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Independent
Northeastern Illinois University’s
Tuesday, July 25, 2017
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Vol. 36 Issue 17
Pitch me, I’m dreaming Mark Gardener of band ‘Ride’ brought the intensity on guitar and vocals during the Pitchfork Music Festival at Union Park July 14-16. pg. 10
Dr. Wamucii Njogu is appointed Acting Provost. pg. 3
Chicago Open Air melts faces two years in a row. pg. 12
Photo by Spencer Jones
News
President introduces new Acting Provost Wamucii Njogu "Dr. Njogu is the right person for this critical role at Northeastern during these challenging times," Interim President Helldobler said after Wamucii Njogu was announced as the new Acting Provost. | Photo by NEIU
Sarahy Lopez NEIU’s Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Wamucii Njogu was appointed Acting Provost on July 1, replacing Vicki Román-Lagunas. She currently serves as the university's chief academic officer, previously working as the Assistant Provost and Dean for eight years. The provost works closely with the academic deans, department heads, student services professionals, faculty and staff to provide the highest possible quality of educational programs both within and outside the classroom for undergraduate and graduate students. An important part of the provost’s job is to recruit, retain, encourage and support faculty and students. The Acting Provost welcomes students from recruitment, said
Njogu, creating a vast impact on student life. She evaluates the courses, creates courses and even looks over graduation commencements. Njogu is excited and proud of her new role. She said she is eager to improve student life and bring more recruitment to NEIU. Born in Kenya, Njogu graduated from the public school system implemented by the new independent government that had changed from colonial governance. The schools were heavily funded and were given many resources to educate the native tribes. Njogu said the most prestigious schools were public. “Private was not a good place to be. So I am a product of public education in Kenya,” she commented. School life was significantly harder, she reminisced about the tough and stressful end of the semester
exams that determined whether you passed or failed. Instead of having continuous examinations throughout the class, students would only listen to lecture and takes notes, then received an enormous test at the end of the semester. She noted that it felt so different compared to American classrooms, as there was more pressure because there was the possibility of being dropped. After graduating with a Bachelor's in Sociology in Kenya, she went to the University of Chicago and received her master's degree, going on to earn her doctorate degree in the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Sociology. Njogu joined NEIU in 1996 and was first hired as an assistant professor in Sociology. Shortly thereafter, she became coordinator then department
chair of Sociology, African-American studies, Latina(o)-American studies, and Women’s and Gender studies. With this extensive background, she became Assistant Provost and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and remained so for years. “Most of what we do in Academic Affairs is to make sure that we engage students even before they are admitted to the university, all the way until they graduate. In fact, we are concerned about them when they graduate because many of them go to grad schools,” said Njogu. “We want them to be alumni. The engagement of students never ends in this office.” The Provost collaborates with other departments such as Admissions and Enrollment Services to make sure students are well on their way to graduating by looking at their academic statuses, and also to see
which students can be admitted who apply to NEIU. Concerning the recent budget passed and the university’s controversial plan of layoffs, Njogu said, “The budget has not removed instruction in any way. The teaching part of the university remained intact. I think the budget is going to allow us to breathe easier. I think the university would have been in a very difficult position if we didn’t have the budget. And actually, the budget will allow us to plan for the future.” Most importantly, Njogu hopes she will make a difference in student’s lives to place them at the center. In the light of the budget crisis, the student’s education is vital to the university. Njogu concluded by saying, “Students should feel very good about registering for their classes because that is not going to be impacted.”
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Police Blotter The following incidents occurred between the dates of May 27 to July 12 at NEIU’s main campus: May 27 - The Nest: A verbal altercation between a couple occurred, but police resolved the matter before it escalated.
Tuesday, July 25, 2017
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Budget stalemate ends, brings temporary relief to NEIU
May 31 - 3650 W. Bryn-Mawr Ave: A person was given 2 state citations and was issued an I-bond for operating a school bus without a commercial driver’s license and for parking illegally. June 7 - The Nest: A verbal assault occurred between multiple people and they gave different versions of what happened to the police. No official complaints were signed. June 13 - 5500 N. Central Park Ave: A person had their driver’s license revoked, received 2 state citations and was issued an I-bond for having no rear or front plates on their car. June 16 - Personnel Office: An unknown offender left a lewd message on the office’s voicemail. July 4 - The Nest: An unknown offender stole a bike and bike lock from the Nest’s bike rack. July 5 - University Access Road: A person was given 2 state citations and was issued an I-bond for disobeying a stop sign and having no valid driver’s license. July 5 - Follet’s Bookstore: A non-student presented the bookstore with a check without funds. This was a repeat offender. July 10 - Cafe Descarte: A victim’s ex-boyfriend verbally insulted her while she was working. He was not a NEIU student. July 11 - Library: There was a verbal disturbance among library patrons when they asked some kids to be quiet. July 12 - BBH: A police officer found possible drug paraphernalia in one of the bathroom. It was disposed of properly. The following occurrence happened on May 26 at NEIU’s CCICS campus: May 26 - CCICS: A fight that broke out between two high school students damaged part of the property. The following occurrences happened on July 2 and July 10 off-campus: July 2 - Off-Campus: A NEIU student was scammed at the Chicago Ribfest event. The scam involved depositing a check for the offender. July 10 - Off-Campus: A student’s ex-boyfriend showed up at her home and followed her to other places. Police offered her resources.
Students gather outside Lech Walesa Hall on Mar. 15 to protest the Illinois legistature's failure to pass a budget before the end of the fiscal year on July 1. | Robyn Bridges
Sarahy Lopez The budget stalemate that affected NEIU and other public universities and colleges has ended, bringing a source of funding and relief to the university. The proposed budget will keep NEIU running well into the next year. “I’m delighted to utter the words we have a budget,”said Interim President Helldobler during the town hall budget meeting on July 13. “It was be-
cause of your advocacy, letter-writing campaigns, demonstrations, emails, posters, tweets and facebook posts,” he said. “We can now properly plan the upcoming year.” After two years without a budget plan or funding for public education, lawmakers were able to override Governor Bruce Rauner’s veto of a proposed budget plan. The plan will provide public universities with a total of $1.1 billion. The money in the new budget
will fully fund MAP grants for all the students that qualify in the fiscal year of 2017 and 2018, said President Helldobler. About $1.2 million will be used to repair some buildings as well, such as Bernard J. Brommel Hall, Buildings H and J and the Physical Education Complex. The university will be provided about $17 million for fiscal year 2017. Together with the funding from the Stopgap 2 plan, the amount of 'Budget' / page 5
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NEWS
Tuesday, July 25, 2017
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NEIU partners with refugee initiative Robin Bridges Since the implementation of President Donald Trump's travel ban in January, the impact has been felt by many refugees and immigrants. Licensed clinical social worker and Assistant Professor Dr. Aimee Hilado said, “There was a time when in a busy month for Refugee One..was 30 families. There were times in the last fiscal year, before the executive order hit, where we were having surge numbers from 120 to 140 arrivals in a month. “To go from those numbers two families to maybe 10 families… It's changed. The orders have profoundly changed the number of arrivals we’re seeing,” she said. Refugee One is the largest refugee resettlement program in Illinois. As founder of the Refugee One Wellness Program, she has worked closely with Refugee One as well as other programs and task forces since 2011. In July of this year, NEIU received a grant to provide professional development training for many working in refugee and immigrant communities in Chicago. The grant came from a partnership between Hilado and her work as mental health first responder coordinator at the Chicago Is With You Task Force. “This grant was really born from recognizing that we need to make sure we continue to provide professional development opportunities for clinicians that want to work in immigrant and refugee mental health,” said Hilado. The connection with Ann and Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital came from the Chicago Is With You task force launched in December of 2016. This initiative began with a focus in four key areas of mental health, legal services, diversity training and education as well as provid-
Photo by Joe Davis
Dr. Aimee Hilado has an expertise in human behavior in the social environment, clinical practice with trauma-exposed immigrants and refugees, early childhood and adult mental health.
ing resources for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival youth. Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Senator Richard J. Durbin, and Congressman as well as NEIU alumni Luis Gutiérrez, founded the initiative which incorporated Hilado’s clinical practice in refugee and immigrant mental health with culturally sensitive practice. The grant provides monthly professional development training for clinicians and community based workers who interface with immigrants and refugees with varying statuses. The trainings are also designed to support NEIU students who want to work with trauma exposed and vulnerable immigrant and refugee populations. “The focus is on supporting mental health so that people can really thrive and be productive individuals in our community,” Hilado said. “I think it's (the professional development training) appealing to a lot of groups of people, honestly. I think it would be an amazing opportunity
to expand our cultural knowledge, regardless of the profession or specialization someone is in, especially during the political climate we're in,” Briana Hornsby commented, a recent graduate of Loyola’s masters of social work program. “I don't think people really know what refugees have to go through, or even immigrants, and it would be incredibly eye opening for anyone to be a part of that experience,” Hornsby said. The first recruitment training took place on July 14 at NEIU’s EL Centro campus. According to Hilado about 20 people attended the first training. Another session is scheduled for July 28 at the Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute (2430 N. Halsted, Chicago). There are approximately 50 people expected to attend. Hilado hopes to have over 100 mental health volunteers at the conclusion of the recruitment trainings to complete the monthly sessions.
Once the recruitment trainings are finished monthly trainings will begin in August. Training dates will be announced after July 28. “I think the term mental health is really misunderstood. Not only in the U.S. but across cultures.. Its also a relationship. It really comes in the form of supporting people. Especially new immigrants.. helping them navigate life in chicago. So, therapeutic work can include getting to know a person's neighborhood or getting someone connected with resources beyond just what is offered in therapy,” Hilado said. Part of the hope with these monthly trainings is to add clarity to the everyday confusion surrounding immigration and its statuses. According to the U.S. State Department,non U.S. citizens enter the country with one of two statuses, Immigrant or Nonimmigrant. There are 15 types of Nonimmigrant status categorized under five categories. These categories range
from humanitarian to tourist to academic. A Nonimmigrant visa is temporary and visitors are limited to the activity specifically listed on their visa. “We’re very fortunate. NEIU is a great place for initiatives like this to be housed. As an academic institution not only do our students reflect the diverse immigrant and refugee populations...But it also is a beautiful setting for training future professionals, who, are going to go right back to into these communities and really make a difference,” Hilado said. An Immigrant visa means that you enter the U.S. with legal standing. The term can be used interchangeably with green card holder, resident alien and legal permanent resident. Refugees fall under the category of immigrant status. There are only three categories of immigrant visa: immediate family member or spouse sponsored, employer sponsored and other. These types of visas are not temporary. Refugees specifically are vetted abroad and identified by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). When those with immigrant status arrive they have work authorization, access to a social security number and can access public benefits. “There are distinctions and this is where people need to be informed about the importance of these statuses. These labels because it really does define rights and privileges in the united states more than ever,” said Hilado. “That's also part of the goal of YNA (You Are Not Alone Initiative). It is providing professional development to folks that work with immigrant and refugee groups but also being ambassadors and advocates for those communities. Whereas some of of this information, it needs to be talked about, not just with immigrant and refugee groups but around the dinner table--making sure that everyone is an informed citizen.”
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Budget Continued from page 3 funding is equal to what the university received in fiscal year 2015. For fiscal year 2018, NEIU is hoping to receive about $33.2 million, however it is a 10 percent decrease than what the university received in 2015. This is likely going to affect how NEIU will operate, according to President Helldobler and Vice President of Finance Michael Pierick. “State pension changes will shift the pension cost group from the state to the university,” said President Helldobler. “That 10 percent is really deeper when you factor in the new pension costs.” The recently passed budget does not give anything back for fiscal year 2016, which leaves NEIU lacking of about $26 million that was supposed to be set aside by the state to fund the university. While the budget brings temporary relief to the uncertainty and fears that circled NEIU’s future, it also allows time to plan strategically for the upcoming year, according to President Helldobler. “But I want to reiterate that we can no longer afford
Tuesday, July 25, 2017
to be the university that we’ve become. We must work together to begin to find solutions for this very critical issue. The state’s financial and political landscape is forcing us to become a Northeastern that operates differently,” said Helldobler. Michael Pierick stated that they’re not sure when the school will receive the funding, and students should expect to hear more in the weeks to come. As for 2019, the university should be prepared to see the worst, a zero fiscal year budget should political challenges arise, says Pierick. Meaning that the university should prepare for another budget-less year if they are denied funding again. Increased pensions and health insurance will severely affect NEIU in fiscal year of 2019. Michael Pierick concluded in the budget town hall meeting by saying that layoffs will continue, stopping the pause that the university initiated. “We must take care of the future of the university. We’ve decided that the university will remain open and we must ensure that by being very fiscally conservative,” Pierick stated. The lack of a budget and the state’s political climate had pushed the university to fire 180 employees in order
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to remain open during the summer and fall semesters. At that point, there was little chance of a budget approval from the state and the university expected to receive about $9 million savings from the layoffs and furlough days. It was more important for students to continue their education without interruption or closure, according to President Helldobler. “We provide them the keys to their future, a better life--the American dream,” he said in a news conference on May 30. While this new budget will temporarily fix and bring stability to the university, the future is still unclear. “I’ll meet with anybody, anytime, any place, to talk about our students and the great work that we do at this university because I continue to believe in it. But that doesn’t mean that we can control the outcome in Springfield. And therefore we must be prepared for the worst, and yet continue to advocate and hope for the best. And I know after two long years, that’s a really hard message to hear. But that is in fact the message. We are going to be here for our students. My goal is to keep the university open,” Hellobbler said. “I have no intention of not advocating for this university every single chance I get.”
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Opinions
Is College more than just a degree? Dominique Davis Despite the challenges on the road through college and university, it is worth the experience beyond just getting a degree. Human survival has always depended on education of future generations. As we evolved as a species, so has our curiosity to better understand our environment and its inner workings. During these primitive years, humans taught themselves by trial and error--it either worked or it didn't. The ways we educate ourselves has vastly changed over the centuries, along with our needs and social structures. We have become accustomed to the benefits of a formal education and praise scholars around the world.
Usually with recognition and awards as well as money or social status. These famous scholars like Noam Chomsky, Neil Degrasse Tyson, Dikran Tahta and Stephen Hawking have mastered the educational system. To their advantage they were often guided or encouraged from a young age to succeed to their highest academic potential by being present at the top public and private colleges or universities and often receiving full tuition scholarships for it. Additionally, U.S. Congressman Luis Gutierrez, Illinois State Senator Iris Martinez, Musician Art Porter Jr., and Illinois General Assembly Representative Karen Yarbrough are just a few notable graduates, from Northeastern Illinois University. These alums completed their degree
programs despite facing many tough challenges. However, attending a college or university is no easy task for any students to face. Even after graduation we are judged socially, financially and politically based on the “quality” and level of our university. According to an article on Owlcation.com, the top issues college students face are: time management, debt and being homesick. These are just some of the many issues that students are facing today while attending institutions of higher learning, all in the hopes of securing employment with a comfortable salary. So, is this whole experience they call “college” really worth all the stress and hard work? In my own opinion, yes.
The rigorous curriculum and increased expectations can cause major stress and time management issues for many students, even more so for those who also maintain a job to support themselves or have family obligations. The immediate need for survival often outweighs the future benefits of formal education. Many of the highest paid and remarkable scholars from around the world, attended classes for many years before receiving recognition for their contributions to their fields. The rising tuition in addition to the costs of living as a student causes many students to drop out and not complete their degree. As reported by U.S News in 2015, the in-state tuition and fees at public research universi-
ties has grown by “a staggering 296 percent.” Students unable to manage their increasing debt can be forced to drop out of school or finish their degree out-of-pocket and at a much slower pace. Another problem that causes students to drop out is when they become severely homesick. This can lead the student into depression or just unnecessary stress that causes other health problems down the road. While college may not be for everyone, universities provide amazing opportunities for networking. Networking is one of the keys in establishing successful professional relationships. College degree / page 8
The graph shows the steady increase in tuition at NEIU for both in-state and out of state students from 1997 to 2010. Despite that NEIU has remained one of the most affordable Universities. | Graph by Robin Bridges
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The Independent Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Robin Bridges Production Editor Pablo Medina News Editor Sarahy Lopez Opinions Editor Cecilia G. Hernandez Arts & Life Editor Bisma Zafar Online Editor Miguel Casimiro Marketing and Advertising Director Christopher Starnawski Payroll Manager Cheryl Johnson
Independent Staff Writers Spencer Jones Sean Carey Dominique Davis The Independent is a public forum for the university and community around Northeastern Illinois University. The Independent is completely student run and receives no prior review of its content by anyone other than its student editors. Views presented do not necesarily represent those of the administration, faculty or students. The Independent is a member of the Illinois College Press Association and Associated Collegiate Press.
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Usher’s Herpes “Confessions” Cecilia G. Hernandez Picture this: you’re getting hot and heavy with a partner you really like; you’re both ready to get the ball rolling. But then you ask your partner if they carry any STIs - they say no. There’s no reason not to trust them and you continue. A couple of weeks later, sores, fevers and chills plague your body, leaving you alarmed and calling your doctor for help. Turns out you now have herpes. R&B star Usher was exposed for allegedly infecting a lover with herpes back in 2012.The importance of full sexual disclosure and educations arises from the midst of Usher’s sex scandal. The singer was diagnosed with herpes back in 2009 or 2010, but neglected to warn his partner before having unprotected sex, according to an article written for the New York Daily News. The withholding aspect is what angers me. Let’s put aside the fact that a lot of this could have been avoided with a condom. Usher lied. Now a woman has to live with an incurable virus. Thankfully under California law, it’s illegal to “knowingly or recklessly transmit an STD.” What about in our state of Illinois? The Illinois STD law applies only to HIV, according to “Transmitting an STD in Illinois” CriminalDefenseLawyer.com. The Illinois criminal STD law makes it a crime for “anyone who knows [they carry], or is infected by the [HIV].” Anyone with HIV cannot engage in sexual activity or intimate contact with someone else. They can’t donate blood, semen, bodily tissue, etc. If an HIV-positive person engages in any of these activities, they’ve committed a class 2 felony offense. But that’s another article. The problem here with the word-
we should take Usher’s sex scandal as a warning to always have protected sex and know our STI and HIV statuses. How do we do that? Student Health Services at NEIU, located in E-051 on the main campus, provides STI testing – and it’s already included in our tuition. They also offer emergency contraception, pap smears, regular birth control, screening services – you name it! Some services do require a fee, but paying 10 dollars for the Plan B pill beats paying 50 bucks at Target. For non-students, there’s always the beloved Planned Parenthood. There’s at least seven PP centers in Chicago, the closest one to NEIU’s main campus is in Rogers Park. Their services are often free with Medicaid, or at affordable prices. We have options! Negligence should not be a valid defense. Protect yourselves and know your status so that you may help stop the spread of STIs. Like my mom always says: “es mejor prevenir que lamentar.” Roughly translated from Spanish: “better prevent than regret.” Photo By Sandra Alphonse via Wikimedia Commons
Usher’s sex scandal should be used as a cautionary tale: always have protected sex and know your STI and HIV status. Testing is free in the Student Health Services at NEIU’s main campus.
ing of this law is the word “knows” because it’s a loophole. It gives people wiggle room to not take care of themselves, to not care about their HIV status and to avoid testing themselves. If they don’t test themselves, they won’t know. Some people don’t have any symptoms right away or even in years. So if they do infect others, they’re free from criminal charges because they didn’t know. Another problem I have with this law is that it does not mention any of the several other types of STIs includ-
ing herpes, Syphilis, gonorrhea, or chlamydia. We unfortunately live in a society where sexually transmitted infections spread at an alarming rate. Illinois ranked No. six among the 50 states in the number of HIV diagnoses in 2015, according to Illinois’ State Health Profile on the Centers of Disease Control website. Illinois ranked No. 11 among the 50 states for Syphilis, Chlamydia and Gonorrhea. Keep in mind, these statistics only reflect reported cases. Instead of promoting ignorance,
Look for our next article exploring Illinois’ STD Law in our back to school issue coming out Aug. 22.
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Opinions
College degree Continued from page 6 These relationships can become significant in finding and receiving paid internships, possibly securing a permanent position within the company of your dreams. I obtained new knowledge and understanding academically. More important than that has been establishing my womanhood during my college journey. The difference between high school and college is more than just the materials covered. College is an important rite of passage for young adults getting ready to join the workforce and gain their total independence. I attended a university out-of-state and was completely on my own, away from the comforts of home. Only during this time was I able to fully examine myself as a whole individual regardless of my previous circumstances and experiences. It is also about becoming an independent and responsible citizen ready to join and contribute to society. I have learned how to organize and manage my finances, set career goals and maintain overall health goals. Having to move out the dorms and survive being homeless for six months, not eating for days at a time and unable to secure transportation to work or school took a toll on the completion of my degree. For me, it was much more important to learn the skills on maintaining a balanced, stable life that you’re also able to enjoy while reaching your intended goals. The spiritual, physical, intellectual and social changes are both essential and priceless. In spite of my financial and physical obstacles, I value the experience I have gained above all other benefits or issues.
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A&L Chicago Open Air crammed almost 30 bands like Slayer (left) and Behemoth (right) into a explosive weekend. |All photos by Robin Bridges
Chicago Open Air melts faces two years in a row Robin Bridges For the second year in a row, Chicago Open Air Festival has brought together fans and their bands for a face-melting weekend of metal. In 2016, Chicago Open Air brought bands who had not been seen in many years. Performers like Marilyn Manson, Korn and Disturbed shared the same stage for a weekend last July. This year they did it again. Headliners included metal veterans like Anthrax, Ozzy Osbourne, Rob Zombie and Kiss. The weekend also featured newcomers like Black Map, Whores and Berkley’s Popular Music Institute band Aversed. The festival featured more than just bands. It included Gourmet Man Food, craft beer, a sideshow and more band tee-shirts than any one needs. GMF featured menu items like “The Tenderizer” from local bar and grill Cheesie’s Pub and Grub. “The Tenderizer” is a grilled cheese featuring bacon, fried chicken tenders, Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce and hot sauce on two slices of Texas Toast.
GMF also included band themed burgers like the “Black Sabbath” burger from local Kuma’s Corner. The “Black Sabbath” featured a pretzel bun with onion, pepper jack cheese, and blackening spice. There were also lots of craft beers on tap
from local breweries like Half Acre, Goose Island and Lagunitas. Beer is essential at a metal show because you need something to throw before you dive into a mosh pit. Also on site was national cancer organization F*CK Cancer raising funds for
their Dying2Live program. The booth sold everything from bandanas to hoodies for prices from five dollars to 65 dollars. Chicago Open Air staggered bands on two stages. This allowed fans to flood in and out from the
All photos by Robin Bridges
Fans show their devotion to the band Slayer with a tattoo featuring their 2001 album “God Hates Us All.”
stadium to the retrofitted parking lot and watch both bands without missing anything. The main stage acts included bands like Steel Panther and Korn. While the Blackcraft stage featured a range of bands like Ice-T’s band Body Count and metal veteran’s Slayer. Metal fans get a bad reputation. We’ve usually got a lot of tattoos, piercings and like a little growl in our music. These are hard to find in a city as diverse as Chicago. There are the occasional shows at smaller venues that sell out really quickly or aren’t really equipped for these types of bands. This festival provided a spectacular gathering of fans who wouldn’t normally meet. The complaints from fans were minor but included the small screens on the main stage and the brief acoustic fails during a couple of the performances. In general, the warped acoustics of a soccer stadium are bound to get a couple of knocks from music fans. As a weekend though Chicago Open Air melts my black heart and I hope it continues to do so for years to come.
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Tuesday, July 25, 2017
Pitchfork Music Festival
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Tuesday, July 25, 2017
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Chicago native Jamilia Woods shines amongst the new artists.
Chicago artists stood out at Pitchfork 2017 Spencer Jones
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Summer in Chicago is next to none because of its vibrant nightlife, diverse downtown atmosphere, food and music festivals. People travel from across the globe to attend events like Lollapalooza, Taste of Chicago, Open Air and the emerging Pitchfork music festival. Pitchfork, the Chicago based company, has been around since 1996 but didn't host its own music festival until 2006. Over the years the genres represented have grown and this year was no exception. Three stages held the spotlight for over 30 artist and thousands of listeners. Acts such as George Clinton, Isaiah Rashad, A Tribe Called Quest, LCD Soundsystem, Colin Stetson, and Solange were nothing less than spectacular, but up and coming Chicago artists Joey Purp, Ne-Hi, and Jamilia Woods stood their ground in front of the home crowd. Purp, a product of Whitney Young Magnet
School and good friend of fellow Chicago rapper Vic Mensa, lit up a crowd that was larger than some expected. The Humboldt Park native has collaborated with the new wave of Chicago artists, including Taylor Bennet and Chance the Rapper. His fan base was familiar with his work as he performed songs from his new project "iiiDrops". Woods took a different approach to the evening, serenading the stage adjacent to Purp's with songs about love and women empowerment. She's soulful and electrifying. On top of delivering an impressive range of vocals to crowds around the world, Woods also works as the Associate Artistic Director for the Young Chicago Authors. What makes Pitchfork different from other festivals is the freedom of expression in all levels of the platform. There are areas designated for independent artists to sell their drawings and books. The festival does everything it can to give the audience every aspect of the arts.
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Tuesday, July 25, 2017
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One man’s journey through the Electric Forest Sean M. Carey In 1955, Cowboy Wally planted a grove of White Pine Trees, pinus strobus, on the grounds of the Double JJ Ranch in Rothbury, Michigan. Fast forward to 62 years later, me and 40,000 or so “psychonauts” traveled to Sherwood Forest, now dubbed the “Electric Forest” for just eight days out of every year. Electric Forest is a music-fest-camping-experience that has been running for about a decade now. Rather than discuss the bands and music, I’ll try to convey the experience. The grounds are flanked on the North and South ends by giant “palooza” type stages. The South Stage was a dry sandy post-apocalyptic amphetami-topia projecting mostly EDM at ear-piercing volumes in the searing sun, while thousands of nearly nude patrons bounced to the music. Traveling deeper into the forest, the trees cooled the grounds and the next stage was on an open grassy knoll where bands with guitars and horns sent out calming waves of endless noodling. The North stage was more of the same. There was a circus tent, where I watched a pseudo-yogi try to hold a crow pose while house music blasted away at 200 db’s. There was a mock airplane hangar where 1940’s-esque “cigarette girls” doted on patrons in front of an old-timey main street with a “real” barber shop and milkshake stand. In the center of all of this were Wally’s trees, all grown up now and 100 feet tall. The White Pines made up the Sherwood Forest, a throughthe-looking-glass wonderland of recycled art installations, laser light shows and fairies on stilts weaving in and out of the maze of tree trunks and twenty-four-seven fog machine haze. This is where you go in Electric Forest… this is why you go to electric forest. Deeper into the woods, I came upon the “psychedelic chapel,” a church in the woods decorated like a scene from Alejandro Jodorowsky’s Holy Mountain. I watched a man wed his hat, and several hours later the church was taken over by a gender-bending burlesque show put on by a troupe of gypsy clowns. My traveling companion and I wandered through the forest all night. Sections of the woods were lit in different colors and areas were cultivated as little pockets
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GREAT ON-CAMPUS LOCATION Photo by Joe Davis
Sean Carey poses in the Electric Forest, armed with shades and a cowboy hat.
of mock movie sets. An upright piano sat around old couches and bookshelves where people laid around and read. The façade of a “wild west” saloon complete with swinging saloon doors, appeared out of the fog. Several hours into the evening, I became intentionally lost. We saw our way out of the forest, but couldn’t get ourselves to leave. We ambled to a tiny stage where a pretend-classic-television-children’s-entertainer played pop songs on an ukulele, while forest dwellers sat cross legged like kindergartners. The clock tower, with glyphs instead of numbers, spinning erratically served its purpose as a reminder that time at Electric Forest is in flux. Everything, in fact, is in flux. The forest becomes a hazy, meandering, body temperature, fairy land with pockets and amorphous blobs of consciousness. Why do people go? Is it escapism or conspicuous communal consumption? Or was I a lab rat in some sort of a spiritual existential experiment? Writers loathe rhetorical questions, but in this case I truly don’t have the answer. You have to experience it for yourself. I’ll leave you with the salutation that I heard over and over at EF. Happy Forest!
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