Loyola Phoenix, Volume 49, Issue 27

PHOTO

DRAGON LIGHTS The Dragon Lights fest next to Soldier Field will light up your night pages 8 & 9

Volume 49

Issue 27

April 25, 2018

LOYOLA PHOENIX LOYOLAPHOENIX.COM | @PHOENIXLUC

Loyola law school opens social justice center

Men’s volleyball closes out its season

JANE MILLER jmiller41@luc.edu

Loyola’s School of Law recently established a new social justice center, offering unique opportunities to its law students and the surrounding community starting as early as the 2018-19 school year.

The new Curt and Linda Rodin Center for Social Justice was formed to enhance and develop programs which focus on fairness, equity and justice, according to an April 5 press release from the School of Law. The center is located on the 11th floor of Corboy Law Center at the Water Tower Campus.

While the Rodin Center will serve to provide a renewed focus on social justice issues, Michael Kaufman, dean of the School of Law, said social justice has been a vital part of the school’s identity for decades. “[Social justice has] been part of our water, part of our DNA …

The question is, how can we make it more visible, more tangible, more real and more impactful,” Kaufman said.

“When we began talking about what a center would look like at Loyola, it was really about bringing together those programs that already existed here that served basic human needs under one umbrella.”

The center’s creation was funded by a donation from Curt Rodin, who graduated from Loyola’s law school in 1971, and his wife, Linda Rodin.

Curt Rodin worked in the legal industry for more than 30 years in the fields of construction injury, product defects and medical malpractice, eventually serving as a partner and president at Anesi, Ozmon, Rodin, Novak, & Kohen, Ltd.

CLAIRE FILPI cfilpi1@luc.edu

Carly Behm

The PHOENIX

Rogers Park residents and local students rallied against gun violence April 20 and honored late teacher Cynthia Trevillion.

ROGERS PARK RALLIES

Locals spoke in support of stricter gun control in the wake of Parkland and in honor of the Rogers Park teacher killed in a shooting in October.

CARLY BEHM cbehm@luc.edu

Students across the nation have rallied for gun control in the wake of the February Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. In Rogers Park, high school students had a personal connection to the movement and rallied to support gun control April 20 — almost six months after the fatal shooting of a local teacher.

Students throughout the United States participated in school walkouts April 20 — 19 years after the Columbine High School shooting — for gun control. Some gun control incentives seek to strengthen the background-check system, prevent the sale of assault weapons and ensure only law-abiding citizens own guns.

Around 660 people were shot in Chicago so far this year, according to the Chicago Tribune. The

Phoenix reported two shootings and three armed robberies near campus since Trevillion was shot.

The Rogers Park rally was led by students at the Chicago Waldorf School (1300 W. Loyola Ave.), half a mile from Loyola’s campus, and was organized by John Trevillion, a teacher at the school. His wife, Cynthia Trevillion, was the Chicago Waldorf School teacher fatally shot in October 2017.

Around 2 p.m., 150 people gathered along the 6900 block of North Glenwood Avenue. The road was blocked between Morse and Farewell avenues — the location where Cynthia Trevillion was killed. A majority of those in attendance were high school students from Sullivan High School (6631 N. Bosworth Ave.), the Chicago Waldorf School and the Chicago Academy for Math and Science (7212 N. Clark St.).

RODIN CENTER 3

RALLY 3

The Loyola men’s volleyball team fell to The Ohio State University in the final round of the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) tournament April 21.

The Ramblers finished the season with a 23-7 overall record, including 11-3 in conference play.

Although they didn’t get an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament, head coach Hulse Mark Hulse said the players shouldn’t let this past weekend define their whole season.

Loyola began the season on the road beating the then-ranked No. 6 Brigham Young University (BYU) and falling to then-No. 5 University of California, Irvine. These teams went on to finish the season ranked No. 4 and No. 3, respectively. From there, Loyola’s schedule didn’t get any easier as it went on to face other West Coast teams, including then-No. 2 ranked Long Beach State.

Having a tough schedule from the start wasn’t an accident. The past two seasons, the Ramblers have been playing top-ranked teams to start the season. Hulse said this helps the team know where it truly stands and having a good strength of schedule is important when it comes time for the NCAA tournament selections.

OUSTED 15

Senior exhibits focus on vulnerability, loss CARLY BEHM cbehm@luc.edu

Carly Behm The PHOENIX

Senior art students are displaying their culminating works at the Lake Shore and Water Tower campuses in the Loyola Museum of Art and the Ralph Arnold Gallery.

Graduating seniors in the Department of Fine and Performing Arts have their culminating works on display at Loyola’s Lakeshore and Water Tower campuses. “For[e]ward” opened April 17, and “Let’s Get Lost” opened April 21.

The exhibits feature student artwork about concepts of being lost and vulnerable. “For[e]ward” is on display at the Loyola University Museum of Art (820 N. Michigan Ave.) on the Water Tower Campus, and “Let’s Get Lost” is at the Ralph Arnold Gallery (1131 W. Sheridan Road) on the Lake Shore Campus. “For[e]ward” features studio art majors, and “Let’s Get Lost” features visual communications majors.

Professor and Co-Director of the Ralph Arnold Gallery Betsy Odom was in charge of running “Let’s Get Lost.” She said the artwork in the show is something any student can connect with.

“Our fine arts students are grappling with the same interest in their personal stories, and interest in reaching out to a larger social mission and talking about bigger ideas,” she said. “I think that will really resonate with the Loyola community at large.”

“For[e]ward” explores vulnerability and personal experience. It’s hosted on the second floor of the Loyola Museum of Art (LUMA), and the artwork includes a variety of mediums such as photography, drawing and interactive pieces.

One striking piece, “Pending,” is a

6-foot-long sculpture of a pregnancy test done by Linh Nguyen. She said she modified a typical pregnancy test to be larger and mimic the shape of a female body.

“The object itself represents fertility or strongly suggests the woman image and it’s an object so by enlarging that object … I also want to enlarge the anxiety or the joyful feeling that women have towards [it],” the 22-yearold drawing and painting major said.

Sylvia Bueltel’s piece called “Surprise!” examines the subject of death.

Bueltel, 20, said she wanted to depict her own perception of it.

ART 11

APRIL 25, 2018

2 LOYOLA PHOENIX

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK EDITORIAL Editor-in-Chief Julie Whitehair Managing Editor Michen Dewey General Manager Jill Berndtson News Editor Michael McDevitt Assistant News Editor Mary Norkol Assistant News Editor Christopher Hacker A&E Editor Luke Hyland Assistant A&E Editor Jamilyn Hiskes Opinion Editor Gabriela Valencia Sports Editor Henry Redman Assistant Sports Editor Nick Schultz Copy Editor Maggie Yarnold Copy Editor Sadie Lipe

ART

Julie Whitehair, Editor-in-Chief jwhitehair1@luc.edu

Nearly a year ago, I sat and wondered what to write for my first column as editor-in-chief of The Phoenix. I ended up writing about my two goals: to have stronger content involving stories that interest people, and to increase our online presence.

I think it’s safe to say we reached those goals, or at least made considerable headway. From our extensive coverage of crime and oncampus unrest, to our feature stories on people making a difference in the world and our Cinderella team making it to March Madness, there’s been no shortage of news this year.

But now, a year later, I’m still contemplating what exactly to write in this space.

That’s because I don’t quite know

what to say to the newspaper that’s given me so much: the first clips for my portfolio, co-workers who became friends and memories that will persist even as the ink on today’s paper fades.

I never would’ve imagined myself where I am today, and I owe so much of it to The Phoenix. Each hour spent in the newsroom past midnight, each mistake I’ve made and each decision I’ve debated has made me a better journalist.

So I’ll say thank you. To my family and friends who understood when I couldn't make plans because of The Phoenix time and again, to the student editors who first suggested I apply for a staff position and patiently edited my rough drafts when my knowledge of journalistic style was slim, to the faculty advisors who were there no matter

CONTENTS

Photo Editor Hanako Maki Design Editor Alexandra Runnion

ONLINE Content Manager McKeever Spruck Web Editor Demetrios Bairaktaris

ADVISING Faculty Advisor Robert Herguth

NEWS

Women's golf finishes season with success

4 Loyola senior plans to study at Johns Hopkins 5 Study finds lead in the water of Chicago

OPINION

14

7 Kendrick Lamar deserved to win a Pulitzer Prize

Media Manager Ralph Braseth

A&E

CONTACT

11 Chicago film fest set to be shown at Loyola

Editor-in-Chief eic@loyolaphoenix.com News Desk news@loyolaphoenix.com

12 Summer concert and movie previews

Sports Desk sports@loyolaphoenix.com Arts and Entertainment Desk arts@loyolaphoenix.com

SPORTS

Letters to the Editor opinion@loyolaphoenix.com

14 Leron Norton has sights set on MVC championship

Advertising advertising@loyolaphoenix.com Photo Desk photo@loyolaphoenix.com

16 Nick Knacks

SECURITY NOTEBOOK

Times represent when incidents were reported, not necessarily when they occurred.

1

Monday, April 16 | 1:53 p.m.

5

Wednesday, April 18 | 8:01 p.m.

2

Monday, April 16 | 9:33 p.m.

6

Friday, April 20 | 4:40 p.m.

3

Tuesday, April 17 | 12:58 p.m.

7

Saturday, April 21 | 7:22 p.m.

4

Off Campus A Loyola employee gave a delayed theft report to Campus Safety in which university property was stolen in the Wicker Park neighborhood.

800 block of North State Street A Loyola student reported a battery to Campus Safety. The incident happened off campus near the Water Tower Campus.

Schreiber Center A Loyola student reported a battery to Campus Safety on campus in the Schreiber Center at the Water Tower Campus.

Tuesday, April 17 | 2:51 p.m.

Georgetown Hall An individual with no Loyola affiliation was arrested by Campus Safety for an attempted theft near Georgetown Hall.

Website loyolaphoenix.com

the time to offer advice, guidance and support. And to anyone who’s ever picked up a paper — this is all for you.

You’d be hard pressed to find a single staff member who hasn’t put in countless hours, sacrificed sleep or missed a class to do work for The Phoenix — and most would say it’s worth it.

While I’ll be gone, I encourage you all to stay with The Phoenix next year for the paper’s 50th anniversary.

Think about that. Fifty years of students working tirelessly to inform our audience and tell its stories, even when public opinion of journalists isn’t so favorable. Stay with our newspaper, or better yet, write for it, because the stories you tell will stay with you.

8

Damen Student Center A contracted Loyola employee reported an assault to Campus Safety. The incident happened on campus in the Damen Student Center.

1234 West Albion Avenue In response to a loud noise complaint at an off campus address, Campus Safety restored peace, and it was their first time at this residence.

Baumhart Hall A Loyola student reported a theft to Campus Safety. The incident happened on campus at the Water Tower Campus.

6 5 8 4

Sunday, April 22 | 7:59 p.m.

6400 block of North Newgard Avenue A Loyola student reported an armed robbery to Campus Safety. The incident happened in an alley between North Lakewood and Wayne avenues.

Facebook @TheLoyolaPhoenix

Twitter @PhoenixLUC

Snapchat @LoyolaPhoenix

Instagram @LoyolaPhoenix

APRIL 25, 2018

News

PAGE 3

Carly Behm The PHOENIX

Students from three Rogers Park high schools joined together in a protest against gun violence near the location where Cynthia Trevillion, a teacher at the Chicago Waldorf School, was fatally shot in October. Pictured above, four students from the Chicago Waldorf School show their support for increased gun control with signs referencing various mass shootings in the United States.

RALLY: Rogers Park students say ‘no more’ to gun violence continued from page 1

Some people carried posters and flyers, and others wore orange price tags for $1.05. The price tags visualized how much each Florida student would cost to Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) based on his donations from the National Rifle Association.

Chance Schneider, 14, was one of the Chicago Waldorf School students who attended the rally. She said she wanted to show gun violence was an issue that doesn’t just affect victims.

“You never realize it’s real until it happens to you,” the first-year said.

“There’s other people out there who haven’t experienced something like this, and they might not understand … [I’m] trying to bring awareness to everybody, making this everybody’s problem and not just the people involved or who are connected to it.”

Trevillion was the first speaker and discussed gun violence becoming normalized in the nation. He called for

people to step up and create change.

He was followed by student speakers from each of the high schools. The students expressed frustration over the lack of action by politicians and the importance of voting to encourage change.

Justin Baynes, a senior from the Chicago Math and Science Academy, spoke and said he wanted to help unite the three schools represented — public, private and charter.

“If I can bring everyone together step by step then we can definitely press the issue that … the students are definitely worried, and the students are definitely trying to solve this issue,” the 18-year-old senior said.

Eileen Soderstrom, 71, has advocated for gun violence prevention since the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. She spoke at the rally and also helped participants register to vote. She and other speakers emphasized voting and civic engagement to propel change.

“Many of these students are or will

be 18 by the election in November,” she said. “We need them to register and come out and vote. I’m going to try to inspire them to say that [voting] is one of the most effective ways of getting better legislation to restrict the violence.”

Alderman Joe Moore of the 49th Ward spoke at the event and said he had hope in the power of young people in the movement for common sense gun reform. Although there were larger rallies in downtown Chicago and nationwide, Moore said having a small rally in Rogers Park is important since it encourages action among residents.

“All politics is local,” Moore said.

“Change in this country comes from the bottom up, and that’s why it’s important that every community organize at the very local level.”

Soderstrom agreed, saying gun violence can happen anywhere.

“This is not some issue that happens ‘there,’” she said. “This happens here on our streets.”

Carly Behm The PHOENIX

Some students wore price tags for $1.05 to represent how much each Florida student would ‘cost’ to Senator Marco Rubio based off contributions from the NRA.

RODIN CENTER: School of Law highlights social justice with new programs The Takeaways The Rodin Center will aim to provide a more equal environment for law school students.

The center will add new programs, as well as support existing programs.

continued from page 1 The Rodins have long been supporters of Loyola’s School of Law, providing scholarships and fellowships in social justice areas.

Seven faculty members were elected to head the Rodin Center. Mary Bird, current director of Public Service Programs at Loyola, will serve as Leader-in-Residence as a liaison, connecting the social justice missions of the Loyola’s Center for Public Interest to the Rodin Center, according to Kaufman.

Anita Weinberg, current director of the ChildLaw Policy Institute and a clinical professor of law at Loyola, was appointed director of the center.

Weinberg has worked for and with underrepresented individuals, particularly children and families, in her 20 years at Loyola and previous social work experience.

The new center has three main functions: to build on existing programs within the law school, enhance legal services for marginalized communities and instill in students an understanding of the meaning and significance of a socially just society, Weinberg said.

One of the center’s elements will be to provide added support for cur-

rently existing clinical programs, according to Kaufman.

Clinical programs are four-credit courses where students participate in both classroom and clinical components, where they have the opportunity to represent clients while also completing traditional classroom work.

New seminars might also be added to the curriculum over time, according to Weinberg. The center will conduct an annual summit to bring together the university community, along with researchers, advocates and practitioners, according to Weinberg.

Weinberg said three students will be selected as social justice fellows through an upcoming application process. The fellowship will include a stipend and additional responsibilities within the law school and greater community.

Weinberg said she would like to see the center strengthen the law school’s community ties and serve as a resource for practitioners, advocates and community members who are looking to move social justice initiatives forward.

She also said she hopes the center can impact student experiences, even if their career paths don’t directly fall in line with social justice issues.

“My goal is every student that graduates Loyola law school is conversant in the meaning and significance of social justice and can bring that understanding to their work or to conversations they are having … that they can talk about social justice and contribute a perspective wherever they

Courtesy of Elizabeth Brookover

Curt and Linda Rodin spoke at the official dedication of the Rodin Center April 10. The Rodins have provided Loyola students with social justice-based scholarships and fellowships in the past and have long been supporters of Loyola’s School of Law.

may find themselves,” Weinberg said.

Mariana Millan, a senior studying anthropology, said she sees the Rodin Center potentially making a positive impact.

“I think there is a lot of great minds here and also people applying to go to the law schools and such that come with open minds trying to change a system that has been flawed,” Millan said. “To have the opportunity to challenge those social justice issues here at Loyola is a positive thing, it’s a step in the right direction.”

However, Millan believes Loyola

doesn’t always embody the social justice values they preach, citing the university’s action surrounding a student’s detainment in February.

“I don’t think just opening something makes Loyola a social justice oriented school, it’s just another department that they are adding for me … because I don’t know what the future is going to bring,” the 21 year-old said.

Holli Van Zandt-Lagina, a firstyear secondary education major, said she sees the center as important for law students.

“I feel like especially for law stu-

dents though, like future lawyers, it would be a big thing just because I mean justice is basically what they are doing,” Van Zandt-Lagina said.

Van Zandt-Lagina added she wouldn’t be opposed to the Rodin Center performing outreach to undergraduate students at Loyola.

“Even if [undergraduates] are not doing something that really needs social justice in their curriculum or in their future plans, its something that’s good to be aware of no matter what you are doing,” Van Zant-Lagina said.

4 NEWS

APRIL 25, 2018

Loyola senior looks ahead to future at Johns Hopkins MARY NORKOL mnorkol@luc.edu

When she was six years old, Natalie Rutkowski told her mother she wanted to find a cure for cancer.

Her mother said she didn’t think anything of it at the time, but her daughter, now a Loyola senior, is set to study infectious diseases at the prestigious Johns Hopkins University this summer. Johns Hopkins was ranked second best medical research school in the United States in 2018 according to U.S. News.

Rutkowski, a molecular biology major, will begin the doctoral diversity program at Johns Hopkins in July in Baltimore. The two-year program is meant to provide students with experiences to prepare them for doctorate programs, according to the Johns Hopkins website.

Originally from suburban Bartlett, Rutkowski said some of her success comes from Loyola’s Achieving College Excellence (ACE) program, which provides counseling and resources to first-generation students, low income families and students with disabilities.

Rutkowski’s parents immigrated in 1989 to the United States from Poland in hopes of obtaining better education and job opportunities for the future.

When they heard their daughter would be one of eight participants in the doctoral diversity program, her parents said they were proud and always knew Rutkowski would excel in science.

Rutkowski’s parents agreed their daughter’s acceptance into Johns Hopkins has been the “happiest moment of their lives,” even though her father said he had to Google the school.

“It means everything to us that [our daughter has] made it in America,” Rutkowski’s parents said in a joint

email to The Phoenix.

Rutkowski said her experience as a first-generation college student has given her a unique perspective going into the prestigious post-graduate program.

Rutkowski said she credits ACE for giving her professional and personal connections.

“It’s a nice mini community at Loyola,” Rutkowski said.

Rutkowski said being accepted into the program has shown her parents their hard work coming to the United States was well worth it.

Kathleen Dillon, an academic advisor and counselor for ACE, agreed, saying the ACE community functions like a family.

“It’s so amazing for [my parents] to see that they came here for a reason, to raise a family and have a better life here.”

Photo courtesy of Natalie Rutowski

NATALIE RUTKOWSKI Loyola Senior

“Having Natalie get into this program was like hearing from a younger cousin,” Dillon said. “We were just thrilled for her. We’ve seen her grow and watched her develop … so I was able to share in that joy with her. I couldn’t be happier for her.”

Dillon said one of Rutkowski’s most important attributes is her genuine character along with her willingness to fully commit herself to her work.

“Something that has stuck out to

Loyola senior Natalie Rutkowski poses with a trap full of mosquitos during an internship with the Northwest Mosquito Abatement District. She’ll continue her studies in a doctoral program at the prestigious Johns Hopkins University this July.

me about Natalie is her cheerful attitude,” Dillon said. “Any time I run into her it’s just nice to see her face.

She’s just delightful.”

During her time at Loyola, Rutkowski said she valued her relationship with Dr. James Lodolce, a lecturer in the biology department.

Lodolce said Rutkowski stuck out as a “curious” student during her virology class and independent study.

“She lets her questions sort of guide her learning,” Lodolce said. “She strikes me as someone who’s really genuinely interested in learning more than what’s just presented in class and

at the same time she’s not afraid to admit when she doesn’t understand a particular technique or something that’s being talked about in class.”

In fields as academically challenging as biology and the medical sciences, Lodolce said Rutkowski’s class notes were often filled with questions, showing her ability to admit what she didn’t understand or needed help with.

“So many concepts build upon each other, so if there’s information at the start that you don’t grasp, then it really snowballs and it gets to the point where you don’t have a thorough understanding at all,” Lodolce said.

Lodolce said he writes 20 to 30 letters of recommendation per year for students hoping to continue their education, but he rarely hears the outcome. He said having a student achieve something like this is a reminder of why he does his job.

“In some ways, it’s sort of a celebration for myself in terms of thinking, ‘Wow, one of my students is going to go on to do something greater in terms of their study,’” Lodolce said.

“It’s very fulfilling and really one of the reasons I do what I do is to see what my students go on to, so it’s always refreshing to see.”

NEWS 5

APRIL 25, 2018

Loyola student remembered by family, friends, colleagues ANNIE KATE RAGLOW AND MICHAEL MCDEVITT araglow@luc.edu mmcdevitt@luc.edu

Kelly Herron, a Minnesota native and senior software engineering student at Loyola, is remembered by friends and family as a hard worker with an affinity for coding and pizza. Kelly, who was 22, died March 24.

Kelly’s parents shared fond memories they have of her — notably, a family vacation to Florida this past spring break, two weeks before Kelly’s death, according to her mother, Joanne Herron.

“Her and her sister acted like little kids,” Joanne Herron said.

Kelly’s parents also remembered her 21st birthday celebration, which took place in Las Vegas last year.

“My biggest win in a slot machine in Vegas, she was sitting next to me,” Mike Herron, said. “She was very good luck.”

Griffin Warren and Colleen Roemer, two senior Loyola students and friends of Kelly’s since their first year, said they remembered her as a quiet person, but also as someone with a sharp wit and a mischievous side after

getting to know her.

Kelly’s passion for coding and software was evident. She made phone background wallpapers for fun. Warren, a communication studies major, remembered Kelly as often venturing into tech giant Apple’s online help forums and answering people’s questions to amuse herself.

She had an obsession with Apple, Warren, 21, said. “[To her,] you were wrong if you weren’t also obsessed with Apple,” Warren joked. She said she expected Kelly would’ve no doubt worked for Apple one day.

“She would’ve physically fought her way into Apple,” Warren said.

Dominique “Nieky” Allen, a former classmate and teacher’s assistant of Kelly’s, said Kelly worked as a developer for a startup of his. Allen, a master’s student studying computer science at Loyola, said he was impressed with Kelly’s work ethic. His colleagues doubted her initially, since she was quiet during the interview process, but he told them he had faith in her abilities, Allen said.

“We were pretty blown away,” Allen said. “She was consistently outperforming everyone on the team.”

Allen said he regretted he didn’t have the chance to be more social with her.

“We only got to see her come out of her shell a few weeks before she passed,” Allen said.

Warren said Kelly was a pizza fanatic — she’d eat it once or twice a day at Loyola’s dining halls. She said Kelly counteracted the diet with a love for constantly working out, a habit Warren said she’d probably kept up from her high school swim team days.

“She was one of those people who wore yoga pants every day, not just because they were comfortable, but also because she was probably going to the gym,” Roemer, 22, said.

Mike Herron said Kelly was supportive of her teammates who were competing for her spot on her high school swim team.

“Kelly was one of the most open-minded people I’ve ever known,” Mike Herron said. “She wanted success for herself, but she wanted success for everyone around her, even if it meant she didn’t have success.”

Kelly’s mother said she loved her daughter’s visits home from college, family vacations and just hanging out with her and the family.

George K. Thiruvathukal, a Loyola computer science professor, said he taught Herron in two courses: History of Computing and Software Engineering.

“Kelly was one of the best and brightest students and a genuine pleasure to have in class,” Thiruvathukal said in a email sent to The Phoenix.

“Nothing we say or do can bring her back, but we would all want her family to know how much of an impact she had in and out of the classroom and that she was a true star in the making.”

After an investigation into her passing, Kelly’s death was ruled a suicide.

Her parents said they didn’t want to comment the specifics.

In an email to students, the university offered resources to students affected by the tragedy.

“On the lakeside campuses, Wellness Center (773-508-2530) and Campus Ministry (773-508-2200) staff members are available to assist those in need on an individual basis,” Campus Ministry said in the email.

Kelly Herron will be sorely missed by her friends and family.

“We loved her dearly and we’re gonna miss her and … we loved her,” Joanne Herron said.

Courtesy of Gearty-Delmore Robbinsdale Chapel

Kelly Herron died March 24. Her friends and family remember her as an open-minded and supportive student.

Loyola’s Wellness Center offers suicide prevention resources, and there is a 24-hour suicide prevention hotline at 1-800-273-8255.

Some Rogers Park water tests positive for lead, raises concern for residents MARY CHAPPELL mchappell@luc.edu

Results from recent home water tests in Rogers Park displayed traces of lead, a deadly neurotoxin.

The poisonous heavy metal has been found in the tap water of some of the older homes and duplexes which house thousands of Loyola students and Chicago residents on the North Side.

A recent analysis by the Chicago Tribune revealed higher lead levels in the tap water due to pipe corrosion of nearly 70 percent of tested Chicago homes. There’s no acceptable level of lead in a person’s blood, and if the lead level in water exceeds the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Action Level of 15 parts per billion (ppb), people should take action to control their exposure to lead in the water, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In Rogers Park, 53 homes were tested, and the results showed an average lead concentration below five ppb, with maximum levels reaching 17 ppb on the first draw, 13 on the second draw and 11 on the third draw.

More than 4,000 miles of water mains lie underneath Chicago’s streets.

Many of these water mains connect to service lines made of lead. The city’s plumbing code required homeowners to have lead service lines until the 1986 Safe Drinking Water Act was passed, and lead pipes were banned due to the dangers of lead corrosion.

But people were never required to change their service lines.

Lead consumption can have deadly consequences, especially in children.

Lead can disrupt the childhood cognitive development causing behavioral problems, delayed growth, anemia, premature birth and auditory problems, according to the EPA. While less common, lead can also affect adults, causing cardiovascular defects, decreased kidney function and reproductive impairments.

Kana Henning, associate vice president for Facilities at Loyola, said the university does five random lead tests of residence and academic halls on campus every summer — all have been negative. She said Loyola has filters on every water fountain found around campus.

“We choose the summer to perform this test because the guidelines require that the pipes and fixtures not be in use for a period of time before testing,” Henning said. “None of our buildings have tested positive for lead.”

While Loyola might test negative for lead in the water, the Tribune analyzed results of water tests from 2,797 homes in Chicago from 2016-17.

These results came from tests done by Chicago residents with testing kits offered for free by the city by calling 311.

According to the article, 70 percent of homes tested had lead in the water. It also said three out of every 10 homes has lead concentrations above five ppb, which is the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) max-

imum lead concentration level for bottled water.

Michael Hawthorne, one of the writers of the Tribune’s report, said the majority of Chicago homes still have lead service lines, including many of the single-family homes and duplexes in Rogers Park. The larger apartments typically have safer cast iron service lines due to the larger amount of residents they serve.

“We know from the city’s own statement that roughly 80 percent of homes in Chicago have service lines made of lead,” Hawthorne said.

Samples from the block of Sheridan Road and Lunt Avenue, just north of campus, as well as Bosworth and Albion Avenues, both were at or above 15 ppb upon first draw, according to the analysis. Other locations, such as the block of Sheridan Road and Rosemont Avenue, displayed levels of lead above the FDA’s maximum ppb for bottled water.

Hawthorne said this analysis was prompted by a study done in 2012 by the EPA which evaluated the city’s water testing methods. This study found the replacement of water mains caused further corrosion of the pipes and increased levels of lead in the water. It also found the time required to flush water that has lead in it is greater than the time recommended by the EPA. “When they did this study in concert with the Chicago Department of Water Management, was that when the lead service lines were disturbed, levels of lead in water went up significantly,” Hawthorne said. “Not just for a couple of days, not just for a couple of minutes, but sometimes for months or even more than a year later. What this EPA study found, was that, for a variety of factors, the longer the water runs, the more lead can come out in the water.”

This study, as well as the 2015 water emergency in Flint, Michigan, prompted some Chicago residents to order water testing kits from the city to test their water quality.

Holly Laws, a junior elementary education major at Loyola, said the most alarming thing about potential lead contamination of Chicago water is the lack of public awareness.

“Probably what scares me most is how unaware people are that their tap water could have traces of lead in it,” Laws said.

Laws said she doesn’t drink the tap water from her Rogers Park apartment. She uses a water filter that’s supposed to remove 99 percent of lead and other chemicals from the water.

“We haven’t talked to our landlord

Alexandra Runnion The PHOENIX

Some water in Rogers Park, like other areas in Chicago, has tested positive for lead.

This has caused some students living off campus to worry about their tap water.

about it, in our lease all it discloses is that there is no lead paint in the house, but [the landlord] doesn’t have to disclose whether they are aware of lead pipes,” Laws said.

Federal law states property sellers and landlords are only required to disclose lead paint on sales contracts or leases.

According to a letter to the Tribune from Dr. Howard Ehrman, an assistant professor in the college of medicine and school of public health at University of Illinois at Chicago, while Mayor Rahm Emanuel is currently working to replace Chicago’s water mains, the city’s plumbing code states if Chicago residents want to replace their service lines, they must pay for the full cost of the replacement.

Hawthorne said federal regulations for water quality can be problematic. If 90 percent of homes tested show lead concentration below 15 ppb, the city is compliant. Chicago is only required to test 50 homes every three years, and the results show that Chicago complies with the regulations.

Another report by Hawthorne in 2016 said that many of the homes tested are owned by current or former staff for the Department of Water Management and of the Northwest Side, where the risk for contaminated water is low.

The EPA said in a statement to The Phoenix the city has been compliant

since the 1990s, and they acknowledge that pipes made of lead may cause detectable amounts of lead in the water.

“Like many older cities, Chicago has a large number of drinking water service lines and plumbing materials that are made of — or contain — lead,” the statement said. “The city has been in full compliance with the Lead and Copper Rule for treating drinking water since 1992.”

The statement also said Chicago adds a chemical called orthophosphate at the treatment plant to control corrosion of plumbing materials in the network of pipes that deliver water to residents’ taps. The EPA will continue to work with Illinois EPA and Chicago’s Water Management Department on reducing lead exposure from drinking water.

“The city of Chicago can say, based on their limited but legally compliant testing, ‘Hey, everything is great,’” Hawthorne said.

Hawthorne said this data is an important factor in starting the conversation and making change.

“We obviously have a lead problem in Chicago, but we haven’t been talking about it enough,” Hawthorne said. “Sharing this data more widely can only get more people talking about it and perhaps get them asking their public officials why they aren’t doing more about it.”

Opinion

PAGE 6

APRIL 25, 2018

University lacks transparency regarding race relations on campus Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

THE PHOENIX EDITORIAL BOARD The relationship between Loyola and its students has been a rocky one in recent years, with some students on campus feeling their voices aren’t heard by the administration.

A quote from an article published

by The Phoenix earlier this month suggested some Loyola students believe voicing their disagreements with campus operations wouldn’t make a difference. One interviewed student mentioned opting out of taking campus-wide surveys, which the university sends to all members of its community, concerning topics ranging from gender-based violence to racial inclusivity on campus.

“I know I don’t take part in [surveys] because my opinion doesn’t really have a say in what the university is going to do anyways,” first-year Nikita Mahay said. “I feel like they have their minds set to one thing. They’re not going to change it.”

In the past few months, the school has made several efforts to reconcile this disconnect between the administration and students.

Loyola announced March 13 it had convened an independent task force to investigate the controversial Feb. 24 incident involving the alleged profiling of two students of color and Campus Safety officers — an event which aggravated already present campus divisions.

The task force — comprised of faculty, staff, students and nonLoyola affiliate experts in student development and diversity — and risk management and consulting firm Hillard Heintze, who is facilitating the independent investigation, will submit recommendations to Loyola President Jo Ann Rooney by the end of April. These recommendations would likely address deficits in the university’s racial inclusivity and prompt change accordingly.

But once Loyola’s task force submits its concerns and recommendations, what administrative actions can we expect to see?

The short answer: We’re not sure what to expect — and that’s a problem.

The university’s responses to the widely-discussed incident have been apologetic yet optimistic, including promises for “making this a better, more inclusive community” as stated in a Feb. 27 email from Rooney to the Loyola community. But it doesn’t provide much specificity as to how that’ll happen.

Julie Whitehair

Michen Dewey Michael McDevitt

Henry Redman

Luke Hyland

answer wasn’t revealing. They needed to “wait until they get them to decide what to do.” However, Campus Safety is also implementing a curriculum this fall called “Policing at the Speed of Trust,” which does address racial profiling and diversity in law enforcement.

In the same email sent to the Loyola student body Feb. 27, Rooney announced beginning a series of listening sessions which would help

Gabriela Valencia

exclusivity of the meeting’s ongoings, it’s unclear whether this constituted a “listening session,” what came of the event or when a future session might be scheduled.

Furthermore, will the promised sessions be enough to make students feel heard, feel they can make a difference on campus?

Earlier this academic year, the university used the services of the social

James C. Svehla Loyola University Chicago

Loyola University Chicago President Jo Ann Rooney speaks to an audience at the 2017 Founders’ Dinner June 9, 2017.

If the university does have a clear plan of action, it behooves the school to speak openly about those plans, as it would demonstrate its honest dedication to providing a racially inclusive campus for its student body. But it’s impossible for students to hold the university accountable for its plans to act when we don’t know what those plans are.

Prior to announcing the formation of the new task force, the university announced Campus Safety would fully implement the use of body cameras on its officers by this fall. When The Phoenix asked Rooney at a forum about the planned implementation, the

turn student concerns, specifically about the university’s race relations, into administrative action.

“To that end, we are planning to hold listening sessions with students, faculty and staff in the second half of spring semester and encourage everyone to participate whenever possible. Please look for the forthcoming dates and further information,” Rooney stated.

Rooney did meet with #NotMyLoyola March 27, a student-led movement formed in the wake of the alleged profiling incident. The meeting wasn’t publicized, and, because of the

survey firm Willis Towers Watson to conduct Loyola’s first Diversity Campus Climate Survey.

The survey was “arguably the most in-depth and detailed examination of Loyola’s community to date,” according to a March 29 email from Rooney. More than 4,600 participants across all Loyola campuses responded, but this only amounts to 23 percent of all faculty, staff and enrolled students.

The university has been eager to share that most respondents showed they feel Loyola operates well with respect to campus racial diversity

and inclusion. However, much of the breakdown of survey information by race isn’t publically available.

We know fewer black respondents reported favorability for all eight survey categories — including Loyola’s racial inclusivity — compared to white respondents. But it’s unknown, for example, how many individual African American students reported feeling positive about Loyola’s racial inclusivity efforts (one or one hundred?) — information that’s crucial to our understanding of the campus’ racial climate.

A self-aware university — one that is able to recognize and address ongoing issues on campus — can’t exist under a lack of transparency.

A truly apologetic university — one that is ready to confess to its past or current faults — can’t be realized by a university that isn’t self aware.

We commend the university for convening a diverse task force dedicated to addressing vital racial concerns on campus, and for allowing the force’s voices to guide the movement toward a more inclusive Loyola. We commend the steps it’s taken to implement body cameras on its officers and new training — hopefully more appropriate for future inclusivity. And we commend the intention to channel community feedback into action. This is part of the change we need to see.

But we also need to know what change we can expect to see. What change can we expect to see in response to the work of the task force? Only when we know this information can we hold administration accountable, or even work with the administration to enact those changes.

We need a transparent administrative body humble enough to acknowledge its deficits and its wrongdoings so these faults can be righted — or at least prevented from happening again.

If not, the work the university has already put in to addressing these issues could be interpreted as hollow.

APRIL 25, 2018

OPINION 7

Kendrick Lamar’s album “DAMN.” is deserving of a Pulitzer

Sasha Vassilyeva avassilyeva@luc.edu The Pulitzer Prize, an award for excellent achievement in journalism, literature and music is, for all recipients, one of the highest acclaims someone could receive in their career. Though it’s less discussed, the music category has recognized many acclaimed artists of classical and jazz genres, but this year, that changed.

The 2018 Pulitzer Prize for music was awarded to Kendrick Lamar for his 2017 album, “DAMN.” In an era dominated by racial unrest, it was the best musical work which could’ve received the award.

When the 2018 prizes were announced, people were shocked to hear the award committee had made an exception to what seemed to be its unspoken rule of selecting jazz and classical artists to give Lamar — a Compton-born rapper — the award. This announcement was met with mixed reaction. While some questioned why the committee deviated so much from what’s usually expected of a Pulitzer Prize, others commended this decision. Julia Craven of the Huffington Post went so far as to call the album a “great piece of journalism,” explaining this was exactly the reason “DAMN.” was the perfect choice for the award — and she was right.

Journalists capture the “here and now” every day, from news articles to editorials, journalists are always at the front lines — capturing what they see and hear and reporting it to the public. Lamar managed to do the same through his music by dissecting black life in America, his words honest, real and rooted in the moment. And although other musicians have the ability to do

Courtesy of Batiste Safont

California-native musical artist Kendrick Lamar stunned the world this past week when he was awarded the 2018 Pulitzer Prize in Music for his rap album “DAMN.”

the same through their music, rap is one of the few genres that can authentically encapsulate the lives and struggles of people of color.

Rappers have the opportunity to speak from the point of view of those who face oppression and, through their music, call out those who are responsible.

In “DAMN.” Lamar focuses on capturing the essence of African American life in the United States today. The acuity with which he captures contemporary racial issues, struggles and happenings in real time is what sets Lamar apart from others, and, in a sense, what makes

his music sort of journalistic in and of itself.

But Lamar isn’t the only rap artist to use such techniques in his work, though he does it exceptionally well.

Chicago artist Chance the Rapper has been an activist voice in the city. Like Lamar, he doesn’t hesitate to shine a light on harsh realities through his music — such as in his song, “Summer Friends,” in which he details the realities of gun violence in the city — as well as using his music to intertwine his faith, commentary of city life and personal struggles.

Chance has also used his fame to encourage activism in local issues.

Both through his music and his personal life, he’s worked to promote racial justice, improve Chicago Public Schools and fought to combat gun violence in Chicago.

Similarly, Common, a Chicagobred rapper and hip-hop artist, has used his music to talk about presentday issues. His latest album, “Black America Again” (2016), joined other artists, including Lamar’s “To Pimp a Butterfly,” to create a powerful message in support of black lives.

Like “DAMN.” “Black America Again” is full of impactful songs which capture the emotional state of some African American communities

across the United States.

These artists, along with others, have worked hard to use music as a way to send real, concrete and inthe-moment messages to the public.

Like journalists, they encapsulate everything they see and put it into their work, shining a light on real issues from an internal perspective.

In modern day America, rap is one of the most important forms of music as it depicts the lives of people of color in the United States in their own voices. Although it might have been unexpected, “DAMN.” was more than an appropriate choice for the Pulitzer Prize.

PAGE 8

Photo

Chinese lanterns d

HANAKO MAKI hmaki@luc.edu

Chinese lantern festivals are spreading throughout the United States, and one such fest has made its way to the Windy City. The festival offers a sprawling lantern exhibit of 39 displays, including two 100-foot-long dragons at the center of the lot. Appearing in Chicago for the first time, the Dragon Lights festival is open until May 6 in Soldier Field’s south parking lot.

Tianyu Arts & Culture, Inc. hosts the festival, which is set to visit a total of 15 U.S. cities. It’s the American subsidiary of parent design and manufacturing company Sichuan Tianyu, which might be known for its work on the set of the James Bond movie, “Skyfall,” according to onsite manager Grace Zhou.

Lanterns aren’t the only attraction at the festival.

There are also traditional performances and festival food. Every lantern display is handmade at each location, using materials shipped from China, according Zhou, who’s been traveling with the festival for two years.

She said it took about

SEE LOYOLAP FOR THE FU

Briefs

dazzle and delight

a month for everything to be set up even with teams of at least five people working on each display because of a multi-step process involving the work of designers, welders, electricians and gluers. Uncooperative Chicago weather also slowed the process, according to Zhou. One dragon took a team of 10 people four to five days to complete.

“It’s a lot of work, especially on concrete ground like this and in such a windy city like Chicago,” Zhou said. “It was too windy.

It seemed like everything was against us.”

The cold weather has hurt the event’s attendance, which opened March 30. The company expects 80,000 people to visit during the five-week installation, according to Zhou. When asked how many people attended so far, Zhou declined to give a number but said business is slow. The festival closed a few times as a result of cold weather and a lack of business, according to Zhou, but she hopes warmer days will bring more people.

PHOENIX.COM ULL STORY

PAGE 9

PAGE 10

A&E

APRIL 25, 2018

Mary Grace Ritter The PHOENIX

Music fans around the world lined up outside record stores April 21 to celebrate Record Store Day. The informal holiday features limited-time deals for vinyl collectors — both amateurs and veterans.

Rogers Park celebrates Record Store Day

MARY GRACE RITTER mritter3@luc.edu

Vinyl enthusiasts from around the globe lined up outside record stores for Record Store Day April 21 waiting to see what special finds were available this year. Rogers Park celebrated at local record store Audio Archeology (1324 W. Devon Ave).

The first Record Store Day took place in 2008 as a way for independent record store owners and employees to highlight the unique atmosphere and culture of their stores. A decade later, thousands of stores participate across every continent except Antarctica, according to the Record Store Day website.

The most anticipated aspect of the music holiday is arguably the special releases. These exclusives include live albums, previously unreleased songs and limited release special editions — making them highly desirable and, for some, a mission to find. There were 422 releases this year with Bowie, Madonna, Taylor Swift and Prince as some of the notable artists.

Rogers Park residents flocked to Audio Archeology to participate in the festivities. Music lovers of all ages perused the store’s inventory for new releases and vintage favorites.

John Arnsdorff, the owner of Audio Archeology, set special hours for the store’s busiest day of the year, opening at 8 a.m. instead of 11 a.m.

He said there were about 20 people waiting to get in at open and business was steady throughout the day with sales up about 33 percent from last year’s event.

“We ordered a lot more [records] this year so I guess the gamble paid off,” Arnsdorff said.

Arnsdorff said Record Store Day is important because it gets customers in the door that might not normally shop there.

Mary Grace Ritter The PHOENIX

Rogers Park residents flooded local music stores, such as Audio Archeology, to celebrate Record Store Day. Audio Archeology is located at 1324 W. Devon Ave.

“It’s a great way to remind people about independent record stores,” he said.

The large numbers of people gathering to search for their favorite records created an atmosphere of excitement and a sense of community.

Locals Ryan Feeley and Ben Weis said they enjoy the positive energy of Record Store Day. They came out in search of Sufjan Stevens’ release “Mystery of Love EP” and stumbled upon The National’s “Boxer Live in Brussels.” Both content with their purchases, they considered it a suc-

cessful day.

The Andersonville residents heard about Audio Archeology through a neighbor and decided to check it out for the occasion.

“It’s exciting to be supporting local business,” they said.

The support of Record Store Day by customers, businesses and artists shows the far-reaching effects of music, especially for vinyl. With a 484 percent increase in vinyl album sales the week of last year’s event, the numbers back it up.

Arnsdorff said he believes as so-

ciety has progressed, people have placed more value on efficiency and portability than quality — and vinyl prioritizes quality. In a world where artists emphasize singles, vinyl places the emphasis back on the album as a cohesive piece of work.

“It’s something you sit and listen to for the music, not while doing something else,” Arnsdorff said.

Record Store Day gives music lovers an excuse to go out and celebrate music they’re passionate about. Vinyl veterans add to their collections, while newcomers can

purchase their first record. It emphasizes the magic of record stores where there are surprises all around, such as Detective Mittens, the resident cat of Audio Archeology. The day benefits many involved as fans get new music, artists earn new fans and businesses gain new customers.

New vinyl records average $18$25 in price, while used records go for $7-$10, according to Arnsdorff.

Those looking to expand their vinyl collection can find out more about Audio Archeology at its website https://www.audioarchaeology.com.

A&E 11

APRIL 25, 2018

Loyola to host first Chicago Independent Film, TV Festival EMILY ROSCA erosca@luc.edu

For two days, Loyola students and Chicagoans will have the opportunity to experience independent international films on campus. The inaugural Chicago Independent Film (+TV) Festival (CIFF) is scheduled to make its debut April 28, with film screenings taking place at the New 400 Theatre (6746 N. Sheridan Road) and Loyola’s Damen Cinema in the Damen Student Center.

CIFF will showcase 38 films from around the world — two narrative features, seven documentary features, five television pilots and 24 short films. “The Know,” directed by Tom “Boomer” Galassi and his brother Adam, is one of the two narrative features, and it’s expected to run in Damen Cinema April 29.

The Phoenix spoke with CIFF executive director Brent Kado and Tom Galassi about the film festival and “The Know.” The film has been showcased all around the world in countries from Russia to Uruguay and is being screened for the first time in Chicago at CIFF, Galassi said.

Films being shown at CIFF have good chances of being picked up by Netflix and Amazon, according to Kado. Of films entered in the Chicago Comedy Film Festival — CIFF’s counterpart featuring international comedy films — the Finnish film “How Do I Take Care of Everything” was one of 10 nominees in the Best Short Film and Live Action category at the 2014 Academy Awards.

“What makes [CIFF] really unique and a really good selling point is we bring in distributors that buy these kinds of films and are able to take them and hopefully sell them to Netflix and Amazon or put them on all

the platforms along with those,” Kado said. “We’re happy to help filmmakers that make really good stuff and have really good projects but might be a little more difficult for them to find screening opportunities.”

CIFF will provide everyone, film fanatics or not, the opportunity to experience culture and art through independent films created both locally and globally.

“It’s a way to branch out and see different art forms without having to leave campus or go too far from campus,” Kado said. “I know that being a student in Chicago, the opportunities to do things are limitless — there are so many different things to do but to have something right on campus, sponsored by the film and digital media department at Loyola, it’s a great thing to be able to experience even if it’s just one quick film on a Sunday afternoon.”

The Galassi brothers’ film, “The Know,” artistically examines the concept of how information is shared by taking a closer look at the effects of monopolizing media companies.

Looking into the future, one company called The Know has a complete monopoly on the media. The film’s main character, portrayed by Chicago’s Blue Man Group’s Scott Bishop, senses this company is controlling the minds of the public and attempts to save humanity.

The Galassi brothers are both involved with Chicago’s Blue Man Group — Tom is one of the six rotating Blue Men, and Adam is a crew member. “The Know” features cast and crew members of the Blue Man Group, including box office managers, stage managers and cleaning crew.

“We decided to use people that we worked with because we’re around

Courtesy of Brent Kado

The inaugural Chicago Independent Film (+TV) Festival will debut April 28 at Rogers Park’s New 400 Theater and Damen Cinema. For film students interested in storytelling and exciting new movie concepts, this festival is sure to be enlightening.

them all the time and can grab them before and after work,” Tom Galassi said. “The availability of people is one of the hard things when you’re making a movie. This movie isn’t sponsored by the Blue Man Group, we just all happen to work there.”

Independent films such as “The Know” aren’t often shown in major theaters and at film festivals since they can lack the traditional storylines of larger box-office movies, according to Kado. Kado said film majors and those who appreciate independent art forms would enjoy “The Know.”

“If you’re into traditional blackbox theater shows, you might be able to relate to [“The Know”] more and be able to follow the story without a lot of the visual and story narrative cues that you find in a lot of traditional mainstream films,” Kado said. “[It’s] good for people who are into

ART: Senior showcase celebrates students’ in-depth and personally emotional artwork

Carly Behm The PHOENIX

The themes for this year’s showcases were vulnerability and loss, and they were present through each piece of artwork.

continued from page 1 “It’s sort of my interpretation of how I’ve dealt with deaths of family members in my life and how although we may understand that death is inevitable, we all pass on eventually,” the drawing and painting major said. “But every single time that it does come, it’s always a big surprise to everyone and it hits you hard.”

Matthew Ng, 22, said his photoset titled “You” is about his college friendships and the memories he had with them.

“It’s a journey on how I wish I could relive that freshman year and being with my friends and how we hung out every day,” the photography major said. “Now as a senior we don’t hang out as much anymore, and the [work shows] that I can’t relive the past as much as I want to.”

There were more interactive pieces at “Let’s Get Lost” compared to “For[e] ward,” including Judge’s “In Chaos.”

Judge, 21, invited viewers to uncover poetry by washing away black acrylic from a collage of poems.

“All these poems are just about

loss, but the good that can come from it,” the visual communications major said. “You have to get up close to uncover the poetry, so it’s more intimate and personal with the person that’s interacting with it.”

Art wasn’t restricted to tangible work, either. Chloe Antrobus, a 22-year-old visual communications and international studies double major, created the design for a mindfulness app called “Clarity,” and Shapiro created an abstract video with music he composed.

Similar to “For[e]ward,” the artists created works with personal connections. Rachel Hyland, 22, created an accordion book narrating her adoption story called “The Snake and The Phoenix.”

“I have a Chinese name from when I was adopted, Liu Wenying, but I don’t go by that anymore,” the visual communications major said. “I never thought of myself as a Liu Wenying. I just go by Rachel. So this is me exploring that loss of a name.”

Director of the Fine Arts Department Matthew Groves said the Loyola students should visit the se-

nior exhibitions even if they aren’t fine arts majors.

“Even if they’re not going to be artists, they could come learn something about art and and its value,” he said. “Maybe they can become appreciators of art or they even could become collectors of art. You can support art in a number of different ways.”

“For[e]ward” runs through May 12, and “Let’s Get Lost” runs through May 13.

Loyola seniors Sylvia Bueltel, Michen Dewey (who is also managing editor of The Phoenix), Jordyn Doyel, Shelby Foley, Sara Lochmueller, Matthew Ng, Linh Nguyen, Jeffery Phonn, Tara Shafa and Kavya Tiwari contributed to “For[e]ward.”

Christina Amalfitano, Chloe Antrobus, Hali Barany, Natalie Braun, Monique Chevalier, Julia Garcia, Rachel Hyland, Amahn Johnson, Abigail Judge, Katherine Jurewicz, Molly Ketterer, Valeria Kotliarova, Tessa Murray, Alexandra Platt, Megan Rosenberg and Jason Shapiro contributed to “Let’s Get Lost.”

a wide-variety of art forms and who are into different approaches of art and storytelling.”

“The Know” draws inspiration from the events of the 2016 presidential election and the era of fake news.

Galassi said after doing some research, he realized there were a few companies controlling the information being released to the public — which could mean they’re controlling people’s thoughts and opinions.

Although it isn’t a political film, “The Know” straddles the line between politics and communication, shedding light on the problem of modern news distribution.

“I ended up canceling my cable,” Galassi said. “I would have it on in the front room, I would be in the kitchen, and I would hear this war-like news music and ‘This is breaking news.’ I’d run in to find out what was going on

and one time, it was Justin Bieber was arrested for egging a house. I’m like, ‘That’s breaking news?’”

For college students transitioning from life in school to the real world, Galassi said “The Know” is especially important to see since it delivers an important life lesson.

“You have to keep asking questions, constantly be curious and be yourself. Don’t be afraid to go against the popular belief,” Galassi said.

Chicago Independent Film and TV Festival is scheduled to take place at the New 400 Theatre April 28 and in the Damen Cinema April 29. Tickets are available for purchase online at www.chicagoindependentfilmfestival.com and ticket prices range from $10-$35. Tickets are free for Loyola students and staff by entering code “Loyola” at checkout or showing a Loyola ID at the door.

12 A&E

APRIL 25, 2018

The Phoenix’s top Chicago concerts to catch this summer JAMILYN HISKES jhiskes@luc.edu

From Bruno Mars to Green Day, there are several big-name bands coming to Chicago this summer. With stellar lineups for Pitchfork (July 20-22) and Lollapalooza (Aug. 2-5) included, dozens of top artists will make a stop in Chicago between May and August.

To get a brief taste of what the city’s music scene will look like this upcoming season, here’s The Phoenix’s six summer concerts in Chicago you won’t want to miss.

May 11-12: HAIM at Aragon Ballroom

Comprised of the three Haim sisters, Danielle, Este and Alana, Los Angeles-based pop-rock band HAIM will stop by Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom at 1106 W. Lawrence Ave. for two nights mid-May. The concerts will be near the end of HAIM’s spring world tour, cleverly named “Sister Sister Sister,” promoting its 2017 album “Something To Tell You.” For those looking for a fun night out to watch a unique, critically-acclaimed band play catchy music, these shows fit the bill perfectly.

Tickets are available for purchase at HAIM’s website.

June 15: Jackson Browne at Ravinia

While the 69-year-old singer-songwriter might be too old school for some students, those who appreciate unfiltered musical talent in its finest form are sure to enjoy an evening with Jackson Browne. The legendary artist known for his genius lyrics, earnest singing and political activism through music will be playing at the Ravinia Music Festival (200 Ravinia Park Road) in Highland Park June 15. The acoustic show is part of an unnamed tour on which Browne is revisiting his

older music and features a changing setlist, according to Chicago-Theater. com. With a classy outdoor setting perfect for picnics, all in attendance will no doubt be blown away by Browne’s sheer musical prowess.

Tickets are available for purchase at Ravinia’s website.

June 29-30: Dave Matthews Band at Huntington Bank Pavilion

Dave Matthews Band will be coming to Chicago for a two-night show this June at Huntington Bank Pavilion (1300 S. Linn White Drive) at Northerly Island. This legendary folk-rock band will be touring the country this summer in support of its unreleased, unnamed ninth studio album which is predicted to be released sometime this year. Fans of the band can expect old and new music on the setlist for this tour, according to Chicago-Theater. com. Even for students who aren’t fans, a summer show at Northerly Island is something everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime.

Tickets are available for purchase at Dave Matthews Band’s website.

July 27: Animal Collective at Vic Theatre

Animal Collective, the famously psychedelic pop band from Baltimore, will be bringing its signature experimental music and outrageous stage props to Chicago’s Vic Theatre (3145 N. Sheffield Ave.) July 27. The band is touring, oddly enough, to celebrate its popular 2004 album “Sung Tongs” and will be playing the album from beginning to end throughout the tour. An Animal Collective concert is a unique experience full of synth-poppy tunes and inflatable tentacles, and students looking for a fun show in one of Chicago’s intimate, historic Uptown venues should consider checking it out.

Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Dave Matthews (pictured) is the front man of Dave Matthews Band, a renowned jam band with a die-hard, cult following.

Tickets are available for purchase on Chicago-Theater.com.

Aug. 13-14: Smashing Pumpkins at United Center

The iconic Chicago rockers Smashing Pumpkins are reuniting for a 30th anniversary tour, which will stop at the United Center (1901 W. Madison St.) Aug. 13-14. Original band members Billy Corgan, Jimmy Chamberlin and former Loyola student James Iha are all signed on for the tour, which will feature its greatest hits amid “a set

unlike any we’ve ever played,” Corgan told Rolling Stone. This is a once-ina-lifetime show, and might be the last the band plays in its hometown for years, so students who want a ticket should act quickly.

Tickets are available for purchase on Chicago-Theater.com.

Aug. 15: Sam Smith at United Center

Suave British crooner Sam Smith is another big name scheduled to perform at the United Center this

summer. Touring worldwide in support of his 2017 album “The Thrill of It All,” Smith will stop by the arena Aug. 15 to serenade a large group of his American fans with his impressive vocal range and bittersweet lyrics. The show is sure to be full of both enthusiastic cheering and tearful applause as Smith performs both new material and his biggest hits, and it’s a good show to end the summer before school starts again.

Tickets are available for purchase at Smith’s website.

Five independent films to make time for in theaters this coming summer movies should line up around the block to see this film opening night.

“Hereditary” is scheduled to open in theaters June 8.

LUKE HYLAND lhyland1@luc.edu

Summer movie season is right around the corner, and with it comes all the Blockbuster spectacles movie fans are expecting. But between “Avengers: Infinity War,” “Incredibles 2” and “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” smaller-budget films might be forgotten. To remedy that, here are five of The Phoenix’s must-see independent movies this summer.

“Sorry to Bother You” Director: Boots Riley

“First Reformed” Director: Paul Schrader

From the legendary screenwriter Paul Schrader (“Raging Bull, “Taxi Driver”), “First Reformed” stars Ethan Hawke (“Boyhood”) as a former military chaplain grieving his son’s death.

Judging by its bleak, intense and ambiguous trailer, “First Reformed” looks to strike the same tone as Schrader’s classic masterpiece, “Taxi Driver,” and will offer a fascinating look at how a man of God deals with violence, sin and a crisis of faith.

“First Reformed” is expected to open in theaters May 18.

Courtesy of A24

Elsie Fisher (pictured) stars in YouTuber turned comedian turned filmmaker Bo Burnham’s directorial debut, “Eighth Grade.”

“Won’t You Be My Neighbor?”

Director: Morgan Neville

The highly anticipated new documentary, “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?,” takes viewers through the life of iconic children’s television host Fred Rogers and his overwhelmingly positive impact on countless young lives. The film received rave reviews from Austin’s lauded South

By Southwest media festival, leaving fans of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” eagerly awaiting the movie’s summer release. “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” should provide a much needed dose of wholesome, nostalgic entertainment about one of television’s most beloved and revolutionary personalities.

“Won’t You Be Me Neighbor?” is

Bold, fresh and funny, “Sorry to Bother You” has all the hallmarks of an indie darling film of the summer. The film centers around Cassius Green (Lakeith Stanfield), a black telemarketer who discovers he can move quickly up the ranks when he uses his “white voice” with customers over the phone. Chicago-rapper-turned-filmmaker Boots Riley wrote and directed the film, which is said to carry shades of Charlie Kaufman (“Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” “Adaptation”) in its absurdist tone. With a young, all-star cast consisting of Tessa Thompson (“Creed”), Armie Hammer (“Call Me By Your Name”) and Steven Yeun (“The Walking Dead”) among others, “Sorry to Bother You” could easily become a cult hit for its humor and poignant cultural observations.

“Sorry to Bother You” is scheduled to open in theaters July 6.

“Eighth Grade” Director: Bo Burnham

Courtesy of Annapurna Pictures

Tessa Thompson (left) and Lakeith Stanfield (right) star in newcomer Boots Riley’s debut feature film, “Sorry to Bother You.”

set to open in theaters June 8.

“Hereditary” Director: Ari Aster

“Hereditary,” described as traumatically terrifying by AV Club, is

poised to be the next truly great horror film. From the mind of first-time feature director Ari Aster, “Hereditary” stars Toni Collette (“Little Miss Sunshine”) as a mother who discovers horrifying secrets about her family’s

history. After screening at Sundance Film Festival in January, “Hereditary” garnered waves of praise from horror and non-horror fans alike for its mature direction, chilling acting and disturbing imagery. Fans of scary

Yo u Tu b e r - t u r n e d - c o m e d i an-turned filmmaker Bo Burnham makes his directorial debut this summer with “Eighth Grade,” the story of a 13-year-old girl (Elsie Fisher) trying to survive her disastrous last year of middle school.

Part comedy and part drama, Burnham’s first film looks to carry all the trademarks of his versatile stand-up routine. With adolescent dialogue, modern references and a sympathetic lead, “Eighth Grade” should be a strong indication of Burnham’s potential behind the camera.

“Eighth Grade” is expected to open in theaters July 13.

APRIL 25, 2018

LOYOLA PHOENIX 13

CONGRATULATIONS

GRADUATES!

GIVE YOUR FAMILY THE BEST IN LOYOLA HOSPITALITY. Steps from your home away from home, massage and sauna, two outdoor patios, locally sourced breakfast, historic charm with modern amenities, easy access to Chicago attractions, exceptional service.

F r o m Yo u r N e i g h b o r,

7421 N. Sheridan Road

Chicago, IL 60626

773-764-9851

langhousechicago.com

PAGE 14

Sports

APRIL 25, 2018

RAMBLER RUNDOWN MBB: RAMBLERS RECEIVE COMMITMENT FROM DII TRANSFER The Loyola men’s basketball team received a verbal commitment from Tate Hall to join the roster next season. In two seasons at the University of Indianapolis, Hall averaged 12.6 ppg and 4.9 rpg in 55 games — 32 of which were starts — and was named Great Lakes Valley Conference Freshman of the Year in 2017. He will sit out next season per NCAA transfer rules and will have two years of eligibility at Loyola.

WVB: LOYOLA LANDS LIBERO WALK-ON

Women’s golf holes out 2017-18 season

Courtesy of Loyola Athletics

The Loyola women’s golf team finished tied for fifth place out of 10 teams at the MVC Championship April 15-17, and senior Jessie Staed finished fourth individually.

NICK SCHULTZ nschultz@luc.edu

The Loyola women’s golf team tied for fifth out of 10 teams at the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Championship April 15-17 in Newton, Kansas. Since joining the conference in 2013, this is the highest the Ramblers have finished on the leaderboard.

“I think we were all determined to win MVC, but it was still a good showing,” head coach Carly Schneider said.

Senior Jessie Staed finished tied for fourth, individually — the highest a Rambler has finished at the MVC Championship — with a final score of 224 (75-74-75). Staed and junior Elayna Bowser were both named AllMVC for their performances. Bowser led the team with a 76.5 stroke average while Staed finished in second with a career-best 77.8 stroke average.

Staed, a sport management major at Loyola, said she plans to move to Las Vegas after graduation to work at a golf course alongside one of her childhood friends. She also said her parents were at the MVC Championship to watch her play her final round as a Rambler.

“It was great having my parents there watching me for my last tournament,” Staed said. “I don’t think I’ve seen my mom at a tournament since the fall and same with my dad, I don’t think I’d seen him at a tournament since last year. So to have them both come for my last tournament those last couple rounds was great.”

Prior to the tournament, Bowser said she was struggling with her putting and decided to dye her hair pink for good luck. Despite shooting a season-high 84 in the first round, she came back to shoot an even-par

72 in the second round. She said that was just one of many superstitions she has while on the course.

“I’m really superstitious when it comes to golf,” Bowser said. “I have the same towel and I haven’t washed it [in a long time] and I only mark my ball with a red marker. Little stuff like that, but I was just like ‘Screw it with the hair.’”

The Ramblers are set to bring back six of their eight golfers next season, including three of their top-four in stroke average. Loyola is also slated to bring two rising first-years, and Sara Posada — who had to sit out this season after transferring from University of Illinois at Springfield — to the roster next season. Schneider said with so many assets returning, it’ll be hard for her to pick a starting lineup for tournaments.

“The girls I have now are, I think, going to come back next year and …

hopefully be great leaders for the girls coming in,” Schneider said. “It’ll be a really strong team next year. I think there’s going to be a lot of healthy competition within them.”

Now heading into her senior season, Bowser said she sees the program going nowhere but up with three of the golfers who competed at the MVC Championship returning.

“We’re just going to be losing Jessie [from the lineup], but it’s not the end of the world to be just losing one person,” Bowser said. “What I think we need, moving forward, is not so much to rely on [the top] four players, but we need a fifth and a sixth, even, to be in the mix so there’s not as much pressure on those four players.”

The Ramblers are set to begin the 2018-19 season next fall. The schedule hasn’t been released at the time of publication.

Norton overcomes adversity to lead track teams KYLE BROWN kbrown16@luc.edu

Making the p o dium for the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Indoor Track and Field Championships is no easy feat, especially for a first-year.

But Leron Norton accomplished the feat two years ago as part of the men’s 4x400-meter relay team, something he considers to be one of the best achievements in his track career so far.

“Two of the guys on our relay at the time were seniors, so it meant a lot to me to do my best as a [first-year] to get them up on the podium,” Norton said.

However, the next year, Norton was hobbled by hamstring injuries during the indoor and outdoor track seasons, which made it difficult to build on his early success.

“In the offseason, I had a really, really bad hamstring pull in my left leg. I spent the indoor season of my sophomore year trying to get back into shape,” Norton said. “When it came time for outdoor season, I was finally putting things together, but in our third outdoor meet, I pulled my right hamstring. I repeated the entire process again and the only other race I competed in after that was conference at the end of May.” This year, though he already reached the podium for the indoor season in the 4x400m relay at the MVC Indoor Track

and Field Championships and he has his sights set on another podium finish for the outdoor season.

“We’re definitely a team that if we show up and run like the way we can, we could challenge for the conference championship,” Norton said. “I don’t think anybody on our team doubts our ability to do so.”

Norton has had a successful track career at Loyola so far, contributing to the 4x400m relay team, which has placed sixth or better at all five MVC Conference Championships he’s attended — including two podium appearances. However, track wasn’t his primary focus throughout most of high school.

“In high school it was definitely football. Track was definitely not my number one sport until my senior year of high school,” Norton said. “But my senior year, I got a concussion and missed half the season and it was pretty bad. It was one of those concussions that you come back from and you don’t know if you want to play the sport anymore.”

With Norton unsure of his future in football, he had a great track season senior year which put to rest any doubts he had about what sport he should pursue through college.

“My senior year I ran really, really well, a lot better than I ever had in my high school career,” Norton said. “That’s

when my track opportunities started to open up.”

Loyola was one of those opportunities. Although it wasn’t immediately a perfect match, it was an easy choice once Norton visited the campus and experienced the university.

“Loyola is one of those schools that if you don’t know about it previously, like if you don’t know anybody that goes here or you don’t live in the area, it’s one of those schools you don’t really hear about, at least up until recently,” Norton said. “But when I came on my visit here for track and field, I instantly fell in love with the atmosphere. The environment and the culture of the school really made me come here.”

Throughout his time at Loyola, Norton has experienced success as well as struggles — especially injuries. He’s used these experiences as opportunities to help guide the underclassmen, both on his 4x400m relay team and the rest of the track and field team.

“I think the biggest thing is understanding that, regardless of age, all the people on our relay and all the people on our team in general are extremely talented and deserve to be here,” Norton said. “We’re all talented, educated young men, so I view it as helping your peers rather than ‘Oh, I’m older so I get to tell you what to do.’

That’s my mindset.”

One of the younger athletes who’s

benefitted from Norton’s help and guidance is first-year Gift Chinda, who specializes in the triple jump.

“Really, since the first day that I arrived on the team [Leron’s guidance has] been nonstop,” Chinda said. “[He checks up] on me to make sure I’m doing well, whether it’s athletically or academically, and just being a good leader and mentor in any way that he can.”

Norton said he believes the track and field team is in a good position to end this season nicely. He credits this in part due to the work of head coach Bob Thurnhoffer, his staff and the environment they’ve created.

“I think our coaches have done a tremendous job in creating a culture that wants to have success on the track and in the classroom,” Norton said. “And I think that we are on a trajectory to finish really, really well and have a bunch of good marks by the end of the season.”

In his most recent meet, the Bryan Clay Invitational in Azusa, California, Norton finished 36th out of 95 contestants in the 400-meter race.

He also competed as part of the 4x100meter relay and together they finished seventh out of 13 teams. Loyola didn’t compete in the men’s 4x400m relay.

Norton and Loyola track and field are scheduled to compete at the Lenny Lyles/Clark Wood Invitational April 28 in Louisville, Kentucky.

Lauren Caprini will join the Loyola women’s volleyball team next season as a walk-on, head coach Amanda Berkley announced April 24. As a senior at St. Charles North High School in southwest suburb St. Charles, Caprini tallied 376 digs and 47 aces this past season en route to earning Daily Herald All-Area recognition.

T&F: RAMBLERS SUCCESSFUL IN CALIFORNIA Redshirt junior Lindsey Brewis sealed a spot in the NCAA West Regional after recording a time of 16:14.16 in the 5,000-meter run April 19.

MGOLF: RAMBLERS FINISH EIGHTH OUT OF NINE AT MVC CHAMPIONSHIP The Loyola men’s golf team finished in eighth place out of nine teams at the MVC Championship April 23-24. First-year Devin Johnson and sophomore Justin LaFrance finished tied for 21st on the individual leaderboard after recording scores of 232.

UPCOMING EVENTS SOFTBALL APRIL 25 AT 4 P.M.

@ APRIL 28 AT 12 P.M. AND 2 P.M.

vs.

APRIL 29 AT 11 A.M.

vs.

MAY 5 AT 11 A.M. AND 1 P.M.

@ MAY 6 AT 10 A.M.

@ TRACK AND FIELD APRIL 28 ALL DAY

@ MAY 4 ALL DAY

@

APRIL 25, 2018

SPORTS 15

Jones a bright presence on and off softball field ABIGAIL SCHNABLE aschnable@luc.edu

In 2015, the Loyola softball team (21-20, 7-10) signed Kiley Jones, a pitcher from Indiana. The coaching staff said it knew from the beginning she was going to be an asset to the team. She was a bright student and a talented softball player — the coaches were excited for her to play.

Fast-forward two years and Jones, now a junior, has a 1.76 ERA this season, which ranks third in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC), and a record of 15-9. While those statistics would make someone think she’s been training and playing softball her entire life, Jones had her start in basketball. She switched to softball as a kid after she watched her dad play in a recreational league.

“I think I was eight when I started playing [softball] and I didn’t start pitching until I was almost 11, but from then on it’s been my thing,” Jones said.

“I fell in love with it right away.”

“She’s kind of a team mom. In a caring way, she’s in everyone’s business.”

JEFF TYLKA Head softball coach

Jones said she was “awful” at pitching initially and it took work to get where she is now. She said her dad was her coach and would never let her pitch because she was so bad.

“I kept at it through broken fences in the backyard, broken porch beams and broken ankles,” Jones said. “Eventually

it stuck, but a lot of hard work [went into it] when I was younger.”

The recruiting process kicked off her journey to Loyola. Jones said she had never heard of Loyola until head coach Jeff Tylka reached out to her. She was originally looking to attend Ivy League schools where she’d focus on academics.

“We kept going after her and trying to see if we were the right fit,” Tylka said.

“We knew, academically, we could do the stuff that she wanted to do.”

Ultimately, the location ended up being the biggest draw for her. At first, she said she was excited about living far away from her home i n Va lp ar ais o, Indiana. But, she said getting to b e clos e to home and at an academically challenging school made Jones Loyola the perfect match.

Jones is a social work and criminal justice double major and in the honors program. With such a full course load, one would think Jones would have trouble balancing everything she’s involved in, but she said because she’s highly interested in everything she’s studying, it makes the work easy to do.

“Learning how to work with people is kind of my strong suit,” Jones said.

“It’s where my passions lie [and] it’s where I do best academically. I’ve been lucky to just be in classes that I understand and when I’m able to focus on realizing that this is where my career is going to take me, it makes the motivation easier.”

Jones’ passion for working with people has allowed her to take on a

OUSTED: Ramblers miss out on NCAA tourney continued from page 1 Earlier this year, Hulse also said facing West Coast schools allows the athletes to see a different version of volleyball than they’re used to seeing in the Midwest.

“We knew this year, what the level was and we scheduled the teams that we scheduled this year … I think we were better prepared to compete against them this year than we were last year,” Hulse said. “We want to know where those teams are so we weren’t kidding ourselves into thinking we were real good if we weren’t.”

This season, the Ramblers went 17-1 in Gentile Arena and 6-5 on the road. One of those road wins was when they beat BYU in January. Junior middle blocker Paul Narup said getting the win at BYU was big for the team because it’s one of the more difficult schools to play at.

Winning on the road didn’t come easily to the Ramblers, nor for anybody else in MIVA. Each MIVA team — except Ohio State and Loyola — finished the season with at least seven road losses. Hulse said road wins come with game experience.

“I think that is one a testament to the league. Everyone is good enough, the margins were thin and a little bit of home court advantage maybe could have put us over the top,” Hulse said.

“I think the other piece is the maturity level, a requisite maturity level that is necessary to win on the road. I think we had a lot of that. Being able to deal with the little things that are different [are] some variables that come with road games.”

The only MIVA opponent located fewer than three hours from Loyola is Lewis University, which is a one-hour drive away without traffic. Being in a

somewhat unfamiliar location, having fans root against rather than for you and being on a bus for three-plus hours before a game can all affect the team’s performance, according to junior setter Dane LeClair. “ The parameters [and] the environment is really different pretty much everywhere you go,” LeClair told The Phoenix prior to the MIVA tournament. “Just your depth perception is a big thing in volleyball, so home advantage is kind of awesome.”

Before MIVA play started, Hulse said he didn’t think anyone was going to go 16-0 due to the high level of competition in the league. The two teams that came closest to a perfect record were Loyola and Ohio State, both finishing with a conference record of 11-3.

Seniors Jeff Jendryk, Ricky Gevis, Ryan Jamison and Jake Selsky all finished up their final season as Ramblers. With three starters leaving, Hulse said plenty of younger players are ready to step up and fill their roles on and off the court.

“I think our juniors, especially, but the younger guys across the board got a good taste of what it takes to be a leader on a team and also to kind of help lead your own team and be consistent in all those things,” Hulse said. “They got a ton of experience with that this year, so we have high hopes for the team next year and the leadership role that some of the now older guys will be able to provide in that campaign.”

With the men’s basketball and men’s volleyball successes, Hulse said he thought attendance at home games was higher than usual. He said he hopes next season the crowds will grow larger.

Nick Schultz The PHOENIX

Junior pitcher Kiley Jones ranks third in the MVC with a 1.76 ERA and currently has a 15-9 record in the circle for Loyola.

leadership position on the team this year. Junior pitcher Keenan Dolezal said despite having two seniors on the team, Jones has stepped up to mentor the younger players.

“She’s definitely taken the role [as a leader] this year,” Dolezal said. “I feel like [Kiley’s] stepped up, especially with [first-year pitcher] Maddie Veres, and she has taken her under her wing and has helped with her adjustments. She’s always there for everyone on the team.”

Jones’ care for her teammates doesn’t stop with Veres. Tylka said she’s a good player to have around because

everyone’s comfortable with her.

“She’s kind of a team mom. In a caring way, she’s in everyone’s business,” Tylka said. “She just wants to make sure everyone is doing what they’re supposed to. It’s nice to have a kid like her around because you can go up to her and ask her to check up on someone.”

Dolezal said Jones makes everyone on the team better and she’s constantly encouraging everyone to do their best.

“We had to write little notes for each teammate and the first thing that came to mind for hers was making everyone better as a whole team,” Dolezal said.

“She’s just always a team player and just helps me be better as a pitcher.”

Jones said the team has always had rollercoaster-like seasons, but this year the team has been able to learn from its experience.

“We’ve done it in a way that we can grow more from it with this group and this team that we have now and our mentality,” Jones said. “I think we are in a place where we can minimize those lows and maximize the highs.”

Jones and the R amblers are scheduled to play Drake University April 28 at Loyola Softball Park.

16 SPORTS

APRIL 25, 2018

Javier Baez continues to be one of baseball’s brightest young stars

Nick Schultz | Sports Editor nschultz@luc.edu

In 2014, the Cubs called up a flashy young shortstop named Javier Baez to replace the recently-traded Darwin Barney. Baez was the Cubs’ top prospect in the minor leagues at the time, and he hit .282 in the minors that season.

I’ll never forget being so proud of myself for predicting his callup. I even wrote about it in a littleused sports blog I started because I didn’t have anything else better to do. What else does a sports-obsessed high school sophomore do besides start a blog?

But I digress, after some ups and downs during his career, Baez is still just as flashy as he was when he was called up in 2014. Now, he’s turned into a complete freak of nature.

It started taking shape during the 2016 playoffs when the Cubs won their first World Series since 1908 (sorry Henry). Baez shared the National League Championship Series

Courtesy of Arturo Pardavilla III

So far this season, Baez carries a batting average of .299 with 23 hits in 77 at bats. He also has seven home runs, 24 RBIs, one stolen base and an on-base percentage of .341.

Most Valuable Player award with Jon Lester after hitting .318 during the six-game series, including the gamewinning home run during game one off Clayton Kershaw — the best pitcher in baseball. Baez was officially on the map, and he doesn’t seem to be slowing down.

His defense is insane. Now a second baseman, Baez is known for making insanely quick tags such as the one he made during the World Baseball Classic last year. He also doesn’t make many mistakes; he only committed 15 errors last year, 11 of which were at shortstop after Addison Russell went down with an injury. He’s so great with a glove he’s earned the nickname “El Mago” — Spanish for “The Magician.”

On offense, though, Baez has been tearing the cover off the ball this season. His seven home runs ranks second in the MLB and he’s tied for the MLB lead with 24 RBI. He’s been the most exciting player to watch in baseball so far this year.

In the past week, Baez had a .480 batting average, seven extra-base hits — including three home runs —and nine RBI over six games. Despite those numbers, he was passed up for Player of the Week. Instead, Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Patrick Corbin won the award. In two starts, Corbin went 2-0 in 15 innings, giving up two earned runs, two walks and striking out 19 batters.

Maybe I’m biased — OK, I’m definitely biased — but Baez looks like

he had the better week. The numbers speak for themselves; he’s probably not worried about that award, anyway.

Player of the Week or not, Baez is a spark the offense needs. Putting him in the No. 2 spot in the batting order allows Joe Maddon to bat Kris Bryant third and Anthony Rizzo fourth. So long as Maddon keeps Albert Almora in the leadoff spot where he belongs the top of that lineup is lethal for opposing pitchers.

Every time he does something special, I’m sure to immediately tweet “¡Viva El Mago!” Guess those four years of high school Spanish were good for something, right?

What makes Baez so fun to watch is how much he cares about the game. After he was called up, he got

the MLB logo tattooed on the back of his neck. He lives and breathes baseball, and that’s evident when he plays. He plays with so much intensity and firepower, which is great for the game.

People don’t tune in to watch players such as Ryan Braun, who doesn’t seem to have any fun when he plays. They tune in to watch players like Baez who show they have fun playing a game “meant for kids,” as the great Bob Lemon once put it.

It’s been fun to watch Baez grow from a minor-league prospect into one of the best second basemen in the game. The crazy part is he hasn’t even hit his prime yet. He’s only 25, so he’s going to be around for a while.

Men’s basketball players still catching up on missed classes CONOR BERGIN cbergin@luc.edu

The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament is an enormous time commitment for student-athletes.

The event takes them away from the classroom for weeks. For Loyola’s players, making it to the three-week tournament’s final weekend meant an extended absence from campus.

Through it all, players were still responsible for keeping up with their academics on the road and making up the work they missed after the run ended.

Between when Loyola headed to the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Feb. 28 and its seasonclosing Final Four loss against Michigan March 31, the players traveled to four different cities — St. Louis, Dallas, Atlanta and San Antonio — and missed 14 school days over the 31-day span.

Helping the team navigate through the academic side of it all was Samantha Stewart, assistant athletic director for academics and student development. Stewart traveled from city to city with the team, organizing academic plans for players, setting up study halls in hotels and maintaining correspondence with players’ professors. Each study hall on the road lasted one to two hours, and the team usually had two sessions each trip. The players couldn’t keep up with everything, but Stewart said it was important to show they were staying involved.

“We tried to focus on the smaller projects and the smaller assignments just because it’s easier to manage,” Stewart said. “Also it shows the professors that the student athletes are still engaged in academics, even though they’re not physically present.”

Stewart admitted the university wasn’t acquainted with a situation

Hanako Maki The PHOENIX

While the men’s basketball team was dancing to the Final Four, the team also missed 14 school days throughout March.

like this, so officials were making the blueprint as they went.

“The school didn’t have as much experience with this so we were all kind of doing it by the seat of our pants, but I think at the end we all rallied together and have been very supportive,” Stewart said.

Stewart said it took a collective effort to keep the athletes’ academics in order. Professors did their best to accommodate the needs of the players by giving extensions on exams and papers.

“This is all possible because we all worked as a team and they’ve been super understanding in trying to work

with students,” Stewart said.

Dr. Bren Ortega Murphy has four men’s basketball players in her Ethics and Communication course, so she had a special session with the studentathletes after the tournament, because they’d missed so many crucial in-class topics. She said she knew the players were under a different type of pressure.

“I thought a lot about what it would mean for a student [at that age] to all of a sudden be thrust into this national spotlight, so you’re not only traveling, you’re not only have the pressure building for you in terms of competition, but you also have this

unprecedented national lens focused on you,” Murphy said.

Murphy was also adamant on how the players were given no “free pass” during the tournament.

“I was very aware of the fact that, apparently in some schools, athletes are just given a free pass or given special courses where they don’t have to do much work and that simply was not the case at Loyola. I mean these people were enrolled in regular courses,” Murphy said.

Stewart credits the players’ work ethic as what made them able to stay on top of their studies. In the midst of

press conferences and playing games on the biggest stage, the players still put energy into their school work.

Stewart said the best study hall sessions the team had were prior to their Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games.

“That’s just the caliber of studentathlete we have here,” Stewart said.

“They’re super dedicated, they’re not trying to avoid work, they’re really into getting their work done and very concerned about it.”

The team has seen tired times.

They had a study hall session the Friday before their Final Four game right after they spent hours doing press work.

“They looked extremely exhausted … but we still did it,” Stewart said.

While the players were welcomed back to campus as heroes, the missed work was still there waiting for them.

“Coming back, not only were they tired, they had been on the road for so long, they were a bit overwhelmed by how much they’ve missed … I think reality set in,” Stewart said.

Late into April, almost a month after the tournament’s end, players are still making up work they missed while putting Loyola’s name in national headlines. Redshirt junior guard Clayton Custer was named to the MVC Scholar-Athlete first team and the I-AAA Scholar-Athlete team this season and said it’s been tough adjusting back to classes.

“We still have a lot of make-up work going on right now so we’re definitely all grinding here at the end of the semester,” Custer said.

Custer said the late study nights this April have been a fair price to pay for the Final Four glory.

“That was an experience none of us will ever forget. It’s worth being behind in school,” Custer said.

Seniors Ben Richardson, Donte Ingram, Nick DiNardi, Carson Shanks and Aundre Jackson, along with Custer, are finishing up their last credits for graduation.