The Leader - September 10, 2013

THE LEADER

THE AWARD-WINNING STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT ELMHURST COLLEGE. VOL. 48 SEPTEMBER 10, 2013

Nursing lab partners with local hospital

A nursing student works on a baby simulator available in the Elmhurst Memorial Hospital learning lab.

Brett Peto

staff writer There they sit, eyes glassy, a listless, lifeless look on their faces.

Undergraduates after a long, boring class?

No, they’re dummies—simulated people. The Deicke Center for Nursing Education (DCNE) uses them in teaching labs.

And its dummies will be getting a new home soon, as the

DCNE’s clinical simulation and immersive learning lab, currently confined to less than 1000 square feet in the basement of Memorial Hall, is getting an upgrade.

Under the terms of EC’s new partnership with Elmhurst Memorial Hospital (EMH), the lab will be moved to the hospital and occupy approximately 5000 square feet, in addition to giving access to a classroom accommodating 25 to 30 people.

But the partnership comes at a time of deficit for both institutions.

EC reported a $3.1 million deficit for fiscal year 2011-2012, following a $972,000 deficit in fiscal year 2010-2011. EC also bears the debt of millions in investments in the School for Professional Studies, an effort to better serve nontraditional and adult students.

EMH is struggling with low patient volumes, nearly $500

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million in debt from construction of a new complex in 2011, an abrupt departure of its CEO this March, and a credit rating downgraded by Fitch Ratings this January to BBB, two levels above junk bond status, according to an article on Elmhurst Patch.

Still, rent for the space stands at only $1 per year, and EMH is also paying all utility bills, said Julie Hoff, department chair and director of the DCNE.

“But then they [EMH] get use of the space,” she said. “It’s scheduled out. We have an agreement of when they can use the space for their own training for free. We’re using hospital space, they’re going to have access to the lab at designated times.”

While EMH is providing the space, the DCNE is providing all equipment, transferring existing and soon-to-be-purchased equipment to the hospital, some of which is worth as much as $80,000.

“Most of it’s gonna be stuff we [already] have,” Hoff said.

“We have five simulators...two babies, an adolescent, a birthing woman, and an adult man.

We would like in one year to possibly purchase the latest sim man.”

Areas of the new lab will be devoted to recreating hospital, clinic, and home environments, aimed to foster flexibility in nurses, especially the home environment.

“In the home environment, there will be a bathroom and like a little living area,” Hoff said. “What that’s meant to do is [teach students,] how do you enter a home and look for signs of abuse? How do you retrofit a home to take care of someone in the last stages of their life?”

Transportation to and from the lab for resident students without cars will be by shuttle bus, whereas students with cars will be responsible for their own transportation.

The adaptability and size of the space were tantamount to the partnership, according to see NURSING on page 2

Student arrested for marijuana possession Patrick Erwin

news & online editor An EC student was arrested during the College’s welcoming days for students when cannabis was found in his Stanger Hall dorm room.

Louis M. Hernandez, 19, was arrested by City of Elmhurst police on Aug. 21.

Acting on a referral from Campus Security, police found 2.9 grams of cannabis and related paraphernalia, including grinders and a smoking pipe, in Hernandez’s room.

According to the city police blotter, Hernandez, of Dublin, Calif., was released on bond.

“He was a student at the time of the incident and arrest,” Jeff Kedrowski, executive director of security and emergency management for the College,

confirmed in an email. “He is not a student at this time.”

According to OneDublin.org, a website for Dublin (Calif.)

High School, Hernandez graduated in 2012. A post dated May 2012 recognized Hernandez as the recipient of an EC scholarship.

Kedrowski declined further comment about any campus proceedings regarding Hernandez and his specific case, citing the requirements of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

Last spring, in response to another marijuana possession case, Kedrowski told The Leader that agreements “signed by all residential students,” grant Campus Security the right to search student residences.

In that April 2013 case, two EC students living at El-

mhurst Terrace were arrested and charged for possession of two grams of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

According to data on the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) website, possession of 2.9 grams of cannabis in would be considered a misdemeanor under Illinois law, and carries a maximum sentence of 6 months in jail.

Fhoto by Joseph Kok Drug paraphernalia were found in Hernandez’s Stanger Hall dorm.

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NURSING from front page Laury Westbury, director of the clinical simulation and immersive learning lab in Memorial Hall.

“Elmhurst College has many high-fidelity items currently on campus,” she said. “The ability to use these items more fully in the new space will be where the change takes place. The current nursing lab can only hold one simulation scenario/group at a time. The new lab will allow for several rooms to be occupied and [for] separat[ing] educational sessions to be simultaneously occurring[,] even of a different subject matter.”

Both campus science buildings—Memorial Hall and the Schaible Science Center—were built several decades ago, raising concerns EC may be falling behind in supporting its science programs with modern facilities.

While the state of Illinois recently awarded a $1.5 million grant to partially renovate Schaible and the DCNE recently announced its new partnership, Westbury disagreed antiquated science buildings might hurt science education at EC or prospective students’ impressions of it.

“Perhaps I am a little biased because I am an Elmhurst graduate, but knowing the quality education you receive at Elmhurst College, and the quality of the professors and administrators at the facility, seeing some ‘antiquated’ buildings should not be a deterrent to the quality education provided on this campus,” Westbury said. “So, no, I do not think this would leave a bad impression to future students.”

Westbury added that the partnership should help more than just nursing students.

“I believe this partnership [will] help countless others in the sciences,” she said. “We can also reach out to our arts students to portray simulated patients in the arena, almost [like] ‘scripted’ acting parts.

We can associate with the psychology departments for usage in simulated communication/ therapy sessions.”

The new lab may also not be limited to EC students in general.

“My hopes are that Elmhurst College’s Simulation Center extends throughout surrounding towns and opens doors to the masses,” Westbury said.

CORRECTIONS Our August 20, 2013 issue - the Orientation issue - included a satirical piece, “10 EC People You Really Shouldn’t Piss Off.” The article incorrectly attributed the oversight of several campus offices to Dean of Students Eileen Sullivan, including the Niebuhr Center, the Learning Center, the Patterson Center for the Health Professions, and the Center for Professional Excellence.

These four centers are under the direct oversight of Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty Alzada Tipton.

The news insert for our August 20 orientation issue included a story about the President’s Leadership Academy (PLA).

We indicated that the program, designed to boost retention of students of color and first-generation students, was being taught by 5 African American professors. Two of the five professors (and not all five) are African American.

Four workshops - on reading, writing, oral communication, and quantitative reasoning - were listed in our article. Two additional programs, on leadership and on navigating the college, were omitted.

The Leader regrets these errors.

CLARIFICATION In our President’s Leadership Academy story, we explained that PLA students had to participate in at least five campus events. This was based on a document provided to The Leader, and to students, explaining the program.

PLA director Laila McCloud clarified that those requirements have recently changed. Students are now required to participate in six events, not five.

Please send any comments or oversights to the editor at leadernewsec@gmail.com

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: NEWS & ONLINE EDITOR: OPINIONS EDITOR: BEAT EDITOR: ASSISTANT BEAT EDITOR: SPORTS EDITOR: GRAPHICS EDITOR: PHOTO EDITOR COPY EDITOR: BUSINESS MANAGER: ADVISER:

Haleema Shah Patrick Erwin Clayton Dunlap Ian Walker Hailey Williams Charlie Roumeliotis Nikki Smith Kim McElheny Alexandra Verven Teresa Guidara Ron Wiginton

Internet photo New Australian Prime Minister-elect Tony Abbott waves to constituents after his Sept. 7 election win.

Obama tries to sell strikes on Syria After failing to muster much international support at last week’s G-20 summit, President Barack Obama returned to Washington Sept. 7 to continue making his case for military strikes against Syria. The strikes, Obama said in his weekly address on Saturday, would be “designed to deter the Syrian government from gassing its own people and degrade its ability to do so.” But Russia appears ready to retaliate if Syria is assaulted; at the G-20 summit, president Vladimir Putin said Russia would “help Syria” if strikes occur. Obama will make a major speech to the nation Sept. 10.

NASA launches probe to investigate Moon More than 40 years after the last Apollo mission, NASA sent another spacecraft to the Moon Sept. 6. Called LADEE, or Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer, the scientific probe is meant to investigate a phenomenon first observed by Apollo 17 Commander Eugene Cernan: a mysterious glow on the Moon’s horizon shortly before sunrise, caused on Earth by atmosphere bending sunlight.

However, the Moon’s nearly nonexistent atmosphere should not be substantial enough to do so. LADEE will reach the Moon in 30 days and begin scanning it from low orbit.

Dennis Rodman finishes second North Korea visit this year One-time Chicago Bulls su-

PRODUCTION STAFF Freddy Bartlett Peter Flockencier Kevin Garcia Joseph Kok Tyler Kerr Katie Kuszynski Brett Peto Brandon Porter Paul Roumeliotis Luke Tanaka Brandon Porter

190 Prospect Ave., Elmhurst, IL 60126 Phone: 630.617.3320 leader@elmhurst.edu

perstar Dennis Rodman, who visited North Korea in March, finished a second visit Sept.

7. Arriving in Beijing, he was asked by reporters the status of American Kenneth Bae, imprisoned in North Korea and under hard labor since February for unspecified “hostile acts” against the country. Rodman replied, “It is not my job to talk about Kenneth Bae.” But Rodman previously tweeted that Kim Jong Un, the 30-year-old uncontested leader of North Korea, should “do him [Bae] a solid” and free him.

Brain-eating amoeba kills Louisiana 4-year-old A lethal amoeba named Naegleria fowleri is reportedly to blame in the death of a 4-year-old boy in St. Bernard Parish, La. last week. The child, whose identity has not been released, may have encountered the amoeba while playing on a plastic water slide. Initial tests by the state health department returned positive for the home’s water supply, but will not be certain for a month. Taking precautions, St. Bernard Parish began flushing its water system Sept. 5 with additional chlorine. Naegleria fowleri, usually found in hot springs and warm freshwater, was responsible for the death of Florida 12-yearold Zachary Reyna last month.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, it carries a 99 percent lethality rate upon infection, with symptoms such as headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, stiff neck, seizures, and hallucinations.

ABOUT US The Leader is the studentrun newspaper speaking to the students, faculty and administrators of Elmhurst College. The Leader is not submitted to any person or organization for prior approval.

The contents are the decision of the editor in agreement with the editorial board.

Opinions expressed in The Leader do not necessarily reflect those of the paper or its staff, and are not intended to represent those of the College at large.

All text, photos and art cannot be reproduced without direct permission of The Leader.

Australia elects new Prime Minister Liberal-National coalition leader Tony Abbott is Australia’s newest Prime Minister. A Rhodes scholar, former student boxer, and one-time Catholic seminarian, Abbott swept to power in a landslide election Sept. 7, ousting Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. Rudd, leader of the Labor party, could only guide Labor to a projected 55 seats in parliament, far short of Liberal-National’s projected 91 seats. Once in power, Abbott has promised to enact serious budget cuts in foreign aid of $4 billion and stop Asian migrants from entering the country by boat.

Groupon takes advantage of increasing onion prices in India The rising price of onions in India has given Groupon, the group buying site, with a huge increase in vegetable sales; 3,059 kgs of onions were sold in 80 minutes on Thursday in India. Groupon is selling onions for 85 percent less than market price in the capital of New Delhi. The catch: no one can purchase more than a kilo of onions. The falling value of the Rupee and the rising value of onions gave Ankur Warikoo, Groupon India’s CEO the idea to sell onions at such a low price since onions are part of almost every Indian’s daily meals. The offer is available in 78 cities in India and can be shipped within 10 days.

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Money talks: EC ponders partnerships Patrick Erwin

news & online editor In the wake of the economic downturn, cash-strapped colleges and universities have had to get creative about finding new sources of funding.

Even big guns like Harvard and Penn have sold naming rights to, yes, restroom stalls.

While EC may not be at that stage - at least not yet - the College has recently established several partnerships and corporate sponsorships of campus programs.

One recent example: the President’s Leadership Academy (PLA), a program designed to support students of color and first-generation students, and increase retention of those students.

While the College itself funded much of the program, funds to cover the costs of a service project for students was funded by corporate sponsorship--in this case, money from Chicagobased BMO Harris Bank.

PLA director Laila McCloud said that sponsorship was a way to “help us absorb some of [the] costs, and not diminish the quality of the program.”

The partnership with BMO Harris grew out of several links between EC and the bank, which provides financial services for the College.

The most notable link: Julie Curran, regional president of BMO Harris, serves on the Board of Trustees.

Curran learned about the sponsorship opportunity as a trustee.

“Because we are focused on

helping to strengthen and grow the communities we serve, we support many colleges and universities,” she said. “PLA’s mission of fostering and supporting diversity and inclusion at Elmhurst College aligns with BMO’s core value of embracing diversity.”

BMO Harris also sponsors other EC cultural events, including the Schade lecture series and the Summer Extravaganza.

Sponsorships and partnerships, like the recently announced program partnering the nursing program with Elmhurst Memorial Hospital (EMH), are part of an ongoing effort to find opportunities for collaboration.

Alzada Tipton, senior vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty, explained how EC views these collaborations.

“I would...make a distinction between partnerships and sponsorships: organizations like BMO Harris Bank undertake sponsorships, as they did in the case of the PLA service project, because they wish to support service projects that have a positive impact on society,” Tipton said. “A partnership, such as the partnership we are entering into with Elmhurst Memorial Hospital, is intended to be of mutual benefit: we will have more space to offer stateof-the-art nursing education to our students, and the hospital will have the opportunity to use our training facilities when we are not using them.”

Tipton added that some aca-

demic offerings are part of a partnership. EC has an agreement with Dominican University that allows EC students to take Italian at Dominican, while their students can take German and Chinese classes offered at EC. “Bottom line, we love partnerships!” Tipton said.

EC President S. Alan Ray also supports the partnership initiatives.

“BMO Harris has been a great partner for the College,” Ray said. “I have urged the administration to identify more potential partners and begin to develop relationships that can yield benefits, such as student scholarships, in the years ahead.”

Ray cited the EMH partnership as an example of a mutually beneficial agreement.

“The simulation center will allow EC and EMH to train nursing students and nurses, respectively, at an extremely high level of professionalism, a level neither of us could have achieved on our own,” Ray said.

Ray also signed a partnership agreement last month with Roosevelt University. That program will allow pharmacy students at Roosevelt to earn a Master’s Degree in Public Health from EC at the same time.

Other Chicago area colleges and universities have sought out sponsorships and partnerships.

Last year, City Colleges of Chicago launched its College to Careers (C2C). That program developed partnerships with companies like UPS and Walgreens, and linked students

phases, with spacious student lounges and floor-to-ceiling windows.

“The science departments actually did most of the planning for the new facility—working closely with the architects,” according to chairman of the chemistry department Eugene Losey. “The administration was supportive, but let the scientists plan the facility that they would like.”

But the wider expansion is still delayed indefinitely. That delay was announced in part because of EC’s larger budget deficit, which stood at over $900,000 at the time.

“The timetable is tied to getting more donations, grants, and paying down the debt incurred from the building of West Hall and Circle Hall,” Arriola said.

The cost for West Hall was $23,677,000. West was completed in 2008, just as the international financial crisis started to have an impact.

The cost of Schaible expansion and all other renovations is estimated at $45 million.

Expansion has been a topic of debate among students and a focus for the administration. In a May 2013 interview with The Leader, President S. Alan Ray said that he thinks about “new ways to advance” renovations

every day.

While expansion plans were delayed in 2011, the Board of Trustees did designate $1 million in funding for new equipment as an interim measure to address Schaible’s most urgent needs.

“It is important to note that even though our building is outdated, the equipment that we now have in the labs is stateof-the-art,” Arriola said.

Yet he disputed that Schaible’s antiquated facilities hurt science education at EC. “We certainly would like to have the new building so that we can do even more for our students is a better way to say this, I think,” Arriola said. “If the building were a major hindrance then we would not have had the success we have had recently with our students getting into medical school and doctoral programs.”

But Arriola acknowledged the perception and appearance of an outdated science building may leave prospective students with a sour taste in their mouths, especially as a stronger focus on STEM, or science, technology, engineering, and math, education is being emphasized nationally.

“Many of our [competitors] have constructed new buildings and they will look more modern

with “real world” training opportunities.

But in some programs, questions remain about the blurred lines between academic missions and corporate goals.

As EC continues to look at ways to cut debt and sustain its programs, Ray believes that EC has to be creative in its ap-

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proach.

“Only by embracing an ethic of innovation can we achieve the future we’ve set for ourselves in our Strategic Plan, and that includes our academic programs first and foremost,” he said.

Photo by Kim McElheny PLA participants received a T-shirt emblazoned with the logo of Chicago-based BMO Harris Bank, one of the program sponsors.

Schaible repairs back on track with grant

Brett Peto staff writer

Hope and disappointment.

Disagreement and debate. False starts and quick stops.

EC’s road to renovating the Schaible Science Center has had more twists and turns than an episode of “Breaking Bad”, albeit without any methamphetamine.

But the first phase of Schaible renovations can now proceed with a recent $1.5 million grant from the state of Illinois.

Awarded in August as part of the Illinois Jobs Now! program, the grant is part of $90 million set aside by the state this fiscal year to boost the construction industry and assist colleges and universities in completing important construction projects.

Priorities of Phase I renovations will include overhauling classrooms and labs, primarily physics and chemistry labs.

The last major upgrades to the building were done in 1991 and 1992.

“As I understand it the current priorities are renovations that will remain intact even after the new expansion is completed,” said Paul Arriola, chairman of the biology department.

A new wing extending into the lawn between Schaible and Old Main is planned in later

File photo The $1.5 million grant will fix dilapidated equipment like the sinks.

than what we presently have at EC,” he said. “Since most students will [look] at the building instead of the equipment in the labs, we will soon look very outdated, which we fear could impact recruitment.”

Students surveyed thought the renovations will only help EC’s science programs.

“Since we spend a lot of time in lab, it’ll be nice for it to be fully functional and in good con-

dition,” said sophomore biology major Nicole Connet.

With no date yet set to start expansion, Losey emphasized making a wholly modern science building one of the college’s top long-term priorities.

“Even though some really good learning goes on in Schaible, and has for a long time, a new facility will move us further ahead in having stateof-the-art labs and classrooms,” he said.

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Patrick Erwin

news & online editor BIKE BORROWING BOUNCES BACK The Borrow a Bike program is back this fall for EC students.

Mark Wakely, Services Manager for Facilities Management, announced the resumption of the program for the fall semester in an email last week.

Students can check out a bike at the Frick Center information desk with their Jaypass, and can use the bike for 24 hours.

Bike programs at EC have a rocky history.

The original “bikes for students” program, launched in 2009, gave EC students the use of a bike if they promised to forego the use of a car on campus for a year.

While that program had its benefits, including fewer cars parking on campus and a smaller carbon footprint, the costs to equip hundreds of students with bicycles was too steep for EC to sustain. The program was axed in March 2012.

The current model of bike borrowing returned as a test run last spring. In a Leader article from April 2013, Wakely explained that unlike the earlier bike program, which required EC to buy new bikes for all participants, the borrowing program uses existing bikes that were already on campus, including bikes left behind by students in years past.

“That” Coffee Shop, a popular destination for Metra commuters and EC students is temporarily closed as it switches management.

Photo by Patrick Erwin

NO WASTE LUNCH Sustainability efforts at EC put a new spin on an old standby: the welcoming lunch for new students.

The August 21 picnic lunch, held on a sunny day under several tents on the College Mall, marked a first: everything at the lunch, from serving products to the food itself, was composted.

Several news reports credited EC sophomore Jacob Henry, an education major, with the idea for the no-waste lunch.

With a new batch of new students arriving on campus, student volunteers have been more visible since the start of

the semester in the Caf and the Roost.

The volunteers are seated near refuse bins and are offering guidance to students who are learning what goes where in the trash, recycling and composting bins.

COFFEE SHOP NEAR CAMPUS CLOSES “That” Coffee Shop, at 124 Park Ave. in Elmhurst, abruptly closed its doors last week.

The shop, a convenient location for EC students who commute to campus via Metra, had several stretches of closings late

New class size rule impacts departments Patrick Erwin

news & online editor The new fall semester also marks the beginning of the new “10 student” rule at EC. The cost-cutting measure, announced in December 2012, stipulates that classes with fewer than 10 students will be cancelled.

The rule’s impact on class offerings has been a mixed bag.

In most cases, the “gen. ed.” requirements that all students must take weren’t affected, but major-specific classes were more vulnerable to cuts.

EC’s Chemistry Department was one area impacted by the changes.

Dr. Michelle Applebee, chemistry co-chairperson, said that the rule change affected the ability to offer some courses that chemistry majors must take.

“The new rule [limits] the electives a chemistry student would have to choose from, thus minimizing the uniqueness of our different majors,” Applebee said in an email. “Students who

plan to double major in areas, such as physics, may be limited in their ability to do so based on more limited course offerings and time conflicts.”

Applebee also said that in light of the new requirement, the department is considering offering 400 level courses on an every-other-year basis, which might mean a five-year pathway to graduation for some students.

While chemistry classes were affected, the biology department’s offerings emerged unscathed. Dr. Paul Arriola, biology department chair, said he made only minor tweaks in the wake of the new rule.

“The policy did not really impact biology,” Arriola said.

“I adjusted the number of sections available and we had little trouble meeting the 10 student minimum.”

Ann Frank Wake, chairperson of the English department, said she only had to cancel one class. That class, a requirement for education majors, had been offered twice a year but now will only be offered once annually.

But several English classes were close to the cutting edge - a little “too close for comfort,” according to Frank Wake.

“I spent time almost every day this summer monitoring section numbers and I had to hold open some courses until well into August,” Frank Wake said. “A couple of our majors classes had only 9 students until very late, but we managed to get to the number 10 by the end.

The uncertainty and scrambling to staff courses because of the numbers hovering around 10 made August very difficult.”

The new requirement is applicable to most EC departments, although smaller departments with fewer faculty and fewer classes on their rosters may have an “opt out” option.

Most EC department heads have had to adjust to a “new normal” and balance the requirements of the new 10 student rule with a reduction in the number of classroom hours that departments can assign adjunct faculty members.

last spring and during the summer.

Signs reading “Closed” were taped to the store’s windows.

(No one answered the phone number listed for that location.)

The Leader talked to owner Shelley Wagner in a December 2012 piece, “Elmhurst coffee shops thrive despite hard economic times.”

But in a November 2011 interview with hyperlocal news website Patch, Wagner said that high credit card and fuel fees were taking a bite out of her business, and disclosed that she had not yet made a profit.

When - or if - the location will

reopen is uncertain, but the closure may be temporary; late last week, a sign saying “Opening Soon - Under New Management” was posted near the shop’s entrance.

For now, EC commuter students can still get their mochas and lattes on campus in the Founders Lounge, or in the More Than Mocha shop on the first floor of the Elmhurst Public Library. The EPL shop, however, doesn’t open until 9 a.m. - a little too late for those attending 8 a.m. early bird classes.

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Editorial

Ah, the humanities!

Under the Microscope

Appreciate evolution’s leftovers

BRETT PETO

staff writer ILLUSTRATION BY TYLER KERR

At this year’s State of the College Address for staff and faculty, President S. Alan Ray explained fiscal challenges that are the effects of EC’s 2.4 million dollar deficit. In his address, Ray noted that expecting new student enrollment to be approximately 576 each academic year is no longer a feasible number for institutional planning.

Simply put, EC cannot plan to spend money it will not have.

As this development has all the trappings of a significant change, The Leader questions what this will entail for students pursuing a degree in the humanities.

Flowing from the effects of the still struggling U.S. economy, this recent change in enrollment expectations by the college comes due to a necessary adaption to students’ either waiting to pursue tertiary education, or not willing to invest in the hefty expense that private colleges carry.

What this means for EC is a reevaluation of its position as a private institution of higher learning, as the college must establish unique aspects of its educational and experiential offerings to claim a stake in the competition for new students.

EC has certainly been doing well in this respect, by offering 10 graduate and 10 certificate programs. And the nursing program just entered a partner-

ship with Elmhurst Memorial Hospital (EMH), in which EMH is building a state-of-the-art facility within the hospital for hands-on experience, plus an onsite classroom. The speechlanguage pathology program is also gaining some glory as it received recognition as a candidate for accreditation by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and SpeechLanguage Pathology. And let’s not forget the long awaited 1.5 million state grant to finally help finance the expansion of Schaible Science Center.

Again this is all excellent news for the college, and The Leader praises the administration for their successful efforts to make EC a viable and worthwhile option to attract potential students.

However, the humanities seem to be excluded from this adaption process, as EC appears to be disproportionately leaning toward the sciences.

Out of the graduate and certificate programs offered by the college, only Interfaith Pastoral Care & Chaplaincy—a noncredit certificate program—has anything to do in the realm of the humanities.

Where are the post-undergraduate options for students not in the sciences?

We understand the humanities are not job-prolific, and the impression is an undergraduate degree in the humanities

means a career in academia.

And the current trend in higher education is science oriented. There are more practical, higher paying careers in the sciences. This cannot be denied.

But the humanities are integral to education, and this cannot be denied, either—where ethics are discussed for the sake of ethics, literature is analyzed for the sake of the written word, and critical thinking, above all, is specifically facilitated to students.

EC has a deep tradition in the humanities. Let’s be honest, Reinhold Niebuhr wasn’t a chemist. And even President Ray is a happy student of the humanities.

We understand the administration is not trying to make risky fiscal decisions at this time. But if attempting to strengthen the humanities in a global educational environment that is developing in the opposite direction is only seen as a risky business move, EC administration is looking at education through the wrong lens.

So, we would like to ask the administration to answer a question of its own: What will you stand for?

Will you simply adapt to the current trend, allowing the humanities to continue to dwindle, or will you stand by your claim, “to engage a complex world,” and challenge the status quo?

Even if you focus your hardest, you can’t control your third eyelid. The tiny pink orb, in the corner of your eye?

Yeah, back in a long-ago branch of evolutionary history, before we were anywhere close to being recognizably human, that orb was once a third eyelid.

Called the nictitating membrane, it’s a semi-transparent flap found in fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and a few mammals. Useful for protection from pesky particles and for shutting out more light during sleep.

Although it’s no longer functional in us, it’s among many other traits we still retain as evolutionary leftovers.

Another is goosebumps.

Sure, we all know they sprinkle the skin during fear or when cold. But do you know why?

We’re practically hairless, compared to our own primate relatives as well as other mammals. Sheldon Cooper’s soft, warm kitty makes us seem as bald as rocks.

But if a predator threatened a previous incarnation of human, its hair follicles contracted and the creature’s fur grew bushier. Sometimes, it grew enough to deter a predator from attack. The appearance of dangerous size was more important than the reality of it.

As for the cold, the same process occurred: follicles contracted and fur grew. But— unlike us—for those creatures with ample hair, this trapped more warm air close to the skin.

Nowadays, the comparatively little hair we have on our arms, legs, and necks will still rise, but it has no warming effect whatsoever.

One leftover that also has absolutely no effect now, apart from impressing easily impressed passersby, is the ability to wiggle your ears.

We all knew that one kid in elementary school who could do it. He or she would get asked thousands of times to show it off, finally roll his or her eyes, and wiggle away to the strangely giddy delight of you and your classmates.

But in a primeval time when any “elementary school” was merely hands-on experience in keeping your ass from getting eaten, wiggling your ears could help do just that: keep your ass from getting eaten.

If you weren’t in a group of other ancestral humans, that is. Such groups depended on the collective vision of their members to stand sentry for predators.

This probably contributed to vision being the sense we rely upon most today. In natural selection, if something keeps a critter alive long enough to reproduce, eventually evolution will favor that something more and more.

But how did wiggling ears help survival so much?

If you were, say, ostracized from a group or happened to live before we learned to play nice with each other, you could angle your ears for some directional hearing. Much like a dog will, if it hears a cellophane bag of treats opening.

Except directional hearing let you detect crouching tigers and hidden dragons before they struck, or breathed fire, or both.

Sadly, in time, evolution forgot these leftovers in our genetic fridge, and we’ve lost their benefits, largely because they aren’t necessary anymore.

But just remember, when you see that tiny pink orb in the mirror or valiantly fight the cold with useless goosebumps, these leftovers once kept our asses from getting eaten.

ecleader.org

Loose Stomach

opinions

Bashar’s big day actions to get the party started have been agreed by the United Nations (U.N.) as a festive faux pas.

So, the U.N. has been busy sending inspectors to Syria to properly figure the size of the party blow-out he really wants.

But, because we all know what a party animal Bashar is, the inspectors couldn’t quite investigate as deeply as they as they intended, so they had to leave a little early. Due to this, it may take a little while calculating the results to determine the bash for Bashar.

It seems Russia, and the rest CLAYTON DUNLAP of the BRIC bloc is formally opinions editor skeptical that Bashar’s recent Tomorrow marks the an- subtle stunts indicate a call for nual observance of a day that’s a birthday party at all. And as pulled upon the heart-strings Russia is Bashar’s closest friend, of a nation and a world. It is maybe Russia knows something a day that birthed the begin- the rest of us don’t.

Also skeptical of whether we ning of a tumultuous presence should have a full international in the Middle East, and echoes shindig is the European Union. through our daily news reports.

Of course, they want to wait I am, of course, speaking of for the U.N. party inspectors…

September 11, Syrian President BORING. Ban Ki-moon, U.N. Bashar al-Assad’s 48th birthday.

Secretary-General, even wants I know what you’re thinking, to wait for the inspector’s call. and yes, it’s that time of the year But at least there’s America, again, and preparations are in full swing. This year, Bashar who historically loves throwing wasn’t very subtle in letting such parties (even if it’s no one’s the international community actual birthday). They are the know he wanted a big celebra- first to kick off festivities, and tion, and as we know, Bashar’s usually the last to leave.

Barack Obama and John Kerry, following this great American tradition, just can’t wait for the inspectors, because they know, without a doubt, Bashar wants a big bash blow-out extravaganza (ahem, limited in scope, naturally). So they want to go rogue and disregard the entire U.N. party planning committee.

All this commotion has even permeated to the local level.

According to the Chicago Tribune, state representative, Mike Quigley, is “getting an earful” from citizens regarding President Obama’s proposal to swing in to Syrian revelry.

Not only that, but Obama feels if the U.S. doesn’t address the Syrian faux pas, it will send a message to other notable party animals that party faux pas are socially acceptable. So Obama is pushing hard to convince others that his plan of action is necessary. And he’s trying to go the safe route by putting it to a vote in congress. This will take some time, but Bashar’s big day to celebrate is tomorrow!

Sadly, it seems the birthday will have the makings of a belated one. But don’t worry. The U.S. likely will drop in for carousing regardless of anyone’s input.

Convergence

Blurred lines, indeed

PATRICK ERWIN

news & online editor So, Miley Cyrus. Yeah, that MTV Video Music Awards (VMA) thing happened.

The response to Miley’s twerkfest has been intense­ — and almost entirely negative.

I could fill a half-dozen columns with the cultural concepts that people have been buzzing about since that performance.

A lot of people have brought up the issue of two Caucasian performers (Cyrus and Robin Thicke) appropriating AfricanAmerican music and culture— in particular, the “ratchet” subculture.

A valid topic, but for this column, I want to focus on one thing: the labels Miley Cyrus has been tagged with after this performance.

Just check out a YouTube clip

to see a list: Slut. Skanky bitch.

Whore. Ratchet trash.

But the negative comments about Robin Thicke? Thicke, of the song “Blurred Lines”, a song that celebrates that no really doesn’t mean no? Thicke, of the tight pants and wondering, grabbing hands? Thicke, whose video for “Blurred Lines” is notable for a giant sign reading “Robin Thicke Has A Big Dick?”

Those negative comments? *crickets* Yeah, OK, there’s a few comments calling him a hack, or dissing his music. But no one is calling Robin Thicke a slut, or a skank. Thicke, a married man, gets photographed with his hand on a young girl’s ass and is hailed as a stud, a hero, a big man on campus.

It seems we still can’t talk about sex in our culture - and we still have double standards for men and women.

If that example is too celebrity-ridden for you, let’s look at what happened across the Atlantic, at Slane Castle, a performance space in Dublin, Ireland.

Eminem was performing.

Girl meets guy, guy and girl are attracted to each other. One thing leads to another, and they have sex.

More specifically, a blow job.

She gives it, he gets it.

In public. Near cameras, and it soon goes viral on social media.

It’s logical to question the

lapse in common sense for these two, but it’s a youthful mistake. She’s only 17.

And yet even a half a world away, the scenario plays out just the same.

Within hours, the hashtag #SlaneSlut appears all over Twitter.

He’s called a hero, with an accompanying photo, arms above head in a victory sign.

We’ve got two people— Thicke and Cyrus, the two Slane Castle concertgoers—involved in the same event, and yet they’re perceived in such radically different ways.

I see that same sort of knee jerk reaction on campus, too.

The same dismissive looks, the same nasty comments from some guys—not all EC, but enough to make me notice.

It’s all a mix of bravado, anger and fear. It’s the way most men have been raised, and it’s hard to overcome.

I don’t have a magic fix. I can only suggest that the next time any of us want to dismiss someone with the click of a mouse, shame them, or stick a label on them that may never wash off, take a moment. Stop. Breathe.

Think.

We are more than our actions, our gender, more than our mistakes or triumphs, more than the way people see us in a single day of our lives.

September 10, 2013

The King of Troll

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Still as St. Mary’s

JAMES ARRIOLA

staff writer

So, did anyone else enjoy the back-to-school bash on the mall over Labor Day weekend?

Or how about the impromptu campus-wide freeze tag game on that Saturday? No? Didn’t even hear about it? Well, I’m not surprised considering that these things didn’t happen. In fact, nothing happened over the Labor Day weekend for the students.

The first weekend of the 20132014 school year was a three day weekend and instead of sticking around on campus, everyone went home. Maybe it was because some people missed their families after their first week back. On the other hand, maybe it was because there was no reason for anyone to stay. You would think that the first weekend, being a longer one at that, would have been the prime target for all sorts of campus clubs and organizations, or even the Student Activities office to set up some sort of event that would have given the students a reason to stick around.

Instead, the opportunity was beyond blown. Not only was there no properly advertised

event that would prompt people to stay, but the dorms were silent and the Roost was closed.

This sort of environment breeds ghost towns, which is exactly what this campus was that weekend.

It does not take much effort to organize a goofy little event or two. It is also not difficult promptly advertise events on this campus. So, why did no one do so? There are organizations on this campus whose mission is to do exactly that, after all.

In this case, I am looking at Union Board.

Don’t get me wrong, they throw on some good events.

But what a blown opportunity this was. Beyond this one weekend, I am looking at the idea of it being the First weekend on this campus. First impressions are everything and if the idea of a long weekend at EC is to be as still as Saint Mary’s next door, then that does not inspire many people to stick around for any weekend, even if there are events planned.

At least Union Board tried to remedy that with the hypnotist on Sept. 3. Decent turn out, all things considered. Did everyone else get that email, sent 12:50 p.m. on the day of the hypnotist, advertising the event? Before that email I, as well as many others, had no idea about this even going on.

If there are going to be major events, we need much more advance notice than seven hours before.

But hey, Student Organization Recognition Training (SORT) meetings will be underway by the time you’re reading this, so hopefully the other hundred campus clubs and organizations can pick up the slack and breathe some much needed excitement into our stagnating school.

Did we miss something?

Write a letter to the editor. email us at leadernewsec@gmail.com

September 10, 2013

the Beat

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ecleader.org

The top new shows for the fall Ian Walker

Just like the muggy, hot days of summer make way for the cool breeze of autumn, all of the second-rate reality shows and endless reruns that muck up the airwaves are thrown aside so that the broadcast networks can bring in their new fall prospects. This year there is as wide a variety as ever, ranging from superheroes to period pieces to the triumphant returns of several past TV stars. beat editor

“Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”

This is definitely one to watch simply because of the name recognition alone. Spun off from last year’s wildly successful film “The Avengers”, the show focuses on the shadowy “S.H.I.E.L.D.” organization that teamed up with Iron Man and friends in the movie, with agent Phil Coulson in the starring role. Yet, with “S.H.I.E.L.D.” being the focus, the show will have more espionage drama than superhero drama. Coulson and his crew don’t have any superpowers to fight any impending threats; they just have intelligence, secrecy and a lot of weapons on their side. And, if the show does well enough, maybe one of the Avengers will drop in for a cameo. Hawkeye’s got to be available right.

Internet Photo From left to right: Chloe Bennet, Elizabeth Henstridge, Iain de Caestecker, Clark Gregg, Ming-Na Wen and Brett Dalton

Internet Photo From left to right: Melissa Fumero, Terry Crews, Andy Samberg, Andre Braugher, Stephanie Beatriz, Joe Lo Truglio and Chelsea Peretti

“Brooklyn Nine-Nine”

In Andy Samberg’s first post”SNL” TV gig, he gets to play New York City cop Jake Peralta, who, predictably, is very similar to a typical Andy Samberg “SNL” character: a childish, buffoonish man-bro. However, when his precinct gets a new captain, Jake is forced to clean up his act quite a bit. Samberg’s shtick meshes well with the cop premise, and the fact that such a boorish dolt of a guy is even allowed to be a cop is where most of the comedy comes from. Also, not a whole lot of cop shows in general are comedies, so it will be interesting to see whether the show decides to tackle serious issues like child shootings and kidnapping, or it will stray away from the actual police cases and go straight for the laughs.

Whatever direction the show goes in, Samberg’s goofy grin is sure to lighten the mood.

Michael J Fox

Internet Photo

After 12 years away from television, Michael J Fox returns to the small screen. In this show he plays Michael Henry, a guy afflicted with Parkinson’s disease who left his TV news anchor job to focus on his health and family; five years later he decides to go back to work.

Sound familiar? Fox is likable and funny enough to dispel any sympathy the audience might have for his condition and manages to turn it into another source of comedy. Audiences are just going to be glad to have Fox back on their TV screens, and this show will introduce him to a whole new generation of people who only know him from “Back to the Future”, which was 30 years ago. After the show premieres, though, Fox will be back to charming audiences in no time at all.

“The Michael J. Fox Show”

“Sleepy Hollow”

Internet Photo From left to right: Adelaide Kane, Toby Regbo, Torrance Coombs

“Reign”

The CW may not be anyone’s first choice to look for period pieces since teenage girls aren’t known to be huge lovers of their history books, and they’re the network’s only audience. Yet, this show may have just found a way to make history sexy and scandalous enough to hold their attention. The show centers on a teenage Mary, Queen of Scots in 1550s France, just as her life is becoming more complicated: she’s being forced into marriage, her country’s going to war, and a dreamy Nostradamus tells her doom is lurking in her nearby future. What this show may lack in historical accuracy, it will surely make up in epic love stories and exciting plot twists. In other words, everything a teenage girl wants in a TV show.

A twist on the classic Washington Irving tale, this “Sleepy Hollow” transports both Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman from the time of the Revolution to the 21st century, where Ichabod must help the present day Sleepy Hollow police track down his murderous enemy.

While a time-traveling stranger does seem a bit cliché, the time Internet Photo jump here is so vast that it allows From left to right: Nicole Beharie, Tom Mison for Ichabod to ruffle against anything he comes into contact with.

This is especially true of his new Horseman-hunting partner Abbie Mills (Nicole Beharie), an African American female, a group of people who don’t have much to do where he comes from. Add in a creepy Horseman with a giant ax that could strike at any time, Ichabod Crane’s new adventures could be a turn out to be a solid addition to the Crane canon.

“The Crazy Ones”

Robin Williams stars as Simon Roberts, a genius advertising executive whose offthe-wall personality makes it difficult for his firm to hang onto clients. Sarah Michelle Gellar plays Sydney, Simon’s daughter, who struggles with reeling her dad back to reality or letting her go completely. After a lot of dramatic and serious roles over the last couple of years, Williams shows he still has all of his comedy chops, with vintage funny voices and cartoonish antics galore.

The show may just be week after week of Sydney and her coworkers rolling their eyes at Simon, but as long as Williams has one of those impish grins on his face it might be worth it stick around to see what he does next.

Internet Photo From left to right: Robin Williams, Sarah Michelle Gellar

Hey, TV Lovers The Leader has a new TV blog for the fall, the TV Buff. Follow along for day-after recaps and reviews for shows like “The Walking Dead,” “The Big Bang Theory,” and “Survivor,” and more. Go to www.ecleader.org to see it all!

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ecleader.org

September 10, 2013

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Mill theatre kicks off with “Noises Off” Jospeh Kok

staff writer With school back in session, the Mill Theatre is set to begin off its fall schedule at the end of the month. The first play this fall is a British comedy called “Noises Off ”.

As a play within in a play, the show is about a British acting troupe performing a final dress rehearsal, performance, and closing night of a bedroom farce called “Nothing On”. The first act of the play shows the final dress rehearsal of this “Nothing On”, and the second act shows all of what is going wrong backstage.

Ryan Breig, an ensemble cast member who plays Garry, describes the play as chaos.

“Simultaneously, you have to keep up with the action on stage, while all these things are going on. It keeps you on your toes with things always happening. As soon as one thing ends, another happens – one misunderstanding after another.” In describing his character Garry, Breig says, “My character is delightfully unhelpful. He is scatterbrained within the play while trying to be helpful, but it gets him into trouble.”

Brenda Perez De Tejada plays Belinda, and says of her character, ”She fixes everything a good amount, calms everyone down, and tries to keep the whole show from chaos.” Perez De Tejada thinks that it’s a very fun show that people should see.

Sophie Duntley, a cast member who plays Dotty,

From left to right: Sophie Duntley, Brenda De Tejada, Brandon Pisano, Ryan Breig rehearse for “Noises Off”.

thinks that seeing the difference in the characters between being on stage and back stage, is one of the most interesting parts of the play – seeing the characters divverging between the on stage and back stage personas. Some characters that seem hapless back stage may also be hapless in “Noises Off ”, while others may have some similarities but are dif-

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ferent.

“Noises Off ” may be British in its creation, but is very American in the situations that are presented. It’s heavy on physical and situational comedy. For those that are fans of either “Saturday Night Live” or “30 Rock”, might be interested in this one.

Photos by Joseph Kok

Mill Theatre Fall Schedule:

“Noises Off”

By Michael Frayn Directed by Alan Weiger September 26-28, 8 p.m.

October 3-6, 8 p.m. with Sunday matinee at 2 p.m.

“Phaedra”

By Racine Directed by Janice Pohl November 14-16, 8 p.m.

November 21-24, 8 p.m. with a Sunday matinee performance at 2 p.m.

Student tickets for play perfor-

mances are $5. Students can call and reserve tickets to pick-up and pay for at the performance. Or, they can be purchased at the Mill Theatre Box office Monday-Friday, between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m..

In addition to individual performance tickets, student subscriptions are available for $25. These provide admission for a whole year of performances, and other hosted theatre & dance events.

These subscriptions also provide you with priority seating. Visit the Mill Theatre for a brochure and further details.

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Miss Illinois talks sex, STEM and pageant scrutiny Haleema Shah editor-in-chief

Like any winner of the state preliminaries to Miss America, Brittany Smith, 23, must represent the pageant’s motto of style, service, scholarship, and success. Smith, who was crowned Miss Illinois last June, also represents her home town of Elmhurst. The Leader had a chance to sit down with her and discuss things she was passionate about, everything from science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education to the pageantry culture and its criticisms. Smith will be representing her home state in the 2014 Miss America finals, which will be broadcast locally on WLS-TV (ABC7) on September 15.

An Elmhurst native A graduate of York Community High School, Smith has close ties to Elmhurst and EC. She performed one of her first Irish dances - the talent she’ll be taking to Miss America - in the EC cafeteria as a kid.

And her mother, Corinne Smith, has taught intermittently as an adjunct professor at EC in the education and psychology departments since 2002.

Just before she won the title of Miss Illinois last June, Brittany Smith was working as a medical assistant.

She had every intention of coming

STEM for all boys, and especially girls During the pageant, Smith used that tricky on-stage question to address a topic that’s important to her.

“My [question] had to do with why aren’t girls as involved as boys in the sciences and mathematics,” she said.

Smith, a 2012 graduate of Purdue University with a degree in health and kinesiology, is especially passionate about STEM fields.

While she’s an advocate of STEM education across the board, Smith is especially interested in promoting STEM education for young girls in particular. Smith pointed to her own alma mater as an example of STEM fields being maledominated.

“There are a lot of statistics; especially going to a school that’s known for engineering, about 5 All photos by Kim McElheny

Like most readers, Miss Illinois uses copies of The Leader as a foot rest.

percent of engineering graduates are women,” she said.

It’s a pretty staggering number considering that Purdue University’s largest major is engineering 21 percent of 2011 graduates were engineering majors according to US News and World Report, and 43 percent of the overall student body is female.

Smith says she’s fighting against prevailing social attitudes that have discouraged young girls from choosing STEM subjects in grade school, leading to girls bypassing those careers in later years.

“You know I think girls, sometimes at young ages, think ‘Oh I’m not good at math and science, that’s what boys are for,’” she said.

She’d like to encourage girls’ interest in STEM subjects at a young age, particular in the middle school years.

“I want to kind of cut that thought process and really introduce [interest in STEM] at a young age and continue on the interest as they grow and especially in the middle school years which are so crucial for girls…I want to show them that they are just as capable, if not job.” more, to do the

Pageant controversy One of the most nerve-wracking parts of the Miss Illinois pageant for Smith was the on-stage question, where contestants are asked off-the-cuff questions about current events.

Smith aced her on-stage question, but in recent years, those interviews have been a source of friction. Feminists have long criticized pageant culture for objectifying women and rewarding beauty and femininity over intellect. And viral videos of contestants stumbling over answers have provided fuel for critics. A video of Miss Utah failing to answer a question about pay inequality last June went viral, and once again sparked conversations about what pageantry truly promotes.

Smith is aware of the controversy surrounding pageant culture and believes that because only a small portion of the pageant process is broadcast, people aren’t always aware of how well-rounded contestants might be, especially Miss America contestants.

“In the Miss America organization, the four points of the crown are service, style, scholarship, and success. And I think we really, truly, live by those four concepts,” she said.

Smith clarified the difference between Miss America, the pageant that she is competing in, and Miss USA, the competition Miss Utah competed in, which does not incorporate a social platform or talent feature to the competition.

“Both organizations are great, both promote different things, it just depends on what you want to get into,” Smith explained. “The Miss America organization is, I think, more of a collective, well-rounded person in a way because it incorporates talent as well as a social platform and the Miss USA organization does not involve either of those.”

Not all pageants are the same to Smith, and she believes representing them well is part of her job.

“I think sometimes people don’t know the difference between [Miss America and Miss USA] so as a whole,

Exemplifying one of the four points of the crown, style, Miss Illinois works vintage Leader memorabilia.

Miss Illinois profile Talent: Irish Dance Platform: Kick Up Your Heels: Keeping Older Adults Active Hometown: Elmhurst, IL Alma Mater: Purdue University Class of 2012 Previous pageant wins: Miss Northern Suburbs, Miss Purdue 2012, 3rd Runner Up at Miss Indiana Scholarship Pageant 2012.

they kind of just look at pageants collectively and say, ‘this is what we think,’ and it’s not necessarily the most positive. So I think my role, especially as Miss Illinois, I want to continue promoting it in a positive way and show people that you can be articulate, you can have a talent, you can carry a social platform, and intrigue others about what you care for.”

And the Miss America pageant is growing in popularity, though after a period of significant decline. The pageant bounced around from one TV network to another since the late 90s, after receiving a 50 percent drop in viewers in 1997 when it first begin airing on ABC. After 2004, the pageant moved from Country Music Television (CMT) to TLC, and eventually signed back with ABC in 2010. In the last three years, the pageant’s viewership has been increasing yearly; and the crowning of the 2013 Miss America last January had a television audience of approximately 7.1 million people, the largest since 2004.

In just a few days, Smith will compete before a live audience that could be over 7.1 million, for a title that has been glorified by Americans (though in fluctuating num-

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September 10, 2013

ecleader.org

Five new stereo-blastin’ albums for fall Frederic Bartlett taff writer

School is in session, and it’s time to critique some new albums. It’s always fun to look forward to hearing new music, even though the recycled lyrics and garbage cookie-cutter music beds that appear on the new stuff is almost always a letdown. Here’s a preview of the albums that are dropping this fall. Included is a variety of stuff, from sugar-coated pop to hard-rockin blues, plus a couple of unknown artists to keep it interesting.

J. Roddy Walston & The Business: September 10th Let’s start off with some heavier stuff. J. Roddy himself sounds like a cross between Iggy Pop and Steven Tyler of Aerosmith.

The music is simple, bluesy and badass.

His self-titled debut album rocked the paint off of any car.

He had nearly everything a good album should have: solid musicianship, catchy guitar and

piano riffs, and cleverly pointed lyrics.

Hopefully his upcoming album, “Essential Tremors”, can keep this momentum going; maybe something a little more progressive with that same rocking essence?

Katy Perry: October 22 Katy Perry’s huge team of songwriters and producers are ear candy experts. They consistently pump out songs that get stuck heads the moment they hit anyone’s ears.

Katy Perry songs are gener-

ally varied, so she at least has that going for her. Her team of writers know how to keep the pop essence of Katy Perry consistent while still changing keys, textures, and rhythms.

Although big business music can be a heartless hit machine

sometimes, “Prism” might be still be worth an objective listen and critique based solely on the quality of the album.

Internet Photo

Internet Photo

Drake: September 24 There are a lot of albums about thug life and hoes, but maybe Drake’s new album “Nothing Was the Same” is worth a chance.

While the Drake discography may be varied, one of his most popular songs, “Started From the Bottom,” is bottom of the barrell. His half-enunciated

chorus and nonsensical verses render this song unlistenable.

Hopefully Drake will surprise and spit some substance on top of the best production hollywood money can buy.

Midlake: November 5 Midlake is a band that might pique the interests of any EC music student. All the members attended and formed at a

music school in Texas. Not surprisingly, their musicianship is great.

The band evokes the music of the 70’s with a modern twist,

so it would be interesting to see their new album “Antiphon” take on some more of the new, and less of the old.

Internet Photo

Bad Things: October 8 Ever heard of Bad Things?

Not a whole lot of people have, but people have heard of Shaun White, the gold medal snowboarder and now guitarist of Bad Things.

The single from Bad Things, “Caught Inside,” has already been released. The track is a standard ambient indie-emo pop song, with few variations from what has been in the airwaves for the past few years.

Even though this might be heading towards more Panic! at the Disco timbered vocals, this album is one to watch just to hear how creative Shaun White is musically.

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ecleader.org

Hailey Williams

assistant beat editor

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Beat

MiddleGround l

Dancing with the, uh.. Stars Season 17 of the laugh-fest our mothers refer to as DWTS includes a cast of childhood favorites and some of today’s most beloved reality train-wrecks. Pop a batch of popcorn and laugh with your friends as the stars trip while desperately trying to keep up with their professional trainers, or debate the pros and cons of casting Disney and “Glee” stars. I can’t be the only one who thinks that they have an unfair advantage. Watch Snooki dance sober (for once) and Bill Nye carefully calculate each foxtrot Monday nights on ABC. Mon, Sept. 16 ABC

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Riot Fest 2013 The three-day music festival is returning to Humboldt Park with a line-up that is sure to gather what is expected to be their largest crowd to date. From punk staples like Rancid, to more radiofriendly acts like Fall Out Boy, the festival has something to cater to every altkid’s taste. Oh, and while you’re waiting for your favorite act to hit the stage you can explore the fairgrounds because this festival is also a carnival. So go shove a funnel cake and corndog down your gullet and then ride the tilt-a-whirl, because when are you going to have another chance to rock out to Against Me! while holding a stick of cotton candy?

“Alleys and Ruins” Photographer Xavier Nuez will be displaying his collection “Alleys and Ruins” in the Founders Lounge of the Frick Center from Sept. 17 - Oct. 17 with a reception and artist’s talk being held on Sept. 19. The collection is comprised of photographs taken with a Hasselblad film camera using long exposure times and colored lights to give the unappealing subject matter stunning new appearances. Come hear Nuez explain his creative process and touch on the, sometimes, dangerous situations he put himself through to capture these shots.

GTA V Eager fans can finally rest easy as the fifth installment of the Grand Theft Auto franchise is set for release this month.

The third-person shooter revisits San Andreas with the goal of the game to complete six heists. But we all know you’re just going to run around and steal cars, because who actually follows the storyline in these games?

Fri, Sept. 13 – Sun, Sept. 15, $45-$105 Humboldt Park, Chicago

l cartoonist

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Getting you through the dull days separating our bi-weekly issues... Because we care.

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Tyler Kerr

September 10, 2013

Thu, Sept. 19, 5 p.m., FREE Frick Center, Founders Lounge

Developer: Rockstar North Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 Release Date: Tue, Sept. 17

Off the Wire l

Politics boring you? Sick of hearing about #thirdworldproblems? Tired of seeming like an ignorant slob? Off The Wire compiles the area’s quirkiest news to help avoid that uncomfortable lull in conversation.

I-PASS the buck In late August, Governor Pat Quinn signed a bill allowing the Illinois Tollway to release some “priceless” information on their website: a long list of the Land of Lincoln’s leading lane levy scofflaws. In other words, a most wanted list of the top tollblowers. All 157 tres(I)passers are businesses that have racked up $1,000 or more in unpaid tolls and fines. One highway hustler is Elmhurst’s very own ABD Tank Pump.

ABD has accumulated a tollway tab of $22,133.40. “The tollway is committed to using every option available to us to try to collect millions of dollars in unpaid tolls and fines from delinquent drivers,” Tollway Executive Director Kristi Lafleur stated in a recent press release. And though ABD and the other 156 businesses have been contacted at least nine times, only $500,000 of that $3.68 million has been collected.

Moon(rise and)shine According to Patch.com, Elmhurst residents of the 100 block of South Kenmore Avenue (kind of...like...over by that 7-Eleven) woke up one August morning to an “alarming” discovery. Alarmed by their alarmed discovering, this discovery (a quite hungover 21-year-old male) woke up to one disgruntled family. The intoxicated young man (who probably got beer from...idk...that 7-Eleven?) mistook the house full of sleeping Elmhurst residents for a friend’s home, found the nearest bed-like object, and began to sleep off the giggle juice. The Elmhurst Police reportedly charged the perpetrator with disorderly conduct/alarming and disturbing another. The police also reported the young man’s address just in case any Elmhurst residents are up for some booze snooze payback.

A bone to “pic” A female Elmhurst resident called police because her dog did what dogs do best: it dug up a bone. This wannabe Sherlock of North Glade Avenue contacted the police because she was convinced that her canine companion had unearthed human remains. According to Patch.com, upon arrival the officer took photos of the skeletal pieces and sent them to the Cook County Medical Examiners office. The bones were confirmed as coming from a large animal and certainly not human. There’s still hope that the lunatic on North Glade and her sleuthing pooch will keep digging and exhume some mastodon or something.

Cave dweller shows brute intelligence As reported by TribLocal and the Daily Herald, Gary Goldberg of the Cave Dwellers lied in a press release announcing his feature at an Elmhurst Historical Museum event on August 15. The frontman of the 60s Elmhurst garage band claimed that the band struck it big after opening for The Beatles at Comisky Park in 1965. His bandmates publicly refuted this statement at his speech on August 15. Goldberg has since admitted the fantastical fabrication and continues to eat his Cro-Magnon words. Elmhurst Historical Museum Director Brian Bergheger apologized for the misinterpretation and hopefully promises to book more evolved life-forms for future events.

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September 10, 2013

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THE FUN PAGE Across 5. A cheaper alternative to the book store.

6. Where you go for help finding an internship.

9. Campus is also a 48-acre _____.

11. The collection of artwork located in the library is by the Chicago _____ artists.

14. Who handles the clubs and organizations’ money.

16. Our president.

17. A bronze statue of this theologian overlooks the Ash Tray.

18. The oldest building on campus.

19. Where you go to pick up your spirit wear.

20. A group of these critters have made their home under the Chapel.

Down 1. Where you can grab a bite to eat, watch t.v., and check your mail.

2. Most frustrating task for commuters.

3. Another name for your i.d. that you’re guaranteed to misplace.

4. Located right off of campus, this is the most convenient way to get into the city.

7. The Elmhurst Campus _____ allows you to access BlueNet, Blackboard and other helpful applications from one location.

8. Other colleges have a quad, but we have the _____.

10. Where you go to watch a play or musical.

12. Your award-winning student newspaper.

13. The organization associated with spiritual life on campus.

15. These critters will walk right up to you if you have food.

THE SQUIRREL CHORUS ON DECLINING NEW STUDENT ENROLLMENT

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September 10, 2013

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Hard-hitting Smith setting tone on O-Line LUKE TANAKA staff writer

At 6’5” 275-pounds, EC starting right tackle Adam Smith stands about a half-helmet higher than the rest of the Bluejay offensive huddle.

But Smith’s football career started as a much smaller middle schooler, when the physicality of the game called his name.

“I started playing football in eighth grade because I thought hitting people would be fun,” said Smith in an email interview.

So how exactly did the hardhitting Smith, a graduate of Calvary Christian High School in Clearwater, Fla., find his way to EC? “I picked Elmhurst because the coaches genuinely cared about you more than just a football player,” he said. “The players were a tight knit family, and

the school itself was very good academically.”

That football family introduced him to two crucial mentors: former offensive line coach R o n Tyner and last year’s AllAmerican left tackle, and fellow Florida-native, Charlie Homoky. “ C o a c h Tyner taught me by far the most about what it takes to be a great offensive lineman,” Smith said. “Homoky drove me to be the best I could be and challenged me on a daily basis. Watching him play every down like it was his last really inspired and showed me how to play the position the right way.”

This offseason, with both of his mentors gone (Tyner to Bryant Univ. and Homoky to graduation), Smith took huge leaps toward achieving his season goal of all-conference status.

“He has worked very hard this offseason and has improved on almost every skill,” Offensive line coach Mike Heffernan said in an email interview. “Adam was challenged with different techniques in the spring.

He has started to master those techniques.”

His offseason work, non-stop motor, and passion for the game have him ready to lead the offensive line this season, a crucial role on a Bluejay team that has a new starters at quarterback, running back, and offensive line (3).

“Adam is very intense person on the field,” Heffernan said. “Whatever it is that he is trying to accomplish, he does it going 100 miles per hour.”

“Adam is the type of player that has one speed only,” head coach Joe Adam added. “He plays the same way that he practices and that is to the echo of the whistle. He is the tone setter for our offensive line.”

Throughout the season, both Joe Adam and Heffernan will be pulling on Smith’s eighth grade hard-hitting approach to lead by example for the new offensive line starters.

“He will be counted on to provide the part of the attitude that we expect our guys to play with upfront,” Adam said.

“It is not hard to follow a guy like Adam,” Heffernan concluded.

take a shot that put them in any danger.

After a scoreless first half, the intensity for the Bluejays picked up in the second half on the offensive end.

They became more aggressive and looked for shots more frequently.

In the 67th minute EC senior midfielder Austin Haas scored his second goal of the season from 20 yards out to break the scoreless tie, and put the Bluejays up 1-0.

EC continued to play well defensively.

Junior goalkeeper John Reglin recorded two crucial saves that kept the Bluejays in the lead.

They were more effective by trapping Concordia’s players and forcing them into turnovers.

EC continued to pressure offensively throughout the second half, as they looked for an insurance goal.

Towards the end of the game,

Photo by Peter Flockencier Senior Adam Smith anchors the offensive line on a young unit

EC men’s soccer shuts out Concordia 2-0 BRANDON PORTER staff writer

After a tough opening day loss, the Bluejays improved their record to 1-1 by knocking off Concordia-Univ. Chicago on Wednesday night.

Neither team could successfully sustain offensive momentum throughout the first half.

Both teams had limited opportunities to score and EC’s defense never allowed Concordia to get close enough to

EC junior mid-fielder Michael Delong scored in the 89th minute to seal the victory for the Bluejays.

“We came out with a bit of a formation change in the second half” said EC Head Coach Dave DiTomasso. “It lead to more chances for our team to be successful.”

The Bluejays were able to bounce back from a disappointing loss on opening day and can now move forward after this victory. This victory

helps their confidence as they will try to sustain momentum throughout the long season, and improve from last year’s tough season.

“This was a nice win for us” said DiTomasso. “I credit our guys for staying resilient and positive and patient throughout the game. It was a solid team performance”.

The Bluejays will continue their road trip as they will travel to Dominican Univ. for a showdown on Wed, Sept. 11.

Poremba places second as EC women’s cross country takes fourth at Fordham Univ. Fiasco PAUL ROUMELIOTIS

Junior Elyse Christofanelli finished in 19th place with junior Riley Seiler finishing four spots behind her in 23rd.

Freshman Hayley Zweig (30th place), Ally Carpenter (37th place), and Cynthia Mote (48th place) made their EC debut’s adding to the team score.

Senior Stephanie Beckwith clocked in at 46th place and sophomore Caitlin O’Mara in 49th.

EC gets the next two weeks off before participating in the Wheaton College Invitational on Sept. 21.

staff writer

The EC women’s cross country team took their talents to the Bronx on Sunday, coming away with a fourth place victory in the College Division at the Fordham Fiasco Univ.

The team finished with 107 points against Division II, Division III and junior colleges.

Leading the way for the Bluejays was senior Alyssa Poremba, who was named the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week. She crossed the line in second place overall with a time of 19:36.60.

Elyse Christofanelli racing through the forest in the Bronx, N.Y.

Photo by Kelsey Plefka

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September 10, 2013

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September 10, 2013

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The Leader’s NFL 2013-2014 Season Predictions LUKE TANAKA

PAUL ROUMELIOTIS

BRANDON PORTER

CHARLIE ROUMELIOTIS

AFC East: Patriots AFC South: Texans AFC North: Bengals AFC West: Broncos AFC Wild Cards: Colts, Ravens

AFC East: Patriots AFC South: Texans AFC North: Bengals AFC West: Broncos AFC Wild Cards: Colts, Steelers

AFC East: Patriots AFC South: Texans AFC North: Ravens AFC West: Broncos AFC Wild Cards: Colts, Steelers

AFC East: Patriots AFC South: Texans AFC North: Bengals AFC West: Broncos AFC Wild Cards: Chiefs, Steelers

NFC East: Redskins NFC South: Saints NFC North: Packers NFC West: 49ers NFC Wild Cards: Seahawks, Falcons

NFC East: Redskins NFC South: Falcons NFC North: Packers NFC West: 49ers NFC Wild Cards: Bears, Seahawks

NFC East: Redskins NFC South: Falcons NFC North: Packers NFC West: Seahawks NFC Wild Cards: Saints, 49ers

NFC East: Redskins NFC South: Buccaneers NFC North: Bears NFC West: 49ers NFC Wild Cards: Packers, Seahawks

Super Bowl: Broncos over Seahawks

Super Bowl: Patriots over 49ers

Super Bowl: Packers over Broncos

Super Bowl: 49ers over Patriots

CASE FOR THE BRONCOS: In my mind, every Super Bowl contender has a flaw this year whether it’s a second-year or unproven quarterback, a lack-luster defense, or a mediocre ground attack. I love the Broncos because Peyton Manning’s short passing game can make up for what they may lose on the ground.

Not to mention that the Broncos defense was fourth in points per game allowed and second in yards per game allowed last year. The door is beginning to close on Manning’s career and I think he leads a game-winning drive in the final minutes for his second Super Bowl ring.

CASE FOR THE PATRIOTS: Don’t get me wrong, the 49ers are arguably the most complete team in the NFL, but Tom Brady is on a serious mission and I don’t think it will be stopped this time. Most people seem to be writing off the Patriots as Super Bowl contenders because of how many new faces there are in their receiving group. Brady will command that offense like never before and transform rookies Aaron Dobson and Kenbrell Thompkins into studs.

If Rob Gronkowski and Danny Amendola are 100 percent healthy going into the playoffs, I predict Brady getting ring number four.

CASE FOR THE PACKERS: The Super Bowl will showcase two of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers will lead their teams onto the biggest stage. A battle of supreme aerial attacks backed with play makers on defense. The Broncos and Packers will make for a great matchup as it puts an NFL legend against a legend in the making. The game will be a shootout from start to finish. It will be one of those games were whoever has the ball last will probably win the game.

The Packers will capture their second Super Bowl win in four years.

CASE FOR THE 49ERS: Colin Kaepernick elevated the 49ers to a different level and essentially spearheaded last seasons deep postseason run. They’re even more loaded than they were a year ago, and the addition of wide receiver Anquan Boldin, the same guy who decimated San Francisco in last years Super Bowl, will turn out to be just as valuable as he was to the Ravens. Not to mention the possible return of underrated weapon Michael Crabtree come playoff time. There’s no reason to believe the defense will be just as good either.

Just tip your Kaep.

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September 10, 2013

ecleader.org

Julie Hall wins 500th career volleyball match LUKE TANAKA

In front of 100 loud and proud supporters at R.A. Faganel Hall, EC volleyball defeated Occidental College 25-12, 25-14, 25-8 on Fri, Aug. 30th and, in the process, Head Coach Julie Hall reached her 500th career win with the Bluejays.

Just after freshman outside hitter Roda Mena killed the last ball, fans started waving 500 signs and a banner reading “Congrats Coach Hall 500 wins!” dropped from the EC support section.

File Photo Hall was taken Julie Hall takes notes during pregame warm-ups aback by the re-

staff writer

action.

“It’s another match to me,” she said in an email interview.

“I was totally oblivious to it and was taken by surprise when the match was over and everyone started waving 500.”

Now in her 20th year with the Bluejays, Hall has an overall record of 504-233, a win percentage of .684 (thru Sept. 4). She is the all-time leader in wins by a Bluejay volleyball coach and second in win percentage.

The Jays also picked up wins against St. Norbert (25-12, 2511, 25-19), Lake Forest (25-17, 25-8, 25-8), and 12-ranked Univ. of Chicago (25-14, 25-15, 19-25, 25-11) to wrap up the Elmhurst Invitational at 4-0.

Then, on Wednesday, the Jays added two more wins over Dominican Univ. (25-15, 25-21, 25-19) and #13 UW-Whitewater (25-17, 21-25, 25-21, 14-25, 1510).

After breezing through the

first three matches of the Elmhurst Invitational, the Jays finally faced adversity when they lost the third set to #12 Univ. of Chicago.

With the momentum swaying in the Maroons’ direction, Hall brought her team in before the fourth set began.

“I told them to look at each other and tell each other we all have each other’s backs” she said.

“We just froze up and needed to relax and play the game.

There is so much pressure on this group to perform at a high level and every team will be playing their best against us.

We can’t let that get to us and, if we are struggling, we need to pull it together and not panic.”

The Jays responded with a convincing fourth set, including a 10-0 run, to put the Maroons away.

Throughout the week, junior outside hitter Sam Szarmach

and senior middle hitter Megan Reynolds led the Bluejay combining for 105 kills.

Senior transfer setter Lauren Lorenz and senior setter Katie Rueffer totaled 182 assists while senior defensive specialist/outside hitter Hannah Lessen led the team in digs with 67.

The Jays are set to play nine ranked teams throughout this regular season as they push for not only a repeat CCIW Championship, but also a national championship.

“We need to play each point and it will reach us to our final destination, which is winning a national championship,” Reynolds said.

The Jays will continue their title quest when they travel to Southern California for the Univ. of La Verne Tournament Sept. 13-14.

W

omen’s tennis looking to build off hot start

CHARLIE ROUMELIOTIS sports editor

The EC women’s tennis team is off to a hot start, winning three of their first four contests in the 2013 season.

The team fell to St. Norbert 6-3 in the first match of a doubleheader on Sunday, but bounced back with a 5-4 win over St. Joseph’s later in the afternoon.

Doubles duo sophomore Cassie Kovach and junior Meg Griffin and juniors Annie Duggan and Nicole Darga each carried EC in doubles by winning both of their matches against St. Norbert and St. Joseph’s.

Kovach was also victorious at No. 1 singles vs St. Norbert, while Griffin, Duggan, and Darga each registered wins against St. Joseph’s in singles play to squeeze out a 5-4 team win.

“We have a great group of tennis players again this year with a high commitment level

and a lot of match play experience,” said head coach Anthony McPherson. “We also welcome this year Meg Griffin and Cassie Kovach that really will add to Annie Duggan’s success from last year.”

EC is captained by Duggan and senior Ragan Wilson, whom McPherson credits to the teams tight-knit group.

“Our team chemistry is amazing this year, we have great leadership in our captains Annie and Ragan,” McPherson said. “The team does a great job supporting each other on and off the court, they really get what division 3 tennis is all about.”

The obvious goal is to build off of this early momentum, but season wise, the team has three.

“One, play for the pure enjoyment of the game. Two, make sure every time we step on the court that we have a purpose.

Three, make positive changes in our games from match-to-

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match.”

EC will host Wheaton College on Sept. 10.

EC soccer loses after Rhode’s two first-half goals PAUL ROUMELIOTIS staff writer

After allowing two first half goals to Rhodes College, the EC women’s soccer team caught fire in the second, but ran out of time falling by a final score of 2-1 at home.

The Bluejays started the season with a 2-0 record, but have now dropped their last two contests.

Rhodes got on the board first when sophomore midfielder Hannah Selner tapped in a corner kick 13 minutes into the game to record her third goal of the season.

With minutes winding down in the first half, junior defender Breanna Durbin extended

Rhodes’ lead by connecting on a 55-yard kick to put her team up 2-0.

The Bluejays entered the second half looking like a different team.

They were outshot 6-3 in the first, but exploded with 12 shots while only allowing four to Rhodes.

But the Bluejays only found the back of the net once when freshman Shelby Stone scored her first career goal off her own rebound in the 68th minute.

EC will look to turn things back around, but they’ll have to do on the road when they take on Lawrence Univ. next on Sept.

11.

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FOOTBALL from the back page “I definitely was excited to start my first game,” said Camiliere. “I also felt confident knowing the support I had from my teammates as well as the confidence I have in our team’s abilities.”

Head Coach Joe Adam was more than impressed with his first game as well.

“I thought he dispersed the ball well,” Adam said. “He managed the game exactly the way we talked about throughout the week, especially when things weren’t going well. That’s a true sign of his character. How you pick up your teammates and taking care of each other.”

blame as well, as he is also a new and inexperienced starter on EC. “I feel the offensive line played well throughout the game,” Camiliere said. “The penalties may have made it look worse than it was, as I was at fault for the false starts too.

Once we made some corrections from the first half, the offensive line took control and led the way to all the scoring in the second half. Those guys up front are the hardest working guys on the team and I have no doubt they’ll continue to get better as a group each week.”

The young defense was impressive, only allowing 248 yards of offense and three forced turnovers.

“We made an effort to stop the

three running backs that are capable and were going to need all of them. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.”

And it might have sparked the confidence in sophomore running backs Josh Williams and Tyler Smith.

The trio in the backfield consisting of Tubek, Williams, and Smith combined for 249 rushing yards with two touchdowns, and also contributed to 39 receiving yards.

Loras jumped on the scoreboard first, connecting on a 30yard field goal late in the first quarter.

Then EC got on the board when Camiliere psyched out the entire stadium with a read-option keep and dashed 17 yards to the end zone untouched for

September 10, 2013

19

Charlie’s Angles

I’m already sold on the Bears CHARLIE ROUMELIOTIS sports editor

Photo by Peter Flockencier Josh Williams bounces outside and runs for a 1-yard touchdown run in EC’s 35-9 win over Loras

The young offensive line showed some growing pains accounting for more than half of EC’s 10 penalties. But Adam says he knows it was going to take time to gel together.

“I look at the overall body of work,” he said. “I’m happy with how they finished. I knew it was going to take some time because we started a new center, right guard, right tackle and a new offensive line coach. At halftime, I just challenged them to do better.”

Camiliere took some of the

run and preach causing turnovers,” Adam said. “We don’t talk about statistics or yardage.

It’s unimportant to our squad.

The only thing we stress is causing turnovers. It was a good first step, but there’s still more things we have to iron out.”

The Bluejays had a tough time gaining momentum out of the gates, though.

A missed 47-yard field goal on the first drive and a pair of lost fumbles by senior running back Andrew Tubek slowed the teams start, but EC’s defense came up strong only allowing three out of a possible 14 points in those turnovers.

Tubek didn’t see the field after his second fumble, but Adam says it had nothing to do with the lack of confidence in Tubek and everything to do with the luxury of having two other young, reliable running backs on the depth chart.

“It’s not that I don’t have confidence in him,” said Adam. “I was disappointed bePhoto by Peter Flockencier cause we preach Tyler Smith gets by a defender and takes off in ball security, but the open field I think we have

the Bluejays’ first points of the game.

“We had run that play a couple times earlier in the game and I basically read the defensive end by either giving the ball to the running back or keeping it,” Camiliere said. “When we ran it earlier in the game I handed it off, so on that touchdown, the defensive end crashed hard for the running back. Josh Williams had a great fake to pull everyone towards him and I had a clear running lane outside.”

It was all EC from there.

The Bluejays exploded in the second half opening with a 9-play 77-yard drive capped by a three-yard touchdown pass from Camiliere to junior tight end Will Caspers.

After a short drive by Loras that resulted in a punt, EC stormed 65 yards down the field that concluded in a 12-yard touchdown catch by senior tight end Vince Gabrys from Camilere to give EC a 21-3 lead.

Loras answered with a 10play, 69-yard drive in less than four minutes that ended in a 6-yard touchdown run by sophomore Nate Carrier.

But it didn’t faze the Bluejays.

They responded on the next two drives with a 70 and 78-yard drive, both capped by 1-yard TD runs by Josh Williams that sealed EC’s 35-9 victory.

EC will square off with Trine Univ. on Sept. 14 for the first road game of the season.

Let me audible away from EC sports for a second.

Before the 2012 NFL season, I campaigned that the Chicago Bears would win the Super Bowl and hung onto that prediction almost till the very end. Yikes. Worst dinner bet ever.

This year, I’m staying away from putting the words “Bears” and “Super Bowl” in the same sentence only because that calls for a bigger heartbreak if it doesn’t happen and one less dinner on me.

But after the Bears’ 24-21 week one win against the Cincinnati Bengals, I’m already on board with new head coach Marc Trestman, even though I admittedly was one of the first one’s to question general manager Phil Emery’s decision to fire Lovie Smith.

And I’m also convinced that this Bears team is better than last years, mainly because of the offense.

Some may look at Sunday’s box score and think, “Eh, the running game was alright, they didn’t generate much offense in the first half, and Cutler threw a late interception.”

If you’re one of those people, you’re reading too much into it.

I actually found myself saying, “Just let Cutler throw it! The run isn’t there today.”

How many times did you dare to say that out loud last year?

Here’s the real takeaway.

The worst offensive line in pro football last year allowed one sack against arguably the best defensive line in football this year.

And guess who benefited from that the most? The quarterback whose season is being labeled as a “make-or-break” by the city of Chicago in the final year of his contract, Jay Cutler.

He completed 21 of 33 passes for 242 yards with a pair of throwing touchdowns against an AFC team that’s talking Super Bowl.

I see a Bears offensive unit whose confidence as a whole is noticeably different than last year.

For example, on Cincinnati’s first drive of the game, Charles Tillman intercepted Andy Dalton at the Bengals’ 36-yard line and took it to the house for six points.

But the officials wiped it out ruling Tillman down at the spot.

Chicago’s response? A seven-play, 36-yard drive in about three minutes that ended in a Cutler touchdown pass to a man not named Brandon Marshall.

Tillman’s waved off touchdown would have deflated the offense last season.

In fact, if you offered me a dinner bet that the Bears would finish the drive in worse field position than they started following a turnover, I probably would have accepted it.

Not this year.

The Bears’ transformed offense churned out 14 out of a possible 21 points off turnovers against Cincinnati.

And how did Cutler bounce back after his fourth quarter pick?

By connecting on all three passes for a total of 63 yards, ran for another 18, and put a stamp on it with a 19-yard touchdown pass to Marshall.

I saw none of that in any of the 16 games last year. But I saw it in the first one this season.

Week one overreaction? Maybe.

But those 60 minutes is all I needed to see for me to be bought into the 2013 Bears. But not literally.

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September 10, 2013

Camiliere accounts for 3 TD’s in EC’s opening win vs Loras CHARLIE ROUMELIOTIS sports editor

In front of a record-setting crowd of more than 2,500 at Langhorst Field on opening night, the EC football team picked up right where they left off from last season, cruising past Loras College 35-9 on Thursday behind junior quarterback Joe Camiliere’s three touchdowns in his first career college start.

See FOOTBALL on page 19 Photo by Peter Flockencier

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