THE LEADER THE AWARD-WINNING STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT ELMHURST COLLEGE.
VOL. 49
April 28, 2015
The Leader shares tips for surviving on a gluten-free diet See page 10
Watergate journalist questions Americans’ reverence of ideologies See page 4
Braskamp asks EC community to help recruit over 3,000 prospective students Luis Rodriguez news editor
As EC receives over 3,000 applications for the Fall 2015 term, the college looks to faculty and staff to ensure that prospective students enroll at EC. According to an email sent out by Incoming Interim President Larry Braskamp, the college has admitted 1,845 prospective first-year students and 263 transfer students thus far. Though these numbers have not met the goals as of yet, they are the “the highest number of applications we have ever received — not only at this point in the cycle but in any complete enrollment cycle,” said Braskamp in an email sent out to EC faculty. In order to ensure that the high number of prospective students actually choose EC as their college, Braskamp looks to the faculty, staff, and students to help in the recruitment process. “Now, the time has come to finish the job we have begun together. The second half of the enrollment cycle provides the members of our campus community with many opportunities to engage prospective students in ways that truly bring home to them the value and richness of the Elmhurst Experience,” said Braskamp in an email to the EC faculty. He is looking to all members of the EC community to help
engage with the entering class. EC has narrowed down the recruitment process into eight separate opportunities: Interpersonal Communications, Admission Events, Online Chats, Student Visits, Social Media, Community Engagement, Student Stories and Outcomes, and Idea Generating. The college believes that this may be important in securing the prospective students.
“Now, the time has come to finish the job we have begun together. The second half of the enrollment cycle provides the members of our campus community with many opportunities to engage prospective students in ways that truly bring home to them the value and richness of the Elmhurst Experience.” - Larry Braskamp The college looks to develop interactions with prospective students through many outputs such as: 60 to 90 minute online chats, face-to-face conversations during student visits, and social media. Since Braskamp believes that young people tend to use social media sites often, EC is attempting to boost their pres-
ence on social media sites like Twitter and Facebook in order to build an online status that will make potential students more aware of EC. Braskamp will also be helping recruit students and has already begun making personal calls to many prospective students. “I have decided to dedicate the bulk of my own time over the next few months to this indispensible aspect of our work,” said Braskamp in an email to the faculty. “Among other things, I will be calling prospective students, interacting with them and their families at open house ... I can think of no better way to serve the College at this critical time.” Outside of these more technological aspects of the recruitment process, EC is still pushing more face-to-face interactions with prospective students, like the tried-and-true high school visits that, according to Braskamp’s email to the faculty, “are central to the recruitment efforts of some departments and useful to all.” EC continues to use the gathering Get Connected, where students meet faculty and engage with one another at a wine and cheese party where parents of prospective students can meet faculty. See ENROLLMENT on page 4
Tyler Espino joins the presidential search committee as the student representative Gianfranco Ocampo staff writer EC junior Tyler Espino, under the recommendation of the Student Government Association (SGA), was appointed as a representative for the student body in the presidential search committee. “It was such an honor to be given the role to search for our next president,” Espino said when he heard the news. “I was surprised because I wasn’t expecting to be the candidate picked.” The SGA was in charge of nominating three students who would represent the student
body in the selection of the college’s next president and who have a vested interest in the future of the college. “We worked really hard to present the board with a diverse group of students to choose from,” said Meredithe Mimlitz, SGA president. “We were looking for students who are well spoken, decisive, and represent the college well.” Espino is involved in numerous on-campus activities including the Finance and Economics Club, Best Buddies, and is the president of the EC Alpha Sigma Phi chapter. See STUDENT REP on page 4
Tyler Espino joined the presidential search commitee as the student voice.
Photo by Allen Riquelme
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NEWS
April 28, 2015
ecleader.org
•State of Flux•
Education revolution Andy Prignano managing editor
Online classes are the future of education and better than your traditional classroom. It’s too bad nobody has bothered to tell students about this. You can read any major publication at least once a month reporting how the Internet will fundamentally change higher education and make teachers and professors relics of the past. In fact, it’s one of The Atlantic’s favorite subjects. The idea seems to be that education has been the same for hundreds of years and there finally needs to be a revolution. We have the internet now, grandpa, no more dusty old books and dark classrooms; we have Wikipedia and iPads. Online classes are the future! This relies on an outdated ridiculous version of college you only see in movies. Every class is not held in an auditorium, every professor is not a monotone voiced old man, and every classroom is not completely devoid of technology. In fact, these highly touted online courses are considered a joke by most students. Maybe it is because my major involves the humanities, but I’ve rarely encountered a student who didn’t think an online course was a blow off. Most of us think online courses are reserved for requirements that you don’t want to take in the first place and that real in-person classes are for the subjects you actually want to learn. The problem is, online classes reduce a professor’s
The awardwinning student newspaper at Elmhurst College
job to nothing more than providing a reading list and some essay prompts. The students may read the text and write the papers but it is not the same experience of having it taught to you or having someone there to walk you through the process. To suggest that complex ideas and lessons can be learned simply by reading the right thing is absurd. Without a doubt the time needs to be put in, but if desire and willingness to learn were enough, then there would be more Stephen Hawkings and a lot less college dropouts. It is simply impossible to recreate the experience of sitting in front of an expert with a group of your peers discussing one subject. At some point we need to start realizing that the Internet can do a lot of things, but it cannot be a stand-in for human beings. At some point we are going to need each other.
Online classes reduce a professor’s job to nothing more than providing a reading list and some essay prompts. Which brings me to a more important point. This revolution in education that so many say needs to happen has already begun. The Internet has helped make everything from getting your grades to conducting research much more simple. We need to realize that technology cannot replace a traditional education, but it can help simplify and streamline it.
the
Leader
Editor-in-chief: Managing & Opinions Editor: News Editor: Beat editor: Sports Editor Graphics Editor: Photo editor Chief Copy editor: Business Manager: Adviser:
Zachary Bishop Andy Prignano Luis Rodriguez Kailey Hansen Nick Cegielski Nikki Smith Peter Flockencier Kathryn Kuszynski Elyse Christofanelli Ron Wiginton
Internet photo The earthquake and aftershocks in Nepal crumbled buildings, leaving citizen caved under rubble.
Luis Rodriguez news editor
Death toll continues to rise after Nepal earthquake The 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit Nepal on April 25 destroyed homes, caused avalanches, and took the lives of over 2,000 people. The quake’s death toll continues to rise as aftershocks continue to hit larger metropolitan areas such as Kathmandu where over 700 people have been reported dead. The amount of injuries nearly doubles the amount of dead. Over 5,000 people have been injured, with officials expecting the number to rise as the aftershocks continue and the rubble is cleared. A base camp on Mt. Everest reports that 61 climbers were injured and 17 have died when the quake struck a section of Everest, and there are around 100 climbers higher on the mountain whose descent may prove difficult. The quake is said to be the worst earthquake Nepal has had in the past 80 years and has crushed temples that are centuries old.
Thousands of Baltimore residents protest over the death of Freddie Gray After the death Freddie Gray, 25, who died in police custody on April 19, mostly peaceful protests turned to an uproar on the streets of Baltimore on April 25. Gray suffered a spinal injury while in police custody on April 19 and the lack of timely medical care was the alleged cause of his death. In the wake of his death, reports of smashed storefront windows and substantial damage to police cruisers prompted officers in full riot gear to intervene in the uproar. A reported 12 arrests were made around the Camden Yards areas, where the brunt of the protests were taking place. Gray’s sister appeared on a news broadcast around 10 p.m. on April 25 asking people to calm themselves, though by that time the protests had already stopped.
PRODUCTION STAFF Sarah Astra Trace Nardi Sara Baldwin Gianfranco Ocampo Chrissy Croft Brett Peto Nora Georgieva Allen Riquelme Elizabeth Imbrogno Zakiyah Toor Cori Jaracz Zachary Walton Hannah Jasinski Tyler York Marguerite Kuick Fabian Vasquez Vinnie Lotesto
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Suicide car bombings on Jordan-Iraq border kill five Iraqi soldiers Islamic State insurgents carried out three suicide car bombings on the Iraq-Jordan border on April 25, resulting in five dead and 10 wounded Iraqi soldiers. The car bombings were first reported by the Islamic State who said that the attacks destroyed an Iraqi headquarters and killed more than 40 soldiers. However, the Iraqi government rebuked the Islamic State claims, reporting that only five soldiers had died. The bombing crippled an Iraqi convoy, which limited the movement of trucks across the borders of both Iraq and Jordan, limiting their shipping abilities. In response to the bombings, Jordan has moved troops to the border, saying that the procedure is routine after an attack such as the car bombings. Until recently, Jordan has been a relatively safe area between most of the Middle Eastern countries that have faced economic undoing and conflicts with the Islamic State.
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NEWS
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April 28, 2015
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Hard news briefs (usually) in 500 words or less Luis Rodriguez news editor
Student in admissions department wins EC Student Employee of the Year Award Junior Melissa Mikosz has been awarded the 2015 Elmhurst College Student Employee of the Year for her work in the admissions department. EC students are nominated based on their reliability, initiative, quality of work, and other characteristics that were observed by their supervisors, members of the Student Temporary Employment Program (Step) committee then choose the winners. Her supervisor, Jennifer Cortesi, nominated Mikosz. Mikosz was awarded a certificate by the Midwest Association of Student Employment
Administrators and by the college for her work at EC. Mikosz name has been engraved on a plaque in the Frick Center that honors the Student Employee of the Year and she was given a $25 Book Cellar gift card. Many other students were nominated for the award, including: Raul Arevalo for his work at the library, Bryan Hill in the nursing department, Nathaniel Kabat in information services, Kathy Wabiszczewicz in the Niebuhr Center, Eleni Vrettos in the office of residence life, and Marilu Sierra in the academic affairs office.
Photo courtesy of Kathy Maxwell Winner Melissa Mikosz (right) with her supervior, Jennifer Cortesi (left)
Spritual Life Council celebrates 15 years of service at EC
Over 1,000 votes casted in the Student Government Association’s 2015 spring elections
The Spiritual Life Council (SLC) hosted a Gala celebrating 15 years of service at EC on April 17 in the Frick Center. Founding members of the SLC and former SLC presidents were invited to the occasion. The event commemorated the establishment of the SLC that has been a staple at EC in their
1,372 votes were cast in the Student Government Association’s (SGA) 2015 spring elections, which elected 15 representatives to the board. The elections were held on April 21 and April 22 and votes were cast through the BlueNet services. This year’s elections
celebration of interreligious studies. The SLC established a foundation at EC that celebrates and acknowledges all religions and spiritual life at EC for the last 15 years. The celebration had food, drinks, and music with a performance by the EC Jazz Band.
proved much more successful than last semester’s which only had 198 votes, though only six candidates were in the running then. Five of the 15 candidates held about 40 percent of the total in these elections, taking 549 of the votes.
Patrick Ackerman had 120 votes, Katelyn Ditzler had 114 votes, Angela Tucker had 110, Angela Patricelli had 108 votes, and Safia Siddiqui had 97 votes.
Students to hold EC’s 20th annual Relay for Life philanthropy event on May 1st Zachary Bishop editor-in-chief EC students will host the college’s 20th annual Relay for Life philanthropy event to raise money for the American Cancer Association on May 1 in R.A. Faganel Hall. The first Relay for Life event on EC’s campus was organized in 1995 in honor of an EC community member who had recently died of lung cancer — Claire Bartels, the wife of the then VP of College Advancement Ken Bartels. Over the past twenty years, the event has evolved from a small two-hour occasion called the Walk for Hope run by fraternities and sororities to a 12hour one that involves several campus organizations as well as community members and businesses. Student and community organizations participate by forming teams to fundraise and attend the event. “Relay has become much more inclusive to Elmhurst as a whole,” senior Kari Krausfeldt, one of the presidents on EC’s Relay for Life Steering Committee, which organizes the annual event. However, the spirit of the
event has remained the same: to honor and support those who survived or died from cancer. This mission is what draws students to help organize and participate in Relay for Life. “You go to anybody on our committee and they have a personal story as to why or how they were touched by cancer,” said sophomore Lexie Dames, one of the presidents on the Relay for Life Steering Committee. “You ask anybody on this campus, they go to Relay because they were touched by cancer at some point.”
“Relay has become much more inclusive to Elmhurst as a whole.” - Kari Krausfeldt Although the event is only 12-hours long, the steering committee works year-round to fundraise, encourage students and community members to form teams, arrange corporate donations and sponsorships, and network with cancer survivors. This year the steering committee made an effort to encourage Ellen DeGeneres to make an appearance by uti-
Photo by Peter Flockencier Sophomore Shawn McKey supports Relay for Life at a kick-off event on the college mall
lizing social media. Members of the organization posted on Facebook and Twitter with the hashtag #ellentoecrelay and even created a video inviting her to the event. While they don’t believe DeGeneres will actually make an appearance, the committee views the campaign as a stress reliever and community-building activity. “I think we did at one point have a goal to get her there, but I
think it just really brought us together as a community,” Krausfeldt said. “It was a fun stress reliever … [and] would have been icing on the cake if it worked.” With the event less than a week away, students have already raised $18,443 for the American Cancer Association, which is a portion of the committee’s goal to raise $55,000. However, Dames says the committee won’t be upset if they don’t reach it.
“Regardless of how much money we wanted to raise or are going to raise, it’s all going to a great cause and it’s all money that they didn’t have before,” she said. The American Cancer Society donates funds raised in Relay for Life events across the country to cancer research as well as services that assist cancer patients, such as peer mentorship, housing, and transportation to treatment.
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April 28, 2015
NEWS
ENROLLMENT from page 1 Braskamp wants students to share their stories about their time at EC and also looks to the faculty, saying, “No one has more information on student and alumni successes than the faculty.” Braskamp hopes to find the students who have positive stories that could potentially be an incentive for thousands of prospective students. With the high amount of potential students sending applications to EC, there has been an effort in trying to make sure that the high number of students continues or increases.
“Many of you already met some of the impressive individuals who comprise this strong pool of prospective students for Elmhurst,” said Braskamp in an email to the faculty. “Over the last five months, I have been impressed by both the quantity and variety of your efforts to engage interested students and otherwise lend a willing and able hand to our recruitment efforts. It really has been ‘all hands on deck,’ and your assistance has been indispensible to our achievements to date.”
STUDENT REP from page 1 “We immediately thought of Tyler because of the qualities that he has shown while in his various leadership positions,” said Mimlitz. “Tyler has shown that he is more than capable of representing the students of Elmhurst College, which we thought was an important characteristic for the student representative on the search commitment to have.” Students were nominated to the board to represent the general student body rather than having a committee who doesn’t have knowledge of what students want. “I give a student perspective and will relay different views compared to the staff or board of trustees,” Espino said,
as he provided what he could do as a student in the presidential search committee. “In my role I want to be in the assistance to help with the search for a new president with the intention to help the college prosper.” Espino focused on a forum that met on April 27. The forum provided the opportunity for students, staff, and faculty to discuss their views on a new president, thereby giving the committee more to consider. “My time management skills are up to par, I’ll be able to invest my time into the committee while still being able to continue my involvement on-campus,” said Espino as he continues to work with the board for the coming months.
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April 28, 2015
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Doubts arise as Hillary Clinton announces her presidential bid Zakiyah Toor staff writer
After Hillary Clinton announced her bid for the democratic nomination for the 2016 presidential election in early April, some question whether she is capable of running a country. “Everyday Americans need a champion,” said Clinton in a campaign video announcing her presidential bid. “I want to be that champion.” After the announcement of her bid, many people began to doubt Clinton’s presidential capabilities. Much of their uncertainty stems from the doubts that a woman has the potential to run the U.S. “There’s got to be some downside to having a woman president,” Fox News commentator Bill O’Reilly said last February. “Something that may not fit with that office, correct? Men are men and women are wom-
en, there’s a difference.” However, not everyone agrees with O’Reilly and believe that Clinton (and women in general) have the potential to lead the country. “If anything I think she would be more apt to lead because a woman leads a family, leads a house, keeps that all together, so why should that be any different from leading a nation?” said senior Christina DelMonte. The topic of how women are viewed in the U.S. was discussed in Clinton’s 2014 memoir “Hard Choices.” Clinton has been involved in politics for years, which many people in the U.S. still do not see as normal. “I knew that it arose from cultural and psychological attitudes about women’s roles in society but that didn’t make it any easier for me and my supporters,” wrote Clinton in “Hard Choices.” In 2014, the United States ranked 83rd out of 137 in a sur-
vey of female leadership worldwide, ranking lower than other countries similar to the U.S. “Unfortunately, the U.S. falls behind many other countries in electing a female head-of-state,” said Connie Mixon, director of the urban studies program and associate professor of political science. “We are behind Australia, Britain, Canada, Germany, India, Ireland, Israel, and even Pakistan.” There are many obstacles that Clinton faces in getting the approval of those who may have the same views as O’Reilly, though some believe that this is not an issue as long as Clinton has a grasp on U.S. politics. “As long as she is educated on policies relevant to the position, fulfills the qualifications required of the position, and can negotiate both foreign and domestic affairs, then it doesn’t matter that she’s a woman,” said junior Katelyn Ditzler. Since Clinton’s initial bid in
Internet Photo Hillary Clinton served as the secretary of state from 2009 to 2013.
the 2008 presidential run, she continues to gain support and there may still be hope for those who wish to see a woman in the president’s office. “I believe the glass ceiling that has kept women from reaching
our nation’s highest office will soon be broken,” Mixon said. “If not by Hillary Clinton in 2016, by another woman in the near future.”
Carl Bernstein argues Americans value ideology over the common good
Photo by Fabian Vasquez At his April 13 EC lecture, Carl Bernstein argues people should be concerned about the “common good.”
Zachary bishop editor-in-chief
Journalist Carl Bernstein argued that the United States’ citizens, journalists, and politicians are more concerned with ideological warfare than working for the common good at his April 13 lecture in the Frick Center. Bernstein, who helped uncover the Watergate Scandal with Bob Woodward in the 1970s, said this occurs because most Americans only seek out news that proves their beliefs are right instead of information that is truthful. “We live in an age today where people reading the web, and reading newspapers, and watching television ‘news’ are not looking for the best obtainable version of the truth,” he said. “Rather, they’re looking for ideological and partisan ammunition to reinforce what they already believe they think
they know, so real existing facts become unimportant.” Bernstein further argued that because of Americans’ lack of concern for truth they fail to work for the common good of the country in journalism, politics, and society. “Our history in America has always been about finding the right balance between individual rights and those of a larger community and society … there’s always been inherent tension between the two,” he said, “but in my lifetime, certainly since the triumph of Civil Rights, I’ve never seen that tension so overwhelm the common good … [and] play the ugliness and know nothingness instead of diffusing that tension.” Bernstein has written five critically-acclaimed political books that have dealt with thestruggle between individual and societal rights, including “A Woman in Charge: The Life of Hillary Rodham Clinton” and
“His Holiness: John Paul II & the History of Our Time.” To teach Americans to focus on truth and the well being of the country as opposed to their ideological interests, Bernstein suggested the government should require young people to complete a year of compulsory national service after high school, such as school, hospital, or military work. “I think that national service might be a real change agent that can do something about the things we’ve been talking about tonight,” he said. Some examples Bernstein gave of Americans’ inability to accomplish things for the benefit of the country were the growing wealth gap between the rich and the poor, massive student loan debts for college graduates, and the 2013 government shutdown. To illustrate a time where Americans were concerned with discovering the truth and
working for nonpartisan interests, Bernstein discussed how Americans reacted during the Watergate scandal, which he called “the most injurious and unconstitutional and criminal abuse of power in the history of the United States” in the 1970s. “It’s useful to look back on that era, not with nostalgia — there were plenty of failures and fits and starts — but with realism,” Bernstein said. “[It was] a country and a political system [that dealt] with the problems and opportunities of America almost always considering above all else … the national interest.” Bernstein explained that during Watergate, republicans, democrats, legislators and judges, journalists and consumers of news collectively utilized the political system to discover the extent of President Richard Nixon’s corruption and put pressure on him to take responsibility for it. “The system worked in Watergate and we saw democratic principles and the common good and the national interest succeed in a way that reaffirmed our common belief in the idea of government that serves its citizens and rule of law,” Bernstein said. “The country had come to a consensus that this criminal president had to leave office.” Because they’ve brought about this culture of ideological warfare, Bernstein lamented that his generation and the ones in the 1980s and ‘90s have failed young Americans. “In the past twenty-something years, we have taken out of the system so much for ourselves that we’ve left them so much less in the way of opportunity,” Bernstein said. He sug-
gested this failure overshadows these generations’ other accomplishments, such as creating innovative technology and bringing about increased civil rights for blacks, women, and the gay community. Senior Jacob Rebnord agreed with Bernstein’s view that Americans are more concerned with affirming their own beliefs than seeking truth because of his personal tendencies. “My understanding is that people have a hard time accepting they may be wrong,” Rebnord said. “I struggle with it as I know I tend to look at sources that back up my views. The Internet makes it too easy to find whatever information one wants.” Rebnord also believed that Bernstein’s idea of compulsory national service as a way to alleviate this problem could work since it would show younger people how the government actually works. “If done correctly it should improve the sense of civic duty for the younger generations,” he said. “Getting more people to be willing to make educated criticism of government would help as both parties are stuck in the extremes of the political spectrum.” Bernstein also suggested toppling the government might be a necessary step to make the government work for the people again, like it was during Watergate, but he argued it’s the American peoples’ job to decide that. “It’s the job of the people, the job of the legislature that they elect if a government is gonna be toppled, the job of the larger system,” he said. “It’s not the job of the press to topple governments.”
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opinions
ecleader.org
l Editorial l
Smoke up EC, it’s for your health
Cartoon by Vinnie Lotesto
Should Elmhurst College students be allowed to use medical marijuana for medial reasons on EC’s campus? We at The Leader think so. As long as it’s only used in designated areas and the percription is registered with the college, we don’t see a problem with it. The recent legalization of medical marijuana in Illinois raises the question of why EC doesn’t allow the use of marijuana on campus. In EC’s e-book there is a statement that says the college does not allow possession or use of medical marijuana because of Illinois law. The Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act (the act that legalized the use of medical marijuana in Illinois) only specifically states that possession of medical marijuana is prohibited on the campuses of pre-schools, kindergartens, primary schools, and high schools. The only mentions of college campuses says “nothing in this act shall prevent a university, college … from restricting or prohibiting the use of medical cannabis on its property.” This means it is the college’s choice. Some cite the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989 (DFSCA), and say that if EC doesn’t comply they will be restricted from receiving federal funding. However, according to a report by the group Students for Sensible Drug Policy, no school has ever lost eligibility for federal aid as a result of non-compliance with the DFSCA.
Another argument against the use of medical marijauna on college campuses is that the act legalizing the drug prohibits its use in most public areas (which it defines as spaces where it is logical to assume people can see and/or interact with you at any time), and around others who are not prescribed medical marijuana. This means medical marijuana would be prohibited everywhere on campus, excluding maybe a dorm room provided that all occupants were certified to possess and use medical marijuana. Therefore, we would suggest that a few designated areas be set up on campus that would give those with medical marijuana cards a safe and reliable space to use. The fact that an enclosed area is set aside for the use of marijuana means it is no longer a public space. This is because it would not be logical to assume minors or other, non-certified marijuana smokers would be present. In other words, only certified medical marijuana users would be allowed in the designated space. Another way to think about it is this: would you want to force a student living on campus to go without their medicine simply because there was no place for them to use it? It may sound silly to call it that, but that is essentially what the law is labeling it. Even without the designated areas, allowing possession of medical marijuana on campus could help keep students from entangling themselves in a nasty disciplinary dispute. So EC administration, help pave the way for medical marijuana use on college campuses.
opinions
ecleader.org
April 28, 2015
l Modern Renaissancel
l Under the Microscope l
Leaving Oxford Not your grandma’s polio
Brett Peto staff writer
The scourge of the 1950s might become the hope of the 2010s. Polio, the disease that brings to mind black-and-white photos of emaciated children in iron lungs, has only recently left the stage. North and South America were proclaimed polio-free in 1994, a year in which most who will read this were alive, and it still exists in some parts of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Nigeria. We are battling it into extinction, primarily via vaccination. Elementary schools, hospital buildings, coins, and gratitude have all been dedicated to Dr. Jonas Salk, the discoverer of the first effective inactivated polio vaccine. But while the general public may soon be done with polio forever, researchers at Duke University’s Brain Tumor Center are not. As reported by Scott Pelley of “60 Minutes,” Duke is engaged in a Phase I trial testing the safety of a new treatment for glioblastoma multiforme. It is a brain cancer whose prognosis is usually death in less than a year, even with the most radiation one can receive in a lifetime without dying. The new weapon against glioblastoma is polio. It’s not your grandmother’s polio; the RNA sequence that causes paralysis has been replaced with RNA from a cold virus, so the stock price of iron lung companies should not rise during this trial. A very weak concentration of the modified bug is fed directly into patients’ tumors. Then the patients are monitored, time passes, and the early MRIs can seem unpromising. Generally, the tumors become highly inflamed during the first six months. But the inflammation is often like a writhing worm whose tail you’ve stepped on. It’s trying to save itself. However, by focusing on fighting the infection, the tumors drop the molecular shroud that hides them from the immune system. The immune system finally recognizes the tumors for what they are — knots in the wood that will eventually kill the tree — and resources are mobilized to attack. It’s not fast, not like a cold, one week and done. It takes a
minimum of 12 months, or 24 months, or even 36 months. But holes slowly appear in the tumor and they grow while it shrinks. One fine day, there’s a thin caterpillar of a scar and no cancer. Duke molecular biologist Dr. Matthias Gromeier has been developing polio as a complementary treatment to chemotherapy and radiation for 25 years. In 1996, he and other colleagues first spliced together the cold virus RNA and the polio RNA, creating a hybrid that can still infect cells but not replicate inside them. It’s handy that most glioblastoma cells produce more of the receptor that attracts polio than healthy cells do. If they didn’t, the infection could leak into healthy tissue. The goal of a Phase I trial is to establish the safest dosage of an experimental treatment, not to test any effects the treatment might have. However, the effects are clear: out of the 22 patients who have participated so far, 11 have seen their tumors shrink significantly, and four have lived beyond six months, which Duke classifies as remission. Dr. Fritz Andersen, the trial’s second participant, is now cancer-free three years after treatment. This is astonishing for a cancer that usually doubles in size every two or three weeks. Even what we would consider modest gains of time — two or three months — is rare when dealing with glioblastoma; the three years Dr. Andersen has survived are truly unprecedented. The treatment is so promising we are tempted to ignore the risks and the possibility that, like other things we would like to call cures, it can all still fail. Half of the 22 patients to date have seen improvement. But half have died, regardless of this treatment or any other. While a 50-50 chance is, of course, better than the normal odds for fighting glioblastoma, some participants have withdrawn from the study because of adverse effects. One such person was Donna Clegg. She was the trial’s third participant, following Dr. Andersen, and was given three times the dose he received. Her immune system certainly recognized the glioblastoma, but it attacked too much too fast. Clegg’s brain swelled to the point of causing partial paralysis. She withdrew from the trial and died in early March. It is hard for any researcher, any scientist, or any person to accept failure, especially that of a process meant to heal, not hurt. But a strange alchemy is occurring with this research: somehow we have arrived at the conviction that polio, an insidious enemy for so long, can heal patients, not hurt them.
Sarah Astra staff writer
For the last few days of my semester abroad, I spent time exploring the streets of London. Since I had been in Oxford for the past three months, I had little time to travel anywhere else; now was my time to get the wanderlust out of my system. While adventuring around London, one of my travelling companions brought something to my attention: all of the important things in England are pointy or strangely shaped. I thought about this for some time and found that it was true. Big Ben, the Gherkin, and Westminster Abbey (the pointiest building of all) reflect the stability and wealth of the British
government and economy. So apparently spires and towers are the way to go. This is definitely true in America, but in my opinion it is not necessarily to the same extent. In America, there are buildings like the Sears Tower (who actually calls it the Willis Tower now?) and the Empire State Building, both of which are good examples of America’s power and wealth. However, the number of irregularly shaped skyscrapers in England, especially in London, was astounding. Buildings like London’s City Hall and the previously mentioned Gherkin (a building that looks something like a pointy, elongated egg) are just some of the types of architecture that dot the London skyline. True, America also has some artistic buildings such as the Lake Point Tower and the Aqua Building (both located in Chicago) but they are very different from London architecture. Pointy and modern, the buildings and important locations of London stand out and give the city a feeling of posh-ness. In addition to the buildings and the feel of the city, the easiest way to travel around was the famous Underground Tube train
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system running throughout the city (as well as into Heathrow Airport). A flurry of maps and signs clearly directed passengers to their intended destination, musicians within the Tube tunnels were friendly enough to give directions if the signs made no sense to you. England, at least the impression I gleaned from it, is about simplicity and elegance. This is shown from the buildings and their iconic style but also demonstrated in the Tube system. Everything is clearly laid out and efficient. And if it is not? No problem. The majority of locals are happy to help if there is an issue. The English also seem to make their intentions and values clear in their architecture. Do they value banking and offices? That is why the Gherkin is so pointy. Do they value learning and education? It explains why Oxford is covered in spires and towers. Throughout England, it is easy to see which buildings are most important. Hint: they are the pointy ones.
l Resistancel
Snap responsibly
Chrissy croft staff writer
First there was Yik Yak. It began with anonymous posts about campus life: squirrels, Chartwells, laundry rooms, and football games. But it quickly became something similar to a Craigslist Personals section with people seeking everything from a new drug dealer to a one-night stand. Now, there’s Elmhurstsnaps, the Snapchat account that will anonymously post your snaps to their story for all to see. Based on posts by the mystery moderator(s), approximately one thousand people view each photo or video uploaded. Elmhurstsnaps has emerged as a prominent, although probably fleeting, facet of EC student life. It has brought together disjointed individuals and given them an outlet to share their day. Elmhurstsnaps reminds us that our community is home to a wide range of experiences,
perspectives, and senses of humor. Unfortunately, it also acts as reminder that some of us are less mature or responsible than the average. Sprinkled between the uplifting and entertaining posts of daily life at EC are images and videos of insults, self-incrimination, and nudity. From mocking overweight students using a pig emoji to posting videos taking shots in Greek letters, Elmhurstsnaps is another reminder that anonymous posting is dangerous. It drives us to share things with the world that could ultimately do real damage to ourselves and others. According to an image posted to Elmhurstsnaps on April 23, a student received a parking citation and must meet with Eileen Sullivan, dean of students, after posting a photo of his car (with the license plate in plain view) parked on the sidewalk in front of Schiable. The ticket included a printout of the Snapchat he submitted to Elmhurstnaps, signifying that Campus Security is monitoring the account. Another post showed a male student, unresponsive presumably from alcohol, being slapped and shouted at by his friends at a party. Yet another image featured student athletes, clearly sitting in the locker room, with the misogynistic caption “free the tits.”
Clearly, people aren’t thinking before they send a snap. They aren’t thinking about the possibility of a screenshot, of being recognized, or even being dragged into a criminal investigation. At the very least, they aren’t thinking that they are not anonymous to the moderator(s), and nothing stops those individuals from sharing the images and videos elsewhere. This is especially relevant for those choosing to share nude photographs. You should not be ashamed of your body, or your expression of your sexuality, but I hope that you understand the possible repercussions of your actions. I don’t think anonymous posting is inherently damaging. I have personally posted to both Yik Yak and Elmhurstsnaps on multiple occasions. I have found great joy in the shared love of sunshine on the mall or Chipotle after a long day in class. Unfortunately, the blatantly irresponsible, offensive, and/or incriminating posts are ruining the fun. And potentially ruining your future. Stay smart, my friends. And snap responsibly.
Ga m e of T h ron e s A Pl igh t of Pi racy Kailey Hansen beat editor The familiar bellowing, opening score notes and the mechanical map of Westeros have become something of a ritual for diehard fans of George R.R. Martin’s fantasy-saga-turned-HBOpowerhouse. “Game of Thrones” has turned mainstream primetime TV viewers into unassuming sci-fi geeks and has given true nerds a reason to openly discuss dragons and dress as zombified White Walkers at Comic-Con. It also has been deemed one of the highestranking pirated TV series of all time, according to Entertainment Weekly (EW). EW states that for three consecutive years, the hit show takes the gold as the most illegally downloaded show on the piracy-tracker website TorrentFreak. Popular shows like “The Walking Dead” and “The Big Bang Theory” are constant runners up for silver and bronze. While three episodes have already been aired live in the show’s fifth season, the scandal of having nearly half of the current season leaked online by an anonymous critic has sparked conversation about possible spoiler alerts and the ethics of piracy. Fans of the Iron Throne: it’s safe to keep reading. No spoilers will be divulged here. With a five book series already written, spoilers come with a grain of Narrow Sea salt. However, Martin has announced that the show will continue to break free from his original works and keep some plots true, while other original storylines are set to turn a little less ‘spoiler-risky’ by those who have finished the books. In a survey available to EC students online, over 60 participants weighed in on the leakage
Graphics and layout by Nikki Smith
debate. Though college students are poster children for the vicious cycle of illegally downloading and binge watching, the survey’s results showed that this season’s leaked episodes may be an exception. With 37 percent of participants tallied up as “non-Game of Thrones” viewers, the majority (51 percent of surveyed participants) said they are watching this season week by week, either aired live or online streaming such as HBO GO. “There’s something fun about waiting for it to air,” an anonymous participant commented, “you have to wait for a while if you watch half the season now.” Others have caved and but have run into other problems. “Watched one leaked episode,” read another survey comment, “it’s not fun to be ahead of people.” A mere 12 percent admit to watching at least one or more leaked episodes with no regrets about zooming past the HBO timeline. “Honestly, in this day and age most people are illegally downloading one way or another,” an anonymous source said. “What difference does it make if it’s music, movies, or TV? I’m a huge fan and I want to watch them as soon as possible if they’re available. I wouldn’t have paid to watch them regardless of when they came out, so watching the leaked episodes was a no-brainer for me.” While piracy may be an issue for our generation, it seems like college kids are still thrilled by the anticipation of waiting to find out who will actually win the game of thrones.
“There’s something fun about waiting for it to air.”
“What difference does it make if it’s music, movies, or TV? I’m a huge fan and I want to watch them as soon as possible if they’re available. I wouldn’t have paid to watch them regardless of when they came out so watching the leaked episodes was a nobrainer for me.”
Watched leaked episodes
“Watched one leaked episode,” read another survey comment, “It’s not fun to be ahead of people.”
“Non-Game of Thrones” Watchers
Watching Week by Week
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April 28, 2015
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Tips for surviving gluten free in college Restaurant Review
Courageous Cupcakes, located at 108 W. Park Ave., offers two delictable gluten free flavors in their coloful assortment of cupcakes.
marguerite kuick staff writer So you’re going gluten free ... well, prepare for the worst. Kale, lettuce wrapped burgers, and yogurt for every meal, everyday. Lies. Going gluten free (GF) doesn’t have to mean having a diet similar to a cow chewing on grass all day. But what is gluten? It’s a type of protein found in grains that are not just wheat, but barley and rye as well. If you’re looking to lose weight, omitting gluten from your diet is not necessarily the answer. Most people transition to a gluten free diet for health reasons or simply personal choice. And although it might cost a little more, the benefits include easier digestion, more energy, and overall wellbeing for folks with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. Here are a few ways to transform your favorite glutinous feasts into gluten-free meals.
Shown on the left, the multi-colored, rainbow frosted “Survivor” cupcake is dedicated to cancer awareness. Its buttercream frosting is dabbled onto a tasty vanilla “fun-fetti” cake base. The classic strawberry option is a perfect sweet for summer, mixing strawberries and a yummy cream cheese frosting. These gluten free options are specialties for April and will change throughout the season.
Breakfast No one should have to give up good ole pancakes because they’re going gluten free. With the growing popularity of GF goods, it is easier then before to find bread and instant GF mixes. To change from wheat pancakes to GF, just pick up a box of pancake/waffle mix or make pancakes from scratch with banana, peanut butter, and oats. If you’re a traditional breakfast indulgee, simply change out your cereal. Froot Loops and Lucky
Photo by Cori Jaracz
Charms (the good ones, let’s be realistic) aren’t gluten free, but there are GF copies of these. Another option is trying Berry Berry Kix or dressing a bowl of Cheerios with cinnamon, sugar, a sliced banana, and fresh strawberries,
Lunch It’s easy to forego the midday refuel during the busy week, but it’s even easier to transition your favorite sandwich to GF. We might be in college, but
there is not a sandwich more timeless or easy to make than the PB&J we loved in kindergarten. An easy solution to make your grape jelly delight GF is to simply substitute your Wonder or whole wheat bread (if you get fancy) for GF bread. With Chipotle now offering home delivery, there seems no reason to ever make a homemade burrito or taco. However, if you like cooking, or if faux-Mexican food makes your stomach churn, then sub-
stitute your soft flour shell for a soft corn tortilla shell.
Dinner Sit down and get your Julia Child on, GF style. While nothing can replace a classic Italian dish of spaghetti and meatballs, a GF version is just as good and can almost go undetected. Brown Rice noodles are a tasty supplement to regular hearty pasta. Plus, there are boxes of GF mac & cheese. Not as cheap as Kraft, but we’re
getting there. While there is no real GF substitute to the classic Chicago-style pizza, there are frozen pre-made GF thin crusts available at the stores. Many places now offer crust or dough mixes for easy GF preparation.
Dessert The best part of every meal, hands down. Okay, so maybe you’re not Buddy the Cake Boss, but you don’t have to be to make a killer GF cake. As previously mentioned, almost everything is offering a GF substitute, cake mixes included and located in the same aisles as Pillsbury Funfetti cake mix. One of the latest (but weirdest) trends for GF brownies is to substitute black beans for wheat flour. While some may think these bakers don’t have taste buds, some can hardly detect the taste of black beans from rich fudgy brownies. Yea, there are mixes for GF brownies, but there are also better ways to make them homemade — switch the flours out by using almond and sorghum flours. But, if the less-than-onemonth-of-school-left is starting to kick in, there are local restaurants that offer GF dishes. For breakfast and lunch, try Egg Harbor Cafe, where GF pancakes and sandwiches are available. After your busy day, try some of Francesca’s pasta for a nice Italian dinner. And for dessert, Courageous Bakery offers some delicious cupcakes.
The Mill ends season with dark allegory
Internet Photo
Theatre Review elizabeth imbrogno staff writer Sometimes, during the toughest of times, all one can do to stay sane is laugh. In “The Last Cyclist,” laughing is exactly what keeps a group of actors confined to a holding
camp in Terezín, Czechoslovakia hopeful during the reign of Hitler and Nazi Germany in the 1940s. Karel Švenk, one of the camp’s real-life prisoners, wrote the play (originally structured as a cabaret) to farcically portray the illogical hatred that escalated the Holocaust. The Mill Theatre
is currently preforming Naomi Patz’s revised adaptation of the play for the last shows of the 2014-2015 season. In the play, the group of actors secretly put on a production that centers around a group of powerful crazies who have escaped from an insane asylum and are absurdly target-
ing bicyclists and anyone associated with them. Own a bike? Ride a bike? Married to someone whose sister rode a bike? You’re a ‘cyclist.’ The story is a play-within-aplay, a structure which may at first disorient and confuse as much as “Inception” did, but ultimately allows the characters to speak to the audience honestly and bring them closer into their harrowing worlds of realism and fantasy. The most electrifying performances of the night were capsulated by Brandon Pisano and Kayleigh Aleck as Lunatics one and two. Their fierce physicality, crazed looks, and utter ridiculousness made their characters unsettling but fantastically entertaining to watch. Andrew Brhel’s performance as the fictional Abeles is another notable token to the show. As Abeles, he was able to convey the fear that his character of Svenk was feeling, especially during a heart-felt monologue. Karly Hanna channeled her inner crazed-diva in her performance as Ma’am, the irrational, power-tripping tyrant fixed on bringing misery to all cyclists.
Her charisma made the character simultaneously disturbing and interesting. The show’s biggest draws are the balance between comedy and drama, which appropriately creates for an entertainment show, as well as a powerful and thought-provoking look at a horrific time in history. The play’s unrestrained mockery of the groundless racism and hatred that swept across Europe during World War II provides some comedic aspects, but ultimately sheds light on the harsh realities of the Nazi reign and the lives that were carelessly destroyed. Final performances of “The Last Cyclist” will run Thursday, April 30 to Saturday, May 2 at 8 p.m. in the Mill Theatre.
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April 28, 2015
EC students tackle finals using apps and old-school methods Nora Georgieva
in app form. “I use SelfControl whenever I need to work,” said Juvan. The app was created to block distracting websites (Facebook, YouTube, etc.) using a timer that the user sets. Regardless if the user restarts their computer or deletes the app, the blocked websites will remain blocked until time runs out (clearly it’s very efficient at what it does).
staff writer
The time has come for making end of the year to-do lists, jotting down assignments in planners, and battling severe procrastination. Cramming for finals is an ageold college war, but students at EC share the tricks and tips they use to tackle finals before finals tackles them. While some prefer the old-fashioned hole up in a study room at the library method, others utilize living in an age that offers technology as a tool for studying. “I think that while probably there are many study apps for students to choose from, I haven’t found it necessary to utilize these apps,” says senior Ashley Ramaglia on using iPhone or Android apps meant for college students. Ramaglia explains that when it comes to tackling memorization for more tedious subjects, she prefers to go old-school. “I have found flashcards to be a helpful way to study for tests that require memorizing information.” Those who don’t fancy procrastination and plan ahead often find that cram sessions are virtually unnecessary. Senior Rhamajay Lagatao has his memorization technique down working ahead of time to avoid late-night panic sessions. “At first I usually review
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“[SelfControl] app is very user friendly, and it eliminates all unwanted distractions from the Internet.” - Isabel Juvan
Photo by Peter Flockencier
through my book and notes for each section a couple of weeks before the exam in detail,” explains Lagatao, “then a day or two before the exam I work backwards on each chapter that I had already gone over.”
“I think that while there are many study apps for students to choose from, I haven’t found it necessary to utilize these apps.” - Ashley Ramaglia Lagatao explains that he studies the newer material while
also reviewing older stuff, leaving some extra time for skimming “before the books are put away” prior to the exam. For other EC students, technology is their friend. “SparkNotes are great for reviewing while Quizlet is a great website to make flashcards,” says EC junior Andy Rhea. “SparkNotes has short helpful summaries. They also have sections dedicated to each part or chapter for analysis so you can see how the story or novel is typically analyzed.” While SparkNotes is a great supplement for English majors, other majors might
benefit more from Quizlet.
“SparkNotes are great for reviewing while Quizlet is a great website to make flashcards.” - Andy Rhea “You can make flashcards or look up pre-made flashcards from other users. It works great for science classes or anything that requires memorization says Rhea. If it’s simply staying focused during that homework session that proves a hindrance, junior Isabel Juvan has the magic elixir
“The app is very user friendly, and it eliminates all unwanted distractions from the Internet you don’t want to see,” explained Juvan. “ You can customize a blacklist of websites so if, for example, you know that you waste the most time on Facebook and Twitter, you can block those websites.” While every student and every major is different when it comes to hitting the books, forming a plan of action is the best way to avoid extra end of the semester stress.
•Work of Art•
Cartoon by Vinnie Lotesto
Elmhurst College Union Board Presents
Facebook Cofounder CHRIS HUGHES on the BRAVE NEW MEDIA WORLD Before he was 30, CHRIS HUGHES helped start Facebook and transform presidential politics. Now he wants to save real journalism.
MKTO Live and In concert
Saturday, May 9, 2015, 7:00 p.m. R. A. Faganel Hall 190 Prospect Avenue, Elmhurst, Illinois
Tickets: MKTO-Elmhurst.eventbrite.com Questions? Elizabeth Doyle, Associate Director of Student Activities and Director of Fraternity/Sorority Life, at doylee@elmhurst.edu or (630) 617-5994 Follow us on:
facebook.com/elmcol
twitter.com/elmhurstcollege
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WOMEN’S LACROSSE from back page Phoebe LeRoy and head coach Allison Brady are the two cornerstones behind EC’s first women’s lacrosse team. “I’ve known her since I was a sophomore in high school,” says LeRoy, the freshman captain of the lady jays. Brady was LeRoy’s national coach, and they both came to Elmhurst together in EC’s women’s lacrosse debut. Once Brady got the job she began recruiting LeRoy to join her. “Let’s do it,” said LeRoy with enthusiasm, “let’s start a team!” LeRoy was second in state at scoring in high school and has continued to put the ball in the back of the net in college. From a statistics perspective there is no doubt why Brady appointed the freshman as her captain. Scoring 48 goals in 17 games, LeRoy is averaging nearly one goal for every two shots she takes. Perhaps the most impressive aspect to LeRoy is her composure at a young age. She has a calm, confident swagger that was noticeable during an inter-
view with the young athlete. “I would say we are one of the best first teams in the area,” LeRoy said when reflecting on the season. Eight out of the 14 girls on the roster have played before, leaving 43 percent of the team without previous experience. LeRoy has enjoyed getting to know her fellow teammates, and she mentioned how fun it has been to watch them grow. With an overall record of 9-8, it may not seem like the most successful season. However, the odds aren’t necessarily stacked in EC’s favor. To reiterate, this is the school’s first season, six girls have never played the sport before, and a freshman has more equity in the team than a normal first year athlete would. One win over 500 is technically a winning record, but more importantly it landed EC a spot in the CCIW playoffs. What was the deciding factor that gave the lady jays the go-ahead nod? One word: goals. Elmhurst finished in a threeway tie with Illinois-Wesleyan
and Dubuque for the final spot in the CCIW tournament. Goal difference in league play is the reason EC has the opportunity to continue their season. Lacrosse is a fast-paced game and scoring goals may be the biggest thrill behind the game, which is common to LeRoy. “I don’t really celebrate. If anything I like throw my stick down, like yeah! I’ll go hug all my teammates,” laughed LeRoy as she recalled the feeling of scoring a goal. If EC can continue to score goals, they will have a great chance to do some damage in the post-season. Qualifying for the tournament in the first year for EC may be a feat of its own. It may just be a coincidence that EC will advance to the playoffs due to their offensive production, but it might be poetic justice that all starts with the core of the team, Phoebe LeRoy.
Photo by Cori Jaracz
Women’s lacrosse captain Phoebe LeRoy.
Men’s lacrosse advances to playoffs Tyler York staff writer
After beating the University of Dubuque 20-4, the EC men’s lacrosse team secured their first postseason performance in the program’s history. They finished out the regular season with a record of 7-8 and 2-3 in conference play. Dubuque started the scoring early by netting their first goal in less than two minutes into the game. Elmhurst answered back with their own goal by freshmen Jacob Cambron. Dubuque would score only two more times in the first half while the Bluejays took a commanding 10-3 lead to finish out the first half. The Bluejays dominated the entire second half as they scored nine straight goals while only giving up one goal. Sophomore Jackson Mandli led Elmhurst’s scoring with five goals, tallying his last goal in the 4th quarter. Junior Nick Klenck talked about the win saying, “We did well playing together as a team and limiting our mistakes.” The Bluejays only had 20 turnovers compared to the Spartans 32. Looking forward to the tournament, the Bluejays will be playing Carthage who they previous lost against 6-16.
“We did well playing together as a team and limiting our mistakes.” - Nick Klenck “We need to all show up and play as a team and put a full game together. If we do that we
would be unstoppable,” said Klenck. Making the tournament for the first time is a big deal for a program. When talking about making the post season, Klenck commented, “it’s a big step for the program and we are all excited to be apart of it and prove ourselves.”
“We need to all show up and play as a team and put a full game together. If we do that we would be unstoppable.” - Nick Klenck Elmhurst will look to do that this Wednesday, April 29 at Carthage as they look to get their first postseason. Saturday against Dubuque was also the team’s first senior day. Now in its third year, the team finally has a senior on the team who has been there since the beginning. Coming in as a transfer student from Carthage, senior Jake Acevedo played in his last regular season game against Dubuque. Acevedo touched on why he originally came here stating, “I liked the appeal of starting something. I’m a big fan of starting things that I can leave my mark on.” Acevedo also overcame many obstacles throughout his time playing here as he received multiple concussions, which resulted in him being injured for a decent amount of time. Acevedo said his teammates helped him overcome those injuries stating, “I could not have done most of the things without their support.”
Attacker Mal Euson generating offense for Elmhurst College.
Above all else Acevedo will miss being best friends with his teammates inside and outside the lines.
“I liked the appeal of starting something. I’m a big fan of starting things that I can leave my mark on.” - Jake Acevedo Perhaps his journey doesn’t have to abruptly end if EC can make a big playoff push.
Photo by Peter Flockencier
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• Nick’s Picks •
Bulls/Blackhawks line change The players Gasol = Hossa
Nick Cegielski sports editor
April is an amazing time for any sports fan. Baseball, basketball, and hockey are all taking place simultaneously. However, the MLB is a seemingly endless journey in what also appears to be a seemingly endless game (who wants to watch 3 hours of a slow-paced game? The agony…). All jokes aside, baseball is a great game and Chicago finally has the potential to compete, but right now the real action is in basketball and hockey. The NBA and NHL playoffs are in full swing, and the Bulls and Blackhawks are both competing at high levels in their respective sports. Have you ever wondered what role an athlete in one sport would equal to a different sport in a parallel universe? What Bulls player is comparable to a Blackhawks player? This is a common conversation that occurs at a bar between a few buddies drinking some beer, but it is also a fun idea to think about for any fans. Before getting into the meat of
the debate however, let’s lay down some ground rules.
The criteria
For starters, it is important to note that this is a completely opinionated piece. It’s meant to stir up entertaining arguments and conversations, so have some fun. These are two completely different sports, so not all of the comparisons are based off of pure skill or relative talent in each league. There are a number of reasons that may factor into the outcome of my decisions. For example, fan support may play a huge role in determining certain players, age might play a factor, heart is something important to consider, and then of course skill level will have some merit as well. Each instance is completely different from one another and there will be missing names on the list. Not everyone will have a counter part and the rosters aren’t completely equal. Remember, take all of this into consideration when viewing the upcoming list, and again, this is an opinionated debate.
Joakim Noah of the Chicago Blackhawks?
This is an easy one that almost everyone should be able to agree with. Pau Gasol is the Bulls equivalent to Marion Hossa. They are both respected veterans in each league and have each had dominating careers. Gasol revitalized himself this year with the Bulls and is showing everyone that he can still play. When Hossa came to the Hawks he was merely known as a cup chaser. But since then he has won two Stanley Cups and still proves to be one of the best offensive players on the team, even at his older age. These players couldn’t be more similar.
Mirotic = Saad Nikola Mirotic is most likely Brandon Saad. This one is a bit more difficult but I think the argument favors these two more than anyone else. Mirotic has had a great rookie year and is a finalist for the rookie of the year award. Sound familiar to Saad’s rookie year? He was also in the top three in 2013 for the Calder Memorial Trophy (the NHL’s fancy name for the rookie of the year). To further compare the two, they are also monumental roles in the future for each organization. Saad may have proven himself more than Mirotic, but he definitely isn’t a Jimmy Butler. He has yet to take that step, so for now I think it’s safe to match these two players with each other. Gibson = Sharp This has less to do with talent and more to do with love from the fans and ridiculous contracts. Taj Gibson is a part of the original bench mob for
Chicago; fans love him and his monster dunks. Patrick Sharp is pretty similar because the ladies think he is pretty, literally. He also has a habit for putting the puck in the net and sniping some insane shots. However, I think both players should have been traded while their stock was so high. The Bulls have a decent amount of big men as it is and teams were willing to give a lot for him before all of his recent injuries and slightly declined play. Sharp is in a similar situation. He is getting up there in age and already peaked. He won’t have a season as productive as he had in the past, so in my opinion both teams should have sold these guys when they had the chance. Oh well… And for the record, Sharp is way better than Gibson on a talent level.
Hinrich = Versteeg Get these bums off the court/ ice. Why do they play so much? Kirk Hinrich can barely stand up straight without getting injured and he can’t play defense at the level he used to play. Not to mention his shots suck yet he is a shooting guard. Kris Versteeg thinks he is way more than he really is. I have never seen someone try to be so cute with the puck when they constantly turn it over, especially in crucial situations. Both of these players had some good years with these teams, but for now I think it is time to throw out the trash.
Dunleavy = Richards These two kind of make sense together. Brad Richards has definitely had a way more successful career than Mike Dunleavy, but for now they both play relatively similar roles for each team: veterans essentially filling a slot until they can be
replaced by better and younger players.
Snell = Shaw Tony Snell and Andrew Shaw is a great argument. Each have hot and cold streaks and never truly show any form of consistency. I think Snellycat may have a little more upside than Shawsy at this point, but either way it is up for debate.
Noah = … Toews?! Before you think I am crazy let me make a disclaimer. It pains me to even write that these two are comparative players. Jonathon Toews is arguably the Lebron James of the NHL right now. Every franchise in the NHL unanimously agreed that they would start a new franchise with him as their centerpiece. So why the hell did I compare these two? Hear me out. Joakim Noah is the heart and soul of the Chicago Bulls. He is maybe even the most popular athlete in the city of Chicago. Nobody pumps up the team more than Noah. Nobody has the team’s back more than Noah. Nobody leads the Bulls more than Noah. In a way he is their captain serious … get where I am heading with this? From a leadership stance these two share very similar roles. They are the captains of the Bulls and the Blackhawks.
Moore = Desjardins Who cares?
Wrap Up
Overall there are many arguments that can be made each way. I think Taj Gibson could also perhaps be Niklas Hjalmarsson, but that is what makes this game so fun. There is no right answer. So, what do you think?
Photo illustration by Peter Flockencier
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EC sports round-up Trace nardi staff writer
Women’s softball
The Elmhurst women’s softball team’s overall standing has dropped to 18-14 after losing a doubleheader to Carthage College on April 23. Elmhurst is now in sixth place in the CCIW standings, falling behind Augustana and Carthage by one game for the final spot in the tournament. Game One-Carthage 5, Elmhurst 1 During the 5th inning, Carthage ended the 1-1 tie with three runs that led to the 5-1 win. Elmhurst was able to load the bases in the first and score a
run in the 3rd off of two hits. In the final four innings, the lady Bluejays saw only three hits. Senior Tiffani Potthast allowed seven hits and four runs during four innings. In addition, she walked one and had one strike out. Game Two-Carthage 3, Elmhurst 2 The lady Bluejays held an early lead in the game when senior Bella Masini hit a single and then moved to second with a ground out by senior Meg Griffin. Sophomore Alyssa Jasinski drove in Masini to gain a onerun lead off of another single. Carthage tied the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the first. Falling to 4-6 on the season, senior Katie Boals allowed sev-
en hits and three runs during six innings, while only striking out two.
Men’s tennis
After suffering a 6-3 loss at Illinois Wesleyan University on April 21, the Elmhurst men’s tennis team slipped to 8-8 for the season. Illinois Wesleyan swept all three doubles matches while the Bluejays and Titans split the six single matches. As the No. 1 doubles, seniors Chris Harrison and Luke Tanaka fell to the Titans by 8-6. Sophomore Matt Kulma and junior Ricardo Franco fell 8-4 at No. 2 doubles. Juniors Quinn Jennings and Allen Riquelme fell 9-8 at No. 3 doubles. In singles play, Elmhurst scored wins at the No. 3-5 seats.
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Photo by Hannah Jasinski Justin Theisen pitched a win for the Bluejays.
Jennings won 6-2 and 6-3 at No. 3 singles and Kulma won 6-1 and 6-2 at No. 4. Franco edged out his opponent in three sets, 7-2, 4-6, 6-4 at No. 5 singles.
Baseball
The EC baseball team has struggled all season but had a pair of wins on April 26 against
Millikin University. The Bluejays went on to win their first game 7-1, and the second 12-7. Senior Justin Theisen recieved a win in the first game of the doubleheader, and senior Jeff Guzi brought home the second win for EC.
Oh captain, my captain Nick Cegielski
sports editor Phoebe LeRoy and head coach Allison Brady are the two cornerstones behind EC’s first women’s lacrosse team. “I’ve known her since I was a sophomore in high school,” says LeRoy, the freshman captain of the lady jays. Brady was LeRoy’s national coach, and they both came to Elmhurst together in EC’s women’s lacrosse debut. See WOMEN’S LACROSSE on page 13
Photo by Cori Jasinski
Freshman Phoebe LeRoy leading the Elmhurst attack.