100413 Chicago Maroon

Page 1

FRIDAY • OCTOBER 4, 2013

ISSUE 1 • VOLUME 125

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO SINCE 1892

CHICAGOMAROON.COM

UCSC shuffle sparks outcry Joy Crane Grey City Editor

No turning back Upperclassmen enthusiastically greet first-years during the traditional O-Week parting ceremony at Hull Gate. JAMIE MANLEY | THE CHICAGO MAROON

Univ. clarifies controversial elevator policy Madhu Srikantha Senior Editor The University has ended a controversial policy that barred uniformed service staff access to the Administration Building elevators from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. President Robert Zimmer sent an e-mail

to Facilities Service staff explicitly rebuking the policy yesterday, four months after a University locksmith filed a formal grievance against the University. “I recently learned that a number of communications [that service workers] received about use of the

Administration Building elevators misstate and misinterpret University policy. Let me state in the simplest of terms what the policy actually is: the elevators are for everybody’s use,” Zimmer said in the e-mail. The “number of communications”

Zimmer’s e-mail refers to are exchanges between union and University representatives following the submission of the grievance on May 30. The exchange includes an official statement of the University’s position on the policy, written by LOCK continued on page 3

After announcing the departures of two top-level administrators and a shift in direction, the University Community Service Center (UCSC) is now facing significant backlash, with over 200 current students and alumni organizing in opposition to a decision they claim lacked tact and transparency. The dismissal of Trudi Langendorf, former assistant director, and the resignation of James Britt, former associate director, come as the latest round of staff departures in a year marked by high employee turnover in the department. Since December, the Center has lost four of its six full-time staff members and several student employees. According to UCSC Director Amy Chan, the structural shift intends to pave a new “social innovation and philanthropy” path for the Center, leading to the creation of new full-time staff positions for candidates with business, philanthropy, and nonprofit backgrounds. Characterizing the changes as an expansion of UCSC, Chan cited five new initiatives

created for students last year, including Chicago Bound, a pre–Orientation Week service for incoming first-year students. “We have solicited extensive feedback from students, faculty members, and community partners,” Chan said in an e-mailed statement explaining the changes. She added that four open houses are scheduled during the autumn quarter for students to provide further feedback. Many of those currently or previously involved with UCSC, including fourthyear and former employee Abby Pershing, feel that the decision to restructure was made behind closed doors. “The UCSC mission is changing. It used to be grassroots: going out, personto-person interaction. Now it is gearing much more towards a management organization,” she said. Pershing, who participated in UCSC’s nonprofit internship program Summer Links in 2011, resigned from her job at the Center’s Volunteer Referral program last weekend in protest of the Center’s new direction. At least one other student UCSC continued on page 2

Shutdown impact muted—for now Uncommon Interview: David Brooks (A.B. ’83) Marina Fang News Editor

The federal government shutdown, which began at midnight on Tuesday, appears to have had little impact on the University so far, but could create trouble for students and faculty if it persists. “The federal government shutdown at this point has not had any impact on UChicago students or research here,” University spokesman Jeremy Manier wrote in an e-mail. There have been a few small impacts of the shutdown this week. The CIA canceled an information session originally slated for yesterday evening , according to an e-mail from Career Advancement. It will be rescheduled for later this quarter. In addition, federal agencies such as the U.S. Department of State

and the Peace Corps did not attend Career Advancement’s Fall Career and Internship Fair in Ida Noyes Hall yesterday afternoon. In addition, students and faculty are unable to access resources such as the Census Bureau, USDA, and CDC websites. In most government agencies, staff members who manage online resources are considered “non-essential” or “non-excepted” government employees, so these resources will be unavailable until the government reopens. Here are some other areas that could be impacted by the shutdown in the long term: Research funding At the moment, any federallyfunded research projects that have already received funding

can still proceed. However, researchers cannot apply for new grants, and the government cannot review any pending grant applications. Students and faculty have expressed concern if the shutdown continues for multiple weeks, especially if their funding runs out before the government reaches a solution to the shutdown. Robert Rosner teaches the Stellar Astronomy/Astrophysics physical science sequence and is co-director of the University’s Energ y Policy Institute at Chicago (EPIC), where he does work primarily on nuclear power. Much of his research relies on federally funded employees and programs. “What is affected is, for example, people who have grant submissions—those are not SHUTDOWN continued on page 2

Columnist David Brooks (A.B. ’83) is a staple of The New York Times op-ed page now, but back in his college days he edited and wrote for the Viewpoints section of this paper. In July, Brooks sat down with the Maroon in his office in The Times’s Washington Bureau for an extensive conversation on his best campus memories, his close friendship with President Obama, and Harold’s Chicken Shack. To read the complete interview, go to www.chicagomaroon.com.

COURTESY OF JOSH HANER, THE NEW

Chicago Maroon: Do you have memories of studying in the Reg ? David Brooks: Oh, yes. I was a fourth-floor guy, back in the stacks. There’s a coffee shop BROOKS continued on page 2

YORK TIMES

IN VIEWPOINTS

IN ARTS

IN SPORTS

Beyond the intersection » Page 4

Suicide Narcissus has artists in control at Renaissance Society » Page 6

Maroons put perfect record on the line against Rhodes College » Back Page

Yes, Master: Showtime gets freaky with new series» Page 9

Strong field awaits South Siders at UAA Round Robin» Page 11

The corporation and the community» Page 5


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