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USI to celebrate All Steinway designation with CEO of Steinway- CANCELED

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After a long journey tracing back to 2015, the University of Southern Indiana earned an All-Steinway School distinction in Fall 2023. To celebrate this achievement, the Steinway CEO will join the USI College of Liberal Arts for a reception and a concert by USI choir, accompanied by Tom Drury, Instructor in Music, on a Steinway piano at 3 p.m. Tuesday, October 29 in the Rice Library second floor Reading Room.

With the opening of the USI Performance Center in 2015, which included a Steinway grand piano, the USI Foundation petitioned Dr. Linda L. M. Bennett, USI’s third President, to approve the initiative of becoming an All-Steinway School, “a school that demonstrates a full commitment to excellence by providing its students and faculties with the best instruments possible for the study of music.”

By summer 2023, USI and the Dr. Philip H. Hagemann Department of Performing Arts, Music and Theater were in a position for the USI Foundation to formally seek the All-Steinway School Distinction. “USI has a long tradition of musical excellence, and this designation is a good step forward as we look to the future of our programming,” said Dr. Del Doughty, Dean of USI’s College of Liberal Arts.

For more information about the All-Steinway School Distinction, visit the Steinway Pianos for Higher Education webpage.  

How Polls Were So Off in 2016 and 2024

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How Polls Were So Off in 2016 and 2024

OCTOBER 1, 2024

The 2016 and 2020 presidential elections are often cited as examples of polling failures, especially at the state level. Several factors contributed to why the polls missed the mark in these races.

  1. Undersampling Key Voters: In 2016, one of the biggest issues was that many pollsters underestimated support for Donald Trump among non-college-educated white voters, particularly in key Midwestern states. While national polls showed Hillary Clinton with a consistent lead, they failed to capture this crucial demographic’s support for Trump, leading to surprises in states like Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania.
  2. Shy Voter Effect: Another theory is the “shy voter” phenomenon, where respondents are reluctant to express support for a controversial candidate, like Trump, to pollsters. This effect can distort polling data, particularly when voters are concerned about how their preferences might be perceived. However, this theory remains debated, and its impact is difficult to quantify.
  3. Late-Deciding Voters: Both in 2016 and 2020, many voters made up their minds in the final days of the election. In 2016, a significant portion of late deciders broke for Trump, which was not fully captured by earlier polls. In 2020, while national polls were more accurate, state-level polling struggled to account for these late shifts, particularly in contested areas like Florida and Pennsylvania.
  4. Turnout Misjudgments: Pollsters try to predict who will show up on election day, but this is often difficult. In both 2016 and 2020, turnout among certain groups—like rural voters and non-college-educated voters—was higher than expected. Meanwhile, the anticipated high turnout among some Democratic-leaning groups, like young voters and people of color, didn’t materialize to the same extent. This mismatch between expected and actual turnout was a key reason why state polls were so far off.

Polls Can Still Be Useful, But With Caution

Despite these challenges, polls remain a useful tool when taken with a grain of caution. They offer a snapshot of where the race stands at any given time and help identify broad trends. The key is to look at multiple polls and average the results to smooth out the variations caused by different methodologies. Websites like RealClearPolitics and FiveThirtyEight offer poll aggregations that can provide a more balanced view of the race.

Additionally, understanding the margin of error is critical. If a poll has a margin of error of +/- 3%, then a 2% lead for one candidate may actually mean the race is a statistical tie. In close elections, this margin of error can make a big difference in how results are interpreted.

Ultimately, polling is not a perfect science. While it can provide valuable insights, it’s important to view it as just one piece of the larger puzzle in understanding electoral dynamics. As technology and methodologies improve, pollsters will likely get better at capturing the true state of elections. But for now, voters should remain cautious and avoid overrelying on any single poll to predict the future.

In the contested states of Pennsylvania and beyond, differences in sampling methods, likely voter models, and weighting factors contribute to the variations in polls. Understanding these factors, as well as the lessons learned from recent election cycles, can help voters make more informed judgments about the data they see.

 

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Pregnancy Promise Program helps new, expectant moms

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Pregnancy Promise Program helps new, expectant moms
Many babies and their mothers need support, especially pregnant women battling substance use disorders. Maternal and infant mortality rates in Indiana are decreasing, but substance abuse and overdoses continue to be leading causes of maternal death in our state, according to the Indiana Maternal Mortality Review Committee’s latest annual report.

The Indiana Pregnancy Promise Program provides free, confidential support for new and expectant moms on Medicaid who use or have used opioids. The program, which is voluntary, helps during the prenatal period and for 12 months after the end of pregnancy.[Click here to learn more about the Indiana Pregnancy Promise Program.]

To be eligible, women must meet these criteria:

  • Be pregnant or within 90 days of the end of pregnancy;
  • Admit to current or previous opioid use; and
  • Be eligible or receive Medicaid.

Teamsters Joint Council 94 Endorses Harris-Walz

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SEPTEMBER 2024 BIRTHDAYS

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                         DAVID JONES                           

Tammy Hicks

                                     Karla Keese

Jim Stuteville

Brandon Renner

William Howard Marver

Quablo Copeland

Joshua Michael Lefler

Sandra McCullough

Brenda Floyd

A.J. Naas

Pam Chaddock Doerter

Jim McGillem

Scott Evernham

Jennifer Warner Mitchell

Elisa Perkins

Kevin S Williams

Virtual Author Talk: Scientists from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

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We’re excited to invite you to our next Virtual Author Talk, featuring scientists from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute on October 2, 2024, at 1 PM. Dive into the captivating world of tropical bats and explore their hidden ecosystems!

Event Details:

Date: Wednesday, October 2, 2024

Time: 1 PM

Location: Streaming Online

Presentation:
A Journey into the Hidden World of Tropical Bats

Join us as three leading Smithsonian scientists share insights from their latest book, Bat Island: A Rare Journey into the Hidden World of Tropical Bats. You’ll learn about the 76 species of bats coexisting on Barro Colorado Island, Panama, and how they are vital to maintaining balanced ecosystems.

Meet the Presenters:

  • Dr. Rachel Page – Staff Scientist at the Smithsonian Bat Lab in Panama
  • Dr. Dina Dechmann – Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior
  • Dr. Teague O’Mara – Director of Conservation Evidence at Bat Conservation International

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear directly from experts who have studied tropical bats for decades. Alongside stunning photography by National Geographic contributor Christian Ziegler, this talk will cover bat ecology, foraging strategies, and the conservation efforts critical to their survival.

To register and secure your spot, please visit: https://libraryc.org/willardlib

EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT

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EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT

FOOTNOTE: EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT information was provided by the EPD and posted by the City-County-County Observer without opinion, bias, or editing.

Vanderburgh County Recenr Booking Reccords

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Booked Last 24 Hours-Public

Trailblazers get back on track with split at Parkland Fall Challenge

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Trailblazers get back on track with split at Parkland Fall Challenge

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Vincennes University volleyball team got back in the win column Saturday evening with a two game split at the 2024 Parkland College Fall Challenge in Champaign.

The Blazers fell in their opening game of the day to NJCAA Division II No. 5-ranked Heartland Community College 20-25, 21-25, 13-25 before closing out the weekend strong with a sweep over Lincoln Land Community College 26-24, 26-24, 25-15.

Vincennes opened the day with a very tough test against a top five nationally ranked Heartland C.C. squad.

VU got the day started strong, building an early 9-6 advantage over the Hawks before Heartland was able to swing the momentum back with five unanswered points to take an 11-9 lead.

Vincennes would even the score before Heartland used a late 7-1 scoring run to pull away late and pick up the 25-20 victory in set one.

Set two began as another back-and-forth battle, with Heartland being the first team to break away with a 5-0 run to take a 17-12 lead.

VU would continue to battle, cutting the deficit down to two but were unable to completely erase the Heartland lead as the Hawks closed out set two 25-21 to take a 2-0 match lead.

Looking to avoid the sweep, the Trailblazers came out firing in set three, holding an early 6-4 lead before the Hawks grabbed the lead back with a 9-1 scoring run.

Vincennes would get the Heartland lead down to just a single point before the Hawks closed out the match with 11 straight points to take set three and the match 25-13.

The VU offense was led by sophomores Isadora Dias (Rio Grande de Norte, Brazil) and Elisa Dalla Pozza (Vincenza, Italy) who each finished with eight kills.

Dias would add one block, while Dalla Pozza added two blocks to her totals.

Sophomore Laura Tavares (Merida, Venezuela) finished the match with six kills, two blocks and one dig, while sophomore Allison Czyzewski (Louisville, Ill.) and freshman Martyna Sadowska (Pila, Poland) each recorded four kills.

Czyzewski led the Blazers with three blocks in the match, while Sadowska finished with two blocks.

Freshman Paulina Fister (Tuszyn, Poland) rounded out the VU offensive numbers with two kills, five digs, one block and one set assist.

Freshman Rylee Edwards (Fairfield, Ill.) ran the Trailblazer offense from the setter position, finishing the match with 18 set assists, eight digs and one ace.

Sophomore Libby Mehringer (Jasper, Ind.) shared time with Edwards at the setter position, finishing the match with 13 set assists and three digs.

Sophomore libero Grace Flexter (Oblong, Ill.) led the Blazers back row defense with nine digs and three set assists, while freshman Julianna Rettig (Antioch, Ill.) finished with eight digs.

Sophomore Dylan DeCoursey (Montgomery, Ind.) and freshman Ashley Earp (Mattoon, Ill.) each saw the floor in the match, but did not record a stat.

“We were right with them for most of the match,” VUVB Head Coach Gary Sien said. “I thought we played well in all phases and probably needed some better connections at the end of each set. They scored by other means as we picked up quite a few of their shots.”

The Trailblazers then had to quickly turn around and look to close out the weekend strong against Lincoln Land Community College.

This match proved to be very even right from the start with the two teams trading the lead seven times in the first set.

Vincennes found themselves facing set point before rallying back to close out the first set in overtime 26-24 to take a 1-0 match lead over the Loggers.

Set two started off strong for the Blazers, scoring seven straight points to take an early 7-1 lead.

Lincoln Land again refused to go away, battling back to take a 17-14 lead before Vincennes again swung the momentum back to take a late 20-18 lead.

Lincoln Land would reclaim the lead late in set two and again serve set point before VU closed out the set with three straight points to take set two in overtime 26-24 and gain a 2-0 match lead.

VU carried this momentum into set three, looking to close out the sweep and get back in the win column, VU opened set three with four straight points.

Vincennes would build on this early lead with a 4-0 scoring run and a 5-0 run midway through the set to take a 18-11 lead.

Lincoln Land tried to battle back and avoid the sweep but were unable to overcome the Vincennes lead as VU pulled away late to take set three 25-15 and complete the three set sweep over the Loggers.

VU sophomores Isadora Dias and Elisa Dalla Pozza again led the Trailblazer offense, finishing with eight kills each, while Dias added one block and Dalla Pozza finished with five digs, four blocks and one ace.

Allison Czyzewski ended her weekend with five kills and one block, while Martyna Sadowska ended the match with four kills, four blocks and a pair of digs.

Paulina Fister and Laura Tavares rounded out the offensive numbers with two kills each, with Fister leading the Blazers with 13 digs.

Libby Mehringer again led controlled the VU offense from the setter position, filling the stats sheet with 19 set assists, three kills, three digs, two aces and one block.

Rylee Edwards also helped move the ball for Vincennes as a setter, finishing the match with 14 set assists, six digs and one ace.

Libero Grace Flexter had a big match for the Trailblazers, finishing with six digs, an outstanding five aces and a pair of set assists.

Julianna Rettig ended her weekend with 10 digs in the match.

Ashley Earp saw the floor against Lincoln Land but did not record a stat.

“The changes in the line up we made in the Heartland match was able to jell better against Lincoln Land,” Sien added. “I thought Rylee and Libby ran a very good offense as the middle attack was more established. If the statistics are correct, our middles hit a combined .543 percent for both matches as Allison and Elisa had good numbers.”

“We served very tough as Grace, Libby and Rylee had a numbers of service runs,” Sien said. “We just played exceptional on defense as well, picking up a lot of roll shots and tips. Just the execution from beginning to end that we talked about after last night was there.”

The Trailblazers will look to build on this momentum as they head into next week, hitting the road for a Region 24 match against Frontier Community College Tuesday, Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. eastern.

This game will be played at Center Street Middle School in Fairfield, Ill.

VU will then return home to close out the week by hosting the 2024 Showdown on the Wabash Friday, Oct. 4 and Saturday, Oct. 5.

The Blazers will open the weekend tournament with a Region 24 match against Southwestern Illinois College Friday at 3 p.m. eastern before closing out day one against Wallace State Community College at 7 p.m. eastern.

Vincennes will close out the weekend slate Saturday by facing St. Louis Community College at 10 a.m. eastern and Calhoun Community College at 2 p.m. eastern.

“I’m stating the obvious that we had a rough week,” Sien said. “After the highs of last weekend from Alabama to the realities of Region play this week. Toss the records out the window. Region play is a whole different animal. It is a whole different level of competition as everyone you play with will be at a high level. We have to have our very best to meet their best at all times.”

Aces men’s soccer earns first MVC win at Bradley

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The Purple Aces picked up their third shutout of the year
PEORIA, Ill. – The University of Evansville men’s soccer team won its first Missouri Valley Conference game of the season in a 2-0 shutout of the Bradley Braves.
Another Purple Ace scored their first goal of the season as senior forward Edward Mendy (Overland Park, Kan. / Blue Valley West HS) put in the decisive second goal in UE’s third-straight win over the Braves. Despite Bradley leading the stats on paper, Evansville found goals when the team needed them for their first Valley win of 2024.
It was an even game through the first 10 minutes as the two teams figured out the match’s pace. The Aces got the first offensive flurry of the night with three shots in under three minutes. But it would be the Braves who got UE on the board first with an own goal in the 26th minute as communication broke down between Bradley’s defender and goalkeeper. Spurred by the sudden 1-0 lead, Evansville took another shot right after that went just wide right for senior forward Nacho Diaz Barragan (Almeria, Spain).
The Braves kept the Aces away from the net for the final third of the half. But UE’s defense kept right with them to take a one-goal lead into halftime. Evansville’s offense exploded once again right out of the gate in the second half. In his first game back from injury, Mendy found himself alone with the ball on the right side of the field. Mendy made his way into the attacking third and took a shot from the 12, putting the ball down into the bottom left corner of the net for his first of the year.
With a two-goal lead the Aces kept control of the match over the next 15 minutes, matching every shot Bradley took. The Braves had a bit of an offensive surge with back-to-back shots in the 68th and 69th minutes. But UE took the ball back into its offensive zone for a shot from junior defender Nacho Diaz-Caneja (Coruña, Spain) that was blocked away from the goalkeeper. Evansville kept Bradley’s offense at bay, blocking the Braves’ final shot of the match in the 83rd minute.
The Aces 2-0 win over Bradley marked their first of conference play after two close losses to then No. 9 Western Michigan and Drake. With two points in MVC action, UE moves up to sixth in the standings right behind UIC. Evansville will welcome the Flames to town for its next match in two weeks on Saturday, October 12th to potentially decide the fifth-place spot in the conference. Kick-off after the Aces break on October 12th is set for 7 p.m.
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