ECLeader05 14 2013

volume 47 May 14, 2013

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

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The award-winning student newspaper at Elmhurst College

Female African American professors granted tenure at EC for the first time

page 3 Trouble in science building renovation

PATRICK ERWIN staff writer In a historic move, tenure was granted to a diverse slate of professors including two African American women, Ayanna F. Brown and Janice Tuck Lively. Records indicate that they are first African-American women to be granted tenure at EC. EC Board of Trustees Chair Barbara Lucks commented on the milestone.

“The Board was very excited, and I confess a bit surprised, that we were granting tenure to the first African American woman,” Lucks said of Brown, who teaches in the Education Department, and Lively, who teaches in the English Department.

The two join several other edu-

see TENURE on page 4

page 12 Colin Pascoe Benefit Concert

page 16 Recently tenured EC professor of education Ayanna F. Brown stands in Circle Hall.

Photo by Peter Flockencier

The best of the best in EC sports

Petition aims to retain philosophy adjunct professor BRETT PETO staff writer A petition asking the college to reconsider cutting fall courses taught by adjunct professor of philosophy Matthew Ross has gathered 445 student signatures and was submitted to President S. Alan Ray. “I was offered a spot on the roster for the fall 2013 semester, had the class assigned to me on BlueNet, and had students enrolled,” said Ross, who has been teaching as an adjunct at EC for three years.

“But, well, we saw how that offering worked out,” Ross said, explaining that he was initially scheduled to teach online courses in the fall, but the offer was repealed and he was instead offered two courses to teach in spring 2014.

“While I’m on track to teach in the spring of 2014, I was on track, until a few weeks ago, to teach for the fall of 2013,” he said.

Adjunct professors like Ross are facing cuts in hours and pay nationwide because of Obamacare (also known as the Affordable Care Act) provisions taking effect in January that require large employers to provide health insurance plans for employees working over 30 hours a week. As small private colleges facing financial constraints struggle to provide health insurance plans for all employees, many have mandated maximum course limits for adjuncts to teach below 30 hours a week so they will not be entitled to health insurance plans.

Dean of Faculty Alzada Tipton

explained in an earlier email interview that the maximum limit of two courses was set on the premise of each course requiring 10 hours of work per week.

“What we have decided is that teaching a class requires approximately 10 hours a week for the number of weeks that the long semester runs, and thus a person can teach 2 classes a semester and still be under 30 hours a week,” she said.

But Ross said teaching a class takes more than ten hours.

“The college wants to maintain a just position of hiring me as a part-time worker, and so they ought to expect from me parttime work, and part-time work is apparently ten hours a week per class,” he said. “And so I tried to add up my time in the most minimal way I could, rounding down on everything I do...even if I stopped grading things altogether, it would still take me more than 10 hours a week.”

He said he could only keep beneath the limit if he severely restricted his preparations.

“By contract, I’m not allowed to put in the extra time,” Ross said.

“I’ll make it shittier. That’s not a problem for me. But now it seems like I’m being told ‘you’re going to have to change the way you educate’ in the service of the bottom line, which I’m more than happy to do, but if that happens, well, the college has to make some difficult financial decisions [and] I also have to make some difficult decisions about the way I allot my time. Otherwise, I go over 10

hours, and then they have to pay me benefits, and they don’t want to do that.”

Sophomore Lauren Havrin, organizer and first signer of the pe-

“...now it seems like I’m being told ‘you’re going to have to change the way you educate’ in the service of the bottom line...’”

Matthew Ross Adjunct Professor tition, began collecting signatures in April 24 after Ross announced his layoff in class.

“As soon as I found out that my professor was going to be let go...I immediately left the room to go to the President with the full intention of expressing my opinion to him about the colossal mistake he was making,” Havrin said.

But, finding out she had missed Ray’s office hours for students that week, she wrote up the petition and collected 445 signatures in just six days.

Havrin said she got an overwhelming amount of support

see ADJUNCT on page 3

Photo courtesy of Matthew Ross Adjunct professor of philosophy Matthew Ross, whom 445 students signed a petition to keep at EC for fall 2013.

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NEWS

May 14, 2013

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ecleader.org

RLD in REVIEW

SGA announces executive board elections IAN WALKER staff writer The election of the new executive board members will take place during the final SGA meeting on May 16, SGA announced two weeks ago. The board member elections took place on April 29 and 30 on Bluenet and were open for all Elmhurst students to

vote.

SGA also discussed the need for more space for student organizations to meet, based on feedback from the Academic Board for Strategic Planning think tank.

According to SGA, the majority of the feedback was positive. The current strategic plan is set to expire at the end of the 2013-2014 school year.

Students arrested for drug possessoion HALEEMA SHAH news editor Two EC students were charged with possession of two grams of marijuana and drug paraphernalia at the Elmhurst Terrace Apartments on April 22.

Sophomores Nick Hufford and Alex Wilkinson were arrested by Elmhurst police after they were contacted by campus security, who conducted a drug investigation “which resulted in the search of a College apartment at Elmhurst Terrace on 4-22-13, as permitted under the terms of the license agreement signed by all residential students,” said Executive Director of Security and Emergency Management, Jeff Kedrowski in an email.

Elmhurst Terrace resident and

EC junior Alex Moskos said he witnessed the arrest from his window.

“I was sitting at my computer playing video games and saw two soccer kids get into a police car,” Moskos said, referring to Hufford and Wilkinson, both members of EC’s soccer team.

In addition to being charged under Elmhurst city ordinance, the two students are also facing disciplinary action from EC. “The students were also referred to the campus conduct process, as possession of drugs/drug equipment is a violation of the College’s Code of Conduct, as well as Residence Life policies,” Kedrowski said.

After being taken into custody at the Elmhurst police station, Hufford and Wilkinson were both released on bond.

Internet Photos (L-R) Sophomores Nick Hufford and Alex Wilkinson, who were arrested April 22.

Internet Photo Former dictator of Guatemala,Efrain Rios Montt enters the Supreme Court of Justice in Guatemala City on April 19.

MACKENZIE DORGAN staff writer Sources: Aljazeera, ABC, World News, CNN, NBC Former Guatemalan leader guilty of genocide Former Guatemalan leader Efrain Rios Montt, 86, was sentenced to 80 years in prison after Guatemalan courts found him guilty of genocide and crimes against humanity on May 10. Many say Rios must have known about the massacres of more than 1700 of the country’s indigenous people, Ixil, during his control in the 80s. The verdict came after two months of trial, during which dozens of victims testified to the events they survived.

Women freed after 10 years held hostage Three women, Georgina DeJesus, 23, Amanda Berry, 27, and Michelle Knight, 32, along with a six year old girl believed to be born in the house, were found alive on May 6 in the Cleveland house. Police suspect Ariel Castro, 52, of kidnapping the women in the early 2000s, holding them hostage in his home, and

fathering the child. Police report Castro chained the women in the basement, locked them in upstairs rooms, and starved and beat them into miscarriages, letting them outside only twice in ten years. Castro’s bail was set at $8 million on May 9, and he has been charged with counts of kidnapping and three counts of rape. The women have started their emotional and physical healing with family.

Turkish bombing near Syrian refugees On May 11, two car bombs detonated in front of a municipal building and a post office in the Turkish border town Reyhanli, killing at least 40 and injuring several more.

Reyhanli is home to many of Turkey’s 300,000 Syrian refugees that are living in hostile areas. While no one has claimed responsibility for the attacks, many believe President Bashar al-Assad and his Syrian regime is responsible for the attacks.

Woman found under factory rubble Seventeen days after being trapped under eight stories of a Bangladesh garment factory, seamstress Reshma Begum was rescued

on May 10. The building collapsed on April 24, claiming more than 1000 lives. She was trapped in a wide space with some dried food and water, allowing her to survive.

It had been 13 days since the last survivor was found, but the woman died after a fire broke out during her rescue. Officials say the owner had added three stories and heavy machinery even though the building was not designed to support such weight.

Mali requests funds from European Union Mali intends to ask the EU for $2.6 billion to help rebuild the country and stop insurgent attacks at a May 15 conference. The document was released on May 10 with an announcement from French President Francois and Niger partner Mahamadou Issoufou, who both have troops in Mali, in hopes for a nationwide election by the end of July.

The request says the Malian government can only raise half the budget needed for the 2013-2014 recovery.

The document says in order to begin a sustainable country and overcome the crisis, Mali needs technical and financial support from the international community.

CORRECTIONS

The photos of the April 18 flood were taken by Kelsey Plefka Please send any corrections or oversights to the editor at leadernewsec@gmail.com.

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NEWS

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May 14, 2013

3

EC struggles to fund renovations for Schaible PATRICK ERWIN staff writer Hammerschmidt Chapel was filled to capacity just a few weeks ago, as a transfixed crowd assembled in a darkened chapel to hear renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson deliver a lecture on scientific research.

As the projector’s images illuminated Tyson’s figure on stage, he returned time and time again to a central theme: America must invest more in science research, exploration, and education.

Just a few weeks later, a few hundred yards away from where Tyson spoke, a steady stream of April showers wreaked havoc in Schiable Science Center. The rain that brought widespread flooding to campus on April 18 also caused a leak in the roof of Schiable that affected equipment in the organic chemistry lab.

The recent rain damage was just the latest in a series of setbacks for Schiable, and EC’s goal for an updated, 21st century science building.

“There was rain water falling on the second floor of Schiable Science Center,” Associate Professor of Chemistry Michelle Applebee said in an email. “The heavy rain apparently overflowed the roof drains.”

Applebee said that the leaking was confined to the southwest corner of the lab which houses a microwave synthesis apparatus,

ADJUNCT from the front page from various organizations on campus, especially athletes, sororities and fraternities.

“I wasn’t expecting that,” she said, “but I guess it goes to show that the students of Elmhurst are excellent, well-rounded individuals that had either heard of Ross or taken his class, and were willing to sign for him. It personally brought a great sense of community to me.”

Ross was thrilled when he heard of the petition.

“It’s very significant for me as a human being,” he said. “When I heard about it, I was delighted. I couldn’t believe it. My socks were proverbially knocked off. I had no idea that 400 people even knew who I was, let alone wanted me to be here, so in that sense it’s very exciting.”

But the news was also disheartening for him.

“In this other sense, it’s very discouraging for the people who signed it to see, well, ‘this is what we want but we’re not going to get it’ and it seems like a marginal cost for something that would be a boon to this many people,” he said.

Ross was also disappointed in the attitude towards the students’ demands.

“For me as a working human, it’s discouraging just to see that level of indifference to what students want, of ‘Oh, okay, that’s nice, but the decision is the decision and we’re not making any more money available.’”

According to President S. Alan Ray, the college did not anticipate

an instrument room connected to the lab, and the teacher’s table.

“The infrared spectrometer in the instrument room was covered with plastic,” Applebee explained, “and the microwave synthesis apparatus was relocated to another room.” She said no permanent damage occurred.

Facilities Management Executive Director Bruce Mather also confirmed there was no major damage. “[There was] no real damage in the science center, just some ceiling tiles and a little cleanup,” Mather said in an email, but did not disclose the cost of the cleanup efforts.

The science center, which was built in 1966, had been slated for a $45 million renovation. But in early 2011, the Board of Trustees and President S. Alan Ray announced that the project was on hold.

President Ray explained in a letter that the College needed to “delay the borrowing needed to finance the science center until the economic climate is more favorable.”

As an interim measure, the Board of Trustees agreed to allocate $1 million to replace old equipment, in an effort to address short term needs for Schiable. Professor of biology and former department chair, James Berry said the allocation of those funds had a positive im-

pact.

“It has definitely made a big difference in our classes,” Berry said. “We are able to offer laboratory experiences for students that would not have been possible before the new equipment.”

Still, professors and students have to cope with a facility that needs a facelift. “Our space is still extremely cramped,” Berry said.

“We’ve done a good job of making the best with the space we have, though.”

The desire to move forward weighs heavily on President Ray. “I literally wake up every morning thinking about how to find new ways to advance the Schiable Center project,” President Ray explained in an email.

“It’s that important.”

the challenge it would face with adjuncts for next semester.

“The situation in fall of 2013 is a unique situation created by the possibility that the Affordable Care Act may be applied retroactively to calendar year 2013, which meant that we had to take another approach to fall of 2013 than we had originally planned,” he said.

But Ray added that the college will not be prevented from hiring adjuncts after fall 2013.

“This is a one-time problem that does not preclude us from hiring adjunct faculty in future semesters beyond fall of 2013.”

Havrin, who submitted the petition to Ray on April 30, said that though the president is not responsible for the hiring and firing of professors, she asked the president to write a recommendation letter for Ross’s future employment.

“He said no because he did not know the teacher,” Havrin said, “…But to his credit, he did say he would look into it, and give the information or petition to the relevant people.”

In the interlude of approximately eight months of unemployment after the end of spring term 2013, Ross, who drives four hours total back and forth from Milwaukee, Wis. each workday said he will have to look for work elsewhere.

“What can I do other than look for other ways to be employed?” he said. “If I can’t teach, then I have to look for another job, and so I’ve accepted it, because what other option do I currently have?”

Havrin asserted the college has a responsibility to listen to students’ desires.

“I hope at least from this students understand they should vo-

calize their opinions if the college is doing something wrong, and by mass accreditation appears to be [the] most effective [method],” Havrin said. “We are, after all, paying to go to this college, so the college should respectively be accommodating to the students, and actively listen to the students.”

As Ray explained, funding for the project was to come from a combination of sources, including money from the college’s fundraising efforts.

But the state funds that were part of the original money mix are caught in a budgetary bottleneck. The state had allocated an initial $4 million to the Schiable project, but the College has only received about a third of those funds.

“The hold up, not surprisingly, is the state’s ongoing financial crisis,” Ray said.

He also said that while the pathway to state funding is slow, the funding pipeline is still in play, as representatives of the college have met with state officials several times on the topic.

In mid-April, Ray led a delegation to Springfield and met with Illinois Senate and House leaders to urge support for the project.

He said that efforts are focused at this point on state funding, and emphasized that he and the Board of Trustees “remain committed” to the project and the expansion of science facilities.

“I literally wake up every morning thinking about how to find new ways to advance the Schiable Center project.”

S. Alan Ray EC President

Photo courtesy of Hera Rahman (L-R) Ashley Ochoa, Ale Turk, Jennise Fermoso, Charm Desai, and Margaree Lachoweiz stand over a bin collecting rainwater from a leak in organic chemistry lab

Sophomore speech pathology major Rebecca Hufnus, also a signer of the petition, explained her participation.

“I know how it feels to lose an adjunct professor in my department and we didn’t have a chance to do anything like this,” Hufnus said.

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Despite the challenges, Ross still wants to continue teaching.

“It’s my life,” he said. “It’s my livelihood. I love teaching. On the whole, I feel like I’m doing something worthwhile here for someone.”

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NEWS

May 14, 2013

ecleader.org

CISPA Internet censorship bill fails in Senate CLAYTON DUNLAP staff writer The Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA), the latest installment of several controversial Internet censorship bills, ended its legislative run after the Senate refused to vote on the bill late this past April.

The bill received extensive backlash from the internet community, including an April 22 internet blackout, an act similar to previous protests of earlier internet censorship bills such as Stop Online Privacy Act (SOPA) and the PROTECT Intellectual Property Act (PIPA).

CISPA, which passed in the House on April 18, was originally proposed a year ago, and would have allowed corporations to nullify privacy laws and disclose personally identifiable information (PII) to the government when potential cyber threats were suspected.

According to EC Vice President and Chief Information Officer Jim Kulich, who also teaches the FYS course, The Age of Social Networks and How We Connect, the bill is not about the government being able to unnecessarily probe for information, but about preventing cyber attacks before they happen.

“The bill is about giving the U.S. Government, in particular, and corporations the ability to voluntarily share information if there is some sort of a cyber threat,” he said.

TENURE from the front page cators of color in key leadership positions at EC, including Evans Afenya, the Ghanaian-born chair of the Mathematics Department, and Ronald Beauchamp, who serves as director of the College’s Niebuhr Center for Faith and Action and assistant professor of intercultural studies.

Brown said that for her, Elmhurst was the right fit.

“Making the choice to come to Elmhurst was a great decision, was a great choice for what I’m trying to do,” she explained. “I’ve had great experiences with my colleagues.”

(Scheduling conflicts prevented Lively from being interviewed.)

Brown and Lively’s academic research work includes two collaborations. “Selling The Farm To Buy The Cow” discussed black names and how names shape cultural identity. A second collaboration discussed the mythology of Brer Rabbit and its narratives of blackness and whiteness, and appeared in Critical Consciousness in Curricular Research a book that Brown co-edited.

Brown’s upcoming classes in the Education Department include examinations of cultural foundations, as well as race and equity in education. Lively teaches writing and literature courses, including fiction writing, and has upcoming courses that include epics and ancient stories, as well as readings in race, class and gender.

Internet Photo A common image displayed on websites protesting The Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA).

Yet CISPA remains controversial; Kulich described corporate immunity as a point of contention.

“If you have some sort of privacy agreement with Google, for example…[CISPA], as it is currently written, would allow [personal] information to be shared,” Kulich said, “and Google would not be held liable in a court of law because they would have the ability to violate that agreement.”

CISPA, like its Internet censorship predecessors, SOPA and PIPA, was ultimately rendered dead in Congress, but this time, fewer corporations cut their service in protest, because many of them support CISPA. AT&T, Comcast, Verizon, IBM, and Time Warner Cable, and

other companies wrote letters to Congress in support of the CISPA bill. In addition, Technet, an information and technology innovation group, which seats an executive board of leaders of companies such as Microsoft, Yahoo, and Google, has strong influence in state and federal public policy, and also expressed its support for the bill.

Jimmy Fitzgerald, Manager for Academic Technology and Resources at EC, explained that personal information on the Internet is never fully private. “[We] are trusting machines that are run by other human beings to transmit [our] communications,” Fitzgerald said. “What [we] put online can never be guaranteed to be completely private.”

EC student employee of Academic Computing, Faizal Malkana, junior, showed concern about a possible abuse of power if CISPA were to have passed.

“I potentially see [CISPA] as an opportunity for the government to ostracize individuals,” Malkana said, “[it would] give an added power [to the government] to monitor specific individuals or communities.”

Fitzgerald acknowledged concerns for individual privacy, but also sees how a bill like CISPA could help thwart cyber attacks that would not otherwise be caught.

“Everyone wants that intrinsic sense of privacy,” Fitzgerald said, “but I understand the government’s side. There is so much

GRADING FACULTY DIVERSITY

rative.”

professors, discusses the challenges that academic women of color face.

It also addresses complicated issues around identity, language and perceptions that these women must untangle - issues that often involve the administration and fellow professors as well as students.

For the women whose narratives fill Presumed Incompetent, the conversation is still vitally important, and it’s still happening.

Macalester College, a small liberal arts school near the Twin Cities that’s not unlike Elmhurst in scope and scale, is facing a challenge by one of its professors.

Earlier this year, Wang Ping sued Macalester College, where she had taught as an assistant professor of English since 2001.

In an interview with the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune, Ping accused Macalester of discrimination in denying her application for tenure.

“They say that discrimination is the most difficult thing to prove,” Ping said. “My lawyer has tried to prove by comparison — by putting myself next to my colleagues shoulder to shoulder in our publication, our teaching.”

In acknowledging this milestone, it’s also a moment to contemplate, and to ask questions.

How big a role does the goal of diversity play for the College as they seek candidates for tenured positions? In the subject of Faculty representation, what’s the College’s grade?

The answer, of course, depends on who you ask.

As Director of Intercultural Student Affairs, Roger Moreano has a clear view of how the college thinks about diversity - and how students see a variety of perspectives play out in classrooms.

“Our staff of color here would probably tell you that we would benefit greatly as an institution by continuing to diversify our staff,” Moreano said. “There’s something really great that happens as a student when you are hearing information from a variety of diverse perspectives.”

Brown notes that the visibility of a diverse faculty - or lack of visibility - has an impact on students.

“When you’re interacting in classes, and ideas are being shared that don’t necessarily reflect your experiences, students tend to take two routes,” Brown explained.

“Either they say, ‘There’s another experience that you’re not talking about. There’s another narrative that’s important, and let me share what that narrative could be.’”

But other students, she said, may not want to be singled out.

They may ultimately think fellow students won’t understand their comments or value their contribution, or may not want to be the one with “an alternative nar-

FACULTY REPRESENTATION

What do students of color think?

In 2013, five years after the election of an African-American president, is the discussion about race - about representations of race in faculty - still an important discussion?

For junior Justin Phipps, the discussion is still relevant.

“It makes a difference,” Phipps said. He believes that seeing African American faculty members is “an inspiration to young African American students.”

But Nezar Nafiseh, a sophomore and an Urban Studies major, has a different view.

“I do not really think the race of my professor makes a difference to me,” Nafiseh said.

While Elmhurst may be in the process of building a more representative faculty, professors of color, especially female professors of color, have historically faced conflict.

Presumed Incompetent: The Intersections of Race and Class for Women in Academia (Utah State University Press, 2012), edited

by Gabriella Gutiérrez y Muhs, Yolanda Flores Niemann, Carmen G. González and Angela P. Harris, is a collection of 30 essays from academic women of color sharing their perspectives and personal narratives. In academia, women of color represent only 7.5 percent of all full-time tenured positions.

The book, which addresses a wider scope of experiences of women of color, also including narratives from Asian and Latina

THE ULTIMATE GRADE

Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty Dr. Alzada Tipton said in an email that the college was “very pleased to make progress in having our faculty represent the diversity that we see in our student body.”

Five professors, including Brown and Lively, were granted tenure, and five other members of

valuable information that is readily available…That in some cases, I can see a reason for monitoring that information.”

Even if CISPA would have passed in the House and the Senate, President Obama said he would veto the bill in its current form because it would need to more satisfactorily address protecting personal information of individuals.

In Kulich’s opinion, information technology is a constantly evolving field, and attempting to map an effective, all-encompassing law that is elastic enough to keep pace with rapid technological advances is a needed measure.

“A law like this will become necessary,” he said. “There are ways to craft the law that would allow for enough nuances that might bring people to…a workable middle.”

Fitzgerald explained that recent circumstances in the U.S. have the potential to change peoples’ perspectives and possibly lean toward a more workable middle for bills like CISPA. “Whenever a disaster occurs,” Fitzgerald said, “like the tragedy in Boston, I think that…people start to look at information monitoring in less of a negative and invasive light and more of a protective aspect.”

Further revision to CISPA is in order if it is to be passed into law, said Kulich.

“The question is how it actually becomes operational,” Kulich said, “and the balances and checks to actually make something like this work.” faculty and educational support staffs received promotions.

The exact matter of “firsts” remains unclear. But the tenure appointments are an opportunity to consider what happens next - and what EC’s ultimate grade on faculty diversity will be.

“There’s a moment where we have to pause and say, ‘Wow, it’s [2013], and we’re saying we’ve just tenured our first AfricanAmerican faculty,’” Brown said. “It ought to be a reflective point, but it ought to be a quizzical moment for the College. What have we really been doing over these last hundred or so years?”

Professors granted tenure and promoted to associate professor: Ayanna Brown, Education Ray Krause, Kinesiology Janice Tuck Lively, English Geoff Sciacca, Art Mladen Turk, Religious Studies Promoted to associate professor: Lisa Burke, Education Kelly Cunningham, Business Jacob Hill, Library Jennifer Paliatka, Library Promotion to full professor: Chris Travis, World Languages, Literatures and Cultures

NEWS

ecleader.org

May 14, 2013

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EC students compare renting on and off campus ALEXANDRA VERVEN staff writer Registration for housing for next year began this past month and a number of students will choose between living on campus and renting privately.

For some EC students, living in off-campus apartments has been about the same, or cheaper than living on campus.

EC sophomore and commuter Dan Anderson said privately renting his Villa Park apartment with one roommate is relatively similar in cost to living on campus. Together, Anderson and his roommate each pay $2,800 per semester, plus utilities that the roommates estimated at $1,000 for the term—each paying $3,800 in total per semester.

“I personally prefer living off campus, but the biggest transition would have to be all the grocery shopping, I suppose, and extra little things to pay, such as utilities,” Anderson said.

An average double dorm costs $2,680 per semester per person, in addition to the prepaid meal plan that can cost anywhere from $1,300 to $2,300.

Anderson’s roommate, junior Ethan Lake also prefers living off -campus for the more “real-world” experience.

But like some other private renters and commuters, Anderson and Lake also incur extra costs with the $100 parking sticker to park their cars on campus for the day and other commuterelated expenses.

“Just be ready to pay a lot in gas if you live far away—and that traffic is a killer, as are trains,” said Anderson.

Senior Jennise Fermoso also saved money when she moved

into the college-contracted Elm Park apartments last year. “[Living in on campus housing is] less expensive because you don’t have to buy a meal plan and can buy food for a little less,” she said.

Campus houses, Prospect Apartments, and the Elm Park apartments where Fermoso lives are $3,570 a semester, while the Elmhurst Terrace Apartments range from $2,948 to $5,559 per semester depending on if the student chooses a double, single, or a studio, which is the most costly. On campus apartments and houses make the EC meal plans optional for students.

But Fermoso said not living in dorms comes with its own challenges.

“The hardest transition from living super close to campus to living fairly far away without a car is working around the shuttle’s schedule which isn’t too horrible,” she said, “but it can get very frustrating at times; especially when it doesn’t come for a while and you’re stuck waiting.”

Taylor Soss, a sophomore who will continue to live on campus, shared Fermoso’s concern with the shuttle’s schedule, making her decision to live in the dorms simple.

“I prefer dorms over living in an apartment for a couple reasons.

It is cheaper to do so [living in a dorm] and I get a meal plan as well. I also don’t have my own car, so I wouldn’t be able to just easily drive from an apartment or from my house to school every day.”

Students living off-campus also deal with different safety precautions according to Executive Director of Security and Emergency Management Jeff Kedrowski.

“The College has Campus Secu-

rity staff on duty around the clock, Residence Life staff and RAs living in the community and on-call during off-hours for emergencies, and Facilities Management staff available to respond to any building issues,” he said in an email.

But Kedrowski still said that students living in Elmhurst are not likely to face many safety hazards.

“You could have a very safe experience in off-campus housing if you make smart decisions. Elmhurst as a whole is a very safe community, with a crime rate lower than many of the neighboring areas, but you still need to

take reasonable precautions.”

Students who live off-campus also take on responsibilities such as dealing with roommates and neighbors without college resources. Kedrowski also added that those living off-campus would not be renting through the college and may not be able to rent for just a nine month school year.

“You would work directly with the management company or landlord, and you are bound by the terms of the lease, which may mean that you have to rent the house or apartment for a full year instead of just the school year,”

Kedrowski said.

Liz Leach, Assistant Director for Staffing and Operations, said she understands that students will choose housing that best suits them, but that Residence Life makes an effort to create a strong community for students. “[Res. Life] provides a strong residential community with opportunities for personal development in the residence halls, apartments, and houses. We believe there is much a student can learn about themselves, their community, and the world around them from living in campus housing,” she said.

$4500 $4000 $3500 $3000 $2500 $2000 $1500 $1000 $500 $0 HOUSING

MEALS

BILLS

TOTAL

Student in dorm room (double)

$2,760

$1,796

$0

$4,556

Student in Prospect apts. (double)

$3,677

$525

(parking)

$100

$4,302

Off-campus via Terrace “On-campus” via Terrace

$1,750

($1,750/person $3,500/sem)

$3,037

$525 $525

$257.50

(parking, internet, utilities)

$100

(parking)

$2,532 $3,662

Graphic by Alex Huang Students living off-campus in Elmhurst Terrace Apartments have the lowest expenses, paying a total of $2,532 per semester.

Terrace residents complain about S & S Towing CLAYTON DUNLAP staff writer Elmhurst Terrace Apartment residents have complained to apartment management about being towed unnecessarily by S & S Towing, the apartments’ contracted towing company.

EC sophomore and Terrace resident Kalep Hampton was towed out of his own parking spot last spring.

“They towed me because my parking tag wasn’t hanging from the mirror on the windshield,” Hampton said. “It was in the seat, visible from the outside…it had fallen down.”

He feels the towing was unfair due to the requirements Elmhurst Terrace already has in place for residents with vehicles.

“When you get an apartment here, you have your car registered to a spot,” Hampton said.

“I have my car registered. [Elmhurst Terrace Management] has the license plate, type of car, and everything. [S & S] doesn’t even cross check to see, ‘Okay, this is the car that’s supposed to be here,’ before towing it.”

According to Elmhurst Terrace management’s parking rules, a vehicle can be towed if the parking tag is “displayed inappropriately,” so no cross-checking is

required.

Zachary Wilson, an S & S Towing representative, said the company only tows cars when the tag is displayed inappropriately.

“The car will not be towed if the sticker is on appropriately,” Wilson said, “The vehicles towed

by S & S Towing are being towed because they are trespassing vehicles, they’re towed at the discretion of the property owner, not at the discretion of the towing company.

Retrieving towed vehicles from S & S requires driving to Melrose Park, about ten minutes from EC, and paying $197.50 to get the vehicle back.

Terrace resident and senior A.J. Barker, who was towed three times by S & S in similar circumstances to Hampton, said the cash-only payment of $197.50 usually ends up as an even $200 because S & S does not give change, and any person retrieving their vehicle must also have the exact amount.

However Wilson denied S & S requiring the exact amount.

“As far as I know [we provide change],” he said.

Jeff Kedrowski, Executive Director of Security and Emergency Management at EC, said Campus Security has received calls from students complaining about S &

S.

“[We] refer the callers to the management company at [Elmhurst Terrace],” Kedrowski said, “since they control the parking there and hire the towing contractor. It is best if those with complaints talk directly with the management company, as they are in a better position to address the concern.”

When asked about student complaints and S & S towing policy, Terrace management said “No comment.”

“They’re not a very good business,” Barker said about S & S. “The worst thing about the company and getting towed is that you can’t argue with them at all…

There’s no way to get your car back without paying the [money].”

But Wilson said that S & S does allow people to contest the towing of their car.

“There is recourse in case someone feels their car has been towed illegally,” he said. “On the back of the invoice is the complaint form.”

Assistant Director for Staffing Operations for Residence Life Elizabeth Leach said EC only master leases apartment units at Terrace and has no direct relationship with S & S, but that her office does help students through

the process of retrieving their car.

“The Office of Residence Life is available to assist students in navigating the vehicle release process from S & S Towing,” Leach said in an email, “and provides an opportunity for appeal of [towing] charges through Elmhurst College, which is generally not a practice apartment management companies will offer to tenants.”

Unsatisfactory experiences with S & S Towing are not unique to EC students in Terrace apartments. According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), with which S & S is not an accredited business, on a scale of A+ to F, S & S Towing received a grade of F. While no business is obligated to seek accreditation from BBB, not all unaccredited businesses receive an F. Wilson, however, described the rating by BBB as invalid.

“I don’t think BBB matters to anyone but the BBB,” he said.

“Nobody likes getting their car towed, so they call and complain to the BBB.” According to BBB’s website, what lowered the grade for S & S was 15 complaints filed with BBB against S & S from 2010 to 2013, and for 13 of the complaints BBB did not receive a response from S & S to rectify them.

Out of 25 towing companies within 5 miles of Elmhurst, three are BBB accredited businesses with an A+ rating. From the remaining 22 non-accredited companies, eight have no rating, seven have a rating of A- or better, one has a rating of D, and six companies received an F, which includes S & S. Hampton, who agrees with BBB’s rating for S & S, explained that he often sees the company’s tow trucks monitoring the parking lot.

“It seems like they can [tow] for no reason and get away with it,” Hampton said, “like they’re just waiting to tow people.”

Barker said he often sees the tow trucks coming through the Terrace parking lot three to four times a day.

Wilson explained the routine of the tow trucks.

“They go through the lot, their business is going in and out of the lot as quick as possible, because it’s a very dangerous business,” he said.

While Wilson said he was not aware of the specifics of the vehicles being towed out of the Terrace apartments, he said anyone who feels that they have been towed illegally can contact the Illinois Commerce Commission Police Department.

6

OPINIONS

May 14, 2013

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[opinions]

*Beginning Fall of 2013, any class that fails to enroll 10 students is liable to be cut. Every class listed above is potentially on the chopping block. Check your Bluenet, and check in with your professor to see if your class still exists. Please be advised that the rule does not apply to major requirements, which we may have inadvertently printed. Better safe than sorry.

Convergence Defining the adjunct The other side of the equals sign work week Dear Editor, With the consequences of Obamacare looming on the horizon, it seems like adjuncts are getting the short end of the stick: a cut in hours, four classes a year, no government mandated insurance and more new adjuncts while the old guard is toned down.

However, the college is just doing what it can to uphold justice for everyone. The dean of Faculty, Alzada Tipton, speaking with The Leader, outlines the position of the college, “We are not trying to dodge the act… We would love to be able to bring in our excellent adjunct faculty in a more full-time fashion, pay them more highly, and offer them benefits. We cannot afford to do so.”[1] Tipton’s position is a strong one. The college wants to maintain it’s just commitments and be good citizens, upholding the law in the best way possible. The college’s mission statement urges members of the college to be, “[m]indful of humanity’s interdependence and the dignity of every individual…committed to social justice on local, national, and global levels. We will act on our social responsibilities and call others to do the same.” [2] Cutting adjunct hours is a mode of being just. They cannot afford to pay adjuncts benefits, so it would be unjust for adjuncts to work too much, be qualified for benefits and then be summarily denied them. This is in continuity with the college’s mission as “committed stewards of the human, fiscal, and physical resources entrusted to us.”[3] Tipton, through The Leader, outlines the college’s just position as follows: “What we have decided is that teaching a class requires approximately 10 hours a week for the number of weeks that the long semester runs, and thus a person can teach 2 classes a semester and still be under 30 hours a week”.

Adjunct faculty must, therefore, evaluate the work they do in order to come under this ten hour a week threshold. If we do more than the maximum amount of work, the college would be in the

unfortunate position of having to offer us benefits when it is unable to do so.

The week to week tasks of a typical adjunct philosophy instructor run as follows, if we round (way) down: three hours and fifteen minutes of class, four hours of reading the assigned course material (80 pages a week), two to three hours of reading pertinent scholastic commentary on the reading for the week, two hours to create, grade and enter quizzes or other classroom material, three to six hours to develop the class room experience, lecture or engaging teaching strategy, three hours of office time for student help, two to three more hours of reading, thinking about and responding to student and administrative emails and half an hour to fulfill various administrative tasks. These paid week-to-week hours disinclude professional development and research , operating in a scholastic function outside of class by writing and reading on our chosen topics, general course planning, syllabus creation, future classroom development, non-scheduled office hours, extra help, administration and oversight of student activities and general assessments of what a course provides and how it provides.

It appears we have gone over ten hours a week.

Adjuncts would love to continue to provide excellent service, but justice compels us to limit the time we spend.

The college clearly has the adjuncts best interests in mind—by promoting social justice across the platform—so now adjuncts must do their part for justice and make the hard but necessary cuts moving forward. As an educator, the best interests of the students should be determined by the students we serve. With all of the conditions now firmly in place, which portion of your education would you, the students, like to see faded out?

All The Best, Matthew Ross Furloughed Adjunct Professor Philosophy Department

PATRICK ERWIN staff writer Remember those equality symbols that everyone posted on their Facebook profile pictures a few weeks ago?

Some people weren’t thrilled with that as a concept. The Leader’s editor in chief, Tom Rein, wasn’t a fan. Neither was Brian Moylan, a writer for Vice magazine. Moylan expressed an urge to “punch everyone with a red equal sign on their Facebook page in the face personally.”

I can understand some of that blowback. Online bandwagons have burned us before. There was the Kony 2012 bandwagon, a badly managed campaign for a very good cause that ended in chaos - and the campaign leader’s arrest for public nudity and masturbation.

After that unhappy ending, many people felt like they needed a full Silkwood shower.

And for anyone bombed with a hundred Facebook posts a day,

all of those damn e-cards, the pleas to change your status for JUST ONE HOUR OR THIS KITTEN WILL DIE!!!!!11111111, well, that disabuses you of the notion that any of those things are useful.

Where I disagreed with Tom and with Brian Moylan was on the value of the end result.

I thought that flurry of symbols was an amazing show of solidarity. And while I agree that we can’t change things with the click of a mouse, we can change things by talking to allies, one person at a time.

When Bishop Gene Robinson was here last October, he echoed those sentiments. LGBT people alone can’t effect change. We need our allies to help us. To me, it was important, and meaningful, to know who those allies were.

If I’d had any doubts, the last week of April drove that point home for me.

That was the week that Jason Collins came out. Social media exploded with commentary - some supportive, some hellaciously hateful.

A day later, I was sitting in the Founders’ Lounge, watching a mock trial debate the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and Prop 8 - the same cases the U.S. Supreme Court are hearing this year.

I applaud Elmhurst, President Ray and all the participants. It was an excellent way to bring the case to life.

But it unnerved me a little.

It reminded me of a movie with Albert Brooks and Meryl Streep called Defending Your Life. People die, go to a Purgatory of sorts, and

must defend their lives.

Have you ever been on trial?

Have you ever had to defend your life?

The decision in the case will impact me and my partner, but I had to rely on the testimony of others to make our case.

As the trial was ending, I checked my Facebook and Twitter feeds, and saw some disturbing posts.

In Ohio, a young transgendered woman of color was brutally murdered. Her body had just been discovered that day.

The newspaper - the institution entrusted with telling her story completely tossed aside Associated Press guidelines, and referred to the victim in disrespectful, pejorative ways. describing the body as “oddly dressed” and, at one point, as “it.”

Since then, I’ve written the paper a letter and Tweeted them a few messages. I don’t know if my words will make a difference.

But as I’ve been reminded recently, we must do more than just point and click. We need to reach out and start conversations - with allies and also with those who disagree with us.

The victim in Ohio, Cernia Acoff, can no longer defend herself. I spoke up - a small voice, a single voice, but a voice all the same - and testified for her.

No matter what the issue, we will all (at some point) have to be a voice for someone who can’t speak. And at some point in our lives, we’ll all need to rely on the testimony of others.

And knowing who your allies are? Is a valuable thing, indeed.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? Share your opinion on: ecleader.org or The Leader Facebook page

OPINIONS

ecleader.org

Stop the Co-Op Abuse Dear Editor, Every year, a part of every student’s tuition is put towards the Student Activity Fund to pay for open campus events, which are held by the many clubs and organizations on campus. The money is allocated through the Cooperative Board to the various student organizations that put on these events.

Unless the money is not there.

At least within the past two years, the Cooperative Board has nearly, if not totally, run out of money. This year alone, the $33,000 they had to allocate has dwindled to a sum low enough to where many events have been denied funding.

Is that a good sign that the money is being used for its intended purpose? Many campus organizations would say no, as their requests are being either cut or denied outright by the Co-Op Board. But if they are not receiving the money, then who is?

The answer is Greek Life.

The fraternities and sororities on this campus have been steadily growing in population over the past three years. In fact, 11% of men and 10% of women on campus are actively involved in the social Greek scene. But, that is only an estimated 331 students out of the 3,190 undergraduate students enrolled to the campus. Despite their being the minority on campus, they account for much of the money allocated through Co-Op. Only halfway through the spring 2013 semester, they used up 20% of the $33,000 Co-Op budget. That is $6600; and while that may not seem overly significant, Co-Op had 35 allocation requests up to early April, and only six of those requests were from Greek Life.

This is an unacceptable abuse of the Cooperative budget. The Student Government Association (SGA) needs to take action against this, and prevent the Greek Life organizations from using the budget that is supposed to go to help the clubs that cannot afford to hold events on their own.

The Greek life on campus does host many events for the campus.

They hold sport tournaments, philanthropic fundraisers, and invite speakers to the campus, just to name a few. This coincides with the Cooperative Board’s statement that “in order to be considered for co-sponsorship, groups must be registered student organizations recognized by the SGA, Greek Letter Organizations producing events open to the entire campus.” However, two of the six requests in the first half of spring 2013 by Greek Life were for conferences, which are not open events for the campus. They combined cost $2640, which is almost 40% of the total money allocated to date to Greek Life this semester.

While it is true that Co-Op will pay for Conferences, they have rules and regulations to follow.

The last regulation states, “Each conference must, in a way, benefit the entire campus as a result to be sponsored by Cooperative Funding.” How many students are able to say that they have benefited from Greek Life going to these conferences, unless they themselves were a part of the men and

women who attended?

This is nothing new to the Cooperative Board. In the 2011-2012 budget, Greek Life received a total of $35,233.63 in student activity allocations, and 50% of that money was put towards conferences and retreats. Conferences can be written off, but Co-Op states clearly, “Organizational retreats will not be funded.” Five of those events within that 50% were filed by Co-Op specifically as a “Retreat”, which shows that the money is not being allocated properly, according to their own rules.

The first step that SGA needs to take in order to fix this issue is to regulate their rules better. There is an injustice being done when the student body’s money is not being handled properly, and those who do not need the money are receiving it. Under normal circumstances, maybe better regulation would be enough, but because Greek Life so heavily influences SGA – most of its members are a part of Greek Life - the only real solution is to ban the Greeks from using the Co-Op fund entirely.

The Greeks, and by extension SGA, may not like this idea. But with each Greek chapter having an average of 40-50 members, their own private fund, and an organizational system, they have options other than tapping into the general population’s money.

One solution for them would be to raise their member dues.

Each member of a Greek organization pays money every semester in order to be a part of the organization. They use the collected dues to pay their general fees, and then use the rest throughout the semester in their budget. Very often, the Greek Organizations end their semesters with a surplus of funds, which could have been used instead of drawing from the Student Activity Fund.

If the Greek organizations did not use the Co-Op board, they may not end up in the black every semester with their current due payments. But because their budget is entirely independent of the school, they have the ability to alter their payments freely.

Raising their chapter dues would not be favorable to any member, but if they value their letters as much as they are known to, then wouldn’t another $50 a semester be worth it?

SGA may not be willing to take on the Greek Life system with such a bold decision. They may find it unfair or may try to place a limit per semester on each of the Greek organizations. But that will only postpone the issue for a while. Eventually, as seen already, rules and regulations will become less enforced, and that limit would be brushed away.

If SGA means to act in the best interest of the student body, then they must put aside their relations with Greek Life and act in an objective manner. They must block all Greek Life organizations from the Cooperative budget, so that the student body’s money can be used for its intended purpose: helping the smaller clubs and organizations make their impact on the campus.

For your consideration, James Arriola Elmhurst College 2014

May 14, 2013

7

Fan the Flames

Can you hear the swan singing?

MARY PODRASKY staff writer Now it’s time for so long…

Farewell Elmhurst students, or as I call you, young adults who automatically fall into formation in the AMC ticket line even when there is no rope.

But we’ll sing just one more song…

Considering my level of jadedness, I still had relatively high hopes regarding college.

Guidance counselors always said that “college is High School Musical brought to life!” Jocks and art geeks would not just co-habilitate, but party together like it was 1999. The cafeteria would no longer be divided into sections that no one dared cross in fear of electrocution.

Guys would be less shallow, and recognize a good thing when it was right in front of them.

Boy, were they wrong. Sorry

if you haven’t figured that out yet (not really, ya idjit). The artistic kids still scramble around in the shadows creating art that only a handful of people see. Are we really a liberal arts school?

Want to be popular? You better be a mean girl/the male equivalent chomping at the proverbial bit to join a sorority/ fraternity or a jock that’s “good” at making whatever ball go from point A to point B. The only thing the majority here cares about is what bar everyone is going to for Thirsty Thursday and if the football team won; because just like high school, the only thing that matters here is sports. Go Bluejays!

But that doesn’t mean it’s been all bad. Some of my favorite days were when hundreds of annoying little brats swarmed the campus. Realizing that the scary guy who can both compliment and criticize in the same sentence is a closet marshmallow fluff has been amusing. The time I spent in the sandwich line gave me a chance to ponder the meaning of life. And all those hours spent at the library while printing helped my Fruit Ninja score tremendously.

I’ll also miss the best “professor turned boss” a girl could ask for. I’ve especially enjoyed assisting with those emails to the professors, as well as the essays on refugees, sociological concerns, and hospital politics.

Man, I love a good nursing pa-

per! I’ve had some good laughs during my hours spent in the Writing Center. Oh, and yeah, we talk about you.

And I’ll miss sitting in a purple rocking chair chatting about life.

Thanks for doing your part…

I have a few people I’d like to thank in particular. To the football player who called me a “fat bitch,” thanks for reading my column! To the annoying girl in class who uses the phrase “um, like, yeah,” thanks for providing me with ‘column fodder!’

On that same note, thanks to the jerks in my astronomy class who made fun of one of the nicest professors I’ve ever had.

You know that me and you, we can do anything that we want to do…

We can do anything. Like puke when we see the total amount of student loans that we owe. And then go to Starbucks begging for a job while we wait for ones in our respective fields to pop out of holes in the ground. We can also use a theme song from a kid’s TV show as headers for columns.

We can miss the friends we’ve made over these four years, and our favorite professors who have made a particular impact.

And we can fan the flames, make some noise. Dare to be different, Elmhurst. Make me proud.

Triple Cs

Here’s the thing: I have given up

CATHERINE EVES beat editor

Enter cliché here; enter argument about how it’s not a cliché here.

It is the second semester of my senior year in college and I Have Given Up. As you may have noticed, I haven’t written a column in months. I probably shouldn’t be advertising this, but as much as I try to blame it on “a severe case of writer’s block” - like I’m a writer and that’s a thing that happens to me, like I’m on my fourth scotch in a noisy gastropub, illegally smoking a cigarette, and eating a no-sugar fudge bar or something - it’s probably just because I Have Given Up. Just because I’m too

goddamned lazy to devote two hours out of the day to spew some questionably publishable bullshit at Microsoft Word.

I can’t help it. I’ve been griping about this school for almost eight semesters now that I can’t even be bothered trying to think something up that might hold a modicum of interest for my readers (i.g. the unfortunate internetters who happen upon this column on the tenth page of the google search “stupid, angsty bitch” and my dog).

I had a bunch of ideas, sure, but whenever I sat down to write, all I could think about was how I should be doing homework for the classes I didn’t even need to take. That’s right. I’m not in school because I need to be this semester, I’m in school because I was way too much of a baby to just graduate early. I wanted to keep writing for this sorry rag and hang out in the Frick all day everyday. Haven’t I already written on this topic?

Yeah, probably!!! But leave me alone; I’ve got a pass/fail class to study for.

My friendships also suffer the same laissez faire attitude and ennui of my current station in life. It’s gotten to the point that I’m so unmotivated that, to those I haven’t actually had a conversation with in weeks due to school and almost-real-

person jobs that so many seniors are wont to have, instead of heckling and squealing about how much I miss them, now I just stare at them with a weak smile and feel absolutely no commitment to say/do something interesting. I can’t even fake it anymore. Is this a sign for what life will be like post-grad?

We’re too busy to give a shit about anything that isn’t supplying us with a feeble chunk of change or anything containing alcohol? Bite me, because I can’t handle that.

Four years of school, unpaid internships, the fact that fellow English majors who have as much creativity as a dead cat and the portfolio to prove it have better prospects than me (better chances of making bank and having enough money to get married and have children in the hip early 30s as opposed to maybe being capable of such a thing when I’m, oh, I don’t know, 60?). Where was I? Oh, yeah; all this shit is bringing me down and I Have Given Up. Sorry if this depressed you, but what do you expect the final words from Triple Cs to be?

(Catherine Complains Constantly; a nod to the admirable freshman last year whose friends couldn’t even pick her out of a line up of one).

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Center for Professional Excellence Career Connections

Summer To-Do List For Your Part Time Job Looking for a summer job? In order to be successful in finding a summer job, there are a couple things you should do: 1. Make or update your resume By updating your resume, you will have your most recent activities on there that could show the same skills your job requires.

2. Register on ECconnect.com and post your resume 3. Look for job opportunities on ECconnect.com ECconnect.com has many diverse job opportunities posted for students. Even if you’re not from the Elmhurst area, perhaps there is a company on ECconnect.com that has a branch in your area.

4. Professionalize your online profiles Even though your summer job might only be part time, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take it seriously. Employers could still look at your Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn profiles and consider you later for internships or full time positions.

5. Make a LinkedIn profile LinkedIn is a business-related social networking site allowing people to connect and network. (It is a great online networking tool, but keep it professional) 6. Look in your local newspaper With all this online technology, don’t forget about the newspaper.

Newspapers still have job listings and you never know, your great summer job could be in there.

7. Network with family and friends By talking with your family and friends and letting them know that you are looking for a summer job, they might know someone they can refer you to.

9. Keep in mind the option of volunteering Even though you may not be paid to volunteer, it can still give you many useful skills and knowledge, not to mention networking connections for future internships or jobs. Volunteering is also quite rewarding.

Whether you decide to work part-time, full-time, or volunteer, remember that you should take it seriously. The people you work with over the summer are great people to network with and keep in contact with during the school year. They can be invaluable when networking for future internships or jobs, not to mention being a great reference. No matter what you do over the summer think about the transferable skills this experience will give you for future work-related experiences.

Interested in doing an internship in the fall?

Contact Holly Coffin

by July 15th at (630) 617-6457 or hollyc@elmhurst.edu

Look Who’s Hiring: Internships: 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 Nearing-Shadowing & Mentoring Coordinator Phone: (630) 617 - 3188 Email: jnearing@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

Follow us on:

Center for Professional Excellence - Elmhurst College ECcareerEd

Name of Company

Position

Location

Sun Chemical

Marketing Intern

Northlake, IL

Council of International Programs

Social Media Coordinator

Bensenville, IL

Stevens & Tate Marketing

Marketing Intern

Lombard, IL

Office of U.S. Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth

District Office Intern

Schaumburg, IL

Common Goal Systems

Computer Science Intern

Elmhurst, IL

Part Time Jobs: Name of Company

Position

Location

Christ Church of Oak Brook

Staff Pianist/Accompanist

Oak Brook, IL

David Goodman, Ph.D. Psychologist Associations

Administrative Assistant

Elmhurst, IL

Hands on Technology

Customer Support/Account Management

Westmont, IL

J. Crew

PT Sales and Support Associates

Oak Brook, IL

Cabela’s

Various Retail Positions

Hoffman Estates, IL

Sears

Cashier

Oak Brook, IL

*Visit ECconnect.com for more information & opportunities

BEAT

ecleader.org

May 14, 2013

A Vindication of the Rights of (Pop-Culture) Women HALEIGH YONISH managing editor In the back of the library’s second floor sits senior Kristin Faleni among a pile of Ana Mendieta books detailing images from the gone-too-soon artist’s life. Experimental and obscure, they’re the kind of art that inspired Faleni to create her capstone piece: “Venus: The Occasional Objectification and Hypocrisy of Myself.”

“It documents the empowerment and the blatant uncertainty I face,” said Faleni, who felt compelled to base her senior capstone on the third wave of feminism, which encompasses the fight against “sexual violence, rape culture, and slut shaming.”

Faleni said she has been waiting for something “new” in pop culture to give voice to the rising feminism in her generation, but she has so far felt largely underwhelmed.

“I had to dig deep into pop culture to find a female role model. They were hidden away,” said Faleni. “And the type of role model I’m looking for just has to be independent and strong in what they’re doing.”

Faleni’s concern about the lack of feminism in pop culture was something that inspired the creation of the Center for the Study of Women in Television in Film, which, as the name implies, tracks the number of women involved in film and television creation.

In a study of broadcast television programs from 20112012, researchers found only 26 percent of all individuals working as creators, directors, writers, producers, executive producers, editors, and directors of photography were women. Compared with studies in the past, it’s a one percent increase from the previous television season, and a five percent increase from the same study done in 1997.

“When dealing with the topic of film – and probably quite a few other topics – the lack of women as directors, writers and subjects requires feminist theory to make sense of this absence,” said Tina Kazan, associate professor of English, who teaches a J-Term class called “Hollywood U,” prompting students to analyze film critically.

“The more we get women behind the scenes, the better it’s

going to be on the scene,” she said.

“I thought Girls would be it,” said Faleni, “but it’s very ‘white feminist,’ and talks nothing about women of color. I’m not looking at Lena Dunham as a role model, or any more white, upper-class, hetero women.”

Girls, an HBO series starring and written by Lena Dunham, has been surrounded in controversy since its conception, criticized for its lack of people of color in its first season, aside from a young, Asian girl whose only defining characteristic was being good at Photoshop.

“I think in modern pop culture, the sexism is so well hidden,” said Faleni. “There’s a TV social standard of what you should abide by.”

Kazan agreed, saying, “There are such limited norms. We live in a time with 200 cable stations, but we still have no diversity.”

Faleni said she, at least, tends to find more diversity in comedies, as well as a more progressive subject matter. “[A lot of comedies] have topics or subjects, things we should be talking about, not ‘Oh, what did she wear to that award show?’” said Faleni. “It’s not as mind-numbing.”

Kazan brought up a similar problem with award shows, citing Seth MacFarlane’s “Boob Song” at the 2013 Oscars as a prime example of sexism in pop culture.

“Award shows are supposed to be about celebrating your success,” said Kazan. “But MacFarlane’s performance reminded those actresses, ‘No matter your success, we’re going to reduce you to a body part.’”

MacFarlane’s song, which names actresses who have been topless in film, highlighted several scenes of rape in films such as Monster as times when “we’ve seen your boobs.”

“If you weren’t in the patriarchy, you wouldn’t even think to say that,” said Kazan.

The LA Times found out of the members of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences for the 2013 season, only 6 percent were people of color, and around 23 percent were female, meaning the Oscar-voters were primarily white males.

“We live in a patriarchal society, and a lot of [pop culture] has to do with female subordination,” said Faleni.

In a 2013 survey conducted by Leader staff writer Ian Walker, about 20 percent of EC students watched Glee, which ranked the highest along with The Walking Dead, The Big Bang Theory, and Pretty Little Liars.

Although Kazan “loves” Glee (“I watch it every week!”), she expressed the characterization of the female characters is weak and often inconsistent. “[Creator Ryan] Murphy broke up the partnership of Brittany [bisexual] and Santana [lesbian] and then abruptly paired Brittany with Sam [straight],” said Kazan. “Is the show emphasizing Brittany’s sexual fluidity, or are the characters so sketchily drawn that they can do anything at any time?”

The Center for the Study of Women in Television in Film found only 30 percent of writers on broadcast television are women, which Kazan sees as one of the largest problems in shows like Glee.

“It is refreshing to see a character like Coach Beiste, who coaches the football team. A woman of size, she is likeable and the show generally treats her respectfully,” said Kazan.

“However, the writers also like to show her in the faculty lounge sloppily eating entire chickens. Why? We don’t see the eating habits of any of the other characters mocked.”

Although Kazan found the amount of women writers problematic, she said the problem is not exclusive to the gender of the writers.

“Joss Whedon [Avengers, Buffy the Vampire Slayer] is a perfect example of a male who understand women,” said Kazan, “but on the other hand, we have Stephanie Meyer [Twilight], who has really bought into these offensive narratives.”

Faleni argued for the future of television, the creative staff needs to have a narrative overhaul.

“To make a progressive show, in my eyes, [the writers] represent males and females equally, not just women as sidekicks or ‘the girlfriend,’” said Faleni. “We need people of color, various sexualities, and not just one cookie-cutter shape or experience.”

“Children are little sponges,” Faleni said, “and they’re going to soak that shit up.”

Photo by Kim McElheny “Venus: The Occasional Objectification and Hypocrisy of Myself ”

Internet Photo Seth MacFarlane performing his “Boob Song” at the 2013 Oscars.

Internet Photo Glee’s Coach Beiste eating a whole chicken in the break room.

Internet Photo Lena Dunham, creator and star of the controversial Girls.

9

Senior Memoirs

Mackenzie Dorgan

I tried out three other schools before I landed at Elmhurst. And I tried a lot of majors--pre-med, animal science, education-before I ended where I began: English. I generally don’t tell people what I major in--it’s almost always returned with an awkward response, like “Oh. So, are you gonna teach or write books or...?” <disgruntled sigh> No. My brother told me I wouldn’t get anywhere with such a “soft” degree. It’s an easy, unchallenging degree--not hardcore work. But he’s never met Doc Ron. If you haven’t had the pleasure, you should meet him, even if you’re not interested in writing--he’s intimidating as hell, but he’s pretty funny. The first meeting I had with him, he ripped apart whatever piece I brought, questioning whether I was cut out for writing at all.

As an insecure and sensitive 20-year-old, it felt pretty shitty.

But I couldn’t escape him, not if I kept my major. So, I learned to deal, refusing to let him crush my insides every meeting. He’s got this weird

way of complimenting you while telling you to get your shit together.

The meetings will start out as “What is this?” pointing at the paper and end with “Give me a story.” And somewhere in between he’ll say, “You can write, Mackenzie, when you want to.”

But over the last three years, I figured out what he was doing.

I built a relationship with him, understanding who he was as a professor, as a writer. What I took him acting like an ass was Doc Ron teaching me how to survive as a writer. It’s competitive as hell and almost everyone I know has an unpaid internship as their post-grad plans.

And people are fucking mean; they’ll rip you apart in an instant. The smallest mistake-the misuse of a comma, a misspelled name, a wonky email--can cut you off from a major writing piece. Doc’s nobullshit responses made me a stronger writer, a stronger person.

So give me shit about my work, I can take it.

I showed up at Elmhurst College my freshman year with a journal and a pair of running shoes. The journal was brand new to me. The running shoes were old friends. Something silver, something gold, I guess.

Writing and running, truly the only two things that have remained consistent throughout my college years.

Different friends, different relationships, too many different majors.

But writing and running never disappointed me, never made me bored, never said good-bye.

Eventually, that journal turned into The Leader and the running shoes turned into my second family. Neither of which I’m ready to say good-

bye to. So I guess I will just have to say thank you.

Thank you to the editorial board for putting up with my early mornings instead of late nights.

Thank you to Dr. Ron for teaching me that I can actually write and that I have a voice.

Thank you to my team for allowing me to lean on your shoulders and for being the most supportive people in my life.

Thank you to Guta for teaching me how to love running even when it doesn’t love me.

Thank you to Elmhurst College for giving me experiences and memories that will last a lifetime.

Kelsey Plefka

Tom Rein

Elmhurst has been one giant polarity; extraordinary, but also soul crushing. I’ve experienced tremendous personal growth, intellectual rigor, and opportunity. I’ve also experienced stagnation, frustration, and resentment. I’ll be sad to leave, but I can’t wait to get out of here.

Because I’m an optimist, I want to emphasize how much I truly valued my time here. My education has been comprehensive and first rate. My intellect has been challenged and by some truly brilliant professors, and the practical knowledge I’ve picked up at The Leader will prove to be invaluable. I’ll cherish some of the personal connections I’ve made for the rest of my life, and never forget the kindness and community that supported me through the death of my friend.

And while that was all in earnest, there is only so much room for sentimentalism. There are some embarrassingly terrible things about this school, and although fewer in number, the contrast is impossible to overlook.

For the most part, my classes have been great, but some of them have been so awful. What’s worse is that under normal circumstances, many of these classes would have been fine, maybe even engaging, but all of them shared one thing in common.

You. Yes, you, Elmhurst students. You are some of the most apolitical, blinded conformists

I’ve ever come to know and your effect is parasitic. There are exceptions of course, and I’ve met some engaged, driven, thoughtful students, but they are in the vast, vast minority.

The campus culture is depressing. Hate crimes are routine, our amazing lectures are unattended, and you just don’t give a shit.

People would rather go Greek than think critically and affect change.

A few days ago, there were several bros from ATO raising awareness for homelessness. A noble cause, but their promotion was tasteless and offensive. They literally “dressed up” as homeless people, complete with makeshift cardboard shelters, and a cup to beg for change.

What the fuck?

That scene encapsulates the problem of this school. There is a massive divide between the values our school expresses and the values of our students, and we do a terrible job of connecting the two. We’ve increased diversity, but we’re not opening students’ minds. Niebuhr was about pragmatic realism, but this school churns out naive idealists who make window displays out of construction paper and think that taking off their shoes expresses solidarity for global poverty.

There was a DJ in the Frick Center blasting Dubstep for “I am Elmhurst.” Is that really what we’re becoming? I’ve reached my wit’s end.

Thankfully the good far outweighs the bad, but for the love of everything, wake up.

C atherine E ve s

Ale x Huang

Haleigh Yonish

I started writing for this paper after one of our many former ed-chiefs (who can keep track anymore?) coerced me with tales of a plush resume and gaining Real Experience my junior year (it’s only been two years? Jesus Christ). This snowballed into me becoming copy editor for the spring 2012 semester, and finally, to a title I would never wish upon my worst enemy, Arts and Entertainment Editor (just kidding, it’s fine).

And I guess it helped; through my experience on this paper I’m graduating with three internships under my belt (one that was sort of a joke but paid, sort of, and two that are super sexy and fun and I currently hold in the Chicago publishing industry). So I guess I wanted to say thanks, Leader, for preparing me for the Real World, as much as I hate to admit it and as much as I definitely DO NOT WANT to enter it.

I’ve never been a writer, I assert for the sixtieth (and definitely not the last) time, but I guess I sort of became one that fateful October day when I became tired of getting stoned and watching boys play Gauntlet in the cramped hovels of Stanger.

I was assigned some dumb story on fall fashion or something and I never looked back.

I started writing a column and it was going

The last four years of college came to an end all too quickly, and I’m having difficulty finding closure. My friends are all finding success in their lives: graduating with honors, getting picked up for high-paying gigs, or simply moving past the college phase with nary a look back. But for me, someone who’s never had much of a drive to “succeed,” the prospect of graduation feels hollow.

I dread the end of my school days, much like how I dread the end of summer vacation, trying so hard to preserve the dwindling idyllic days by trying to “relax” and “take it easy,” but instead, I always end up wasting them. Wasting them because I’m afraid to do anything with that time. And every year, before I know it, it’s the dead of winter and I still haven’t patched up the holes in my canvas shoes.

The prospect of leaving an environment that’s become so nurturing really scares me.

It’s easy, almost second nature, to lie to the people that have asked/will ask, “Gee, Alex.

What’re you going to do when you graduate?”

I don’t mean to, honestly, but some part of me believes that if I say those things enough times, they’ll actually happen. Can you believe that?

Since I joined The Leader in my junior year, I’ve gained a lot of things: weight, addictions, and a profound love of the 7-Eleven on First Street.

I want to say I’m leaving Elmhurst College with a good head on my shoulders, that I’m sure of my future, or I’m proud and dedicated to my Alma Mater, but something The Leader’s also given me is the knowledge that we are not as appreciated as we should be.

This year, I’ve seen fantastic educators laid off for “a lack of funding,” while some fussy administrators comfortably sit on their throne of tuition fees like fat cats. I used to feel protected here, safe in our “liberal oasis” from shitty politics and corrupt power heads, but I’m graduating in June with the full understanding that your hard work, kindness, and intelligence will not always be rewarded.

And it pisses me off !

Still, the people I’ve met in my four years here tend to outweigh – or at least combat – some of the awful truths of higher education.

The English, history, and philosophy departments proved to be the best (shut up, I don’t care, they are), and I’ve been given this fabulous education and this (somewhat unfortunate) ability to really, critically analyze every situation I’m in.

I can’t even watch a dumb television show anymore without thinking, “But what does this mean to the feminist culture?” or “Wow, that is so offensive.”

And since I’d rather be dead than lazy, my

pretty well for a while. For the first couple months the hate mail came rolling in, and my sneer almost cracked my cheeks, but I haven’t written a column in months, and this last effort (see page 7) is a testament to how it’s probably good that I’m graduating in two weeks. But like I said, it was good for awhile, and if I had skipped every Leader meeting like I wanted to for the past four semesters, I probably would be freaking out way more about my future than I am now.

I could go on; I could rant about how The Leader helped develop my meticulous copy editing skills and gave me a keen eye for great (but more often shitty) writing. How it gave me that leg up I needed to feel superior over my peers majoring in business, but I won’t, because I’ve dried up. I’m the queen of being redundant, but I can’t say anymore.

Everyone has their role at Elmhurst College, and mine was to be the glassy-eyed cynic whose anxiety to make something of themselves trumped all-consuming laziness. The Leader was my niche, and after May 14, it won’t be anymore, and I’m not sure how to feel about it yet.

So I do it. Once. Twice. Three times. So many times that, by now, I’ve lost count of my little white lies along with any concept of the magnitude of the false image I have created for myself. While the things that I cite are not overly grandiose or blown out of proportion, I still feel guilty. Guilty because it makes me feel better about myself when I pretend like I know what I’m doing. But I still feel better.

Ahem.

Now that I’ve gotten my insecurities out of the way (HOLY PISS, am I scared of the future), it’s time for some real talk: maybe I’m being just a tad dramatic about graduation here, but I really will miss the hell out of Elmhurst College and the people who were here with me. I know that I can always come back and visit, but I’ll never be able to recreate the experiences (good and bad) from these last four years. I know that, in time, those experiences will be replaced by bigger and better things, but imagining that is oh-so-difficult at the moment.

So, for those of you who’ve just wrapped up your freshman year, remember to cherish your friends and your time in college.

opportunities have been numerous.

Somehow, for four years, I worked at Mamma Maria’s, taking phone orders and making cannolis while being yelled at by a cranky, Italian man. I worked at the Office of Admissions, where I learned how to be a clerical whiz while downing Diet Cokes with my coworkers. I joined ANTIBOOKCLUB where a too-cool boss reminded me I’m not as big of a fuck-up as I consistently think I am.

And, of course, there was The Leader, which I can’t be more grateful (or more bitter) for. I don’t think I’d be as forward thinking or intelligent had I declined a former editor’s advice to join as an entertainment writer (then copy editor, then A&E editor, then managing editor… Ugh.).

Elmhurst is important to me because I’ve made these concrete, beautiful friends, because I’ve fallen in love with a bear-man and his gorgeous, red beard, and because I’ve earned mentors who have guided me through gritty times, who listened to me when no one else would (yes, I’m going to be that cryptic).

The list goes on; I could bore you with inside jokes, stories of mischief, and what have you, but I try to stay simple in my writing, because you probably don’t know me, and I’m probably more boring than I think I am, so I’ll leave you with this: Oxford commas are necessary, and don’t let anyone tell you differently.

12

BEAT

May 14, 2013

ecleader.org

Benefit allows friends and family to remember Colin Pascoe FREDERIC BARTLETT staff writer Posters and portraits of EC students narrating what it feels like to have lost their friend, Colin Pascoe, lined the foyer of Irion Hall last Fri., May 3. Though Pascoe, a former EC student, passed away in 2010, friends and family remembered him through music, art, and spoken word during the Third Annual Colin Pascoe Benefit Concert.

“We all just love Colin, and he touched us in such a meaningful way that we want to keep preserving his memory,” said senior Kerry Marmozewicz.

Marmozewicz, like the majority of the group of friends who put on the concert, will be graduating EC at the end of this year. The event has been dependent on the students since it’s inception.

Pascoe’s friends first started the benefit to raise money for the dedication of a tree in the grassy area between Schick and Dinkmeyer Hall. Subsequent years have seen the money from donations go towards a Light of Knowledge scholarship set up in Pascoe’s name.

“We come here, and while he’s not here all these people who knew him and loved him [are], and it’s like he’s represented here by his friends,” said Frank Pascoe, Colin’s father.

The event has brought together those affected by the late Pascoe, and offered them an artistic outlet to express their feelings about the loss of a good friend and peer.

In addition to the displays in the foyer, Colin Pascoe’s friends also performed in the Recital Hall.

“It gave us all an outlet to cope,” said senior Teresa Falsone, a vocalist who performed songs such as, “Somewhere over the Rainbow” and “Wonderful World” at

the concert.

In addition to performing, students filled a majority of the roles needed to put on the concert.

Roles included collecting donations, planning, and spreading word out about the concert.

Each year, the event continues to draw enough people to fill more than half of the recital hall, and enough donations to fund the substantial English-Philosophy scholarship.

“

We all just love Colin, and he touched us in such a meaningful way that we want to keep preserving his memory.”

Kerry Marmozewicz Senior

“It was just overwhelming the first year; I didn’t think there was going to be a second year, so it’s pretty amazing,” said Patti Pascoe, Colin’s mother, in regards to the students’ ongoing effort.

This year will be the last year at EC for many of the students involved in the event. The three years have brought about a positive change in the way some think about the event.

“It seems like it’s less about his death and more about all of us getting together and hanging out,” said A.J. Barker, saying that, for him, it is important that the group enjoy this time together. “[We like] just being together and celebrating something that is important to us,” Barker said.

“What basically drives the event is that we want to do it, not for anybody else, [but] we want to do it for ourselves. We want to celebrate him in our own way,” he said.

Next year, the soon-to-bealumni will decide the fate of the event beyond the sanction of Elmhurst College. Falsone commented that she isn’t sure about the future of the event.

“I hope we do it again, but I think it’s going to be harder and harder because a lot of us are leaving and graduating.”

The sentiment seems to be that the event will continue to be held annually, though possibly not at Elmhurst.

“We’re going to keep it going,” said Barker. “Whether the event is off campus or here, we’ll still bring that money that people donate.”

The scholarship does not seem to be the only portion of the event that the school holds stake in. According to Ian Crone, the associate dean of students for student activities, this studentcreated event brings a culture that is unique to Elmhurst College.

“Finding something that integrates the written word, musical expression, photography [and] artistic expression [in] one evening… we really don’t have that,” Crone said. top: Colin’s parents, Patti and Frank, thank the crowd for joining in the celebration. middle: However, made up of seniors Ryan Donnellan, David Lewis, and Tyler Kerr, perform in Buik. bottom: Chris, Colin’s brother, shares favorite quotes that remind him of his best friend.

Photos by Kim McElheny

Survey shows that half of EC students still watch live TV IAN WALKER staff writer Humans run from zombies in post-apocalyptic land.

Queen bee of girl group disappears.

Brainiacs confront the social complexities of life.

These are the shows that Elmhurst college students are watching. And they are watching them live, according to a new survey conducted anonymously among Elmhurst College students to see what and when they are watching. Five hundred and thirtyfour Elmhurst College students participated, with 44 percent of students taking time out of their day to watch something live, as opposed to the 56 percent who don’t, suggesting that almost half of all EC students still watch live television.

In a digital age where DVR and online streaming sites like Hulu and Netflix are making television viewing easier and more instantaneous than ever before, the concept of watching television the “analog” way (watching something live as it airs) takes on more significance.

As it turns out, EC students are still setting their clocks to be

in position when their favorite shows are on, from giant hits on big broadcast networks to tiny successes on niche cable. Like a group of zombies flocking to nearest rotting corpse, the show that Elmhurst students are tuning into the most is The Walking Dead.

“I set aside time for The Walking Dead because I have been watching it since the first season it aired; it is now on the second part of the third season and it has become a habit to watch them when they come out,” said one student.

According to the Nielsen ratings, The Walking Dead’s third season finale on March 31 pulled in 12.4 million viewers, with 8.1 million in viewers ages 18 to 49, the key demographic television advertisers cater towards. Much like the flesh-devouring zombies on the show, those are numbers that would easily gnaw away at any potential rivals if The Walking Dead aired on a broadcast network instead of basic cable channel AMC. The takeaway from this situation?

College students are propelling those numbers by watching it live.

A social environment like a college campus lends itself to live television viewing because it offers a chance for students to socialize and mingle with friends who love

the same shows that they do.

This idea was evident for sophomore Mike Kopkowski, who organizes a Walking Dead viewing party with his friends when the new episode airs every Sunday night.

“Everyone is busy, but we make sure to schedule in some free time to watch the show,” Kopkowski said. “Watching the show can take some stress off of homework during the week. It’s very enjoyable with a bunch of friends.”

Other popular shows amongst Elmhurst students include Pretty Little Liars, a show that started out modestly on ABC Family that has now become the cable network’s biggest hit, gaining 1.2 million viewers on its third season finale from March 19, and The Big Bang Theory is easily the most watched sitcom on a broadcast network, gaining 16.29 million viewers during the May 2 airing.

One student explains why they watch television simply as “I can’t miss Pretty Little Liars.”

“I think The Big Bang Theory is funny in a clever way that doesn’t offend anyone, and uses a lot of intelligent humor while still being able to relate to everyday problems most of us face,” said another.

In today’s tech-saturated world, where information can be sent and received through the press of a button, spoilers are an ever looming threat existing on the Internet, waiting to be discovered by those unfortunate enough to have not caught up with the latest something. For television viewers, the fear of stumbling across even the tiniest bit of info that could ruin the entire viewing experience is a very real danger, which helps make the case for watching shows live.

“One thing that makes me watch shows the night they are on is that people give away details on Twitter and Facebook and I hate finding out crucial information before I have seen the episode,” said one survey respondent.

As for the 56 percent who don’t schedule time to watch television, their decision boils down to a number of things. Mostly, some students simply have the patience to wait a couple of hours or even until the next day to watch a given show, and will resort to DVR or instant streaming to watch.

The necessity to use a DVR or a streaming site to watch a show comes down to an obvious fact: college students are busy. Between homework, sports teams,

internships, and everything else, college students do a lot, and television will predictably fall to the side based on the hierarchy of importance.

“With class, work, and sorority schedules, and the woes of being a commuter, I literally have no time to get to a TV to watch it while it airs. I usually DVR it and watch all my shows on Saturdays,” said one student.

While live television viewing among college students may be waning, it is still a pleasure and a comfort for those who do enjoy it.

After a long day’s work, there is a comfort in yelling at the characters on screen while paying attention to all of the tiny details and feeling a genuine sense of excitement about what is going to happen next; these are the behaviors that an active television watcher exhibits.

“After a long day of school, work and extracurriculars, it is nice to have some time to relax and doing something just for me,” said a respondent.

And there are many more like this one, eagerly waiting to see how the heroes of the small screen conquer their problems, big or small. Or get eaten by zombies, if they aren’t so lucky.

BEAT

ecleader.org

May 14, 2013

13

Iron Man 3 proves a strong effort from Marvel... Ore does it?

KEVIN GARCIA staff writer The summer blockbusters begin with a solid start with the return of Tony Stark in Iron Man 3. Iron Man 3 is the first film of the post-Avengers era, and this time Tony Stark must deal with a terrorist known as the Mandarin in order stop his world from being torn apart.

While I do miss Jon Favreau (Iron Man, Iron Man 2), it’s nice to see a darker approach to Iron Man, but what director Shane Black (Lethal Weapon, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang) did best is bringing back the humor from 2008’s Iron Man, making it so likable. Another plus for this film is that you get to see Stark living up to his true genius. You see more of his intelligence and creativity with diversions and other technological advances.

Robert Downey Jr. does a great job, as always. But the others, like Pearce, Kingsley, Paltrow, and Cheadle, did nothing that would seem impressive.

The concept for this film is fantastic. You have the Mandarin, who is one of Iron Man’s worst archen-

emies from comic lore. Also, you see Stark dealing with his Post-Tramatic Stress Disorder after what happened with the Avengers. The problem is that there isn’t enough of it.

You don’t get to see much of the vulnerability of Stark or see him feeling really haunted by the events that occurred in The Avengers. Also, as Hollywood always does, the film takes a big chunk of its material from the comics. In the comics, Stark deals with drug and alcoholism after traumatic events. Here, none of that was shown, which probably would have made him more relatable in order for audiences to feel for him.

The villain in this film wasn’t convincing by any means. He was not menacing in anyway and there was a very anti-climatic feeling, especially for the hardcore fans who were excited to see what the Mandarin was capable of.

While the film travels through muddy places it still finishes on solid ground. This film is good but not the blockbuster we’re looking for.

Hopefully we can get that sooner rather than later, with Star Trek Into Darkness or Man of Steel.

Internet Photo Tony Stark and his Iron Man suit relax in a stranger’s garage after some tiring experiences.

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SPORTS

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May 14. 2013

15

Dominos fall perfectly for Head Coach Joe Adam

CHARLIE ROUMELIOTIS staff writer On the evening of December 31, 2012, Buffalo Bills general manager Buddy Nix sat inside their corporate towers in Buffalo, New York, in a far less celebratory atmosphere than the rest of the world, anticipating the countdown of the New Year. He had just terminated the contract of Head Coach Chan Gailey, after he failed to lift the team from last place in the division in each of his three seasons.

Meanwhile, over 500 miles west, Joe Adam, then Elmhurst College football’s defensive coordinator enjoyed the final hours of 2012 by playing board games with his family and close friends.

Little did he know, Nix’s decision to fire Gailey would soon impact him by becoming the eighteenth head coach in Elmhurst College history.

“It’s like a domino effect,” said Adam, who will inherit a program that captured their first CCIW title and postseason berth. “When one domino falls, the rest goes.”

Eight d a y s a f t e r the first domino had fallen, more began to descend.

Nix hired Doug Marrone, Syra-

TENNIS from the back page After placing last in the CCIW from 2008-2010, Head Coach Anthony McPherson could not be prouder of how his team has developed into a solid force in the conference.

Wheaton took charge of the doubles matches by taking two out of the three. Wheaton’s Ryan Kries and Josh Ward won their

cuse’s head football coach at the time, to replace Gailey in an effort to guide the franchise with the NFL’s longest playoff drought – 13 seasons – into the right direction.

More dominoes continued to tumble, but now at a much quicker rate.

At the 2013 annual American Football Coaches Association National Convention in Nashville in early January, Syracuse’s defensive coordinator Scott Shafer reunited with his former colleague at Western Michigan, Tim Lester, who had been coaching at Elmhurst College for the past five seasons.

The two had always dreamed about working together on the same sideline again at some point down the line. Shafer promised he would reach out to Lester as soon as an opportunity presented itself.

Shafer stayed true to his word.

An opening on his staff transpired days after the convention concluded, when Syracuse announced the promotion of Schafer as the new leader of their football program.

The hiring prompted a phone call to Lester, who had just piloted

Elmhurst College to their most successful finish in s c h o o l ’s h i st o r y, to join his personnel.

match against juniors Alex Harbert and Will Jung, 8-3. Elmhurst lost another close match at number two doubles when the Thunder upended the team of sophomores Luke Tanaka and Chris Harrison, 9-8. The match was decided by an 8-6 tiebreaker. The Bluejays put a point on the board at number three doubles from Vincent McPherson and Kevin Noble.

“Trailing 2-1 after doubles wasn’t what we had in mind,” said Coach McPherson. “I had full confidence in my team to rise to the

“Shafer told me he would be contacting me in the next couple days,” said Lester. “He just said be ready to go.”

On January 14, the Elmhurst College coaching staff called for an emergency meeting to inform the team that Lester had officially accepted the quarterback’s coach position at Syracuse.

His departure left many players in shock, but it didn’t come as a surprise after his recent achievements.

“I was shocked to hear the news, but not surprised at the same time,” said Scottie Williams, the 2012 Gagliardi Trophy winner.

“Lester is a great

board,” notes Kr o h n , for the past few years. “ I wanted them to choose A d a m ,” said Les-

coach and has a lot of potential to not only be where he is, but to go even higher in the coaching ranks.”

Lester’s exit left one more major coaching position wide open: Elmhurst College’s head football coach.

And Athletic Director Paul Krohn recognized he had to be one step ahead of the game.

“As athletic director, I try to be one step in front all the time,” he said. “If someone leaves, I look back and say, ‘What are my options?’”

Lester wasn’t taking off without offering his input for a successor. Lester vouched for the guy that has been his “sounding

ter. “I highly encouraged President Alan Ray, Krohn, and Eileen Sullivan [the dean of students] as strong as I possibly could that the program has come a long way and I didn’t make one decision on my own. It was always Joe [Adam] and I. Not that my opinion mattered since I was leaving, but I was thankful to them for giving me the opportunity. I wanted to make sure I got my feeling across because I had to leave so fast.”

Electing to survey the candidates internally was important to Krohn. The process of interviewing externally would have delayed the continuity in the momentum and hiring within would maintain that level coming off a historic season. He and Adam were on the same page stressing the importance of preserving the core group of coaches devoted to continuing the recent success.

“Paul [Krohn] understood where I was coming from,” says Adam, who recruited six of the nine all-conference players Elmhurst honored last season.

“Tim [Lester] and I had a vision and we executed. We surrounded ourselves with coaches loyal to that vision.”

Days before Martin Luther

occasion…but I was absolutely nervous.”

The Bluejays quickly evened up the match when Jung won the number two singles match by the scores of 6-1 and 7-6. Harrison added another point for the Bluejays when he won the number six singles match with scores of 6-1 for both games.

“Being in the championship match felt unbelievable, honestly words can’t even put it into perspective,” Harrison said. “Playing against Wheaton for the second straight year in the title match

isn’t an easy task at all.”

With only three matches left on the court, Vincent McPherson clinched the CCIW title when he scored a three-set victory (6-3, 1-6, 6-1) at number three singles.

“The past two conference tournaments left us disappointed since we lost both in heartbreaking fashion,” Jung said. “I’m glad we were able to redeem ourselves this year against the team that took it from us last year.”

Along with the CCIW Championship, the Bluejays were awarded several individual honors. Jung

King Jr. weekend, Krohn paced towards Adam’s office tightly grasping a large, brown envelope containing a white piece of pap e r with a

blank signature line: The contract for Elmhurst College’s new head football coach.

Adam accepted the offer quicker than the dominoes had dropped to this point. However, by institutional regulation, Adam was not able to sign the contract until Lester’s last day of employment.

“It was unbelievable and hectic,” says Adam about keeping the contract a secret for a couple days.

Hectic? His first day on the job created a new definition for that.

Jumaane Ross-Brown, a cornerback recruit from Texas, had been in town with his mother that same week. Their flight back to the Lone Star State was scheduled to depart dreadfully early the next morning.

Instead of a yellow taxicab waiting to pick up Ross-Brown and his mother outside the Courtyard Chicago Oak Brook Terrace at 4:00 a.m., it was Adam who insisted on driving them to Midway Airport.

“I always believe that last impression is the most important,” said Adam, who has served as the recruiting coordinator for the past five years. “I could have pawned it off on somebody else like an intern but it wouldn’t have been the same.”

Was it important? In the fall, Langhorst Field will officially become Ross-Brown’s new home for the next four years, the same field where the final domino toppled.

“I’m the head coach at Elmhurst College today because Doug Marrone is now coaching the Buffalo Bills,” said Adam smiling. “Isn’t that amazing?”

and Harbert were both named first-team all-conference while Tanaka and Vincent McPherson were named second-team all-conference. Coach McPherson was also named the CCIW’s Coach of the Year.

“I’m glad I got to share one of my most memorable college moments with my teammates, coaches, and our families, Jung said. “It’s always special when I can put on our uniform and do something for our program.”

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May 14, 2013

The 2013 Leader Sports Awards Female Athlete of the Year: Lauren Williams School record holder in the mile (5:04.67) and 1,500 meters (4:33.13).

Three-time all-conference cross country athlete (second place in 2012).

Eight-time all-conference track athlete ( fourth place in 1,500, fifth place in 5,000 in 2013) *2012 NCAA Track and Field Championships qualifier (15th place in the 1,500 meters) 2012 NCAA Cross Country Championships qualifier (52nd place) 2011-2012 Cross Country team co-captain Plans for after graduation: work as an elementary school teacher, train for road races and marathons, and volunteer as an assistant coach for the Bluejays.

Favorite quote: “Success isn’t how far you got, but the distance you traveled from where you started.”

Steve Prefontaine *2013 outdoor track season is still in progress.

Male Athlete of the Year: Scottie Williams Holds the single season record for rushing yards (2,046).

Holds single-season record for rushing touchdowns (22).

Holds school record for most career rushing attempts(887), rushing yards (5,258), and rushing touchdowns (50).

2012 Gagliardi Trophy winner Plans for after graduation: “I’m not sure what the future holds. I’m not completely done with football, so maybe something could miraculously happen, or I’ll have to grow up and stop playing kids games. I have a little bit of time to start applying for jobs even though I’m behind the ball game.”

Favorite quote: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Philippians 4:3

Photos by Kim McElheny & Peter Flockencier The athletes bordering the Sports Award pages were chosen by the coaches and The Leader sports staff as “team players.” These athletes embody great work ethic, good sportsmanship, and a dedication to make their team the best it can be. Pictured are David Griggs (Men’s Soccer), Kaiitlyn Wilks and Erin Thill (Volleyball), Scottie Williams and Wayne Tuckson (Football), Kelsey Plefka and Lauren Williams (Women’s Cross Country), Andrew Debolt (Men’s Cross Country), Andrea Kmak (Women’s Soccer), Alyssa Collins and Brittany Meyer (Bowling), and Danny Balderas (Wrestling). Fiona McMahon and Karen Senette (Women’s Basketball) Not pictured are Joseph Kennedy and Chris Fischer (Baseball).

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Male Team of the Year: Wrestling

May 14. 2013

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Male Coach of the Year: Steve Marianetti NWCA Division III National Coach of the Year Thoughts on the season: “I knew that this was a special team. It took me ten years to build a group with so many dedicated upperclassmen and that experience was evident at the CCIW and NCAA Championships.”

Overall record of 12-1 Second place at National Duels Third straight CCIW victory Second place at NCAA Midwest Regional Second place at NCAA Championships Five All-Americans (Dalton Bullard, Mike Benefiel, Joe Rau, Ryan Earley, Miguel Venecia) Two national champions (Rau and Benefiel)

Female Team of the Year: Volleyball

Female Coach of the Year: Julie Hall CCIW Coach of the Year Midwest Region Coach of the Year Thoughts on the season: “The old adage that hard work pays off certainly attributed to the success of the volleyball team this year. That and a focus and belief in each other that this would be the year they would take each other to the top. That competitive spirit and the bond they had made the journey pretty special.”

CCIW Champions NCAA Midwest Region Champions NCAA Final Four Participants CCIW and NCAA Midwest Region MVP (Megan Reynolds) Two first-team all-conference athletes (Antoneya Veasy-Smith and Kaitlyn Wilks) Three second-team all-conference athletes (Erin Thill, Marci Novak, and Sam Szarmach) Three first-team all-region athletes (Reynolds, Veasy-Smith, and Wilks) One first-team all-American (Reynolds) One honorable mention all-American (Wilks)

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Men’s track and field places eighth at CCIW PAUL ROUMELIOTIS staff writer After a season filled with injuries, illness, and unfortunate weather conditions, the men’s track and field team finished the CCIW Championships in last place on April 27.

“I was infected with a virus in my eye, so naturally I knew I wasn’t going to have my best meet,” senior Jake Austin said. However, even with limited vision, Austin’s performance still earned him an All-Conference honor by placing sixth in the steeplechase.

Sophomore Will Cross was diagnosed with mono the week before the conference meet, forcing him to take a week-long break from running and miss out on prime practice time. Freshman Aaron Similton was nagged by a knee injury which kept him out of certain events in order to stay healthy.

However, injuries or sickness did not plaque sophomore Thomas Cooper who ended up achieving a new school record in the hammer throw. After not having a clue at his mark, Cooper admitted to being frustrated after the throw because of his sub-par

warm-up throws.

“I was in this weird place between being angry with myself and trying to just relax and throw,” Cooper said. “Apparently it worked. It was awesome, not something I expected to do when I started throwing hammer last year, but by mid-season, it was my goal for this year.”

After a disappointing season, junior Jordan Bartolazzi continues to look at the positives.

“We had a number of freshmen really step up and become significant contributors and make a name for themselves in our program,” said Bartolazzi. “The future looks bright with guys like that leading the way.”

Head Coach James Akita admits that this was definitely a rebuild year for the Bluejays after losing nearly one-third of the team last year due to graduation.

“We definitely need to step up next year and I’m hoping that the young men can learn from this year to make next year stronger,” Akita said. “It’s been a fun season and I know the guys had a great time, so I can always turn to that as being a positive and an area that we can build upon.”

Photo courtesy of Erik Guta Senior Jake Austin runs with limited vision to a sixth place finish in the steeplechase at the CCIW Championships.

Lacrosse finishes season strong against Calvin CHARLIE ROUMELIOTIS staff writer A season filled with many lows ends in a high, giving the Elmhurst College lacrosse team a much-needed boost of confidence heading into next spring.

“Coach [Mark] Morrell didn’t talk about next season at all this year, even though we only had four wins,” said junior Jon Ke-

faloukos. “Now that the season is over, we can reflect on next year and this win was exactly what we needed.”

In a game that featured four lead changes, EC gutted out a 9-8 road victory against Calvin College to conclude its first season in school history, capping a 4-10 overall record (2-8 in the MLC).

Freshmen Tyler Dailey and Alex Opyd paved the way for the

Bluejays combining for five goals and two assists, with Opyd assisting on freshman Mal Euson’s game-winner with less than two minutes to play.

“Overall, I thought given the circumstance we played well,” said freshman Jack Albertini, who earned honorable mention allconference selection by the Midwest Lacrosse Conference.

“Obviously, I would have liked

to see a couple more wins, but all we can do it look to the future and improve.”

Tyler York registered 13 saves and picked up his fourth win of the season. He finished the season ranked second amongst all goaltenders in saves per game in the MLC with just over 17.

Next year, the Bluejays will look to improve as a collective whole.

The team believes that having

their first full year under their belt helped.

“I think to get better next year we just have to get more accustomed to writing as a unit,” said Albertini. “It was very hard this year because we rarely got to scrimmage each other so putting things together in game under pressure was difficult.”

Lone senior leads Bluejays to split with U of C LUKE TANAKA staff writer In her last doubleheader as a Bluejay, senior catcher Lindsey Mikulecky starred as the Jays’ split with the University of Chicago on April 30. Mikulecky crushed a two-run homer to left field in a 6-2 loss and then scored the walkoff run in a 3-2 win.

“Our last games against Chicago were ones that I will remember for the rest of my life and were a great way to end my softball career here at EC,” Mikulecky said in an email interview. “It felt amazing to end my career on a good at bat and [scoring the] winning run, it’s something I’ll never forget.”

As the only senior on the team, Mikulecky’s leadership has been key for the Jays this year.

“Lindsey set a great example for our younger players,” Head Coach Michael Paulo said in an email interview. “She is a hard nose player that loves to compete and is as hard of a worker as any athlete I have coached.”

In the first game, Mikulecky got the Jays off to a hot start with her two-run blast, but Chicago tied the game in the fourth and scored four runs in the sixth to win 6-2.

In the second game, the teams reversed the script as Chicago scored two runs in the first inning

and the Jays chipped away at the lead late in the game.

The Elmhurst comeback started in the fourth inning when sophomore Katie Boals singled and then advanced to third on a double by sophomore Meg Griffin. The next batter, junior Clare Bukowski, hit a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Boals and bringing the Jays to within one.

In the fifth, the Jays played small ball to tie the score. Freshman Brianna Thompson singled and moved to second on a sacrifice by fellow freshman Stephanie Hintz. Mikulecky, the next batter, walked and sophomore Bella Masini laid down a perfect bunt for a single. With the bases loaded, sophomore Tiffany Potthast was able to reach on a fielding error, scoring Thompson and tying the score at two.

The score would stay tied until the seventh inning. Mikulecky led off the inning by singling in her final at bat as a Bluejay. Then, after advancing to third, the senior scored on Griffin’s walk-off single to center.

During the second game, the feeling in the Jays’ dugout was clear: send Mikulecky off on the right note.

“After losing the first game, there was no way that our team

was going to lose that second game,” Griffin said in an email interview. “We owed it to Lindsey to do everything we could to end her career college career the right way.”

After giving up two runs in the first inning, sophomore Katie Boals pitched lights out, allowing only three hits and four base runners the rest of the way.

Mikulecky leaves as one of the most successful Bluejay catchers in history. She finishes her career at Elmhurst as the all-time leader in walks with 55 and second in homeruns with eight. This year, as the Bluejays’ leadoff hitter, she led the team in on-base percentage (.500) with 23 walks.

But Mikulecky’s intangibles were just as important as her stats.

“I will really miss her leadership and intensity and her abilities as a top notch catcher,” Paulo said.

“Although our season was cut short, I’ve never been on a team with more team chemistry, and Lindsey played a large role in creating that team chemistry,” Griffin added.

The Jays finished the year at 17-15 and 3-11 in conference play.

They return all players, but Mikulecky, for next year’s squad.

Photo courtesy of Lily Velasquez Sophomore Katie Boals throws a pitch in EC’s game against the University of Chicago.

SPORTS

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Baseball closes season with a victory over NCC PAUL ROUMELIOTIS staff writer Seniors Brian Evans, Brian Marquis, Joe Ramirez and Joe Kennedy finished their final season as Bluejays with a 7-6 victory over North Central College on May 5.

“They [the seniors] will be hard to replace, but that is something you face every year at the college level,” Head Coach Joel Southern said. “Every team is different, and we’ll have plenty of talent on hand next season.”

Freshman Brian Cvitkovich scored the Bluejays’ first runs with a single that knocked in two.

Junior Dave Wolak broke the tie in the seventh inning after a triple that scored three. Kennedy also finished the game with two RBI’s.

Freshman Ryan Millan started out the game with six innings giving up four earned runs on seven hits, adding two strikeouts. Ramirez was credited with the win after pitching a perfect two innings in relief. The game finished when sophomore Erik Swanson closed the game notching his third save of the year.

Southern believes it was a pretty good year overall despite missing the conference tournament.

“We feel we’re definitely good enough to be there,” Southern said. “We swung the bats well.

We pitched reasonable well. As a coaching staff, we continue our recruiting and scouting efforts and just evaluate what we need to do better next year.”

Photo by Peter Flockencier Junior Eric Stevenson catches a fly ball in the outfield during the baseball team’s last game against North Central College.

Golf finishes season narrowly missing their goals KELSEY PLEFKA sports editor After shooting a 640 during the first two rounds of the CCIW Championships and being seeded eighth in the conference, the Bluejays completed their season by shooting a two-day total of 1,326 and staying in eighth place.

The field of golfers was plagued

with poor weather conditions during the day on May 3, and Head Coach Jim Kurotsuchi believes it affected their games.

“We have trouble in bad weather as we played poorly the second day at IWU and both days at Augustana,” Kurotsuchi said. “Playing in bad weather is an attitude and we seem to not embrace the idea of going out

and performing in it.”

Although the team did not reach their goal of surpassing North Central and Augustana to finish sixth, Kurotsuchi was able to pull some positives from the tournament. “[Freshman Gavin Lux] played well and finished 16th…and was close to being all-conference,” Kurotsuchi said. “He played as

our individual and shot a 78 and 75, which is tremendous for a freshman who has only played since his junior year of high school. He obviously has a bright future.”

Overall, Kurotsuchi commends his freshmen on their work ethic and ability to spend time outside of practice to improve.

“We need the other six players to get with them,” Kurotchi said.

Kurotsuchi already has an outstanding recruiting class coming in for next season.

“They are already good golfers, better athletes, and throughout the recruiting process said that golf is their priority,” Kurotsuchi said. “Let’s see if that is true…”

Women’s track and field finds individual improvement in seventh place CCIW finish PAUL ROUMELIOTIS staff writer

Photo courtesy of Lily Velasquez Seniors Alyssa Poremba and Lauren Williams race to a fourth and fifth place finish in the 5,000 meters at the CCIW Championships.

The women’s track and field team ran through more rainy conditions on April 26 and 27 and left the CCIW Outdoor Championship with a seventh place finish. North Central took home the team title with 228.5 points.

Seniors Lauren Williams and Alyssa Poremba and freshman Alexis Adams were awarded allconference honors for their efforts on the track and in the field.

Poremba and Willams both placed in the top eight in the 1,500 meters and the 5,000 meters. Williams earned fourth place in the 1,500 meters with a time of 4:44.66 while Poremba finshed about four seconds behind her in sixth place.

In the 5,000 meters, it was Poremba who finished in fourth place in a time of 17:55.90 while Williams finished right behind her in a time of 17:58.86. Along with their all-conference honors in both events, Williams and Poremba became the first Bluejays to break 18 minutes in the 5,000 meters at the conference meet.

“We are a small team, so it is hard to compare us to nationally ranked schools like North Central, but all around we had personal bests and that is what meant the most to us,” Poremba said.

Adams placed sixth in the shot put with a throw of 10.75 meters, also earning all-conference honors.

The squad of sophomores Alex Reid, Elyse Christofanelli, Kim Stellmack and Riley Seiler par-

ticipated in both the 4x100 and 4x400 relay events. The team finished in seventh place for the 4x100 and eighth in the 4x400 scoring points in each event.

“The CCIW Championships and the season as a whole went as well as it could have,” said

“All around, we had personal bests and that is what meant the most to us.”

Alyssa Poremba senior

Head Coach Erik Guta. “Our only goal was for personal improvement.”

The outdoor track season is still ongoing for Poremba and Williams, who competed at the Dr. Keeler Invitational hosted by North Central College in an attempt to qualify for the NCAA Championships. Williams placed 10th in the 1,500 meters in a time of 4:39.59 while Poremba finished in 15th in a time of 4:44.59.

“Four years ago, I never imagined that I would be considering qualifying for Nationals at any point in my college career,” Williams said. “It is amazing.”

Both women will compete again at the Gregory Invitational at North Central College on May 17 in an attempt to better their times.

Men’s tennis wins first CCIW Championship since 1954 KELSEY PLEFKA & BRANDON RINCON sports editor & staff writer For the first time in almost 60 years, The Bluejays took home the CCIW Championship trophy after defeating Wheaton College 5-3 on May 4.

See TENNIS on page 19

Junior Will Jung gets ready to volley back to a Wheaton player in the Bluejay’s last home match against the Thunder.

Photo by Luke Tanaka