ISSUE 11 04.26.22 ELMHURSTLEADER.COM
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“THANK YOU FOR COMING TO MY TED TALK”: ELMHURST UNIVERSITY HOSTS INAUGURAL TEDX EVENT
TEDx Elmhurst University speakers and President Troy VanAken pose before the inaugural TED talk commenced.
Gianna Montesano Editor-in-Chief Hands reaching for the sky served as the backdrop for the spotlight illuminated Mill Theater stage, the TEDx Elmhurst University emblem sat in bright red letters as students, alumni, and members of the EU community presented original talks at the inaugural TEDx Elmhurst University event on April 23. 14 speakers addressed the audience with their different topics under the umbrella of this year’s
theme, “The Sky is Not the Limit.” The talks were robust in topics, ranging from dealing with grief, to self-care, to overcoming fear. The speakers included Wes Becton, Mallory Burke, Earl Fields, Susan Frick, Kim Graf, Jacob Hill, Zoya Khan, Kortney Peagram, Edgar Palomino, Shahnaaz Sakkaria, Sondra Simpson, Jordan Stibal, Jasmine Sullivan-Wilson, and Lori Tompos. TEDx Elmhurst University took over a year to plan, spearheaded by Loubna Charef, EU MPM’21 graduate and co-host. In 2021 they applied for the TEDx license to host the event the same year, but ultimately was pushed back because
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PHOTO BY Gianna Montesano
of COVID-19. “It was really logical for me to organize and celebrate my time and experience here at EU by organizing a TEDx,” said Charef at the beginning of the evening. “It also gives us an opportunity to showcase our talented faculty, staff members, students, and also community members.” Sullivan-Wilson, class of 2010, always knew she wanted to give a TED talk. However, her talk titled “Grief Isn’t Separate From Living. Period.” was not what she envisioned her first TEDx to be about. CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO
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EDITORIAL BOARD GIANNA MONTESANO/ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OLIVIA JANICKE/ COPY EDITOR RYAN WINDLE/ ARTS + CULTURE EDITOR JARED BOEKENHAUER/ NEWS EDITOR RACHEL FRATT / GRAPHIC EDITOR ERIC LUTZ/ FACULTY ADVISER ASSISTANTS ABBEY MARK/ Assistant Graphic Designer STAFF EMMY SHAFFER NUMAIR YOUNUS MINH NGUYEN LANA GARNICA ALYSSA KUEHNE ZACH STEPHENSON NAYRIN BANUELOS-BOGARINN CONTACT US THE LEADER NEWSPAPER
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CLARIFICATION In the April 12 issue of The Leader, the editorial board wrote and ran a headline mischaracterizing the performance of the lacrosse team against Transylvania University. Elmhurst University men’s lacrosse, at the time of publication, had a nine-game winning streak. With every issue, The Leader is committed to quality journalism to serve the EU campus community and we apologize for the mischaracterization.
“I always thought it [her TEDx] would be about my expertise in education but after losing my mom it needs to be this story,” said Sullivan-Wilson. Sullivan-Wilson’s mother, Deatra Sullivan-Morgan, was a professor of communication at EU up until her passing in Nov. 2019. In her talk, Sullivan-Wilson was overcome with emotion, tearing up as she told the story of her experience with grief from the time she lost her grandfather at 14 years old to today. “Grief is waking up in the morning looking good, feeling good, smelling good, and all of sudden your mind turns to wondering ‘why didn’t I pick up the phone that day when my mom called,’” said Sullivan-Wilson with a quivering voice. Speakers took inspiration from various facets of life. Becton was inspired by the show “Ted Lasso.” “I thought there was something there [in the plot of Ted Lasso] that I could share but a little bit deeper and take those lessons and apply them to diversity, race, and gender,” said Becton. Becton began his talk by bringing out a photo of his granddaughter. Nearing the end of his talk, he addressed the photo for the first time, stating that the toddler is his biological granddaughter. He continued by asking the audience what they were thinking when he revealed that information and where their minds were because his granddaughter and he look vastly different. Becton asked, “Be honest, was that question that you were thinking, was it coming from a place of curiosity or a place of judgment?” The evening was split into two portions, with the first seven speakers going in the first half, followed by an intermission, and the second half
ending the night. Speakers were allotted 10-minutes to speak to the in-person and remote audiences in Illinois Hall that could not fit in the Mill Theater due to high ticket demand. However, that did not stop the hosts, Tim “TJ” Panfil and Charef, from interacting with both audiences. Throughout the evening, the two hosts rotated between locations, hosting a t-shirt giveaway in Illinois Hall during the second session. While TEDx Elmhurst University was postponed a year because of COVID-19, it falls on the 150-year anniversary of EU’s founding, another inaugural milestone for EU. “We’re creating opportunities for both students, faculty, and staff to share their experiences,” said President Troy VanAken. “One of the amazing things about a university setting is the mosaic of all of our experiences, all of our backgrounds create a backdrop for young people to find their way in life and this [TEDx Elmhurst University] symbolizes that in a real profound way.”
Over 40 people applied and it got narrowed down to the final 14 who spoke at the event. The speakers were trained by faculty beginning in February to prepare them for the talk. Jasmine Sullivan-Wilson at the Mill Theater stage for her TEDx talk. PHOTO BY Gianna Montesano
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PHOTO BY Gianna Montesano
EU announced the launch of TEDx Elmhurst University on Sept. 28, 2021, via email calling for students to sign up to volunteer, and a follow-up email was sent on Nov. 1, calling for students, faculty, staff, and members of the Elmhurst community to apply for the opportunity to speak.
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.
Wes Becton gives his TEDx talk with picture of his granddaughter in the back.
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Applications for the 2023 TEDx Elmhurst University are anticipated to be sent out in the early fall later this year, the theme is yet to be announced.
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THE FACE OF EU: A GLANCE BEHIND THE MURAL ON CAMPUS Emmy Shaffer Staff Writer Work has begun on the Elmhurst University campus with the painting of the new mural on the north facing wall of R.A. Faganel Hall. The mural features a colorful face with the tagline “Be Bold. Be Elmhurst,” created by EU faculty members and artists Andrew Sobol and Rafael Blanco. Kaitlyn “Katie” Kubica, the model for the mural, was excited to be a part of the project and work with her professors to bring their vision to life.
dent of theirs and they knew she would be perfect for it. “Katie happens to be taking graphic design classes with Andrew, and painting and art history courses with me,” said Blanco. “She is an amazing student and a
“When we were originally told which mural design had been selected, I was definitely happy that the ‘Be Bold. Be Elmhurst’ design had been chosen, as that was the design I had originally voted for,” said Kubica. “But, I had no idea that Rafael and Andrew had intended on having a student model for the final design. So when they asked me to be the model for it, I was even more blown away.” Sobol decided that having a student model would be the best way to provide a connection to students, rather than an unfamiliar image. “The initial image of the colorful face was a stock image. After giving it some thought, we wanted to create a stronger connection of the mural to EU students,” said Sobol. “We already had the faculty connection — me and Rafael. Katie was brought into the project as a way for the mural to create a more direct connection with the students.” When Sobol and Blanco were looking for a student to model, they wanted the student to have big, light brown eyes and be willing to get their face painted. After some consideration, they asked Kubica to be the model. Along with fitting their description, she is a stuSecond photo: Rafael B lanco stands on a boom lift on the north end of R.A. Faganel Hall painting the mural. PHOTOS BY Jared Boekenhauer, Ryan Windle, and Kaitlyn Kubica
wonderful person. I wish there were more students like her.” Kubica had never done something like this before and enjoyed the experience. She is looking forward to seeing it when it’s completed. “It was such a cool experience and it’s still so surreal,” said Kubica. PAGE 03
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EU RECOGNIZES SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH Nayrin Banuelos-Bogarin Staff Writer The month of April was nationally observed as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Various contributions were made to honor the importance of the issues surrounding sexual assault on college campuses such as various programming and teal bows wrapped around trees on campus with information about the month. Movements across social media platforms and college campuses continue to advocate for the rights of survivors, bring awareness to the issue of sexual assault in an effort to educate students, and eliminate any possible occurrences of this kind of harassment on campus.
SGA HOSTED A FOOD DRIVE ON APRIL 12 IN THE FRICK CENTER IN ORDER TO HELP PACK FOOD FOR THOSE EXPERIENCING FOOD SHORTAGES.
Apart from the efforts being put forward this month, EU requires campus members to partake in Title IX training at the beginning of each school year. “Aside from the title IX requisite given each school year, I believe the school does make attempts to promote information and sessions related to sexual assault,” said junior Gabriel Galindo. Some of the events held on campus this month include self-defense classes, denim day, clothesline project, and day of silence. All of the events were held to stand in solidarity with survivors of sexual assault on and off college campuses. Many events, such as denim day and clothesline project aimed to destigmatize the topic and discredit the idea of victim blaming when it comes to the clothing choice of survivors. Elmhurst University has its own Title IX coordinator that handles all resolution procedures and monitoring of Title IX on campus when a student comes forward to report any instances of discrimination and harrasment.
Students pack boxes at SGA food drive in Frick Center.
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PHOTOS BY Numair Younus
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Relay For Life committee presents the total amount raised at the April 22 event in R.A. Faganel Hall.
PHOTO BY Minh Nguyen
RELAY FOR LIFE RAISES OVER $12,000 AT EU Minh Nguyen Staff Writer Relay For Life raised over $10,000 for the fight against cancer in R.A. Faganel Hall on April 22. “The purpose of this event is just a fun way to spread awareness and donate money to cancer,” Katarzyna Koziol, general committee chair of Relay For Life, said in an email to the Leader. “Relay For Life is a community-based fundraising event for the American Cancer Society and many other cancer-related institutions, societies, and associations. Each year, more than 5,000 events take place in over 20 countries,” Koziol said. This year’s event was carnival themed. There were a variety of activities such as games and raffles to spread awareness and get people engaged in donations.
“We have people walk laps around the gym depending on the theme of the lap,” Koziol continued. “One lap is for people who lost their lives to cancer, a lap is for all the survivors of cancer.” The engagement of big organizations on campus also helped Relay For Life, as people formed teams and competed for prizes. The team competition ended with the Most Fundraising Award going to Alpha Sigma Phi, the Best Dressed Award to the Student Government Association, and the Best Team Spirit Award to Alpha Tau Omega. “That [Best Dressed Award] was very amazing,” said Morgan Demi, SGA’s team leader. “Probably one of the best moments at Elmhurst University. We were really tired, we wanted it, and we got it, so this cute little trophy means a lot to us.”
fee for everyone who came to the event. People could also purchase bags for the luminary ceremony to contribute to the donation. “For our luminary ceremony,” Joi Reed, the president of Relay For Life, told The Leader. “We honor those who have lost of cancer and those who are battling cancer right now. The bags are the representation of us honoring them.” Beside all the fun and engaging activities, Relay For Life also had an inspirational speech during their luminary ceremony as people put glow sticks into their purchased bags. “There’s a crash, there’s a crack, there’s a crack in everything,” said Chaplain H. Scott Matheney during his speech. “That is how the light gets in.” Relay For Life ended their event with the final charity donation of $12,424.37. All the donations will be sent to the American Cancer Society.
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LINKEDIN HAS CHANGED THE NETWORKING GAME Jared Boekenhauer News Editor May is quickly approaching, and with that comes the search for internships and the push for graduating seniors to get full-time jobs. With this push comes the cashing in on networks students have built, which is something often done through the social media platform LinkedIn. LinkedIn is approaching its 19th birthday, founded in May of 2003, in California. The platform is used to create professional networks, advertise job skills to employers, and advertise jobs to potential employees.
they do and who they are — and lists volunteer experiences, recommendations, and interests — potential employers can see what a candidate stands for and what matters,” said Becton. “Additionally, as a candidate, you can go and look at a company or specific employee’s LinkedIn page to get a snapshot of who they are and what they also find important. Provided they have really done a thorough LinkedIn page.” The LinkedIn seminar was a chance for individuals
Becton held a seminar at Elmhurst University on April 12, informing attendees on how to use LinkedIn when searching for jobs and internships. “If you don’t have a good LinkedIn page, don’t put it on your resume,” said Becton at the seminar. What are the tips to making a good LinkedIn page? According to Becton, it’s a presentable profile photo, a cover photo that ties to your career, and a frequently updated list of jobs and internships. “When someone does an ‘About’ section and does a deep and thorough description of what 04/26
Becton helped guide individuals through the process of starting their own pages. According to Becton, LinkedIn profile benefits are numerous. “I have 1644 connections and I use LinkedIn to stay connected with professionals from my past and current work, and also to connect my clients with individuals who may be able to do an informational interview with them. Additionally, I write articles regarding my coaching business, philosophy, and issues that I find important, and speak to who I like to work with,” said Becton.
LinkedIn claims a base of over 800 million individuals in over 200 countries and territories, and it has certainly changed the networking game. “My philosophy for using LinkedIn, specifically with those recruiters and companies who post jobs on LinkedIn, is as in addition to doing the legwork of networking via email, phone calls and ‘cups of coffee,’” said President of George Washington Street Partners, Ingrid Becton in an email to The Leader.
“I’m not a very organized person, so this is a really great way for me to stay organized just to see who I contacted, and, like, I can constantly make changes to my profile, which is really good. ‘Cause I don’t really do much with my resume, so this would be a great way for me to stay organized,” said Dixon.
to create and expand their own profiles, hoping to create connections for future job prospects. “No matter where you are in your career, like, LinkedIn has value,” said Steven Bumpus, an Iowa State University graduate who attended the seminar. “I like my company, I like where I’m at right now, but if at some point I want to leave I know I want to have this as a useful resource.” “So, as a sophomore in college, I was really looking for ways to get my name out there and I heard there was a LinkedIn workshop, and I was like ‘that’s a great way to put my name out there,’” said Kevin Dixon, a sophomore at North Central College who also attended the seminar. PAGE 06
“I also use it to do research on who I may know in certain companies so I can connect with them or have my clients connect with them. It’s a safe and interesting way to explore companies, cultures of companies, and the demographics of folks that are working for specific companies. It also keeps me up to date on what my clients and colleagues and friends are up to in a professional way.” Professor Thomas Salek, assistant professor of communications at EU, also teaches students different ways of using LinkedIn. He provided insights to The Leader about how LinkedIn can assist in networking and adding more details than a resume can provide, such as a photo and social capital. “Earlier resumes you had to send it out, it was a document that was, just, a very personal one. GRAPHIC BY Rachel Fratt
ELMHURSTLEADER.COM LinkedIn it’s a public profile that, you know, houses your resume. And so, the advantage of it is it demonstrates social capital. This idea of how we make connections with other folks because when it comes to finding a job, you know, a lot of it is, you know, knowing how to make connections to people in certain industries,” Salek told The Leader.
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EU HOSTS EARTH WEEK PANEL WITH CONGRESSWOMAN MARIE NEWMAN Nayrin Banuelos-Bogarin Staff Writer
“But LinkedIn has the advantage of having those hyperlinks. So, if you’re a creative person, you can put those links in there to your online portfolio that’s a direct click and you can see, you know, art that you’ve created. Or if you’re, you know, a writer to specific things you’ve done,” said Salek.
As a part of “Earth Week,” a week-long celebration on campus that celebrates the beauty of the planet and raises awareness to environmental issues, an environment panel discussion was held at the Frick Center on Wednesday, April 20, at 6 p.m.
Salek also discussed how LinkedIn provides connections to jobs in industries which students are interested in.
Grace Hanrahan, the president of Greenjays sustainability club on campus introduced the panel and moderator Javier Gloria, senator for sustainability of student government association at the start of the discussion.
If a student comes to him and asks about a job with a certain company, he can check his LinkedIn to see if he has any connections to said company. Which, according to Salek, is an improvement over the traditional method of cold-calling or cold-applying. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, LinkedIn has added more features to provide for job hunting and talent searching. However, according to numerous statistics, LinkedIn has a smaller platform base than many other social media sites such as Facebook or Instagram. But the social media site is not to be ignored in the hiring world, providing numerous features which employers and potential employees are looking for. Students are becoming reliant on the social media giant to assist in job and internship hunting, giving individuals a direct line to prospective employees and employers with high tech resumes. The old adage “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know” is almost word-for-word what LinkedIn provides for students: A network of hyper-connected individuals ready to employ or be employed.
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The panel consisted of U.S. Rep. Marie Newman and Illinois State Rep. Will Guzzardi, and Gary Newman, a volunteer lobbyist for Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL). Gloria began by asking all members of the panel what it was that made them want to get into the work they do with climate change. G. Newman said that he was prompted to CCL because he saw they were in need of volunteers and then became more involved when he saw the work was focused on something as serious as climate change. M. Newman said her motivation behind the work she does for climate change is simple: Her children. She wants them to breathe in 10 years. A common saying is repeated in her congressional office and among her staff: “With every breath we take and every policy we make, we have to think about climate change.” Gloria responded to their reasoning with a heartfelt explanation of how he aspires to run for office in the City of Chicago because he has firsthand understanding of how disproportionately these communities are affected when it comes to climate change. His next question reflected this as he asked, “Some communities are more vulnerable than others, some depend on fossil fuels more than others, what will you do to ensure these communities are protected from these issues?” G. Newman said that CCL is focused on what is called carbon pricing. This is when the government PAGE 07
assesses a fee to the source of carbon mining and gives part of that money back to the American people. M. Newman pointed out that it is astonishing how climate and justice are intersectional. At-risk neighborhoods have 40 to 60 percent more carcinogens in the air. The solutions, she said, are market-based solutions such as carbonbase pricing. She also stated many jobs in the industry could provide workforce training that allows union workers to help understand how to migrate in a just fashion quickly. Guzzardi gave insight on how he had recently passed a bill that was about a coal ash deposit in Waukegan, which is a primarily black and brown community. Republican congress members initially did not want to vote for the bill because it was against corporate and political interest. Guzzardi said that as the transition to renewable energy is made, it should be important to note that the change will not drastically change the economy. The labor unions that are responsible for the job market in these areas should still offer more apprenticeships for people of color. The panel then shifted perspectives. Gloria asked the panelists, “What advice would you give an environmentalist or other people who want to get involved?” Guzzardi began by stating that it may seem to people that there is so much hopelessness, but everything can be won in strategic and deliberate campaigns. As an expansion on that idea, G. Newman said he would point people to the CCL because the organization makes use of every volunteer. Lobbying congress is the most important way of getting things done. Many people can email their members of congress or join a group that supports the effort. Gloria asked the panel to give their opinion on what they would like the environmental community to prioritize more. G. Newman said that it is important to realize that this is not a liberal issue because it hurts everyone.
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ELMHURST UNIVERSITY BAND RASPBERRY MILKSHAKE GOES ‘INTERNATIONAL’ Minh Nguyen Staff Writer Raspberry Milkshake is a new variety band that was founded by two Elmhurst University music students, Dylan Catapat and Joseph Sarabia. The band recently released a new song called “New World” after their debut single, “<3.” The band’s formation was spontaneous, as the duo stated that they both were interested in making a song for their own amusement. “We were just working on a song, just for fun, but then ended up liking it a lot,” said Sarabia. “So, we kept working on it overnight.” Sarabia continued by saying that “When it came the time to put the song out, I was like ‘we needed a name to put it on,’ and both of us agreed that it would be good to form a band because everything would be much easier.”
come in the making of the music, it comes in the process of making it just sound good. Not even the actual musical content, but the sound that comes out.” The band made their debut performance at EU’s talent show, EU on The Rise.
like, in a couple of months we could perform it on such a good stage like EU on the Rise.” When it comes to going international, the band recalled one funny story that happened when their debut single was released.
“When I and Dylan got there, and we saw the whole setup in Founders [Lounge], we were both like ‘wow, okay, this is for real,’” Sarabia said. “We thought it was just only one song, you go up, you perform, and you are done. But after we were done, I and Dylan both had big ole smiles and gave each other a big hug.”
“One of our good friends from Vietnam loves the first song we released on Spotify called ‘<3,’” Catapat said. “He made all his friends back home stream the song at one point. Therefore, what happened is that our most listen[ed] country was actually Vietnam at that point. So, there was an ongoing joke between us, like, ‘Wow we made it internationally.’”
Sarabia continued, “It was very cool — a very emotional moment especially considering that [when] we made the song, we did not think even,
Raspberry Milkshake’s biggest goal is to release an album and to be able to perform their collection of songs in a concert one day.
Beside the coincidental formation of the band, the name, Raspberry Milkshake, was also an “unrehearsed” occurrence. “We went through a bunch of names, but we chose this name just because back at home, my mom makes great blueberry milkshakes,” Sarabia stated. “Yes, blueberry milkshakes, not raspberry.” Sarabia continued, “So, I thought this was a cool name and asked Dylan what he thought about this. He was like ‘it is not bad, but it has to have something to do with me, too.’ Then we remembered that Dylan loves raspberries, and he eats them all the time. So, we combined one to another and that is how the name Raspberry Milkshake was formed.” While forming the new band was exciting, it was inevitable that Catapat and Sarabia would run into obstacles along the way. “There were a lot of difficulties at first,” said Sarabia. “The biggest one is that instead of us being in a setting of just performing, we are now recording too. We have to make sure it sounds right, and we have to mix it, which is like learning a whole new instrument for us.” Sarabia continued, “The difficulties did not really 04/26
Raspberry Milkshake performing at EU on the Rise.
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PHOTO BY Zach Stephenson
GRAPHIC BY Rachel Fratt
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WELCOME TO THE “MOULIN ROUGE”: NATIONAL TOUR MAKES UNDERWHELMING DEBUT IN CHICAGO Ryan Windle Arts + Culture Editor I must confess something to you, Leader readers. Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, I was in fact, a theater gay. When lock-down began, I needed to find a new hobby, but since things have been slowly opening back up, I’ve been able to get back in touch with my former love. It is scary, almost, to go back into an old interest you thought you outgrew. You yourself are a completely different person, and falling back into old hobbies can be a reminder of the past.
It was a moment for the audience members to be introduced to this musical and its characters. The song switched to many different styles to capture the varying genres of the show. The can-can section was a highlight. This old style of dance, modernized, kept the pace up, and the number moving. When the six dancers went into split after split after split, the price of my ticket was instantly met. The costumes? Breathtaking. The lighting? Blinding. The set? Stunning. The choreography? Still on my mind.
Of course, leave it to TikTok to inspire me to get back into theater. One casual day I was scrolling on TikTok when I saw a video from the “Moulin Rouge” account, featuring a snippet of the show.
Only two minutes into the show, my thirst for theater started to be quenched, and I was ready to take on the journey of the “Moulin Rouge.” The introductory number finished, and I was ready to jump out of my seat into a standing ovation.
I watched it again, and again, and again; I was captivated and knew I had to eventually find my way to see this show in person.
Sadly, the excitement slowly dimmed as the show got further into the plot. It was, unfortunately, a snooze-fest after the first big number.
As luck would have it, from now through May 14, “Moulin Rouge” is at the James M. Nederlander Theatre. Of course, tickets are expensive, but magically I won the ticket lottery and got myself decent seats for a decent price.
I thought the plot was bland and basic, and I wanted another big group number to bring the excitement back. The story of a poor boy trying to make it big is overplayed and the musical does nothing to make it unique.
Walking in was cathartic, I missed the ushers yelling at me for not knowing where to sit. It is hard to put the feeling of an audience before a show starts into words, but there was anticipation in the air.
Thankfully, my wants were met with the introduction of the female lead, Satine. This diamond-inspired mashup was stunning and temporarily revived the show’s arid atmosphere.
For most, this was our first big theater event in over two years, and many were masked up, staring at the stage, ready for the performance to start. Since I have been out of touch with theater for a while, I had no clue what the show was going to be about. I had almost no knowledge of the movie “Moulin Rouge,” so I sat in my seat, fearing the unknown. I do know “Lady Marmalade,” and that was how the show began, bleeding into the number “Welcome To The Moulin Rouge!” Having those four fierce performers strut down the stage and belt their hearts out was a great introduction to the show. 04/26
It is important to note that in “Moulin Rouge” the musical takes a collection of modern and classic songs and changes them to fit their score. In this particular mashup, “The Sparkling Diamond,” they took a modern song, Rihanna’s “Diamonds,” and mashed it with Marilyn Monroe’s iconic rendition of “Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend.” As Satine dropped down from the ceiling, the slow, seductive start to this mashup included aerial work. Satine looked drop-dead gorgeous in her black, diamond-encrusted corset that hit the light perfectly. Every angle of her costume dazzled, it was hard to look anywhere else. What made “The Sparkling Diamond” stand out was the production value. This introduction to PAGE 10
Satine showed audience members why she was the big name of the club, Moulin Rouge. What was odd is that Satine fell ill in the middle of this big number, which took me out of the fantasy instantly. I understand they had to include the plot point that Satine was sick, but to throw it in after a big dance break was odd, and almost ruined it. Then the mashup ended, and after the roaring applause that the company received, the audience remained silent for the remainder of the act, unsure of what was happening on stage. What this musical failed to do was add a unique plot point to spice things up, despite the theatrics of Satine’s illness. I knew what was going to happen next, and this pedantic plot left little to the imagination. There is nothing exciting about the story of a failing nightclub, I needed a new element to add some suspense. When I thought the show was actually about to wrap up, the end of act one happened. Still on the high from the big group numbers, I was hoping for more in the second half to redeem the blundering boredom of the first. Act two started with perhaps the best sequence I have seen in my entire life. This mashup “Backstage Romance” was the definition of gay rights. Including Lady Gaga and Britney Spears songs together was the perfect way to enter this act. “Bad Romance” and “Toxic” are two fan favorites, and to have these two songs be the main elements of this mashup felt like I was at pride. The fierce tango style started this song off well, to get the audience back into the groove of the show. As the mashup shifted to “Toxic,” the ensemble members were doing flips and splits all over the stage. To the audience member that screamed “yes bitch, you better werk,” during this mashup, you encapsulated the entire feeling of the audience in this moment. Despite the initial excitement, the second act came and went, leaving me with whiplash. Again, it was nothing short of predictable, with an annoying plotline without any clear heroes or underdogs.
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The “Moulin Rouge” curtain after act one at the James M. Nederlander Theatre.
When “El Tango De Roxxane,” started playing, the energy picked back up, as the lead male, Chirstian, drunkenly confessed his love for Satine. This was the song that became popular on TikTok, and rightfully so. After this, the musical went south fast. The ending was a mess. Again, not to spoil it (even though I’m sure everyone may already know the ending) but I was frustrated that Christian went from sobbing one moment to explaining the future the next.
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PHOTO BY Ryan Windle
last line be a lyric from “Lady Marmalade,” was a disservice to the story, as it ruined this beautiful moment in order to give an ideal “book end.” The only redeeming quality of the show was the group numbers. Truly, I still replay them in my head because they were that memorable. If you can find yourself a cheap ticket, I definitely would recommend seeing the show solely based on the four big group numbers. But if you are looking for a moving story, I would look elsewhere.
The cast was spectacular, and while they may not have had the best show to perform, they acted and sang the hell out of everything provided. It is a shame they were given poor source material. While it may have not been the big return to the theater I envisioned, I did enjoy myself. It was a lighthearted show that provided a good time in the theater, especially after not seeing anything for two years. Because who wants to come back to a serious, dramatic show? Definitely not me.
It was a tacky way to end the show. Having the PAGE 11
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ELMHURSTLEADER.COM
ARTS + CULTURE
ISSUE 11
K EEPING UP W I T H K-POP
Ryan Windle Arts + Culture Editor 04/26
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INTERNET PHOTO
ELMHURSTLEADER.COM
ARTS + CULTURE
ISSUE 11
SYSTEM OVERRIDE: A “GLITCH” HAS TAKEN OVER K-POP Ryan Windle Arts + Culture Editor Each month, K-Pop stans are given a wide variety of new songs to listen to, varying in different styles. Everyone picks and chooses their favorites, but there is always a silent hit that stans seem to sleep on each month. April was a huge month for K-Pop, with IVE, Itzy, and Red Velvet all having a comeback moment. While those releases were all fine, they were not memorable. This month it seems that K-Pop stans have almost forgotten soloist KWON EUN-BI — a former member of the now-disbanded IZ*One — and the music that she released in April. It is a shame that her new music is being overshadowed by these big artists. Her latest release is a new sound for K-Pop, and more people should give it the listens that it deserves. On April 4, KWON EUN-BI released her second EP “Color.” This EP stands out, as it is a shift into a new style of music. “OPEN,” her first EP, followed a jazz sound, indicative of the music IZ*One released. However her latest EP, “Color,” takes on a more hyper-pop sound. The title track, “Glitch,” is reminiscent of a video game. The song starts with nostalgic synth beats like an 8-Bit start up, welcoming listeners into the new journey of this song. There is an eerie feel at the start, with some of the synth beats dragging with each new note. These beats stay consistent throughout, with some drums and snapping added. Exploring this new-found world is calm; however, there comes a moment of tension as if something is following the player. The song emulates this tension with the build-up in the pre-chorus, by using a wide combination of synth sounds that makes it feel like one is being chased by the villain.
This entire build leads up to an anti-drop chorus, the listener is safe from danger for now. The chorus is simple, with one ongoing beat and added background vocals to help support the lead verse.
the penultimate part of the song — is filled with different synths almost glitching into the next. Something has taken over our player, and there is a fight within themself to escape the evil that is the villain, the glitch.
True fans would know this is not the KWON EUNBI that we fell in love with during her time in IZ*One. Something has happened to our beloved player and it is our job to fight this glitch that has taken over.
KWON EUN-BI elevates this feeling of tension by adding ad-libs that sound like cries for help. A synthesizer is added to the vocals to showcase a difference in the tone during this section.
The lyrics of the chorus help listeners learn more about who they are playing as. With the translation of the lyrics being “I come and go, like a glitch. Stealin’ and gettin’ people crazy, I’m that snitch, and move it like a glitch.” If there is one thing K-Pop listeners know, if there is an anti-drop chorus, prepare for some voguing. KWON EUN-BI has a more relaxed style; however, there is particular emphasis on the hand movements. It is easy for viewers to cringe at voguing present in K-Pop choreography, but this voguing shows the time taken to learn the art in full and to do it justice. This same pattern of verse buildup to the anti-drop chorus is present in the second half of the song, but it isn’t until after the bridge that a new sound is introduced.
The lyrics emulate the glitch that has taken over, warning listeners of the control it has. The lyrics translate to, “I’ll appear anywhere, and just under that radar I’ll disappear without a trace.” At the end of this fight, there is a small victory. The glitch has disappeared for now, and listeners are welcomed by chimes, signaling the ending credits to a video game. The music video shows us this change, by placing the focus on KWON EUN-BI where she began, this time with her knowing exactly where she is and remaining still. While the glitch may not be gone, our player is safe for now, left to remember the feeling of this unwelcome takeover. Hopefully, KWON EUN-BI follows this sound more, as it works well for her. While her past single “Door,” was enjoyable, it got old fast. “Glitch,” is fresh and captivating. Not many songs in K-Pop go for this hyper-pop route, especially soloists, so it was nice to hear this new sound and enjoy it.
The boss battle —
This tension is also present in the music video. KWON EUN-BI is seen running around with a distressed look on her face. What has happened to her remains a mystery and the scenes switch sporadically as if something has taken over her. GRAPHIC BY Rachel Fratt
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INTERNET PHOTO
04/26
Located across the street from the Elmhurst University gate is the Wilder Park Conservatory. Recently, they put on their spring flower show that ran for the month of April. If you could not make it over to the conservatory, here are some photos of the show taken by staff member Numair Younus. PHOTOS BY Numair Younus
GRAPHIC BY Rachel Fratt
ELMHURSTLEADER.COM
ISSUE 11
ARTS + CULTURE
IT’S CHOCOLATE: “RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE” SEASON 14 RYAN’S TOP THREE MEMORABLE MOMENTS Ryan Windle
excitement to the runway.
glued to the screen.
Arts + Culture Editor
2. The LaLaPaRuza
Overall, this has to be my favorite episode of the entire season. It was nice to sit back and watch performances, while getting a chance to see the queens supporting one another.
Another season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” has come and gone in the blink of an eye. This season was full of many highs, and many lows. Becoming an instant fan-favorite season, here are my personal top three moments. 3. Lady Camden’s Fall The fandom in itself nearly underestimated Lady Camden from the start. They were doing well in the competition, but nothing made them stand out from the group of contestants.
The best part of “Drag Race” has to be the lip-syncing. Seeing these queens perform in moments that will either make or break their time on the show is captivating to watch. This episode was unique. After most queens failed at the challenge of “Snatch Game,” RuPaul decided that all seven of the queens were placed at the bottom and had to do a lip-sync tournament to survive.
Then this iconic moment happened.
Having an episode filled with back-to-back performances was enticing. This is where fans can see these queens in their element, and they all shined in one way or another.
The theme was “Chaps on the Runway,” a simple category that had nothing exciting going on. When Camden walked out, her white and black chaps were nice, but again, there was no excitement to the look.
This episode also provided viewers with different styles of lip-sync songs, a departure from the typical dance track or ballad. The queens could take to a more comedic approach to some songs or a more sensual style in others.
Then Camden fell, and the perception of her changed for everyone.
The “Swept Away” lip-sync changed my gay life forever. Seeing Bosco sell straight-up sex during that performance was hot, and my eyes were
Gay bars all around America were stunned in silence; the fall was so realistic, it looked like Camden hurt herself badly. Camden went up to the CEO of VH1, and she said that she was going to make history.
1. Trans representation The best aspect by far was the trans talent and representation within this season. The most touching moment of the season is when Bosco and Jasmine Kennedie discussed their gender with the entire cast in a raw and emotional way. Kennedie touched my heart this episode, as she came out as trans to both her cast and the entire world. There is not enough trans representation in the media. Especially in a reality competition series, it is important to give a platform to trans voices because these are real people sharing real-life experiences that many people will learn about for the first time, and may need help in understanding. Kerri Colby, one of the trans contestants on the season, is so wise. Seeing someone who has struggled so much, yet has such a positive outlook on life is inspiring. Seeing how Colby helped so many of the girls accept themselves was heartwarming, she truly was the mom of the season. With so much trans representation in this show, after 14 seasons the show has crowned the firstever trans winner, Willow Pill. These are the steps forward that media should be taking to include trans people and showcase their talent.
Camden’s wig fell off, revealing her real hair underneath, as Camden struggled to get back up, hearts were racing to see how she would recover from this if she could. As she rose, she revealed her face, now with a mustache on it. In the episode Camden said it best herself, “Surprise, I’m Freddy Mercury bitch.”
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” is a gift, in that it is paving the way for LGBTQ+ representation in the media. Being able to see someone who resembles you on TV is inspiring, and for many queer youths, important for them to become confident in themselves.
It was such a gag, and very well executed. This reveal made many fans fall in love with Camden, and it was a clever way to bring GRAPHIC BY Rachel Fratt
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GRAPHIC BY Abbey Mark
ELMHURSTLEADER.COM
EDITORIAL
ISSUE 11
EDITORIAL EVERYDAY SHOULD BE EARTH DAY Earth Day comes around once a year urging people, organizations, and businesses to promote sustainability in various facets. At Elmhurst University, student organizations such as Greenjays and S.E.E.D.S. excel at promoting green initiatives on campus and educational panels on the environment , especially leading up to Earth Day. Most notably in 2021, the Greenjays proposed an initiative to the Board of Trustees to divest from fossil fuels by 2030. In 2019, the Frick Center cafeteria shifted from singleuse plastic utensils and plates to silverware and reusable plates after a push from the then SGA senators for student affairs and community outreach. However, due to COVID-19 the school implemented single-use dishes and to-go containers. Aside from student-led initiatives, what could EU do to promote sustainable action on campus? A lot more than they do now. EU places significant emphasis on their arboretum status, the approval of the environmental studies major, their rooftop garden, recycling bins around campus, and their divided trash cans in the Frick Center cafe as green initiatives. Providing more opportunities to learn about the Earth, climate change, and active preservation efforts would benefit the community and create a more educated campus regarding environmental
issues. Doing so would also be in line with EU’s core academic values and liberal arts education. There is not much transparency or urgency beyond the surface level. Little is being done to inform the campus community on how to move forward with recycling and composting p r a c t i c e s available. EU can look to their arboretum n e i g h b o r, the Morton Arboretum, as an example of where to begin with educating students and the Elmhurst community about preservation, the history of the trees on campus, and how to contribute to protecting the green life on campus. Priding itself on community, the arboretum status is the perfect opportunity for EU to invest in bringing the surrounding community onto campus and implementing educational programs for children, composting classes, gardening classes, and more for both Elmhurst residents and students. Expanding learning opportunities within the EU curriculum is another initiative the school can take toward addressing environmentalism and the Earth on campus. In the general education requirements for undergraduate students, adding on an environmental science area of knowledge requirement centered around climate change, preservation, and policy surrounding legislation in the 21st century is essential. Climate change is proving to be detrimental to PAGE 17
the Earth with rises in temperature, rising sea levels, and a rise in deforestation, providing a class on this subject matter will aid in rounding out the students’ education while at EU. With the increased rate of climate change and the impact it will have, informing students is crucial, especially as EU plans to divest from fossil fuel investments. More transparency surrounding the composting and recycling practices would encourage more sustainability practices from students. Currently, recycling is handled at an off-site plant that separates the intermingled waste thrown in, which is great because they are doing the work for the campus. But if there could be a clearer distinction between what can be recycled, it cuts out the middleman saving money, time, and transportation to the site if done on campus. Earth Day should be celebrated more than one day per year on campus, and it should be better celebrated by the departments on campus whose work indirectly and directly affects the Earth. The Earth has been serving humanity for millions of years and as a campus claiming to be green, there should be a continuous strive to do better. Facilities, administration, and dining services need to promote green initiatives more transparently. GRAPHIC BY Gianna Montesano
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. 04/26
ELMHURSTLEADER.COM
SPORTS
ISSUE 11
BLUEJAY BUZZER: ELMHURST SPORTS ROUNDUP ROUNDUP Gianna Montesano
The three doubles and six rounds of singles were swept by Millikin’s team.
Editor-in-Chief
Men’s Tennis
Men’s Lacrosse
In their match against Millikin University, men’s tennis lost 6-3. Millikin dominated the doubles tournament, sweeping the three rounds on April 23.
In an away game at Augustana College on April 23, the men’s lacrosse team dominated the field with a 12-7 win. In a historic season, men’s lacrosse has ranked in the NCAA’s Division III regional rankings for the first time in the program’s history. While the rank is unknown, Elmhurst University has had a successful season with a 9-4 record as of April 21. The Bluejays will be back on their home field against North Central College on April 27 at 7 p.m.
In the singles tournament, EU won three out of the six matches, ending their winning streak in the last three. Men’s tennis is scheduled to play against Carthage College on April 26, at home.
Women’s Golf Women’s golf had an overnight stay at Millikin University for their two-day tournament on April 22 and 23, placing third at the invite, beating the invitational team. Over the span of two days, the golf team totaled a score of 703, earning 358 on Friday and 348 on Saturday.
Women’s Tennis Facing Millikin University, women’s tennis suffered a 9-0 loss against the Big Blue on April 23.
Women’s Lacrosse In an away game at North Central College, the women’s lacrosse team lost 20-3 against the Cardinals on April 23. Women’s lacrosse will be hosting the Augustana Vikings at a home game on April 27, at 4:30 p.m. Softball Inclement weather has postponed the women’s softball tournament against the University of Chicago on April 24, a make-up date for the doubleheader has yet to be announced. Their game against the Milwaukee School of Engineering was also postponed due to weather. In their April 21 game against North Central College, EU lost game one and game two. The next game for softball will be against North Park University on April 26, at 3 p.m. Baseball Despite postponements, the EU baseball team traveled to Kenosha, Wis. to partake in a doubleheader against Carthage College on April 23. Despite a close first game with the Bluejays losing 8-7, they redeemed themselves during game two with 10-7, increasing their season record to 10-16. 04/26
GRAPHIC BY Alyssa Kuehne
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SPORTS SPORTS
ISSUE 08 ISSUE 11
PHOTO BY Elmhurst University
MOMENTUM CONTINUES FOR ELMHURST TRACK AND FIELD AT FIRST OUTDOOR MEET OF THE SEASON Alyssa Kuehne Staff Writer Elmhurst University track and field had their first outdoor meet of the season at Wheaton College on Monday, April 11, proving a successful first meet. The women’s team won the meet with 250.5 points and the men’s team placed third out of five teams with 42 points. Sophomore James Palumbo shared the team’s excitement for the meet following schedule delays. “Our season start had been delayed over two weeks so the team was generally very eager to race,” said Palumbo. Many athletes debuted in new events at this meet, including Dylan Moran and Jeremy Lodewyck in the 1500-meter race, Andrew Matuszewski in the 400-meter hurdles, and Esther Brown in the steeplechase. “Overall, the race was extremely fun and a fun new experience for both me and my legs,” said
freshman Moran. “I ended up running a 4:15 1500-m which was second for our own team and sixth overall for the meet.”
200-meter dash, Emily Clausen placed first in the 1500-meter, and Brown won her first-ever steeplechase race.
“I think the team’s biggest accomplishment on the day was running under 3:26 in the 4x400 and coming in close behind Wheaton, who fielded a nationals team last year,” said Palumbo.
As for team events, the 4x100 relay and the 4x400 relay placed first at this meet.
The team’s accomplishments were celebrated by the players, highlighting various players for their debuts and their performance. “So many Elmhurst University athletes performed so well in their events. A few of which were Andrew Matuszewski in his first-ever 400-m high hurdles, Jeremy Lodewyck in his first-ever 1500m, Braxston Redmond in his 4x400-m, Cailan Loebel in his 800-m, and Marvin Tchangwa with a PR in the 800-m,” said Moran. “As well as a bunch of spectacular performances for the women’s team as well.” The women had seven first-place finishers at the Wheaton College meet, as well as many top five finishers. Amanda Lams won the long jump event, Stefania Camaci won the high jump, Ava David won the PAGE PAGE 16 19
The men also had a couple of first-place finishers. Braxston Redmond in the 400-meter with a time of 48.89 seconds, and Ricardo Martinez in the triple jump with a distance of 12.27 meters. This meet highlights a promising forthcoming season with continued success mirroring their indoor season with All-Conference Honors for both men and women; a seventh-place finish for the men at the CCIW Indoor Conference championships, a second-place finish for the women, and David qualifying and placing at Indoor Nationals. This team has come a long way over the years since Head Coach Jordan Bartolazzi took over in 2017. From going to a small team and lastplace finishes, Bartolazzi and his coaching staff have brought up the team to the success they are experiencing now.
03/08 04/26
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