Leader
ISSUE 01 09/14/21 ELMHURSTLEADER.COM
@elmhurstleader @ElmhurstLeader TheLeader
CHAPL AIN SCOTT MATHENEY REFLECTS ON THE 20 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11
NEWS
PAGE 03
Jared Boekenhauer
DO WE NEED ANOTHER CINDERELLA STORY?
WHO IS SHE?
Ryan Windle
OFFICE 630.617.3320
PAGE 05
EDITORIAL: FOR THE UMPTEENTH TIME, DIVERSITY MATTERS BEYOND THE BOARD ROOM.
Editorial Board
INQUIRIES & LETTERS leadernewssec@gmail.com
PAGE 09
ADVERTISE WITH US theleaderadvertising@gmail.com
ELMHURSTLEADER.COM
EDITORIAL BOARD GIANNA MONTESANO/ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OLIVIA JANICKE/ COPY EDITOR
ISSUE 01
NEWS
EU PROFESSORS SPEAK ON MASK MANDATES IN CLASSROOMS
JASMINE LILLIS/ GRAPHICS EDITOR LEXI HOLMES / PHOTO EDITOR
Marisa Sandoval
JARED BOEKENHAUER/ NEWS EDITOR
Staff Writer
VANESSA SEVILLA/ OPINIONS EDITOR
On Aug. 18, the Elmhurst University COVID-19 Task Force sent out an email announcing that masks would be required for all people, vaccinated and unvaccinated, on the EU campus, with exceptions in private offices or while eating in the cafeteria or the Roost.
ASSISTANTS SARINA OKRZESIK/ Assistant Copy Editor
STAFF PRINCESS GONZALEZ ESPARZA ISABELLA HERRERA RYAN WINDLE MARISA SANDOVAL NICHOLAS REDMOND SANTÉ DYBOWSKI CONTACT US
Delta variant,” said McDonald. “If my dancers can wear them for hours, other people can.” McDonald also said that she would rather be masked and be in-person than to have no masks and be shut down again. Richard Rivard, EU adjunct professor, teaches one class on campus, and also supports mask requirements.
According to an Associated Press poll, 6 in 10 Americans support mask requirements for K-12 students. But does that support transfer over to higher education, from EU professors and faculty?
“I have been a strong proponent of masking since the beginning of the pandemic way back in March 2019,” said Rivard in an email to The Leader.
Amy Lyn McDonald, assistant professor of dance at EU, believes masking is a positive step toward dealing with COVID-19.
Rivard says that he feels protected from COVID-19 while teaching due to his being vaccinated and remaining distanced from students, but that he would like to see more spacing.
“Science shows it helps. It’s a small inconvenience, but worth it. You don’t know everything with the
THE LEADER NEWSPAPER Elmhurst University 190 Prospect Avenue Elmhurst, IL 60126 Office: 630.617.3320
“Masking by the students helps, but I’d like to see more spacing of the students themselves. I do not exist on an island, and I care deeply about the health and well-being of my students.” In the admissions department, George Martinez, admissions counselor, holds a similar perspective — wishing mask requirements were not a thing, but maintaining that everyone should be involved in bouncing back from COVID-19.
General Inquires & Letters to Editor: leadernewsec@gmail.com
“While many of us are vaccinated, there are others who are not, or transfers who might live with immunocompromised people,” said Martinez in an email. “While I’m vaccinated and (selfishly) wish masks weren’t required, I know we should all do our part to help stop the spread of this virus.”
ADVERTISE WITH US: theleaderadvertising@gmail.com
ABOUT US The Leader is the student-run newspaper for 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 EU at-large. No text, photos, or art can be reproduced without direct permission of The Leader.
GRAPHICS BY Jasmine Lillis
Internet Photo
PAGE 01
ELMHURSTLEADER.COM
ISSUE 01
NEWS
PHOTO BY Freepik Internet Photo
GRAPHICS BY Jasmine Lillis
GRAPHICS BY Jasmine Lillis
NEW ILLINOIS TEXAS PASSES RESTRICTIVE ABORTION BAN MASK MANDATE legislation is already being used as a template Jared Boekenhauer for pro-life groups in other states, meaning NOW IN EFFECT News Editor In May of 2021, Texas passed a law that would allow individuals to sue abortion providers, or anyone who assists in an abortion procedure, should one take place after “cardiac activity” is discovered. The law went into effect on Sept. 1, after the Supreme Court allowed the law to be upheld. The law already has more endurance than previous pro-life legislation in large part due to the new conservative Supreme Court majority, who refused to block the new legislation. But it is also more successful because it does not give the state power to enforce the law, that power is given to the citizens. Josh Blackman, a law professor at South Texas College of Law Houston, was quoted in the Texas Tribune saying, “Planned Parenthood can’t go to court and sue Attorney General Paxton like they usually would because he has no role in enforcing the statute. They have to basically sit and wait to be sued.”
strict abortion bans could be passed around the country. “Republican officials in more than half-dozen states across the country moved this week to replicate Texas’ restrictive abortion ban,” the Washington Post reported. The new legislation has seen harsh resistance from pro-choice lawmakers, and pro-choice advocates around the country.
“The drumbeat to eliminate Roe [vs.] Wade and control women’s bodies,” said Elmhurst University Chaplain Scott Matheney. “That’s how I see it, it’s pretty direct. Women do not get to control their bodies.” The pro-life group, Texas Right to Life, wrote on their website, “the Supreme Court’s decision is a massive victory for the Pro-Life movement.” They also said that they are hoping to mimic this success around the country.
The Washington Post reported that this new PAGE 02
Nicholas Redmond Staff Writer Governor J.B. Pritzker reinstated the Illinois mask mandate during a rise in COVID-19 cases due to the Delta variant on Aug. 30. All Illinois residents above the age of two are required to wear masks indoors, regardless of their vaccination status. “Illinois will join several other states that have reinstituted statewide indoor mask requirements, regardless of vaccination status, effective on Monday,” said Pritzker at a press briefing held on Aug. 26. “Masks work. Period.” Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike believes that there are not many other options regarding safety, saying at the press briefing, “wearing a mask continues to be one of the simplest, cheapest ways to reduce the spread of COVID-19. 9/14
ELMHURSTLEADER.COM
NEWS
CHAPLAIN SCOTT MATHENEY REFLECTS ON THE 20 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11 Jared Boekenhauer News Editor
PHOTO BY northjersey.com GRAPHICS BY Jasmine Lillis
ISSUE 01
ELMHURSTLEADER.COM
On Sept. 14, 2001, Elmhurst College Chaplain Scott Matheney, along with then college President Bryant Cureton, and EC students, packed the chapel for a 9/11 commemoration service. 20 years later, Matheney remembers those days and weeks after 9/11, reflecting on how it bred hatred, how the country can heal, and his own perspective as a New Yorker. “I want this institution to be able to have the capacity — to be able to look backwards and see some of the strengths, and some of the weaknesses, and how that informs [us] to build to the future,” said Matheney. He reflected on the usage of religion as a way to produce hatred and sow division in the world. “There’s a lot of hatred, and it’s rooted in religious discourse, and philosophical and political conversations. It’s become an issue again, it’s worse,” said Matheney. “Especially because of what happened in Afghanistan, we pegged the
NEWS
Taliban as the problem, to root out the Taliban, now the Taliban 20 years later has taken over.” “We know there is going to be this same kind of firmament, wherever in the world, will come out of roots that will have some religious tensions, really wrong type of religious tensions. There’s the capacity to use God in a pretty negative way.” Matheney also discussed the role of storytelling in healing, and how the stories of history shape who we are and what we will eventually become, something the U.S. faces as its time in Afghanistan comes to a close. “Was it the right response? That’s the conversation that requires minds and policy and understanding, did we do the right thing by going in?” said Matheney. “You make decisions and you move forward, you debate. There’s individuals who have to worry about that and think that through — and then there’s the society and how they interpret the history.”
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF For most of us at The Leader, we do not remember what we were doing or where Jasmine Lillis we GRAPHICS were whenBY the North and South towers collapsed on Sept. 11, 2001. However, growing up in a post-9/11 world, we will forever be reminded of the impact the attacks left on U.S. society and how Muslim and middle eastern communities have suffered constant xenophobia for 20 years as a result. As we try our best to reflect on the past two decades, we realize we do not have much memory about a world pre-9/11 and without being at war with Afghanistan, which we recently withdrew from. In order to gain more perspective on the magnitude of 9/11 on our campus, we went through our archives to reflect on The Leader’s coverage on 9/11 when it occurred. We uncovered an editor’s note from Sept. 10, 2002, a year after the attack, and one
paragraph stands out for encompassing the general feeling at the time and still resonates 20 years later: “The tragedy of Sept. 11 hangs over us, a thick cloud of dust falling slowly, clinging to our skin, coating our eyes. We try to wash it off, wipe it out, but yet it keeps falling, choking, stopping our voices. Like a visitor who won’t go away it has become a burden on our economy, social life, administration and academics.”
Sept. 10, 2002 issue of The Leader where the original editor’s note was published.
PAGE 04
ISSUE 01
On 9/11, the Fire Department of the City of New York’s chaplain was killed, and the photo of his body being pulled from one of the towers is now a famous photograph. One of Matheney’s students from his time at Columbia University filled that chaplain’s role. “One of my students from Columbia University took his place. [The] first openly lesbian ordained with the United Church of Christ — so I know there is a story of redemption in the pain, and I know that there are different ways to interpret history, depending on where you sit in power, privilege, and I also know that some things happen and I can’t control, but there are other things that I can be engaged in, and my little block of life in time that I am given, what do you want to do with that?” said Matheney.
ELMHURSTLEADER.COM
I’M THE O.C. (ORIGINAL CINDERELLA)
ISSUE 01
ARTS + CULTURE
ARE YOU FORGETTING ABOUT ME?
DO WE NEED ANOTHER CINDERELLA STORY? Ryan Windle Staff Writer I tried to watch the new version of Cinderella, and I could barely get past the first hour. There are many films out there that tell the classic Cinderella story. Since 1950, when Disney released their cartoon version of Cinderella, remakes of the Grimm Brothers’ fairytale have told the story of the princess through various lenses.
WHO IS SHE?
71 years after the original, another Cinderella remake has hit the big screen, released on Sept. 3, on Amazon Prime Video and in select movie theaters. A few notable names in this film are Camila Cabello as Cinderella, Billy Porter as the Fabulous Godmother, and Idina Menzel as the evil Stepmother. This version is different from prior tellings of the story, with a centering theme of Cinderella wanting to become a fashion designer. This film also takes on a jukebox musical approach, taking songs from Janet Jackson to Ed Sheeran for the characters to sing. Some are loving this version of Cinderella, but most are not. It was hard to not turn the film off in the first half-hour. The film starts with all the townspeople singing “Rhythm Nation” by Janet Jackson. Although some moments had me cringing, overall it was a fine start to the film. After this number, the film started to go downhill quickly. Next was the only original song in the film, “Million To One,” sung by Cinderella. This song is getting dragged through the mud on many social media platforms, and I can see why. The song itself is fine — the singing, however, is questionable.
Internet Photo
9/14
GRAPHICS BY Jasmine Lillis
PAGE 05
Cabello is not the strongest singer in the world, and I felt like this song was setting her up for failure. The end of the song really was where my mouse teased the exit button, but nevertheless I continued watching.
ELMHURSTLEADER.COM
What I liked about this film was that it gave a little more background information on Prince Robert, which followed the song “Million To One.” In the adaptations I have seen, we never really get any dedicated time to learn about the Prince, so getting a little bit of background information was a delight to see. The actor, Nicholas Galitzine, gave us the best vocals of the film so far with his rendition of the song “Somebody to Love,” but all that was going on in the background really was a sight to see. There was a random church choir for the song, and then there were guards dancing. It was a lot to take in, and very uncomfortable to watch. After this scene I had to take a break from the film to collect myself. Coming back to the film, nothing really bad or good happened right away. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a pleasant surprise came. I never knew I needed to hear Menzel singing “Material Girl,” but now I can’t imagine a life without it. The best part of the film, hands down. Back with the theme of Cinderella wanting to become a fashion designer, the next scene entails Cinderella trying to sell one of her dresses. Prince Robert spots her, and sparks up a conversation between them. In an interesting format, the ball gets announced to everyone in the town as a rap. Following that sequence, all the characters sing a rendition of “Am I Wrong,” which I had to mute halfway through. A reprise of “Million To One” introduced the Fabulous Godmother. Porter gave an amazing performance with the song “Shining Star,” which transformed Cinderella and her surroundings to be ready for the ball. What I cannot stand in any movie is the typical lines given to LGBTQIA+ characters. You always will hear a “yasss queen” or a “slayyyyyyyy.” It honestly feels offensive to see how the media portrays these characters in such a stereotypical way. In this movie, on top of all the “yasss queen’’ that was going on, the interaction between Cinderella and the Fabulous Godmother really had me cringing once again. My love for Porter kept me watching, but not for much longer.
ISSUE 01
ARTS + CULTURE
much to enjoy. Getting to the ball and hearing Salt-N-Pepa’s “Whatta Man” took me by surprise; never once did I expect to ever hear that song involved in a telling of Cinderella. When it went into “Seven Nation Army,” I got even more confused. Next came the big dance between Cinderella and Prince Robert to “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran, and this is where I had to turn the movie off — I could not watch it anymore. After reflecting over the hour of my life I spent watching this film, I started to question why this film was made at all. We have many beautiful renditions of Cinderella that we can watch, so why did this director feel like we needed yet another version?
ADVERTISEMENT
JOIN US @
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
It seems lately that the only films being produced are remakes of old classics, but why? It’s an instant money grab and people crave visiting things that brought them joy in the past. Of course people will want to see new versions of what they know and love, but at what point does it become too much? So any new stories are out there, wanting and needing to be told, yet it seems like no one wants to tell these stories because it won’t make a good amount of money. It’s a sad sight to see, it feels like Hollywood is turning into a sellout rather than creating art that matters.
C O N TA C T GIANNA MONTESANO
“It’s a sad sight to see, it feels like Hollywood is turning into a sellout rather than creating art that matters.” Cinderella is one of my favorite classic fairy tales. While this retelling of the story may not have been the best, it still does not take away the love that I have for the story. If this retelling wasn’t your favorite, I recommend the Whitney Houston and Brandy version of the tale, which is impossible not to love.
@ gmont0454@365.elmhurst.edu
At this point in the film, I was just trying to enjoy it as much as I could, because there was not
C A N ’ T WA IT TO M E E T YO U
PAGE 06
9/14
ELMHURSTLEADER.COM
‘CERTIFIED LOVER BOY’ ALBUM REVIEW
Santé Dybowski Staff Writer Drake, one of our generation’s greatest artists, dropped his highly anticipated album, “Certified Lover Boy” (“CLB”), on Sept. 3, three years after his last album drop. 2021 has provided listeners with some of the best music released in the last five years, and “CLB” is no exception, leaving both fans and charts buzzing. The album features collaborations from big name artists — legends like Jay Z, Lil Baby, Rick Ross, and Kid Cudi, and more. The album was expected to be one of the best Drake releases to
ISSUE 01
ARTS + CULTURE
date, but some fans already have mixed feelings about the project. The album art itself was deemed as “childish,” prior to the release because it displays 12 versions of the pregnant woman emoji. In addition, some fans think the songs fit into a more mainstream style of rap. With all that being said, I personally enjoyed the album. I wouldn’t say that it is the best project of Drake’s career, but I found bits and pieces intriguing. As indicated by the title “Certified Lover Boy,” Drake digs into his feelings to talk about love from a male perspective, a theme which we are starting to see more frequently in rap music.
Some songs were more upbeat, such as “Way 2 Sexy,” featuring Future and Young Thug, but the overall message of the project is about love and heartbreak. After many years of making controversial music, Drake has proved again that he is indeed too big to fail. His goal with all of his projects is to get the media as attached to it as possible, and he has certainly done that. Because of the mass popularity of apps like TikTok, snippets of many of the songs from “CLB” were highly desired weeks prior to their release. Drake has full control of social media and he will continue to have it for many years to come. Love or hate the album, people must admit that Drake has been one of the most influential artists in the rap game. He has been able to produce hits on every project, and that alone keeps the fans ready and waiting for more. If he wants to make a different style of music, I can guarantee you we will see many young artists follow the path of the man before them. Music is always developing and changing, and Drake is at the forefront of that change.
WE’RE ALL ABOUT VIRGO SEASON Ryan Windle
connection that they have with their partner.
Staff Writer
Virgos expect perfection; in themselves and sometimes in the people that they surround themselves with — be careful not to let a Virgo down, as they absolutely cannot stand it.
From Aug. 23 to Sept. 22, the sun will be transiting in the sign of Virgo. Ruled by the planet Mercury, Virgos are known for being kind, smart, and sophisticated. Virgos are one of the three Earth signs in the zodiac, represented by the maiden, also known as the virgin. As an Earth sign, Virgos tend to be grounded, stable, and practical. Gaining a friendship with a Virgo will be one you will want to keep, as they are trustworthy and helpful to those they care about. If you ever find yourself in a relationship with a Virgo, be prepared for a special connection; being one of the most passionate signs, a Virgo’s specialty is their connection with their physicality. Being the most compatible in love with the water sign Cancer, a Virgo loves to celebrate the physical 9/14
Most times it may seem that a Virgo will put themselves last, putting everyone else above their own needs. They hate to disappoint others, so try your best to not disappoint them. There are many famous Virgos out there celebrating another year around the sun, such as Beyoncé, Zendaya, Bernie Sanders, Nick Jonas, and Jennifer Hudson. This Virgo season it is important to set goals for yourself. All of this amazing energy can not be put to waste. With this New Moon, it is important to work toward a stable foundation by creating goals for yourself that are specific, measurable, and attainable. By setting these goals for yourself, it will be a big step forward in being able to manifest your dreams. PAGE 07
GRAPHICS BY Jasmine Lillis PHOTO BY New York Public Library
ELMHURSTLEADER.COM
ISSUE 01
SPORTS
ADVERTISEMENT
DO YOU LIKE READING SPORTS NEWS??? SO DO WE.
Join The Leader as a SPORTS WRITER. PHOTO BY Elmhurstbluejays.com GRAPHICS BY Jasmine Lillis
BLUEJAYS FUMBLE AT SEASON OPENER GAMER AGAINST Elmhurst football had a weak season opening after losing 7–45 against the University of Wisconsin–River Falls Falcons on Sept. 4. The first half started off rough for the Bluejays as the Falcons got 10 points by the end of the first quarter, making the score 0–10 going into the second quarter. The second quarter was the only scoring moment for the Bluejays after linebacker Bryce Gable caught a pass and returned it for a touchdown, moving the score up to 7–17.
C O N TA C T GIANNA MONTESANO
Going into the second half of the game, the Bluejays struggled with scoring again. The game was carried by the Falcons, who scored three touchdowns in the third quarter, getting the score up to 7–38 going into the fourth quarter.
@ gmont0454@365.elmhurst.edu
The game ended when the Falcons scored a touchdown early in the fourth quarter, guaranteeing an obvious win with an ending score of 7–45. Elmhurst Bluejays are set to head back to the field on Sept. 18, for a home game at Langhorst Field against Carthage College. PAGE 08
9/14
ELMHURSTLEADER.COM
EDITORIAL
OPINIONS
of the Coalition of Multicultural Engagement, which is unfair that marginalized students have to show face for an office that is meant to represent and help them. However, Robinson’s office has been removed in lieu of a flashy spirit shop that took over the former Office of Student Involvement and Diversity and Inclusion (OSIDI) displacing the offices across the hall and leaving out an office space for Robinson or another director for the moment.
FOR THE UMPTEENTH TIME, DIVERSITY MATTERS BEYOND THE BOARD ROOM.
Additionally, Leoni and Riordan already have enough work on their plates serving as advisers for multiple organizations and being on the COVID-19 Task Force. Their busy schedules won’t allow them to devote the time the ODI deserves in order to adequately provide for the students. In her email to students, Robinson points out the lack of space for the office saying, “at this time, there is no physical space for the office but I imagine that will change when a new person is hired.” Where is the on-campus space for diversity? What does the replacement process look like? How long until somebody fills her role? Why was an office for the diversity director excluded?
Time and time again, Elmhurst University boasts about the importance of diversity and inclusion to the institution. From establishing new scholarships for underrepresented students, lecture series, and braggadocious promotional banners and emails about the percentages of students of color on campus, EU repeatedly stresses the importance of diversity Diversity is often used as a business strategy by institutions to garner recognition, funding, and diverse applicants, but how does EU stand up and show out for their diverse population when there isn’t a physical Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) on campus because the director Jasmin Robinson resigned before the 2021-22 school year began? At the moment, the office is being overseen by Cheryl Leoni, associate dean of students, and Phil Riordan, vice president of student affairs, as well as the student assistants. The weight of carrying diversity and inclusion efforts continuously falls on the shoulders of students, in this case the three undergraduate student assistants and student leaders a part
9/14
EU needs to speak up and answer these questions for students given the impact Robinson left behind in three short years: Creating two mentorship programs and three affinity groups with a staff of only herself. There has been silence in communicating with students about Robinson’s departure on an administrative end and it feels they are sweeping this under the rug purposefully in an effort to maintain the appearance of valuing campus diversity. If it weren’t for Robinson emailing students who have connected with her over the years to let them know Leoni and Riordan would be overlooking the department in her absence, how would students know where to go if they needed anything from her office? It’s great that EU put Leoni and Riordan in charge of overseeing the ODI until somebody is hired full time, but will they provide students who found themselves enthralled with the ODI the same comfort and space for their grievances that Robinson provided? After hate crimes in 2019 and shooting threats this past spring semester, Robinson worked tirePAGE 09
ISSUE 01
lessly to provide support groups and spaces for students and staff to share their experiences for weeks after EU ended their efforts. Robinson has always put forth the best of herself to provide for her students when EU adequately fails to do so. Will students who relied on the support of the ODI continue to be supported in the same manner at the hands of student assistants and two faculty members who frankly cannot comprehend the experiences of underrepresented students? While Robinson put in her resignation, EU should have chosen an individual (or individuals) who can relate to the needs of marginalized students in order to feel seen by a campus faculty member who not only understands them, but comes from a similar background as them. EU should also be more clear about how they’re working to find somebody to replace Robinson. Involve the students on search committees and on interview panels like they did when trying to find a new sorority and fraternity life coordinator. Marginalized students are more than a figure on a quarterly board of trustees meeting, they’re largely 18 to 22-year-olds trying to navigate campus as individuals in a predominantly white space. They have intersectional identities that are celebrated on admissions visits, but forgotten after the first tuition payment of the semester is due. I’m positive Leoni and Riordan are doing their best to cater to the needs of these students, but the truth is they don’t share the same experiences of marginalized students — it’s okay to admit that. At the same time, EU has to admit the students won’t be fully getting what they need from the office while they work to hire somebody to fill Robinson’s role.
ELMHURSTLEADER.COM
ISSUE 01
OPINIONS
ADVERTISEMENT
your e v Ha ard e h e voic
Your Column Here
Writ nu an e ab o ut ce d is su e s
C O N TA C T GIANNA MONTESANO
@
gmont0454@365.elmhurst.edu
TO AUDITION FOR A COLUMN
CARTOON BY Jasmine Lillis
Fall 2021 is my final semester at Elmhurst University. And it may be needless to say, but I really look forward to graduating.
I transferred to Elmhurst University with two Associate's Degrees and a lot of customer service experience.
Being at this point in my academic career, I feel extremely privileged to have made it this far because I didn't have support like I do now for the longest time.
I had to work to support my schooling, so I didn't engage in really any clubs and activities.
So if you're feeling lonely or left out, take the leap and reach out to someone. Heck, reach out to me and we can talk.
PAGE 10
9/14
JOIN US AT OUR WEEKLY MEETINGS ON TUESDAYS @ 11:45 A.M. TO 12:45 P.M. IN OLD MAIN 107 (OR SOMETHING)