THE LEADER THE AWARD-WINNING STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT ELMHURST COLLEGE. Pulitzer Prize winning author looks back on her biography subjects See page 6
VOL. 49
March 17, 2015
Leader explores local bars for cheapest drinks around See page 10
Rauner calls for voters to “take the power away” from special interest groups in Illinois
Soccer player arrested for having fake ID
Photo courtesy of Elmhurst PD
Zachary Bishop editor-in-chief Photo by Peter Flockencier Governor Bruce Rauner argues that special interest groups have too much influence over government policies
Zachary Bishop editor-in-chief Governor Bruce Rauner called for Illinois residents to “take the power away” from special interest groups inside the government, during his speech at EC’s 45th Annual President’s Community Breakfast on March 7, to revitalize the state’s economy. Rauner argued special interest groups, which can include business and labor unions as well as trade and professional
associations, have too much influence over the state government, which creates a “fundamental conflict of interest.” “The special interest groups … are controlling many of the politicians in Springfield and they’re bending them to their will,” he said. “The government is working for the special interest groups and not for you … this ain’t radical. This is common sense and this is centrist.” Rauner stressed that the economy will not recover unless voters call for these groups
to decrease their influence over the state government. “If we don’t fix the conflict of interest, if we don’t change the structure inside the government, the next person after me is gonna blow the lid off again just like Blagojevich and Quinn,” he said. To explain how the influence of special interest groups over state government is hindering the economy, Rauner discussed how the Prevailing Wage Act obliges Illinois to pay more money to improve the infra-
structure. The Act requires the government to use contractors and subcontractors for public works projects that pay laborers and workers no less than the prevailing rate of wages. This prevents the government from allowing businesses to bid for public works projects and then taking the offer that’s most cost effective for taxpayers’ dollars, Rauner argued. See RAUNER CALLS on page 5
SGA and faculty select delegates for presidential search group Zachary Bishop & Andy Prignano editor-in-chief and mangaging & opinions editor
The Student Government Association (SGA) and the faculty nominated three and six individuals, respectively, to be the student and faculty representatives on the Presidential Search Committee that will select possible candidates to be the permanent president after S. Alan Ray ends his term. The board of trustees decided on Jan. 12 that the Presidential Search Committee will consist of six trustees, two faculty members, one student, one alumni member, and one staff member. See PRESIDENTAL SEARCH on page 5
Graphic by Nikki Smith
Freshman soccer player Jonathan D. Garnett was arrested outside a North Avenue liquor store on March 11 for possession of alcoholic liquor by a minor and possession of a fraudulent ID card, stated the Elmhurst Police Dept. Daily Bulletin. Elmhurst Police officers spotted Garnett, who they believed to be under 21, exit the Corner Cottage Liquor store at 526 E. North Ave. with a 24pack of Bud Light beer. The officers discovered Garnett was 18 and he admitted to purchasing the alcohol with a fraudulent Illinois driver’s license. He was subsequently arrested and then released on bond. According to the Elmhurst Bluejays athletics website, Garnett played for the EC soccer team during the 2014 season as a midfielder/forward. Garnett, a native of Clarendon Hills, graduated from Hinsdale Central High School, where he received a pair of varsity letters. Illinois Law states that persons charged with possession of a fraudulent ID card can be convicted of a Class 4 Felony, which carries a maximum jail sentence of three years and fines up to $25,000. Possession of alcoholic liquor by a minor would be considered a Class A Misdemeanor under Illinois Law and carries a minimum fine of $500.
2
NEWS
March 17, 2015
ecleader.org
•State of Flux•
Cherry on the racist sundae Andy Prignano
managing & opinions editor Lately there seems to be a lot of confusion between political correctness and racism throughout America. All too often you’ll see entertainers (comedians and musicians in particular) scolded for regularly using racial slurs. However, politicians and news commentators will express extraordinarily bigoted views in a civil manner and see little backlash for it. For example, on the political talk show Morning Joe on MSNBC, hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski compared the recent fiasco at Oklahoma State to rapper Waka Flocka Flame. At Oklahoma State, a chapter of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) fraternity was disbanded after video of a racist chant was seen online. Brzezinski and Scarborough claimed that since rappers like Waka Flocka, who use the N-word with regularity, have found their way into popular culture the fraternity members of SAE could be forgiven for thinking it was okay to use the N-word. Brzezinski and Scarborough have since backed off of this claim and apologized for it, but it is a perfect example of the convoluted mess the difference between political correctness and racism has become. Now I’m not a fan of Mr. Flame, nor do I think he is the greatest role model, but the chant in question is not racist because of its cavalier use of a racial slur. It is racist because it happily advocates the exclusion of black people and celebrates lynching. The use of the N-word is really of no conse-
The awardwinning student newspaper at Elmhurst College
quence. The chant is hateful and despicable without it. It is merely the hateful cherry on top of the racist sundae. For some reason a lot of outrage seems to be based on the fact that a bus full of white people used the N-word openly, not what these people were actually saying.
The chant is hateful and despicable without it. It is merely the hateful cherry on top of the racist sundae. Obviously, I don’t endorse the use of the N-word by anyone. I’ve refrained from using the actual word throughout this whole column. But, there is a difference between subtly endorsing racism and white supremacy – which I believe the N-word does – and celebrating and defending racism, which the SAE chant does with its celebration of segregation and lynching. Not understanding this difference has led many people to somehow argue that blacks are in general less responsible and lazier than whites, and still maintain that they are not racist. Fox news commentator Bill O’Reilly regularly complains about black America’s violence and lack of personal responsibility, yet he will still condemn colleagues who use the N-word … as if what he believes is not racist or hateful. We often say words have power, and to some extent they do. But where the real power lies is in the ideas behind them. If we are ever going to make any progress on our country’s race problem, we need to start acknowledging the difference.
the
Leader
Editor-in-chief: Managing & Opinions Editor: News Editor: Beat editor: Sports Editor Graphics Editor: Photo editor Copy editor: Business Manager: Adviser:
Zachary Bishop Andy Prignano Luis Rodriguez Kailey Hansen Josh Rushbrook Nikki Smith Peter Flockencier Kathryn Kuszynski Elyse Christofanelli Ron Wiginton
internet photo The HBO documentary on Robert Durst brought up new evidence about the murder of Susan Berman
20-year-old Ferguson resident charged with the shootings of two Ferguson police officers
Luis Rodriguez news editor
Son of New York real-estate mogul arrested in New Orleans Robert Durst, heir to the New York real-estate mogul Seymour Durst, was arrested in New Orleans on a warrant in connection to the murder of Susan Berman, a friend of Durst, in 2000. 71-year-old Durst was previously suspected of the disappearance of his wife in 1982 and the dismemberment of Morris Black in 2001. Durst has continuously denied any involvement to his wife’s disappearance or the murder of Berman and was acquitted in the death of Black on claims of self-defense. However, in an HBO documentary tracking the life of Durst, new evidence emerged in an episode that caused the case of the unsolved murder of Berman to be reopened. Durst will waive extradition and will be transported to Los Angeles to face the charges.
A man has been charged with first-degree assault after acknowledging participation in the shooting of two Ferguson, Missouri police officers, authorities said on Sunday. Ferguson resident Jeffery Williams, 20, has admitted his participation in the double shooting of the two officers on March 11. However, Williams’ claims he was not aiming at the officers and says the shots were due to a civilian dispute, according to St. Louis County prosecutor Bob McCulloch. The two officers involved in the shooting were hospitalized but have since been released. Demonstrators who have protested in Ferguson since the shooting of Michael Brown have claimed that Williams had no association with their movement.
PRODUCTION STAFF Sarah Astra Marguerite Kuick Sara Baldwin Vinnie Lotesto Nick Cegielski Trace Nardi Alex DeBack Gianfranco Ocampo Nora Georgieva Brett Peto Elizabeth Imbrogno Allen Riquelme Geena Jacobson Zachary Walton Hannah Jasinski Daniel Wiggin Cori Jaracz Tyler York Roy Jones
CONTACT US
190 Prospect Ave., Elmhurst, IL 60126 Phone: 630.617.3320 leadernewsec@gmail.com
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. No text, photos, or art can be reproduced without direct permission of The Leader.
Nigerian armed group, Boko Haram, pledges allegiance to ISIL The Nigerian armed group, Boko Haram, pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), which accepted their support. An ISIL spokesman has said that Boko Haram contacted them pledging their allegiance to their cause, causing ISIL to make claims of West African expansion. ISIL has claimed lands in western and northern Iraq over the past year, and gained control of much of Iraq and Syria. Boko Haram has not had much success in claiming Nigeria, but has claimed through Twitter that ISIL is going to be helping them. Abu Mohammed al-Adnani, a spokesman for ISIL, has urged foreign fighters to either join ISIL or begin to pay the special tax ISIL has been enforcing on the territories they hold.
PUBLISHING INFO The Leader is funded by the student activities fund and advertising revenue. The paper has a press run of 1,500. It can be picked up in all campus buildings and certain offcampus sites.
ADVERTISING Elyse Christofanelli c/o Leader Advertising 190 Prospect Ave. Elmhurst, IL 60126 Advertising: 630.617.3321 theleaderadvertising@gmail.com
NEWS
ecleader.org
March 17, 2015
Campus Shortz
3
Hard news briefs (usually) in 500 words or less
President Ray honored with Elmhurst proclamation zachary bishop editor-in-chief
On Saturday, March 7, Elmhurst Mayor Steve Morley proclaimed March 7, 2015 as “Dr. S. Alan Ray Day” during EC’s 45th Annual President’s Community Breakfast to honor President Ray’s efforts in promoting partnerships between the college and the greater community. “[Dr. Ray] is certainly someone who pushes boundaries,” said Morley, who’s been mayor for two years, in an online video of his speech. “He’s one who frequently asks all of us to look beyond the campus.” Ray stated in an email that the announcement came as a surprise to him and meant a great
deal. Morley specifically commended Ray for his work in obtaining partnerships with John Marshall Law School and Elmhurst Memorial Hospital. At the breakfast, Ray shared his thoughts on his tenure as President, specifically his work in securing “strategically selected” initiatives and investments, amidst financial hardship. “I would argue strongly that continually investing wisely in our future, even and especially in challenging times, is a precondition of institutional flourishing,” Ray said. “There is a price for innovation, but unless we pay it, we leave to chance any hope of a competitive advantage.”
Photo by Peter Flockencier Pesident Ray happily accepts his award from Mayor Steve Morley marking March 7, 2015 as Ray’s day.
Two art professors open their Organizations collaborate to celebrate National Foreign Language Week “American Dream” art show nual International Poetry Read- quette University followed up Daniel Wiggin at EC the poetry reading the next day ing at Elmhurst College. staff writer
Luis Rodriguez news editor
EC art faculty members expressed their concern over the environment, impacts of consumerism, and the ways of life in America at the art show, Living Large: Examining the American Dream. Geoff Sciacca, associate professor of graphic design, and Dustan Creech, assistant professor of sculpture and print-
making, held their art show in the Barbara A. Kleft Accelerator ArtSpace. Their show explored the notions of giving up farmlands for subdivisions, building oversized homes, hiding ourselves and all we’ve made, and being a nation of consumers. Living Large will be running until April 16 and will be open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
From Monday, March 9 to Friday, March 13, the foreign language honor society Alpha Mu Gamma collaborated with the World Languages Department to celebrate National Foreign Language Week. This annual national event began in 1957 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower endorsed a week recognizing the merit of speaking and respecting diverse languages. This year marked the 10th an-
“The poetry reading allows students, professors, and the public to come together and enjoy and share our love for language,” said Amanda Wall, president of Alpha Mu Gamma. Students and faculty brought poems written in French, German, and Spanish. Although listeners could not understand all that was being read, people were able to hear different languages and an English translation was provided. Enaya Othman from Mar-
by giving a speech entitled “Beyond the Veil: Dress, Identity, and Tradition – Through the Eyes of the Muslim and Arab Women of Greater Milwaukee.” She shared her research on the topic of Muslim women’s clothing and its implications. On March 12, students and faculty came to a round table event and talked about their experiences traveling to different parts of Europe and South Africa.
Sister Campbell argues for attention to income inequality in America Gianfranco ocampo staff writer
Lawyer and sister of the Roman Catholic Church, Sister Simone Campbell argued that the income inequality in America is a large issue that needs more attention. “Income and wealth disparity is the issue tearing our country apart,” said Campbell at her EC lecture, “A Nun on the Bus” on March 5. Campbell spoke critically of many U.S. politicians including: 2012 presidential candidate Mitt Romney, Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell, and Congressman Paul Ryan. She argued that many congressmen are out of touch with the American people because of massive income inequality in America. To illustrate this point, Campbell arranged EC students to represent numerous social classes in America to show how the top one percent of the population from 1980-2010 increased by 224 percent, far more than any of the
other classes. Sophomore Sean McKay, one of the participants in Campbell’s demonstration, said, “Being a part of the demonstration itself was also eye opening for me because I never saw an effective visual representation like that before.” Campbell felt all classes have failed to see each other’s economic conditions as she feels Romney did when he had made his comments that 47 percent of Americans are takers. Campbell looks to raise awareness of the income inequality in America and wishes to improve in four areas in American politics to improve the situation Americans are in. In her work, she aims to improve the tax policies, wages and labor, housing/transportation, and asset accumulation. In Campbell’s attempts to raise awareness, she explained her work to Congressman Paul Ryan and has shared many meetings with him – commenting that he was being stubborn.
Photo by Hannah Jasinski SIster Simone Campbell leads student in a demonstration about income inequality with EC students Tiffany Lutka, Lexie Dames, and Cal Vrchota.
“He feels that because he managed to become successful despite his shortcomings, anyone can do it,” said Campbell. “He has this strong philosophy of in-
dividualism.” She feels optimistic that she will be able to raise awareness amoung politicians about the issues of income inequality, say-
ing, “If we radically accept everyone, we have to fight for a vision.”
4
NEWS
March 17, 2015
ecleader.org
Former broadcast journalist analyzes the problems with Congress Gianfranco ocampo
staff writer Former broadcast journalist and author of “Unlock Congress,” Michael Golden, spoke to the students enrolled in POL 360 on March 12 about the problems he finds in the way Congress functions. “His book has condensed this information making it accessible,” Professor Constance Mixon of the political science department recalled. Michael Golden managed to send early copies for Mixon’s whole class and arranged a date with her for a lecture once they had finished reading the book. Golden’s lecture provided insight into his findings in his upcoming book “Unlock Con-
gress,” laying out four defects in our legislative body; money flood, rigged congressional races, two-year congressional terms, and the senate filibuster. “The system doesn’t work as it was meant to operate,” said Golden. As a result, there have been poor turnouts in voting, a deterrence in communication between the two parties, and a distortion of fair representation. Golden offered solutions to the problems he dubbed “The Unlock Congress platform” which suggests rebalancing campaign finance rules, unrigging congressional races, extending U.S. house terms from two to four years, and abolishing the filibuster.
Internet Photo Michael Golden discussed the problems he finds in Congress at a March 12 speech for an EC class.
Junior Alex Romano, a political science major, provided a critical view of Golden’s platform. “The four-year term can be successful if you get rid of the money flood ... or else you’re going to get a congress that will successfully be able to push their agenda,” said Romano. Golden also commented on the role of political officials. “I revere these people who go to Congress. They make sacrifices and muddy their reputation. I do believe they are trying to make a difference.” Golden provided students with advice for getting into politics, saying, “Don’t demonize your opponents.” Students commented on his passion and in-depth analysis of the American political system. “He seemed quite passionate regarding problems within congress and although he only took up about an hour and a half, he laid out his plan nicely,” said junior Max Ohle. The complexities of the inner-workings of the government are complicated, but, according to students, Golden was able to cover most of it in his book. “The book added depth to the policy-making process in Washington,” said senior Pat Ackerman. “I found it to be interesting and definitely shows that the inner-workings of our government is not as simplistic as high school government classes make it out to be.” Michael Golden’s book “Unlock Congress” is expected to be released on April 15. Golden looks to visit other college campuses to discuss more information on the inner workings of Congress.
Robert Shindler, Lawyer and founder of the Chicago law firm Abogados America, shared the story of movement into an advocate against adult illiteracy at his EC lecture on March 8. Saying, “Don’t ever tell a parent what their child can or cannot do,” Shindler began his work as an advocate of adult illiteracy years after his son, Oliver Shindler, was diagnosed with a learning disability and degraded by a baseball teammate for being in special education. After his son’s diagnosis, Shindler shut down for the next four to five years. “Superheroes come in many different forms,” said Shindler. Eventually, he began advocating for adult illiteracy . Oliver Shindler has been re-
cruited to Ohio State with a fencing scholarship. Shindler sought literacy programs to be able to teach Oliver how to read well. He became involved with Literacy Chicago and has since begun to amass an “army of tutors” to eradicate illiteracy in America. Keeping a diary of his teaching experiences, Shindler compiled 360 pages worth of research that would eventually become his book, “Hot Dogs and Hamburgers: Unlocking Life’s Potential by Inspiring Literacy at Any Age”. Pulling the title from a student of his, a former traveling salesman, whose dinner every night would either be a hot dog or a hamburger, because they couldn’t read food menus. In the United States, 32 million people are illiterate. 21 percent of American adults read below a
Math Instructor Positions Part-Time Math Instructor Positions Are you CrAzY about math? We are seeking friendly, out-going, and motivated parttime Instructors who have a mathematics background and excellent communication skills. If you have a passion for mathematics, an eagerness to give back to your community, and a knack for helping others, please send your resume to elmhurst@mathnasium.com. A math competency test is required for employment consideration. We hire degreed teachers, students studying to become teachers, and students in a variety of majors with mathematical backgrounds. There are no lessons for the Instructors to prepare. You will be trained to use the Mathnasium curriculum and teaching methods. If you aspire to inspire, then we want you on our fun team. Mathnasium of Elmhurst 275 N. York Rd., Suite 100 elmhurst@mathnasium.com www.mathnasium.com/elmhurst/employment
Lawyer and tutor talks adult illiteracy Roy jones staff writer
Advertisements
5th grade level, but many adults lead normal lives despite their invisible disability. Functional illiteracy is the inadequate ability to read or write in the language beyond a basic level. Students of Literacy Chicago include people in their 40s, 50s, and 60s. Shindler’s lecture ended the same as his classes end, with a dance party. A large part of his teaching philosophy is that “silly works”, and beyond his acuity for engagement with beliefs that silly things that stick in people’s heads can be used to educate people of any age.
NEWS
ecleader.org
March 17, 2015
5
Social media encourages Women Empowerment Geena Jacobson staff writer On Wednesday, March 11, a social media campaign encouraged female students to use apps like Twitter and Instagram to post a picture with a description of what makes them feel empowered. Women’s Empowerment Week, hosted by the Panhellenic Council, ran from March 10-15 and sought to inspire the women of our campus. The week was filled with events that encouraged women to rise up and feel empowered to be who they are in a world that many feel is still male-dominated. The celebration kicked off with a speech by Assistant Director of Campus Security Caroline Krause, along with a State of the Women Address in an LTAG (Let’s Talk About Gender) meeting. “I think Women’s Empowerment Week is so important because it is inclusive of all women no matter race, gender, sexual expression, and class,” said Faith Powell, vice president
of leadership for the Panhellenic Council, in an email. “During the Feminist movement, a lot of women were actually invisible. Women of color, women of different social classes,” she said. “Now we are totally trying to be inclusive and celebrate women for being who they [are] and doing what they love to do.” Women of EC utilized the hashtag #ECWomensEmpowermentWeek. to express their empowerment. “So proud to be apart of a community dedicated to enacting change and not accepting the status quo,” tweeted Hannah Grebner. “What makes me feel empowered is being in a school and getting a really great education where it exposes me to so many different things. Having those opportunities here at this institution has allowed me to discern and articulate my passion,” Powell said of her own empowerment experience. The next events included a pop-up paint party that brought together paint and mocktails to
Photo Illustration by Peter Flockencier Sophomore Corinne Demyanovich posted a photo using the hashtag, #ECWomensEmpowermentWeek.
foster freedom of expression, as well as speaker Stacy Nadeau, a model in Dove’s “Real Women” campaign. Nadeau spoke about learning to love yourself and embracing your beauty. “College is a point of learning about your own identity and very transitional,” said Angil Tate, president of the Panhellenic Council and a member of
RAUNER CALLS from pg. 1 “We’ve gotta get value for your tax dollars and there’s no reason that system should be constricted and you should be limited in competitive bidding,” he said. “You should decide what goes on in your government and what you’ve gotta pay and what you don’t have to pay.” Rauner further asserted that this hinders his plan to build up the state’s infrastructure, which includes roads, schools, bridges, locks, dams, canals, airports, and rail systems. “I want to put billions of dollars into our infrastructure, but if we gotta spend 25 percent more on every project than it would otherwise cost [due to Prevailing Wage] … you’re not getting value for your tax dollar,”
he said. “And that’s 25 percent fewer schools we can build, fewer roads we can expand.” The hindrance caused by the Prevailing Wage Act has even affected Rauner’s attempts to fix up the Governor’s Mansion because he would have to pay 22 percent more of both his own money and taxpayer’s dollars to do so. The government building has a leaky roof, a front door that doesn’t work, and an elevator that doesn’t work. “We take care of our governor’s residence the way we take care of our economy,” he said. “We just let it break down.” Rauner also discussed how special interest groups’ influence has hindered the economy through legislation that calls for forced unionization and prop-
erty tax increases. However, Rauner also stressed that Illinois voters don’t necessarily have to change any of these acts, as long as they are making the decision to do so and not special interest groups. “If you want your businesses [in your local economy] to have forced unionization, terrific, keep it,” he said. “But if you don’t believe your economy should be restricted by that, you decide.” Rauner repeated the idea that voters instead of special interest groups should control the government. “This is your economy, this is your county, this is your city, this is your college. You decide,” he said. “You are the people of
Sigma Kappa, about the week’s events. “It’s a great time to be empowered to really find yourself.” The week ended with a smart start salary negotiation seminar geared towards helping female students bridge the gender pay gap remaining in many job industries. “It is very important for both
men and women about the conscientious things that they say, like not slut shaming, not cat calling, saying things that are not inclusive,” Powell said. “I really want people to focus on being more inclusive and being more positive and encouraging.” See Notable Fictional Females story on pg. 13
Illinois. You should have the power.” To reduce special interest groups’ influence over the government, Rauner posed a challenge to the people in attendance. “I need you to come on down [to Springfield]. Write some letters, make some phone calls, come knock on the door, come to the office [of your General Assembly representatives and senators],” he said. “Let them know you’re a voter in Illinois and you want to be empowered to control your destiny.” Rauner also shared his plans to draft and push six floor bills through the Illinois General Assembly to incite change in the state government in the next four months. His Press Secretary Catherine Kelly declined to release the content of the bills to The Chi-
cago Tribune. “We will announce any legislation when we introduce it,” she told The Chicago Tribune. EC encouraged Rauner in his efforts to turn the state around. “At Elmhurst College, we want you to know we support your worthy cause in fixing our state’s problems and moving us forward,” said Lee A. Daniels, special assistant to the president for government and community relations, at the event. Rauner concluded by expressing his belief that restoring the state’s economy will also help restore Illinois’ pride. “We can get a booming economy. We’ve got the hardest working families in America. We’ve got the most fertile farms in America.,” he said. “We’re gonna restore [Illinois’] Pride. We’re gonna restore the prosperity in Illinois.”
PRESIDENTIAL SEARCH from pg. 1 SGA recently nominated three students to the board to choose one student representative on the committee, President Meredithe Mimlitz confirmed in an email. “We worked really hard to present the board with a diverse group of students to chose from,” she said. Although she could not releease the nominees’ names, Mimlitz said only one of the three nominees is on SGA and all three are upperclassmen who are involved in different campus organizations and hold various leadership roles. The faculty recently elected two faculty representatives for the committee – Biology Department Chair Paul E. Arriola and Religious Studies Professor Andrew Das – and four other candidates as alternates. Arriola was a member of the previous search committee to
find the new Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty, who ended up being Alzada Tipton. Although he was “deeply humbled and honored” that his faculty colleagues elected him, Arriola is ambivalent about how strong the faculty’s voice will be in the search for a new president. “There will be fewer faculty representatives on this committee as compared to previous searches,” Arriola said in an email. “As to the level of ‘voice’ I would argue it depends on to whom the voice belongs [to].” The board opted for a smaller committee than in past years because they found, through consulting search firms and other colleges who recently completed presidential searches, that smaller committees work best, Chair of the Board Barbara Lucks and Chair of the
Presidential Search Committee Tom Kloet said in a Feb. 26 email to the faculty council. However, Lucks and Kloet stressed the college constituencies are still represented appropriately as they were in previous searches, percentage-wise. The faculty’s election of possible delegates ended several weaks of heated debate between the board and faculty over how many faculty delegates would be on the committee and how they would be elected. English Professor Lance Wilcox, who actively supported the faculty’s interests in the dispute, believes the faculty and board’s debate yielded fair results. “The negotiations ... definitely brought both parties to a position of a more open, constructive collaboration in the crucial business of finding a leader for his community,” he said. “In the event, all of this played out
well. Nothing was secret, underhanded, or ‘political’ in a bad sense.” The Presidential Search Committee’s role is not to select the next president, but to determine what qualities are needed in the next president, sift through candidates, and then recommend final selections to the board, Lucks and Kloet also mentioned. Because of this fact, Das, the other faculty representative, argues it is crucial for the faculty to have a strong voice in the selection of finalists, so the board has candidates who possess qualities needed for such an important role. “We have to get the initial candidate pool properly evaluated,” he said. “This may be the most important search in the college’s history. We have to get this next president right.” Das explained that in his
opinion, the next president should be “a strong, extroverted fundraiser … someone who is externally focused … who recognizes that we have to stay balanced on our costs.” Arriola hopes the board will take the voices of the college’s various constituencies into consideration when deciding the next president. “There should be equal input and consideration of all ideas from the community because a college president will often need to be the singular voice fro the institution as a whole,” he said. “She/he should be the one who reflects the many, and thus we should all contribute to our presidential choice on some level.” The board has yet to decide which two faculty members and student will officially serve on the President Search Committee.
6
NEWS
March 17, 2015
ecleader.org
Pulitzer Prize winning author examines her relationship with her subjects Luis Rodriguez news editor
Pulitzer Prize winning author Megan Marshall explored the relationship between a biographer and their subject in her EC lecture on March 2. “We learn things from these stories,” said Marshall, looking back on the multiple biographies she has written. “We learn a sense of the world.” Marshall is the author of the 2014 Pulitzer Prize winning biography, “Margaret Fuller: A New American Life” and also the finalist for a Pulitzer Prize, “The Peabody Sisters: Three Women Who Ignited American Romanticism.”
“We learn things from these stories. We learn a sense of the world.” - Megan Marshall
Photo by Peter Flockencier Megan Marshall has developed a relationship with the subjects of multiple biogrpahies.
In order to write a biography, Marshall spent many years researching and compiling all the necessary information before beginning to write biographies. “I spent 20 years on [the Peabody Sisters biography],” said Marshall. “It was a great project. It was an enormously ambitious
DO YOU WANT TO
project, more so than I realized.” After spending years researching and finding out all the details about the Peabody Sisters, Marshall developed a connection with them and what they’ve done in their lives. “The weight of all that I learned about them sat heavy on me,” said Marshall. “It seemed like I had developed this obligation to write about them. I couldn’t let them down.” When exploring the lives of these women, Marshall found that they, who lived many years ago, had similar experiences she has had in her life. “What I feel like I’ve been doing with these biographies, I’m singing about what I know,” said Marshall. “Through knowing other people, you find that others have the same problems as you.”
“It seemed like I had developed this obligation to write about them. I couldn’t let them down.”
into the lives of the women, looking at journals, diaries, and letters written to loved ones. Marshall writes as if she is living through these women. “It feels as if I’m putting on the dress of whoever it is I’m writing about,” said Campbell. “I’m trying to be them, trying to live through them.” Marshall is currently working on a biography about Elizabeth Bishop, a poet and a former professor at Harvard University, who Marshall studied under while attending, which is why Marshall is “so drawn into writing about this life.” Marshall delves deep into the lives of the women that become the subjects of her biographies; in a sense, the lives of these women become part of her. “When I’m not working on them, I have them in a little corner of my mind, that’s like a retreat,” said Marshall. “They’re there as sort of a cheering section in my daily life ... There’s kind of a voice for me singing and I’m trying to reach that voice. I’m trying to get that voice down on the page.”
- Megan Marshall In writing her multiple biographies, Marshall delves deep
SHOOT PEOPLE? Join Us At 11:30 On Tuesdays In Old Main Room 107 CONTACT US AT LEADERNEWSEC@GMAIL.COM
NEWS
ecleader.org
March 17, 2015
Center for Professional Excellence Career Connections
Linked In Event
Internship Info Sessions: CPE Resource Room Tuesday, March 31st; 11:30am-12:30pm Tuesday. April 14th 11:30am-12:30pm Wednesday, April 29th; 4:30pm-5:30pm
Study-Away Info Sessions: CPE Resource Room Thursday, April 30th; 11:30am-12:30pm
S.T.E.P : National Student Employment Week Celebration All student campus employees welcome! Lucks Conference Room, Cureton Hall Wednesday, April 15th; 1:30pm-3:00pm **Cake, ice cream, music and fun**
Interested in doing an internship this summer? Contact Holly Coffin by April 15th at hollyc@elmhurst.edu
CPE Office Hours: Mon., Thurs., Fri., 8am - 4pm Tues., Wed., 8am - 6pm Contact Us: Peggy Killian-Director of Career Education Phone: (630) 617 - 3625 Email: peggyk@elmhurst.edu Holly Coffin-Internship Coordinator Phone: (630) 617 - 6457 Email: hollyc@elmhurst.edu Julie Gonzales-Shadowing & Mentoring Coordinator Phone: (630) 617 - 3188 Email: julie.gonazles@elmhurst.edu Annette Coduto-Employer Relations Phone: (630) 617 - 3190 Email: annettec@elmhurst.edu Rose Fuller-Alumni Counselor Phone: (630) 617 - 3186 Email: rosef@elmhurst.edu Ingrid Becton - First LEAP Coordinator Email: bectoni@elmhurst.edu
Mock Interviews
Center for Professional Excellence - Elmhurst College
Follow us on:
EC_CPE Elmhurst-college-CPE Pinterest.com/eccpe/boards
*Visit ECconnect.com for internships and job postings
7
{ 8
March 17, 2015
}
opinions
ecleader.org
l Editorial l
Pay attention SGA, there’s still work to do
Cartoon by Vinnie Lotesto
Upon walking in the Blume Board room at 11:30 on any given Thursday you’d be surprised to learn a meeting of one of the campus’ most powerful student organizations was taking place. As you take a seat in a comfortable leather chair at the giant square table, you’d wonder if all of these people talking amongst themselves and looking at their phones are actually in a meeting. Now, to be fair, the meeting probably hasn’t started on schedule anyway. As the meeting gets underway, you’ll see one of the executive members frantically counting heads, hoping one of the two frequently absent members actually shows up so a quorum can be held. As you look around you’ll begin to notice something odd. While many members are paying attention and doing their jobs, you’ll notice almost a third of the group staring at their phones or with Facebook open on their laptops. It seems that some members of the Student Government Association (SGA) can’t be bothered to pay attention at their weekly meetings. Now we don’t want to make it sound like the entire organization is full of deadbeat ne’er-dowells. There are members who clearly take it seriously and are trying to do a good job. With all of this considered, most of the members of SGA will at some point pull out their phone to check (and respond to) their text messages, check their email, or look at Facebook on their laptops. In the last four meetings, one particular member has either been absent or doing homework the entire time. As you all understand, SGA is an incredibly important student organization. Probably the
most important as far as actual power goes. They control over half a million dollars of the student activitiy money, have a direct pipeline to the administration, and even meet with members of the board of trustees. Mostly members go over meetings with external committees, talk about intramurals and other fun activities for students, and approve prospective student organizations. There may be an amendment added to their constitution (as there was this year) or other big news, but for the most part it’s about committee reports and intramurals. It’s not rocket science, but these are issues that students care about and are important to any major decision a member of SGA might take part in. In other words, those members don’t have to be there. If they are so devoid of free time and busy, then they shouldn’t sign up for such an important position. We are the editorial board of The Leader; we understand that being part of a campus organization can be a lot of work. If at any point we felt unable or unwilling to do the work we signed up for, we should resign – not just do a half-assed job. If the worst offenders, the members who are consistently absent (either mentally or physically), late, disinterested, apathetic, or uninvolved refuse to resign, they should be forced out of SGA. Everyone at these meetings knows the two or three members who are flaky and unreliable, and action should be taken against them. Recently, six members stepped down from SGA and we understand they are hurting for members. While this may seem to exacerbate the problem, it actually puts SGA in an interesting position and
gives them the chance to purge members who aren’t working out. An amendment was recently added to SGA’s constitution that gave them the opportunity to hold a stop gap election. This would allow SGA to hold a sort of emergency election to add more members so they would never be in danger of lacking a quorum. These members would be a part of SGA, but then be required to run again under SGA’s brand new election process when regular elections are held. In other words, the winning members would only have a guaranteed spot on SGA for a month or so before having to undergo a more thorough and transparent election process. If they are just as apathetic and shiftless as the previous members they will have an extremely difficult time winning again. We know that we’ve expressed displeasure with SGA’s election system previously, but we are cautiously optimistic that these new elections would rectify some of the representative problems with the previous elections. We also understand that this kind of turnover seems like a lot to handle, but a short period of upheaval would be much better for the long-term health of the organization and the campus. SGA is a student organization that controls hundred of thousands of dollars in student activities funds and represents the students to the college’s administration. It deserves more than students who are just looking to boost their resume.
opinions
ecleader.org
l Under the Microscope l
Outside the glow
Brett Peto staff writer
It’s a rule of thumb in biology that if a place looks uninhabitable, absolutely desolate and hostile, there’s probably something weird living there. So is the case with the bacterium Shewanella oneidensis, discovered in 1988 at the bottom of upstate New York’s Oneida Lake. Rumors that the lake harbored something strange had been skulking around for several years, and eventually they arrived at the desk of Kenneth Nealson, then a professor at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. The rumors were that something was eating the manganese oxide on the bottom of the lake, where it collected every spring as the melting snow washed it out of the surrounding hills. The metal was vanishing at 1,000 times the expected rate. Like any self-respecting scientist, reporter, or busybody, Nealson went to Oneida Lake to investigate. He immediately suspected some lifeform, probably bacteria, had to be responsible for the incredible speed of the metal’s disappearance. But every sample he tried to grow in a petri dish on agar, a jello-like substance full of sugar and other nutrients that microbiologists grow many bacteria on, failed. A lot of bacteria can’t grow on agar for different reasons, so Nealson tried again. This time he used what was vanishing in the lake: manganese oxide. For most microbiologists, expectations might have been low; theoretically bacteria could live on it, but there would be little glucose (sugar) for them to turn into energy. Then, after two years of research, Nealson found Shewanella. “I called all my students into my lab and I said, ‘This is a very, very important organism to understand,’” Nealson says in Popular Science writer Corey S. Powell’s article “Have we found alien life?”. “Nobody’s going to believe it. It’s going to take us 10 or 15 years to convince the world it’s true.” What was so hard to believe was Shewanella’s ability to “breathe” manganese oxide instead of oxygen.
When they’re producing energy, all air-breathing, or aerobic, creatures use glucose to provide electrons and oxygen to accept them. It’s this flow of electrons that drives metabolism. Of course, bacteria that don’t use oxygen to accept electrons—called anaerobic bacteria—were already well-known by the time of Nealson’s research. They tend to use other chemicals like sulfate, sulfur, and nitrate to accept electrons, but this can be a bad trade-off, since those chemicals release less energy than oxygen. But Shewanella eats and breathes electricity, and it can survive for a long time without glucose, oxygen, or even other anaerobic electron acceptors. Basically, it can live and make energy without some of the most traditionally essential components of life. Knowing how to grow bacteria on things besides agar is also useful. Many medicines, including some antibiotics and vaccines, are prepared from compounds produced naturally by bacteria. As Nealson predicted, it took a while to gain credibility among microbiologists, and understandably so. Saying you’ve found something never considered before usually gets scoffed at, ignored, or written off as a fluke. We don’t know the extent of our comfort zone until we’re outside it. Another bacterium, Geobacter metallireducens, was discovered independently at the bottom of the Potomac River and also eats and breathes electricity. One signal flare can be dismissed as an unimportant accident; two signal flares are serious. Though the disbelief was to be expected, I think it illuminates something that can get lost in general education: what’s fact today can become false tomorrow. That’s not true for everything, obviously; plenty of what you’re taught today will still be fact tomorrow. But plenty of things change, too, year by year, century by century, as more of the planet, more of the universe, is explored and analyzed and identified. Sometimes we forget we’re a young species, that we’re still learning. Often it seems like we’ve lit only the first lamp, picked over everything within its glow, and concluded that we’re done because everything we can see is understood. But what waits outside the glow?
March 17, 2015
l Modern Renaissancel
9
Daylight savings problems
Sarah Astra staff writer
As most of you know, Daylight Savings Time (DST) has taken away one precious hour of your sleep on a Sunday (the day when people need it most). I was aware that they practiced this method of sleep deprivation, which has been aptly named British Summer Time, across the pond. Possibly to make it sound less daunting and more enjoyable. When many of my friends in America were mourning the loss of their extra hour, I was over here in England with a confused look on my face. My clock had not changed in the slightest. I immediately went to Wikipedia (let’s be fair, who doesn’t?) to discover that England does
not even change their clocks the same week. In America, the clocks change the first week of March, whereas in England they change the last week. Rather than the typical six hour time difference that I have with Elmhurst, I am now only five hours ahead. Which is not that big of a deal, but I am much more fortunate. Because DST really only effects those who are further away from the equator and experience drastically different seasons (sound like Elmhurst?) it really is not a big deal for states like Arizona and Hawaii. According to NASA, there are specific parts of Arizona that do practice it and areas within those parts that do not. Essentially, everyone is confused and it all seems rather inconsistent. So why exactly is this so convoluted and does the world really need DST? The most common story for DST’s origin is that it was to help farmers by giving them an extra hour to work during the day. This is not actually the case. According to National Geographic, it was first implemented in Germany and Austria-Hungary in 1916 in an effort to reduce
the amount of coal used during wartime, and many countries quickly followed suit. It also gives people more time to enjoy the sunlight after work in the summer. Let’s face it, who doesn’t want to come home in the summer time and go out for a walk or enjoy the sun? And, as the Germans assumed, it would use up less energy because people would spend less time working and more time outside. Unfortunately, people everywhere already use enough energy to make DST’s original purpose mean very little. In addition, there are significantly more road traffic collisions in the two weeks after DST than before. Why is DST still around? With the amount of energy the world uses, the original reason for its implementation is negligible and there is some evidence that it is detrimental to public safety. There are only two possible solutions: make everything consistent and change the clocks at the same time everywhere (thus avoiding confusion like I experienced) or abolish DST entirely. DST has run its course, so why should we keep it around?
“I couldn’t let this teaching moment pass” Dear Editor, While I appreciate The Leader’s eagerness to consider me for one of the first profiles of many among the number of fulltime faculty who will be leaving the College after this year, after reading the article I felt an obligation to offer a challenge to the staff. As someone who works intimately with words on a daily basis, I feel qualified to teach a thing or two about the importance of written words. Here’s the one challenge I would give anyone who is responsible for interviewing someone for a news story: Use a device (even if it’s your phone) to record the interviewees comments, so you can accurately transcribe their words. That is the point, right? Quotation marks are an indication that the words contained between their opening and closing are the actual words of the person quoted. With regard to my recent interview, the author and I had a truly wonderful conversation. On one hand, I was impressed that he chose to “record” the highlights of our conversation by hand. On the other hand, my fear of being misquoted weighed on me until those fears were confirmed a few short days later. I read the article, and my pride felt the sting of my thoughtful, articu-
late comments reinterpreted through a matrix of scribbled notes, unfamiliarity with the subject matter, and inability to recall specifics from a lengthy conversation and ultimately rereleased in the written voice of the author instead of my own. Several of the quotes contain misrepresentations of what was said, several are mashups of sentence fragments from unrelated comments, but not a single one of them warranted being framed by quotation marks. In terms of the consequences to me of this article being written in this way, I used the word “pride” earlier with intention, because that is the extent of what was hurt here. If the only damage done was that most of the college community thinks that I talk like an undergraduate student scrambling to meet a deadline, I’ll survive. I couldn’t let this teaching moment pass. However, the other concern I had with the article was more relating to what will happen in my absence. What will happen to Graphic Design at Elmhurst? It was in relation to this topic where my most significant misquotes surfaced. The article also stated the Art Department is searching for someone to replace me. This is incorrect. The Art Department has submitted a request for the ability to replace me, however, with the
hiring freeze, there is zero guarantee that they will be able to. I teach 10 classes per year, advise the students in Graphic Design and oversee the entire Graphic Design program. Within a week of announcing to my students that I was leaving, I had four students approach me holding brochures from other schools asking me to which school they should transfer. I served on a board tasked with retention a few years back, I know the impact of each student lost. And I know that it won’t take very many students transferring to forfeit any savings gained from not replacing me. That’s what concerns me — the board’s short-sighted belief that you can indiscriminately cut expenditures (like the salary from my position), and it won’t negatively impact revenue as well. The college has been more than good to me and my family. I genuinely hate to go, but go I must. I hope that through the many people I am sure to keep in contact with, that I will hear good news soon of Elmhurst College making it through these difficult times. Regards, Geoff Sciacca Associate Professor, Graphic Design
whose brews you shou if you have the cash b cheapest drink
$2.50
cheapest drink
$3.00
BRAUERHOUSE
PARLORE PIZZA BAR
1000 Rohlwing Rd. Ste. 13, Lombard
108 N Green St., Chicago
If it’s not watching the game that you’re looking for, only 5.1 miles away from EC sits the music oriented Brauerhouse. Parking is free, surrounding the entire venue, which means you won’t waste money on a parking meter. The black walls, music posters, gothic chandeliers and masks hung along the bar do not attempt to hide the unique beat of the venue. For those who enjoy the open air, the venue provides an outdoor sitting area.
It wouldn’t take many dollar bills to get a little buzzed at this location, as the cheapest beer, PBR, costs only $2.50. For nights that are a little more upscale, the Brauerhouse can offer their most popular drink, the Misfit Margarita, which comes at the cost of $12. It seems people come for more than just the cheap beer. “This is my first time here and I am really impressed with everything both from the kitchen and the bar,” said biker Mike Scotti, 33, “but my favorite part is the cool vibe in this hard rock kind of way.”
For anyone looking to snack on some pizza while drinking, Parlore Pizza Bar is an affordable option in the city. The venue is approximately 17 miles from the EC campus in the West Loop of Chicago with both street parking and a valet. Due to its urban location, this bar is a train or cab ride away. It offers indoor seating as well as a patio and a rooftop for the warmer months. Although prices are usually steeper closer to the heart of the city, Parlor Pizza Bar offer Stroh’s for only $3. While their specialty drink quadruples the price of the Stroh’s at $12, Moscow
Mules seemed to appear on most people’s tables. The venue has a retro industrial feel, making it appear as less of a bar and more of a friendly hang out spot. Although Parlore Pizza Bar has been open for less than a year, it has attracted quite a crowd. “I come here often and have always had amazing service and finger-licking food,” said Carolina Medlin. She continued by pointing out that the lunch special, which she was eating at the time, was “a good bang for buck.”
uld choose blues
Nora Georgieva staff writer March brings forth three very important things: spring weather, midterms, and St. Patrick’s Day. What do all three have in common? Alcohol. A light pocketbook is the staple of a college kid, but a fun night on the town can still happen if you know where to go. With distance, parking fees, and costs of drinks in mind, these four Chicagoland bars give four very different experiences. For
those over 21, these Yelp-approved Chicagoland bars offer a few affordable drinks to the average college student. No matter how broke or tired students on the EC campus might feel, there are all sorts of practical and affordable solutions to take off the edge one cheers at a time. How else could one possibly celebrate the end of midterms?
cheapest drink cheapest drink
$5.00
$3.75
st e s clo O T PUS M CA
PINTS
KERRYMAN
112 S. York St., Elmhurst
661 N Clark St., Chicago
Less than a mile from school (only 0.7 miles, to be exact) is Pints. It’s easiest to park on the street at Pints or walk there. The venue has both inside seating and an outdoor patio for warmer evenings. As a sports bar, Pints has a large selection of beers, with their cheapest beer starting at $3.75.
“Service is great and [Pints] has a lot of beers to choose from. The Root Beer Beer is probably my favorite,” said Michael David, 26, who was having an after work drink. “And of course, the fact that there are a lot of TV’s here makes it an awesome meeting place for games.”
And last but not least, for those brave enough to go into the heart of River North, the Irish pub Kerryman is a solid choice. 20 miles away from EC one can get a domestic beer for $5. As an authentic Irish pub, they offer a very wide collection of different Guinness beers. Since parking is a true ‘mission impossible’ in the River North area, the venue offers valet parking.
The lofty three-story venue colored in dim yellow lights has an illuminated patio as well. Presilla Collins, 30, said that her favorite part about the pub is that they won’t skimp on what you buy. “They do not stiff you at all on your drink,” she says, “They pour like every other bar seems afraid to, all the way to the rim of the glass.”
Graphics by Nikki Smith
12
Beat
March 17, 2015
ecleader.org
Meatheads trumps french fry selection in downtown Elmhurst
Juniors Ben Modesitt and Michaela Strehlau enjoy a tasty plate of Meatheads fries.
Restaurant Review Marguerite kuick staff writer French Fries, which we all know are fried chunks of potato-ey goodness, were invented by the Belgians. Or was it the French? Nobody really knows which country invented the golden sticks, but the comfort food is deemed French
because of the method in which they are fried (originally it was fat – now it’s typically vegetable or peanut oil). We know fries aren’t just an American thing they can be found across the world, from countries like the U.K. (Fish and chips, mate!) and Turkey (Patates Kizartmasi). Different countries prefer different toppings, from cheese and bacon bits to mayonnaise to vinegar.
Elmhurst doesn’t have a museum dedicated to potato fries like Belgium, but it does have a whole slew of places to grab cheap fries! The busy downtown area, a walk away from campus, is one of the best places to snoop around for the best finds. TV’s flicker on the dark walls at Buffalo Wild Wings, where the fries are $2.89, but the fries are also soggy and burnt. May-
Photo by Cori Jaracz
be it’s so dark so the black spots on the fries can’t be seen. Different toppings can be ordered for the unevenly made fries, but if cheese fries are ordered, I recommend eating the fries within one minute, since the cheese quickly hardens and becomes difficult to pull a fry out of. Stick to the wings. Hamburger Heaven sells the cheapest fries at $1.85 in downtown Elmhurst, but they’re not
the best. The crinkle-cut fries here were too hot (I think at least two of my taste buds lost a life) and too chewy on the inside – definitely previously frozen, but still crisp and golden on the outside. On the corner of North Ave. and York St., Hamburger Heaven might not get the reward for best tasting fries, but it does have a cool ambiance with old neon signs and old-fashioned brown greasy takeout bags. Their outdoor seating is also perfect for warm summer evenings. The fries at Meatheads, just $2.00 for a regular serving, not only included a bigger batch than the other restaurants, but the fries were crispy and caramelized on the outside and soft and fresh on the inside. Maybe the fries weren’t the plump crinkle-cut Chicago-style fries, but the potato shavings are still mouth-watering. And there were more selections than just plain fries – cayenne and mustard cheese sauce and chili topped are delectable options as well. With some salt topped on, the thin strips were served warm, without burnt spots, and finely textured. Meatheads definitely comes out on top. You might be wondering why there’s even a competition (how can you mess up fries, really?) but when craving some greasy goodness, it’s good to know your options.
“No Exit” succeeds in unconventional storytelling Theatre Review Kailey Hansen beat editor The definition of hell to an introvert is people. When I’d heard that “No Exit” was a play about three people trapped in a room for all eternity only to find out it’s a version of the dark deep satanic abyss, I resonated. I haven’t been to hell, but I’ve met people. The 1944 Jean Paul Sartre play is pretty much this concept in a nutshell except light years more philosophical and soaked with existentialism. The Mill Theatre’s newest show, which ran Thursday, March 12 through Saturday, March 14, was an impressively twisted journey down the morbid path of human nature. Even more impressively, it managed to challenge the way plays are often constructed, telling a story almost strictly through dialogue. Garcin, Inez, and Estelle are three drastically different people with one horrific thing in common: they’re stuck in a garden together for all eternity. We learn right off the bat that these three are dead, but the reason behind their linked fate
is a mystery that is gradually revealed. As we learn each character’s backstory it becomes clear that each has done some notorious deed and each is bound to drive the others (and themselves) to the brink of insanity. This 20th century play, directed by senior Gina Berceau, kept the dialogue and setting in which it was written but kept the characters refreshingly modernized. As with almost any show without set changes, “No Exit” relies entirely on dialogue to kick-start the plot. It lagged in a few places but picked up once all three were let loose. The three leads were as strikingly different as the characters they portrayed and it made for a good blend of comedic and dramatic chemistry. It was like watching an incredibly talkative and hostile version of the three stooges as the show progressed. All of the performances were strong, which kept the plot woven together by monologues and warp-speed dialogue moving at a decent pace. Gina Carlson’s portrayal of the love-struck yet bold and abrasive Inez was natural, believable, and one of the best performances.
Since there was virtually no set change, we saw a nice amount of lighting tricks that helped create the obscure world of this enclosed ‘prison’. As characters looked into a jagged rock that sat smack-dab in the middle of the stage, we heard them tell of their past lives rather than watched them ‘act it out’. The theater would dim and faint light would illuminate the actor telling their story whenever a scene like this arose. A creative way to enhance a story told without much visual action. The lack of physical movement combined with the Mill’s tiny stage (seating surrounded all four sides for this production) transformed audience members into onlookers of the claustrophobic garden. It created an intimate space with an unnerving feeling of entrapment. After seeing “No Exit”, you could lock me in a room with Prince William and Beyoncé and I’d still loose hope for humanity’s ability to survive together for all eternity. That being said, it’s clear that this play did its job.
Photo courtesy of Rick Arnold From left to right: Brenda Perez de Tejada, Gina Carlson, and Brandon Pisano portray characters who are forced to spend all of eternity together despite not being able to stand one another.
Beat
ecleaedr.org
March 17, 2015
•Culture POP•
13
Will Smith’s new movie loses ‘focus’ Film Review Elizabeth imbrogno staff writer The new film “Focus”, directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, contains a lot of talk, barely any action, and, ironically, no focus. The story follows Nicky (Will Smith), a seasoned swindler who coaches a younger, troubled woman named Jess (Margot Robbie) on how to con people out of their money and belongings. Nicky, Jess, and a team of con artists begin by pickpocketing bustling areas such as marketplaces and outdoor cafes. While they have their fun thieving unsuspecting people left and right, Nicky and Jess steal each other’s hearts and start up a fling. Danger arises when the two eventually raise the stakes at a Super Bowl game in New Orleans – the two have a falling out that seems to conveniently setup the rest of the movie. Three years later, the old
Internet Photo
flames meet again as Nicky pretends to be in cahoots with Jess’s lover, the hotheaded Rafael Garriga (Rodrigo Santoro), a filthy rich racecar team owner who plans to con rival owner McEwen (Robert Taylor). The story veers after Garriga and McEwen come onto the scene, but, unfortunately, this doesn’t provide much excite-
ment. While most con movies try to puzzle people, the biggest mysteries in “Focus” are the longwinded and unnecessary blabbering between characters, especially Nicky and Jess. The relentless chatter (bogged down by the screenplay) among characters allows room for only a little action, making the movie
Organization uses art to raise human trafficking awareness
dry to watch. Minimal background info on Nicky and Jess’s problematic pasts are revealed and it doesn’t do much to make them sympathetic characters. Smith and Robbie both bring an odd combo of coldness and passion to their self-centered characters quite well, but their selfish exteriors raise the ques-
Notable Fictional Females Geena Jacobson & Kailey Hansen staff writer & beat editor In honor of Women’s Empowerment Week (March 9 - March 13), The Leader has come up with a list of some inspiring ladies in television and movies. These women may inspire confidence, girl power, and independence.
Internet Photo People attend the Art of Freedom auction, which raises money to stop human trafficking.
luis rodriguez news editor Auctioning art to raise awareness of the growing issue of human trafficking in the Chicago and Cook County area, Art of Freedom (AoF), the nonprofit humanitarian organization, launched on Feb. 27. “This collection represents power in men, women, and children,” said artist Nerineh Seferian, who donated a few pieces to AoF. “They have an underlying story and purpose … it sheds a positive light on something negative like human trafficking.” Annually, about 16,000 to 25,000 women and young girls are victims of human trafficking in the Chicago area, with over 50 percent of the young girls being involved in prostitution since the age of 15. In the Chicago area, many of the victims do not have many places to go. AoF looks to make a difference in this problem and
find a way to help the victims. “I always grew up wanting to help others,” said Teresa Mui, executive director and founded AoF in May 2014. “This was always something that I was passionate about doing,” Mui said. “It comes from a background of trying to do some good. I use that as a foundation for my organization.” The organization recruits the help of local artists to develop art that represents human trafficking in some way. Proceeds go to these charities that look to help victims that have experienced trafficking. The launch party was held at an art gallery called Matthew Rachman Gallery, who opens up their gallery to nonprofit organizations. “We donate this space to nonprofits,” said Owner Matthew Rachman. “Our goal is to raise $10,000 a month for various charities. We give back the proceeds to the charities that each event is hosted for.”
In Cook County, many of the victims of human trafficking have been found working in strip clubs, massage parlors, and as housemaids. AoF also teams up with other organizations to help the victims of human trafficking including the Cook County Human Trafficking Task Force (CCHTTF) and recovery centers in the Chicagoland area that house the victims. Human trafficking is the second largest criminal industry, with drug dealing coming first, in the U.S., generating over $9.5 billion worldwide. AoF looks to help solve the issue of human trafficking in some way and, also, to help the victims that have been put in these situations. “We want to give a second chance to the victims,” said Mui. “We’re trying to stop people from being forced into slavery.”
tion of why the audience should care about them or how their relationship pans out. While Smith and Robbie’s romance actually has some significance to the story, sexiness seems to trump good old-fashioned storytelling on the film’s list of priorities. The frequent cuts to their steamy scenes distract from what’s actually going on in the movie. There are a few mildly redeeming scenes, such as when the Rolling Stones’ song “Sympathy for the Devil” heightens tensions between Nicky and high-stakes gambler Liyuan (BD Wong) at the Super Bowl game. The music is sound in an otherwise empty movie. Even though “Focus” has some good acting from its leads and clever music choices, its overly-talky nature and all over the place structure creates a plot that is more difficult than enjoyable.
All-American Girls team – “A League of Their Own” Based on a true story of the 1940s, this sports flick focuses on a group of women who defied all odds in the athletic world and went on to win the championships. Mulan – “Mulan” In light of a little musical number called “I’ll Make A Man Out Of You”, Mulan proves to be an empowered woman who breaks free from her duties to become a bride and instead becomes one of China’s greatest military leaders.
Khaleesi/Arya Stark – “Game of Thrones” “Game of Thrones” is full of empowering female characters. Daenerys Targaryen, a girl who started as submissive and quiet, evolved to own a flock of dragons and aspire to rule the world. Arya Stark is a character who traded her role as a “proper lady” to become a practiced swordswoman. Michonne – “The Walking Dead” Another one of Primetime’s most empowering faces. Michonne from “The Walking Dead” has spent the past few seasons surviving a zombie-infested world … and she doesn’t need a man to help her! Though she’s moved from being a lone wolf to tag team with a group of survivors, she is considered one of the group’s most vital assets. Note from the editor: See story on page 3
Internet Photo
14
Beat
March 17, 2015
ecleader.org
Meeting you where you are. Taking you where you want to go.
At Elmhurst College, you’ll discover ideas that you can apply in the real world. Our graduate and certificate programs build your confidence, put you on a faster track, and make you the go-to person for solutions. Courses are offered at our beautiful campus in suburban Chicago or online. Continue your education at one of the best liberal arts colleges in the Midwest for a degree that puts you on the fast track for success.
Master’s Degrees • MBA • Market Research • Project Management • Professional Accountancy • Supply Chain Management • Industrial/Organizational Psychology • Computer Information Systems • Data Science • Applied Geospatial Sciences • Early Childhood Special Education • Teacher Leadership • Special Education NEW! • Communication Sciences & Disorders • Nursing • RN to MSN Option • Nursing Master’s Entry • Public Health
Graduate Certificate Programs • Application Development • Network Administration • Data Science • Market Research • Project Management NEW! • Applied Geospatial Sciences • Human Geography for AP® • Clinical Leadership in Nursing • Post-Master’s: Nursing Education • Teacher Leadership Endorsement • ESL Endorsement • Bilingual Endorsement • Special Education - LBS1 Endorsement Undergraduate Certificate Programs • Geographic Information Systems • Cyber Security • Digital Cinema NEW!
Graduate Programs Information Session Saturday, March 21 Frick Center, Founders Lounge 8:30 a.m. Check-in/breakfast 9:00 a.m. Program begins Reserve your space Visit: elmhurst.edu/thrive Call: (630) 617-3300 Email: sps@elmhurst.edu School for Professional Studies Elmhurst College 190 Prospect Avenue Elmhurst, IL 60126-3296 Follow us on
Beat
ecleaedr.org
March 17, 2015
15
THE FUN PAGE •HORROR-scopes• Andy Prignano managing editor
Guiding you with the wisdom you need to survive your boring existence. But really, don’t listen to them.
You will realize that your parents were lying when they said you could do anything. Your options are in fact, very limited.
You will realize you have an immobilizing fear of heights just as the plane takes off on your first skydiving trip.
You will choke on a fish bone, and then die of irony.
My inaccurate and wildly imprecise calculations say you will be attacked by an exotic animal. Avoid the zoo at all costs!
The love of your life will finally realize you are the best of their limited options, and unhappily welcome your advances.
After celebrating a late St. Patrick’s Day you will wake up in a bathtub full of ice with, surprisingly, both of your kidneys.
All of the beer you drank at the St Patrick’s Day parade was nonalcoholic. You were actually sober the whole time.
You will finally realize that you, and not all of your significant others, were the crazy one.
You’ll create the perfect March Madness bracket, only to realize that your office has no March Madness pool.
You can finally stop pretending “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” isn’t the only Dropkick Murphys song you know.
You will realize you are just a guy who likes to drink whiskey, and not the next Hemingway.
You will finally realize that all those times people called you Einstein were supposed to be sarcastic.
•Work of Art•
Cartoon by Vinnie Lotesto
17
sports
March 17, 2015
ecleader.org
EC sports round-up Trace Nardi staff writer
Men’s Lacrosse The Elmhurst men’s lacrosse team crushed Carroll College in a huge 26-0 win on Saturday, March 14 to improve their standing to 2-2 for the season. Junior Mal Euson led the offense by netting seven goals for the victory and set an Elmhurst single-game record. Junior Nick Klenck added five goals and junior Alex Opyd netted an additional three goals to nail the win for the Bluejays in the opening game of CCIW play for the season. Sophomore goalkeeper Nick Bonasita blocked three shots in the net to earn the shutout.
Men’s Track and Field Elmhurst’s Will Cross won his third All-America honor on March 14, which included his first in indoor track and field honor. He took fourth place in the mile run at the 2015 NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Cross passed the finish line with a time of 4:12.14, just .07 seconds out of second place. Elmhurst Head Coach Jim Akita stated, “Will once again proved he is one of the best runners in the nation with a wide range of ability.” Cross said, “I’m excited to get ready for the outdoor season and cap my collegiate career with a national title.”
Men’s Baseball On Saturday, March 14, the Elmhurst men’s baseball team won both their games in a doubleheader against Northland College with scores of 8-0 in game one and an 18-9 win in game two. In game one, senior pitcher Justin Theisen allowed one hit in seven innings, walked six, and struck out five at bat. Freshman Darryl Rivera pitched two perfect innings of relief to complete the shutout. Sophomores Ben Havel, A.J. Compton, and senior Zach Tsiodras had three hits in game one. Tsiodras finished 3-for-3 with four RBI while Compton scored three runs and drove in one.
Advertisment
Photo courtesy of James Akita Will Cross (third from left) won his third All-America honor on Sat.
Sophomore Brandon Kressner scored three runs for the Bluejays. In game two, Elmhurst hammered out 23 hits to complete the 18-9 win for the Bluejays. Compton, Havel, and Sophomore Matt Conroy had four hits
to lead the Bluejays to victory. Senior pitcher Jeff Guzi allowed only six hits and three earned runs, while striking out six and walking one in five innings to earn the win.
sports
ecleader.org
March 17, 2015
18
Bluejays’ historic season has ended Nick Cegielski staff writer
The Cinderella story finally came to an end for the Elmhurst College men’s basketball team on Saturday, March 7. Being only the fourth team in school history to make the NCAA Division three playoffs, and with over half of the team composed of juniors, a loss for the Bluejays doesn’t necessarily equal failure. Head coach John Baines mentioned in a press release for the Elmhurst College Athletic Department that, at the beginning of the season, the team set goals to reach the CCIW and NCAA tournaments and they would do just that. “We accomplished all of those things and having this NCAA Tournament experience will be a valuable lesson for this team.” said Baines in the press release. “We will be returning a team stocked with experience and leadership.” Elmhurst advanced to the second round of the playoffs and logged a total of 95 minutes played throughout the tournament. Two rounds of college playoffs typically equates to 80 minutes – 40 minutes per game – but the Bluejays advanced to the second round in style with a triple overtime win over St. Norbert in their first game on Friday, March 6. It was a tight game with six
File photo Elmhurst finished as the second most successful team in the program’s history.
lead changes between the two teams. Things really heated up in the last few seconds of play when Elmhurst forward Will Nixon picked up a lose ball and quickly scored a bucket to send the game to its first overtime.
“Having this NCAA Tournament experience will be a valuable lesson for this team ... We will be returning a team stocked with experience and leadership.” - John Baines Head Coach Fast-forward to the end of the first overtime and Elmhurst was down by three with just
seconds left yet again. Bluejay Kyle Wuest had the hot hand all night, tallying 32 points and shooting 50 percent from behind the arc, with his most clutch three about to come. Wuest went coast to coast with only six seconds left on the clock and knocked down a contested three to send the game to its second overtime. “When it happens you just kind of go numb for a second and get lost in the reaction of your teammates,” reflected Wuest on his buzzer beating shot. “The shot on Friday night was a feeling like no other.” But the game wasn’t over yet, and the second overtime was just as close as the first. Bluejay Erik Crittenden would hit another clutch shot to tie the game with seconds ticking down for the third consecutive time. St.
Norbert drove the length of the floor but missed a layup, which would result in the game heading to yet another overtime. Elmhurst would take advantage of St. Norbert’s missed opportunity and finally take what was rightfully theirs. Running away with the lead in the third overtime, Elmhurst would win 110 - 98. Unfortunately, the magic for the Bluejays did not translate into their next game against the University of Northwestern – St. Paul in Minnesota. Neither team could establish any momentum throughout the game. They both took turns alternating jabs at one another like boxers throwing right and left hooks without any defense. Northwestern would take a ten-point lead in the first ten minutes of the half, but Elmhurst would then go on a 15-2 scoring run and flip the script. Going into halftime, Elmhurst was winning 35-32. The second half was where the real struggles began for the Bluejays. They went 13 minutes without scoring a basket from the field, which allowed Northwestern to slowly build a comfortable lead. Elmhurst guard Peyton Wyatt finally knocked down a three to end Elmhurst’s slump from the field; however, time was not on the Bluejays’ side. They tried to battle their way back into the game and Wuest would hit another big three to
put them down by six with only 25 seconds left but Northwestern would hold onto their lead for an 84-75 victory. These two games are valuable for the Bluejays for a couple of reasons. For starters they are only the fourth team in school history to make the tournament, a formidable feat. But the real value is in the experience they gained from playing these two games and overcoming adversity like they did. “We have a bunch of juniors on this squad who’ve never played a tournament game. We played a really good game on the road and our team really grew up tonight.” said Baines in his press release. Experience is valuable because it can’t be taught, and junior guard Bryant Ackerman knows just that. “It will make myself and the team continue to play for our goal of getting back to the tournament [next year]. Now we will be able to tell each other that we can play with any team in the nation and keep us motivated to get better every day,” said Ackerman. It should be noted that juniors made all three game tying shots in their first NCAA playoff game. With 11 returning juniors coming to the team next year, one can only imagine the potential this team has to make school history.
Freshman Eppard has bright future NICK CEGIELSKI staff writer
Who is Mikaela Eppard? Is she just another Elmhurst College student? Or is she the future of the EC women’s basketball team? In her first season with the Bluejays, Eppard started every game and averaged just above fourteen points and about eight rebounds per game. Her play was noticed by the CCIW, and she became the first Bluejay to receive the Newcomer of the Year Award. “It’s definitely an honor and I think the CCIW is one of the best Division III leagues that exist,” said Eppard. “I could not have done it without my teammates or my coaches. They give me all the opportunities that I have.” The Colorado native was very humble and reiterated how important her team and coaches were to her success on and off the court. She values unity and team comradery, something that may have started for her from the beginning of her basketball playing days. “I started [basketball] in third grade and my dad coached me up until high school,” Eppard said as she thought back to her childhood. Family is an important aspect in Eppard’s life, and her team is an extended part of
File photo
Eppard (32) credits all her success this season to her mentor McMahon (00)
her family. “The relationships that I make off the court are probably the things that will stick with me most from playing basketball. I just made twenty-four new best friends and I already miss seeing them every day,” chuckled Eppard. Team chemistry is an important ingredient for any team to be successful and the Lady Bluejays seem to understand that. Another important aspect
is experience and leadership, and who better to teach Eppard how to lead than Fiona McMahon, the CCIW most valuable player of the year. “I learned everything that I have to know about playing inside [the post] in college from Fiona,” said Eppard. “Everything I excelled in this season was taught from her and I attribute all my success to her.” Unfortunately McMahon is a senior and will not be returning
to the team next year, but in her final season with the Bluejays, she averaged 16.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game, making her someone head coach Tethnie Carrillo will miss. “I have really enjoyed coaching Fiona the last 4 years and we will miss everything she brings to our team. She has been a great leader and motivator for the younger players,” replied Carrillo. Eppard’s timing on the team
could be a great replacement to McMahon. All great teams have a player pass the torch from one player to the next. David Robinson taught Tim Duncan everything he knew, and look at the success the San Antonio Spurs have had. Are McMahon and Eppard the next Robinson and Duncan? Maybe not, but for the Bluejays, Eppard might just be the future leader of their team.
19
sports
March 17, 2015
ecleader.org
WOMEN’S LACROSSE from back page
Photo by Alex DeBack
Togami has been one of Elmhurst’s best scorers this season.
The Bluejays started out with an early lead with a goal by Nikki Togami in the ninth minute. Elmhurst was able to hold off John Carroll with a strong defensive effort until the twelfth minute. John Carroll scored on a goal by Grace Curatolo. This lead to eight consecutive goals by the Blue Streaks. Elmhurst’s
scoring drought continued until Togami scored another goal with forty seconds left in the half. The second half wasn’t any better for the Bluejays as they failed to score a goal and only tallied three shots on goal. John Carrol continued their dominant scoring as they tallied five
more goals in the half to end the game with a commanding win 13-2. The women’s lacrosse team is in their first year as a program and is still learning how to play together at the college level. Togami talked about what it is like to be on our first year team stating, “We are still working on
building a firm foundation that we can continue to build off of.” Losing games is always tough, but Togami and the rest of this squad look at it a different way. “We will encounter some tough losses this season, but each loss is a learning experience we will use to better ourselves as players and as a team overall.”
Looking forward, Togami says, “Our goal for the rest of the season is to keep pushing ourselves and working hard on establishing a strong team dynamic.” EC will host Aurora University on Wednesday, March 18 at 7 p.m.
Tennis team dominates CCIW opener Josh rushbrook sports editor
The EC men’s tennis team is seeking an impressive third straight conference championship. They got off to a great start on Saturday, March 7 while hosting North Central. The Bluejays took care of business and won 8-1 over the Cardinals. In doubles matches, Elmhurst took two of three matches. Seniors Chris Harrison and Luke Tanaka won a close match against North Central’s Oliver Moews and Aleksandar Vasic
to give the home squad an early advantage. The second team doubles match was North Central’s only win of the day as Connor Sass and Ryan Doeckel outlasted Elmhurst’s Ricardo Franco and Matt Kulma by a score of 8-5. Elmhurst bounced back in third doubles match. Juniors Quinn Jennings and Alex Abbuhl knocked off the Cardinals duo of Kevin Davenport and Adam Winters by a margin of 8-4. In singles matches, Elmhurst ran away from North Cen-
tral and never even lost a set. “We had better overall skill,” said Bluejays’ coach Anthony McPherson. The Bluejays’ top player, Tanaka, beat out the Cardinals’ star, Moews, with sets of 6-3 and 6-0. Harrison edged out a win against Sass 6-4 and 6-1. In number 3 singles, Jennings dominated Vasic 6-1 and 6-0. Abbuhl shut out his competitor Winters 6-0, 6-0. At number 5 singles, Kulma routed Doeckel 6-4, 6-2. Franco closed out Elmhurst’s victory with a 6-1, 6-0 finish over Tyler Ringle.
Seniors Tanaka and Harrison won their doubles match on March 7 against North Central
The Bluejays are hopeful to continue their CCIW supremacy over the last few seasons. Coach McPherson noted the great deal of experience his team is fortunate to have. “Five of our six starters are Juniors or older. We are also returning three starters from the two previous conference championship teams.” Elmhurst will be busy over spring break. The team travels down to South Carolina to play a trio of matches on March 2324. “The trip will allow us to get prepared for our outdoor sea-
son and to get used to the elements,” said McPherson. So far, Elmhurst has been hosting matches indoors at Courts Plus. Starting in April, the Bluejays will play their contests outdoors. While most students are looking forward to spring break so they can relax and let loose, the tennis team will be honing their skills in preparation for another conference title run. Elmhurst plays their next home game on March 28 at Courts Plus against non-conference opponent Hope College.
Photo by Allen Riquelme
Women’s Lacrosse team falls to John Carroll University Tyler York staff writer
The Elmhurst Women’s Lacrosse team is still seeking their first win in program history. The Bluejays came out with energy as they looked to get their first win of the season. After scoring first, the Bluejays struggled to keep up with John Carroll University to eventually lose the game 2-13. See WOMEN’S LACROSSE on page 19
Photo by Alex DeBack
Phoebe LeRoy goes after a loose ball in the first home game for the 2015 season.