ELMHURST UNIVERSITY J-TERM ISSUE FEBRUARY 6, 2024 ELMHURSTLEADER.COM
COVER BY Rachel Fratt
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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Dear Leader Reader, I hope you have had a restful winter break and are ready to start the new semester! For our J-Term Issue, we decided to take on an “around the world” theme. In light of recent international events and conflicts such as the Israel-Palestine war and the current migrant crisis, we felt it would be timely to dedicate an issue to learning about events and cultures from around the world. Now more than ever, it’s essential to broaden our knowledge of the world, so I hope you’ll find this issue educational and thought-provoking. You’ll find updates on international events, global reflections, foreign film reviews, and more. Also, if you’re interested in learning and writing about topics such as these, now would be a great time to join The Leader. With a multitude of events taking place both around the world and on campus, we need curious readers and writers like you to help us cover them! If this sounds meaningful to you, please consider stopping by for one of our weekly meetings every Tuesday in Old Main 107 from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. We always have interesting ideas to discuss! I hope you enjoy reading this issue, and have a wonderful semester. Sincerely, Adriana Briscoe (she/her)
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EDITORIAL BOARD Adriana Briscoe (she/her) Editor-in-Chief
Sarah Glees (she/her) Multimedia Editor
Samuel Shulman (he/him) Staff Writer
Sabrina Scola (she/her) Social Media Manager, Sports Editor
ADVISER
Eve Hvarre (she/her) Chief Copy Editor
Marty Munguia (he/him) Photo Editor
Rachel Fratt (she/her) Head Graphics Editor
STAFF
Jennie Bosas (she/her) Graphics Editor Lily Morgan (she/her) News Editor Ian Murphy (he/him) Opinions Editor
@ElmhurstLeader
Lydia Avery (she/her) Staff Writer Gabriel E. Galindo (he/him) Staff Writer, Spanish Translator Tyler Ptazkowski (he/him) Staff Writer
Eric Lutz (he/him)
CONTACT US Elmhurst University 190 Prospect Avenue Elmhurst, IL 60126 General Inquires & Letters to Editor: theleadernewsec@gmail.com
@ElmhurstLeader ABOUT US The Leader is the student-run newspaper to the students, faculty, and administrators of Elmhurst University. The Leader is not submitted to any person or organization for prior approval. The contents are the decision of the editor in agreement with the editorial board. Opinions expressed in The Leader do not necessarily reflect those of the paper or its staff and are not intended to represent those of the EU at large. No text, photos, or art can be reproduced without direct permission of The Leader.
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CHICAGO HAS A VARIETY OF FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHILE CONFRONTING ITS MIGRANT INFLUX Tyler Ptaszkowski (he/him) Staff Writer It is irrefutable that the city of Chicago, which is home to millions of people, is facing an ongoing migrant crisis. However, how exactly this issue should be addressed remains both greatly uncertain and highly debated. Prior to my first semester at Elmhurst University, my knowledge of migrants was extremely limited. However, as the topic of my English course was refugees, and many of my classmates were international students (some of whom are refugees themselves), I became considerably more informed about migrants and the many challenges they have experienced, both recently and historically. Also, as a resident of Chicago, I find that this particular issue hits close to home, in more ways than one. For over a year, migrants have been fleeing countries like Venezuela, which have been experiencing what has been described as a “humanitarian crisis,” for the United States. Chicago, the third most populous city in the U.S., has presented itself as a “sanctuary city” for migrants in need. Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson, journalists, and migrants themselves have placed much of the blame for the city’s migrant influx on Texas governor Greg Abbott. Johnson has implored
Abbott not to overwhelm the city with busloads of migrants, especially as weather conditions and temperatures have worsened substantially. I myself have wondered whether migrants have been able to receive sufficient care and resources at shelters, particularly because temperatures in Chicago fell below zero over the past few weeks, and many migrants arrive with unsuitable attire. The death of 5-year-old Jean Carlos Martinez Rivero, who suffered a medical episode at an overcrowded migrant shelter in December 2023, has also raised concerns about migrant safety and medical attention at shelters. Chicago suburbs have also been impacted by the migrant crisis, and officials have formulated different strategies for handling this issue, such as the municipality of Arlington Heights developing a bus schedule ordinance. Unfortunately, it appears that for every initiative, there is a setback. In January 2024, a Texas bus company sued Chicago, alleging that the city’s penalties on buses dropping off migrants are a violation of the Constitution. Although Brandon Johnson has called upon the federal government to step in, it seems that certain members of the government have no interest in intervening.
In November 2023, Brandon Johnson set a 60day deadline for asylum seekers to remain in shelters before they face eviction, though this deadline was later extended due to the frigid conditions. It should be noted that Chicago is not alone in dealing with a migrant crisis. New York City, the most populous city in the country, is having difficulties of its own. Notably, in January 2024, nearly 2,000 migrants were relocated to a high school in New York, forcing students to return to remote learning. It may be difficult for some to avoid politicizing this issue, especially with a presidential election just around the corner, along with the Democratic National Convention, which is scheduled to take place this summer in Chicago. It is my hope that everyone can remain informed about this issue and come to view it from both a logical and humanitarian perspective. After all, many migrants are forced to flee, rather than simply choosing to do so, and bring their own hardships with them. As Michael Loria writes in the Chicago SunTimes, “Not all [migrants] are coming under such desperate circumstances, but many are, and once you hear about their experiences firsthand, it’s hard to quit thinking about them.”
President Joe Biden has pledged to make “significant compromises” with Congress Republicans in return for support for aid to Ukraine and Israel, despite this being an entirely separate issue. PHOTO PROVIDED BY Newscom
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UNITED STATES AND UK CARRY OUT NUMEROUS STRIKES AGAINST HOUTHI BASES IN YEMEN Yemen,” the statement said.
Adriana Briscoe (she/her) Editor-in-Chief
The United States and the United Kingdom armed forces have carried out numerous strikes against Houthi bases in Yemen in response to the group’s attacks on ships in the Red Sea. They released a joint statement backed by 24 countries regarding their strikes: “In response to continued illegal and reckless Houthi attacks against vessels transiting the Red Sea and surrounding waterways, the armed forces of the United States and the United Kingdom, with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, the Netherlands, and New Zealand, conducted additional strikes against eight targets in Houthi-controlled areas of
The Houthis are part of Iran’s “axis of resistance” against Israel, the U.S., and the wider West, as well as groups like Hamas and Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement. The Houthis’ attacks have disrupted global shipping and propelled fears of global inflation. Yemen is a crucial region because it forms the eastern side of the ‘Gate of Grief,’ a 16-mile body of water that marks the entrance to the Red Sea, one of the most important shipping lanes in the world. In response to the Houthis’ attacks, many shipping companies are taking a much longer route around southern Africa rather than traveling through the Red Sea.
The attacks have also raised concerns about what the situation in the Middle East will look like following the war.
The Houthis claim to be targeting ships owned, flagged, or somehow tied to Israel; however, many of the vessels that have been attacked show no connection to Israel, according to BBC. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree vocalized the Houthis’ intentions to retaliate: “These assaults won’t go unpunished.” In addition, the Houthis say their goal is to pressure Israel to halt their ongoing attacks on the Gaza Strip. It’s unclear how these tensions will continue to play out.
RUFFLED FEATHERS: “HASHTAGS DON’T WIN HOLY WARS” Jennie Bosas (she/her)
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TAIWAN ELECTION AND WARNINGS FROM CHINA Adriana Briscoe (she/her) Editor-in-Chief Blah blah blah
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THE 2024 UNITED STATES ELECTION: WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD nations in the balance.
Samuel Shulman (he/him) Staff Writer
It is undeniable that any election year brings about a low rumble of anxiety across the nation, and it only grows stronger as the penultimate Tuesday arrives when American voters make their voices heard about who they believe will best lead a world superpower for the next four years.
Presently, the U.S. is involved in financing two major world conflicts between Europe and the Middle East. The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 saw the Biden Administration send more than $75 billion in aid to Ukraine in direct support of the country, as well as tightening allyships with countries affiliated with the Northern Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO. With the current Israel-Palestine War beginning
However, the rumble of the Presidential election isn’t just felt by the 341 million people who live in the United States. “Intense curiosity” is how U.S. special correspondent Katty Kay described the conversations she’s had with people after spending several weeks traveling across Europe discussing this year’s presidential election.
Elmhurst University junior Mujeeb Nayeem, an international student from Saudi Arabia, stated that educational scholarships for international students have changed during different U.S. presidential administrations. Nayeem stated that one change he noticed was that during Biden’s administration, more international students were able to study abroad in the U.S. than during Trump’s administration.
Europe is eagerly, if not anxiously, watching the U.S. presidential election, especially since the presidential candidates have had major impacts on Europe since World War II. With the advent of the Marshall Plan, beginning in 1948, the U.S. spent $15 billion financing reconstruction in Europe following six years of war. This plan benefited many nations in Western Europe, while those in the Eastern Bloc, under the Soviet Union, did not receive aid from it. This is where the decisions made by the U.S. became a double-edged sword.
In doing so, the U.S. became involved in dozens of wars, whether sending in their own armed forces or supporting others. From the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Dirty Wars in Central and South America, the U.S. became a formidable nation, creating a modern legacy of presidential decisions holding the fate of other
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With Ron DeSantis officially dropping out of the race as of Jan. 21, 2024, Nikki Haley and Donald Trump remain the only two Republican candidates out of the original fourteen. As for the Democratic candidates, Dean Philips, Marianne Williamson, and incumbent President Joe Biden are still in the running. “It is a lose-lose situation,” says EU sophomore Andrew Fapp, who believes it will come down to another Biden-Trump battle. “I believe both candidates will provide good for some communities, but neither will provide good for all communities. They’re going to cater to the crowds that support them.” in October 2023, the U.S. approved $14.5 billion to be sent to Israel, with $147 million worth of artillery being sent in December 2023. These conflicts have undoubtedly brought more controversy to this election season, as many American voters are unsure of who to cast their ballots for regarding the presidential candidate’s intentions on where American spending will go. This issue has turned the eyes of the world to
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Fapp stated that neither Trump nor Biden delivered on their promises, “which is disappointing.” Fapp, like many other young adults in the nation, believes that a younger candidate would serve the nation better, as older candidates are “too out of touch.” From an international student perspective, Nayeem said that he would want Biden to stay but also thinks that a younger candidate would be ideal. For this election, though, he believes “it’s choosing the lesser of two evils at this point.”
GRAPHIC BY Rachel Fratt
The fight between capitalism and communism led to more U.S. involvement in global conflicts. While the U.S. would provide aid to its allies, countries that were neutral or not entirely Western-centered in their economies became targets for the U.S.’s containment method, which sought to keep communism from spreading.
the U.S., as depending on the next president, the outcomes of these conflicts could change severely. Katty Kay stated that a change in U.S. policy “would be felt beyond Ukraine’s border and would particularly worry those European states that neighbour Russia.” The most likely result is that other nations could begin to feel that the U.S. is no longer a reliable ally, which would be detrimental in other aspects for not only Americans but other nations across the world.
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“20 DAYS IN MARIUPOL”: THE ROLE OF JOURNALISTS Lydia Avery (she/her) Staff Writer In November 2023, PBS Frontline released “20 Days in Mariupol,” a documentary film that shows the 20 days that Associated Press journalists were trapped in the city of Mariupol, Ukraine as Russians invaded. The documentary follows Mstyslav Chernov and his team, and viewers get a graphic and often uncomfortable look into the unfolding of the events in Mariupol in April 2022. Graphic descriptions, offensive language, and spoilers ahead. As the film begins, I am already uneasy. The score tells me that what I am about to watch will disturb me, and it has only just begun. The shaky first-person camera footage puts the viewer in the shoes of Chernov, and I am not sure that I like seeing things from his perspective. Not only because I am afraid, but mainly because I feel immensely uncomfortable with what he is filming and how he is choosing to film it. He and his team clamor into their van, each outfitted in helmets and bulletproof vests with the giant white letters “PRESS” written across them. When they arrive, they begin by filming a completely terrified older woman — she’s walking her dog and is panicking, unsure of what to do. Her son is still at work, and she doesn’t know if she should go home, and is talking aloud to get anyone to help her. With little to no information, Chernov advises her to go home, and that she’ll be safe there.
Over the 20 days that Chernov documents, time and time again I ask myself if what he is doing is right. Throughout the film, he films dead people and animals in the street, terrified children crying in shelters, mourning families in hospitals, mass graves being filled up, and
While I know that it’s important for the world to see what’s happened in Ukraine, I ask myself, where is the line? I believe wherever it is, Chernov crosses it time and time again and doesn’t seem to grasp the problem. To me, the most egregious example of Chernov crossing the line is when he films a mother finding out her 18-month-old son has died. She is distraught, and her husband tries to console her as best he can. She cries out “But why? Why?!” Over and over she asks why. I begin to wonder why myself but for a different reason. Why am I watching this woman in her most vulnerable moment of her life? I watched this clip and my heart broke, and I cried, but it truly left me wondering: what purpose does it serve for us all to watch this? Does the world need to know of the atrocities committed by the Russian forces in Ukraine? Yes, of course, they do. Do those Russian forces, and the government instructing them, need to be held accountable for what they have done? Obviously yes. Yet, what purpose is there to show the face of this dead baby boy? What purpose does it serve to show his mother and father in the moment they receive the news that their child is dead? I struggle to see the point in this. One may argue that we need to see the worst of the worst for change to happen or for world leaders to act. Even Chernov himself says in response to people being angry at him for filming them, “I understand their anger, their country is being attacked. It’s our country too, and we have to tell its story.” They tell this story well, but then they share too much and cross boundaries they don’t need to cross.
The issue of children being protected from the media is a hot-button issue right now. There are laws protecting children in the film and television industry, but none to regulate social media or journalists. Family vloggers and other media moguls who use their children as their main protagonists in their content currently have no laws stopping them from exploiting children. Laws need to be made to protect the online identities of children, and this should include what journalists are allowed to film as well. At the very least, the faces of all those under 18 need to be blurred. There are also multiple examples of different people clearly not wanting to be filmed or being angry at the journalists, including a young man coming downstairs toward the film crew who shouts, “Yeah morons, keep filming us.” Chernov believes the man’s anger comes from not understanding who is attacking them, but I believe it’s coming from the fact that someone filming rather than helping. Closer to the film’s end, a doctor shows the crew to the basement of the last standing hospital in Mariupol. He shows them the piles of dead bodies wrapped in blankets, including an infant body, carefully wrapped in a sheet. He unwraps the sheet but says, “I can’t show you the face.” Even dead, this doctor respects the child’s privacy. I highly recommend that you set aside an hour and a half to watch this documentary, but I do caution that the material is graphic and challenging to watch. If you do take the time, I ask that you pose the same question I did: what right do journalists have to film people at the most vulnerable and painful moments of their lives? PHOTO BY Frontline
She in fact wasn’t safe, as later we saw her again in a shelter, angry with him for telling her to go home because it was shelled. Only five minutes into the film, and I already wonder if Chernov is really doing the good that he seems to believe he is doing here.
more.
I will point out that world leaders knew precisely what was happening in Germany in the 1930s. Would videos have been any different than all the photos taken? If someone had filmed a dead Jewish child, do we honestly believe that anything would have gone differently? I honestly can’t answer this question, but it must be asked regardless. FEBRUARY 6, 2024
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“MABOROSHI”: LIFE AND LOVE IN A STRANGE WORLD Eve Hvarre (she/her) Chief Copy Editor For anime lovers, a new MAPPA original film was released on Netflix on Jan. 15. The film first aired in Japanese theaters in September 2023 but is now available in the United States after Netflix gained license to it. The famous studio, while notorious for its extreme labor conditions and high-quality standards, has released a multitude of critically acclaimed and popular anime series and movies since its start in 2011. Some examples include “In This Corner of the World,” “Chainsaw Man,” and “Jujutsu Kaisen.” “Maboroshi” is an original film that follows 14-year-old Masamune and his friends as they try to navigate life following a steelworks factory explosion that leaves their rural town frozen in time and creates mysterious smoke creatures that affect the town’s people.
unexpected twists and turns that sparked multiple emotions, as well as thoughts and conversations that asked questions important to the themes portrayed.
A catalyst for unexpected events, this discovery alters the course of the lives these people have been living in their isolated, time-frozen town.
While the movie has stunning visuals and an emotional story full of metaphors and life lessons, some plot points felt unnecessarily unresolved.
The movie focuses on friendships and relationships as themes of love, life, and what it truly means to be “human” are explored. On top of being “stuck in time,” other fantastical elements, such as the smoke creatures and questions of divine intervention, are spread out throughout the movie that add to the beauty of it. The animation and atmospheric art style of the film are stunning and very well-executed, once again reflecting the studio’s consistent, top-notch film quality. The visuals, in combination with the storyline, create an emotional coming-of-age story that explores young love and self-discovery through times of tragedy and confusion. Going in blind or somewhat blind can best provide a meaningful experience. It had many
PHOTO BY Netflix
The people of the town try to go about their lives, living the same days over and over, all while faced with the looming threat of deadly smoke that emerges from the factory. After
years of this loop, one of Masamune’s classmates sneaks him into the steelworks factory, introducing him to a peculiar girl who finally brings some change to his life.
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Specifically, the way the plot points progressed left a lot to be desired as the story became somewhat convoluted, leaving a sense of whiplash in the third act. Left with unsatisfactory reactions, there is room for improvement, but despite that, the movie is impactful with a meaningful story and offers something for every viewer. With new anime shows and movies constantly being released, movies like “Maboroshi” can be swept away in the flow of releases, but this is one that stuck. The beautiful visuals, storyline, and unique characters make for a heartfelt experience that leaves viewers with much to reflect on about humanity and one’s own life.
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“SOCIEDAD DE LA NIEVE”: LO QUE PASA CUANDO EL MUNDO TE ABANDONA Gabriel E. Galindo (él/él) Redactor del Personal La Sociedad de la Nieve es una dramatización de hechos verdaderos que ocurrieron en 1972, donde 40 pasajeros del vuelo 571, se extraviaron en las montañas de los Andes en camino a Chile. Estos pasajeros, jóvenes jugadores de rugby de Montevideo, Uruguay, y miembros adicionales de su familia, se que quedaron atrapados entre las congeladas montañas, sin ninguna manera de comunicarse con el mundo exterior. En esta película, los personajes principales son los sobrevivientes de este accidente. No hay un enfoque central, pero el que aparece tener más escenas en esta película es Numa Turcatti, quien fue invitado a este viajo por el jugador y sobreviviente Alfredo “Pancho” Delgado. Sin descombrar el resto de la trama, de los 40
pasajeros, solo sobrevivieron 16 de ellos logro salir con vida. De los 16, Numa no fue uno de hechos. Esto fue debido al que el director, Juan Antonio García Bayona, quiso la trama enfocara más en aquellos que no sobrevivieron esta catástrofe.
escenas, se grabo en Sierra Nevada, España.
Lo que si se debe mencionar es que estos 16 logro sobrevivir debido a su resignación a morir y la audaz decisión de cometer canibalismo. Esta película, por cierto, no muestra nada mórbido o sangriento y en ves lo esconde.
Esta película, en mi opinión, nos a demostrado una historia en cual el ser humano fue puesto a prueba de su sobrevivencia, su moral, y su espíritu, y su condición física ante un infierno invernal que los quebró hasta morir. Nos enseno la fuerza letal de los Andes y el frio de sus cumbres.
Esta decisión ayudo la trama en mantener el suspenso y el drama de la situación en cual se encontraron estos jóvenes. Jóvenes, que, por cierto, fueron de la misma edad que nosotros alumnos universitarios. La situación en la que fueron expuestos estuvo detallada en todo aspecto. Desde el vestuario al maquillaje, hasta incluso el escenario que recreo la fría atmosfera de los Andes. Para estas
El maquillaje de la gravedad de las heridas fue gracias a David Martí y Montse Ribe, aclamados artistas de efectos especiales y Maquillaje quienes trabajaron en El Laberinto del Fauno, que por cierto gano varios premios Oscar.
La Sociedad de la Nieve fue nominada Mejor Película Extranjera para la 96.ª edición de los Premios Oscar, cuya ceremonia iniciara en marzo 10. La película fue estrenada en Uruguay en diciembre 13, 2023 en los Estados Unidos en el 22. Fue estrenada mundialmente en Netflix en enero 4, 2024.
“SOCIETY OF THE SNOW”: WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE WORLD LEAVES YOU Gabriel E. Galindo (he/him) Staff Writer “The Snow Society” is a dramatization of true events that occurred in 1972, where 40 passengers of flight 571 got lost in the Andes mountains on their way to Chile. These passengers, young rugby players from Montevideo, Uruguay, and additional members of their family were trapped between the frozen mountains, without any way to communicate with the outside world. In this film, the main characters are the survivors of this accident. There is no central focus, but the one who appears to have the most scenes in this film is Numa Turcatti, who was invited on this trip by the player and survivor Alfredo “Pancho” Delgado. Without unraveling the rest of the plot, of
the 40 passengers, only 16 of them survived, making it out alive. Of the 16, Numa was not one of the facts. This was because the director, Juan Antonio García Bayona, wanted the plot to focus more on those who did not survive this catastrophe. What should be mentioned is that these 16 managed to survive due to their resignation to die and the bold decision to commit cannibalism. This film does not show anything morbid or bloody and instead hides it. This decision helped the plot maintain the suspense and drama of the situation in which these young people found themselves. Young people, who were the same age as us university students. The situation in which they were exposed was detailed in every aspect. From the costumes to the makeup, even the stage that recreated
the cold atmosphere of the Andes. For these scenes, it was recorded in Sierra Nevada, Spain. The makeup of the severity of the injuries was thanks to David Martí and Montse Ribé, acclaimed special effects and makeup artists who worked on “Pan’s Labyrinth,” which won several Oscars. This film, in my opinion, has shown us a story in which human beings were tested for their survival, their morals, their spirit, and their physical condition in the face of a winter hell that broke them to death. He taught us the lethal force of the Andes and the cold of their peaks. “The Snow Society” was nominated for Best Foreign Film for the 96th Academy Awards, whose ceremony will premiere on March 10. The film was released in Uruguay on Dec. 13, 2023, in the United States on the 22nd. It was released worldwide on Netflix on Jan. 4, 2024.
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EDITORIAL IDEAS FOR CHANGE FROM AROUND THE WORLD
For this issue’s editorial, various members from The Leader’s Editorial Board have written ways to improve campus, community, and general life based on what other cultures across the country and across the world have done.
FRANCE AND CARS (AND TRAINS...MOSTLY) One of the easiest ways to make life better for everyone is to make sure everyone can get where they need to go safely and quickly. The Chicagoland area is already doing a good job at this, and Elmhurst is not too far behind itself. Regular service from Pace buses, Metra rail, and of course plenty of parking and easy interstate highway access makes for great connections around the entire area. Of course, this can be improved! A great example of efficient transportation is France’s inter-city railway network. Western Europe still has plenty of reliance on cars and individual personal transportation but is helped greatly by a continent-spanning network of both high speed and slower inter-urban trains.
According to Rail Europe, SNCF (The national railway of France)’s TGV high-speed rail can turn a six-hour drive from Paris to Lyon into just a two hour train ride. That’s roughly equivalent to driving from Elmhurst to Detroit in terms of both mileage and drive-time. Plus, riders don’t have to go through TSA, wait in a crowded gate, or cram into a cramped economy seat. The real game-changer though is the slower inter-city and regional rail. This is what allows the French to avoid owning cars all together. If you can commute to work, your friends house, the grocery store, or a concert venue on a bus or train, why bother paying for a car for those one or two annual trips that need it?
and the nation is still connected by roads, but now the roads are freed up for people who need to transport bulky goods, delivery trucks moving just the last couple miles, and people who want to drive just for leisure instead of for work. Chicago, and by extension Elmhurst, should invest more in their public transit, making it cleaner, faster, and expanded so people can go where they want to go, when they want to go, without a car, and for a whole lot less.
Of course, many French people still own cars,
URBAN FARM PLANNING WITH SINGAPORE needs, according to Footprint Magazine.
According to Thinesh Paramasilvam of the Singapore Food Agency, Singapore has almost tripled its number of urban farms since 2016. The Singapore Food Agency has a goal to provide 30% of the country’s nutritional needs through local gardening by 2030 and has put $30 million towards farming efforts.
A community garden would offer numerous benefits to EU students and staff. By beginning to grow some of its own food, EU can reduce waste from food travel, ensure food is free of pesticides and chemicals, and ensure food freshness.
In addition, Singapore harnesses the power of technology to optimize its local gardening efforts. For example, it has a motorized roof deck vertical garden that rotates growing pods to give each plant the amount of sunlight it
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Taking inspiration from Singapore’s dedication to urban farming, Elmhurst University could implement a community garden in one of its green spaces to support sustainable living and urban gardening.
A community garden could also create a sense of community among students who work together to grow the food. According to a study of 111 Singapore residents by the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, community gar-
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deners reported higher levels of subjective well-being, resilience, and optimism than individual/home gardeners and non-gardeners, which suggests potential mental health benefits of community gardening.
Letter to Editor Submissions Letters to the editor can be submitted below or sent to leadernewsec@gmail.com. Letters must include your full name and Elmhurst University affiliation. All letters should be 300 words or less in length. The editors retain the right to edit letters before publication. Don’t forget to spell-check. The Leader is the student-run newspaper speaking to students, faculty and administrators of Elmhurst University. The Leader is not submitted to any person or organization for prior approval. The contents are the decision of the editor in agreement with the editorial board. Opinions expressed in The Leader do not necessarily reflect those of the paper or its staff, and are not intended to represent those of EU at-large. All text, photos and art cannot be reproduced without direct permission of The Leader.
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Singapore is a country that has shown dedication to urban farm planning to meet its population’s nutritional needs. Since it has a population density of 19,000 people per acre, it needs to be thoughtful in using its space economically.
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WHAT I LEARNED WHILE STUDYING ABROAD IN ENGLAND Adriana Briscoe (she/her) Editor-in-Chief In January last year, I went with a group of students on a whirlwind tour of seven English cities for two weeks. We stayed in Liverpool, London, and Oxford, and took day trips to York, Chester, Bath, and the Cotswolds. This was a highly transformative experience that taught me a lot about the world, life, and myself. I highly encourage all college students to consider studying abroad because doing so exposes them to new ideas and teaches life lessons. By immersing themselves in a new environment, students who study abroad can practice intercultural communication skills and expand their global perspectives. Although I only stayed there for two weeks, studying abroad in England allowed me to get a taste of a new environment, which helped me begin to grow intercultural communication skills and cultural literacy. One exchange I had with a cashier in Liverpool exemplified this occurrence: I went up to the counter to order a sandwich, and the cashier asked me, “Are you okay?” I felt baffled. Do I look like I’m not okay? I thought. I didn’t know what to say, so I just ordered my food without answering his question.
me to be resourceful and willing to ask for help when it comes to navigating everyday problems. Not only did I improve my intercultural communication skills and problem-solving skills, but I also learned the importance of staying open to learning new things. I learned many fun, interesting facts that I never would have learned had I not gone on this trip. When our group took a tour of the Globe Theatre in London, we learned that back in Shakespeare’s time, audience members wanted to get a seat near the sides of the stage rather than near the front of the stage so that they could “hear the play.” Paying attention and being present in a foreign environment can lead one to learn information they never would have expected to learn. By opening myself up to acquiring more knowledge, I returned to the U.S. with a bit more of a well-rounded perspective on life. I also learned about cultural values in England that I would like to see emulated here in the U.S. England has invested in many efforts to encourage sustainable living, such as only giving out plastic bags at grocery stores when customers ask for them and offering plenty of plant-based options in restaurants and shops. These are practices that I want to see more of in the U.S.
people in England seem to live. In the cafes, restaurants, and shops, I noticed that people tend to take their time with eating and shopping and tend to be present with the people they’re with. I loved immersing myself in this more mindful, relaxed way of life, and I’m currently working on learning to “stop and smell the roses” more often. Overall, this experience was truly memorable and life-changing. For me, it marks a milestone in gaining a newfound sense of independence, confidence, and self-awareness, and I’ll never forget each city’s essence: the industrial feel of Liverpool, the old-timey, touristy feel of York, the quaint, classy feel of Chester, the cosmopolitan feel of London, the college-town feel of Oxford, the spa-culture feel of Bath, and the cottage-core feel of the Cotswolds. If you want to challenge yourself to expand your worldview and get out of your comfort zone, go study abroad — it is worth the investment because you’ll return having learned ideas and lessons that will last you a lifetime.
I also appreciate the balanced lifestyle that many
After the interaction, a quick Google search taught me that “Are you okay?” is a greeting similar to “How are you?” in the United States., and that an appropriate response would be “Yeah great, thanks. You?” I still messed up the response a couple of times later on in the trip, but I began to get the hang of it. I learned from this experience that it’s important to prepare oneself for cultural exchanges in a new country by learning the culture’s norms, customs, language, communication styles, and more. In addition to gaining greater intercultural awareness, studying abroad also challenged me to take greater responsibility for my life and improve my problem-solving skills. At one point, I lost the laundry pods I packed and needed to ask one of my peers for help with getting my laundry done. This mistake taught
PHOTO PROVIDED BY Adriana Briscoe FEBRUARY 6, 2024
THE LEADER
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