THE LEADER THE AWARD-WINNING STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT ELMHURST COLLEGE. Graphic design Professor Geoff Sciacca set to leave EC See page 5
VOL. 49
March 3, 2015
What’s new with the movie theaters around town See page 10
EC students unsatisfied with Chartwells General Satisfaction Level With Chartwells Services Overall At Elmhurst
What do you think Chartwells could improve?
50%
5.05% Customer Service
40%
Hours Food Selection
30%
39.39% 70.71%
Food Quality Prices/Values
20%
40.40% 10%
43.43%
Very Unsatisfied
Unsatisfied
Indifferent
Satisfied
Very Satisfied
Graphic by: Nikki Smith
Andy Prignano
managing & opinions editor EC students pointed out the lack of food selections, vegetarian options, and prices of food at Chartwells in a survey conducted by the Student Government Association (SGA). “The food isn’t terrible. It could be better, it’s just really convenient,” said freshman Nathaniel Lee. SGA conducted a survey of 116 students at EC, looking to find out whether they are satisfied with the food, prices, and options available through Chartwells.
The survey shows that 3 percent of students are very unsatisfied with Chartwells, while a large majority of the students were either indifferent or satisfied, and only 1.01 percent said they were very satisfied. The other major concerns with students were food selection and prices, which were seen as a problem by 70.71 percent of students. “I appreciate the heightened quality of the food this year, but the portions have gone down and the prices have gone up,” said junior Deonte Powell. Students also point out that the food available through Chartwells comes at a high
price if students have to pay out of pocket without a meal plan. “On a scale of zero to five, I rate Chartwells a three. Sometimes it’s good, other times it isn’t, but there isn’t enough of a variety,” said sophomore Erika Johnson. “When I use my J-pass it doesn’t really feel like I’m spending money, but people who commute shouldn’t have to spend as much as they do.” Johnson acknowledged the lack of choices from Chartwells and also the rising prices and the problems faced by commuters. see CHARTWELLS on page 4
Photo by: Peter Flockencier Sophomore Erika Johnson talks to her friend while eating the acceptable food Chartwells puts out.
Mary Zambreno set to take pay cut Andy Prignano
managing & opinions editor
Photo by: Cori Jaracz For over 10 years, Mary Zambreno, associate professor of English, has taught at EC.
After years of work at EC as an adjunct and full-time professor, Mary Zambreno, associate professor of English, is one of the six faculty members recently laid off due to budgetary concerns at EC. Zambreno, known for her quirky references that, whether or not students understand them, never fail to bring a smile to her face, teaches with a palpable excitement that is rare in higher education. Zambreno, who has over 40 years of teaching experience, de-
scribes teaching as a sort of addiction. “I’ve always felt most comfortable in front of a classroom. In fact, when I went to grad school I felt like I started getting withdrawals,” Zambreno said with a chuckle. When asked for her thoughts on being laid off, Zambreno expressed sadness more than anything else. “Angry is probably too strong of a word, but I’m certainly not happy about it. Lowering or depressing is probably more accurate. And all because the college can’t balance its checkbook,” Zambreno lamented. In addition to teaching literary
theory and composition courses, Zambreno has been known to teach a J-term course in fantasy writing. “I’ve been a writer, reviewer, and other odds and ends and things, but that’s another one of my major qualifications. I’ve published four young adult fantasy novels, which is why I teach the fantasy writing course in the J-term,” Zambreno explained. However, Zambreno’s major contribution to the college comes through teaching English 416, a course all English majors looking to become high school teachers are required to take. See ZAMBRENO on pg. 6
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March 3, 2015
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•State of Flux•
Are we helping the Middle East? Andy Prignano
managing & opinions editor Is America doing any good in the Middle East? I ask that not to be snarky, but as a serious question that should be considered as political support for another Libyan intervention grows. Since the killing of Muammar Gaddafi four years ago, Libya has grown more chaotic and violent; a combination of warlords, drug traffickers, and religious extremists are fighting for control of the country. What looked like an uncomplicated victory for freedom and democracy is now another potential example of the West blundering its way through a region it doesn’t quite understand. When looking at the results of any American-backed intervention in the past 50 years, it’s hard to argue that America is anything but a drunken elephant stomping around the Middle East causing more damage than it realizes. First there was the fiasco in Iran where America backed a coup to oust a democratically elected leader, Mohammad Mosaddegh, who wanted to nationalize Iran’s oilfields. This led to the backing of a harsh and violent dictator, which eventually led to the Iranian Revolution in the 1970s. This mistake helped make relations with Iran almost non-existent for decades. Then there was the supporting of Afghan tribesmen who were fighting the Soviet Union. On the surface, this seemed like a win-win situation; America would support democracy and bog the Soviets down in their own version of the Vietnam War. However, once you real-
The awardwinning student newspaper at Elmhurst College
ize that many of those fighters (including Osama bin Laden) helped create Al-Qaeda and other terrorist organizations, you can see how American intervention caused more harm than good. Jump ahead a few decades and you get the second invasion of Iraq. The lack of a reliable governmental and defense infrastructure when the troop pullout began helped create a power vacuum that ISIS quickly filled. Not only that, but hundreds of Ba’ath Party members (which was a former Socialist political party in Syria), including high-ranking generals, that were kicked out of the Iraqi government in the 1960s are now a part of ISIS. Add the failed ventures in Syria, Egypt, Yemen, and even Pakistan, and you begin to see that when America attempts to fix other nations, it leads to us wrecking something else. Try to keep energy prices low? You end up damaging diplomatic relations with a major country for over 30 years. Try to stick it to the Soviet Union? You end up training the very terrorists who perpetrate the Sept. 11 attacks. With this knowledge, how can anyone support more U.S. military intervention? Military intervention in the Middle East has not gone well for America since the world wars. Perhaps the solution lies in diplomacy and non-military aid. Maybe even letting the Middle East fix itself. I’m not sure what the specific answer is, but it is clear that military intervention doesn’t work. It makes no sense to try it over and over again. A new approach – any new approach – is needed if we have any interest in actually helping the region.
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
Russian protestors holding signs of the deceased Boris Nemtsov.
Luis Rodriguez news editor
Star Trek’s Spock, Leonard Nimoy, dies at 83 Actor Leonard Nimoy, who portrayed Spock in the original “Star Trek”, died on Feb. 27 at the age of 83 in his home in Bel Air, California. On Feb. 19, Nimoy was taken to the hospital after claims of chest pains. Nimoy was in the midst of a long battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to his granddaughter, attributed to his 30 years of smoking. In his two autobiographies, “I Am Not Spock” in 1975 and “I Am Spock” in 1995, Nimoy consistently had mixed feelings about his internationallyknown character. There was always the fear of typecasting, but Nimoy proved that he was able to do much more than Spock. Nimoy’s career expanded well beyond “Star Trek,” including stage acting and directing films such as “Three Men and a Baby.”
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Prominent opposer to Putin, Boris Nemtsov, shot dead in Russia A leader of opposition against Vladimir Putin, Boris Y. Nemtsov, was shot dead in Moscow on Feb. 27. Nemstov was a striking figure in the world of democratic reform in Russia, with a career spanning just about two decades. Nemstov was an important figure – his career started in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union and continued until days before his death where he lead rallies protesting the war in Ukraine. Putin condemned the assassination of Nemstov, even saying he would personally lead the investigation in finding the culprit. According to local police, Nemstov was shot four times in the back while crossing a bridge near the Red Square. In a recent interview, Nemstov was asked if he feared that Putin may kill him and he claimed that he was “somewhat worried” about his life.
ABOUT US
The Leader is the studentrun newspaper speaking to Sarah Astra Cori Jaracz the students, faculty and Sara Baldwin Marguerite Kuick administrators of Elmhurst Nick Cegielski Vinnie Lotesto College. The Leader is not Nora Georgieva Trace Nardi submitted to any person or Elizabeth Imbrogno Gianfranco Ocampo organization for prior approval. Geena Jacobson Brett Peto The contents are the decision of Hannah Jasinski Zachary Walton the editor in agreement with the editorial board. Opinions expressed in The Leader do not necessarily reflect those of the paper or its 190 Prospect Ave., Elmhurst, IL staff, and are not intended to 60126 represent those of the College at large. Phone: 630.617.3320 No text, photos, or art can be leadernewsec@gmail.com reproduced without direct permission of The Leader.
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President of Liberia urges for continued Ebola aid from the U.S. President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, urged the United States to continue its assistance in aiding the Ebola recovery on Friday. About 10,000 people have died in West Africa alone from the Ebola virus. Liberia is in need of continued help in maintaining their sanitation facilities and running the hospitals. Since the United States’ intervention, there has been a steady decrease in reported cases of the Ebola virus in West Africa, in opposition to the 1.4 million cases that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicted last year. 13 of the 15 West African countries that have reported previously have not reported any new Ebola cases in the past three weeks. On Feb. 27, the 101st Airborne Division pulled out of Liberia as they have claimed to have finished their mission.
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March 3, 2015
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Campus Shortz: Hard news briefs (usually) in 500 words or less
Zachary Bishop & Geena Jacobson editor-in-chief & staff writer
Ray turned down for DePaul Provost President S. Alan Ray recently interviewed as a finalist for the provost (chief academic officer) position at DePaul University, but the school’s board of trustees chose a different candidate on Feb. 18. Ray spoke to faculty, staff, and students at the school on Jan. 28 and 29 as a part of the interview process and emphasized that his Native American ancestry and Vincentian education set him apart from the other candidates, the university’s student newspaper, The DePaulia, reported on Feb. 1. Some of the school’s constituents raised questions about Ray’s resignation from EC. Many were concerned about his lack of experience as a tenured professor, the newspaper reported in the same story. The DePaulia later critiqued Ray’s qualifications for the position in a Feb. 16 editorial, writing, “Ray spoke with a breath of arrogance and seemed to dismiss the idea of faculty doing ‘research for the sake of research’ as it was not part of the mission as he understood it.” However, the paper did agree Ray had a good understanding of the college’s mission.
DePaul chose Marten L. denBoer, the provost and vice president for academic affairs at California State Polytechnic University at Pomona, for their new provost. EC offers MOOC geography course Judith Bock, director of the geographic information systems (GIS) and applied geospatial sciences (AGS) programs, is teaching a massive open online course called Skills for a Digital Earth during March. Students taking the class are exploring why location technologies are vitally important to disciplines in the digital world and learning what they are used for in addition to fundamental geospatial concepts, skills, and applications, a Feb. 11 EC press release stated. Bock teaches the course through video lectures, interaction opportunities, and discussion forums that students access on the website Desire2Learn (D2L) Open Courses. After completing the course, students will receive a certificate of completion that can be used as a waiver for either GIS 100, the first course in online undergraduate GIS programs, or AGS 500, the first course in the online graduate certificate AGS program, depending on how many modules they complete.
The course is offered through the School for Professional Studies. EC offers mTVU in the Roost If you’ve started hearing the sound of alternative Indie artists playing in the Roost, you may have noticed the new TVs provided by EC’s Student Government Association (SGA). These little flat-screens in the Roost may seem like ordinary upgrades, but they can spice up EC students’ downtime while grabbing a bite to eat or chilling between classes. The TVs are equipped with a service provided by mTVU, which is an “award-winning college channel that is broadcasted in over hundreds of college campuses nationwide,” according to SGA President Meredithe Mimlitz. “We thought this would be a great opportunity to try something new,” Mimlitz said in an interview. The channel focuses on showing happenings of campus life, music videos by upand-coming musicians, and a chance for organizations to promote events and programs. The TVs were provided by mTVU in partnership with the college in hopes to foster more ways for students to get involved on campus.
Photo by: Hannah Jasinski Eyes are on the screen as students sit in the cafeteria watching TV.
EC policies to change in compliance with Illinois medical marijuana laws Gianfranco Ocampo staff writer
While Illinois continues to debate over the new medical marijuana law and the inclusion of recreational use, EC prepares policies to coincide with any change in the law. Earlier this month, Bruce Rauner issued the first licenses for dispensaries across Illinois. However, the city of Elmhurst has yet to open a dispensary or cultivation center for medical marijuana use as debate still continues on the location. Depending on the language and provisions, if any bill were to pass, EC would review its policies on drug use at the school. “We would expect that the Illinois Indoor Clean Air Act would still prevent use in buildings, as would the College’s policies intended for fire safety,” Executive Director of EC’s Security & Emergency Management Jeff Kedrowski said.
In response to the new law, medical marijuana usage is restricted on the EC campus. In compliance with state laws, possible zones that would allow medical marijuana would be areas in the northwest corner of town, north of Lake St. and west of York St. The provisions of the Illinois Indoor Clean Air Act bans the use of medical marijuana in public areas and indoors at private institutions.
“We would expect that the Illinois Indoor Clean Air Act would still prevent use in buildings, as would the College’s policies intended for fire safety” - Jeff Kedrowski State law prohibits the opening of dispensaries unless they are 1,000 feet or more from existing private or public preschools, ele-
mentary and secondary schools, and day care centers and partday child-care facilities. “We believe the steps we took to fix the errors in the Quinn selection process reduce, but cannot entirely eliminate, the risk of litigation. We will fully participate in any judicial review of the selection process and comply with any orders issued by a court as it relates to this particular applicant or any other applicant that seeks a judicial review,” said Spokeswoman Catherine Kelly of the Rauner administration. State Representative Kelly Cassidy has proposed bill HB 218 which reduce lessen penalties for marijuana possession to a small fine and a petty offense. The Medical Cannabis Pilot Program currently has 14,000 citizens beginning the application process for medical marijuana; 1,000 of these applicants have finished the process and have received approval letters from the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Photo by; Peter Flockencier Medical marijuana may not be acceptable on the EC campus.
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March 3, 2015
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The Leader wins big at ICPA
File Photo The Leader staff won several awards and is now ranked second in Illinois for general excellence.
The Leader staff report
Competing against 17 small college newspapers in the state, The Leader scored a second place ranking for general excellence and 13 other awards from the Illinois College Press Association on Feb. 21. “Being the runner-up in a beauty contest can be a total letdown, but this isn’t a beauty contest,” said Faculty Adviser and English Professor Ron Wiginton. “Professional journalists decided that
The Leader was the second best among all of the small college newspapers.” This is the fifth time in the past five years The Leader has received a first or second place ranking in the non-daily newspapers at schools with less than 4,000 students division. The Leader’s Sep. 23 critique of Student Government Association’s (SGA) fall semester elections won first place for Editorial writing. “I was still really surprised we won,” said Managing and Opinions Editor Andy Prignano, who penned the editorial. “However,
I take more pride in the fact that SGA took notice and has worked to change their voting process.” Former Sports Editor Charlie Roumeliotis received first place in the Sports Game Story category for his coverage of the men’s lacrosse team’s performance in the Midwest Lacrosse Conference Tournament last April. “I am very blessed and humbled. Sports writing is a competitive field, and I’m honored some of my work even made it in the conversation,” he said in an email. “Those all-nighters on deadline paid off.” Roumeliotis also won three sec-
ond and third place awards for Sports Page Design, Sports Column and best Sports News Story. Photo Editor Peter Flockencier won first place in the Sports Photo category for his photo of men’s soccer player Mike Emig. “I was pleasantly surprised to win, but it was not unexpected,” Flockencier said. “We’ve had consistently good photos for the past couple of years and it’s nice that we’re finally getting recognized.” He also won third place for Spot News Photo and an honorable mention for Feature Photo. Additionally, Photographer Al-
len Riquelme won second place for Sports Photo, Former Cartoonist Tyler Kerr won second place for Cartoon Strip, and Editor-in-Chief Zachary Bishop and News Editor Luis Rodriguez won third place for In-Depth Reporting. See award-winning sports photos on page 18 See the complete list of The Leader’s awards on our website.
CHARTWELLS from page 1 “It’s not worth it … when they’re with me I usually pay for it with my meal plan so they don’t have to spend their own money,” said Johnson. Vegetarians at EC found that their options are severely lacking when it comes to eating in the cafeteria or the roost. “I’m a vegetarian, I’m kind of new to it so I’m not sure, but it seems like there aren’t a lot of options. Also my friend who’s gluten-free is never able to get gluten-free bread at the sandwich station because they run out too fast,” Johnson said. Customer service rated high on the survey with 70.41 percent, with saying the service was the best part of the cafeteria experience at EC. The majority of students surveyed were satisfied with the food and services at the EC Roost as well. However, 63.92 percent of EC students were dissatisfied that the Roost was not open until midnight on the weekends.
“I’m a vegetarian, I’m kind of new to it so I’m not sure, but it seems like there aren’t a lot of options. Also my friend who’s gluten-free is never able to get gluten-free bread at the sandwich station because they run out too fast.” - Erika Johnson A representative of Chartwells was unable to comment, but did express concerns with the expectations of students in a meeting with SGA. The rep, Steven Chapman, thought that while Chartwells takes the concerns of students seriously, he was worried too many students might expect a four-star restaurant experience when they should expect something closer to McDonalds.
Students order food in the Roost even with the lack of many choices.
Photo by: Cori Jaracz
NEWS
ecleader.org
March 3, 2015
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Founder of the graphic design program set to leave EC
Luis Rodriguez news editor
Geoff Sciacca, associate art professor and founder of the graphic design major, is resigning from EC to take up a teaching position and spend more time with his family in Alabama. “It’s been an interesting journey for me,” said Sciacca. “I’ve really been able to see a lot in seven years. I got to see students be successful in the real world.” During the 2013-14 year, Sciacca suffered a stroke, which was a big reason for his decision to part from EC. “The reason we’re leaving is because we need to be near family and support,” said Sciacca. “It’ll be a really good thing for us. It’s hard to call it home but that’s where my family is.” Sciacca has accepted a position at Fairfield, Alabama at an inner city K-12 school called the Restoration Academy. “It’s one of the hardest decisions I had to make,” said Sciacca. “It’ll be really good to give the underprivileged population a chance at help.” Sciacca is the only full-time faculty member in the graphic design program, which leaves the fate of the curriculum up in the air.
“It’s been an interesting journey for me. I’ve really been able to see a lot in seven years. I got to see students be successful in the real world.” - Geoff Sciacca
The Art department is searching for a new full-time faculty member to replace Sciacca as soon as possible. “Until there is a permanent replacement for Prof. Sciacca, highly qualified adjunct faculty will teach the graphic design courses,” said Lynn Hill, chair of the Art department, in an email. “Prof. Sciacca has agreed to participate by offering his feedback about potential adjuncts, thus assuring the instructors will demonstrate the design credentials and professional achievement that his high standards require.”
“It’s one of the hardest decisions I had to make,” said Sciacca. “It’ll be really good to give the underprivileged population a chance at help.” - Geoff Sciacca “If they take that person out and the department is already falling, you’re cutting the department in half,” said Sciacca. “It sucks, bottom line. The board [of trustees] may have a negative impact on the students here.” Seven years after Sciacca created the graphic design major, it now holds about half of the students in the art department. “I was the first to start the graphic design major,” said Sciacca. “I took the classes they had and threw them out. So far I doubled the amount of classes.”
“Until there is a permanent replacement for Prof. Sciacca, highly
qualified adjunct faculty will teach the graphic design courses.” - Lynn Hill Sciacca teaches many of the required classes himself and is a highly regarded professor from students’ perspectives. “I wouldn’t be at Elmhurst if it weren’t for Sciacca,” said senior Polina Roubinskaia in an email. “He is the best professor I’ve ever had and I think his decision is completely warranted.” Sciacca cares about education and, more specifically, the education of his students. “I care about my students and throw myself into my teaching,” said Sciacca. “I was hoping that the professional education would continue at Elmhurst.” Sciacca’s goal in his teaching was to be tough on his students in order to give them a realistic view of how the professional field is going to be and to see them prosper.
“I wouldn’t be at Elmhurst if it weren’t for Sciacca. He is the best professor I’ve ever had and I think his decision is completely warranted.” - Polina Roubinskala “It’s a unique opportunity to spend time investing in people,” said Sciacca. “My goal was to always give my students more than I got. No matter how intimidating I may have been, it’s worse in the real world.” In spite of his intimidating demeanor, Sciacca has developed
Photo by: Peter Flockencier Geoff Sciacca is set to pursue new teaching opportunities in Alabama.
connections with students that spread past the classroom. “ I had a group of students who – after I had my stroke – gave me thank you’s in the style of class assignments,” said Sciacca. “A
lot of these books on my shelf are from students. These are the people who made me realize that that’s why I was at Elmhurst.”
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March 3, 2015
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ZAMBRENO from page 1 Normally the college would have to go out and hire a new professor to teach the course, but Zambreno has signed on to teach as an adjunct next fall semester. However, she isn’t exactly sure what will come after that. “I’m actually very glad to be coming back. I haven’t been on the adjunct market in some time and don’t have any contacts anymore. So I’m happy to be coming back in the fall, but I’m not sure what’s after that,” Zambreno mentioned. Zambreno has a doctorate from the University of Chicago in medieval languages and literature, and has taught at Elmhurst College since the 1990s, the last six years of which were full-time. She has spent time teaching at other colleges in the Chicago area including UIC, Dominican, DePaul, and Loyola.
“I’m actually very glad to be coming back. I haven’t
been on the adjunct market in sometime and don’t have any contacts anymore. So I’m happy to be coming back in the fall, but I’m not sure what’s after that” - Mary Zambreno The excuse for laying off Zambreno seems to be because she was not tenured, which is mostly due to a technicality, according to Ann Frank Wake, chair of the English department. Frank Wake explained that when Zambreno replaced the professor who became dean, he was promised that he could return to his old job if he ever chose to. This meant that Zambreno was never given a shot at tenure despite the amount of time she’s spent at EC. Frank Wake also expressed her frustration that Zambreno,
somebody she finds vital to the English department, was on the chopping block. “It’s very disappointing when someone who’s performed impeccably has their salary cut down to a fraction of what it was and is given no benefits to teach essential courses,” Frank Wake said. While her time at EC seems to be coming to an end, Zambreno expressed concerns about the college’s future.
“I understand that they are trying to minimize the damage to the quality of education, but I can foresee some really intense discussion on where the college goes from here,” said Zambreno.
“It’s very disappointing when someone whose performed impeccably has their salary cut down to a fraction of what it was and is given no benefits to teach essential courses,” - Ann Frank Wake
Photo by: Cori Jaracz Mary Zambreno takes a position next fall that will be the same, but with lower pay.
EC alumnus shares wins and losses as a Chicago writer
Internet photo Bill Hillman is still able to give a thumbs up in the hospital after he was gored by a bull in Spain last July.
Zachary Bishop editor-in-chief
As Chicago author and EC alumnus Bill Hillman spoke at the English department’s Feb. 24 alumni career panel, writing students recognized someone who had achieved their dream. Hillman managed to build a stable career as a writer over the course of 10 years by immersing himself in the cultures of boxing and bull running, writing for various publications, and failing a lot, he says. “Failure is what drove me to be a successful freelancer,” he told The Leader after the panel. “You need to try and fail. Then slowly, you begin to learn.” With each loss he has encountered, Hillman taught himself to see each one as an opportunity to keep moving forward. “Failure has got to motivate you,” he said. “You can’t let it discourage you.” Hillman held onto this principle, even when a bull gored him through the thigh during the Running of the Bulls festival in Pamplona, Spain last July, almost costing him his life.
“After I got gored by the bull, I opened the door [in the hospital] to everyone who wanted to talk to me,” he said. “Because I was so open, it made it a bigger story and led to my book getting more attention.” A few months prior to the incident, Hillman released his debut novel “The Old Neighborhood,” which received international attention and earned the title of Best New Book of 2014 by the “Chicago Sun Times” and “Chicago Reader.” Hillman admitted, despite his recent success, that when he graduated from EC in 2004 with a B.A. in English, he had no idea how he would make writing his career “I knew I wanted to take the path to become a writer, but I didn’t know how I could make a living off of it,” he said. After attempting to freelance and being turned down by several editors, Hillman recalled the advice that EC English Professor Ron Wiginton gave him when he worked for The Leader: “Get involved in the underground Lit scene.” Through attending various “Lit” nights in Chicago, which ranged from “bizarre” to “elit-
“I’m not sure where or how they can economize. From the prospective of an individual faculty member, I think the 10 student minimum [per class] is going to come more into play.”
ist,” Hillman met various writers who would become his mentors such as Scottish novelist Irvine Welsh and founder of the poetry slam movement Marc Smith. “These guys made me believe in myself. That’s something you can’t put a price tag on,” he said. Hillman also started blogging about professional boxing in Chicago, which suited him since he’s the 2002 champion of the Chicago Golden Gloves boxing tournament. Inspired by Ernest Hemingway’s “The Sun Also Rises” – the first novel he ever read – Hillman traveled to Spain and Mexico to train as a runner for the Running of the Bulls festival. This became a ten-year endeavor in which he met several famous bull runners, three of which he wrote his first Chicago Tribune story on. He later penned a chapter for “How to Survive the Bulls of Pamplona” by British Journalist Alexander Fiske-Harrison. The skills and knowledge Hillman gained through the experience have made him a leading American expert on the Running of the Bulls that publications flock to talk to about the subject, he mentioned. “There’s not a single door that’s closed for me on that topic,” he said. “For a decade I’ve become as good as you can get at it.” To train his skills as a storyteller, Hillman took fiction-writing classes at Columbia College, wrote several plays and short stories, and started the Windy City Story Slam, modeled after poetry slams, in 2008. Hillman’s English professors recognized his talent as a writer during his time at EC even though they found his writing tough to score academically. “Then, as now, [Bill’s] talent was powerful and raw. It was not refined or polished; it was rough around the edges,” said Associate English Professor Bridget O’Rourke in an email. “His prose confronted me with the absurdi-
ty of grading writing as if it were produce or meat. Creativity can’t be standardized and placed into neat categories.” English Department Chair Ann Frank Wake recalls that like his writing, Hillman was not a conventional grade-focused student. “Bill cared more about learning than he cared about grades, and that often leads to following passions, which fosters success,” she said via email. As Hillman has risen as a Chicago writer, O’Rourke is proud of the impact he is having on literature. “Bill deserves a place among the truly distinctive Chicago voices − Nelson Algren, Stuart Dybek, Gwendolyn Brooks, Studs Terkel,” O’Rourke said. “It’s not just that great Chicago accent; it’s his way of seeing things from the middle − right in the thick of things − not from above or slanted to the left or right.” Frank Wake admires Hillman for developing a professional network within Chicago and giving back to the city. “He has done the all-important but time-consuming and energy-drawing work of establishing, appreciating and fostering relationships that have helped him,” she said. “Yet he has given back to Chicago what he has gotten, too, in powerful ways that I am only just beginning to realize.” In light of his success, Hillman still remembers his history and the power that failure has to drive a person to success. “You have to remove the negative emotions around failure,” he said. “If you do that you will shoot past every [person of your age in your field] like they’re standing still and will make it look like they’re not even trying.” Hillman will release his memoir titled “Mozos: A Decade Running With The Bulls Of Spain” in July of this year.
Smarts for becoming a full-time writer Zachary Bishop editor-in-chief
Hillman developed various skills throughout all of his experiences as a freelance journalist and fiction writer that he sees as keys to his success. “It doesn’t take a perfect IQ to be successful, it takes smarts,” he said. “You gotta just develop a sense of what works.” One of the skills he learned was an understanding of news value (what makes a story relevant and interesting to readers), which he stressed is harder to gain than one would think. However, he believes the effort is worth it. “Understanding what news is is difficult. It’s a complicated term,” he said. “[But] if you can learn what news is, you’ll be ten miles ahead of everyone at the same level as you.” In addition to having newsworthy ideas, Hillman believes that developing concise yet clear pitches for editors is crucial. He believes the ideal pitch should be three sentences and have an intriguing title. “Don’t be too worried about your pitches,” he said. “Just get an idea, get a vision, write it down, and send it out.” Hillman also stressed the importance of taking advantage of opportunities to meet people, get stories, and share your work. “You have to be playful and creative about how to advance your career,” he said. “Try new and different things with different people. You gotta see opportunities everywhere.” Drawing on his boxing background, Hillman explained that through it all, you have to be tough, which he believes is about controlling your emotions. “You gotta be tough and figure out what you’re feeling,” he said. “You have to fail a lot to become a success.”
Center for Professional Excellence Career Connections
I Don’t Know How To Apply for a Job
ECconnect Career Fair: March 10th; 11am-1pm Fricke Center-Founder’s Lounge Internship Info Sessions: CPE Resource Room Wednesday, March 4th; 4:30pm-5:30pm Tuesday, March 31st; 11:30am-12:30pm Study Away Info Sessions: CPE Resource Room March 18th; 12:30pm-1:30pm STEP Presentation: “Inter viewing Essentials” March 4th; 2:30pm-3:30pm Prospect Room, Frick Center Register online at CPEessentials.com, Ecconnect.com, or call (630) 617-6440 LinkedIn Event: “You’ve Created a LinkedIn Profile, Now What?” Apr il 9th; 4:15pm-6:15pm Prospect Room, Frick Center
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
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Most often students will say “I don’t know how to look for a job. The process is so overwhelming and confusing, to be honest, I’m a bit intimidated. Since I don’t know where to begin, I’m going to opt to not begin at all.” Does this sound like you at all? Well it is actually normal to be somewhat overwhelmed by the thought of looking for a job. But, job hunting methods aren’t rocket science. The CPE is available to help you with the process. We are going to give you a little advice right here. One way to start looking for a job is by going to career fairs. Did you know that according to a SHRM/Career Journal Poll Search Tactics Survey, 70% of human resources departments participating rely on job fairs to recruit employers? Not only are job fairs great events for identifying employment opportunities, but also for expanding your network, honing your interview skills, learning industry information, gathering information about companies, and collecting business cards. Now even though these fairs are great, few students know how to go about it successfully. Many end up walking away from them without interviews with their targeted companies and feeling let down. Follow these tips to help you create a strategy to increase your success at career fairs. 1. Dress for Success: Wear pr ofessional inter view attir e 2. Practice a Pitch: Pr actice your elevator speech befor e hand to summarize your skills and experience 3. Bring Supplies: Br ing extr a copies of your r esume, pens, a notepad, business cards, and a portfolio 4. Network: Talk to people while you ar e waiting in line or standing around. You never know who you are going to meet 5. Show Initiative: Shake hands and intr oduce your self to r ecr uiter s when you reach the table 6. Be Enthusiastic: Employer s want to see you be enthusiastic about a potential new position 7. Ask Questions: To company r epr esentatives to engage and impr ess them 8. Collect Business Cards: Now after the fair you will have contact info for the people you spoke with 9. Take Notes: To keep tr ack of w you met and talked with 10. Say Thank You: Send a br ief follow up thank you not to the company reps at the job fair Get a head start on job searching by coming to the ECconnect Career Fair . It will take place on Tuesday, March 10, 2015. All Elmhurst College students and alumni are invited. It will be held in the Frick Center- Founder’s Lounge. This event will allow you to network with over 25 employers in ONE location. Full time jobs and internships will be available.
RSVP online at: ECconnect.com or cpeessentials.com
Look Who’s Hiring: Internships: Name of Company
Position
Location
Cahill & Co., CPA’s
Staff Accountant
Elmhurst, IL
Humanitarian Service Project
Grant Writing Internship
Carol Stream, IL
STATS, LLC
Data Collection Analyst
Northbrook, IL
Biocodex USA
Marketing Internship
Chicago, IL
WXRT-FM
Intern
Chicago, IL
Center for Professional Excellence - Elmhurst College
Part Time Jobs:
EC_CPE
Name of Company
Position
Location
DME Elevators and Lifts
Accounts Receivable
Lisle, IL
Villa Park Public Library
Circulation/Outreach Services Assistant
Villa Park, IL
State Farm
State Farm Team Member– Customer Ser- Westmont, IL vice
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opinions
March 3, 2015
ecleader.org
l Editorial l
Get with the times EC
Cartoon by Vinnie Lotesto
Due to the recent budget woes, EC is looking for ways to improve marketing itself, even hiring an outside consulting firm, STAMATS, to help. We at The Leader have some suggestions for how to do that. First and foremost is improving the college’s online presence. Current and prospective students spend most of their time online, so connecting with them via the Internet is more important than it has ever been. A website, Facebook page, or even a Twitter account are simply going to have a greater impact than traditional and outdated forms of advertising. Here are a few things we think would help: Update the damn website
While easily navigable, the college’s current website is too out of date. The students featured in “The Transfer Experience” portion of the site graduated years ago, the “Elmhurst in 7 minutes” video features students still using flip phones, and the titles of professors are regularly out of date. There should be interviews with more recent students (that should be updated every year or so), a video that shows a more recent version of the college, and the titles of professors should never have to be questioned. A lot of this seems like minor upkeep that wouldn’t cost the college much.
Create specific social media content
Twitter and Facebook (and social media in general) are more important than ever, especially when it comes to interacting with younger people. While the college’s Facebook and Twitter are updated fairly regularly, they convey the same information and content on both pages. In other words, there’s no incentive to follow both pages because they have the same content. A lot of the information on the college’s Twitter just ends up linking to the Facebook page anyway. Each page should have content made specifically for it. For example, if there is a major event happening on campus, official pictures could be posted to Facebook, behind-the-scenes photos to Instagram, and a student ambassador could live tweet the event on the school’s twitter account. This way each medium would give a different facet of the event, and following all three would give students past, present, and future wide-ranging coverage. They would also be given a greater and more personal connection with the college, and be encouraged to follow all of the college’s social media sites. Instead of receiving all of the information from one account, they’d have to follow each one in order to get the full story.
Social media content created by actual students
What better, and cheaper, way is there to make sure you are connecting with your target audience than actually hiring them to do the work for you? EC should give students internships to help improve the online presence. These internships would mainly focus on the original content mentioned above. For example, it could be a student’s job to live tweet events for the college or to take more fun behind-the-scenes pictures for Instagram. Student interns could also be given the opportunity to create blogs that would be linked on the college’s website. These blogs would focus more on the day-to-day life at EC than anything else and would provide prospective students with an honest and personal view of what it’s like to be an EC student. While the website has something similar, these would be more personalized and updated more regularly. The college’s current online presence may be standard for most colleges, but if EC hopes to remain competitive, it should strive to be better than the ordinary.
opinions
ecleader.org
l Under the Microscope l
Ask your doctor
Brett Peto staff writer
At least once every commercial break, you’ll hear the phrase “ask your doctor.” It always comes at the end of a cheerful, bright advertisement with unoffensive, upbeat music. The calm, trustworthy narrator has told you that the long list of side effects is certainly worth the benefit of the drug. However, just to be sure, you need to ask your doctor. It’s unrealistic that anybody will actually do this. Most Americans veer away from doctor’s visits because of cost, time, and the subconscious fear of being told something is wrong. But eventually, you get sick, and you see your doctor. Usually they are more than willing to prescribe whatever you need; in fact more than what you need. You have to refuse multiple prescriptions, feeling like you’re going against unquestionable medical advice by saying you’d like to think about it. We’ve been trained to do just about anything doctors say. But what if some doctors have been trained to do just about anything a pharmaceutical company says?
But eventually, you get sick, and you see your doctor. Usually they are more than willing to prescribe whatever you need. As John Oliver reports hilariously and, well, depressingly on his HBO late-night news show “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver”, pharmaceutical companies spend $4 billion a year on those inescapable “ask your doctor” ads. That’s called direct-to-consumer (DTC) marketing, which is only legal in the U.S. and New Zealand. (It’s been banned elsewhere since the 1940s.) But they spend $24 billion a year on something I like to call direct-to-doctor (DTD) marketing. If the ads are inescapable, the reps are even more so. You’ve probably seen them in your doctor’s office. They’re young, attractive, dressed in impeccable business attire, and carry clipboards and huge bags. In those bags are free samples
and free lunches for the doctor, nurses, secretaries, and maybe even the maintenance man changing the lightbulbs. Even if a doctor refuses to see any reps, and some do, the pressure can still get to them. Other doctors are paid to become lecturers on the merits of one drug or another; they show up at conferences and invite reluctant doctors to fancy dinners. These puppets are ironically called “thought leaders,” and often their lectures are prepared by the company pulling their strings. You may as well have a decent text-to-speech program give the lecture for all the thought that goes into it. If enough free lunches and free samples are given, so too will those doctors give (really unfree) prescriptions to people who may need them only marginally or not at all. This includes going off-label: prescribing drugs for things they weren’t made to do. One example is ciprofloxacin, a powerful antibiotic with dangerous side effects. Another is Wellbutrin, an antidepressant and stop-smoking aid marketed informally as “the happy, horny, skinny drug.”
These puppets are ironically called “thought leaders,” and often their lectures are prepared by the company pulling their strings. I hope I don’t have to say it, but using drugs in ways they weren’t designed for is really dangerous. Just load the bullet and play Russian roulette already. Companies make a product, and they have a right to advertise their product to potentially interested parties. It’s how American markets work … except when you remember that prescription drugs are just that: prescription. And most people see doctors as authority figures that they should always trust. That’s why I take more offense to DTD marketing than DTC marketing. These practices erode both the trust and the integrity of the profession, and endanger those patients’ doctors who decide to go off-label for the sake of another nice dinner. P.S. There is a way, thankfully, to know if your doctor accepts DTD marketing, how much, and in what forms. Just visit openpaymentsdata.cms.gov.
March 3, 2015
l Modern Renaissancel
9
Leash your dogs, not kids
Sarah Astra
staff writer I do not know the leash law in England; they seem more relaxed than in the states. Essentially, what I’m learning here is that they leash their children more than they leash their dogs. As I stepped out of my dorm yesterday, I took note of some distinct differences between American life and British life. First, I noticed the vast amount of dogs that were within the city of Oxford. There is about one dog for every five people walking down the street. Another thing I noticed was that none of these dogs were wearing leashes. Now I’m not familiar with the leash policy here, but in Elmhurst dogs are required to be on leashes at all times. When I was grocery shopping
at the Westgate mall, I saw a mother with four young children all around the age of six. Here’s the strange part: rather than the mother holding hands with the children, she had leashes attached to their jackets and they were hauling the mother around like she was on roller skates and they were the dogs propelling her forward. This was not just a one-time incident, however. As I continued walking through the store I saw three separate families sporting the child-leash, carefully leading the child away from strangers and directing their children where to go. To me, this whole principle of leashing children is to avoid having kids run in front of others and to make sure they don’t wander off. But because children are, you know, children, they cannot be trained like a dog. So it seems to be better to the British, to physically restrain them using a leash rather than attempt to train them.
Rather than the mother holding hands with the children, she had leashes attached to their jackets.
to walk straight, avoid others, and only pay attention to their owner. Seriously, I saw a dog walk next to a group of eight geese without even acknowledging them − that is concentration. And it is not only the parents who condone the leashing. There are children’s jackets that are sold in department stores which either have a leash attached to them or a loop for the leash attachment. These specialized jackets are everywhere, so I do not think seeing individuals with these jackets was an uncommon occurrence here in England.
But because children are ... children, they cannot be trained like a dog. I am aware that leash jackets are sometimes used in America; I have seen maybe one or two in my lifetime in the States. But they are not used to the degree that England uses them. It seems a bit backwards, if I do say so myself. The leash law for dogs seems plausible: it is instituted to keep canines safe. But as soon as that rule applies to children, it becomes less helpful and more jarring. So Elmhurst, keep leashing your dogs and not your children.
Dogs, however, can be trained
When catcalling is racist Jesse Chen
The Newsletter: Johns Hopkins University I don’t remember the first time I was catcalled, the first time I felt uncomfortable because of the way a man looked at me on the street or even the first time I was groped, but I remember the first time it had to do with my race. I was 14 and awkward, finally free of braces and glasses but still graceless and gawky in my body. That summer, I was at a girls’ arts camp on Bryn Mawr’s campus. The day of the trip, I dressed up in my favorite outfit and headed out. ; it was a perfect day until suddenly, it wasn’t. Until I was walking with my friends, and a man shouted, “Konichiwa, beautiful geisha!” Until I felt his eyes crawling over me, roving over my skin like it belonged to him. We meet the other campers, get tacos for dinner and chat about the day with each other. I sit in the corner quietly, simmering with rage and unsaid retorts. I’m not Japanese. But that’s not the problem here. I just can’t wrap my head around what is. The years of my adolescence are sprinkled with memories like this. When I am 15, a boy trying to get in my pants tells me that I am cute for an Asian. He thinks it’s a compliment. It’s not. When I am 17, I start college, and I realize just how many
people think that it’s okay to ask, “No, but where are you really from?.” Later my freshman year, a boy tells me he normally doesn’t like Asians, but he likes me. He, too, thinks this is a compliment. It’s not. That summer, I intern for the first openly LGBTQ person of color in either house of Congress and learn from constituent correspondence that bigots never leave you alone, even when you’re a congressman. When I am 20, I leave America to study abroad in London. Several days pass before the first time something happens. Until we go to a club, and two men bow at me, hands clasped in front of them, and it feels like I’m 14 again, standing in the
Philadelphia sun and terrified. But this time I’m 20 and no longer afraid, and instead of running away, I turn to them and kindly inform them, “That’s a bit racist, you know.” I tilt my head to the side and smile sweetly, the way I know they think all Asian women smile, then grab my roommate’s hand and leave. This is how it is. These are the moments, the memories that stick in my head. The times that tell me that I will always be an “other” to certain people, that I will always be an object to some men, that yellow skin and dark hair will always mean catcalls and pickup lines about my race. This is how it is.
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Unique theaters around Elmhurst College Elizabeth Imbrogno staff writer Have you been itching to see movies like Oscar-winning Best Picture “Birdman” or the inspirational sportsdrama “McFarland, USA” but don’t know which theater to pick? From Elmhurst’s York all the way to Naperville’s Ogden 6, theatre’s entice moviegoers with various amenities, which of course can make for a cheap night out or a pricy one. Elmhurst’s York Theatre, Glen Ellyn’s Glen Art Theatre, and Naperville’s Ogden 6 Theatre all give their guests the opportunity to see movies without emptying their wallets. The York Theatre charges $6.25 for a matinee show (before 6 p.m.), general admission cost of $8.75 after 6 p.m., and all shows cost $5 every Tuesday. The Glen Art Theatre has a $5 deal before 5 p.m. then charges $7 general admission after 5 p.m. while the Ogden 6 charges $4 all day. Breaking away from the standard movie atmosphere is Wheaton’s Studio Movie Grill, Lombard’s Yorktown AMC, and Addison’s Marcus Cinema, which includes reclining chairs, entrée meals, and bars for the 21+ crowd. Yorktown AMC and Studio Movie Grill also have staff who bring meals and drinks to guests upon request.
Wheaton’s Studio Movie Grille charges $10.50 admission for adults after 6 p.m. but students with a school ID only pay $8.25. Yorktown’s AMC charges $10.80 for adults, while the Marcus in Addison charges $11.25 (excluding children and seniors), but offers $5 Tuesdays as well as $5 student Thursdays. Elmhurst College senior Justin Sroubek and junior Sara Steinhoff see the attraction to upgraded theaters, but ultimately believe that a less expensive theater is the route to go. “It’s helpful that you don’t have to leave your seat and not miss the movie, but I’d go for the standard [theaters] for economy,” Sroubek said. Steinhoff values the quality of the movie’s presentation over extra features. “You get to see what’s on the screen at either, but I’d go to the theater with the best price as long as it has good quality,” Steinhoff said. Whether it’s an affordable price, chairs to lounge in, or an extensive food and drink menu, each type of movie theater offers something special and a visit to any of them would be money and time well spent.
(Top Left) York Theater worker, Javier Orti ter) York theater is situated in Downtown
Photos by Peter Flockencier
iz, fills a customers’ bucket with popcorn. (Top middle) AMC Yorktown received several updates, along with waiter service (Top Right) and a bar (Bottom Right). (Cenn Elmhurst, making it a popular attraction. (Bottom Left) Moviegoer, Heidi Maier, orders a treat before her movie.
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Beat
March 3, 2015
ecleader.org
Kilwins brings sweet homemade treats to downtown Elmhurst Leader Favorites Fudge: Try the peanut butter! Not too plain, but not
too peanutty to start dancing with Linus and Charlie Brown or lick the roof of your mouth repeatedly like a dog. Just the right amount of peanut.
Ice Cream: Sea-salt caramel. 14 percent butterfat. YUM. Treat: Caramel apples. Kilwins pours their delicious
buttery caramel over a Granny Smith and stabs a stick through it. You’ll eat the whole thing with a smile (and very sticky fingers).
Note: There is a discount to Elmhurst College students, but you’ll have to stop in for a taste and find out how much.
Photo by Peter Flockencier Megan Gavin prepares chocolate covered rice krispies at Kilwins, located on 148 N York St., Elmhurst
Marguerite kuick staff writer The scent of sugar drifts through the shop as the door chimes. Counters and tables lined with bags of chocolate truffles, drizzled popcorn, and caramel-coated apples lead to the main attraction − tubs of thick ice cream and chunks of decadent fudge sitting behind glass. To the left, employees making chocolate fudge in front of the windows for all of Elmhurst to see. Welcome to Kilwins. The sweets shop run by the Harris family opened on Jan. 31 in downtown Elmhurst.
Siblings Danny Harris, 26, and Megan Gavin, 30, are managers at Kilwins. While Danny looks after the kitchen, Megan, an EC alum (’09), makes sure everything behind the counters runs smoothly. The siblings grew up in the Lake Geneva store with their sister Kathryn, 32, who is also an EC alum (‘08). Kilwins, which has locations across the U.S., offers much more than ice cream and fudge. “The store is definitely a full confectionary shop,” Megan said. With treats like chocolate dipped pretzels and salt-water taffy (the only item not homemade), it’s hard to choose a favorite.
“My favorite would be anything that’s dipped in caramel,” said Megan. Homemade caramel gets drizzled on crisp apples, salty pretzels, fudge, popcorn, and almost anything in the store. The caramel is made in large copper kettles from a timeless recipe. As for Danny’s favorite: “Cherry Cordials—all made by hand,” he said. The cherries are coated in a sugary paste, dipped in chocolate, and eventually the paste liquefies and leaves a deliciously gooey chocolate-coated cherry. Unlike other confectioners, Kilwins prepares everything in the front of the store, right by
the window. “All our products are handmade, which sets us apart,” said Danny. With competitors like Fanny May and Oberweis, Kilwins has already made a name for itself. According to Kilwins workers, Fanny May has good products, “but our unique flavors set us apart,” Megan said. “You’ll be able to taste the difference.” Started in Petoskey, Michigan in 1947, Kilwins offers a variety of fudge flavors, with sea-salt caramel and turtle fudge being the most popular. The other store beloved treat is the thick and buttery premium ice cream. Kilwins uses
14 percent butterfat in their ice cream, which yields a richer and creamier delicacy. “We always thought Oberweis was the best ice cream, then we tasted Kilwins and now we know what the best ice cream is,” Megan said with a smile. This little shop comes with a simple goal. “We’re hoping to give [Elmhurst] a little slice of Americana” Danny said. The marble counters, copper kettles, tile floors, and throwback music over the speakers says it all. Kilwins is indeed a sweet treat.
Drake, “If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late” Music Review Derek rossignol the maine campus For a release from the biggest non-Kanye name in hiphop, much of the conversation surrounding Drake’s “If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late” has been about semantics and clarification. It was released with a few days ago with no advance notice, a move that’s no longer innovative since it’s been done to near-death, but it’s still an unexpected surprise. It’s been called a mixtape, commercial mixtape, album and EP by Drake’s various labels, the media and Drake himself, the latter of whom prefers “mixtape.” Some impassioned fan already went and had the cover tattooed on the back of his neck. An artist of Drake’s caliber dropping something of this magnitude creates waves, the waning ripples of which have yet to reach the shore — the tattoo ink has barely even dried — so let’s clarify a couple things: Drake is a vital musical figure. His grip on culture is gargantuan, but Drake’s importance doesn’t mean that everything
he produces is of undeniable value. The openness with which he discusses emotional vulnerability is important. His atmospheric electronic production style is important. “Take Care” is important. “Nothing Was the Same” is important. “Views From the 6,” his upcoming album, might also be important. “If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late” is good, better than a lot of albums/mixtapes/whatevers that have come out in 2015 so far, but it’s not important. The biggest enemy of future success is past success; every new Drake release isn’t competing with whatever else is happening at the time. It’s going up against his own discography; the biggest drawback of phenomenal accomplishment is that you become your own measuring stick. There’s no “Started From The Bottom” or “Hold On, We’re Going Home” on this mixtape, and that’s going to hurt perception of it. But imagine context doesn’t exist and this mixtape is better off for it. Drake is hip-hop, but he’s inevitably pop as well. Pop is monster singles, and without
them, pop doesn’t sell because it doesn’t actually exist, which is fine because this isn’t really pop. This mixtape might not even be about itself. A surprise release is usually carried out to serve itself. It gets the artist back in the news and boosts sales of an album that’s truly new, a raw piece of audio that hasn’t yet been subjected to previews, build-ups, breakdowns, features, think pieces, retrospectives, reactions, listicles and all that media noise. It’s free of societal bias: listen and decide what you think. But what Drake might be doing here is a bait-and-switch, a watch-this-hand-while-I’mreally-doing-something-withthat-hand. “If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late” gives the world something to think about while waiting for the new Drake album aside from the new Drake album itself so it’s not old before it’s even had the chance to ripen. Even if it might be a pawn in Drake’s study of album release methods, the bait is tasty, albeit not gourmet. The lack of single-worthy material leaves this mixtape a middling, cohesive album. The most singalong moment is the hook of the
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strongest track, “Energy,” which touches on the common Drake theme of having haters who are looking to jack his swag. The instrumental, like most of the rest that populate “If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late,” is minimalistic with electronic flourishes that pushes the record away from being a lull and towards having consistent vibe. If Tribe Called Quest brought jazz to hip-hop and Kanye’s
most recent material introduced raw industrial music to the mix, then Drake might be the pioneer of ambient hip-hop — apologies to cLOUDDEAD, who made some top rate ambient hip-hop in the early 2000s, but not as accessibly as Drake is doing now. But it’s all context, which got Drake to where he is but might not serve his latest mixtape, a decent release in its own right, as well as it should.
Beat
ecleader.org
March 3, 2015
•Culture POP•
13
EC students share black and white opinions about BDSM in “Grey” “I don’t think that “Fifty Shades of Grey” is harmful or promoting domestic violence because it is clear in the storyline that their relationship is consensual,” said Ramaglia. “It doesn’t seem comparable to domestic violence.” Contrary, Alexander’s interpretation of the storyline stems from lead character Christian Grey “... essentially saying what he is going to do and just doing it regardless of the woman’s feelings, without any consent.” However, Ramaglia is not alone in her opinion that the movie does not deserve the criticism it has gained. “I feel like the books and the movie were beneficial because they resulted in people exploring their sexual ideas in ways that they may have been embarrassed to otherwise,” said an EC sophomore who preferred to stay anonymous. “The books and the movie could be beneficial to relationships if not taken to extremes.”
nora Georgieva staff writer The EC campus seems to have black and white opinions on the “Fifty Shades of Grey” controversy. The movie, based on the “Fifty Shades of Grey” trilogy by E.L James, has sparked a lot of discussion on the topic of atypical sexual preferences, specifically those of bondage and discipline, dominance and submission and sadism and masochism (BDSM). Whether agreeing or disagreeing with the images the movie has shown, EC students were not shy to discuss their views on the popular franchise. “There are people who have read these books and will watch the movies and think that this is the kind of relationship that they should aspire to, which can be very damaging with its blatant romanticism of domestic abuse and improper portrayals of BDSM culture,” said EC junior Morgan Eckley. Eckley continued by pointing out that the actions shown in the movie can cause serious injury if one has not done diligent research and simply does what they see in the movie. Similarly, EC senior Timothy Alexander remains in utter disgust with the way the movie
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portrays the culture. “The movie basically shows [BDSM] as a kind of rape instead of something two people are agreeing to,” said Alexander. However, he adds that despite the inaccuracies, the way it was shown was the most realistic
that he’s seen in a movie. Yet, some EC students did not see the movie or the relationship it portrays as damaging. Senior Ava Ramaglia considered the book to show a safe, sane, and consensual relationship between the characters.
“It is clear in the storyline that their relationship is consensual.” - Ava Ramaglia In their opinion, the books were not for everyone but were geared appropriately towards a specific audience.
The debate of the content in “Fifty Shades of Grey” has been taken to all forms of media, including Showtime’s “Sex with Sunny Megatron” hosted and produced by Chicagoan Sunny Megatron. “Yes, the story does BDSM wrong. Yes, it even does basic, healthy relationships wrong. And it certainly does perpetuate unhealthy, incorrect stereotypes about BDSM,” Megatron said on her blog. “There is a way, however, to point out the shortcomings in the books and movie without being dismissive.”
“[Grey] is essentially saying what he is going to do and just doing it regardless of the woman’s feelings.” - Timothy Alexander In Megatron’s opinion, constant criticism about the book and movie scares away and shames people who are interested in exploring the world of BDSM, creating a skewed opinion and unsafe environment across audiences. Although it’s certain that not everyone will agree on the topic of Mr. Grey, the controversy begs college students to discuss and this debatable topic.
Indie movie sings bleak song about modern relationships Film Review
Kailey hansen beat editor “Jamie is over and Jamie is gone,” are the first words that Anna Kendrik sings in the musical-movie “The Last Five Years”, which opened in select theaters on Feb. 13 after first premiering last fall at the Chicago International Film Festival. Cathy (played by Kendrick) is singing about the decay of her marriage to husband Jamie (played by Broadway actor Jeremy Jordan) which leaves no room for spoilers within the first few moments of the movie. Clearly, things don’t work out. Screenwriter Richard LaGravenese – known for “Freedom Writers,” “P.S. I Love You,” and “Unbroken” – tries his hand at adapting and directing an off-Broadway musical written by modernist composer, Jason Robert Brown. The musical, which first opened at the Northlight Theater of Skokie in 2001, tells the story of Jamie and Cathy’s marriage in a non-linear format. From Cathy’s perspective, audiences are introduced to the bleak present and are then taken back through last five years of their relationship to the very beginning.
Through Jamie’s eyes, the love-struck beginning is the starting point, culminating at the depressing present. The story transitions back and forth in a surprisingly smooth manner. Once audiences realize the odd pattern, they won’t have much trouble following the story. The soundtrack showcases mixtures of melodic ballads and upbeat duets that often have a double meaning, which fits both sides of the story on the rocky relationship timeline. Smack dab in the middle of the soundtrack, a song called “The Next Ten Minutes” becomes a place where the two stories finally meet. As a young couple in Ohio, aspiring stage actress Cathy tries to keep up with Jamie’s success as a new best-selling author. Together they move to New York City in order to make their dreams come true. Through the increasing popularity from his book, Jamie is faced with all the trials that some best-selling authors are forced to face when fame hits: hot girls hitting on him at book signings, choosing booze with buddies over the wife, and all of that expected jazz. Meanwhile, a distraught Cathy is left to perform in community theater. Rough. The outcome of these two
characters is clearly no surprise, but the beauty lies in how the story unfolds through two different sets of voices and two different perspectives of time. Kendrik fits her role of Cathy with ease, showing the delicate balance of ambition for her future goals and supporting her more successful partner. It’s easy to relate and sympathize with Kendrik’s girl-next-door performance. Jeremy Jordan, newcomer to the big screen, brings his Broadway singing chops and does well as overly-confident Jamie when he’s not acting ‘too much’ for a scene. Some songs, such as the ‘sexy’ “Shiksa Goddess” number, needed to be taken down a few notches and were borderline ridiculous. Other numbers (“Goodbye Until Tomorrow” and “I Could Never Rescue You”) captured the essence of a realistic couple in as much realism as singing about feelings can bring. Brown’s compositions venture far away from classical Broadway style music in his composition and brings a refreshing contemporary soundtrack that might appeal to those who refuse to embrace the more flamboyant styles of Andrew Lloyd Webber or Rodgers and Hammerstein. Still, “The Last Five Years”
Internet Photo Anna Kendrik brings her singing chops back to the big screen for indie musical “Last 5 Years”
pays homage to its original version by keeping its structure very theater-esque. It may not be confined to a tiny, simplistic stage with a cast of only two people like the Chicago rendition, but LaGravenese made certain to keep the heart of the show as best as he could and didn’t try to ‘hollywood-ify’ the project, according to a Q&A discussion held at the Chicago Film Fest. “This was just a little project for me,” LaGravenese said of
direction and writing this independent film after a string of larger budget blockbusters. “I didn’t want to mainstream it. Musical theater geeks get like Comic-Con geeks. You don’t mess with what they love.” It is clear that the big-screen version of “The Last Five Years” embeds Broadway magic into a relatable, innovative story of a love that blossoms before it wilts and dies. A top-notch first date movie for all.
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Beat
March 3, 2015
ecleader.org
UMAIE brings magic to new J-Term course
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kailey hansen beat editor “You’re a wizard, Harry!” Big, scruffy, half-giant Hagrid spoke these momentous words to young Harry Potter shortly after an abrupt flood of Hogwarts acceptance letters piled through the Dursley’s mailbox.
Any fan of the massive J.K. Rowling franchise has dreamt of getting their hands on one of these waxed-sealed envelopes, inviting wizards away from the hum drum world of the muggles. Elmhurst College may not be handing out Hogwarts letters,
but for the ‘Potter’ fan the Upper Midwest Association for Intercultural Education (UMAIE) will be offering a course during January 2016, entitled A Wizard of Their Age: Harry Potter in Context, which might be the next best thing. The newly offered J-Term
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See auprograms.info for program duration, tuition, fees, and other costs, median debt, federal salary data, alumni success, and other important info. Financial aid is available to those who qualify. Argosy University is accredited by the Senior College and University Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (985 Atlantic Ave., Suite 100, Alameda, CA 94501, www.wascsenior.org) The Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology program at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University Schaumburg is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association (APA). Questions related to the program’s accredited status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation: Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation, American Psychological Association, 750 1st Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002. Phone: (202) 336-5979 / E-mail: apaaccred@apa.org / Web: www.apa.org/ed/accreditation. Programs, credential levels, technology, and scheduling options are subject to change. Argosy University, Schaumburg, 999 North Plaza Drive, Suite 111, Schaumburg, IL 60173-5403. ©2014 by Argosy University® Our email address is csprogramadmin@edmc.edu.
study abroad course will pair with students from other colleges and lead by faculty from St. Catherine University in Minnesota. It will take students to England, Scotland, and the Wizarding World theme park in Florida for the duration of the threeweek course. “The inspiration was our Six Degrees of Harry Potter course taught at St. Kate’s since 2010,” said Cecilia Konchar Farr, St. Catherine professor of English and Women’s Studies, who is one of the two faculty members accompanying students. “Out of that course came some serious curiosity about British culture, especially literary culture, and the British school system that inspired Hogwarts. We are also very excited to use essays from a collection of writing by students on Harry Potter, “A Wizard of Their Age”, which we (co-teacher and trip faculty member Jenny McDougal) just published.” The course does not just intend for students to kick back and relax with a pint of butterbeer, but to analyze the novels more deeply and in greater context. Konchar Farr explained that students should expect to be sorted into one of the four Hogwarts “houses” that will signify a different area of focus during the trip: British history, English language, culture and storytelling, and British folklore. The entire class will also do an in-depth study of the final book in the series, “The Deathly Hallows.” For EC students specifically, Alice Niziolek, the CPE’s international education director, said that one of the many benefits of studying away is earning your experiential learning credit, which is a requirement for all who attend the college. Though the course on Harry does not fulfill alternative area of knowledge tags, Niziolek believes that it is still well worth the experience. “Students will delve more deeply into the cultural and historical roots of Great Britain and gain a greater appreciation
of literature overall,” she said. “This will, hopefully, increase critical reading, thinking and writing skills.” Along with this course, Elmhurst is offering more new short-term study abroad experiences.
“Students will delve more deeply into the cultural and historical roots of Great Britain and gain a greater appreciation of literature overall.” - Alice Niziolek, International Education Director “There is one new UMAIE course that is unique this year,” said Niziolek, “The Chemistry of Brewing is an actual chemistry class that will hit the major beer-producing cities in Europe and use portable labs to analyze the process along the way. Since students in the sciences are traditionally under-represented in study abroad, I hope this class will get them to think seriously about the value of studying outside the classroom and traditional lab.” Other new and returning study abroad courses available for 2016 will be listed on the Center for Professional Excellence’s website and early registration will give students a chance for a discount. These courses give EC students a chance to escape the frigid cold and spend their January somewhere less frozen. Instructor Konchar Farr is already excited for the journey ahead with the new literary course. “I’ve been to London and Oxford,” she said, “but not to Diagon Alley!” Note from the editor: The complete list of January term study abroad courses will be available on: elmhurst.studioabroad. com
Beat
ecleader.org
March 3, 2015
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THE FUN PAGE •HORROR-scopes• Andy Prignano
managing & opinions editor
Guiding you with the wisdom you need to survive your boring existence. But really, don’t listen to them.
You will receive credit for something you didn’t do. With it will come great respect but also a powerful enemy.
The dawning of your age will finally come! That horrible catchy song will follow you forever.
You will continue to toil away in obscurity. Sorry.
Your life will continue to be uneventful and boring. Sorry to have to be the one to break it to you.
You will take on new responsibilities at work. You will have to work twice as hard for the same exact pay. Thanks recession.
You’ll finally shed those unwanted pounds, but it will be due to a horrific condition that will leave you buried in debt.
You need to stop working so hard.
Your enemies will finally get the smiting you feel they so richly deserve.
You will be audited. You didn’t do anything wrong, but prepare for financial ruin anyway.
You’ll finally feel like your life is on the right track. Good for you! But look out, danger lurks around every corner.
You will spend the next two weeks binge watching Netflix. Your loved ones will assume you died and be presently surprised that isn’t the case.
•Work of Art•
I’m not sure what’s going to happen to you, but it will probably be bad.
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sports
March 3, 2015
ecleader.org
Lady Jays suffer heartbreaking loss Nick Cegielski staff writer
Elmhurst women’s basketball won seven of their last eight games to close out their regular season on Feb. 21. The lady Bluejays swept Illinois Wesleyan with an 82-75 victory in their final game of the season. The team rallied around Fiona McMahon and her dominant performance. She was unstoppable as she scored 37 points and shot an impressive 88 percent from the field. “It came down to Fiona’s will and drive and the guards getting her the ball that allowed her to score 37 points,” said Head Coach Tethnie Carillo. “We knew we had a height advantage but they were dropping three players into the paint at all times to combat that advantage.” Defensive strategy was a big emphasis for the Titans and they started the game with a full court trap, but this would not slow down Elmhurst one bit. The Bluejays came out prepared and took a quick 12-3 lead. “We knew going into this game that we had to have players on the floor that could handle the ball and the defen-
Elmhurst women’s basketball team won seven out of their last eight games.
sive pressure that the Titans would bring for 40 minutes. Our guards moved the ball around the perimeter well, which hurt the Titans’ ability to get in and out of the paint quick enough,” replied Coach Carillo. Smooth passing and high percentage shots opened up the court for the Bluejays and allowed them to get their offense flowing. After attacking the post, McMahon would dish the ball out to her guards eagerly waiting on the 3-point line. “When Fiona had to kick it back out, we had guards that
then knocked down the three, which made it a lethal combination,” said Coach Carillo on Elmhurst’s progression. With a 17-point lead at the half, the Bluejays were looking to soar to their next victory, but the Titans would not go down easily. Their full-court trap upped the tempo of the second half and they slowly started fighting their way back into the game. Relentless defense and a quick 3-pointer put the Titans right back into the game, now trailing only by three with six
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minutes remaining. Titan guard Kasey Reaber was slashing away at the Elmhurst defense, dropping 26 points and having a crucial role in the Titans’ comeback. However, Bluejay guard Claire Monroe would hit a clutch three late in the game, which would finally put the nail in the coffin. Monroe shot 50 percent from behind the arc for a total of nine points in Elmhurst’s win. The Bluejays seem to be rallying at the right time as they won the last seven of their eight regular season games, and fin-
ishing their season with style by sweeping the Titans for the first time since 1999. “As a team we feel like we are peaking at the right time of the season,” said Coach Carillo. “The last time we have swept IWU was in 1999. Since no one on the team was around when that happened to us it feels long overdue. We said that this needs to be the new norm for our program and the standard moving forward.” This win sent Elmhurst into the CCIW tournament as the third overall seed where they faced off against North Central College. Elmhurst traveled to Wheaton for the conference tournament where they came up slightly short. The Bluejays fell to the Cardinals in a contest decided by the final possessions. North Central prevailed by a score of 89-87. Fiona McMahon, Claire Monroe, and Mikaela Eppard all reached 20 points or more for Elmhurst. Corrine Rowe and Mayson Whipple led the barrage of 3-pointers that carried North Central to victory with 12 points a piece. The loss concludes the 201314 season for the Bluejays and the career of standout center McMahon.
Alternatives to signing marque NFL free agents Dave Akshay
old gold & black, wake forest university
Editor’s note: this is an opinion piece. Free agency is a time of excitement and optimism for NFL teams and fans. Signing a bigticket free agent to get the team over the edge creates newfound hope for many teams. Due to franchise tags or just the price tags necessary to sign a player, most high-profile players are out of reach for teams in need. Teams can, however, still rectify roster holes by finding value through cheaper alternatives. This article explores three potentially pricey free agents (if they reach free agency), with alternatives for teams that cannot sign them.
Ndamukong Suh Suh is the marquee player in this free agent class with a best chance of reaching free agency. He would bring a high cap number to the Lions if they opt to franchise tag him due to already having the highest cap number of any player in 2014 at over $22 million. In the open market, Suh has a realistic chance of surpassing J. J. Watt as the league’s highest paid defensive player. With a price tag that high, alternative options exist in the form of Stephen Paea and Jared Odrick. Both players are around the same age as Suh and
would cost significantly less. Of course, this is for a reason. Paea is coming off his best season as a pro (despite the rest of the disgraceful Bears defense) while Odrick has looked more comfortable year after year in Miami, particularly in a 4-3. Both players are contributors on passing plays, but they can be liabilities against the run and have been inconsistent overall in their careers. These could be value signings if signed with teams that have run specialists at nose tackle and linebacker. Teams can, however, still rectify roster holes by finding value through cheaper alternatives.
Justin Houston Justin Houston is unlikely to hit the open market. That said, teams that need a rush linebacker could still have solutions available via free agency. Derrick Morgan has quietly become a good player during his time in Tennessee. He does not have the high sack numbers of some of his counterparts, but sacks are very misleading at times. Morgan gets consistent pressure off the edge while having the versatility to play in any defensive scheme teams use today. His run defense is not great, but he can hold his own in coverage compared to most of his peers. Morgan could be a real steal for a team this offseason. If Brandon Graham had the same playing time as most star
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players in the league, he would probably be one of the most sought after players on the market because when he has played, he has been phenomenal. The Eagles have greatly underutilized him for some reason, but Graham is as efficient a pass rusher as there is in the NFL. He will not be cheap, but he is an excellent alternative for teams looking for a player like Justin Houston.
Jason Pierre-Paul Pierre-Paul is a good candidate to have the franchise tag used on him by the New York Giants. He sets the edge against the run as well as any defensive end in the league. He probably
does not have a good fit in a 3-4, but in a 4-3, he can be used in a similar manner to Michael Bennett of the Seahawks by moving to the interior on obvious passing downs. Because he likely will not be available as a free agent, teams that covet that skill set can look elsewhere. Pernell McPhee has moved around the defensive line in the Ravens hybrid defense and played at a very high level wherever he has lined up. Though not as stout a run defender as Pierre-Paul, McPhee compensates by being a superior pass rusher who can fit well in any defense. The past couple of years, he has given the Ravens an interior presence on passing
downs to complement Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil off the edges. Because of McPhee’s versatility and the importance of pass rush, almost any team with the cap space should give him a strong look. McPhee may be the only potential free agent who could be a good alternative to Jason Pierre-Paul. In truth, not many players who can play all across the line at a high level reach the open market. This could drive up McPhee’s price tag, but the price tag could also be driven down by his relatively light workload and having teammates around him to take some stress off.
sports
ecleader.org
March 3, 2015
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Seniors prove to be one of softball team’s strengths
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Pitcher Tiffany Potthast is one of the softball team’s seniors.
Josh Rushbrook sports editor
This softball season could be one for the record books. The Bluejays return eight starters which includes four all-conference players. “Our biggest strengths are our depth and experience,” says Head Coach Mike Paulo, who is entering his third season as coach. Of the five seniors on the squad, four have been starting
since their freshman year. The other, Ele Walter, didn’t join the team until she was a sophomore. Walter led the team in batting average last year with an eye-popping .425 and was named first team all-conference. Seniors Tiffany Potthast and Katie Boals will do most of the pitching for Elmhurst. Potthast has strong numbers on both sides of the ball, including a sub-3.00 career ERA and .315
batting average. Boals is very versatile and plays all over the field. She is a career .310 hitter and her 2.40 ERA led the team last season. In the 2014 campaign, Meg Griffin anchored the outfield on her way to second team all-conference and led the team with 38 hits. Bella Masini, another second team all-conference honoree, batted .356 and only struck out six times all season. These five seniors are hop-
ing to surprise the league that picked them to finish sixth in the preseason poll. Paulo said the first goal “is to get into the conference tournament.” Four of these seniors were on the 2012 team, the first to achieve that feat since 1997. Coach Paulo noted the challenge of replacing right fielder Clare Bukowski. Bukowski hit the most home runs in Elmhurst softball history. “We have a lot of players in the mix right
now,” Paulo said of the positions not held by seniors. Bri Thompson, junior catcher and team captain, will command the team defense that led the conference in fielding percentage. The infield also consists of junior Stephanie Hintz and sophomores Alyssa Jasinksi and Mikayla Melone. The right field spot will be shared by underclassmen Lauren Rismondo and Bri Getzloff. Two first year players, Stefanie Sanidas and Stephanie Sturino, will aid in pitching relief for Elmhurst. Depth will be a big strength and the Bluejays’ numbers are rising. In 2013 and 2014, the team only had 12 and 17 players, respectively. This year, 20 young women will don the brand new uniforms. Weather permitting, there are 40 games scheduled for this season. Twelve of these contests will happen down in Florida during spring break. “The teams we play in Florida are tough and will build our strength of schedule, helping our case for an atlarge bid,” says Paulo. In addition to making the conference tournament, a national appearance would be a first for the program. The Bluejays open their season up in style, playing in the Chicago Bandits’ home stadium against Lake Forest on March 18, at 3 p.m.
Sports section takes home wins at ICPA The Leader staff report
Leader Photo Editor Peter Flockencier and Photographer Allen Riquelme, in addition to alum and former Sports Editor Charlie Roumeliotis, took home awards for their work at this years Illinois College Press Association awards banquet held in Chicago. Roumeliotis won first place for sports game story and second place for sports page design and sports column, all of which appeared in The Leader last spring. “Clean writing. An easy-tofollow story. Multiple voices besides the coach. The combination of these things made this entry stand out from the rest,” A judge said of Roumeliotis’s first place piece. Flockencier’s shot was praised for being “solid technically” and quality in design. The photo by Riquelme was also said to be solid and a sharp focus on the plays shown during their gameplay. Though The Leader took home a plethora of awards at ICPA, sports writers and photographers are still being sought to continue to report the athletic events happening on campus.
1st place for Sports Photo - “EC forward Mike Emig bests Yellowjackets’ defender in Jay’s victory” By Peter Flockencier
2nd place for Sports Photo - “Sophomore wide receiver Kaylon Miller struggles to avoid a tackle” By Allen Riquelme
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sports
March 3, 2015
ecleader.org
EC sports round-up
Photo courtesy of Kelsey Plefka Freshman Sarah Melone scored seventh place in the 3,000 meter dash with a time of 10:57.59.
Trace Nardi staff writer
Men’s Track The Elmhurst men’s track and field team took seventh place with several all-conference honors awarded at the 2015 CCIW Indoor Championships at Carthage College on Feb. 28. The Bluejays totaled 27 points to place seventh among their field.
Junior Andrew Debolt won a conference championship in the 800 meters with a time of 1:54.95, while capturing 10 points for the Bluejays. Senior Will Cross earned all-conference honors in the 3,000 meters with a time of 8:27.20 that shattered the facility record. Cross added 6 points to the team’s total point count. The distance medley team of Debolt, Cross, and freshmen Dan Wiggin and Collin Re-
icheneker also earned all-conference status with a third place finish and a time of 10:21.08.
Women’s Track The Elmhurst women’s track and field team placed eighth at the 2015 CCIW Indoor Championships at Carthage College with a total of five points. Freshman Sarah Melone scored two points for the Bluejays and all-conference honors in the 3,000 meter dash with a
seventh place finish and a time of 10:57.59. Scoring two additional points for the team, the distance medley team of senior Elyse Christofanelli, senior Alex Reid, junior Christina Rentner, and senior Kim Stellmack placed seventh with a time of 13:15.24. The lady Bluejay’s final point was scored in the 4x400 relay team of Reid, Stellmack, freshman Vanessa Gomez, and senior Riley Seller with a time of
4:41.60 and an eighth place finish.
Men’s Tennis The Elmhurst men’s tennis opener on Feb. 28 against Millikin was postponed due to inclement weather. The match is rescheduled for Saturday, April 4 at 10:30 a.m. Next week’s match will be Elmhurst hosting North Central College at Courts Plus.
Bluejays find their kryptonite in Titans Nick Cegielski staff writer
Elmhurst College men’s basketball finished their regular season with a blowout loss against Illinois Wesleyan on Feb. 21. The Bluejays came out flat and never found their flow throughout the entirety of the game. A low team field goal percentage of only 37.5 percent may have been a key contributing factor for their 96-66 loss. Both teams came out struggling and Elmhurst had an 11-6 lead seven minutes into the game, but a few plays later and a tough three for Pat Sodemann of the Titans put them up 14-11. The Titans took advantage of Elmhurst’s poor shooting and never looked back. Perhaps Elmhurst couldn’t find their groove offensively due to the intense and unpredictable defense of the Titans. Throughout the game they switched up their defense between zones, half-court manto-man, and full-court pressure. Momentum was against Elmhurst after they broke down on defense and Titan Trevor Seibring threw down a dunk in the paint to up their lead by 14. Elmhurst trailed the Titans 41-28 at the start of the second half, and a quick three just one minute in from Bluejay guard Brandon Schwebke seemed like a promising start. However, Elmhurst then went on a five minute scoring slump
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Erik Crittenden during the game against the Illinois Wesleyan Titans.
while the Titans capitalized on this opportunity and went on an 11-0 run. Schwebke would eventually end this run with another three of his own, but the Titans matched his shot and were officially up by 20. The remainder of the game followed this pattern and continued to get out of reach for the Bluejays. The Titans went on to win by 30 points. Along with Elmhurst’s poor shooting percentage, the Titans would also take advantage of
Elmhurst’s mistakes by converting 20 points off of 14 turnovers. Elmhurst head coach John Baines declined to comment on the Bluejays’ loss. A loss like this can perhaps be a humbling experience for a team playing as well as the Bluejays have this season, especially with the CCIW tournament right around the corner. They split their regular season games against Illinois Wesleyan, winning one and losing one. Elmhurst missed their chance
at redemption in the conference tournament against the Titans. Last Friday in Rock Island, the Titans were victorious over the Bluejays again by a margin of 80-67. Elmhurst led early, but lost the lead at halftime, trailing 33-28. The Titans never gave it back and kept a double-digit lead consistently in the second half. Junior forward, Erik Crittenden, dominated the game with a 24 point, 8 rebound perfor-
mance. Trevor Seibring had the hot hand for the Titans and paced them with 21 points. This may or may not mark the end of the 2013-14 campaign for Elmhurst. If they receive an at-large bid invitation to the National NCAA post-season tournament, they would play next weekend with times and location to be announced.
S MW
East
South
March 17-18
Round 1 - DAYTON
2015
MW MW
MidWest
West
MADNESS
National Champion
MARCH