The Leader - March 8, 2016 by Elmhurst University - The Leader

THE LEADER

VOL.48 50SEPTEMBER March 8, 2016 THE AWARD-WINNING STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT ELMHURST COLLEGE. VOL. 10, 2013

The Idiot’s Guide to Voting

New twists on classic childhood games

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EC administration responds to Springfield Gianfranco Ocampo news editor

The Elmhurst College administration has assured the student body that the college will cover approximately 700 students who may potentially not be covered by their MAP grant. Since a budget impasse in Springfield over the past year bill 2043 was passed by both the Illinois senate and the House of representative, which was eventually vetoed by Governor Bruce Rauner and then failed to be overridden by the House. In a press release, Bruce Rauner’s administration stated that there is no source for funding the $271 million necessary to fund an estimated 125,000 MAP grant recepients. "It would explode the state's budget deficit, exacerbate the state's cash flow crisis, and place further strain on social service providers and recipients who are already suffering from the State's deficit spending,” Rauner told the Associated Press. In response to the potential cuts of MAP funds to college students, former intern presi-

dent Larry Braskamp sent out a campus wide email to the campus promising that the college will cover any necessary aid. “We at Elmhurst College have decided to honor the MAP grants promised to the approximately 700 Elmhurst students who would have received a total of $3.5 million from the state this year. In an email interview Braskamp states that since the Fall of 2015 the college has prepared to cover any expenses necessary to any MAP grant recipients. “Last fall we, the Board of Trustees at Elmhurst College, decided we would honor the MAP grants to the students for the fall semester,” he said. “More recently we also decided to support the students enrolled during this semester.” Braskamp expressed the need to help cover Elmhurst College students to be as it would potentially cost any of the students missing their MAP funding to possibly lose their enrollment. “Students who receive MAP grants do not have the financial resources to assume that

internet photo Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner and the democratic house are at odds with a budget for MAP

extra debt which can be up to around $4000 per year,” he said. “It is not the students fault that the state has not yet funded the MAP program.” The House democrats, however, are finding alternative means to combat Rauners veto to fund higher education. Spokesperson for Democratic Speaker Michael Madigan told The Chicago Tribune that they would rely on dollars from special funds in which a

provision in Rauner’s budget proposal allows the state to forgo repaying more than $450 million that was borrowed from other funds that was used to plug last years deficit. Braskamp said in the email interview that the administration will further discuss any future plans past this spring term on how the college will handle the situation should MAP grant funding be compromised indefinitely.

Braskamp also stated that the administration is appreciative of the efforts of the student body over the past month with the schools MAP grant week. “And we encourage students and their parents, faculty, staff, alumni, and local Elmhurst citizens to continue to contact the legislators and the Governor about MAP,” he said. “We still remain hopeful that MAP will be funded.

SGA passes vote on new water fountains Gianfranco Ocampo news editor

Elmhurst College’s Student Government Association (SGA) passed a majority vote proposal for the replacement of numerous water fountains across campus at their Mar. 3 meeting. All the water fountain replacements are going to be attached with a filling station and will filter the water according to Service Director Mark Wakely The water fountains that are replacing the old ones are Elkay EZ coolers, of which are all priced at exactly $998. Ten new fountains will be ordered which will come out to $9,776.28 including shipping. There will be ten locations in total that will receive these new water filing station in the residence halls, A.C Buehler Library, Irion Hall, and the Mill Theater. The proposal was made in September 2015 and has had

two failed votes on Dec. 10 and Jan. 11 due to a low number of representatives, but on Feb. 11 SGA voted with nine new representatives enabling them to properly vote on the bill. The proposal was also met with opposition by SGA representative Alex Romano who argued that SGA was not prepared to vote due to overlooking the time it would take to install the fountains, the pricing details, inaccurate student body feedback, and misunderstanding of the facts. “The attempt at a Dec. 10 vote was premature, the attempt at a Jan. 11 vote was premature, as well as the attempt of the Feb. 25 vote,” Romano said in the meeting. “All premature because we did not have all the updated knowledgeable facts that we needed for an informed decision.” Romano’s proposed amendment was to purchase three Elkay EZH200 filters at $640 each totaling in a budget plan of $3,782.

Photo courtesy by Katelyn Ditzler The new fountains will both filter the water but also be attached with filling stations.

The intent was to gauge student reactions to the water fountains and receive

proper feedback and determine whether other fountains should be installed.

Continued on page 4

NEWS

March 8, 2016

ecleader.org

Status of Brazilian Olympics unphased

SARAH ASTRA editor-in-chief

The Zika virus has reached a new high of 105 million infected in Brazil and still, Scott Blackmun, the chief executive of the United States Olympic Committee, is not worried about the Summer Olympic Games being held in Rio de Janeiro. As of last week, the World Health Organization declared the Zika virus a global health crisis though Blackmun maintains that the risk is not high. “The risk is real, but I don’t think the risk is high enough

for me to cause me to change my travel plans,” he said to The New York Times. “I’m telling you right here and right now, I think our mission is to support our athletes as they compete in the Olympics.” The Zika virus is described as a neurological disease which causes birth defects in children and spreads through the bite of a mosquito, also being linked to temporary paralysis and, in extreme cases, death, according to a new study in the medical journal The Lancet.

Internet photo The chief executive of the U.S Olympic Committee confident that the olympics will take place in Brazil

Yemen retirment home suffers shooting A retirement home which was set up by Mother Teresa was infiltrated by gunmen in Southern Yemen on Friday, Mar. 4. The two gunmen killed 16 people in the violent shooting as well as four Catholic nuns and left more than 60 residents still alive in the home, run by Missionaries of Charity. It was reported by the Chicago Tribune that the gunmen wandered around the home, handcuffed the residents, and shot them in the heads. One nun was left alive and hid in the fridge inside of a storeroom so the gunmen could not

find her. A spokeswoman for the Missionaries of Charity, Sunita Kumar, told Chicago Tribune the reason why the nuns were at the home. “The Sisters were to come back but they opted to stay on to serve the people in Yemen,” she said. Yemen has been torn in half by a civil war between the northern Shiite rebels who control the land and the southern region, which is controlled by a government backed by Saudi Arabia and recognized internationally, according to the Tribune.

Internet photo Yemen retirement home suffers shooting resulting in the death of 16 residents

Strict abortion bill blocked in Louisiana The Supreme Court stopped a bill from being passed on Saturday, Mar. 4 that would have allowed only one abortion doctor in the state of Louisiana. Blocking this bill gave a huge win to pro-choice groups in the state that were advocating for abortion rights for women. Ac-

The awardwinning student newspaper at Elmhurst College

cording to Nancy Northup, the president of the Center for Reproductive Rights, the Supreme Court helped women all of Louisiana who needed aid. “For the third time in a little over a year, the Supreme Court has stepped in to preserve women’s ability to get the con-

the

Leader

Editor-in-chief: Opinions Editor: News Editor: Beat editor: Photo editor Copy editor: Business Manager: Faculty Adviser:

Sarah Astra Chrissy Croft Gianfranco Ocampo Jonathan Knitter Mia Harman Michelle Wrzesinski Matthew Westhaver Eric Lutz

stitutionally protected healthcare they need,” she said to the Chicago Tribune. “We look to the justices to put an end to these sham measures threatening women’s rights, health, and lives across the U.S.” Similar cases have been popping up around the country,

PRODUCTION STAFF Amarelis Morales Alex Tobalin Lauren Kuehn Kenneth Edison Zakiyah Toor Trace Nardi Sara Groppe Stefan Carlson Chris Canizal Nicholas Kisereu Saaniya Ahmed Faiza Ikram Taylor Lutz Jonathan Carter Erin Bartholomew

such as: the Whole Woman’s Health vs. Cole case in Texas, first presented in June 2015, and Planned Parenthood vs. Casey, decided in June 1992. These cases argue that the government cannot put “undue burdens” on women who are choosing to have an abortion.

ABOUT US The Leader is the studentrun newspaper speaking to the students, faculty and administrators of Elmhurst College. The Leader is not submitted to any person or organization for prior approval. The contents are the decision of the editor in agreement with the editorial board. Opinions expressed in The Leader do not necessarily reflect those of the paper or its staff, and are not intended to represent those of the College at large. No text, photos, or art can be reproduced without direct permission of The Leader.

In addition, The Tribune reported that Texas and Louisiana, as well as seven other states, have required abortion doctors to have admitting privileges for patients, though a federal judge disagreed with the health benefits of this requirement.

PUBLISHING INFO The Leader is funded by the student activities fund and advertising revenue. The paper has a press run of 1,500. It can be picked up in all campus buildings and certain offcampus sites.

ADVERTISING Lauren Kuehn c/o Leader Advertising 190 Prospect Ave. Elmhurst, IL 60126 Advertising: 630.617.3321 theleaderadvertising@gmail.com

NEWS

ecleader.org

March 8, 2016

The Leader wins big in ICPA competition Sarah Astra editor-in-chief On Saturday, Feb. 20 The Leader won 15 awards for Elmhurst College including the first place prize for General Excellence out of all of the colleges in Illinois with under 4000 students. The editorial board of the newspaper, including some staff members, attended the Illinois College Press Association (ICPA) competition in Chicago at the Double Tree hotel on the Magnificent Mile. The competition, which lasted for two days, included many different panels, discussions, and seminars aimed at

providing guidance and advice for aspiring journalists. In addition to First Place in General Excellence, The Leader also brought home three other First Place awards for Chrissy Croft’s opinion’s column, Vinnie Lotesto’s cartoon strips, and Nick Cegielski’s sports column. Though Cegielski and Lotesto were not able to attend the competition, Lotesto did give his reaction to receiving so many awards for his cartoons. “It was really surprising when I first heard about it from Chrissy,” he said in an interview. “It makes me feel like my cartoon-related work has merit.”

Lotesto had been the cartoonist for The Leader since Fall 2014, having graduated in Fall 2015, and also received Honorable Mention for his Editorial Cartoon as well as Second Place in the open category for his other cartoon strip. While many other newspaper staffs at the competition merely clapped when their names were called for awards, The Leader upheld the tradition of being the loudest group in the room. “I was proud to be part of a staff that supports each other,” said Opinons Editor Chrissy Croft. “Even if our cheering was obnoxious, it comes from the love

we have for each other’s work.” On Feb. 19, ICPA also hosted the Chicago Shootout, a photography competition where one photographer from each college was given three hours to traverse downtown Chicago and find a picture that best fits the theme given to them. This year’s theme was Love and Mia Harman, The Leader’s new Photo Editor, received Honorable Mention for her photograph of a heart-shaped headstone with a flower in the center. “Just having the opportunity to participate was amazing,” said Harman. “Even though I didn’t win, I’m incredibly proud of the photo I took. On the

bright side, there’s always next year.” While Dr. Ron Wiginton, the previous faculty adviser to The Leader could not be in attendance due to his departure to Bulgaria over the summer, he expressed his happiness with the big win. “I am now no longer surprised by The Leader’s success, but the legacy this newspaper has established remains very humbling to me personally,” Wiginton said in an email interview. “To be a good newspaper is what is now expected of The Leader, but to be consistently this good for so long is tremendously gratifying to me as a teacher and adviser.”

EC holds annual jazz festival Mia Harman photo editor

Over the course of the four days, Elmhurst College hosted 41 performances by vocal

Over the weekend of Feb. 25-28, Elm-

jazz groups, combos, and big bands.The

hurst College hosted its 49th Annual Jazz

college also featured performances by

Festival. The festival featured many per-

acclaimed artists such as Ryan Truesdell

formers from other universities and high

and the Gil Evans Project (a tribute band

schools around the Midwest, and two

to Gil Evans and his work) on Friday night

from California.

and the Bob Mintzer Big Band (the band

The festival proved to be a great success with an incredible attendance rate all four days of the event, according to performers.

of performer, composer, and music educator Bob Mintzer) on Saturday night. The college also invited three judges: Michael Davis, widely known trombon-

“I think we sounded great,” EC fresh-

ist who has been touring with the Roll-

man trumpeter Nick Lowe stated. “Of

ing Stones since 1994; Donny McCaslin,

course, it wasn’t a perfect performance,

an acclaimed saxophonist who earned a

but our sound quality was definitely one

GRAMMY® nomination for Best Instru-

to be proud of.”

mental Jazz Solo for his album, “Casting

“As an individual I thought I did pretty

for Gravity”; and Scott Wendholt, a lyri-

well,” Freshman tenor saxophonist Mela-

cal trumpeter who has performed with

nie Shaffer said after the event. “There's

the Carnegie Hall Big Band and the Bob

always room for improvement though,

Mintzer Big Band. Davis, McCaslin, and Wendholt per-

and always time to practice more.” Both Lowe and Shaffer were one of

formed with the Elmhurst College Jazz

many who performed that Sunday with

Band three out of four days of the festival.

Photo by David Campos EC students play for some of the biggest names in jazz during the annuel jazz festival held in February.

Elmhurst College’s own Jazz Lab Band.

MSA hosts discussion on love saaniya ahmed staff wrtier Elmhurst College’s Muslim Student Association (MSA) hosted an event titled “Eat, Pray, Love” to share the Islamic perspectives on love and relationships with the EC community on Feb. 24. Local Islamic religious leader, or Imam, Hisham Al-Qaisi was brought in as an expert speaker at the event held in the Alexander Room of the Frick Center. MSA President Biya Ahmed said the reason Al-Qaisi was brought in was to provide Muslim students with a religious person of authority they could ask questions to. “I think love is a topic that is very prevalent in Western society,” she said. “There’s this idea of a Prince Charming and a fairy-tale, but as Muslim students we don’t really get an Islamic perspective on it.” “Brother Hisham did a really good job of incorporating the eat, pray, and the love into his lecture,” she went on to say. “He brought it all back to how Islam is about serving God and how you can apply that in any aspect of your life, be it

eating, praying, or loving.” Al-Qaisi discussed the concept of selflessness in Islam and urged those at the event to practice doing things not for the sake of others, but for the sake of a higher power. “Our purpose in life is to serve our Creator, which takes the selfishness out of everything we do,” he said. “With that thinking, it’s easier to delve into the concept of love.” Sophomore Malaysia Wray attended the event to learn more about what Christianity and Islam have in common. “Talking about these topics reminds you of how similar you are. A lot of times people think — especially when it comes to dating — that Muslim people are really different from Christian or Jewish people,” she said. “But I see so much similarity in Christianity. Every time I go to an MSA meeting, I learn more about Christianity really. I think it just goes to show how similar we all really are.” Senior Jessica Mueller believes attending such events makes for a more well-rounded education. “The constant pursuit of knowledge

doesn’t end when your classes end, but should also be reflected in whatever your current interests are or whatever

your current involvements are,” she said. Due to the positive feedback it received from the community, MSA has

discussed the possibility of hosting more events like this one in the future.

NEWS

March 8, 2016

gianfranco ocampo news editor The amendment did not reach a sufficient amount of votes as Katelyn Ditzler, vice president of administration, did not accept the amendments to the proposal. “I didn't see a reason to decrease the proposed number of locations. We already had six stations on campus, so to me, it didn't make sense to only add three more,” Ditzler said in an email interview. “The six current stations are popular, so

ecleader.org

MAP GRANT cont. from pg. 1 the argument that we needed to measure the impact of three additional stations wasn't persuasive to me. The six current stations have proven to be beneficial, so ten more stations will be more beneficial than three more.” The replaced water fountains will be installed over the next few weeks and some into the summertime. Both Wakely and Ditzler expect a decrease of waste from the new proposal and be a service to the student body.

“The new stations will be available in academic buildings, as well as residence halls, so both commuter and residential students will benefit,” she said. “It will also help us increase the sustainability of the college by decreasing plastic bottle waste.” With the new amount of members that SGA has received, SGA plans on continuing more work now that they have passed the proposal on the water filing stations, including: working on handling the MAP grant, mental health issues, and new quip-

ment for the sports facilities. Pat Ackerman, vice president of marketing, alongside other new members of SGA have updated their bulletin board in the roost center welcoming any suggestions from the student body to SGA. “Each week, I will be posting updates on what we are up to. Transparency is critical for any government, so we are hoping the board makes us more transparent,” he said. “Also, we have a suggestion envelopes for people who want us to know their con-

cerns. This gives students an opportunity to speak outside of the feedback section.” According to Ackerman, without these new members it would be hard for SGA to have quorum and is pleased with the new representatives SGA elected. “I am really excited to work with our new reps. Their energy and enthusiasm is contagious and you can definitely feel it during meetings,” he said.

EC students push Rauner to sign budget Faiza Ikram staff writer For the past month members of the Elmhurst College student body and administration rallied against Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner’s veto of SB 2043, launching the campaign #MAPMatters to involve the college. SB 2043 is a bill that would allocate funding for Monetary Award Program (MAP grants) at approximately $397 million. After the governor vowed to veto SB 2043 on Feb. 19, Elmhurst College launched a campaign, #MAPMatters, to involve EC students in encouraging the governor to sign the bill. The campaign encouraged students to tweet, call, and email the governor and urge him to sign the approximately $397 million MAP grant funding bill. The campaign lasted for a week, with each weekday allocating a certain activity. For instance, Feb. 10 was “Website Wednesday” where students were encouraged to stop by the Prospect room in the Frick Center to write to Governor Rauner in support of the MAP grant bill. Students who could document that they completed 3 out of 4 activities for the week, were awarded prizes.

Caitlin Csesznegi, an Elmhurst College freshman who participated in the event from the Student Government Association spoke on her own personal value to mail her representative. “I emailed the governor as well as made a Facebook post trying to get the word out,” Csesznegi said in an email. “My representative in the general assembly is a Republican who has voted against the bill multiple times. I have taken it upon myself to call his office and demand his vote toward furthering the education of students like me.” Although Csesznegi is not a recipient of MAP grants, she became involved in MAP week. “MAP allows many of my friends to continue their education,” she said. “I also love going to college at Elmhurst and being a BlueJay. I could not imagine not graduating from Elmhurst, but that is the reality for many of the students who currently receive the MAP grant.” EC also sent students to the MAP grant rally in Chicago on Feb. 16 to protest the governor’s vow to veto SB 2043. Although only three Elmhurst College students participated in the rally, overall turnout was high with more than 100 students attending from several Chicago-area

colleges. Elmhurst College’s Student Government Association Vice President of Marketing, Pat Ackerman, spoke at the rally. He discussed the consequences for schools like Elmhurst College if the bill is not signed. “Elmhurst College is a place that has provided us with so many different opportunities, so many ways for us to get involved. And without the MAP grant funding, we lose those op-

portunities.” Ackerman, who is a senior at EC and a MAP grant recipient, said that he attended the rally for his fellow peers. “I came to the rally to represent the 25 percent of Elmhurst College students who receive MAP grants,” Ackerman said. Other students at the rally relayed their concerns about not being able to graduate as a result of a lack of MAP grant funding. One of these students

is a first generation college student, Kathy Rodriguez, a senior at Saint Xavier University. “I have been a recipient of the MAP grants for the past three years at Saint Xavier and I need it to graduate,” Rodriguez told WGN-TV. Also in attendance was former IL Governor Pat Quinn. He praised the students who came to support SB 2043. “This is an exercise of democracy,” Quinn said.

Photo by Stefan Carlson College students across Illinois rally for Governor Bruce Rauner to pass the budget funding for MAP grants.

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March 8, 2016

EC students react to FBI v. Apple

Photo by Mia Harman Apple’s refusal to create a backdoor to its security system sparks debate on safety vs. security

Kenneth Edison staff writer

Tech mega-power Apple has seemingly entered a conflict with the FBI after the intelligence agency contacted Apple with a request to unlock the iPhone of one of the San Bernardino shooters on February 17. The request entailed Apple to create a method of disabling the iPhone feature of

wiping a user’s data after 10 failed attempts at unlocking the phone. Apple’s refusal to comply with the FBI’s request has raised a number of complex questions about the principles of the FBI’s order as well as the refusal itself. Dr. Teri Walker, associate professor of political science at Elmhurst College helped clarify the FBI’s motives and their rationale.

“The way I understand this is that the FBI wants Apple to create (and then eventually install) this back door technology because according to Apple, it is nonexistent,” said Walker. “The FBI is asking the Court, under their power of the All Writs Act, to make Apple comply with the search warrant issued by the feds.” Naturally, the invention of such a technology has raised concerns with those who own

iPhones, as it would create the possibility of any individual’s iPhone being accessed by the FBI. Elmhurst College students and iPhone owners voiced their opinions on the matter. “Well, I get why Apple doesn’t want to comply because a lot of the time technology that’s supposed to be used for good ends up being used by people like hackers to steal all of your personal information,” said EC sophomore Nicole Preetorius about Apple’s decision to not create a back door. She explains that the creation of such technology would feel like an invasion of personal privacy. “I think it’s a case by case scenario,” she said. “If you start doing this to prevent things, it would lead to watching everybody’s phone all the time, which would mean you would have no privacy. Would you want the government to see everything you send or save on your phone? I wouldn’t.” In a similar vein, EC freshman Amanda Smejkal voiced her approval of Apple’s decision. “I think it’s awesome, but they find ways around it. They’re already in social media and all that,” she said. “The

only thing they don’t have access to is our calls. So it’s nice that somebody’s standing up and raising awarness and making it in the public eye.” Though she agreed with Apple’s decision, Smejkal understood the FBI’s reasoning for giving Apple the order. “The FBI knows what they’re doing. We don’t hear about what they’re doing well we hear about what they’re doing wrong,” she said. “But I feel like that’s something I would compromise. A freedom I would compromise for my safety.” Walker gave her own opinion of the principles of the whole ordeal. “It could be argued that it violates free speech, due process, or search and seizure,” she said. “Our civil liberties and rights are often times stepped on or limited by the government in times of ‘war’ or in the name of ‘national security.’ This will play out in the court system.” As to what everyone should do about this debate, Walker simply said: “Our civil liberties and civil rights are dependent on the people — not the government.”

Bernie Sanders’ rally hits Chicago Saaniya Ahmed staff writer

About a week before Super Tuesday, on Feb. 25, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) made an appearance at a rally titled “A Future to Believe In” at Chicago State University (CSU) — a school in danger of closing down due to a lack of funding. Sanders briefly discussed CSU’s current financial situation in his speech, citing it as an example of the effects of a larger system of injustice and corruption. “I come here and I find out this great university is also being threatened by cuts,” Sanders said at the rally. “What is going on in America? Where are our priorities?” Two days before the event, CSU students and faculty received notice from the administration that their spring break was to be canceled in an attempt to stretch out the University’s remaining funds as much as possible to ensure students would be able to complete the academic semester. Sanders’ call to lower the costs of higher education and make public colleges and universities tuition-free resonates with CSU student Jaylen Yarbrough, whose education is now caught in the middle of the school’s predicament.

“If we had free college tuition, we wouldn’t have this financial crisis. They’re trying to do everything they can to stretch out how long we can last, but pretty soon they’re going to have to close down some things,” Yarbrough said. “It just makes me really disappointed and sad, especially considering how long [the budget impasse] has been going on. I feel like it’s just a big stab in the back from the politicians to the people.” The budget stalemate Yarbrough referred to stems from an internal battle at the state legislature between the Democratic-led Congress and Republican Governor Bruce Rauner, which has led to the failure to pass a state budget. As a result, several state schools, including CSU, have been left without adequate funding. Angela Walton, a CSU alum who returned to the school to pursue a second Bachelor’s degree, expressed her concerns with the effects CSU’s situation has had on the community. “We’re trying to stay upbeat but the morale is really low. The faculty and the students are frustrated and a lot of times our classroom time gets taken up just asking questions

Photo by Mia Harman

Bernie Sanders’ rally pushes his platform of fixing numerous problems he sees America facing.

about what will happen,” she said at the rally. “We’re trying to remain hopeful, but it’s very stressful.” Valencia Turnage, a student at the University of Chicago who helped organized the event, also believes the state of education in America is an issue that must be addressed in order to promote change of any kind. “Every issue you can point

to in America goes back in some way, shape, or form to education and the fact that most people won’t even get a chance to compete for it is just ridiculous,” she said at the rally. Sanders’ official campaign said the rally was meant to provide a platform for the discussion of “a wide range of issues important to the people of Illinois, including making

college affordable, getting big money out of politics, combating climate change, and criminal justice reform.” The rally, which was announced about 24 hours before it was scheduled to take place in CSU’s Emil and Patricia Jones Convocation Center, was well attended despite its short notice, with audience numbers reaching up to 7,000.

{ 6

March 8, 2016

opinions

•Editorial•

}

ecleader.org

Favoritism at president’s reception? On Thursday, Feb. 18 the campus was introduced to our next college president. Dr. Troy VanAken. At the reception, students, faculty, and staff formed a receiving line — eager to meet the next creepily painted face of Blume Board. In order to keep the reception moving in a timely fashion, the Office of Communication and Public Affairs discouraged students from monopolizing time speaking with VanAken privately. While this seemed logical in the interest of time, the language was poorly chosen. Rather than telling students to move quickly, they were specifically told, “don’t push your agenda” and “don’t ask philosophical questions”. These statements give the impression that instead of simply moving the line along, administration was silencing student voices. Whether or not this was the intention, it effectively shut down students who may have been eager to (quickly) discuss relevant topics with the new president. Furthermore, the reception gave the impression that certain student groups were more important than others. Namely, athletics. While typical students were asked to shake the president’s hand, exchange a few pleasantries, and walk away, full athletic teams were allowed to step on stage for selfies and professional photos.

VanAken’s love of sports is no secret, considering his past position as an Athletic Director. However, this should not have colored the event so heavily. Athletics are an important part of most colleges, but the heavy emphasis during VanAken’s speech and again during the meet-and-greet gave the impression that other groups were not quite as important. There was no mention of diversity or inclusion in VanAken’s welcome speech, and cultural student organizations were not particularly favored. The same goes for Greek organizations, service clubs, and students who actually just go to class here. Instead of an inclusive look at EC, VanAken lauded the major teams in his speech, and paused for the aforementioned photos without question. The reception wasn’t a total loss, and many students were at least able to get a feel for who our new president will be. But next time administration wants to connect with students, they need it to be about ALL students. This can be as simple as holding luncheons with different types of groups, such as cultural organizations, to connect with more sub-groups on campus. All it takes is an extended hand and a slight change in language to get more students on board with the future of EC, let’s not reserve participation for the students who score points.

H2-Oh no: SGA confronts water fountains After two postponed meetings, the Student Government Association has finally solved the most pertinent issue at EC — we can now refill our water without tilting the bottle! Over the next couple of weeks, our archaic drinking fountains will be replaced with futuristic watter bottle refill stations, effectively hydrating everyone who was too lazy to hold down a button while tilting their bottle. Thank you, SGA. If you couldn’t sense the sarcasm you might need to reread that paragraph a few more times. Got it now? Although it’s convenient to set down the bottle and watch it magically fill while standing up-right, it’s probably not worth the $998. For one, it feels wrong to be pouring money into such a privileged commodity. There are communities like Flint, Michigan falling violently ill on account of their poisonous drinking water, and EC is worried about how their filtered water will make its way into bottles they probably got for free at a campus event. No one is dying without the stations. No one’s college experience is being ruined by the extra effort of a good old-fashioned drinking fountain. And,

believe it or not, there are more pressing issues that the Student Government should be focusing on. We gathered the staff to rant about things that matter more than water bottle refill stations, and here’s the result so listen up: There’s no funding for departments, shitty equpiment in the SOC, shitty equpiment in Faganal, a stupid Homecoming, a lack of LGBTQ+ student resources, half-assed gender-inclusive housing, horrible wifi (“Why can’t I load this Vine?), inaccessible ELSA student housing, scolding hot res halls, ancient technology/computers, slow printers, jenky desks and chairs (“I’m too fat for these desks in Old Main!!!!”), pricey color printing, diahhrea inducing food, over-priced food, easily flooded campus (“Why am I in a puddle? Why is Irion drowning?”), MORE PARKING!!!!,bodily fluied-stained Residence Hall furniture, no journalism program (despite a kick-ass newspaper), no social work program, nowhere to hear the jams of WRSE on campus, and a lack of event PR. So, there you have it, plenty of other things to bring up at the next SGA meeting. Just try not to postpone it this time.

ecleader.org

•Resistance•

Active self-care

Chrissy croft opinions editor

Gandhi nearly died of starvation on multiple occasions to stand against injustice. Cesar Chavez urged his followers to sacrifice anything and everything to support farmers’ unions. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. lost his freedom, and later his life, to bring widespread awareness to the oppression of people of color. And, of course, the Beastie Boys said we can’t sleep until Brooklyn. Without disrespecting or belittling the contributions of these great leaders, and the super obnoxious Brooklyn bound musicians, I am offering another side of social justice. It’s not as glamorous, it doesn’t win Nobel Peace Prizes, and it doesn’t make for an epic biographical flick. It’s selfcare, and it’s something we need to start taking more seriously. I’m not just speaking to social/political activists, either. This is to anyone with passion — academics, musicians, artists, jump rope enthusiasts — you need to take care of yourself. I do value the concept of sacrifice. I understand that creating great things requires time, effort, and energy. But if you run out of those three resources, you will have nothing left to give. Burnout is real, and it’s the shittiest feeling. Last semester, I was part of an initiative through the Queer Straight Alliance to create a gender-inclusive living community in campus residence life. After countless hours spent drafting and forwarding emails, proofreading proposals, attending meetings, and attempting to navigate the maze that is higher education, we got tired. Exhausted,

actually. I distinctly remember a meeting where some of us just cried, feeling dejected and overwhelmed. Finals week was quickly approaching, my senior capstone paper was due in just a few days, and I had a serious case of homesickness. When we were asked to meet with Residence Life during Final’s Week, we declined. For the first time, we chose our mental health over our passion. I still struggle with that decision. There have been moments when I see result of our work and wonder if it would have been more potent had we gone to that meeting. I look back and think, “I could have sacrificed one more night of sleep if it meant my community could feel safer.” But then, I’m hit with reality.

You’re only valuable to this world if you value yourself enough to stay stable. I was moments away from a mental breakdown, barely holding onto whatever thread of selfconfidence I had left. I wasn’t showering nearly enough; I hadn’t done laundry in over a month; and, quite frankly, I didn’t think I could make it through my second-tolast semester. As much I am fired up about the issues I fight for, I can’t keep fighting if I can’t even get out of bed. I share this because I see burnout all around me at EC. So many students are collecting involvements, some for the sake of passion and others for resume boosters or more graduation cords. We are buzzing from class to meeting to part time jobs, shoveling food in our mouths as we shuffle through the snow. It’s admirable, the work you put into what you love and value, the passion you pour out. But you’re only as good as your self-care. You’re only valuable to this world if you value yourself enough to stay stable. So, I challenge you to take a step back. Hop in the shower. Buy an adult coloring book. Bask in the glory that is skipping your 8AM. Trust me, your passion will still be needed tomorrow, and your professor will probably post the PowerPoint online anyways.

opinions

March 8, 2016

•Modern Renaissance•

Element of “surprise”

Sarah Astra editor-in-chief

While many have had other things on their minds such as the presidential race and, god forbid, the Oscars, people like Chrissy Teigen and John Legend have been deciding what sex their baby will be. Many people, especially in this situation, have taken the religious viewpoint. Choosing something like that is delving into God’s territory. We have no right to meddle in the affairs of some kind of Creator. I’m not saying this is bad, it’s an opinion. Others say they have no

reason to pick the gender, why should it matter? All that matters is that a healthy child is born. Teigen and Legend aren’t choosing to have one specific gender (it’s a girl by the way) because of any religious or philosophical idea. They just wanted a baby girl. I’m in the camp that feels it’s something humanity shouldn’t mess with, though not for the religious reason. I would argue it reveals a fact of humanity: we don’t like surprises. We don’t want to leave things up to chance. The world is so concerned with making things more efficient and safe, so nothing will be a surprise. Humanity is in control of all of the outcomes, at least that’s what we want to believe. I say, leave a bit to chance. One of my favorite “How I Met Your Mother” episodes is where Marshall is terrified of having a baby girl because he’s afraid of the consequences (apparently she’ll marry a botoxed version of Barney and become a stripper, you know, every father’s nightmare). Lily is horrified at the idea of having a son. In the end, it doesn’t matter. Just leave it up to chance and realize that this

shit is out of your control. No matter how much we try to deter surprises, they will probably happen. If Teigen and Legend want to choose the sex of their baby, good for them, but genetically changing parts of humans is a tricky subject. What makes a human a human is the fact that we are born, we have higher intelligence, and a plethora of other things. And these are all determined by chance. Some people have horrible hair, but can kick your ass at math. Others write like Shakespeare, but can’t kick a soccer ball. When humanity starts messing with what makes us, well, us, it becomes more of the realm of science fiction. What starts with choosing the sex of a child could possibly escalate to changing features like intelligence and mental faculties. Humanity doesn’t stop when it comes to control, it’s either go big or go home, and we don’t go home often. So Teigen and Legend, thanks for letting us know that you want a baby girl, but really this should have just been left up to chance. Roll the dice, you might’ve gotten a girl anyway, it’s 50-50.

I recently started a job working in an office, and although it’s not in my field, I was still excited. I would be able to stretch my arms into new territory and see what it was all about. Except, the opposite happened. I realized my dreams of making a living off writing are worse than I could have ever imagined, and if I ever wanted to make it as a writer in the professional world I was going to have to suffer through all the other BS that comes with it. Anyone who keeps up with my column knows that I am a server. It’s all I complain about. I have no idea what not standing for eight consecutive hours is like unless I’m sleeping. This is the life I’ve endured for three years. So when I go to my new job and stare at a screen like a zombie hour after hour, bored out of my mind, I start to get restless. Of course, a career in writing will include time sitting in front of a screen, typing away at a keyboard endlessly. But when I write for myself, it is not a job, obviously. It is something I enjoy. It feels different. When I write for work, it is not at all the experience I imagined in my head.

This piece is not meant to be a negative outlook on life; rather, I want my fellow English majors interested in creative writing to simply be realistic about their futures. I wasn’t. And now I am trying to find ways to integrate my skills in the professional world without seeming like a lost puppy desperate for income. How can we make our world one in which we get to do what we love and live off of it? It’s too good to be true for most of us, I think, but what’s important is to dedicate your free time to your passions. If I did not write in my spare time for myself, I might go on a rampage. It is my outlet and allows me to be free and speak my mind, even if just to paper. She listens to what I have to say, and for that I am thankful. But I have to be realistic. If I am going to make this into a career, the fact of the matter is that I have to suffer through things I don’t want to do. Such is life. I cannot afford to be negative, but realistic (that’s what I like to call it anyway). The road is long and full of bumps, ice, and maybe dog shit, but if that is what it takes to get to the end where the sun shines, I guess I have no choice but to suck it up.

0 to 100• • When reality sets in

Zakiyah Toor staff writer

What do you do when looking into your future feels like staring into a bottomless pit? How do you balance making a living with living your passion? These musings are the result of writing being my “one true love”. All I want to do — all I have ever wanted to do — is write. Not only is it the only thing I believe I am somewhat decent at, but it is the only thing I truly enjoy. I don’t care about anything the way I care about words. I am in love with them. Realizing that I have to do everything but that to make ends meet, however, is starting to get me down a bit.

BRANCHES OF THE ACADEMY

THE LEADER’S

OSCARS 2016 RECAP

Jonathan Knitter beat editor

88 years after its inception, the “Super Bowl of Hollywood”— AND NOW the Oscars — took the stage and America’s televisions on Feb. 28, hosted by comedian Chris Rock. With political campaigns at full force and social activism blasting throughout college campuses, the Oscars allow for the 2001 important questions to be asked: Who was going to boycott the ceremony? Was Leonardo DiCaprio going to finally win the most coveted award? Who was Brie Larson going to wear to the show? STEVE MARTIN Unsurprisingly, Chris Rock began the show with a monologue that left the mostly white audience in an awkwardly hilarious position. 2002 “I’m here at the Academy Awards, otherwise known as the White People’s Choice Awards,” the 51 year old actor began. “You realize if they nominated hosts, I wouldn’t even get this job. So WHOOPI y’all would be watching Neil Patrick Harris right now.” GOLDBERG With all the nominations for the night’s biggest awards being white, the questions of equality and fairness have been asked for weeks. But in a night filled with rampant and relevant 2006 commentary to the current social situation, the winners still deserve recognition for their accomplishments on Hollywood’s biggest stage. JOHN Ironically, though, Chris Rock made his own share of STEWART controversial jokes that negate many of the points he tried to make. He brought three Asian children out dressed in suits and said they are the accountants of PricewaterhouseCoopers. The 2013 mother of one of the children was not aware of the type of joke that her daughter would be subjugated to until the contract was already SETH signed. Is racism prevalent cross-culturally? MACFARLANE Before the biggest awards of the night, however, was the most moving moment in an Oscars show in recent memory. Vice President Joe Biden walked on stage to a standing 2014 ovation that lasted at least thirty seconds. The audience was truly surprised at his presence. He came to discuss the necessity on fighting sexual assault, wherever one may face it directly or indiELLEN rectly, but especially so on college campuses

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“Let’s change the culture,” the Vice President said. At that moment, Lady Gaga (already having the year of her career) began her nominated original song, “Til it Happens to You,” which explores the problems of sexual assault on college campuses. Tearfully, Gaga clasped hands with several actual assault survivors who walked on stage in an extremely poignant moment. As for the biggest individual awards of the night, white actress Brie Larson of “Room” took home “Best Actress” and finally, white actor Leonardo DiCaprio solidified his place as an Oscar Award Winner in “The Revenant”. Instead of giving a stereotypical speech though, DiCaprio focused on climate change: “Let us not take this planet for granted, I do not take tonight for granted,” he said. Social and political messages like that are what are placed above any award a white actor might receive. DiCaprio spent only a fraction of his time on thankfulness over the award and more on the issues he is passionate about. That didn’t stop Chris Rock from asking the hard-hitting questions throughout the night, adding a special flair to the controversial ceremony that will be spoken about for years to come: “Is Hollywood racist? You’re damn right Hollywood’s racist. But it ain’t that racist that you’ve grown accustomed to. Hollywood is ‘sorority racist’. It’s like, ‘We like you Rhonda, but you’re not a Kappa.’”

RED CARPET TRENDS

2016

High slit dresses added sutble dashes of daring to numerous gowns on Oscar night, as seen on Rachel McAdam’s emereld number

Olivia Munn’s elegant orange-crimson ensemble demonstrated the red carpet’s continued fastination with structured minimalism and statement colors.

TOP BILLING: lace silver shoes plunging necklines pretty pastels structured sillouettes

Beat

March 8, 2016

ecleader.org

New twists on classic childhood games Chrissy Croft opinions editor

Your party has hit its lull. Everyone’s Beer Pong elbow is getting sore, your Pandora radio station has drifted off into the land of weird indie dance music, and you’re pretty sure someone puked on your favorite rug. Don’t worry, The Leader has the solution — new drinking games! Nothing will bring your guests together like their favorite activities mixed with booze as an afterthought. But before you pick drinking games at random from a shitty college blogger’s page, check out our review of some drinking games. If you pick the right ones, you could have the best St. Patrick’s Day bash imaginable, just don’t mention our name when security shows up to crash your rager.

Get Tanked (Go Fish for College Kids) If you don’t know the rules of Go Fish, you need a time machine, not a newspaper, to experience a true childhood. But if you want to make it rated 21+, you need to create books, not pairs. That means you match all 4 of each number or face card before placing it in front of you. When you get a book, your opponents all drink. Every time. And don’t forget to replace the childish “Go Fish” phrase with the far more adult “GET TANKED!” This is the most enjoyable version of Go Fish I can possibly imagine, but it isn’t party worthy. By my third turn, I was tired of chugging due to the luck of my friends. I wanted something that required more skill, something that set this night apart.

(Aim for the) Garbage Garbage is a card game, with rules far too complex for me to fully explain. But the basic premise of the game is that each player has ten facedown cards in front of them, with each one representing a number one through ten. Each turn begins with drawing a card and placing it in the space that corresponds with the number, then picking up the face down card and hoping it isn’t “garbage”. Any face card that isn’t King is simply a piece of trash, so you discard it and end your turn. In true patriarchal fashion, the King card can go wherever it wants, and can even be reused when a number card replaces it. The drinking comes in when the round ends, or when a player has filled their ten spaces. The winner chooses one loser to take a drink, and the next round begins. This time, the pre-

vious winner only has nine spaces to fill. This continues until one of the drunken idiots has only one spot to fill, and successfully places the Ace or King in that location. To be honest, I can’t review this game in its entirety. I tried it with just one other person, and the results might cause permanent damage to my liver. It’s a fun card game in and of itself, but if you’re perpetually drawing shitty cards (like I always do), then you’ll end up aiming for the garbage. A Game that Gets You Drunk, Starting with an “S” (Scattergories) If you own this classic childhood party board game, in which competitors quickly fill out a list of items beginning with a randomly selected letter while attempting to maintain originality, then you need to pair it with your favorite wine or hard liquor. I suggest wine because, honestly, it will have you drinking every couple minutes. After each round, when the timer sounds, players go around and read their answers to each question. If two or more people have the same answer, everyone who wrote that answer does not get a point. If the majority of the competitors vote the answer is not directly related to the topic provided, no point is granted. And, obviously, blank spaces don’t give you a point (just a ton of money, if you’re T.Swift). In this dangerously exciting version, you drink for every question that you don’t receive a point for. After one three round game, I had drank twelve times, and I consider myself a well-rounded Scattergories competitor. Granted, I had just played Get Tanked and (Aim for the) Garbage, so I wasn’t in the most academic state of mind. However, that’s what makes this game stand out from the rest. It truly takes wits to answer the questions in a way that secures points.

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his money • Says any variation of “Make America Great Again” • Makes that face he makes when he’s angry • Personally attacks another candidate Hilary Clinton: Drink if she... • Creates a numbered list • References her “emails” • Is asked about Benghazi • References husband Bill’s presidency •Restates Sanders’ thoughts and slightly changes it to be more moderate • ex: $12 minimum wage instead of $15 These are just a start, so get to watching! Learn about the future of your country, and destroy the minds of future American leaders (AKA your own). Just be safe, you might be important enough to have people take shots in honor of your quirks too.

Keep Drinking and Everybody Explodes With the right equipment and the proper crowd, Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes (KTANE) is my favorite drinking game. It’s technically a computer game, available through the Steam

network, that requires teams (of at least 2) to complete a series of puzzles needed to diffuse a bomb. The catch? Only one person can see the bomb, and everyone else has the manual describing how to save the day. In its ideal form, this game should be played using multiple computers that have the software, with pairs competing against one another. A little friendly competition never hurt anybody. The game itself pushes people to communicate directly, express concerns, and adapt to other’s learning styles. But when you’re drunk, it’s like someone gave James Bond a few too many martinis and hoped for the best. In other words, it’s hilarious. You drink for every module you successfully complete, but the end goal is to complete all the modules in the fastest time. It’s a tough spot to be in, with your competitive spirit torn between coherence and quickness. By the end of the night, my KTANE partner and I could barely work through modules we’ve nearly memorized. And yet it was the most fun we’ve had since the first

few days after purchasing the game, when the newness of the beeping explosive was enough to keep us up for hours mastering each module. Even if you’re not a drinker (Why have you read this far?), I highly recommend KTANE for anyone looking to bring people together.

Be Creative and Make Up Your Own Game Well, there you have it — some drinking games to try out next time you reach the plateau of party excitement. Clearly, not all drinking games are created equal, and some are more boring than life bringing, but they’re all a blast to try with the right crowd. And if you have any ideas, always feel free to share your invention that will change the drinking game market. Just be sure to drink responsibly. And, hey, if you can’t diffuse a bomb with someone while getting plastered, they’re probably not the kind of person you want around in the case of an emergency anyway.

Drunk on Politics This is a pretty classic example of a party game, but it’s particularly pertinent with the upcoming elections. If you want your next kicback to be both informative and intoxicating, this is the game for you. Below I’ve provided a list to get you started, with the front running candidates in each party being represented. If nothing is on TV that you can watch live, stream a video online and get to throwing back those beers! Donald Trump: Drink if he... • Mentions “borders” • Talks about his company/

Internet photo Card games are a fun way to hang out, especially when it involves alcohol and unique twists on the game. Next time you have alcohol and a deck of cards at hand, try our version of Go Fish or Garbage!

Beat

ecleader.org

March 8, 2016

EC student directs “The Other Side” Sara Groppe staff writer

Imagine what it is like to be the director of a play. There is the stress of succeeding and proving that you could be a leader in an intense environment. Imagine doing all this and being a full-time student at Elmhurst College as well, and you will begin to picture the challenges Amanda Baker, the director of “The Other Place”, had to face. Baker is not the kind of person you would imagine when you picture a director. She does not wear a beret, or speak with a foreign accent, or fly into fits of emotion at the drop of a hat. Baker is the kind of person you know you can trust in command. A director has to worry about many things, from making sure all the actors know their lines, to deciding what kind of lighting and scenery to use, to finding the true meaning of the play. Baker had an extra component to add to all that — a grade, for “The Other Place” was Baker’s senior capstone project. “This semester is my last semester involved fully in the theater program,” she said. “I wanted it to be my big hurrah before I leave.” A big hurrah requires a lot of

preparation, something Baker learned firsthand. She started working on her Senior Capstone in the fall semester of her junior year. Her first task was to find a play to direct. “I found the play by accident,” Baker recalled. “I was on a search engine where you go to look for plays, and Sharr White [the author’s] name popped up based off my previous searches. I was intrigued by the little blurb on the website, and bought the play on a whim.” It was one of the best spurof-the-moment purchases of her life. Once Baker read the play, she knew she had to direct it. “’The Other Place’ is a story about a woman’s journey with dementia, from denial to acceptance and healing,” Baker said. “The story itself is powerful, but it had a special meaning for me because my great-grandmother is currently suffering from dementia.” This closeness to the topic worried Professor Richard Arnold, her faculty advisor for the project. “Sometimes when a director chooses a topic that is too personal, they can become too focused on their personal relationship with the play and lose perspective of the big picture,” she said. “Amanda did a great job of this, though and kept the play in focus.” Once she chose her play,

Baker then had to get the play approved by the faculty in the theater program. This is to ensure that the students understand the components of a play, such as what the play is about and how to convey that meaning, something a director in the theater world would have to do on his or her own. “Usually when students are going through this process, we are continually seeing drafts of their proposals and are helping them work through their ideas,” said Arnold. “With Amanda, it was different. She wanted to do everything independently.” Independence was a major goal for Baker in this project. “I knew that once I entered the theater world, I would not have anyone looking over my shoulder, constantly checking my work to see how I am doing,” she said. “I wanted to use this project to gain that experience. It was a little nerve-wracking at first, but it was a great experience for me.” The play was approved in Spring 2015. Baker could finally start to put her vision into action, starting with auditions for actors. “For me, this was the hardest part of the whole process,” Baker said. “So many of the people I auditioned were my friends, and I only had five roles to fill. I had to remind myself to set aside personal friendships and give everyone, best friends as

well as strangers, the same opportunities.” For three weeks there were rehearsals five days a week for four hours each day. Sets had to be built, costumes chosen, lines memorized and technical difficulties ironed out. Although it was a lot, she said it was worth it. “I loved working with Amanda in this play,” said Sarah Eckel, one of the actresses. “In the other plays I’ve been in, the directors have all been faculty members,” said Eckel. “These rehearsals feel more like a class. With Amanda it was different. It was a collaborative project; she was very open-minded and trusted our judgment as actors and ac-

tresses.” Opening night finally arrived, and Baker was able to see all her hard work pay off. At about fifty people per show, it is rare for student-directed shows to have an audience this large. “I think people were really drawn to the subject of the play,” said Baker. “So many people know someone suffering or who has suffered from dementia, or some other mental illness; it was easy for them to connect with the story.” After completing her project, Baker has no qualms about her career choice. “It was hard, but I have no doubt now that directing is what I want to do.”

Photo courtesy of Rick Arnold Amanda Baker directs her cast in preperation for “The Other Place”, the play she directed for her senior capstone.

Social change harmonizes with hip-hop Chrissy Croft opinions editor

The saying goes, “the revolution will not be televised”. What if, instead, it’s played on the radio? Some of today’s biggest hip-hop artists, such as Kendrick Lamar, Beyoncé, and J Cole are using their music to do just that. The Leader sat down with the Black Student Union’s (BSU) Executive Board to get their opinion on the impact of black artists creating politically charged music. They also discredited the notion that these artists are anti-white, as has been a prevalent response on social media. BSU president Perode Charles shared a simple response to this backlash. “It’s not anti-white,” he said. “It’s pro-black. It’s not about bashing another race; it’s about black success, black heritage, and black art. That’s it.” BSU secretary Tristan Duff criticized the logic behind these assumptions. “All you have to do is look at the lyrics,” he said. “It is not at all about white people. They do use imagery about police, but that’s like saying all police are white. They are talking about systems of oppression.” Some critics have reacted harshly to the imagery of La-

mar and Beyoncé’s lyrics in particular. Lamar’s single “Alright” contains the line: “And we hate Popo, wanna kill us dead in the street for sure.” Callen Williams, BSU’s vice president, offered an explanation for this charged language. “We don’t like that the police are discriminating against us,” he said. “We don’t need to show affection towards our oppressors.” Although music about social justice is not a novel concept, it has recently reached a peak as a result of recent events across America. The night before her Super Bowl performance, Beyoncé silently dropped her song “Formation” at midnight. The video includes potent scenes of Beyoncé lying atop a sinking police car, conjuring up memories of Hurricane Katrina. Another scene depicts a young black boy break dancing in front of a line of heavily armed police officers, prompting the officers to hold their hands up in the iconic “hands up, don’t shoot” gesture used in protests of the killing of Michael Brown. Although his music is less well known, Christian rapper Lecrae has also been making waves with his powerful lyrics regarding the state of America today, particularly for the

black community. His story and lyrics were recently discussed on NPR, and his most recent album “Church Clothes 3” delves into the intricacies of racism, poverty, and oppression with potency. In his single “Gangland” featuring fellow Christian-artist Propaganda, Lecrae says, “Are you gonna sell drugs or are you gonna be homeless? Cause the government’s not paying attention,” when describing the paradox of urban life. Thomas Baity, BSU’s advisor

and EC’s telecommunications manager, applauds the hiphop community for speaking against these systems. “This music is about more than bling and women,” he said. “It’s about telling our struggles and trying to get people to join us and help us get what we are due — equal rights.” Beyond EC, professors and high school teachers across the country are turning to lyrics to teach about oppression, empowerment, and protest. Social media is packed full of

articles, opinion columns, and video responses to the direct activism being employed in today’s entertainment industry. Some of it, like the sentiments expressed by BSU, reflects an empowering response. Others, like the #AllLivesMatter and #PoliceLivesMatters posters, view these as anti-white sentiments. Regardless of the response, one thing is clear — these artists are starting a revolution.

Internet photo Kendrick Lamar uses his lyrics to describe oppression of the black community in the modern context.

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March 8, 2016

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Anti-hero breaks box office records Stefan Carlson photographer Gritty, yet hilariously dark, “Deadpool” is not your ordinary everyday super hero movie. Unlike most of the big-budget blockbuster super hero epics in recent memory, there is no hero to be found here. However, there is something more human, more entertaining — and not to mention a hell of a lot funnier — under this film’s mask. As a result, “Deadpool” opened to a record breaking turn out and just recently crossed $673 million in box office sales worldwide. Look out Marvel fans, there’s a new antihero in town. Said antihero also happens to be the film’s protagonist under the alias Wade Wilson, who takes up the badass superhero moniker Deadpool. Played by a loveably snarky and irreverent Ryan Reynolds, Deadpool is an ex-special forces mercenary turned immortal mutant desperate for revenge. The film’s first half recounts Deadpool’s origin story in a series of masterfully paced flashbacks. His transformation from man to unkillable mutant is surprisingly dark and involves implied and explicit scenes of graphic tor-

ture that leaves Deadpool scared, maimed from head to toe, and utterly indestructible. The second half shows Deadpool’s journey to regain his lost good looks in order to resume his life with his lover. If his behavior sounds incredibly vain and narcissistic, well, that’s because it is. Deadpool, like many other superhero’s, is flawed. He’s so proud and selfish that he refuses to return to his longtime girlfriend, who believes him to be dead, until his looks are returned to normal. A flaw like this would normally be treated as a serious and touchy subject. Here, it is used as fodder for a wide variety of self-deprecating jokes. If Deadpool is anything, he is self-aware. He is so self-aware that he knows he is in a movie, often addressing the audience directly and even physically moving the camera. Deadpool takes any form of a fourth wall and gleefully demolishes it with a wrecking ball of sarcastic irony, never taking himself too seriously. Although Deadpool himself is the main draw here, with Reynolds carrying the film through almost every frame, there are also a

Internet photo Deadpool’s deadpan and sarcastic reactions aggrevate the characters in the movie, but keep fans laughing and coming back.

few highlight supporting performances. T.J. Miller is excellent as Weasel, Deadpool’s sidekick and source of comic relief. Morena Baccarin, known for her reoccurring roles in television series such as “Homeland”, plays Vanessa, Deadpool’s strong, independent, yet realistic love interest. Some of the film’s best comedic moments revolve around Reynolds and Baccarin’s romantic and often hilarious chemistry. As a result, Deadpool will un-

doubtedly be one of the funniest movies of the year. It’s snappy pace, deftly directed by first-time feature length director Tim Miller, and witty dialogue provided by screenwriters Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick make it a winning comedy. However, there are also plenty of choreographed fight scenes and surprisingly gory action sequences to quell any desire for high octane thrills. But be warned, the clever, yet unabashedly raunchy dialogue,

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and the violent action scenes add up to a well deserved R rating from the MPAA. However, Deadpool’s self aware R-rated comedy causes the film to never take itself too seriously, which establishes a more realistic, down-to-earth, and ultimately human hero. Deadpool is a welcome breath of fresh air in Marvel’s line-up of blockbuster franchises, one that makes any half-sane adult question whether to bring their child or not.

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March 8, 2016

ecleader.org

WOMEN’S LACROSSE cont. Sarah Astra editor-in-chief Continued from pg. 16 Midfielder and Sophomore Meghan Keyes explained one of the many goals resulting in EC Junior Krystyna Kotlinski’s first goal of the season. “It was a great catch by Krystyna and a beautiful goal by her. I was really excited to help her out,” she said in an email interview. “We always work on cutting through the eight-meter, asking for the ball, and creating those opportunities to go to goal. So seeing all of our hard work from practice pay off was really exciting.” Keyes also scored four goals total in the game, in addition to two as-

sists with Kotlinski and EC Senior, Natalie Tylka. Tylka, an attack, scored a hat trick (three goals) in the game and brought the team two more assists, bringing the teamwork that only comes with heavy practice. “We do have plays planned out during games but a lot of the times, depending on how good the opposing teams defense is, it is more of getting open or cutting through to get the pass and shoot it in the goal,” she said during an interview. Additional Lady Bluejays who scored goals for the team include Ellen Brown, Phoebe LeRoy, and Jolynn Alvarez, finishing off the game with a solid win and hope for the coming season. “I think as the season goes on, our

efficiency as a team is only going to improve,” Keyes said. “Being a second year team, we’re going to have some tough competition but I think our team chemistry is going to help us succeed against those tougher teams … We were underestimated last year and I think we’re going to be underestimated again this year so all those other teams better watch out.” Tylka expressed similar enthusiasm for the new women’s lacrosse team. “I have no doubt that even though this is our second season at Elmhurst College, we have grown to be a strong team and will work super hard together to be the best that we can be,” she said. “Last year’s season, as a first year lacrosse program, definitely proves that.”

Photo by Mia Harman Phoebe LeRoy, an offensive midfielder, gets ready to score a goal against the Cougars.

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March 8, 2016

EC Sports roundup Trace Nardi staff writer

Men’s Basketball The Elmhurst men’s basketball team advanced to the CCIW Tourney Title Game by holding off 11th ranked North Central College in a 60-58 win. The win secures a spot in the CCIW Tournament final for the Bluejays who are ranked 17th in the latest D3hoops.com poll. Senior Will Nixon nailed a winning three-point play with less than a minute left in the game to earn the victory for the Bluejays. North Central outshot the Bluejays in game play, but Elmhurst won the battle in rebounds to help earn the win. The Bluejays led for the most of the first half, trailing for a short time at 6-4. Senior Pat Coleman scored back-to-back fast break layups to keep Elmhurst on top. With three minutes remaining, senior Peyton Wyatt sank a three-pointer, while a free throw by senior Eric Leonard helped to give Elmhurst their biggest lead of the half. A final bucket by Nixon gave Elmhurst a 34-28 lead at the end of the first half. A three-point bucket by Wyatt made a 46-36 lead in the second half possible. North Central scrambled for a comeback, but after a North Central miss Nixon hit a jump hook to put the Blue-

jays back up by six with five minutes left on the clock. Elmhurst finished the game when Nixon hit a shot and was fouled with just 50 seconds left in the game. Nixon hit the free throw and gave Elmhurst the 60-58 win. North Central outshot Elmhurst 47.9 percent (23-of-48) to 39 percent (23-of-59), but the Bluejays controlled the rebounds by 38-21 over the Cardinals. Nixon scored a game high of 16 points while shooting 6-of-13 from the floor. He also had a team best of seven rebounds in the win. Senior Kyle Wuest added 14 points in the win, shooting 6-of15 from the floor and had two steals. Coleman scored 10 points while shooting 4-of-6 from the field. Senior Erik Crittenden and Wyatt each scored six points for the Bluejays. Elmhurst faced the winner of the Augustana/Illinois Wesleyan game on Feb. 27. The Bluejays made it to the CCIW Tournament only to be defeated in the second round by the University of St. Thomas.

Men’s Lacrosse After a comeback in the second half, the Elmhurst men’s lacrosse team lost 8-7 to Hendrix College. By the end of first quarter play, Freshman Mac Harden brought the Bluejays within one goal. With just one minute into the second quarter, junior Matt

Westhaver scored the game-tying goal with an assist by freshman David Fracassa. As the Bluejays headed into the half, Elmhurst was down 5-2. By the end of third quarter play, Elmhurst trailed by one (65). Sophomore Jake Cambron scored his first and second goals of the game and for the year with a Harden assist on the second goal. Harden netted his second goal of the game and freshman Carter Meyer netted his first goal of his career while junior Jackson Mandli scored his first goal of the season. With two goals each, Harden and Cambron led the Bluejays in the offense. Harden also led the team with five groundballs and five caused turnovers. Westhaver, Mandli, and Meyer all scored goals, while Cambron picked up four ground balls. Junior Nick Bonastia garnered 10 saves in the loss. Elmhurst lead the game with shots on goal 20-18. The Bluejays also lead in turnovers and conversions with 15-of-18 clears. Elmhurst capitalized on 3-of-4 man-up opportunities. On Wednesday, Mar. 2, Elmhurst hosted Benedictine at 7 p.m.

Men’s Tennis The Elmhurst men’s tennis

Photo by Mia Harman Midfielder Dan Curley prepares to block a shot from a Hendrix player.

team defeated Monmouth College 6-3 in the season’s home opener. The Bluejays took the top four singles matches and the top two doubles matches in the home opener victory. The No. 1 doubles pair of seniors Chris Harrison and Quinn Jennings took the first match 8-1. The No. 2 pair of junior Kyle Endicott and senior Justin Delawder also took their match in an 8-3 victory. The Bluejays took the singles

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matches with a 5-2 victory. In the No. 1 position, Harrison clinched the win with a 6-0 and 6-3. Jennings scored 6-0 and 6-1 to take the win in the No. 2 spot. Senior Alex Abbuhl sealed the match with a 6-3 and 6-2 win in the No. 3 position. In the No. 4 position, Endicott scored a three set, 6-3, 6-7(4),10-8 win in the final match. On Friday, Mar. 4 at 6 PM, the Bluejays hosted University of Illinois at Chicago at Courts Plus.

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March 8, 2016

ecleader.org

Infograph by Hannah Jasinski

EC alum speaks on past soccer career Nicholas Kisereu & Saaniya Ahmed staff writers

Elmhurst College boasts its athletic program as being a cultivating ground for the success of current and former athletes. One such athlete, Nathaniel Pauer, a graduate of EC’s class of 2015, shared his experiences of being a student athlete at Elmhurst College. In an interview with The Leader, Pauer discussed his time at Elmhurst College not only as a student from 2011 to 2015, but also as a member of the soccer program. He said his time in the program shaped him as a student, athlete, and a person. “The school, and more specifically the soccer program has given me the tools I need to become successful after graduation,” he said. According to the EC Bluejays’ official records, Pauer “served as the team’s reserve goalkeeper, played in two contests, including one as a starter, allowed one goal and recorded five saves while earning his first collegiate win in the Bluejays’ 2-1 victory over Olivet College on September 7, 2013.” Pauer expressed gratitude

for everyone who supported him while playing at Elmhurst. As he described why he was so successful at Elmhurst, Pauer accredited part of his success to his teammates. “You get a lot of trust built with your teammates. They make sure that you succeed on and off the field,” he said. In addition to his teammates, Pauer named Coach David DiTomasso’s high expectations as having a large influence on his success, saying his guidelines helped make him a well-rounded player. “DiTomasso had a strict standard for academic excellence,” he said in an interview. “You were expected to put just as much hard work into academics as you did on the pitch.” Pauer said his ability to stay confident was imperative to the success in his games and added that it was because of this mentality that he was able to graduate from Elmhurst College. “Keeping confidence was key for me,” he said. “It is easy to become discouraged, and it’s especially tough athletically speaking, but it was something I worked on a lot so that I was able to stay focused

Photo courtesy of Elmhurst College’s 2014 Men’s Soccer brochure EC graduate, Nathaniel Pauer (second from left), was the team’s reserve goalkeeper and participated in two contests for the team.

during a tough period.” Pauer is now working as a computer technician at Central DuPage Hospital. He continues to play soccer as a goalkeeper for his indoor soccer team. Pauer has attributed his success after graduating Elmhurst College to the very tools he learned from the Elmhurst College Men’s soccer team.

Teamwork results in womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lacrosse win Sarah Astra editor-in-chief On Mar. 2, the Elmhurst College womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lacrosse team won out against the Concordia Cougars in a 15-2 game, opening the season with a big win. After the long break since April 2015, the Lady Bluejays scored big with two goals in just over two minutes, making quick plays and scoring high.

Continued on pg. 13

Freshman midfielder, Ellen Brown, runs down the field towards a goal after a penalty shot

Photo by Mia Harman