Ben Butterworth Parkway. In addition to a gorgeous viewo the Mississippi, the parkway provides us with a scenic place to picnicbetween classes. While we lunch, we can sit among the fowers, enjoy thebreezes o the water, and watch the wildlie rolic.

I you happen to take advantage o the many serene snacking spots nearthe water, there is a certain responsibility that comes with such leisure.Once youve eaten and have bread crusts le over, or perhaps a crackerthat you wont nish because youre all out o cheese; do not be temptedto treat the local river ducks. You may really want to. Perhaps you canimagine how cute they will look while scooping the ood up into theirbills. You might even believe that they look hungry, but do not be enticed.Signs along the parkway clearly state:Do not eed the waterowl.Why not? Well, according to Rodd Schick, Park Operations Manager at

City o Moline, there are two very good reasons. Te rst is the mess thatensues. It can be unsightly, but even more importantly; it can be danger-ous to bikers. Waste makes the terrain o the bike path very slick. Withouttraction, cyclists can obviously run into saety issues. Im sure no unsus-

pecting eeder would wish hazard upon anyone, but i that isnt causeenough, the second reason is a pretty big deal. Apparently it is a ederaloense to eed migratory waterowl.Both the ducks and the pelicans here in the Quad Cities are migratory.Teir cue to move on is the dwindling o their natural ood source. Tisoccurs during the all season. Ducks that have been ed handouts sincethe springtime have diculty noticing natures cue. Teyre too busyenjoying bread, crackers, and even corn rom all the people out on theparkway. Te magnicent autumn weather usually brings out many QuadCities residents with much grub to share. However, when it suddenlybecomes cold, the number o river-walkers drastically drops. Picnickersdisappear altogether. At this point, the ducks have missed their chance tomigrate and all ood, natural or otherwise, has vanished. Tis makes it ex-tremely dicult or the birds to make it through the harsh winter months.Tose who dont starve have a high likelihood o alling victim to therigid temperatures. Such a situation is terribly sad, but the real tragedy isthat its all due to the good intentions o people like you and me.

So the next time youre sitting on the bank o the Mississippi with lunchto spare, do not pass it along to the wildlie. ranserring an excess morselinto a hungry bill might make you and even the duck happy or the mo-ment, but in the long run that treat will just be a noose around the birdsneck. Dont inadvertently send our eathered riends to the gallows. Keepour campus and the parkway beautiul and sae by placing scraps wherethey belong: in the trashcan.

By: Shanna Herr

Staff Writer

On August 31, the Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) 195 class and

students several other classes made the trip to Sunset Marina to par-

ticipate in a oating classroom on the Mississippi River courtesy

of Living Lands and Waters. Among the instructors that participated

was Dr. Everett Hamner. Other faculty that attended were Professors

Donald Mclean, Leslie ORyan, and Tammy Werner. The Living Lands

and Waters guide for the days event was Jaymie Schuldt a WIU-QC

Aluminst.

When asked what the purpose of the oating classroom experi-

ence was, Dr. Hamner had this to say, I wanted my students to get

to know each other outside of the classroom. I wanted them to see

that their education matters for personal reasons, not just for the

paycheck. Dr. Hamner cited that Chad Pregracke, the founder ofLLW, was not a business major. He had an idea and a passion that

he decided to pursue to help out his community.

Jaymie Schuldts position at Living Lands and Waters (LL&W) is that

of Education Coordinator. She is responsible for coordinating all the

educational workshops that take place on the new oating class-

room. These educational workshops started in 2003, but the barge

that they originally had was not able to host the workshops. Since

then, LL&W has acquired a newer barge that enables them to have

their educational workshops on the water.

Ms. Schuldt disribed the purpose of these educational workshops as

giving an opportunity, to cover a wide variety of river-related edu-

cational topics such as ecology, history, culture, careers, navigation,

and stewardship. With this new oating classroom, there will be 50

student workshops and 9 educator workshops over the lenght of the

entire Mississippi river.This oating classroom gives the students that participate an idea

of what Chad and his employees lives are like working on a barge

doing something they are extremely concerned about, namely river

ecology and giving anyone that is intrested the chance to improve

it. LL&W is a non-prot organization structured on working together

to clean up our nations rivers, for more information check out thier

website, www.livinglanndsandwater.org for more information, and

schedules for future oating classrooms.

LAS Students Buoyed by their LLW Classroom Experience

A sign posted along the river front.

Photo By: Amy Tacey

Some very hungry looking Ducks

Photo By: Amy Tacy

WIU-QC students and faculty don Life jackets in preparation for their day on the

Mississippi.

Photo By: Aaron Graf

river's edge 9-28-2012 vol5 issue 1

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