STAT ATTACK
NORTHERN LIGHTS
Check out this week in sports by the numbers, including stats from football, men’s basketball, rugby and men’s soccer. Page 7
The Eastern men’s soccer team lost 3-0 Tuesday to in-state rival Northern Illinois in Dekalb. Page 8
Dai ly Eastern News
THE
WWW.DAILYEASTERNNEWS.COM
Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013
VOL. 98 | ISSUE 47
“TELL THE TRUTH AND DON’T BE AFRAID”
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Film stirs debate over student apathy By Robert Downen Administration Editor @DEN_News A film screening and panel discussion Tuesday night originally focusing on nonviolent revolution became a platform for debate over how apathy afflicts Eastern students. The debate, which focused predominantly on how younger generations develop complacency toward social and humanitarian crises, developed after the screening of “How to Start a Revolution,” a documentary detailing the work of Gene Sharp and nonviolent revolution. The film, which was promoted by Students for Peace and Justice, examined the influence of Sharp’s most famous work, “From Dictatorship to Democracy,” on revolutions in Serbia, Syria and Iran, among other places. However, while panel members did spend time reflecting on the film’s central theme—nonviolent revolution— the focus slowly shifted to how revolution can be spread or nurtured on college campuses and throughout younger generations. Charles Delman, a mathematics professor, said while the film conveyed the idea of nonviolence relatively well, the most important revolutions were those that might change domestic policies he viewed as destructive, namely rising inequality levels, global warming and environmental destruction.
“The best way we can help liberate people in other countries is by first liberating the United States,” he said. “We are one of the most destructive countries in the world, and our actions have immediate effects on everyone.” Christopher Hanlon, an English professor, agreed that such revolutions were beneficial but questioned the commitment of Eastern’s students to such action—a point he illustrated by asking why, if the average student views homophobia as morally unacceptable, so many people still frequent the Chick-fil-A in the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union. Hanlon continued, stating he was often concerned with the low levels of political and social engagement on Eastern’s campus, consequently altering the discussion’s focus to how apathy and complacency undermine social movements. Multiple students quickly refuted Hanlon’s claim, citing personal examples of how they affect change in the community, as well as the problems they face as advocates for such revolutions. Karanda Marshall, a senior philosophy major, said minority groups on campus rarely collaborate to bring attention to a specific issue. Marshall, who works with her own green initiative group on campus, said groups need to realize that, while they are individually minorities, they would constitute a majority if they worked together. This, she said, limited the effectiveness
Jason Howell | The Daily Eastern Ne ws
Christopher Hanlon, an English professor, introduces himself to the audience and other panelists after a screening of the film, "How to Start a Revolution." The other panelists are Jinhee Lee, a history professor, Craig Eckert, a sociology professor, and Charles Delman, a mathmatics professor. The film screening and discussion was hosted by Students for Peace and Justice, based out of the Newman Catholic Center.
of smaller groups on campus. “We’re all frustrated. We’re all demoralized, and we all want justice,” she said. “If we only could realize that, together, we are the majority, we could actually accomplish that.” However, many students also agreed with Hanlon’s claim. Asked what he thought was the best way to combat such mentalities, he advised reading. “Literature is fermented revolution,
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“ he said. “Reading teaches us empathy and acceptance. If you want people to care, get them to read.” Craig Eckert, professor and chairman of the sociology department, elaborated on Hanlon’s point, though he said trying to tackle a plethora of causes would only exacerbate a person. Instead, he said wholeheartedly committing to one issue and going beyond simple discussions was the best
approach to accomplishing social revolution. “We don’t need more PhDs… we need people out there with heart,” he said. “The best revolutionaries are not found in academia.” Robert Downen can be reached at 581-2812 or at jrdownen@eiu.edu.
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‘Invisible Children’ Students reinforce self-esteem in children to examine By Jarad Jarmon Student Governance Editor @JJarmonReporter The Alpha Phi Alpha alumni chapter Zeta Xi Lambda and Student Senate co-sponsored a project to emphasize the importance of self-esteem to eight children in the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization Tuesday. In the Sullivan Room and Charleston-Mattoon Room in the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union, students ages 9- to 14-years-old in elementary schools in Mattoon and Charleston were taught the significance of keeping oneself clean and groomed. The boys were told how crucial things like deodorant are to stay clean and fresh. The male volunteers also demonstrated how to use these cleaning supplies properly. The female volunteers explained feminine products to the girls. Jason Enyart, a Big Bothers Big Sisters enrollment and matching specialist, said a lot of these children come from less privileged back-
grounds where grooming is not a priority in the home. Andre Allen, a kinesiology and sports studies graduate student, said these children are getting to the age when body odor and acne begins to get noticed. “Kids can be cruel these days. We all know sometimes we may not all get the same grooming tips from our household,” Allen said. “If we can provide those tips that they may not be getting at home, our job here is accomplished.” Jill Schafer, a customer relations specialist for the organization, and Kelly Hardy, a match support specialist, noticed these children lack selfesteem, which is evident when they wrote three things they liked about themselves. None of the three girls wanted to write down anything because they did not believe they had good qualities. As the volunteers spoke to them, they progressively spoke more and talked about good qualities within themselves. Even though there were original-
ly suppose to be 29 children coming, Hardy said it worked out really well to have only eight children. She added it makes the whole experience more personal. Yameira Church, a sophomore English major, said some of the girls probably would not have talked in big groups. “There was a very shy little girl there, and I think with more children, it would’ve been hard to really get to her and get her out of her shell,” Church said. “By the end of it, she was making jokes and laughing.” Schafer said she thinks the one-onone interaction helped the kids realize the good qualities about themselves they may not think about everyday. The children were given bags filled with hygiene products like AXE body wash and toothpaste at the end. Hardy said many of these kids do not have access to these resources and products. Jarad Jarmon can be reached at 581-2812 or jsjarmon@eiu.edu.
Africa’s conflict Staff Report An on-the-road team from the Invisible Children organization and native Ugandan Scovia Angiro will be presenting Africa’s 20-year conflict. The presentation will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Campus Christian House. During the presentation, a film will be screened along with information about the 20-year conflict caused in central Africa by the Lord’s Resistance Army. The Lord’s Resistance Army is a terrorist group in central Africa that has been abducting children and forcing them into child slavery as soldiers or sex slaves for more than 20 years, Danah Himes, the associate campus minister, said in a release. She added the Invisible Children organization has been working to disband the Lord’s Resistance Army. Himes said this presentation
would be good for students in all majors, as they live in a globally connected world. She said students who come can be challenged to relate various aspects of the presentation to their particular field. The organization is one that works with education facilities to spread their message. “Invisible Children has worked significantly with schools and has had great success in motivating today’s youth to make a difference in our world,” Himes said in the release. In conjecture with the Invisible Children presentation, there will also be a fundraiser to help rehabilitate the child soldiers of the Lord’s Resistance Army. The fundraiser, “BE SEEN @ the JAC,” is at 6 p.m. Tuesday and will feature live music, silent auctions and a raffle to help bring in funds for the rehabilitation.