ISSUE 08 03.08.22 ELMHURSTLEADER.COM
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LUCK OF THE BLUEJAYS
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EU DROPPED THE MASKS ON COVID-19 PAGE 16
Kween Jeán
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NEWS
ISSUE 08
KEEP YOUR MASKS ON EU, THE MANDATE IS HERE TO STAY
RYAN WINDLE/ ARTS + CULTURE EDITOR ERIC LUTZ/ FACULTY ADVISER ASSISTANTS SARINA OKRZESIK/ Assistant Copy Editor HANNAH HORN/ Graphic Editor PRINCESS GONZALEZ/ Graphic Editor RACHEL FRATT/ Graphic Editor ABBEY MARK/ Graphic Editor STAFF NICHOLAS REDMOND KAY LOVING EMMY SHAFFER KWEEN JEÁN KEITHLEEN MENDOZA MINH NGUYEN ALYSSA KUEHNE CONTACT US THE LEADER NEWSPAPER
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Ryan Windle
well, and washing your hands often.”
Arts + Culture Editor
The COVID-19 Task Force recommends that you wear non-cloth masks such as KN95, N95, or surgical masks. There are stations in most campus buildings that have masks, hand sanitizer, and gloves for the campus community to utilize.
After Gov. J.B. Pritzer announced Illinois would drop the state-wide mask mandate on Feb. 28, students were left wondering if Elmhurst University would keep the mandate on campus. COVID-19 cases still are prevalent within the campus community, with a reported 27 positive tests amongst students on Feb. 25, with a total of 211 students having reported testing positive for COVID-19 since the start of the new year. EU’s COVID-19 task force met on Feb. 14, to discuss whether they were going to keep the mask mandate. On Feb. 23, an email was sent out to the campus community updating the student body. “After thoughtful consideration, our current plan is to maintain our current mask policy (i.e., masks required in University-owned and operated facilities) until at least Spring Break, March 18, 2022,” says the email.
If you are looking to get a test on campus, you can get a rapid test every Tuesday from 12 to 3 p.m. in the lobby of R.A. Faganel Hall. For a PCR test, you must make an appointment 24-hours beforehand on Etrieve, and the tests are available every Wednesday from 12 to 3 p.m. in the lobby of R.A. Faganel Hall. Whether the mask mandate will stay after March 18, is a decision that will be made at a later date. “As we approach that date, the COVID-19 Task Force will be studying the impact of the statewide mask mandate rollback and will make a recommendation to the President about how the University should proceed after Spring Break. An email with this information will be sent to the campus ahead of March 18,” reads the email.
“Please continue to do your part to protect your fellow Bluejays by wearing properly-fitted masks, staying home when you are not feeling
If you have any COVID-19 questions, you can send an email to covid19questions@elmhurst.edu.
PICTURED LEFT TO RIGHT: MASON GARCIA, ABBY DAN-
PHOTO BY Elmhurst University
CLARIFICATION In the Feb. 22 issue of The Leader, a story titled, “‘Marvelous Martin,’ Freshman track star flashes through EU ranks” incorrectly identified Marvin Tchangwa as “Martin Tchangwa.” The online version of this article has been edited to reflect this change. The Leader apologizes for this error.
03/08
IELS, ZACH DERAMOS AND ANGELICA CANONG
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ELMHURSTLEADER.COM
NEWS
ISSUE 08
UNIVERSITY WARNS OF RELIGIOUS GROUP RECRUITMENT EFFORTS Jared Boekenhauer
group was the one mentioned in the email.
News Editor
During J-Term, EU sophomore Lola Frost was in her dorm room when she heard, down the hall, the sounds of evangelism. Two individuals, a man and a woman, were talking to one of Frost’s neighbors about God.
Director of Housing and Residence Life Kevin Krauskopf sent an email on Feb. 8, to students who live on campus discussing a religious organization’s presence and their attempts to recruit new members. “It has come to my attention that an off-campus religious organization has been approaching students in the residence halls. During these interactions they have been trying to recruit students into their organization,” said Krauskopf. “If you are approached by someone in this group, please notify Public Safety with a brief description of the individuals(s) that approached you so they can escort them out of the residence hall.” Krauskopf did not include the name of the group. Elmhurst University administration officials and campus security did not respond to The Leader’s request for comment. Some EU students have been approached by people claiming to be of a religious organization. The Leader was unable to verify whether this
SGA APPROVES LAMBDA SIGMA PSI GROUP AT EU Minh Nguyen Staff Writer SGA accepted a proposal for a Lambda Sigma Psi group at Elmhurst University during their meeting on Feb. 24. Lambda Sigma Psi is a music art society organization founded on Oct. 29, 1981. Operating for more than 40 years, this music organization’s primary purpose is to promote and recognize
“I heard them [the two individuals] at my neighbor’s door first,” said Frost in a Zoom interview with The Leader. “And so I anticipated them. But they knocked on my door, and I have neighbors down the hall that I’m friends with, I thought it was one of them.” Frost grabbed a mask and when she opened the door, two masked individuals wearing backpacks stood before her. Frost felt the backpacks were out of place as it was an unusual time to be having classes. “They were like ‘we have goodie bags that we’re handing out, do you want one?’ And I was like ‘sure.’ So they gave me one, and I took it. And then they were like ‘is there anything going on that we can pray for you for?’” “I thought it was kinda funny, I was like doing a bit with it. So I was like ‘oh yeah, you know I’m just really stressed out right now, like general high levels of academic achievement for music majors and minors. “[The organization] also encourage[s] participation and attendance at Elmhurst University in all musical events,” said Gizel Issa, senior music business major, at the meeting. “And to make available to our member opportunity and professional development.”
stress’ and so they were like ‘can we pray for you? Can we pray for you right now?’ And I was like ‘yeah, sure,’” said Frost.
“If you are approached by someone in this group, please notify Public Safety with a brief description of the individual(s) that approached you so they can escort them out of the residence hall.” Before leaving, the two asked if Frost would like to join the organization they were a part of [the two did identify the group, but Frost could not recall what the specific name was]. Frost declined. “There was one time I was in the cafeteria around lunch and there was somebody going up to almost every student who was eating alone and trying to recruit them for their religious beliefs,” said EU sophomore Ethan Welfer in an email to The Leader. “I didn’t think anything of it until I got more information from other students in the school.”
them from this job,’ or ‘Oh I knew this person knows how to do this, and I met them through this program.’” In the past, Lambda Sigma Psi has sponsored lectures on music and organized concerts and field trips for music students on campus.
Membership is by invitation to music students who have accumulated at least 10 hours of music courses and have earned a 3.5 grade-point average in music, and a 3.25 average overall. “We [the organization] definitely want to work on community, bring people together, and networking because I feel like it’s so important, especially in the music industry,” Issa told The Leader. “I hear a lot from my professors like ‘Oh yeah I remember this person because I know INTERNET PHOTO
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ELMHURSTLEADER.COM
NEWS
ISSUE 08
EU RESPONDS TO RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE WITH CRITICAL EYES
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of the hardest that have been delivered. According to the BBC, some of the sanctions being placed on Russia include freezing Russian assets in their central bank and banning individuals from doing deals with the Russian central bank. These sanctions are considered to be “economy crippling” by some standards. Yet, Putin has continued forward. Professor Tiomothy Hazen speaks to students in Founders Lounge.
Jared Boekenhauer News Editor Circled around Timothy Hazen, assistant professor of political science, members of the Elmhurst University community asked questions about Ukraine and Russia in the Frick Center on March 2. The gathering was an attempt by EU to provide understanding about the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which began in late February. “What is the next level of sanctions?” asked one spectator. “Can this war expand?” asked another. While Hazen did his best to lay out each detail of the crisis, the world has remained confused about what exactly is going on in Ukraine. The crisis then escalated when, on Feb. 27, Russian President Vladimir Putin put his nuclear forces on high alert. “There’s this hope of human behavior, of human 03/08
PHOTO BY JARED BOEKENHAUER
psychology, and also of history that he [Vladimir Putin] would not go so far [as to use nuclear weapons] because that is what we feared for the last 70 plus years,” Hazen told The Leader. “However, many people didn’t think he would invade in the first place.” “And I think it’s very very very unlikely, if I had to bet,” said Hazen. “I’m still resting easily at night, I don’t think that this will take place. But, that has certainly been challenged like that has never been challenged in a very long time.” The world has turned against Putin, however. Along with citizens of his own country who have illegally protested the invasion, numerous countries, including the U.K. and the U.S., have placed historic level sanctions against the country and Putin himself. There has also been a historic break of Switzerland’s 500 years of neutrality, siding against Russia. Hazen, from his understanding, said (albeit with some uncertainty) that these sanctions are some PAGE 03
“The political science literature was rather mixed on whether sanctions work or not. There’s a camp that says ‘yes they do work,’ there’s a camp that says ‘no they do not work.’ So there’s no clear answer from the political science literature,” said Hazen. “However, something that is different about these sanctions is, a couple things, I would say the depth and the breadth of the sanctions.” While time will tell the specific effects of the sanctions being enforced against Russia, it is clear that the Russian invasion of Ukraine is unpopular in many nations. “My thoughts about Ukraine and Russia is [it’s] pretty bad. I don’t think there’s any reason to do it [invade Ukraine],” said EU student Brandon Cipolla. “I think Russia was just afraid of NATO being closer to them, but I think Russia could have done something more peacefully, like diplomatic relations type of thing, instead of doing airstrikes on innocent civilians.” As many around the U.S. advocate for Ukraine during this invasion, EU Chaplain H. Scott Matheney told The Leader that anyone who wants to help Ukraine should email him.
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NEWS
EU STUDENTS OFFER CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM AFTER THE INDOOR MASK MANDATE EXITS ILLINOIS Nicholas Redmond
should sway people from having a good time.”
Staff Writer
Christiansen advises that, when going out, people should at least take into consideration that the potential to contract COVID-19 is still there.
On Feb. 28, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced the end of the Illinois Mask Mandate. “Across the state, Illinoisans are taking their masks off today, knowing that most eligible adults are boosted and our hospitals have much more capacity to save lives,” said Pritzker in a press release. “We cannot remain in a perpetual state of emergency,” said Leana Wen, a public health professor at George Washington University in an interview with The Hill. “People burn out.” Students at Elmhurst University have had mixed responses about the change in policy. Computer science and religious studies major, Ben Bollinger, offers his full support on the decision. “I am in favor,” said Bollinger. “I’m very happy about them lifting the mandate. I just think that it’s been long enough.”
“We cannot remain in a perpetual state of emergency.” Senior political science major, Jacob Cristiansen also agrees with the decision. “I think it’s fine. Just because the mandate’s been removed, doesn’t mean you don’t have to wear the mask anymore. You still have that choice too.” Christiansen believes that although the potential to contract COVID-19 is still out there, people should not stop themselves from going out. “I think with all these events opening up, people just have to be ready that there may just probably be a small spike in COVID at first,” said Christiansen. “Just because you’re taking away that natural buffer that we had, but I don’t think that
“There is that sense of taking your own safety into your own hands and if you do get sick, then you’ll understand you took the risk,” said Christiansen.
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Leader FE E L L I K E YO U R VO I C E ISN’T BEING REPRESENTED ON CAMPUS? H AVE YO U R VO I C E H E A R D BY J O INING O U R AWAR D WINNING NE WS PAPER
Although some are reacting positively to the lifting of the indoor mask mandate, some are hesitant to fully accept the decision. Dr. Sheela Shenoi, a Yale Medicine infectious disease expert, said in an interview with Yalemedicine.org, “I hesitate to say that we are approaching a post-COVID world when so many are still being ravaged by this virus,” she said. “If there is anything we should have learned, it is that we are all interconnected; what happens in one part of the world affects everybody.”
C O N TA C T GIANNA MONTESANO
“When I first heard it, I was very shocked.” said freshman marketing major, Kaleigh Nguyen. “Because I personally think it should still be enforced. Especially since we’re in school and we’re not six feet apart like how we should be.” Nguyen wants her time to be spent in small gatherings. “Maybe some parties with friends. But I don’t think I’ll be going to concerts or any big events like that. I think of just small events with family and friends that I’m more comfortable with now,” said Nguyen. Senior computer gaming and entertainment major, Gilberto Salas, thinks the mask mandate should have stayed. “The mandate has helped me. Obviously it’s a little bit of a struggle keeping the mask on. Personally, I’ve gotten used to it at this point from having the mask on for so long.” Vinh Nguyen, a senior finance major said, “It has been two years since COVID began. But you know, COVID is still around. We need to wash our hands and keep our distance.”
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C A N ’ T WA IT TO M E E T YO U
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ELMHURSTLEADER.COM
NEWS
ISSUE 08
BSU HOLDS FIRST STUDENT MARCH IN REMEMBRANCE OF SELMA
Students march from Niebuhr monument to Hammerschmidt Memorial Chapel.
Emmy Shaffer Staff Writer Black Student Union (BSU) led a student march in remembrance of the Selma March, on Feb. 24. The Selma March was held in 1965 to ensure that African Americans could exercise their right to vote. BSU remembered the Selma March to recognize the work of civil rights activists and how they were able to pave the way for Black people to be seen as equals. The march began at the Niebuhr statue, moved to Hammerschmidt Memorial Chapel and around the Elmhurst University Mall, with BSU President Raven Rhone playing music as the students marched. The group wanted to include the chapel in the route so other students would notice. “We picked this specifically because we thought this was the heart of the school, so regardless,
if you are walking from any of the five buildings around you are going to see us,” said BSU Public Relations Chair Jorden Young-Gentry At the end of the march, the students stopped outside Hammerschmidt Memorial Chapel, where EU Chaplain Scott Matheney led the group in a prayer and gave time to reflect on the importance of what the attendees did and why it was impactful. BSU was pleased with how the march turned out and hopes that it can turn into an annual event. “We know on this campus we do lack representation and they’re trying to do more diversity and inclusion, but I feel like we are still lacking on the inclusion part,” said Young-Gentry. “We wanted to show not just Black students, but everyone on campus the quarter of what other civil rights activists were able to do and show that the least we can do is march around this campus.” PHOTO BY Emmy Shaffer
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NEWS
ISSUE 08
PROFESSOR GETS NATIONAL FOREIGN LANGUAGE WEEK RECOGNIZED IN ILLINOIS Gianna Montesano Editor-in-Chief National Foreign Language Week, March 6 to 12, is recognized by Gov. J.B. Pritzker after Elmhurst University professor Beatriz Gomez-Acuña requested a gubernatorial proclamation, issued on Feb. 14. The request for the proclamation was issued through Alpha Mu Gamma, a national foreign language honor society. Gomez is the Spanish department head at EU, as well as the faculty adviser for the EU Alpha Mu Gamma honor society, regional vice president of Illinois and Michigan, and national president of the honor society. “My position allowed me to mentor students to go to present undergraduate research at the national conference,” said Gomez. The process to receive a gubernatorial proclamation in Illinois is seamless compared to requesting one from the White House, according to Gomez. “It is very straightforward if you go to the website of the state [Illinois] and there’s an area for proclamations and they want you to send them kind of already in a way a document prepared,” said Gomez. “They want you to have four or five ‘whereas’ and ‘therefore.’” As the regional adviser, she is asked to write out the proclamation explaining why National Foreign Language Week is important to receive the proclamation. This gubernatorial proclamation is requested yearly to fall within the first week of March, Gomez says. In the past, the honor society has been recognized by the White House in declaring National Foreign Language Week across the country, but the last president to accept their request was President George W. Bush.
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ELMHURSTLEADER.COM
ARTS + CULTURE
ISSUE 08
KEEPING UP WITH K-POP PHOTO BY Name
Description
NATHAN OPINION AUDITION GRAPHIC BY Princess Gonzalez Esparza
Ryan Windle Arts + Culture Editor Besties, it is time to talk about more K-Pop in this new, recurring column. February was an inspiring month for the genre. There were some life-changing releases (I’m only being a tad dramatic), and some that made me reevaluate my entire life choices of being a stan. While technically being released at the end of January, the new group MAMADOL released their first, and sadly only single “WooAh HIP.” The group was formed on the competition show, “Mama The Idol,” and features former K-Pop idols who left the business to become moms. These K-Pop legends thankfully got the chance to be in the spotlight again. This single from MAMADOL reminds me of Beyonce’s “Homecoming,” with the horns in the chorus and the fierce vocals throughout. It makes me want to get up and vogue as the non-beat drops into the smooth synth beats for the chorus. It is reminiscent of gay club anthems. Another “new” group, VIVIZ, debuted on Feb. 9. For all who do not know, this group contains three ex-members of GFRIEND. GFRIEND was a group that I could just never get into, but after listening to their EP, and especially vibing with their title song “BOP BOP!” I have quickly become a new fan. It is hard to put the excellence of this song into words. 03/08
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Recently it has been a trend to release songs inspired by former periods. Most retro K-Pop songs take heavy inspiration from the 1980s; however, this song combines the 1960s and 1970s to create a modern disco song. “BOP BOP!” relies heavily on these beats, which help make the song seem consistent. Adding some synth elements to the ongoing bass and piano elevates the vibe. The rap meshes seamlessly. With most K-Pop songs, it seems like the rapping comes out of nowhere, but not in this song. In order to make it sound modern, “BOP BOP!” embodies the ’60s influence with the instrumentals, but the rhythm of the rapping is something you can find in any Meghan Thee Stallion track. VIVIZ’s lead single “BOP BOP!” the group’s EP “Beam of Prism” includes songs “Fiesta” and “Lemonade.” This group is currently competing on the competition show “QUEENDOM,” and I am excited to see more. “QUEENDOM,” has an interesting competing cast. While the expected groups Brave Girls and LOONA were revealed, adding the group Kep1er to the mix proves how different this show will be. Kep1er debuted in January and only have three songs to their name (and two of them are not even good). They also just finished competing on “GIRLS PLANET 999”; it seems too sudden for them to compete on this show, but I will be tuning in nonetheless to support my moon girls, LOONA. Taeyeon, the host “QUEENDOM,” and a former PAGE 07
member of SNSD (Girl’s Generation), released her third solo album “INVU” on Feb. 14. I wish I could shout from the rooftops about how amazing this album is, but it is lackluster. Taeyeon has been in the industry since 2007. We know what she is capable of doing, and this album is not a good representation of that. While it is a pretty album to listen to, a lot of the songs sound the same. This does not stop some songs from being standouts though, with tracks such as “INVU,” “Can’t Control Myself” and “Siren.” They work as nice background music. On Feb. 21, STAYC dropped a new EP, “YOUNGLUV.COM.” The only thing missing from this EP was the iconic “STAYC girls, it’s going down” hook in the title track (even though it is present in the following song after “RUN2U”). This EP is very heavily inspired by R&B, and hearing this more relaxed side of STAYC was fun. I could make connections to Ariana Grande’s first album “Your’s Truly,” and also Chloe x Halle’s album “Ungodly Hour.” When I need to strut it out, I listen to the title “RUN2U.” This song transports you into a highstakes chase in an action movie. It just makes me feel so powerful, and it is so fun to enjoy running (because we all know I am not doing that). The B-sides also changed my life. “YOUNG LUV” is this amazing slow rock song with stellar lyrics, my favorite being, “It’s okay if you’re bad at it, do it just for me. Listen carefully, you gotta know that.”
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ARTS + CULTURE
ISSUE 08
Honorable mention to “247” and “BUTTERFLY.” You can not go wrong with a single track from this EP. Last time, I forced you all to listen to fromis_9, now you all must listen to STAYC. While my life changed for the better on Feb. 21, it also changed for the worse. NMIXX is a new JYP girl group that debuted the same day. I already had my suspicions, as there was a lot of evidence proving that JYP was stealing concepts from other groups, and the teaser for their song “TANK” scared me off with it being so “freaky fishy.” The title track “O.O,” was the worst song I have ever heard in my entire life. It opens with random whale calls, then moves into Bollywood-esque instrumentals and lyrics that make absolutely no sense together. This is noise music; the lyrics are nonsensical, yet are somehow also a Coke Zero ad — it’s confusing to me too. The song lacks consistency, and I felt like I was on a never ending acid trip. The song “TANK,” was surprisingly good even though it initially scared me. This probably is because of the trauma “O.O” caused, but this song had some shining moments. Lily, the main vocalist, absolutely nailed her parts, it nearly sounded like an opera. It is a shame a talent like hers is being wasted on “noise” music. JYP, fix this. The last song released in February was from the group Billie’s “GingaMingaYo (the strange world).” This song is not exciting. It was another retro K-Pop song with synth beats and a build-up to a non-beat drop chorus. Almost expected, but it still is a fine song (the rap is what saved it for me). What caught my attention about this song is a fan-cam that went viral with one of the members, Tsuki. She effortlessly went from being so cute (aegyo), to mature, then to silly. All of this happened in five seconds and it is what we need to see more of in some idols. There is just so much that we get as K-Pop stans every month and March is already looking promising, with Red Velvet, Weekly, and many other groups set to come back. I cannot wait to talk about it all the next time that we keep up with K-Pop — and a reminder, listen to the STAYC EP now.
Student Writing Contest
EDUCATION IN THE TIME OF COVID Where were you when the pandemic gripped the world and changed our lives? Express yourself in 500 to 1,000 words.
$500 First Prize
Other cash prizes for second and third place to be awarded.
Deadline: Tuesday, March 15, 2022 Please write your entry in a Word document, and email to ronw@elmhurst.edu. For more information, contact Professor Ron Wiginton (ronw@elmhurst.edu). Sponsored by Elmhurst University and the Elmhurst University English Department, in observance of the University’s 150th Anniversary.
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ARTS + CULTURE
ISSUE 08
THE FIVE-LETTER WORD GAME THAT HAS EVERYONE GLUED TO THEIR PHONES, ‘WORDLE’ Minh Nguyen Staff Writer The bombardment of green and yellow squares on social media platforms has recently become a new sensation for internet users. These screenshots, or emojis, are from a word puzzle game called “Wordle,” currently owned by The New York Times. VANGUARD JAZZ ORCHESTRA
PHOTO BY Elmhurst University
ELMHURST UNIVERSITY HOSTS 55TH ANNUAL JAZZ FESTIVAL Emmy Shaffer Staff Writer Elmhurst University held its 55th annual Jazz Festival on Feb. 24-27, in the Hammerschmidt Memorial Chapel. The festival featured high school jazz bands, including Hinsdale Central High School, West Aurora High School, and Youth Jazz Ensemble of DuPage. Universities in attendance included Columbia College, University of Illinois Chicago, and University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. After hosting last year’s jazz festival online, EU was back in person this year and offered a live stream of the event. During the Feb. 26 performance, EU’s jazz band featured the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra from New York. Eric Donson, a first-year trombone player, was excited about the festival and enjoyed playing 03/08
in it for the first time. “My favorite part of the festival would either be playing, or gaining hands-on experience with the setup, as I would like to go into the music field of study,” said Donson. “The festival is above all a forum for jazz education,” read the Jazz Festival program. “It is a gathering where some of the world’s most acclaimed artists come together with the next generation of musicians not only to perform the music, but also to study it.” Iconic jazz musicians such as Clark Terry, Diana Krall, and Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band have all performed at EU’s Jazz Festival. Some EU alumni who have made their name in jazz music are Rich Perry, Cecil Bridgewater, and Tim Hagans. The next Jazz Festival will take place February in 2023.
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For those unfamiliar with this online game, the main rule is that you will have six tries to guess a five-letter word. The square turns green if you get the correct letter in the right place; turns yellow if you get the proper letter in the wrong place; and turns gray when your letter is not in the word at all. “Wordle” is appealing to many because it challenges users both linguistically and logically. With some peculiar and unusual words such as “caulk” or “tacit,” this online game is surprisingly challenging. “I have been playing ‘Wordle’ for three weeks so far,” said Elmhurst University student Emad Haque. “I love the game because this game is not all about language. I also have to eliminate the wrong letters logically and strategically.” Haque continued, “It is also so fun to check up with my friends every morning to see how many attempts it took for them to get the word. I guess the sense of competing with your friends is what makes the game so popular.” More interestingly, a straightforward puzzle game like “Wordle” causes many strong emotions in its players. “I was so mad when I was so close to getting the word, but I lost in the most nonsense way,” groaned EU student Tyson Nguyen. “The word
ELMHURSTLEADER.COM for that day was ‘dodge.’ For my last three tries, I put down ‘modge,’ ‘bodge,’ and ‘wodge,’ which apparently I was just guessing and did not know the meaning of any of them.” Nguyen continued, “I wish that I knew the letter is allowed to appear twice, then I might not [have] attempt[ed] those three exotic words in the first place.” “Wordle” is far from the first game to become viral on the internet. The impact of games like “Candy Crush” or “Flappy Bird” on social media back in the 2010s were even larger. However, the way “Wordle” approaches their players is vastly different. “Wordle” is completely accessible. All you need is a web browser to play. Additionally, you only get one word a day, you will not get another until after midnight. “Wordle” has become part of the daily routine of its players, with people readily anticipating each new word. “I think the reason this game blew up like this is that ‘Wordle’ creators made it extremely shareable,” EU student Noah Christiansen shared. “If you think of it, the joy we gain from this game comes when we share and compare our scores with friends,” he said. “This game would be just like other boring word-puzzle games if we could not share our scores and our strategies and thinking to get the correct word.”
ARTS + CULTURE
PICK ME, CHOOSE ME, LOVE ME: PISCES SEASON Gianna Montesano Editor-in-Chief As the month of love closes and the month of luck opens, one cannot help but think of the glorious season bestowed upon us: Pisces season. As the in-house Pisces on The Leader editorial board, this is my moment to shine and be the most obnoxious person on the planet as I remind everyone my birthday is on March 13. One thing I can do is debunk popular Pisces myths and save our name from being further tainted on social media. As the last water sign of the zodiac, Pisces has a reputation for being crybabies who manipulate people through victimization and tears. While some of this is true — Pisces are typically sensitive — our tears are not in vain. The victimization is unfortunately true. Pisces never tend to see themselves as the problem because they feel they are constantly being wronged by others. Those born under this sign are loving, empathic, and intuitive. We know when something is off, but we wait it out for the drama. It is easy to see why people perceive the sign as manipulators. Pisces are charming, and with our big doe eyes, we can make anybody trust us with their life’s secrets. However, that comes at a disadvantage, because if a Pisces is hurt, they know no bounds and will spill your secrets to anybody as revenge for hurting them. But, not everything is evil about Pisces. Pisces are known for having hearts — bigger than their brains. Often in a trance and frequently called delusional, Pisces like to imagine what their life would be like if their new crush took them on a beach picnic in the south of France while physically sitting in class.
GRAPHIC BY PRINCESS GONZALEZ ESPARZA
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While often dazed in a world of our own, the myth that Pisces are dumb is incorrect. As the last sign of the zodiac, Pisces represents wisdom because of their “age” in the stars being a culmination PAGE 10
PHOTO BY New York Public Library
of the 11 signs that came before them. Pisces, no matter five or 85, will be the strongest shoulder you’ll ever cry on, give you profound advice, and educate you on their latest fixation on Kantian ethics or the linguistics of modern Romanian. As the Pisces season rounds out, don’t be so quick to judge the Pisceans in your life — they’re more than crybabies — they’re your personal therapist who might spill your secrets if you treat them poorly. Some famous Pisces who fall under the dreamy star sign are Jack Harlow, Rhianna, Albert Einstein, Olivia Rodrigo, and The Leader’s Editor-in-Chief.
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ELMHURSTLEADER.COM
ARTS + CULTURE
ISSUE 08
ELMHURST ART MUSEUM CELEBRATES 25 YEARS Ryan Windle Arts + Culture Editor If you take a stroll through Wilder Park on a nice, spring day, you may want to stop by the Elmhurst Art Museum to see what is currently being shown. “This year is our 25th Anniversary,” said Sarah Cox, the museum’s collections and exhibitions manager. “We are celebrating by focusing on three core areas in our mission: art, architecture, and education. This spring we are celebrating architecture.” The exhibit “Houses of Tomorrow: Solar Homes from Keck to Today” celebrates architecture, taking inspiration from George Fred and William Keck’s original “House of Tomorrow,” the first glasshouse that was displayed at the 1933 World’s Fair in Chicago. “Beginning with the ‘futuristic’ House of Tomorrow for the 1933 Century of Progress, the exhibition explores the Keck brothers’ journey to creating the perfect blueprint for a solar home through the use of new technologies available throughout the 1940s and 1950s.” said Cox. This exhibit walks through time, following the evolution of solar homes. Blueprints placed next to the images of the finished houses show how far a vision can go. A lot of the houses still could pass for a modern house today. A sign in one display reads, “Throughout their
careers, Keck and Keck finished more than 800 projects throughout the Midwest featuring innovative new designs and energy-saving features.” On top of this display, there is an installation from artist Jan Tichy in two areas in the museum. “We have elements from the original House of Tomorrow incorporated into two art installations at the museum, by artist Jan Tichy,” said Cox. “‘Installation No. 38’ and ‘Reflectance’ Look at the glass items from the House of Tomorrow, the history of the McCormick House, and expand on the ideas of dark and light in an interior space.” The McCormick House was designed by Ludwig Miles van der Rohe, a world-famous architect whose designs have proven themselves able to stand up to modern standards. Tichy’s installations in the McCormick House are floor-to-ceiling metal fixtures, with small mirrors placed inside to reflect light. They sway freely in the air; each visual moment unlike the last. The fixtures look like recycled dish racks, which gave a retro-chic vibe to this modern house. “I think discovering the innovative technologies used in the House of Tomorrow is fascinating to learn about,” said Cox. “Common items such as a dishwasher, automatic garage door, and air conditioning were all new commodities during this time. We exhibit great interior shots of the House of Tomorrow, so visitors can see what the Keck brothers through the house of tomorrow
On top of this display, there is the Elmhurst Artists’ Guild Gallery; a nonprofit organization partnered with the Elmhurst Art Museum. This gallery currently has pieces from local and regional artists trying to promote the advancement and development of the arts. While the main exhibit, “Houses of Tomorrow: Solar Homes from Keck to Today,” is an immersive learning experience, nothing can beat local art. This gallery is something that should not be ignored. If you are an Elmhurst University student wanting to get involved with the Elmhurst Art Museum, there are many opportunities to explore. “We have volunteer opportunities in the form of office support, event support, and our docent corp,” said Cox. “We have internship opportunities available with our exhibitions and education department.” “Staying on campus for the summer? We always have openings for Summer Art Camp councilors. We also offer studio art classes throughout the year for all ages from cartooning to ceramics,” she continued. Admission to the museum is free for all EU students if you present your student I.D. The display “Houses of Tomorrow: Solar Homes from Keck to Today” and “Jan Tichy: Reflectance” is open until May 29.
PHOTO BY Ryan Windle + Olivia Janicke
ELMHURST ARTIST GUILD GALLERY
03/08
would look like.”
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ELMHURSTLEADER.COM
ARTS + CULTURE
ISSUE 08
PHOTOS BY Ryan Windle + Olivia Janicke
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EU student presidents pose with President Troy VanAken at Presidents Ball reception. Masks were removed for the photo. Megan Kinser (left) and Mariana Guerra (right) are stars at the presidents ball.
LUCK OF TH
PRESIDE UNOFFICIAL ST.
Two thumbs up from The Leader Editor-in-Chief (Gianna Montesano, right) about Presidents Ball with Troy VanAken (left).
What happens at the Presidents Ball real casino experience, stays at the Presidents Ball real casino experience. PHOTOS BY The Leader Staff
EU Parade float passes through Elmhurst greeting parade attendees with their “lucky to be a Bluejay” posters.
HE BLUEJAYS
ENTS BALL & PATRICK’S DAY 2022
EU alumna Salma Alanis drops her fries after the parade.
Alpha Phi sisters are lucky to have each other (left to right: Amanda Santucci smiles and waves to the camera and students calling her name.
Arianna Fontanez, Hannah Quintero, and April Rascon).
ELMHURSTLEADER.COM
OPINIONS
OCD IS NOT ABOUT BEING ORGANIZED Jared Boekenhauer News Editor I sit in a plain white office, a teal cushioned bed to my left, with wax paper resting atop it. The sounds of nurses and doctors pacing between rooms helping other patients while I sit in the closed room, shaking and staring at my checkered vans. I was about to tell my doctor that I struggle with obsessive thought patterns, also known as obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD. I craved a sympathetic response because terms like “OCD,” “depression,” and “anxiety” have become terms used to describe phenomena that are nowhere near a medically diagnosable mental illness. I described a thought spiral to the doctor: I worry about getting in trouble (the obsession). And I will obsess over that thought for days, weeks, months. My family will give me reassurance (the compulsion), and it will only give me temporary relief. I will continually ask my family the same question “am I okay?” to the same response: “yes” until my obsession is replaced by a new obsession, and suddenly I can see the ridiculousness of my old obsession.
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There are periods of time in which I will be trying to eat food and I have to stop eating in order to go through a thought spiral. Even if I am eating the most delicious sandwich in the world, I have to stop, torture myself through thought spirals, and then I can continue eating. A simple 15-minute dinner can take 30-45 minutes due to obsessions. My experience is merely one example of this real-life mental illness. One woman gave a Ted Talk where she discussed her daughter’s OCD. The young woman would take two hours to make a five-minute drive home because she persistently believed she hit somebody with her car, and that she deserved prison time. This is OCD. Yet some people will say “I am so OCD” as they organize their closet by color, or, “My OCD makes me keep my room clean.” American media personality, Khloe Kardashian, coined the term “Khlo-C-D ‘’ as a form of demonstrating her neatness and branding herself as such. These characterizations underrepresent the reality of this mental illness, which is crippling, deflating, and exhausting. “OCD” is not the only mental illness term that is overused and misunderstood. “Depression” is often used to describe an individual who is sad; this is not the case. Depression conveys feelings PAGE 15
ISSUE 08
GRAPHIC BY PRINCESS GONZALEZ ESPARZA
of worthlessness and numbness, occasionally making one unable to get out of bed upon sunrise due to worthless thoughts. “Anxiety,” is a term often used when describing an individual who is a little nervous. “I have anxiety,” those individuals say. But general anxiety disorder can push an individual’s mind to full-blown panic and the inability to live a pleasant life. The terms describing mental illness are often used in describing ordinary emotions that healthy human beings experience. Such descriptions desensitize those words and do not allow people who experience mental illness to exclusively use them to describe their issues. Without exclusive usage of those words, sufferers merely look like attention seekers, and exaggerators. If you find yourself using such words as adjectives, consider what alternatives can describe your experiences with nervousness and sadness. Also think strongly about how your words describe your negative experiences. Do they exaggerate your experiences with stress? Can you find alternatives in describing your experiences? Use careful word choice when negativity occurs in your life. Leave terms like “OCD” to those who suffer from the illnesses they describe.
ELMHURSTLEADER.COM
SPORTS
ISSUE 08
ELMHURST UNIVERSITY MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM SLAM DUNKS INTO SWEET 16 Kween Jeán Staff Writer Rallying from a 17-point deficit, the Elmhurst University men’s basketball team “stayed together” and defeated Pomona-Pitzer to claim a Sweet 16 spot in the NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Championship for the third time in school history. On March 4-5, the Bluejays hosted the first and second rounds of the 2022 NCAA tournament at R.A. Faganel Hall. During the first round, EU defeated Washington & Jefferson College by a huge 25-point difference, but unlike the Bluejay’s first opponent, Pomona-Pitzer rose to the occasion. Shooting 1-of-13 from the 3-point range, EU came out the locker room cold and sluggish in comparison to Friday night’s game. The Bluejays struggled to catch fire and Pomona-Pitzer quickly took advantage of the opportunity. EU wasn’t hitting like they normally do, but they understood the need to keep their composure. “It was just about staying together no matter what the situation is,” said Lavon Thomas, EU senior stretch forward. A once-tied game changed in six minutes as the Sagehens went on a 17–3 run. Not giving the Bluejays any time to breathe, the opposing team kept pushing the envelope, extending the lead by 17 points.
PHOTO BY Elmhurst University
The Bluejays started the second half on a 7–0 run that brought the deficit down to seven points. With 17 minutes left, Pomona-Pitzer hoped to answer, but they had their mind made up, and no one was getting in the way.
the net got bigger and bigger for EU scorers.
EU responded with an 18–2 run finally securing their first lead of the game.
From Jonathan Zapinski’s blocked shots, easy three-pointers from Ocean Johnson, sound defense from Wesley Hooker, and effortless assists from Rhode to Thomas, the Bluejays turned the game around destroying the spirit of Pomona-Pitzer.
Back-to-back three pointers from Jake Rhode and clutch buckets from Dominic Genco woke up the crowd and sparked a match for the team. The energy was back and spreading like wildfire throughout the gym.
“It’s March, anything can happen. I feel like everyone did what they had to do to win,” said Thomas. “If we play like we have, we can compete with anyone in the country.” Thomas finished with 13 points.
Suddenly, everything changed. The Bluejays caught fire; the rally finally began.
“I was scared the team wasn’t gonna come back and win,” said Derrick McCollum Jr., a local Bluejay fan. “We stayed true fans and supported them in the second half.”
With a final score of 76–70, the EU men’s basketball team is now Sweet 16 bound. The Bluejays will face Calvin College on March 11, at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.
EU came out of the locker room hot after an intense halftime speech and a much-needed shoot-around.
Pomona-Pitzer players were yelling back at the EU student section. The Sagehens were falling victim to forced turnovers by the Bluejays, and
The Bluejays walked into the locker room down 26–40 at halftime. The rowdy student section had gone silent, family members released exasperation into the air, and the only sound made was the growing excitement of PomonaPitzer fans. “During halftime, Coach Baines gave us a story on how he was down at half when he was playing the NCAA tournament and won against IWU,” said Thomas. “That really stuck with us.”
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ELMHURSTLEADER.COM
EDITORIAL
EDITORIAL
did remove their masks at moments to eat, drink, or take photos, as was permitted per the mask regulations in place at EU. Walking into the Founder’s Lounge reception, there were numerous faculty members and leaders of the school without a mask even on their person as they socialized with others. Throughout the reception, a trend amongst attendees involved guests wearing masks for photos that would be featured on any promotional EU material or The Leader, and then removing it after the camera panned away.
EU DROPPED THE MASKS ON COVID-19 PROTOCOLS For a school still requiring masks, you would think they would do a better job enforcing it. At the President’s Ball on March 5, students, staff, and guests were present; however, their masks were not. In the past, The Leader has reported on Elmhurst University’s masking policies, acknowledged the campus vigilance in COVID-19 guidelines, and in the last editorial we urged EU to withhold lifting the mask mandate by spring break, like they later announced in a COVID-19 Task Force email. However, EU dropped the ball with the President’s Ball. EU sent out numerous emails about the President’s Ball weeks prior, and each email stated a mask was mandatory in order to attend. Signs were posted all around the Frick Center, asking that everyone in attendance wear masks. Removing your mask was permitted during active eating or drinking, but that seemed to be everyone’s excuse to not wear one in the first place. This isn’t an isolated incident; it has been an issue all year. At the event, The Leader editors in attendance
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It was evident that these leaders did not care about the wellbeing of their students, as they freely roamed maskless despite an active mask mandate on campus. It is true, COVID-19 cases have declined in the past month and the mask mandate for the state has dropped, but EU announced that the mask mandate is still intact until March 18, when the school will reconvene to announce the state of the mandate before spring break. President’s Ball was not a well-regulated event in terms of COVID-19 safety. If a spike in campus cases occurs this upcoming week, it can be attributed to the President’s Ball. There were no staff members enforcing the mask-wearing policy at the President’s Ball. EU food service staff were required to wear their masks as they watched their supervisors and campus higher-ups break the rules they made for staff and students. In large group settings, leading by example sets the tone for the rest of the people in attendance. When students see that President Troy VanAken is maskless, they are going to follow suit and in turn diminish the credibility of his COVID-19 Task Force policies. Instituting policies for a campus amidst a transitional period for state mask guidelines creates a gray area. To mask or not to mask? Especially as the future of the mask mandate at EU is still to be finalized. Monitoring to ensure people in attendance adhered to EU guidelines would have helped mitigate the mask situation, but there were zero faculty members enforcing mask-wearing at the event. For a lot of students this was the first big school PAGE 17
ISSUE 08
event since COVID-19 started nearly two years ago, and some were anxious about going to an event where they knew a lot of people would be gathering indoors. Masks have provided a sense of security in these uncertain times, and when surrounded by maskless individuals, this security goes away. It’s one thing to know you’re going to be in a space where you’ll be gathering in large groups, but it becomes a problem when people don’t follow the protocols everyone agreed to. For those who only went because they assumed it would be safely regulated, that promised security was not there. It is a shame that an event created to celebrate student and faculty leadership was ruined because the faculty could not follow or enforce a simple rule. We are two years into this pandemic, we should know better. It is obvious EU is tired of mask-wearing but upholding a mask mandate that isn’t enforced at potential super-spreader events is performative and indicative of leadership that does not follow their own rules. To everyone at EU, do better and put your masks back on.
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.
ELMHURSTLEADER.COM
EDITORIAL
ISSUE 08
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W n u a n r it e a b ou ce d is sue t s
C O N TAC T GIANNA MONTESANO
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HOW EU SHOULD HAVE RESPONDED TO A SECURITY CONCERN Director of Residence Life Kevin Krauskopf sent an email to residential students about a religious group attempting to recruit in the dorms on Feb. 8. This email was vague at best and lacked important details about what is being done to deal with the issue.
on such happenings.
If students are to be told to look out for a religious group attempting to recruit students on campus, information about the group, such as the group’s name, recruitment tactics, and names of the individuals should be acknowledged. This information was absent.
For a school that strives to keep its students safe, the way in which this situation was handled is shameful. Students should have been provided with proper updates on what was being done to combat the issue of unwanted recruitment efforts, as well as what group to look out for.
Providing details gives students the ability to properly know what to look out for, such as behavioral changes amongst friends and unusual interactions with strangers.
Information should have also been provided to campus media to properly inform students on the state of campus safety.
There is also the issue of the fact that the email lacked an entire population of Elmhurst University: non-residential students. Communication with this major chunk of EU’s student body is critical in combating safety issues. Non-residential students are also vulnerable to being approached by religious groups recruiting on campus and they should be kept in the loop
The Leader reached out to EU administrative officials and public safety to garner more information regarding this religious group and their activities, but there was a lack of response from both.
EU should provide updates about what is going on with this religious group to all its students and attempt to stop any further contact besides merely telling students to report after they occur. Such mitigation efforts will prevent possible psychological and mental harm and ensure the student body is fully informed for their safety and security.
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