ISSUE 12 05.10.22 ELMHURSTLEADER.COM
Leader
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THE LEADER STAFF ELECTS RYAN WINDLE TO SERVE AS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF FOR THE 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR
Newly elected Editor-in-Chief Ryan Windle poses at Wilder Mansion.
Staff Report a three-person election, Ryan Windle was In elected by The Leader staff to serve as Editor-in-Chief for the 2022-2023 school year at the final staff meeting on May 3. Windle currently sits as The Leader’s arts and culture editor, a position he has occupied since October 2021, after joining the staff that September. Windle quickly showed his talent for reviews, wittiness, and thorough reporting. As part of his tenure, Windle proposed increasing the newspaper’s digital presence, noting how COVID-19 moved news organizations online.
PHOTO BY Numair Younus
“I am expecting and hoping to have [a] big social media presence and I’m going to try and make us more well-known around the campus community, not just solely relying on the print newspaper,” said Windle. “Having a strong online presence is something I’m going to try my best to work toward.” Gianna Montesano, current Editor-in-Chief and graduating senior, knew from the first few weeks of working with Windle that he’d one day be taking over The Leader. “I remember editing Ryan’s Cinderella review for the issue at the time and was enamored by his ability to write in a way where it feels he’s talking to the reader directly,” said Montesano.
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“I knew instantly he would be a great asset for our editorial board.” Being elected as Editor-in-Chief has been a long time coming for Windle, who has constantly exhibited dedication to The Leader. “It feels very rewarding. This entire semester I’ve just built up kind of momentum for this moment and to finally be elected I feel so honored and grateful for this opportunity I now have,” said Windle. Windle has been an integral part of The Leader in the short year he’s been with the paper and his work has not gone unnoticed. CONTINUED ON PAGE 02
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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 LANA GARNICA/ Assistant Copy Editor STAFF EMMY SHAFFER NUMAIR YOUNUS MINH NGUYEN ALYSSA KUEHNE NICHOLAS REDMOND KEITHLEEN MENDOZA KATHLEEN BERGER KWEEN JEÁN KAY LOVING CONTACT US THE LEADER NEWSPAPER
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CORRECTION In the April 26 issue of The Leader, an article reporting on the inaugural TEDx Elmhurst University event misnamed speaker Jessica Sullivan-Wilson as Jasmine Sullivan-Wilson. With every issue, The Leader is committed to quality journalism to serve the EU campus community and we apologize for the misprinting of Jessica’s name.
NEWS “It has been great watching him take on more and more responsibilities with the publication, all while continuing his prolific output,” said The Leader adviser Eric Lutz. “His passion for The Leader is obvious, as is his determination to help it evolve and find new ways to tell stories.” Writing is important to Windle. Storytelling has always been something he is passionate about, previously being a part of theater programs in his past and writing short stories in his spare time. “There always has been something fascinating to me about being able to express emotions through words,” said Windle. “I always have enjoyed creative writing, and learning how to refine that passion for journalism has made me determined to always tell a story that will captivate readers.” Windle transferred into Elmhurst University in August 2021, after graduating from Morraine Valley Community College with an associate’s degree and switching his major from theater education to multimedia journalism upon entering EU. The orientation issue will be Windle’s first official issue with his new title, so returning Bluejays can keep their eyes peeled for his orientation issue to hit stands in August. “I am hoping to start recruitment this summer,” said Windle. “While this is a break, I view the summer as a critical time where we can buildup the newspaper and develop it in new ways. I am encouraging anyone to join, no matter what you want to bring to the table.” Windle ran against juniors Yusra Omer and Numair Younus.
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SGA APPROVES ABOVE AND BEYOND CLUB AT EU Minh Nguyen Staff Writer SGA accepted a proposal for a new religious group named Above and Beyond at Elmhurst University during their meeting on April 28. Above and Beyond is a religious organization with loose ties to Christianity. Anyone is welcome no matter their religious affiliation. “The purpose of our club is to create a place for marginalized communities in religion,” Elecea “Emerson” Azcoitia said in an email to The Leader. “I feel like other groups say that they welcome everyone regardless of their religion, but their main goal is to convert people, that is not one of our values.” This new club will focus on three separate activities: outreach aid services such as working with different volunteer groups in the surrounding area, relationship building in a non-religious way, and having conversations that the church is too scared to have.
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.
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Above and Beyond’s primary goal is for people to find out what religion means to them.
Ryan Windle (left) and Gianna Montesano (right) pose outside Wilder Park conservatory. PHOTO BY Numair Younus
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“It [religion] is not going to look the same for everyone and my goal is for people to be valued in and through their religious journey,” Azcoitia continued. “The goal is community and conversation, not conversion.”
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LEAKED SUPREME COURT DOCUMENTS REVEAL POSSIBLE OVERTURN OF ROE V. WADE Jared Boekenhauer News Editor Late on May 2, a leaked draft from the Supreme Court published by Politco revealed the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is likely to overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 case legalizing abortion nationwide. The draft is not a final decision, and justices have changed their stances between the drafting stages and final decisions, according to the BBC. “Though the decision is not yet final and abortion remains legal, if this decision issues, 26 states are poised to move quickly to ban abortion, leaving more than 36 million women of reproductive age — and other people who can become pregnant — without abortion access,” said Planned Parenthood in a press release. Illinois Right to Life said in a press release that it condemns the leak, and intends on advocating for “the most vulnerable in our state.” “Roe v. Wade created an erroneous ‘right’ to abortion that has no standing in the United States Constitution. We believe that the leak of the draft ruling on Monday, May 2 was an egregious act that threatens the function of the High Court,” said Illinois Right to Life.
draft reflects the voting that occurred.” EU fourth year student Stephanie Cipolla spoke to The Leader on the possible overturning of Roe v. Wade. “For the moms who don’t feel like they could sustain themselves and a child, for the ones who could die during pregnancy, for the ones who don’t want to bring a kid into this crazy mess of a world, for the woman who came home to a positive pregnancy test after a night of partying, and for the ones who simply just don’t want a child — this decision from the Supreme Court should not be overturned,” said Cipolla in an email to The Leader. “I have faith that [J.B.] Pritzker will stand strong in his support of women’s rights. He has been active on social media spreading his opinion that he ‘trusts women,’ and supports women by supporting Ro[e] v Wade 410 U.S. 113,” continued Cipolla. Should Roe v. Wade be overturned, abortion in Illinois will remain legal. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said in a tweet on May 2, “We cannot
“The ensuing reaction from abortion advocates illustrates that most of them believe protecting contrived ‘abortion rights’ justifies any means, no matter how destructive.”
let their [women’s] most profound and personal rights be violated.” This leak comes after abortion restrictions are being put in place across the country, most notably in Texas, where a woman who gets an abortion in Texas after six weeks, as well as anyone who aids a woman in getting an abortion after six weeks, can face legal trials. Dobbs v. Jackson, the current case SCOTUS is taking up, is set to be officially decided later in the summer. Kowal spoke more with The Leader about the implications of this breach, and what the contents of the breach point to. “The leak of a draft Supreme Court opinion is virtually unprecedented. In my study, practice and teaching of law, which now spans more than 50 years, this has never occurred,” said Kowal. “The members of the Court are all sworn to secrecy about the deliberations relating to the resolution of cases and the decisions that are to be rendered.” Kowal continued, “Advance knowledge of decisions would provide significant advantages to those who gain that information. For example, individuals could engage in stock transactions that would anticipate the market response to the Court’s decisions.” “The breach of confidentiality that has occurred will contribute to the declining popular perception of the legitimacy of the Court,” said Kowal.
Even though the decision on whether to overturn Roe v. Wade has not been officially made yet, some have cited that this breach points to a high likelihood that Roe v. Wade will go. “I think it is very unlikely the Court’s determination will change before the issuance of the final opinion and judgment in the case,” said EU adjunct Steven Kowal. “The tenor of the opinion might change somewhat, but the result is almost certainly to be the same. The Court met to discuss the case and vote on an outcome. The
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FOURTH ANNUAL BLUEJAY TANK GIVES ASPIRING ENTREPRENEURS A PLATFORM Jared Boekenhauer News Editor Elmhurst University hosted the fourth annual Bluejay Tank on Monday, April 26, in the Buik Recital Hall to give students a platform for pitching business ideas. This semester, prizes were given to the top four contestants instead of three. The first place winner received $1,500, second place $1,000, third place $500, and $150 to fourth. First place went to Mark Picardi with College Cleaners, second place went to Lukas Munoz with Bluejay Nest, third place to Alec Goldberg with Label Up, and fourth place to Eric Tosoonyan and Efthymia Sidiropoulou with Ride There. Picardi’s business, College Cleaners, sells baskets with cleaning supplies needed for a dorm room and also provides cleaning kits for cars. Picardi’s first place win in this Bluejay Tank comes after receiving third place at last semester’s Bluejay Tank. “I know that I have a lot of work to do now, and I’m gonna take that money, and I’m looking forward to being able to do the work,” said Picardi. “It’s more about, I know what’s coming next, and I know I’m now able to meet it, arms open wide, or, like, be like Mike Tyson, and knock it out of the park.”
“To my Mom and Dad, thank you for all the help and the sacrifices that you made over the years. I love you guys,” followed up Picardi in a statement to The Leader. The second place winner, Bluejay Nest, is a non-profit company that provides food to college students who are food insecure. It would operate in the same way traditional food pantries operate, allowing students to shop for food free of charge. “So, this is a huge problem, food insecurity, but it also presents a great opportunity, and a great way to help our students,” said Munoz at the event. “The Nest will help meet the needs of our students.” The third place winner, Label Up, is a company that provides marketing, legal, and operational resources to upcoming artists. According to Goldberg, the company will provide these services at the cost of a monthly subscription fee, and not take as much of a profit percentage as typical record companies do. The fourth place winners, Tosoonyan and Sidiropoulou, came up with Ride There, an app similar to Uber and Lyft, but exclusively for college students. The app would be completely free of charge to students, and only allow them to get rides and be drivers. Tossonya and Sidiropoulou spoke of the discomfort
Participants of Bluejay Tank pose after the event.
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often felt by foreign exchange students when seeking transportation in a new country, and offered this app as a solution. At the presentation, Sidiropoulou spoke of the solution saying, “So what our app is different from Uber, is that we want people to make connections with each other, we would want the people that they are in the university to make friends, to network.” Patrick Yanahan, who organized the event, spoke to The Leader about his ecstatic feelings toward Bluejay Tank, and how impressed he was with the students’ pitches. “I’m always very impressed with the uniqueness of the presentations,” said Yanahan. “You could tell that all the students certainly did their homework, all the businesses were unique in their own way, whether it was profit or non-profit, and so you could definitely tell that they did their homework.” “It seems as if as we get out of COVID[-19], and we get into every semester, every you know, new semester, we really are seeing this gradual increase in student interest and student involvement, so I really gotta say the program has exceeded expectations,” said Yanahan. This semester’s Bluejay Tank took place in person for the second time, the first two were held virtually due to COVID-19.
PHOTO BY Jared Boekenhauer
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SGA HOLDS ELECTIONS FOR NEW POSITIONS Jared Boekenhauer News Editor SGA held their elections on Thursday, April 28, and Thursday, May 6, for their senate and executive positions. The new senators and executives will be taking their positions come fall of 2022. The following individuals were elected for next year’s executive positions: President Daizja Hollman, Vice President Javier
Gloria, Treasurer Morgan Ogunleye, and Secretary Alec Lim.
efforts to better serve the student body and help support students.”
The following individuals were chosen for the open senate positions:
Despite the newly filled positions, there are still eight senator positions which remain unfilled.
Senator of ELSA Brian Fox, Senator for Community Service Saaniya Sajed, Senator for Student Affairs Ericka Creek, and Senator for Student Services Angel Garcia.
These unfilled positions include senator for academic affairs, senator for commuter and transfer students, senator for alumni affairs, senator for diversity and inclusion, senator for clubs and organizations, senator for residents, senator for sustainability, and senator for information technology.
“I feel very excited and confident about SGA next year,” said current SGA President Hiba Anees. “I feel it will bring a fresh new perspective. Everyone has great bright ideas that are in ADVERTISEMENT
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Stephaine Melchor Malcolm Mason Sophomore graphic design major: “When I first saw it, I was kinda shocked. A little bit. But then there was a part of me that was like ‘well that sounds like something he would do.’ I don’t really have no strong opinion about it, cause I haven’t noticed any changes to the platform since he bought it. But I heard he was, like, thinking about making changes.”
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Junior Spanish major: “I think it [Musk buying Twitter] shows how corrupt America is. This man [Musk] is rich enough to buy a company as large as Twitter, out of the blue, just because he feels like it. The only way to get that rich is through unethical manners. He exploits his employees. I mean, he has to exploit people to get that rich. And the reason he wanted to buy it was for freedom of speech, but there has to be a line somewhere because there’s some things that just should just not be posted, or that will incite a lot of hate. Like you can’t post inappropriate pictures of children, and you shouldn’t be able to post stuff that will promote riots such as, like, Donald Trump’s tweets that ignited like the January 6 events, or, like, things that infringe people’s privacy.”
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Wil Copeland Freshman digital media major: “I don’t know, that’s just a crazy amount of money that Elon [Musk] spent on Twitter, like, I don’t know, $44 billion. Is that how much he bought for? That’s such an unfathomable amount of money. When that happened, like, I googled ‘how much money does it take to fix world hunger?’ And Google said 6.6 billion, so I’m not really sure how accurate that is, but you know he [Musk] could have really done a lot with that money.”
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WORLD IN REVIEW Jared Boekenhauer News Editor Cuban hotel explosion leaves 26 dead A natural gas leak caused an explosion at the Saratoga Hotel in Havana, Cuba on Friday, May 7. The explosion has thus far killed 26 individuals. “[Firemen] were using their bare hands to move chunks of broken granite and stone in order to pull people out of the rubble,” said CNN. “Pieces of metal awnings, balconies and large chunks of stone were scattered about 300 feet away from the hotel.” Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel visited the site on Friday, according to a report by CNN. The report also stated that numerous individuals have been hospitalized as a result of the explosion. Currently, there is a wide search for survivors of the attack, according to the Associated Press (AP). The AP also reported that there were 51 individuals inside of the hotel upon the time
month of life and are available to be adopted had become virtually nonexistent.” of the explosion, as well as two individuals renovating. 11 of those individuals were killed, 13 went missing, and six were hospitalized. “At least one survivor was found early Saturday in the shattered ruins, and rescuers using search dogs clambered over huge chunks of concrete looking for more. Relatives of missing people remained at the site while others gathered at hospitals where the injured were being treated,” wrote the AP. Outcry over “domestic supply of infants” line in SCOTUS draft Outcry has unleashed over the line “domestic supply of infants” found in the Supreme Court of the United States’ leaked draft which, if it remains, would overturn Roe v. Wade. The full quote is from a footnote in the draft stating, “Nearly 1 million women were seeking to adopt children in 2002, (i.e. they were in demand for a child), whereas the domestic supply of infants relinquished at birth or within the first
Some have compared the line to the popular novel, “The Handmaid’s Tale.” The website, themarysue.com, ran a headline saying “Let’s Unpack the Chilling Phrase ‘Domestic Supply of Infants’ in the Supreme Court’s Draft to Overturn Roe v. Wade,” with a picture of the character Offred from “The Handmaid’s Tale.” The outcry comes amidst concern by pro-choice advocates over the possibility of Roe v. Wade being overturned, while many conservatives have been more focused on condemning the leak of the actual draft. “No politician, state or federal, should be permitted to take away women’s bodily autonomy to control their health care decisions,” said Rep. Sean Casten of Illinois’ sixth district, which includes Elmhurst, in a tweet. Evacuations in Mariupol, Ukraine take place All women, children, and elderly people have been evacuated out of the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, Ukraine, according to multiple reports. The evacuation comes as leaders scramble to get as many civilians out of Ukraine amidst the continuing war. The evacuation comes after both the U.S. and the U.K. pledged further support to Ukraine, according to The Guardian. “The next tranche of U.S. equipment will include artillery rounds, counter-artillery radars and electronic jamming equipment. [Joe] Biden and [Boris] Johnson will be among G7 leaders holding a virtual meeting with Zelenskiy to mark VE Day and discuss future support,” wrote The Guardian. The U.K. is offering 1.3 billion pounds (1.6 million U.S. dollars) according to The Guardian, while the U.S. is offering an extra $150 million, after sending $800 million back in March. “Today, the U.S. is continuing our strong support for the brave people of Ukraine as they defend their country. I am announcing another package of security assistance that will provide additional artillery munitions, radars, and other equipment to Ukraine,” tweeted President Joe Biden on May 6.
Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol, Ukraine.
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TIME TO ENLIST IN THE ARMY: BTS TEASES NEWEST ALBUM “PROOF”
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Keithleen Mendoza Staff Writer K-Pop phenomenon, BTS, surprised fans at the end of their two-hour long “Permission to Dance” stop in Las Vegas. What seemed like a nostalgic montage of old BTS clips playing on the giant screen, turned out to be more as the video blacked out to reveal the numbers “22.06.10.” From this announcement, there was speculation of an upcoming album amongst the ARMY, BTS’ fanbase. This speculation became a reality as BTS announced that they would be releasing their newest album, “Proof.” This album will drop on the same day as the anniversary of their debut as a group, and the era of singles will now be replaced with a full track list of new BTS songs. Not much is known about what the album will look like but fans aren’t deterred from making their theories. The announcement video, Grammy performance, and every live-stream since then 05/10
has been analyzed for possible hints of what’s to come. The first clue is that the album will possibly feature a sound more like their older releases. Yoongi, also known as Suga, one of the rappers of BTS stated in a BBC1 interview last year that, “I’m sure we’ll have more hip-hop tracks in future albums. So if you’d like to hear more of them, you shouldn’t have to wait long.” There’s also the case of the Snoop Dogg collaboration, which has been disclosed but kept under tight wraps. When asked about it on the red carpet, Snoop said, “You gotta talk to them. But my parts are in.” Namjoon, also known as RM, revealed his personal long-term goals as the leader of the group via a candid live-stream. During the live-stream, he stated that, “In terms of what is to come from now on.…these days, what I’ve been thinking about continuously is that we should put ourselves back to the starting point of our journey. And get more actively involved in our album-making process PAGE 08
and speak our voices.” Considering that Namjoon already has 186 KOMCA (Korean Music Copyright Association) writing credits to his name, as well as a third place position on Billboard’s Hot 100 Songwriters Chart, an even deeper involvement would make their upcoming album a diary of sorts that they share with their fans. ARMY noted that Namjoon’s statement rang true after further inspection of their 2022 Grammys performance. Although it featured a museum heist to match their theme for “Butter,” there were also subtle references to their “HYYH” (The Most Beautiful Moment in Life) era from 2015. Many are expecting them to revisit their earlier career and retell their story with newer perspectives now that the members are nearing their thirties. Scheduling “Proof” on their debut date, which also is the week of their annual Festa anniversary celebrations, is a very purposeful decision. As of now, they have allegedly booked Jamsil Indoor Stadium for five days, beginning with the album’s release.
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GOING, GOING, GONE: NINTENDO SWINGS, AND MISSES WITH “NINTENDO SWITCH SPORTS” Ryan Windle Arts + Culture Editor In the most recent trip down nostalgia lane, Nintendo released “Nintendo Switch Sports” on April 29, an update to one of my favorite games “Wii Sports.” “Wii Sports” defined my childhood — from fighting over who got to bowl first, to trading nunchuks while wrestling. While I was not an athlete, I became a pro whenever I launched the game, determined to feel sweet victory. However, I may have been blinded by the good memories of my childhood because “Nintendo Switch Sports” did not live up to expectations, and honestly is a lackluster game. While the graphics are an improvement, that seems to be the only thing that got upgraded. The new elements added did not live up to my expectations, and notably lacks the storylines present in the Wii version. Six sports came with this initial release: bowling, chambara, badminton, tennis, volleyball, and soccer. There will be an update adding golf to the game in the fall.
Badminton was not present in the Wii version. Nintendo would have benefited from adding a different sport. There are many sports out there to pick, and when choosing six, how is it that nearly identical sports got chosen? It was a bad move; baseball would have been a better addition to the game. They could have even made up another sport, or taken inspiration from another sport and made it their own, as they did with chambara, based on chanbara, a popular sport from Japan. In the game, chambara is almost like swordfighting but on an elevated platform. This sport is okay, but the controls are buggy and the attacks are hard to get down correctly, even after doing the tutorial numerous times. Volleyball also has buggy controls and it seems like no matter what, the ball moves too fast to strike. This, of course, can be a user error but after an hour of trying, success seemed unlikely. With easy fixes to the sensory controls, this can be improved as this game was enjoyable, for the most part, though the delay was irritating.
And now onto my biggest qualm with the game: soccer. The boost runs out too quickly, most times the players are left walking toward the ball, and the ball does not want to cooperate either. The time frame allotted is too short, with only three minutes to score as many goals as you can, it seems rushed, as half the time you can’t even run to quickly get to the ball. The inclusion of the shoot-out is nice, but still buggy. I understand I’m not an athlete, but goodness, I feel like it should be easier. It may be buggy, but when playing with others it adds something to laugh about. This game is meant to be enjoyed with others, not by yourself. While all games should stand their ground with solo play, sometimes you need someone else to bring the excitement out. This game needs improvements, and I am eagerly awaiting golf’s comeback — it was notably missing this time around. The game is quite new, and hopefully this bulky, buggy business becomes obsolete.
Bowling is a classic that you can’t go wrong with. Being able to play in rounds with players “worldwide” is exciting, but it quickly fades once you slowly realize that you are probably playing with bots. While you can play with COM in solo play, there is the option to interact globally with other players for points that unlock new emotes, outfits, and equipment. There is something artificial about that element of the game. After a ten-minute tutorial, my opponent was still there ready to battle. It is doubtful that this player also had to undergo the tutorial. Whether this was an actual person or a bot remains unclear. Badminton and tennis are similarly formatted in this game. The controls are the same, and most of the time the game automatically moves you places so all you are doing is swinging your arm.
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K EEPING UP W ITH K-POP Ryan Windle Arts + Culture Editor 05/10
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SERVE IT ANCIENT CITY-STYLE WITH LE SSERAFIM’S DEBUT SINGLE, “FEARLESS” Ryan Windle Arts + Culture Editor
should be fearful that they debuted two members of their group under the age of eighteen.
Source Music recently debuted their newest girl group, LE SSERAFIM on May 2, with the release of their EP, “FEARLESS.”
The single gives the energy of sex, and some of the choreography in the music video has the girls slamming their bodies on the floor, bouncing up and down. This would not be an issue if the members of the group were of age; however, there are two members who are not: Garam is 16, and Eunchae is 15. Knowing this fact taints the experience; the entire song becomes questionable.
The title song, “FEARLESS,” is the definition of what a 90s supermodel would hear strutting down the runway. This fierce anthem is clean and simple.
So questionable, in fact, that in LE SSERAFIM’s new promotional stages the slamming choreography has been replaced with more tame dance moves.
However, the song does not stand out vocally whatsoever. The members sing in a lower register, which is a surprise. Most times, with a debut single, companies make the track a competition to see which member can belt the highest.
It is not uncommon for K-Pop groups to involve minors, as people train at a young age and companies want to debut members while they are young and in their prime. Most times, these young artists are given a cute concept to start off with, and their sound matures with them.
With LE SSERAFIM, there is a fierceness in this debut single, and the song never strays from its club-like structure, which makes for a consistent song.
The age difference between the members is confusing, there is a nine-year gap between the oldest and youngest members. Either debut some other trainees and keep those girls for another group, or change the concept to not sexualize minors.
In the pre-chorus, the bass fades as the guitar guides the instrumentals. The group kicks it into a higher register, harmonizing with one another. The voices blend to create a refreshing, cohesive sound. “FEARLESS,” best serves as background music to vibe to. This is why the song emulates model energy — it is emotionless yet still powerful in nature.
Even then, “FEARLESS,” could have been fine for the younger members if they did not make the choreography so suggestive. There was poor planning by the choreographer and company for allowing this to happen.
In the chorus, the repeating lyrics call to the catwalk, with the pattern “What you lookin’ at, What you, what you lookin’ at, Mm-mmmm-mm, I’m fearless, huh.” With the bass and synth, this chorus may make you involuntarily strut down any walkway you encounter.
LE SSERAFIM did not make waves with this debut in the ways the company may have intended. With a clubby song, the focus should be on the music, not the minors.
While the girls in the group may be “FEARLESS,” the company
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Gianna Montesano Editor-in-Chief 05/10
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HARRY BRINGS FANS HOME WITH “HARRY’S HOUSE” RESIDENCY If Harry Styles is one thing to fans, it’s home. So when he randomly announced a mini “Love on Tour” residency, fans quickly decided to sell their houses to snatch tickets up for these 32 North American shows, bringing fans closer to home instead of across the country. This residency is an extension of his North American 2021 Love on Tour geared toward promoting his new album “Harry’s House” due to release on May 20. New York City and Los Angeles are getting 10
shows, Chicago is getting five, Austin is getting five, and Toronto is getting two shows all backto-back. A presale link has been released where fans can sign up to potentially receive a presale code up until May 19. Presale tickets will be released on May 24.
on the concentration in the five main cities. The single, “As It Was” sent fans in a frenzy with the catchy techno beat and they are fiending for more from the pop-singer crooner and swooner.
This residency move is kind of a slay for all the Styles fans who travel far and wide for the shows but can now focus
GILDED BLAH-MOUR: 2022 MET GALA THEME MISSES AND WISHES Elon Musk’s Twitter was being refreshed all day on Met Gala Monday to see our favorite nepotism babies and celebrities flaunt their wealth at the aptly themed “Gilded Glamour” event. For those of you who were victims of AP U.S. History (APUSH) over Zoom, here’s a brief history lesson — the gilded age is a time period defined by newfound wealth after an era of U.S. reconstruction and the civil war. New York City was gauche as hell. The theme was easy to follow, so why did most of the attendees look like they were inspired by Pinterest and motivated by Kohl’s cash burning a hole in their pocket? We’re looking at you, Emma Stone and Sebastian Stan.
However, we have to give an honorary waste pot of gold to the stars of the evening — Billie Eilish, Blake Lively, and Evan Mock for sticking to the theme and working their wealth privilege
While viewers of the gala wished to see more corsets, hats, and fatcat money bag men per APUSH political cartoons, they took Eilish’s look and ran it into the Twitter graveyard of on-theme Met Gala Twitter threads. While the 2023 Met Gala theme hasn’t been announced, modern-day celebrity gossip page Duexmoi has shared from a tip they received that the theme is space. It’s starting to feel like Musk is making his way into the fashion world with this potential leak.
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For the most part, the looks were not on theme, taking inspiration from other eras like Kim Kardashian’s take on Gilded Hollywood wearing Marilyn Monroe’s 1960s Jean-Louis dress in which she infamously sang “Happy Birthday” to President John F. Kennedy.
so well that guests couldn’t tell if they were in 1899 or 2022.
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ELMHURSTLEADER.COM
17 years ago I decided what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Sitting at my dad’s office desk, recording a report about my trip to Disneyland, I was hooked on storytelling. Soon, the storytelling evolved from audio recordings to storybooks to journalism. I didn’t know much about journalism, I just knew it was what I was meant to do. I had no prior experience writing formal news stories before joining The Leader on a fateful fall day my freshman year when I showed up at the meeting and got assigned to write a listicle about 10 places that grant students discounts with their Jaypass — groundbreaking stuff, I know. Similar to everything I do, I think I’m single-handedly the best person to ever do something, even if I crash and fail. If I fail, it’s a character-building moment I tell myself. In the spring semester of my freshman year the axis of my world was turned, flipped, and disoriented when I met with Ron Wiginton for a one-on-one conference. I thought praises were going to be sung, I had just written my first front-page story, I was speaking to lawyers and spokespeople, this was my Watergate. Alas, I was met by a water hose spraying me down into a vacuum echoing what Ron told me, “maybe you should consider switching majors.”
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Gia n n a M on t e s s a n o
E di t or-i n -C hi ef
Self-doubt, tears, and hastily switching over to the pre-law track because I had no backup. Frankly, I was Rory Gilmore and Ron was Mitch Huntzberger at that moment, but in my life, I am not a Rory; I’m Gianna Montesano. I took his words, worked harder, found the five-year-old storyteller within myself again, and pushed through the negative self-talk and Ron’s harrowing words became an affirmation for me. I will not be switching majors, but I will be the best journalist I can be for The Leader and for my future. My stories improved, I became news editor, I was breaking news and I finally felt like I had found my groove again and I didn’t need to go to law school — which is a slay in my book.
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Three years later and here I am, signing off my last story in The Leader as Editor-inChief. While the journey to EIC has not been simple, it has been one of the most rewarding experiences I have had at Elmhurst University. While it was odd to have full-grown adults harass me for not liking a story, it just proved one thing — if people are reading and care enough about what your words say, you’re doing something right. To everyone who has been on this journey with me throughout the last four years and especially to my editorial board, thank you. This year would not be possible without your contributions, pep talks, and grounding moments in and out of the newsroom.
ELMHURSTLEADER.COM
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ARTS + CULTURE
Oli via Janicke C op y E di t or
Here we are, at the end of it all. Never thought I’d actually write one of these, didn’t think I was the type. But I won’t skip out on this tradition when I think it’s rather sweet. I came to Elmhurst University back when it was still a college; I transferred in my second year with the desire to find a place in the world that didn’t feel so heavy all the time. I wouldn’t say I’ve lacked direction in my life, but I would say I didn’t know where I was going. I’d say it with my chest, actually. I’m an English major, so the newspaper has always been on my radar, but I knew I had no interest in writing for it. Imagine my surprise when I found out my academic adviser, Ron Wiginton, was the current adviser for The Leader with a particular knack for bringing it up in every conversation. In a last-ditch attempt to recruit me for the paper, he asked the question that sealed my fate: if I’d ever heard of copy editing. I had not, and he jumped at the chance
to sing The Leader’s copy editor at the time, Marisa Karpes’ praises, insisting we get in touch with one another — my one condition was that I would never write for the paper, I looked him in the eyes and made a promise. It’s scary how spot on Ron can be sometimes, and I was quickly incorporated into the fold of the paper. I’ve thrived here ever since. My promise, however, was one I did not keep (you write one review and suddenly everything flies out the window). My time at The Leader has shown me a path I love, one I never knew existed. I’ve been working with the paper for two and a half years, and in that time I moved from assistant copy editor to chief copy editor in a matter of months. I worked alone for a large portion of my time here, which has been a blessing and a curse, but I was thankfully blessed by the addition of Sarina Okrzesik, a true light who has worked tirelessly by my side. It has been a gift to watch her become comfortable in her role. It has been an immense privilege of mine to have worked closely with so many talented writers and editors who have cared so deeply about this paper. To my beautiful friend Josie Zabran, thank you for telling our rhetoric class about The Leader and eventually taking me to my
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first Tuesday meeting. To Ron, I would be a completely different person without you. Thank you infinitely for believing in me, and for encouraging me to reach out to Marisa. To Marisa, thank you for the incredible opportunities you have afforded me. I am forever grateful for you. To my darling Gianna Montesano, thank you for having so much — and at times too much — faith in me. To my love Ryan Windle, thank you for letting me be your teacher, for working so collaboratively with me. The Leader has been my family for years, and to those I have not thanked by name, you know who you are, and you know how much I love you.
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ELMHURSTLEADER.COM
It would seem that yesterday I was moving into my freshman dorm at Spring Arbor University (SAU) in Spring Arbor, MI, an aspiring journalist, ready to bring the breaking news to the small campus in south central Michigan. At least, that was the hope. SAU was supposed to bring me to achieving my goal of being a hard-hitting journalist. I was ready to publish heated stories uncovering campus scandal and corruption. But things did not work out that way. My late night monthly production meetings were long and arduous, I was often intimidated by the upperclassmen who brought years of experience to each issue, and would make the process look easy. Eventually, though, my only journalism professor would retire, all the seniors would graduate, and the newspaper was going to be handed over to me with a staff of one (at this point I was the associate editor), and I would be running a newspaper all on my own with a university that gave me little to no support. How’s that for becoming a hard hitting college journalist?
J ared Boek en ha uer
New s E di t or
With the journalism program deteriorating at the seams, I moved back home, and became a commuter student at Elmhurst University. This was not how college was supposed to go. I joined The Leader, once again intimidated by all the people who knew each other, had experience, and were significantly better writers than I was. But I kept going, with that vision that I would become a journalist. I eventually was asked if I would like to take over as news editor, which I accepted. I would go to the late night production sessions, be a part of editorial meetings, and help put the paper together. It was truly an experience that I will carry with me. I was also one of the lucky college graduates who got to pursue their dream job out of
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college, being a soon-to-be-reporter in Ketchikan, Alaska. A move that was not expected, but I decided “What the hell?” The Leader helped bring me to the point I am at, awaiting a career in journalism. The people I worked with at The Leader gifted me with the knowledge and skills necessary to move into a career in journalism, and challenged me to try harder. When a story of mine was not good, I certainly heard it. From the copy editors, to the Editorin-Chief, bad stories were not acceptable. To everyone who has brought me to this point in my life, thank you. And to my family, for all the support you brought me on those dark nights, your support is nothing short of appreciated and recognized.
ELMHURSTLEADER.COM
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ARTS + CULTURE
Kei t hleen M en d oza St aff Wr i t er
Getting to the end of the year and not having to register for classes in the fall is a weird experience. It feels like I got to Elmhurst, blinked, and suddenly have graduation in a few weeks. You’d think that three years would leave you with a step-by-step plan of how exactly you’re going to get where you want after graduation, but that’s not the case. I still have no idea what’s going to happen. The only difference is that I’m more okay with it now than I was before. I just keep telling myself that things will work out in the end, and that whatever positive opportunity I go for will be something I won’t regret. That’s what happened when I joined The Leader. I was walking down the chapel, saw a sign about the school newspaper,
and decided to join on a whim. I had absolutely no experience with this style of writing, and didn’t take any journalism classes until after my first semester here. It was a completely new experience, and I struggled in the beginning with even writing a simple article. After a lot of trial and error though, I found my spot in the arts and culture section. I’ve always really loved entertainment, as well as exploring student life on campus, and found that I really enjoyed focusing on it for the paper. It’s something I hope to pursue, especially since my focus is on writing. My passion for it is something I don’t often talk about outside my classes, but being in The Leader, I felt like I was able to explore story ideas within media very openly.
when it comes to writing, and I’m very glad that I decided to go to that first meeting. Everyone within The Leader is also really great as well, and I appreciate all the feedback I’ve gotten from the editors and Eric’s reviews. I think the future members are going to be very lucky to write and create graphics with such an awesome group of people. As graduation gets closer, there’s a few aspects of Elmhurst I’ve been thinking that I’ll miss, and my experience at The Leader will definitely be one of them. Right up there with the squirrels that are definitely out to get us.
The paper provides a welcoming environment
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ELMHURSTLEADER.COM
ISSUE 12
ARTS + CULTURE
Kwee n J ea n St aff Wr i t er
In my childhood, I found myself having several interests. Music, art, fashion, you name it. I was fascinated and thought everything was one word, awesome. Like most children, I was equipped with a vivid imagination. One that wanted me to be an astronaut when I got older and the same imagination that provided me with other future occupation ideas like being a veterinarian and a gymnast. If I could have done all three, I would’ve. It wasn’t until my late elementary years that I discovered a new interest, writing. Middle school came along, and I realized not only did I love my English classes, but I excelled in them as well. Granted, I always received good marks on my report cards but English, or at the time language arts and reading class, was a huge source of my happiness. My yearbook elective majorly contributed as well. I found this interest becoming a trend in high school, which eventually led to me joining two courses: journalism and creative writing. My passion grew and so
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did my schedule. In addition, I included photography and digital media in my list of classes with the intent of expanding my knowledge on how to better present my material. Looking back at it all, I guess my life was ultimately leading to the career path I’m pursuing now. If anyone glanced at my transcript or somehow got their hands on my Wattpad account, they could’ve easily guessed I’d go into English if not some form of journalism. Now even though that was the case, I find it funny how before college I was indecisive about what to major in. Suddenly, I lacked confidence and I was consumed with fear of making the wrong decision. Now, I have it figured out, but then under a blindfold of insecurity, it took way too much time to discover the common denominator in my academic choices was my love for writing. Thankfully, studying at Elmhurst really helped me put the puzzle pieces together. That and the countless nights I spent pondering
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my life’s purpose. All jokes aside, The Leader was one of the tools I needed to carve my own path, to start the journey of leaving my own mark on this world. I’m able to do that through my writing. Thank you to Elmhurst University for helping me refine my voice. Although people may say college wasn’t right for them or they wish they made different choices, I’m blessed to say I’m happy with where I am today. At Elmhurst, I was able to hone my journalism skills to an even greater level than anticipated. My childhood love for writing still lives on as it continues to evolve with each passing day. Now with graduation two weeks away, I can confidently say I am proud of the person and the writer I have become. While I am grateful for the positive experiences and lessons I’ve learned, I know graduating is just the first step of many. I look forward to seeing where my path takes me. The page may be ending, but there are new chapters waiting to be written. It was real Elmhurst, thank you for everything.
ELMHURSTLEADER.COM
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ARTS + CULTURE
Ni c k R ed m on d St aff Wr i t er
For my first time coming to Elmhurst University (at the time Elmhurst College), to be completely honest, I was scared as hell. I had just come from Triton College after taking on culinary arts. Though, after having a heart-to-heart with my little sister, Lottia, in our car parked in Triton’s lot, she told me, “Nick, what do you want to do?” To which I responded, “I wanna write.” I’ll never forget the words she said to me afterward. “Well, Nick… what the fudge are you going to do about it?” The following month, I applied for Elmhurst College and I was able to get in. Though, little did I know what I was going to get
myself into. Seriously. I was an ambitious freshman trying to find his place on campus who was completely out of his element. The idea of higher education seemed like a great idea at first, but the moment I stepped on those grounds for the first day of classes, it felt like I had experienced the worst vertigo. Funnily enough, as small as campus seems now, at the time, it was large and intimidating. So, I had no idea what I was expecting when I went to an English majors career seminar and met Ron Wiginton for the first time. At the end of the presentation, it was he who stepped up to me and told me if I want to learn how to write, come to The Leader. I’ll show you how. Ron must’ve been a salesman in his last life, because I bought it. I have come to see taking him up on his offer was the best investment I made for myself. There were many teachers here who helped make learning fun while being engaging. The first time going into one of their meetings, it was in a class and I was just feeling around, trying to grasp how everything worked. I still didn’t, but being there as one of the seniors at the time was giving his final speech, I saw how important the newspaper here on campus was. The next time I would go to another meeting
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was the semester afterward. I was aimlessly walking around campus trying to remember where Dinkmeyer Hall was. In a sense, that was how I originally felt before I chose English as my major. I was lost, though coming here, I found direction. Taking that first step into The Leader had put me on the path of experiences I’ll always remember and meeting really incredible people. People who have become my closest friends. It has forced me to get out of my comfort zone. In doing so, I’m truly grateful for having taken that first step. Thank you The Leader, thank you EU, thank you EVERYONE. I’m outtie 3000.
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ELMHURSTLEADER.COM
OPINIONS
ISSUE 12
DO NOT LET CORPORATIONS TAKE YOUR PRIDE AWAY: BE CAUTIOUS OF SUPPORTING RAINBOW CAPITALISM Ryan Windle
hearted attempts to show “true representation.”
Arts + Culture Editor
Most of the time, communities within the umbrella are left behind in pride collections. The lesbian community is often forgotten, bisexuals get the cringiest merch, and the trans community has
While it is currently May, major corporations are already revealing their pride collections for June, the only month where one is recognized for being gay. Supporting pride and LGBTQ+ creators is important; however, everyone should be cautious of what brands they are endorsing. Some companies support homophobia in the dark for eleven months out of the year, but when June hits everything becomes filled with rainbows to show “support.”
community is desperate for representation, and for some brands, pride month means nothing but rainbow dollars, not actual inclusion. Even if a brand is outwardly in support of the community, most times they release tacky products that stereotype its members. Merchandise ranges from gaudy rainbow colors, stereotypical and sometimes offensive sayings, and a general lack of thought. All of these are half05/10
It is important to celebrate the community during this month; however, why is it only during June that corporations outwardly show their support? Doing so is performative allyship; there needs to be support for minority groups all year, beyond the LGBTQ+ community as well. It is evident that these brands are not true allies, and tokenize minority groups for their own personal gain, not for the groups they are “standing beside.” Recently, some stores have been making more efforts to be inclusive all year, but it is still too few to count. There needs to be change all year round and this current lack of focus diminishes what brands think they are accomplishing during these months. Queer artists are talented and deserve brands collaborating with them to showcase their hard work and dedication. When suppor ting rainbow
These corporations put up a front so they can make a profit. They are
aware that the LGBTQ+
start focusing on the groups that get very little attention — in media and in merchandise.
capitalism, it is essential to research if a brand is only received the recognition it deserves in most recent years, not to mention countless other identities that go ignored. Pride collections seldom are a representation of the community as a whole, most times only focusing their attention on gay men because it is the most accepted identity amongst straight audiences. It is shameful to pander to one group, the entire community deserves to be represented. It is due time we put the breaks on gay men and PAGE 20
collaborating with the LGBTQ+ community. If not, these collections are meaningless. It is a tricky game, knowing when and where to support rainbow capitalism. Support needs to be shown so brands continue this trend and utilize more talent, but sometimes it can feel like a step backward to support a company that doesn’t value you beyond your dollar.
GRAPHIC BY Ryan Windle
ELMHURSTLEADER.COM
OPINIONS
ISSUE 12
IF YOU ARE IN SUPPORT OF ABORTION RIGHTS WRITE TO YOUR LEGISLATORS NOW Jared Boekenhauer News Editor As someone who is concerned for the rights of every individual, I would like our country to live up to its values, and support individual bodily autonomy. If you are concerned with individual rights, you should be shaking.
to your state legislators). If Roe v. Wade goes, the federal right to an abortion will be gone, and your federal legislators can assist women in other states. Abortion rights have been in trouble numerous times since the passage of Roe v. Wade, and
The fight to maintain abortion rights has not stopped, and will not stop whether Roe v. Wade stays or not. Write to your federal legislators, even if you live in a state which supports abortion rights, because women in other states will be helped by federal legislation that protects such a right.
Abortion is a constitutional right, and the SCOTUS is clearly not treating the right as such. Throughout the last 50 years, conservatives have juggled the rights of millions of women with lawsuits and laws which only put stress on women who rely on abortion to save their lives.
Citizens of the U.S. have been blessed to live in a country which protects individual rights and autonomy, and to allow people to make choices which create a prosperous life.
Such behavior is disgraceful. Citizens in a first world country should not be beholden to the government when it comes to what they can do with their own bodies. Supporting the rights of the individual is part of what makes the United States such a thriving place to live.
Illinois is one state which protects abortion rights should Roe v. Wade be overturned, so it is important to write to federal legislators, not state legislators (although if you live in a state in which abortion would be illegal, write
There were also numerous bills signed into law by former President George W. Bush which either limited the procedure, or limited public funding for it. But the federal right to abortion has remained intact due to the consistent efforts of pro-choice activists, Planned Parenthood, and every justice of the United States who has voted in favor of abortion rights.
A leaked Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) draft of the Dobbs v. Jackson decision cited a willingness by SCOTUS to overturn Roe v. Wade. Part of the justification comes from the justices’ beliefs that SCOTUS should not have the power to make such determinations, and that such decisions should be made by legislators and voters.
Even though abortion rights can be granted by the court system, if abortion rights are going to be stripped away via the dismantling of Roe v. Wade, it is more important than ever to write to federal legislators and tell them to support abortion rights.
choice in pro-life conservatives to the SCOTUS put Roe on the line numerous times.
passing federal legislation which would protect the procedure will provide a more solid foundation for abortion rights. Ever since the Republican Party pushed evangelicals into the political spotlight in an attempt to end abortion, the right to abortion has seen challenge after challenge. According to a report by NPR, former President Ronald Reagan’s election can be attributed largely to evangelicals. And Reagan’s subsequent PAGE 21
Even to those who have personal reservations about the procedure, understand that the right to abortion has saved the lives of numerous women. You can go on social media and hear stories made public about women who have issues from fetuses with cancer, to ectopic, or fallopian tube pregnancies. Abortions have saved the lives of many women who experience these issues. When the U.S. legalized gay marriage in 2015, LGBTQ+ citizens were granted the right to live life as they wanted with their partners. When racial segregation was finally made illegal, African-Americans were granted the right to live as equals in society. Citizens now should be granted the right to control their bodies.
GRAPHIC BY Rachel Fratt
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ELMHURSTLEADER.COM
EDITORIAL
EDITORIAL
GOODBYE B*TCHES
ADIEU EU, THE 2021-2022 ED BOARD IS OUT We’ve come a long way Leader readers; we’ve reached the end of the semester after a year out of the ordinary. As we exit the newsroom and ascend the stage to receive our diplomas, the graduating members of the editorial board want to say thank you. Thank you to our readers for consistently reading the newspaper, following along with our social media, falling for our April Fools prank, and for being courageous enough to be quoted in our stories. This year was unique. It was our first time back in print after a year and a half of being strictly online; much like those early days of quarantine we changed our colors by trying out several monochromatic issues, and took up new hobbies by finally getting on TikTok.
PLAYLIST BY RYAN WINDLE
their way into their future endeavors, The Leader is in need of future editors, writers, photographers, and so much more. There is something for everybody at The Leader.
Bye Bye Mariah Care y
This is also a great opportunity to enhance a resume by potentially winning awards and being a part of an award-winning newspaper — The Leader took home 13 awards back in February. No experience is necessary in order to join The Leader, if you are interested we will welcome you with open arms.
Lea ve Me Lonely Ariana Grande, Macy Gray
Why not give it a shot? You never know what you can get out of it — new friends, better writing skills, or even a career change.
C ha sing Pa vement s Adele Ha ppier Olivia Rodrigo
After nearly two years, we were itching for some change and it turned out to be good for us. Change is difficult, but it can be a good thing, like making the change and joining The Leader in the upcoming academic year. It’s a great opportunity to grow as a writer, photographer, digital artist, content creator, or just break out of your shell by interviewing new people.
E ver ytime Britne y Spe ars E ver y Rule Charlie XCX
University is an exploratory time in a young person’s life, so why not try out the campus newspaper for a change? People try out creative writing club, film club, intramural sports, so what’s holding you back from trying out The Leader?
I’LL BE THE RE STAYC
As three of the five editors graduate and make Letter to Editor Submissions Letters to the editor can be submitted below or sent to leadernewsec@gmail.com. Letters must include your full name and Elmhurst University affiliation. All letters should be 300 words or less in length. The editors retain the right to edit letters before publication. Don’t forget to spell-check. The Leader is the student-run newspaper speaking to students, faculty and administrators of Elmhurst University. The Leader is not submitted to any person or organization for prior approval. The contents are the decision of the editor in agreement with the editorial board. Opinions expressed in The Leader do not necessarily reflect those of the paper or its staff, and are not intended to represent those of EU at-large. All text, photos, and art cannot be reproduced without direct permission of The Leader.
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Think ing o f You K at y Perry The Golden G ir ls Theme TV Theme Songs
ELMHURSTLEADER.COM
SPORTS
ISSUE 12
STEVE MARIANETTI HONORED WITH WRESTLING LIFETIME SERVICE AWARD Emmy Shaffer Staff Writer From the mat to the big stage, Elmhurst University wrestling coach Steve Marianetti was honored at the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association with their Lifetime Service Award on April 30. Marianetti is being honored for his continued commitment to the sport spanning nearly three decades from when he was a wrestler at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). While a student at the UIUC, Marianetti established himself as a champion earning three All-American titles, winning the NCAA Division I championship, and would go on to represent the United States at multiple freestyle wrestling events.
mentor to them improving their performances while in the program in a short time. “Steve is a wizard. He’s the highest level wrestler I have had the pleasure of knowing and training with in my career,” said Jake Mora, EU sophomore. “He’s taught me so much in just my first year of competing for him.” Along with having great relationships with the athletes, EU junior and student manager Anna Class has enjoyed her time working with Marianetti and is grateful for the opportunity to work with the team. “He [Marianetti] puts all his time and energy [into] the team and it shows throughout the wrestlers. One thing Steve has taught me is that nothing worth having comes easy,” said Class. “It’s always gonna take hard work, time, and
effort to achieve what you want. Steve makes sure that he is there for every single wrestler when needed.” Marianetti is honored to have been given this award and looks forward to future success with the team. “It’s a great honor from our state wrestling association and hopefully means that I’ve been making a difference in our athletes’ lives,” said Marianetti. Marianetti was hired in 2002 as EU’s wrestling coach, celebrating 20 years with the Bluejays and taking the team to new heights with his coaching, pushing out a total of five national champions, 32 All-Americans, and 48 national qualifiers under his coaching tenure at EU.
Some of his accolades include a gold medal in the 1997 Pan-American championship and a gold medal in the 1998 U.S. National Championships. However, Marianetti did not plan on pursuing wrestling. When the opportunity was presented to him by his PE teacher, he originally was going to try out for his high school’s basketball team after having played in middle school. “I started wrestling my freshman year of high school. I played basketball through eighth grade but was also 5-feet tall and 97 pounds going into my freshman year,” said Mariantetti. “One of the gym teachers, Mr. Sammorian, was walking down the hall with me and I told him I was going to try out for the basketball team. He said, ‘Son, I think you will have a better chance on the wrestling mat.’” After graduating from the UIUC, and being a decorated wrestler on the team, he became the assistant coach for seven years and enjoyed working with the athletes and forming connections with them. “I thrived on the coaching [and] athlete relationship,” said Marianetti. “It was so fun guiding our guys and helping them reach their goals.” His players appreciate him greatly, serving as a
Steve Marianetti (left) receiving his award.
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PHOTO BY Anna Class
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GRAPHIC BY ABBEY MARK