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ndependent Tuesday, September 26, 2017
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Vol. 37 Issue 1
Weathering the storm:
Puerto Rico needs more than prayers NEWS
FEATURES
Inaugural Women in Science Conference focuses on Equity over Equality pg. 3
A&L
New to the neighborhood: T&B Grill pg.13
Liz Varmecky shares some of the story about her time in Puerto Rico during huricane Irma while she reflects on the damage done by huricane Maria.| Photo courtesy of Liz Varmecky
News
Guest brings firearm into the Nest Robin Bridges No students were injured on Sept. 20 when a visitor carrying a firearm was reported to campus police. Reports on the incident are still being filed as of Sept. 23 leaving many details unavailable for now. At approximately 11 p.m. students at the Nest were told to go into their rooms and lock their doors. A Nest resident who asked to remain anonymous said, “I was trying to figure out what was going on...The (Resident Advisors) kept yelling at everyone to go to their rooms. The RAs said, ‘Don’t ask questions and stay in your rooms.’ We weren’t get-
ting answers from anyone.” NEIU Public Relations Director Mike Hines confirmed that University Police received a report of an individual in possession of a firearm around 11 p.m. at the Nest. “No students were threatened,” Hines said in an email. “With the use of security cameras, University Police were quickly able to determine the subject had left the campus grounds. They estimate the subject was on campus for fewer than 10 minutes.” Nest residents were notified through an email from American Campus Communities of the incident the following evening on Sept. 21 around 5 p.m.
The email read: “We were notified that on September 20th at approximately 11:00 PM a firearm was brought into the student housing building by a non-resident guest. “No one was injured. We are cooperating with the Northeastern University Illinois Police Department, who is actively investigating the incident. As a reminder, firearms are prohibited in Northeastern Illinois University student housing. Residents are responsible for their guests and for their guest’s compliance with the rules and regulations in the lease agreement. “If you see anyone with a firearm, please notify the police immediately
by calling 773-442-5511 or 5511 from a campus phone. If you are aware of someone storing a firearm on property, please contact the management office, or contact Northeastern Illinois’ University Police Department at 773-442-4100 or police@neiu.edu.” The Nest resident feels that because of this incident, their sense of security has been compromised. “All I could do was hide. I was really scared and trying to find out what was going on. Everyone kept texting the RAs,” they said. “I don’t feel safe here anymore. I’ve experienced gun violence, drive by’s. The Nest was my safe zone.” Hines’ email also said, “The Nest
has strict protocols and procedures for who can enter the building. All visitors are required to check in at the front desk. “Northeastern takes security at The Nest very seriously, and we encourage all residents to do their part in ensuring a safe environment and protecting secure parts of the building. The University Police regularly patrol inside and outside The Nest.” In August of this year NEIU was awarded the safest campus in Illinois by ADT security services. The home security company used data available from the FBI and Armed/ page 5
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NEWS
Tuesday, September 26, 2017
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A photo exhibit documented Maria Skolodowska-Curie’s life and career displayed throughout the Women in Science Conference on Sept. 18 and 19. | Photo By Robin Bridges
Women in science conference honors scientist Maria Sklodowska-Curie Daniela Arteaga NEIU was the host of the first-ever Women in Science Conference on Sept. 18 and 19, celebrating the career and accomplishments of female-scientist, Maria Sklodowska Curie, commonly known as Marie Curie. Julie Des Jardins and Dr. Sophie Shrand were two of the keynote speakers in the two-day conference held throughout NEIU’s main campus. A film screening of Marie Curie: The Courage of Knowledge, lab workshops, a photography exhibit and six sessions which featured twenty experts from diverse fields of study such as chemistry, music, physics, and mathematics also starred in the conference.
A floral ceremony took place to recognize the women of NEIU and those who came from far and wide to participate. Historian and author of “Madame Curie Complex: The Hidden History of Women in Science” Des Jardins discussed the cultural impact Curie had on women in science in the U.S. Curie became the first woman to win the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1903 and Chemistry in 1911. She was the only woman to win two Nobel Prize awards in two different fields. Aside from this impact, Des Jardins focused on the personal and professional life of Curie. She shared the story of Curie’s friendship with American journalist
Missy Meloney, who promoted her work on cancer research. Although Des Jardins describes how Maria Curie made grand discoveries in lung cancer prevention and developed ways to control it. Meloney managed to interview Curie for her magazine despite Curie’s shyness towards public appearance. With the help of Meloney, Curie would gain recognition for the discovery of radium. Des Jardins focused on the role public relations and science played in Curie’s life. Other women in science became interested in studying other disciplines, or combining their background with other fields.
One case was that of political science scholar Aleksandra Jarczewska from Warsaw University. She presented a discussion on how Maria Curie’s advances contributed to the education of women. “Empowering women and wanting them to become entrepreneurs led me to participate in programs outside of the university,” Jarczewska said. Other women in science who were mentioned were Emmy Noether, mathematician and contributor to theoretical physics and physicist Lise Meitner, who discovered the element protactinium with chemist, Otto Hahn in 1918. Jarczewska supported the Business Entrepreneur Support Training program created to cater to female en-
trepreneurs. Sponsored by the U.S. government in Poland, she organized the project together with mainly students. The goal was to attract women engineers, chemists, physicists and mathematicians since there is still a large percentage of women that are resigning academia in Poland. Some resign due to cultural differences, religious views or unequal pay. “Today, I stress the value of education and corporation support from women to women,” Jarczewska said. “It is an important factor to help them succeed.” The conference included a session that discussed curing cancer. Scientist/ page 5
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NEWS
Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2017
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NEIU braces for FY2019, plans student housing expansion Sarahy Lopez The financial situation at NEIU was relieved during the month of July, when a state budget was finally passed. For two years, NEIU had no budget and struggled to keep afloat, implementing furlough days and laying off employees. During the Board of Trustees meeting on Sept. 14, members analyzed the budget that the school received from the state. Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed the budget bill on July 4, but the Legislature overrode that veto on July 6. For Northeastern, the approved fiscal year 2018 appropriation totals $33,209,000, a 10 percent decrease from the amended appropriation in fiscal year 2015. Tuition revenues and the state appropriation are the primary sources of funds for most universities, but for fiscal year 2018, university officials projected that revenue will decrease due to the shortage of student credit hour enrollments and state support from the Illinois General Assembly. As for fiscal year 2019, the university will assume that they will receive the same appropriation from fiscal year 2018 of about $33,209,000. However, the university will put in a request for the fiscal year, totaling $92,310,300, in order to cover an increase in wages, construction and renovations to improve operating efficiencies, physical and technological infrastructure and systems. One of these construction projects is an education building. The Daniel L. Goodwin College of Education resides within Lech Walesa Hall, and plans to have an entire education building were made. “About $73 million in funding for planning and construction was approved by the Illinois Legislature for fiscal year 2010,” Vice President of Finance Michael Pierick said. “The university worked with an architectural firm in 2014 and 2015 to create a space that needs inventory, a building conceptual design, and a schematic design. The firm then began creating construction drawings and was about halfway through the
construction drawing process when the governor halted the project on July 1, 2015.” The beginning of the state budget impasse delayed any further plans for the education building. Currently, the university awaits whether or not the state budget will allow the revival of that program. According to Vice President of Student Affairs Daniel Lopez the Nest will be at full capacity as early as next fall. “The majority of [the residents] are freshmen. Most students live within the vicinity of the university.” Despite being a commuter school, there is a large number of students interested in staying in student-housing. “What we were finding is that a large percentage of CPS students weren’t interested in Northeastern because they wanted a residence life experience. That was one of the reasons why President Hahs decided to bring a residence component to the university,” Interim President Richard Helldobler said at the meeting. “The university is currently reviewing options for additional ‘phase two’ student housing. American Campus Communities was responsible for planning and developing The Nest, and oversees operations there. They have presented several options for additional housing,” Pierick said. One of these options is to add a “wing” to the Nest, providing more rooms. A second is to develop housing on both sides of Bryn Mawr Avenue between Kimball Avenue and Bernard Street. The final option is to develop housing down Foster Avenue, but that would require to give up the athletic fields. “Phase Two” of expanding the Nest would require the university to provide about 10 percent of the funding due to their partnership with American Campus Communities. In addition, the board members approved a new master’s program in public health, a 42-credit-hour program that uniquely offers broad, master’s level training in public health FY 2019/ page 5
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Tuesday, Month 26, 2017
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Police Blotter The following incidents occurred between the dates of September 14 to September 20 at NEIU’s main campus: Sept. 14 - P.E. Building: An unknown offender stole a wallet, cell phone and other personal items from a locker. Sept. 19 - The Nest: A well-being check was made on a student who did not show up to work and has not answered calls from a concerned parent. Sept. 19 - Parking Lot-J: An unknown offender stole a 2017 Hyundai Sonata from the parking lot. Sept. 20 - B-Building: A suspicious elderly person who has made threats in the past left the building after police were called. Sept. 20 - The Nest: A victim reports that an offender had a gun at her door. Officers searched area and were posted at the Nest all night.
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Department of Education to compile the list of safest campuses in each state. The Independent reached out to the American Campus Communities corporate office but as of the time of print the request for a comment from Student Housing Director Keith Cosentino was not returned.
Scientist
Among those speakers stood NEIU Chemistry Professor Dr. Jing Su. Su’s research involves medicinal chemistry and chemical biology. During her studies, Su uses peptide arrays and mass specContinued from 3 trometry to identify protein phosphatase activity which helps detect cancer in cells. Behind this research lies a hope to pinpoint the changes in cancer cells, which can aid in the early detection and potentially save many lives. One type of cancer she currently studies is melanoma, a highly invasive skin cancer. St. Thomas University mathematician Cheri Shakiban also distinguishes melanoma and moles on the skin. “I became interested in numbers and how they work since I was young,” Shakiban said. “In Iran, attending an all-girls school, I received encouragement from teachers so I became confident in studying math.”Her applications on characterizing commons signs of cancer, are based on two types of methods: the signature curve method and the fractal dimension method. Through this study, Shakiban created an animated image base that could be used for border detection of the cancer. Her takeaway from this conference was to encourage students to be strong, and to support a future for women in science. Sponsored by the Chicago Cancer Health Equity Collaborative, the program continues research and work toward advances in STEM fields.
FY2019
via 36 required credit hours and six credit hours of relevant electives. “Studies showed that Northeastern has the capacity to build health science programs within the academic portfolio,” Continued from 4 Helldobler said. The primary focus of the MPH program is to be a generalist program with a focus on health disparities. The program will prepare a diverse population of students and afford them the opportunity to collaborate with, conduct research in, and work in a variety of public health settings, including public and private healthcare organizations, health research facilities, social service and environmental health agencies, and government institutions dedicated to public health policy, programming and services. Job titles in this field may include such titles as health educator, community health worker, medical and health service manager, policy
Features
Mossadegh Initiative funds scholarships Hossein Sadeghian If you have ever been in the College of Business and Management at NEIU, you probably come across the Mossadegh Servant Leaders Hall, where many students gather together to study or spend time with their classmates. The idea for the Mossadegh Hall began when a group of Iranian faculty members, along with hundreds of Iranians from across the U.S., helped create the Mossadegh Fund to name the hall after Mossadegh (Prime Minister of Iran from 1951 to 1953 who is mostly known for nationalizing the Iran’s Oil Industry). It provides for several scholarships and an annual lecture about servant leadership and the legacy of Dr. Mossadegh. The Mossadegh Initiative now aims to expand by inviting those who believe in the idea of servant leadership and assisting NEIU students. Its inaugural principal, Dr. Mateo M. Farzaneh, explained more about Mossadegh and the initiative under his name to make NEIU community more familiar with him and his legacy. Dr. Farzaneh is an associate pro-
Dr. Mateo Farzaneh was appointed by the university to lead the Mossadegh Initiative. A member of the Department of History faculty since 2010, Farzaneh teaches Iranian and Middle Eastern history at Northeastern and is the author of the award-winning book.| All photos by Robin Bridges
fessor in the history department and teaches the history of the modern middle east and the Islamic Civilization at NEIU since fall 2010. Farzaneh was appointed by the university on June 7, 2017 after a discussions with now retired President Sharon Hahs and the Vice President of Institutional Advancement Liesl Downey. Dr. Farzaneh is also the author of “The Iranian Constitutional Revolution and the Clerical Leadership of Khurasani” and is currently working on his second book called “Iranian Women and Gender in the Iran-Iraq War.” “In 2010, Dr. Hamid Akbari, who was a professor of Management and Marketing in the College of Business, along with his wife and some other Iranians, thought about the idea of creating a foundation or a fund under the name of Mossadegh,” Dr. Farzaneh said on the Mossadegh Initiative. “Also
adding to it the concept of servant leadership which is used as a business model at various business schools. That is why this fund was established in the College of Business and Management.” In addition, he said Dr. Akbari and his colleagues headed an international campaign where Iranians, and those who appreciate Persian culture and the concept of servant leadership, contributed $250,000. They named the hall “Mossadegh Servant Leaders Hall” after Dr. Mossadegh; it is now a study hall in COBM at NEIU. Who exactly was Dr. Mossadegh and why is he so important in Iran’s contemporary history? “He was the prime minister of Iran who was overthrown by the British and the American governments through a coup, now referred to as generally The Coup of 1953,” Farzaneh said. “The most important contribution Dr. Mos-
sadegh made was the nationalization of the oil industry by taking away the British monopoly over Iranian oil industry and placing Iranians in full control of their petroleum business. He died under house arrest in 1967.” How does The Mossadegh Initiative contribute to NEIU and its students? Farzaneh explained that “from the income that Mossadegh funds generate, the NEIU Foundation has created two sets of scholarships: one at COBM and the other at the College of Arts and Sciences.” He reiterated the fact that students should look for calls for scholarship applications which are due Oct. 1 from both colleges. In addition, he said there will be an annual keynote lecture scheduled for spring of 2018. “Not only will we continue the same funds that were created and established in 2013, but will now add more money through fundraisers to the
scholarship base, in order to cover more students,” Farzaneh said. “We are trying to raise funds to offer persian language classes starting in 2018 and launch a scholarly article competition award that is solely about Dr. Mossadegh, his legacy, and the history of nationalization of oil in Iran.” There is an important fundraising event coming up on October 21 at NEIU, where an honored guest is expected to attend. “We are honoring Mr. Ghobad Fakhimi who was a high ranking executive in management of the NIOC [National Iranian Oil Company] during Shah’s time and after the revolution in 1979. He is a highly regarded and devoted manager and regards Mossadegh as a role model for service and servant leadership. He has personally contributed a great deal to the success of the servant leadership campaign that was completed in 2013,” Farnazeh said. Mr. Fakhimi is the author of the book “Thirty Years Iran Oil: From Nationalization To Islamic Revolution.” His talk is titled, “Pragmatic Petroleum Management Towards Naturalization in the Iranian Oil” and takes place on Oct. 21. Anyone can attend and benefit from Fakhimi’s experience as an oil executive through his talk and enjoy the plentiful Persian food that will be served along with spirits. Tickets are $75 per person including dinner and beverages and all proceeds will help us build the fund necessary to offer Persian language classes and expanding reach within the community. Anyone interested to learn more about The Mossadegh Initiative and look at photos and other interesting references to the past they can visit neiu. edu/mossadegh.
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Features
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Puerto Rico needs more than prayers
Liz Varmecky Less than three weeks ago I rode out Hurricane Irma in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, the oldest city in the United States. I planned this trip for months to celebrate my husband’s fortieth birthday. I watched on television as the focus of weather reports started to shift from Hurricane Harvey and the massive flooding in Texas to Irma, which was forming off the coast of Africa. Coming from that distance the storm could hit anywhere. As my husband and I were making our last-minute preparations, I checked Puerto Rico’s recent storm history and it looked like many storms skirted the
island for one reason or another. I looked back on my days spent in Puerto Rico during Hurricane Irma while I follow the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. Dams are failing causing mass evacuations. Rivers run through streets blocking traffic. Wooden structures are decimated leaving many homeless in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria. Less than 48 hours after we arrived on the island we attempted to leave. It was too late because our discount airline wasn’t scheduling additional flights. About twelve hours before the storm arrived, the projections showed Irma going north and skimming the north coast of Puerto Rico. I was lucky.
Irma could have been Maria, except as a category five hurricane. Hurricane Maria disabled and dismantled cell towers, leaving most of the island without cellular service, even if individuals are lucky enough to have generators. Lines for gas to power generators are long and shortages are inevitable. Most Puerto Ricans are dependent on electricity to pump water. Without electricity they are cut off from most communication, air conditioning and access to running and potable water. I experienced this on a small scale during Irma. I had no electricity for five days but I had access to locations with generators. I had no data service for about 36 hours, but I had access to WiFi. I had spotty cell service for a day, but texts were getting through. I had no running water for two days, but I had plenty of water stored and bottled. I lived without air-conditioning in the tropics, but for a short period of time. After Hurricane Maria many Puerto Ricans will endure much worse for months. The wind speeds experienced in Old San Juan during Irma were equivalent to a category one hurricane. Preparing for the storm, watching the winds wax and wane and living five days in Puerto Rico during the recovery process was the greatest adventure of my life. See the full narrative of my experience with Hurricane Irma in the next edition of Que Ondee Sola Magazine. For those looking to help Casa Puertorriqueña (1237 North California) will be collecting donations indefinitely to send to Puerto Rico. Donations can be dropped off either at the main Casa Puertorriqueña or their new larger collection site at 1864 North LeClaire. Someone will be available at the LeClaire site Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2p.m. and between 6
During Hirricane Irma street benches lost their seats as winds ripped trees from the ground and tossed around everything in its path. | All photos by Liz Varmecky
p.m. and 9p.m. or at the main site every day from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. They are also seeking volunteers to help process donations. The most called for donations are : • flashlights • batteries • lanterns • battery operated fans • canned goods • baby food • diapers • bottled water • personal hygiene products • empty boxed for shipping If you are interested in either volunteering our donating please call (312) 647-4108 or (773) 697-4544.
Opinions Here’s ‘The Hook Up’:
Being an active bystander, reflecting on 'slut'
Picture by Christian Gralak | Graphic by Brandi Nevarez (Left) Andy Lagunas, Yadira Alonzo, Brandon Blade and friend attended "The Hook Up" on Sept. 4 in the Alumni Hall South, where guest speaker Anthony DiNicola talked about sexual harrasment and ways to be an active bystander. (Right) A graphic about a NEIU student recieving unnecessary commentary.
Cecilia G. Hernandez “Cockblock! Some cocks need to be blocked,” Anthony DiNicola said to a small audience of NEIU students in Alumni Hall. “We have to be willing to call them out.” During “The Hook Up” improv presentation on Sept. 4, DiNicola coaxed us to be an active bystander by introducing four ways to intervene while also making us reflect on how the language we use today affects – and encourages – sexual assault crimes. DiNicola received his rape victim advocacy through ICASA in Springfield, Illinois. He is a senior educator in the Catharsis Productions team, where their mission is “to change the world by producing innovative, accessible and research-
supported programming that challenges oppressive attitudes and shifts behavior,” according to their website. DiNicola successfully achieved this mission in “The Hook-up.” He first asked us to help him think of slurs and names used to describe a person who enjoys sex. He started with slurs used for women and wrote a total of ten names. “Slut” was among the ten slurs. For men, “pimp” and “player” were shouted from the crowd. “[The names used for women] are powerfully more aggressive,” DiNicola said. He explained how “pimp” is another way of saying “master” in reference to a “whore.” Women are being objectified, reduced to being a vessel of pleasure, while men are the ones in control.
“It’s a modern form of slavery,” DiNicola said. “Slut” is often used to label a person who has multiple partners, but DiNicola asked us how many partners does it take to be called a slut? Different numbers were shouted, ranging from two to eight partners. I personally shouted “two” just to see the reactions of my friends beside me; the crowd laughed. “‘Slut’ is a magical, made-up construct,” DiNicola said, after our chuckles died down. “We have a million different numbers [because] ‘slut’ was created by society. We are society. We can let [slut] go.” Freshman Andy Lagunas attended “The Hook-up” and strongly agreed with DiNicola because of his experience with the word “slut.” There were rumors about Lagunas that were
being spread by his Steinmetz College Prep high school peers through a Facebook page called “The Shade Room.” The rumors centered around Lagunas allegedly having multiple sex partners. “People started to treat me differently,” Lagunas said, after discovering he was one of the victims of The Shade Room. “These rumors belittled my self-esteem, because I was letting their words get to me. I couldn’t see my self-worth.” Lagunas said it was his peers that were repeatedly calling him a “slut” and giving him a negative connotation. By his senior year, Lagunas said “it became a norm to be known as ‘the class slut.’” “Because of this, my anxiety was triggered,” he said. “It’s not about someone’s sexual
history, no,” DiNicola said. “There’s nothing wrong with wanting to have sex.” Unfortunately, slut-shaming starts early in school environments. Sonali Kohli’s article in the Los Angeles Times included a nationally representative 2011 survey from the American Assn. of University Women, where they found 46 percent of girls and 22 percent of boys experienced unwelcome sexual jokes, comments, and gestures. These sexual comments or gestures can also come in the form of catcalls. Catcalls are another way of sexual harassment because they are not welcomed nor desired, and it makes many people feel uncomfortable. “I know receiving catcalls or stares doesn’t mean I’m extraordinarily
www.neiuindependent.org beautiful, but rather it’s men protruding their desired to control me,” junior Elsa Salgado said. Salgado mentioned how doing something mundane, like walking to school from the brown line train stop, is filled with men telling her to smile or badgering her for her number. When she declines politely, they resort to slut-shaming her. Salgado says it doesn’t matter what she’s wearing; nothing is too revealing enough to deserve demeaning accusations like catcalls. “Regardless of my outfit, men need to stop being oppressors because that’s what you’re doing men: oppressing me, reducing me to an object of desire instead of a person with genuine feelings,” Salgado said. By allowing this derogatory and disparaging language continue to blend with our everyday narratives, we not only affect people’s selfesteem negatively, but we also allow perpetrators to blend in. “People who sexually harass need this language,” DiNicola said. “There are dangers in this language. It makes it hard to support the survivor and easier for [perpetrators] to come forward.” Sexual-abuse survivors are often the ones being questioned about the crime, about what they could have done to prevent it. Slut-shaming the victim, criticizing what they wore and blaming them for the crimes of a perpetrator enables sexual predators to continue their assaults. “[Society] treats rape as if it’s an inevitable thing, which makes it easier for us to push the crime away,” DiNicola said. “It’s not a crime about sexual attractiveness, but a crime about power and dominance.” Many survivors get asked, “Why didn’t you fight and scream? Why didn’t you do your best to escape?” During our interrogation, we often forget that there’s a third option to our body’s natural reaction to threats: fight, flight, or freeze. “Freezing and withdrawing are defensive responses –- not consent,” Jackie Hong wrote in her article “Why Victims ‘Freeze Up’ During Sexual Assaults” published in Vice. Her article showcased Ryerson University psychology professor
and “The Anti-Anxiety Workbook” author Dr. Martin Antony, where he said, “Freezing is actually a common response to a threat that we see in mammals, in fact, not just humans.” We might freeze when in situations “where there’s an element of fear or panic,” like presenting a project in front of a crowd or being attacked by someone we considered a friend. DiNicola said most sexual assault cases are “non-stranger,” meaning the perpetrator was someone they knew. He urged us to consider maybe the perpetrator was someone they trusted, and he forced us to acknowledge that non-survivors wouldn’t know how to react either. “So how dare we tell someone else what they should have done?” DiNicola said. What DiNicola emphasised throughout his improv presentation was that “anybody can be a victim of this crime and anyone can be a part of rape.” Survivors can be any gender and any race. Cases like Brock Turner diminish the stereotype that it’s usually a white, blonde girl getting assaulted by a person of color. In my experience, people of color are the first ones being considered as perpetrators. They are the bad people because of their skin tone. Turner forced everyone to realize that it’s not only people of color, but white people too. DiNicola offers four ways we, as a society, can intervene and help stop sexual assault. They are: direct, distract, delegate and delayed. We can directly walk up to a person we suspect is being cornered and ask, “Are you okay?” It let’s the perpetrator know that we’re watching them, making them less likely to assault anyone. However, many of us are not as direct, so distract would be another way to intervene. By creating an excuse to pull the person away, either by asking them for help in answering a text (when really you’re showing them a note you wrote, asking if they are okay) or asking them to dance, you’re helping. If you need backup, delegate to the bouncers, to the DJ, to the bartender! Anyone willing to help keep an eye on the person. The last way to help is used after the crime happened. Helping
Tuesday, September 26, 2017
the victim find resources to support we can help our friend find resources them, without forcing them to use they might need at NEIU. Assistant Director of Student any of said resources, is the “delayed” Leadership Development Rae Joyce way. However, Director of Angelina Baguilat-Bukovsky is the only Pedroso Center for Diversity and confidential advisor outside of the Student Counseling Intercultural Affairs able to help victims. Maria Genao-Homs “Anybody can be a said the first step victim of this crime This means anyone can go to her if they to being an active bystander is to and anyone can be a want to share their experience without consider the safety part of rape.” of the person being -Anthony DiNicola, educator fear of it being reported. harassed. “I’m able to give the victim “If you intervene, you can aggravate the perpetrator,” Genao- options and let them control what Homs said. “Sometimes it’s better to they want to do,” Baguilat-Bukovsky wait and ask, ‘What can I do to help?’ said. “Giving control back to the victim is very important.” afterwards.” Being a medical advocate, she’s Genao-Homs explained that many times the lover or partner is the able to accompany the victim to the one harassing the person, and if we hospital so that they can get a rape intervene, that person has to go home kit done, if they want it. The rape kit with a triggered perpetrator. We have is good for three years, which can be to consider how intervening might held for evidence if within those three affect the victim because “no one ever years the victim decides to report the wants to feel like they can’t handle assault. their life.” “We must consider the safety of ourselves and the victim,” GenaoHoms said. So she suggests to first survey the scene, and once the perpetrator is out of sight, approach the victim and ask them what we can do to help. Our capacity to help depends on what the victim is willing to let us do. Genao-Homs mentioned how NEIU doesn’t have an active bystander training for the community, but it’s something she considered pulling together. I personally think this training would be useful in educating students on ways to intervene or handle situations concerning harassment effectively and safely. I hear it all the time - catcalls, perpetrators trying to leer victims in with slurs or getting them intoxicated. I usually abruptly drag the victim away from the perpetrator or tell the catcaller to shut the hell up. I don’t consider my safety because I think I’m larger than life, indestructible, which is not the case. An active bystander training would help me know when it’s safe to intervene personally, or when it’s best to ask for help. Reiterating back to DeNicola's fourth way of intervening (delayed),
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Baguilat-Bukovsky is also able to call NEIU’s Director of Equal Opportunity and Ethics Compliance Leah Heinecke-Krumhus, which is another way of saying NEIU’s legal attorney, and ask questions for the victim so that they can make an informed decision. “The main thing I would want the victim to know is that they have options,” Baguilat-Bukovsky said. “They have the decision to say what level they want to start with.” Whether it’s needing someone to listen or reporting a sexual assault (or harassment), Baguilat-Bukovsky is a resource we can use. Her office is located in the Angelina Pedroso, and Student Counseling Services is located in B-119. “The Hook Up” made it painfully obvious we, as a society, need to change how we treat each other. We need to stop using words like “slut,” and become an active bystander. We need to look out for each other because if not us, who else?
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Opinions
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The Independent
The cruel world we tolerate: A response to 'Earthlings'
Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Robin Bridges Managing Editor Rut Ortiz News Editor Sarahy Lopez Opinions Editor Cecilia G. Hernandez Arts & Life Editor Bisma Zafar Sports Editor Patrick Casas Online Editor Miguel Casimiro Social Media Editor Nallely Padilla Marketing and Advertising Director Christopher Starnawski Payroll Manager Cheryl Johnson Cartoonist Brandi Nevarez
Independent Staff Writers Angel Rodas Amaris Rodriguez Hossein Sadeghian Daniel Montesdeoca Lenore Pettinger Daniela Arteaga Liz Varmecky 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.
Nallely Padilla Sitting down in my favorite burger joint, I sip on my coke and I wait for my veggie burger. I keep my mind busy with my Facebook feed, randomly liking pictures and videos of cute dogs doing tricks. As I continue waiting, I see a woman with an expensive-looking fur coat with leather boots. While I admire her clothes, I realize animals are all around us. But before watching “Earthlings,” I never thought about how they are silently being slaughtered and maltreated for our benefit. I recently saw the 2005 documentary “Earthlings” and I was shocked. What is an earthling, you might ask? It’s all of us inhabiting and depending on Earth: all living beings. Peter Singer, a DeCamp Professor of Bioethics at Princeton University, would argue that earthlings are all living things capable of feeling pain, which includes animals, not just people. To be clearer: animals are sentient beings, but many other philosophers argue that this isn’t so. Hearing the constant squeals from pigs, the high-pitched screeching of the cows, and the squawks of chickens as they are being slaughtered would rapidly erase any doubt that animals feel pain. Have you ever stopped to think where your food comes from? According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2,850 commercial cattle were kept in slaughter factories during the month of June 2017 alone. In “Earthlings,” I saw detailed images and videos of how these animals are poorly mistreated and their causes of death are due to illnesses, injuries and poor living conditions. There is a parallel between animals and slavery. Part one of the documentary
Graphic by Brandi Nevarez
explained how these animals are our pets, but have you wondered where your pet came from? Usually, large amounts of these pets are kept in pet mills, which are low-budget shelters with poor living conditions where a veterinarian is rarely available. There are about 25 million animals, like dogs and cats, kept in pet mills. About nine million of those animals are exposed to injury and illnesses, and 16 million are forcefully killed since there’s not enough room in the shelters. These animals are kept in small, metal cages for most of their lives, and almost all of them go insane from isolation. Most of them don’t know what a caress feels like because they are often thrown savagely from cage to cage. Due to overcrowding, a lucky few are euthanized, but the majority are forced into gas chambers where it takes roughly 20 minutes to die. Or some are repeatedly smashed onto the ground, where a pet mill worker kills the animal by kicking its small body just for their amusement. Cows suffer greatly due to the dairy industry. A healthy cow usually lives for 20 years on average. A milking cow lasts only 4 years due to dehydration, and being stuck on a machine for almost their entire life.
What most people don’t think about is, due to overcrowding, the animals are dying inside the cages. Other animals, like pigs, resort to cannibalism as a way to deal with their stress. Some are forced to share cages with dead pigs, while others aren’t able to walk because of how sick they are. “Earthlings” demonstrated how slaughter factories perform debeaking, also called beak trimming, so that the chickens won’t peck at each other. Yet they still continue to peck and eat each other. These living conditions are sickening as the animals are being mistreated and they do not have their basic rights met, including living in a clean environment. As I remembered the lady with the fur coat and leather boots, I thought about how wolves, raccoons, seals and polar bears are killed in slaughter factories to make that fur coat and those leather shoes. The many ways that these poor animals are killed include having their necks broken, suffocation, carbon monoxide poisoning, and anal execution. Once the fur is skinned off, the carcuses are fed to those who are still caged. Animals are often used as
entertainment, and that is a way of being mistreated. It opened my eyes when I learned that people in other parts of the world participate in “pigeon bowling,” where you literally throw a pigeon like a bowling ball. Other forms of animal entertainment includes rodeos, pig races, horse races, hunting, and circuses. The last point brought up in “Earthlings” is using animals for medical experiments. This includes head injury research involving fully conscious baboons. Their heads are forcefully crammed in a metal helmet, and then thrusted into a sixty-degree angle of 1,000 g’s of force. The animals used for these experiments also encounter electrical shocks, burns, infections, along with physical and psychological torture. “Earthlings” reiterates that animals are living beings that are strong, mobile and feel emotion. Slaughter factories and the mistreatment of animals are a result of our society's demands, which reflect our lack of sympathy for other living creatures. Speciesism is at the core of these industries. We are responsible for these actions, but there are ways that we can prevent this cruelty from happening. Some lifestyle changes you can make are limiting meat, dairy and eggs in your daily diet. Also, stop purchasing leather, fur, or any other animal skin product. Let’s educate ourselves on where our products come from. From a personal experience, after watching many documentaries on slaughter factories and where our food comes from, I have adapted more to a plant-based diet. This doesn’t necessarily mean that I don’t eat meat, but I limit myself. Making the transition can be very difficult, but slow progress is better than no progress.
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To Be or Not to Be Vegan? Amaris Rodriguez I open up my Facebook page to another notification from my friend tagging me in a video on why people should go vegan, a common practice for him. On Instagram another person posts a video showcasing how meat products are made with the caption “Go Vegan!” It seems like in recent years veganism, the practice of not consuming or using any animal products, has picked up pace. As a meat-eater who has recently found herself watching vegan food diary videos on YouTube, I am constantly torn between the idea of living an animal-free-product life and my love for pepperoni. Veganism has recently gained popularity in the United States, especially among millennials. According to the “Top Trends in Prepared Foods in 2017” report, six percent of the population now identifies as vegan, which is a tremendous increase from the one percent back in 2014. As their numbers keep increasing, so does my curiosity on what a plant-based diet looks like and why people turn to it. One of the main reasons that people turn to veganism is animal rights. While many people are familiar with the concept of being vegetarian, being vegan is taking that one step further. Vegans do not use or consume any product that was made with animal products, including dairy and leather. PETA videos and strong online communities are focused on educating people on the inhumane practices of animal farming, and how society has disconnected human’s feelings towards certain animals. An argument that is often made is why humans value the life of certain animals over others. Why are we okay with killing a baby calf, but not okay with killing a puppy? For us in the
U.S., it could be because we associate a dog as a pet, but this concept is not the same throughout the world; a domestic animal here can be dinner somewhere else. Another argument from animal rights activists is that animals feel pain, just like humans do. Scientists and psychologists have long debated the idea of animals feeling or showcasing emotions, testing different species from domestic animals such as dogs to wild elephants. Researchers have gone to great lengths to show similarities between animal and human emotions. A 2014 study in Hungary, conducted by the Comparative Ethology Research Group, showcased that humans and dogs have the same reaction to emotional sounds such as crying and laughter, which light up areas of the primary auditory cortex in both. These signs point to the idea that animals are able to recognize emotion, while other researchers are working towards proving that they feel emotions the same way humans do. As an animal lover, this is one of the strongest arguments that make me feel guilty about consuming meat and other animal based products. While I stay away from products that are tested on animals I have not been able to give up chicken for good. Recently, as I have started to pay more attention to what types of food I consume, I have experimented with more plant-based products. I have opted out ground beef meatballs for meatless ones, and have made great use of my veggie spiralizer. Since I was a little kid, I have been told that consuming more natural food, including fresh fruits and veggies, has great benefits for our health. However, most of us were also taught that we need animal products growing up,
like milk and animal protein, to grow strong and healthy. While many U.S. citizens believe milk is needed to grow strong and healthy, studies have rendered that popular belief a myth. A study conducted by Yale University School of Medicine in 1992, showed that over sixteen different countries, 70 percent of bone fracture rates were attributed to the consumption of animal protein. A more recent study released in 2016 by the Massachusetts General Hospital showcased that high intake of proteins from animal products were associated with higher mortality rates, as opposed to their counterparts who received their protein from plant based foods. The study, which was conducted over a period of 30 years,
related that a diet consisting of high animal protein derived from red meats had a direct correlation with the higher mortality rates seen in carnivores. While many people have their own reasons for switching and maintaining a vegan diet, it is important to understand that everyone’s body is different. People who might suffer certain medical conditions, especially those involving muscle development, need to consume animal protein since protein from animal sources tend to deliver all the amino acids that a body needs while plant based proteins usually lack one or more essential amino acids. As I strive to educate myself on more humane ways to consume
animal products or different alternatives that are available, chicken will remain a part of my diet for now. Through education and awareness on different reasons why people turn to veganism, I have discovered that what is best for my body at the moment, and recommended by my doctor, is consuming animal protein. Even people who do consume animal protein can take small steps that can have positive effects, such as choosing grass-fed and humanely treated options. As veganism becomes a more prominent option for food consumption one of the main topics of discussion is healthier food options. Regardless of what diet someone follows, healthy food should be a concern for everyone.
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The importance of consent:‘The Hook Up’ Amaris Rodriguez Carthsis Productions returned to NEIU and brought “The Hookup” with it. An interactive production led by Anthony Dinicola, which looks at dating behaviors and how they can be hiding sexual violence. “I like to use real language because I like to talk about the subject matter how people really talk about the subject matter,” said Dinicola. Dinicola did not hold back when addressing the controversial topic of rape. “Rape is a problem,” he said. A statement like this might seem obvious for people, as most can agree that rape is a crime, but the goal of “The Hookup” is to unmask society’s perspectives on dating and what “typical” predatory behavior looks like. Even people who choose to abstain from sexual activity are not always safe. “That choice goes only as far as your partner’s choices to respect that choice,” said Diniacola. In the first question asked to the audience, Dinicola pointed out the difference between the words that are used to describe a woman who has multiple sexual partners versus a man who has multiple sexual partners. Not only was the list of words to describe a woman almost twice the size as the one for the men, but it also contained more aggressive and negative words.
Dinicola was also quick to point out what all the words on the whiteboard had in common: we all have different definitions of what makes up those words. As the audience yelled out different numbers of sexual partners for what they believe makes up a “slut,” it became clear that there was no real set definition. “There is no such thing as a slut, it’s like a freaking unicorn, it’s made up,” he said. The point of starting the audience with this exercise was to showcase that language runs rampant. “People who sexually assault need language and double standards to justify their behavior,” said Dinicola. As a society, if we control the language and the power we give derogatory connotations regarding human sexual behavior we can change the discussion of not only the sexual predators but also their victims. It is not uncommon for sexual assault victims to be questioned and referred to as “sluts and whores” by others, making it harder to sympathize with their situations. To break down what can lead to these situations, Dinicola asked the audience to brainstorm what the differences between a “great” hookup and a “bad hookup” were. “Not all hookups are created equal,” he said.
“Consent” was the first word mentioned under the category of what makes a hookup great and has been largely accepted by society as a standard. But what does consent look like? Consent is verbal, active, and ongoing. As Dinicola clearly stated, the person who is initiating the sexual act must ask every time. As a college-age group, the next scenario brought up in “The Hookup” can be relatable. The scenario included parties or other gatherings where alcohol is present. Also on the list for things that would make a hook up bad is being under the influence of any substance, including alcohol. Almost always the drug that is used in cases of rape is alcohol, as it is legal and easily accessible. These scenarios often included similar warning signs for both the victim and the aggressor. The victim can seem highly intoxicated, with slurred speech and uncoordinated movements, while the aggressor, for the most part, remains sober in order to maintain control of the situation. “We have to stop thinking that it is just a drunk hookup,” Dinicola said. It is also crucial to remember that not every aggressor is a stranger, as 78 percent of rape is non-stranger rape. “We are taught to punch and kick
and scream to the person who grabs us in the dark ally, not the person from chem class,” he said. Recently, high-profile cases of rape have allowed for a large audience to understand this topic and change the perception we have of who commits rape. Brock Turner, a former Stanford swimmer, made national headlines last year for sexually assaulting an unconscious Emily Doe near a dumpster outside a fraternity party in January 2015. While Turner’s case was met with criticism due to the sentence he was served and raised questions in the treatment of sexual assault victims, it has helped change the image of the “stereotypical rapist.” While “The Hookup” talked about perpetrators of sexual assault crimes, it did not fail to mention how we can help victims. “The biggest thing that can help is if the first person they speak to meets them with support,” said Dinicola. “They think ‘I have someone who has my back’ and that is an amazing moment.” In this new hookup culture our society is currently living in, it is important to understand how we can make a difference and change the outcome of a situation, or as Dinicola put it “the power we have on the outside.” In situations where we see some-
one who we believe is in potential danger of becoming a victim it is important for us to intervene. While the idea of walking into a confrontational situation can be scary, Diniacola delivered ways to intervene by remembering the 4 D’s; direct, distract, delegate, and delayed. When dealing with a heavy topic such as sexual assault, interactive programs such as “The Hookup” offered an entertaining way to address an issue that can affect many college campuses. NEIU, aware of the importance of having these conversations with students, made sure to offer information on how students can access resources if need be. Rae Joyce Baguilat, one of the confidential advisors on campus, made Student Health pamphlets available for those who might need them. “We want to make sure that people have resources, that everyone knows where the health services,” she said. “We know that if there are students who have been sexually assaulted they might not know where to go so they go unreported.” With one in five women and one in 33 men being victims of sexual assault, it is important to take the message of “The Hookup” and learn to decipher appropriate dating behavior from potentially dangerous behavior.
Street biking: A practical guide to staying safe on the road
Danny Montesdeoca
Riding a bike in Chicago isn’t for the faint of heart. There’s this innate animosity that exists between cyclist and motorist – a tug of war over who has the right of way. I’ve been riding a bike for seven years now, and a courier for 4 months. Whether I’m working, going
to school or just going for a ride, every time I walk down the steps of the back porch with my bike on my shoulder, I’m mentally preparing myself for battle. All cyclists lose battles every now and then. The last time I got hit by a car was two Fridays ago, and it wasn’t my fault at all. So here are tips for cyclists to stay
safe, and some tips for motorists to put cyclists in less danger. If you have two feet off the ground: I’m going to skip the “wear a helmet, stay on the right side of the road, use hand signals when turning” tips. Those are the obvious safety tips.Be aware. This should go without saying,
but I need to emphasize this. Be intune with the flow of traffic. Don’t just look at the road ahead of you to avoid potholes. Look at the road ahead of you to see if there are any cars making a right or left onto your lane. Look ahead to see if people are crossing. Look ahead to see if anyone’s getting out or about to get out. Peer
behind your left shoulder to catch a glimpse of what’s going on around you. Pay attention to the smells too, because it can be lifesaver if you have your headphones in and don’t hear that truck or bus coming from behind you. Use your five senses . Biking/ page 14
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New to the neighborhood: T&B Grill Naellely Padilla Grab a bite in the welcoming atmosphere in this local restaurant, T&B Grill, located at 3658 W. Lawrence Ave. T&B stands for gourmet tacos and burgers. T&B offers delivery through Grubhub, which is very convenient. They also offer everyday specials such as any burger and dessert for $14.99 and three tacos plus dessert for $13.99. The restaurant is clean and very laid-back with wooden tables that offer 2, 4 and 6 seaters, which is perfect for just yourself or a group of friends. The restaurant also offers special requests for parties or large groups, and they will close the restaurant to the public for special events. T&B wasn’t very busy for a Tuesday afternoon, we were their only table at about 3 p.m. There were two servers assisting us, which were very friendly and attentive. If you are a vegetarian, you’re in luck because they offer vegetarian options. All burgers are a half-pound and served with your choice of hand cut fries, truffle fries or sweet potato fries. I had a veggie burger, and the patty consisted of black beans, bell peppers and zucchini, topped off with guacamole, alfalfa sprouts and served on a pretzel bun. My little companion had a chicken taco. All tacos
All photos by Naellely Padilla
are served on a homemade cilantro and jalapeno tortilla. The chicken taco consisted of guajillo chicken, chihuahua cheese and chipotle aioli. Aside from their delicious gourmet tacos and burgers, this restaurant also offers appetizers, sides, desserts and drinks. For desserts they offer chocolate souffle, creme brulee, tiramisu, beignets and seasonal ice cream. We would have loved to enjoy some dessert, but we were stuffed! Did I mention that T&B is also BYOB? Don’t forget your bottle of wine. Aside from being BYOB, during brunch hours T&B offers a mimosa and bellini bar, bloody mary’s and seasonal drinks. T&B has been open for a little over two years, and I wonder why I have never came across this restaurant before. I will definitely be a returning customer! T&B is usually most busy on Fridays and Saturdays. From “xploritall,” it was rated one of the top 25 restaurants in Chicago in 2016. Their hours of operation are Tuesday through Wednesday 3-10 p.m., Fridays 3-11 p.m., Saturday from 11a.m. - 11 p.m., Sunday from 11 a.m. - 9 p.m., and they’re closed on Mondays.
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Pancakes, Poetry in the courtyard Lenore Pettinger It was a warm Saturday on Sept. 16 and as part of NEIU Weekend, students, faculty and fans of the English department gathered for a Pancakes and Poetry Breakfast. The event was held in the secluded, shady courtyard between buildings B and D and orchestrated by Dr. Tim Libretti, head of the English Department. Dr. Tim Scherman was the chef du jour cooking up blueberry pancakes on camp stove griddles. Other breakfast items included juice, water, La Croix, pastries, fruit and, of course, coffee for this hour of the morning. Instructors Olivia Cronk and Christine Simokaitis organized a group of 15 writers for the literary entertainment part of the morning. The readings were a little broader than the “Poetry” title would suggest. The writers gave us not only original poetry but short stories, essays and entries from their personal jour-
nals whether from childhood, a past life or current day. Some had to overcome their evident nervousness to share their most personal thoughts with an audience that was at once familiar and unknown as writing is so personal and involves so much emotion. There were wonderful, poignant journal entries from childhood experiences with grandma watching “The Price is Right,” to playing the lotto at the local convenience store, to stocking up on junk food, to remembering a most gaudy apartment decorated with a flamboyant flare that only an ‘older’ lady with a penchant for glitter, gold and silver can accomplish. Katrina Underwood shared the wild and crazy nights of embarrassing meet-ups at infamous Chicago bars which made us all laugh, because we either lived through those same nights long ago when we were sowing our “wild oats,” or we are at that stage now putting ourselves through those
Eric Rodriguez, English undergrad student, read at the event
Biking Continued from 12 Think like a motorist. Sometimes motorists can’t be bothered to flick on their turn signal or they hit the gas when the light’s already on yellow. Be aware of their common tendencies and keep that at the forefront of your mind when you’re cruising. Know your limits. If taking a stop
sign, going in between cars or making a lane change into the left turning lane makes you nervous, anxious, scared or all three, then simply don’t do it. When you’re confronted with situations where you feel that way, you’ll be hesitant and unsure. That’s typically when accidents happen. Your health and life are on the line. Know your limits. If you’re in a cozy metal box: Cyclists live in your blind spot.
same laughable moments. Luke Kwasny had the audience paying close attention to his hilarious riff on “The Tortoise and the Hare,” laughing as Mr. Hare charges through life acquiring an MBA, a CPA, a wife, a mortgage, kids and an IRA, thoughtful as ragged, street corner Tortoise reminds us of the spiritual and the esoteric. “Mr. Hare, where to?” Other writers gave us their emotions on how painful a personal loss can be, or why we always feel like we are at that horribly awkward age of twelve. We heard how heartfelt the quiet, everyday events can be, and how the heart stopping, crashing, fearful, tumultuous, life-changing events can stay with us the rest of our life. Najlah Iqbal gave us political anger commensurate with our times, and others gave us experiences growing up in a culture, a family, or a neighborhood that was not like our own. Olivia Cronk ended the readings by thanking us for coming to hear this event of “resistance, art and celebration.” When Dr. Timothy Libretti organizes this event next year, you should come. It does not matter what course of study you are majoring in at NEIU, you will meet wonderful people. Your creative energy will be awakened. You will not regret coming. And you get to enjoy pancakes cooked by NEIU faculty while you’re at it. Check your blind spot if you happen to pass us up. We’re faster than you think.Be patient. Don’t try to squeeze between a car and a cyclist. Don’t try to rush past us to make that right turn. You’re in a nice, safe metal box. We’re not. The only thing protecting us from impact is our flesh. Have a bit of patience and be considerate of our lives.Use your turn signals when we’re around. No one’s a mind reader.
English professor Dr. Timothy Scherman made pancakes| All photos by Lenore Pettinger
Professor Scherman (right) serves blueberry pancakes to fellow instructor Olivia Cronk ( left).
A turn signal is the equivalent of an “excuse me.” This is the reason why I got hit two Fridays ago. The driver didn’t use their turn signal. Check before you open your door, especially if your door opens up into a bike lane. Getting doored isn’t fun and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. A bike is every bit the mode of transportation that a car is. Cyclists bear their responsibility on the road
and motorists carry a responsibility for acting in the interest of the well-being of the cyclist. The consequences for us cyclists are gargantuan compared to drivers in accidents. So, if you’re riding, heed my tips.
Tell us your tips on the road at @NEIUIndie on Twitter #RideSafeNEIU
Campus Events Welcome to the Independent Campus Calendar. Find out which events are happening, where and when. This and our online calendar are for events happening on any of NEIU’s four campuses as well as off campus events hosted by NEIU clubs, organizations, alumni, departments and staff.
September 2017 Latino Open House September 28 @ 10:00 am - 4:00 p.m. Main Campus Join us for Latino Open House hosted by Que Ondee Sola Magazine. Rhythm Future Quartet September 29 @ 7:30 p.m. 9:30 p.m. NEIU Recital Hall The acoustic jazz ensemble Rhythm Future Quartet has a straightforward agenda: to keep the spirit of Gypsy jazz alive and expanding in today’s musical universe. Band Members Jason Anick - Violin Olli Soikkeli - Guitar Max O’Rourke - Guitar Greg Loughman - Bass
October 2017 4v4 Indoor Soccer Registration October 2 - October 25
Register at imleagues.com Teams of six (6) players, one of which shall be the goalkeeper. Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater October 6 @ 7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Auditorium Theatre, 50 East Congress Pkwy , Chicago, IL Gridiron Challenge Registration October 16 - October 28 Register at imleagues.com Two teams of seven (7) players each on rectangular field with a Campus Recreation football. 6v6 Volleyball October 16 - November 6 Register at imleagues.com Teams shall consist of six (6) players. This is our Youth October 19 @ 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Stage Center Theatre, 3701 West Bryn Mawr, Chicago, IL 60625
Don’t see your event?
Submit your event to NEIUIndependentOnlineEditor@gmail.com . Subject line: Independent Event or Campus Calendar.
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College football beats NFL every time Patrick Casas As a fan of football for over 20 years, I see now why there are far more obvious reasons that college football is different than professional football. One of the most noticeable reasons is that the pro level of football pays its athletes but there is more to it than that. Pro level football is not as exciting or as fun to watch as college football is. As I have watched college football since eighth grade, I noticed something different about this game as opposed to NFL games: these football players play with their heart and soul, they play the game with more passion, intensity and integrity. The atmosphere is completely different, NFL gameday at a stadium is somewhat 50/50 depending on the team and audience. But for college football the atmosphere is electrifying with a young and lively audience. According to an article by ESPN writer Ryan McGee, “There’s a lot to love about billion-dollar pro-football palaces such as the Jerry Dome and MetLife Stadium, but only if you can afford to go. Sure, the bigger college stadiums do all they can to cater to the biggest donors, but there’s still always room the little folks. I would rather see freshmen with their faces painted and frat guys in surrender cobras any day rather than gratuitous NFL shots of the rich gray-haired owner in his end zone penthouse flanked by Hollywood types and his ‘niece.’” There is also another pivotal difference in both levels. At the pro level, one, two, or even three games won’t hurt your record if you want to make it to the playoffs because there are six spots to get into the playoffs for each conference. But for college football there is only four spots and that’s for over 50 teams which means they
only have one game to lose so college players have more to lose in a single season. According to usatoday.com, “One win can cost you a spot in the national championship. Every game matters.” Another example why college football is better than NFL is because of overtime. Overtime games in the college level are not timed instead they depended on who can outlast each other in a scoring shootout and each team will get a chance to have the ball. Unlike the pro level, it’s decided on a coin toss on who will get the ball first and after that if that team scores first they automatically win the
game and the other team loses and won’t have a chance to have the ball. Lastly, college football is better because of the pausing the clock for first downs. Again according McGee, “As the clock nears 00:00 at the end of each half, college quarterbacks are given multiple ways to stop the clock, most notably the pause to move the chains that comes with a first down. That adds post-two-minute-warning drama that simply doesn’t exist in the pros. Think about all the wild finishes in humungous college football games this year alone. It was more than the NFL produces in multiple seasons.”
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Boxing it Out with Catalano Hossein Sadeghian Joe Catalano is a junior, a secondary education major with a focus in history, and the leader of the NEIU boxing club. He was kind enough to give me his time and tell me more about what they do every week. He has been boxing for more than two years and says he came to boxing by watching “Rocky” movies at a young age. Joe became a leader of the boxing club in fall 2016. It started out with only three members but each semester more and more have joined. I asked him about the challenges they face in order to keep the club going. “Everything is sufficient enough. The people who were here before did a pretty good job. We have boxing gear and there is no need for people to bring gloves,” Catalano said. “In the past years members had to buy their own stuff but most of the things needed are already here. However, it is highly recommended to bring your own jump ropes and hand wraps.” The last time a competition event was held at NEIU was in 2013.Catalano is trying to hold a sanctioned event where members of the U.S.A. Boxing compete with each other in sanctioned events. There would be medics available in that competition and boxers have to have insurance coverage. Students interested in joining U.S. Boxing have to sign up at the TeamUSA.org/USA-
Boxing. A physical is required from a doctor and sent to the USA boxing central office. They will send a white passbook which has the boxer records such as height and age once the application is received and accepted. Normally seven to eight people practice every week but on busy days it has gone up to 12 people. Juaquin Mendoza, one of the new members, was interested in boxing because of physical well-being and protection. Another new club member, Michael Burdett said the instructor is great and knows how to deal with boxers at different levels. Oscar Encarnacion, a senior and accounting major, joined the club to learn self-defense. He liked boxing since high school but never tried it. He remembers on his first day Joe shook his hand and introduced him to the club members. He never left. Catalano encourages everyone to join. It’s a sport where students can get fit, build confidence and have fun at the same time. For interested students Boxing Club meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and you can join regardless of your age, gender or experience. If you would like to know more about the boxing club you can always contact campus recreation at (773) 4424135 or email Joe Catalano at jdcatala@neiu. edu.
Do you love sports? We need sports writers. Join the Independent to get paid for writing on topics you love. Email us at theNEIUIndependent@gmail.com or stop by at E-049 every Tuesday at 3p.m.