Student-run newspaper since 1960
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Vol. 37 Issue 8 Tuesday, January 30, 2018
Horseback Trick Rider’s Showtime Stories
Inside Features
Philosophy student does Circus: Senior Orest Sosnivka shares his trick riding story.
Inside News
Co-Chair for the Women’s March Tamika D. Mallory is keynote speaker for MLK day. pg. 2
Inside Opinions
A Hispanic Female in Space? American Girl’s new doll launches big dreams. pg. 8
Inside Arts & Life
Journalist Mariam Sohb addresses students at NEIU’s Meet the Media Night. pg. 11
pg. 6
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Next Issue Set to Release February 13
NEWS NEIU sitting at the ‘revolution table’ Sarahy Lopez Tamika D. Mallory, an advocate for women’s rights, gun restrictions, healthcare, and ethical police conduct visited NEIU on Jan 16 to talk about sensitive issues in today’s political climate. Mallory is also a national co-chair for the Women’s March and the president of Mallory Consulting, a strategic planning and event management firm. Mallory is a single mother whose son’s father, Jason Ryans, was shot and killed. She reacted to the gun violence with activism. This eventually inspired her interests in social justice, civil rights and women’s rights. Mallory worked closely with the Obama Administration on gun-control legislation during the past eight years, advising Joe Biden on these issues and helping pass bills. Aimed at Donald Trump’s presidency, the Women’s March in 2017 rallied millions of people from around the world at Washington D.C. to protest the recent acts against human rights, women’s rights, immigration reform and healthcare reform, reproductive rights, the natural environment,
Photo By Cecilia G Hernandez
Intro to African and African-American Studies class students pose with Tamika D. Mallory, music artist Mysonne, Master of Ceremony Alexx Brown & SGA President Ashlei Ross.
LGBTQ rights, racial equality, freedom of religion, and workers’ rights.
The Women’s March of this year was a reprise in which protests were led worldwide in major cities
Editorial Board
Staff Writers
Nichole F. Anderson Amy Buscemi Jennifer Soboroff - Long
and towns. The largest turnouts occured in New York, Washington, Los Angeles, Dallas, Philadel-
Editor-in-Chief - Robin Bridges News Editor - Sarahy Lopez Opinions Editor - Amaris Rodriguez Features Editor - Cecilia G Hernandez Arts & Life Editor - Bisma Zafar Sports Editor - Patrick Casas Online Editor - Miguel Casimiro Marketing and Advertising Director Christopher Starnawski Payroll Manager - Francisco Sebastian Cartoonist - Brandi Nevarez
phia, Chicago, San Francisco, and Atlanta. Mallory spoke on Jan. 16 at NEIU’s auditorium about the issues that she fights for, after a performance from rapper Mysonne, who had served a few years in prison before dedicating his life to his music career. Mysonne revealed the brutal street life he experienced involving drugs, violence and injustice in his lyrics. This also led him to be an active member of The Gathering for Justice, a non-profit organization that seeks to end child incarceration while working to eliminate the racial inequities in the criminal justice system that enable mass incarceration. Mysonne led 100 people who marched 250 miles from Staten Island, New York where Eric Garner was killed, to Washington, on Oct. 10, 2015. Mysonne introduced Mallory to the audience, shortly after performing a newly written song. “Dr. King’s tactics were very different from Malcolm X. All of them were organized in different ways but they were all very necessary. As I was traveling, I MLK/ page 4
The Independent is a public forum for the university and the community surrounding Northeastern Illinois University and its satellite campuses, El Centro in the Logan Square community and Jacob C. Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies in Kenwood/Hyde Park. The Independent is completely student run and receives no prior review of its content by anyone other than its student editors. The Independent is published every other week except during summer and semester breaks. Deadlines are nine (9) days prior to the issue in which a contribution is to appear. Views expressed in letters are those of the university community and not those of the Editorial Board. The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for the content of the Independent, and views presented do not necessarily 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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NEWS
Tuesday, January 30, 2018
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NEIU presidential search narrows Sarahy Lopez NEIU narrowed its search for a new university president to four finalists after candidates spoke with officials, staff and students. The finalists are Gloria J. Gibson, Maria Guajardo, Sukhwant Jhaj and Carlos Medina. The new president will step into the position left vacant since fall of 2016, after the retirement of Sharon Hahs, who was the NEIU president for ten years. Hahs is known for the major
developments and expansions of NEIU’s campus, including the opening of the university’s El Centro campus on Avondale Avenue and the residence hall on the main campus, the Nest. Richard Helldobler has served as NEIU’s interim president since Hahs’ departure. Helldobler faced troubles from the Illinois state budget stalemate which lasted for two years. Uncertainty grew to whether or not NEIU would receive a budget to continue the 2017 - 2018 school
Carlos Medina is vice chancellor and chief diversity officer of the State University of New York (SUNY). Since August 2011, Medina has led SUNY’s efforts in promoting and advancing the university’s diversity goals and ensuring that they are properly captured within all university policies and procedures. He provides leadership and strategic direction to SUNY campuses in connection with the recruitment and retention of faculty, staff, and administrators who come from groups within our society that are underrepresented in higher education and at SUNY.
Gloria J. Gibson was named senior vice president for academic affairs and provost at Morgan State University in Baltimore. She started her job on Jan 5, 2015. Dr. Gibson has been serving as a professor of communications studies at the University of Northern Iowa. She served as executive vice president and provost at the university until June 2014. Before joining the faculty at the University of Northern Iowa, Dr. Gibson was a professor and dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Arkansas State University. Earlier in her career, she taught at Indiana University in Bloomington. In her present position of senior vice president and provost, Gibson served as the senior administrative officer and chief academic officer reporting directly to the president.
year. For the past two years the school was forced to enact a series of furloughs and layoffs in order to keep its doors opened. A budget was enacted when state officials vetoed Governor Rauner’s vote. However, is it unclear when the school will receive the next budget appropriation. However, further expansion plans have been procured when the university gained the land on Bryn Mawr Avenue to expand student housing.
Carlos Medina
Gloria Gibson
As of now, plans for constructing either a second “wing” to the Nest or another residence hall is still being debated among school officials. A special meeting was held by the Board of Trustees to consider and review each candidate on Jan. 23. The President Search Advisory Council will convene on Feb. 7 to receive university feedback on the candidates gathered during the candidates’ visits, according to Chief of Marketing and Communications Officer Mike Dizon. The Board will consider additional
Maria Guajardo
Sukhwant Jhaj
information at its Feb. 8 meeting. Further concerns from the public were brought up to the Board during the comment session in the meeting on Jan. 23. These concerns were about the amount of time the university had to fully review each candidate. Some of the candidates did not receive enough time to get feedback from the community and university, as opposed to the 24-hour time frame that is usually given to candidates.
Maria Guajardo currently works at Soka University, a private liberal arts university of about 8,000 students. She was the dean for the faculty of international liberal arts, and was promoted to deputy vice-president in 2016. Guajardo does research in higher education, international education and educational leadership. Their current project is ‘Women’s leadership in cultural and cross-cultural settings.’ Guajardo was the first female and non-Japanese dean at Soka University, supporting leadership development for female faculty members.
Sukhwant Jhaj serves as the Dean of Undergraduate Education at Portland State University, Portland Oregon. Trained as an architect, Jhaj uses design thinking to discover new solutions for challenges facing higher education. Jhaj worked on reTHINK PSU, a campus-wide effort to deliver an education that serves more students with better outcomes, while containing costs through curricular innovation, community engagement and effective use of technology. Student success is a vital part of his goal and helping them achieve degree completion. Jhaj also helped develop online flexible degrees, its current revenue now around $50 million.
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Tuesday, January 30, 2018
NEWS
MLK
Continued from 2 heard that this particular university is known to be one of the most diverse universities in the midwest. I know this institution and its diversity goals means that you’re already sitting at the revolution table,” Mallory said. “You are all ready for the fight. We are all on the same book. Many young people think that they are living in a post-racial time, but we know that it is not the truth. As we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., it’s a celebration that is bittersweet. “A lot of things have gone on, we’ve made a lot of accomplishments, but at the same time there are so many leaps and bounds for us to climb over. And even though our children may not feel it, they don’t necessarily know how much
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racism, sexism, and all these phobias - whether it’d be transphobia, xenophobia - they don’t know how much of it exists until it happens to them,” she said. Mallory spoke about how not only is MLK Day about celebration, but about Dr. King’s untimely death. “We learn about how death itself relates to him. It reminds us that death is not a true ending. We know that what stays alive and what dies is really determined by our actions.” She continued, “If we do step forward, speak the truth and put ourselves in uncomfortable spaces that gives us a powerful legacy, we actually have life that continues to live and it can breathe into the bones of others and they can carry the torch and continue to do the work. “So as we continue to be inspired and continue to do the work, we know that our actions
can like a footprint in the sand that is really swept away by any tide, or we can be like the cement, a lasting imprint that is bold and lives on from one generation to the next. I want to have some piece of my legacy that is actually etched in the cement.” Mallory said the importance of being an active member in the community was when more people decide to act, the more change will be likely to occur. Mallory ended her presentation, “Together, we have a responsibility to be bold in this hour. And not just to be bold, but to be vocal. Bold when you are speaking to people outside. We will speak truths no matter what the consequences may be.”
NEIU POLICE Blotter The following incidents occurred between the dates of Nov. 25 to Jan. 21 on NEIU’s main campus. Nov. 25 - The Nest: An Uber driver reported he was threatened by five residents after he explained per uber policy he could only drive four passengers. Nov. 26 - P.E. Building: A soccer player reported an opponent who intentionally elbowed him in the face, causing injuries to the nose. Witnesses described it as accidental. Nov. 27 - 5800 N. Central Park: A faculty member was knocked to the ground by a male and female suspects, and had her personal belongings stolen. Chicago Police are currently investigating. Nov. 27 - The Nest: A victim received an intimidating text from a roommate. Police spoke to the roommate, and the roomate understood the consequences and had no intention to harm. Nov. 28 - Athletic Field: An unknown offender wrote non-gang related graffiti on the athletic field dugout wall. Facilities Management was notified for cleanup. Nov. 28 - Parking Lot J: An officer questioned a subject wearing a face mask while exiting building. The person claimed it’s a fashion statement and was uncooperative. Nov. 28 - The Nest: An offender threatened a victim with bodily harm during an argument over a borrowed item. Nov. 28 - P.E. Building: Officers responded to a disturbance call where two players argued over aggressive foul play. No one was injured and no complaints were filed. Nov. 28 - Lech Walesa Hall: An unknown offender stole victim’s iPhone after it was left unattended at computer terminal. Nov. 30 - The Nest: A verbal argument occurred between roommates over trash. Peace restored by police. Dec. 2 - The Nest: The police responded to a loud disturbance call. Roommates were verbally arguing over loud music. Parties were ordered to have no contact. Dec. 4 - Library: A fire started inside the generator room. The fire department responded and extinguished the fire. The library was empty at the time. Dec. 6 - Parking Garage: Victim reports vehicle damaged by unknown person, but it is unknown if damage occurred on or off campus. Dec. 7 - Student Union: An unknown offender stole victim’s coat after it was left unattended for hours. Dec. 7 - NEIU: An unknown source sent sexually explicit emails about a classmate to several students in one class. Dec. 12 - Brommel Hall: Police responded to a subject throwing things around causing a disturbance. The subject was transported to a hospital for evaluation. Dec. 12 - The Nest: A warning was issued to roommates regarding ongoing conflict over cleanliness of room.
Dec. 14 - Parking Lot J: A vehicle was stolen in St. Charles and was found on campus. Student has keys and purchase papers of a deceased person. Vehicle was turned over to St. Charles PD. Dec. 15 - Lech Walesa Hall: A staff member reported a subject previously banned from NEIU inside the building. Officers made contact and subject left campus immediately. Dec. 21 - Bryn-Mawr Properties: An abandoned vehicle on state property lot was revealed to belong to a restaurant owner. Dec. 21 - Library: An unknown offender wrote graffiti on the library wall. Facilities management was notified for a cleanup. Dec. 26 - Parking Garage: An officer checking on an illegally parked car found two minors inside the vehicle with suspect cannabis. Both were released to their parents. Dec. 30 - The Nest: Officers responded to a call of multiple people trespassing at the Nest. They were asked to leave and they complied. Jan. 08 - The Nest: NEIU PD & Chicago PD responded to a fight in progress at the Nest. It turned out to be a verbal altercation between guests. Jan. 10 - C-Building: An unknown offender attempted to fraudulently cash two NEIU checks. Jan. 11 - El Centro: Police were alerted of an individual who had set up camp on NEIU property. The individual was told to leave and issued information on local shelters. Jan. 12 - D-Building: Officers calmed down an irate student causing a disturbance, who was feeling overwhelmed about an audition. Resources were offered. Jan. 14 - The Nest: An officer conducted a well-being check on a female. Her roommate said they will keep an eye on her. Jan. 16 - D-Building: An irate parent attempting to settle a dispute over her son’s missing form. She attempted to strike an employee with a fist. No complaints filed. Jan. 19 - Fine Arts Building: An employee turned in a bag full of coins that the vending machine spit out. Jan. 20 - Ugly Hookah Building: A citizen reported a burst water pipe causing flooding in the empty building. City of Chicago was notified to shut the water off. Jan. 21 - Breakfast Club Building: An unknown offender wrote graffiti on an exterior building wall. Facilities management was notified for a clean up. Jan. 21 - The Nest: A resident reported a verbal altercation with roommates and had issues with visitor privileges being taken away.
Features Women’s March Chicago: 300,000 strong, NEIU shows solidarity Cecilia G. Hernandez “A village united shall never be divided!” chanted women and allies in the second Women’s March on Jan. 20 at Millenium Park. After President Trump’s inauguration last year, millions of people protested and crowded the streets all over the nation. This year, 300,000 women and allies in Chicago continued the protest for women’s rights, beating the 250,000 of last year. Some of these people included NEIU students, staff and faculty. Here’s what some of them had to say about it:
“
What inspired you to participate in the Women’s March?
”
Elisa Salgado, Junior
Dr. Nancy A. Matthews Faculty
Jannedh Lema, Senior
Virginia Standstorm, Faculty
“President Trump [and his cabinet] inspired me. If you look at our history - it’s been taking too long to give basic human rights to women, and even now in 2018, we still see this pushback when it comes to reproductive justice. A lot of people think, ‘Oh, what is a march going to cause? It’s not going to change anything.’ But we have to remember that it’s a demonstration to show Congress, and these men who are making decisions on our reproductive rights, that we’re not just going to sit back and watch. Heck - if we have to take it to the streets, to our senators, to our legislators - we need to push elected officials to be accountable to the people. I wanted to unite in that feeling of raising awareness because women of color and the trans community keep facing gender issues.”
“I am a long time feminist, activist and I have gone to many marches over the years. I went to the one last year after the inauguration because, you know, we needed to be out there. It was such an amazing, uplifting experience to see the response to the Trump presidency. So this year, when it came around again, there was no way I was going to miss it. It helps you get energized again to maintain your commitment to the causes. I think one of the things that was beautiful about this march was that it wasn’t just about women’s issues narrowly defined. You know. There were signs about immigration. There were signs about racism, there was intersectionality. That’s really important to me as an activist and it was really good to have people come together and express that.”
“I wanted to empower myself and other women because, you know what? We’re not alone.There were other women here at NEIU who were going so I was like, ‘I want to go, too.’ I want our allies to know I’m here, I want to make a change. One of the purposes of the Women’s March is to let everyone know we’re here, we know things aren’t right, and we’re going to make a move, we’re going to change it whether they want it or not. We’re not by ourselves - we have allies that are even males, and we’re here to change things.”
“I was there last year, too, and it was so amazing; I was just fired up. We need to stand up, we need to fight back, we need to rise up and we need our voices heard. If we keep speaking up, maybe they’ll start to listen to us. It’s really important to me that we’re all together in this life, in this world, and there are so many issues that were talked about and demonstrated about during the march like world peace, Planned Parenthood and the #MeToo movement. Just about everything we’re trying to hold onto to maintain our dignity in life, people are having to fight for that now and it’s really - it’s not right. We shouldn’t have to be fighting for this. Instead, we’re going backwards with our political horrors that are happening today. It’s very important that we don’t let them ignore us.”
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Features
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Tuesday, January 30, 2018
Philosophy Student does Circus: Orest Sosnivka
Brandi Nevarez
Cecilia G. Hernandez As adrenaline rushed through his body, Orest Sosnivka and his trick horse Bubba both heard the crowds cheer, the music blasting and the sounds of hooves hitting the ground. While the audience looked on, Sosnivka went underneath Bubba’s belly as Bubba continued to run circles around the ring and Sosnivka held on tight. Senior philosophy student Orest Sosnivka is a trained Cossack rider, or “trick” rider, who has immense trust in his horse. “He was like my trick horse,” Sosnivka said. “I was the only one doing tricks on him. We were trained together when we were both young and we became a very good duo. I don’t think I’ve trusted any horse more than him, ever,” he said. “He was my first.” Sosnivka said Bubba was “one of [his] favorite personalities.” “He loves giving kisses,” Sosnivka said. “He always wanted to see what you were doing, what was in your hand, kind of like a kid. But when it was showtime, he was in the zone.” But Sosnivka and Bubba weren’t always the dynamic duo; they butted heads when they first started training together. “We were not on the same page, we were not on the same rhythm,” Sosnivka said. “He was like a teenager. It was hard to get him to work. He would always
jump out of the ring curve, he would just be goofy.” Sosnivka explained Bubba didn’t have any “malicious thoughts” behind his “acting out.” “He just wanted to play and I didn’t have enough horse experience to be like in control, so I would get agitated too,” he said. Before starting his trick riding training, Sosnivka was at a Ukrainian dance school. He then transitioned to acting and did some commercial work. Sosnivka was a part of Chicago’s Noble Horse Theatre in 2010, doing about three shows a year to help build his resume. Along with this, Sosnivka was informally training with trick rider friends he met when he was eight years old. His mom had taken Sosnivka to see “Circus World Museum” in Wisconsin right after coming to the U.S. from Ukraine, and were brought backstage because the production manager’s daughter heard them speaking Russian. “I guess not a lot of people in Wisconsin spoke Russian, so the little girl heard us speaking it and she was like, ‘Oh, you guys speak Russian? You want to go backstage?’” Sosnivka said. “We met them randomly like that and stayed friends throughout the years.” Sosnivka trained under Omar Chinibekov, with his friends and Bubba. With continuous training for an hour after school, Bubba and Sosnivka grew to understand each other. They
“
Sosnivka later came back to Chicago and joined the MSA and Circus Arts in Humboldt Park while taking classes at NEIU. He said the Philosophy department helped him continue going to circus school. With constant communication and turning in assignments on time, Sosnivka said he wasn’t scared of getting a lower grade because of poor attendance.
I don’t think I’ve trusted any horse more than him, ever.” - Orest Sosnivka
“You can tell when it’s showtime and when the music comes on, our horses are like - they’re ready, you know, like ‘put me out there,’” he said. “They feed off the same energy.” Sosnivka said working with horses is very different than working with people because they’re more consistent. Yet, there are similarities in personalities. “They also don’t want to wake up in the mornings to go to practice,” Sosnivka said, laughing a little. “We’re all kind of sluggish, but the horse is not going to be like, ‘Oh, I don’t want to go today,’ or kind of whine; they’re on top of their game.”
”
“Our Philosophy department is phenomenal,” Sosnivka said. “They helped me figure out who I want to be. They were very understanding about the kind of life that I live and my schedule.” Sosnivka today teaches traditional dances from Ukraine in Palatine, and trick riding at the Transitions Equestrian Center in Indiana. As for Bubba, Sosnivka’s trainer sold him about two years ago to another trick rider who was
Orest Sosnivka performs in Circus Flora’s “The Wizard” in 2012.
working more frequently. “He’s very happy,” Sosnivka said reassuringly. “I see him once in a while.” When asked if Bubba still recognizes him, Sosnivka laughed. “Yes. The first time I saw him after selling him he didn’t want to look at me. He gave me attitude,” he said. “I walked up to his stall, and he just turned his head and showed me his butt. I was like, ‘Bubba, I’m sorry!’” Bubba continues to do shows with his new trick rider. He worked a few shows in Cirque du Solei’s “Cavalia” last year.As for Sosnivka, he graduates this May from NEIU and is not completely sure what he wants to do as a career. He said he doesn’t see himself doing “just one thing for the rest of [his] life,” and loves to travel and perform on stage. “I think I do see myself doing circus work,” Sosnivka said. “Right now I’m physically able, I’m good at what I do. I’m good in front of people, performing, and I don’t see why I should stop, you know?”
Photo courtesy of Orest Sosnivka
were hired to do a show called “The Wizard” for Circus Flora in St. Louis, Missouri in 2012. “Flora was the best show because that was the last time all of us [performed] together,” Sosnivka said. “We closed the show, we were the finale.” As the riders felt excited to perform, Sosnivka said the horses feel the same way, too.
Opinions Latina and female representation gets ‘Dolled Up’ Amaris Rodriguez Earlier this January, American Girl announced its 2018 “Girl of the Year” Doll and to much surprise they tackled two important issues with one doll release, lack of minorities being represented as role models and female empowerment in the science field. The release of this doll made me think back to my childhood and the lack of Hispanic representation that was available, which I did not realize until my arrival at NEIU. As I walked through campus during the first couple of days into my first semester, it really hit me that NEIU is a very diverse campus. There is not a day that goes by where I don’t encounter someone from a different religion or nationality, which took some time to get used to. Even though I am Mexican-American, I
grew up in a Northwest suburb of Chicago and was enrolled in a predominately white school district from kindergarten until my high school graduation. When I transferred to NEIU from community college, I had to readjust my perspective of the world around me. I became more aware of cultural differences. It was also at this time that I realized how whitewashed my own perception of the world has been. Until I transfered into NEIU, I had never been exposed to literature from the point-of-view of different cultures or people of color, and I couldn’t remember a mainstream entertainer from my childhood that represented anyone who remotely resembled a latina. I had blonde Barbies and watched movies where none of the children or main characters looked anything like me: a chubby Mexican girl with long dark hair and brown eyes. The lack of representation of anyone who might slightly resemble me, or someone of my culture, in primetime American entertainment carried into my teenage years. This could be why I became increasingly excited at the announcement of the new American Girl doll. The doll is Luciana, an 11-year-old Chilean-American girl whose dream is to be the first person to walk on Mars. Photo Brandi Nevarez The brown hair,
brown eyes, brown-skinned doll is also the first American Girl doll to encourage young girls to develop an interest in science, technology, engineering, and math subjects, otherwise referred to as STEM. Luciana debuted on New Years Day along with two books, both aimed at enforcing her dreams of becoming an astronaut. In the developing process of the doll, American Girl reached out to astronaut Megan McArthur Behnken, former NASA Chief Scientist Ellen Stofan, U.S. Space and Rocket Center CEO and Executive Director Deborah Barnhart and NASA Manager of Strategic Alliances Maureen O’Brien to ensure they were getting an accurate female point-of-view regarding a field that is otherwise largely inhabited by men. However, the gap in gender representation in NASA is slowly changing. In 2016, for the first time in NASA history, 50 percent of the astronaut class was composed by females. That’s why the release of Luciana was a huge step in the right direction regarding the representation of women in fields, where they are often overlooked. “We wanted to make sure we were getting it right, but we also wanted to bring attention to the fact that there are some really amazing women in this field,” said Julie Parks, director of public relations at American Girl. “This is something that could happen for you. It’s no secret that females are underrepresented in this area.” As if Luciana’s representation of female empowerment is not enough, her descent has caused great applause within the Latinx community. Latinx people are often underrepresented, not only in work fields such as engineering and technology, but also in entertainment media. A study released in 2016 by the USC Annenburg School of Communication and Journalism reported that most of the entertainment media “fails to represent the demographic composition of the U.S.” The study revealed that Latinos hold small quantities of speaking roles in film and TV, even though they made up about 17.4 percent of the U.S. population. The study also pointed out that out of 11,000 speaking characters studied in TV and film, only 5.8 percent were Hispanic or
Latino. Luciana’s heritage plays a big part in her importance. NASA Chief Scientist Ellen Stofan explained, “Letting girls of color around the world know they can be astronauts or achieve other great things if they try, that was important to all of us. We’re pleased that American Girl decided to make her of Latina descent. My biggest fear is that young girls of color will think, ‘people who look like me don’t do that.” It’s true. People like me didn’t hold lead roles in high grossing blockbusters. Hispanic, brownskinned girls didn’t star as the lead in a primetime show and they definitely were not portrayed with dreams of walking on Mars. We were not represented in dolls, barely acknowledged in Toys ‘R’ Us toy campaigns, and where often only compared to Dora the Explorer, who didn’t even air until 2000, missing my childhood entirely. While some might argue - and they have on the Facebook comments of the articles announcing the new doll - that race should not matter and that kids don’t pay attention to the color of a doll’s skin, that is far from the truth. Some of us might not have realized it until we grow up, like me, that we are living in a whitewashed culture. Others might have carried that knowledge since they are children after realizing that very few dolls come in darker skin colors. Regardless of when this realization kicks in, seeing a popular mainstream company like American Girl reach out to young children with a positive message of inclusion can only be a positive step to take. As social movements that address female representation and issues, such as the Women’s March and #MeToo, bring attention to certain female issues, it is important that children are given positive ambitious role models that they can look up too and aspire to be like from an early age. Luciana doesn’t only represent minorities, she represents all of us.
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Opinions
Tuesday, January 30, 2018
9
Are we addicted? Big-time investors think we are Jennifer Soboroff-Long It’s no surprise as I enter one of my classes early that instead of walking into a room of people engaging with one another, I see them staring blankly at their phones. Within the past two decades, cell phone use has skyrocketed. People can now access with ease social media, email, and be in constant communication with each other. The addition of new features and advancements have also increased the number of children that have access to cellphones. According to Growing Wireless, 56 percent of children ages eight to 12 have a cellphone. As more and more kids begin using cell phones at younger ages, an important question comes into play: are we addicted to using our phones? To a degree, I’d say yes. Go to the mall and look around, almost everyone has a phone in their hand: texting, calling, checking the latest news on their preferred social media, playing games, or taking selfies. Recently, it’s come to Apple’s attention that the iPhone could be negatively influencing children. As reported by The Guardian, two investors penned an open letter to Apple, urging them to take action against the growing concerns of the effect of technology on younger generations. The investors, New York-based Jana Partners and the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) who collectively have control of 2 billion of the companies stock, insist that “Apple can play a defining role in signaling to the industry that paying special attention to the health and development of the next generation is both good business and the right thing to do.” According to Reuters New York, an international news agency, there are currently stockholders at Apple asking them to make an app that allows parents to limit cell phone use. Along with the app, they’re also asking Apple to do a study to see the effects of excessive use of cell phones in children. In the 2016 survey by Common Sense Media, reported by Reuters, of the U.S teens surveyed, half of them feel they’re addicted to their cell phones. This is shown often through media por-
Photo Brandi Nevarez
trayal of millennials. For example, in one of the recent releases, “Jumanji: Welcome to Jumanji” you see the effects of cell phones with the character Bethany. Throughout the beginning of the movie she never is without her cell phone. It isn’t until she’s forced to be without it that she even interacts with the others and even socializes enough to get to know them. She literally panics at the thought of being without her cell phone. While in the movie this is shown with comedic intent, it’s shocking how real this situation has become for most of the younger generations that have smartphones. How many times have you seen someone panic over not finding their phone? The answer is probably way too many times to count. Teens use their phone every minute they’re able to, which is inhibiting them from the normal social skills that prior generations have grown up using. While past generations would rely on face to face communication, millennials and those younger than us turn to their cell phones instead. As reported by The Washington Times, New York based Psychiatrist Dr. Jeremy Spiegel, founder of Casco Bay Medical reported that cell phone socialization is skele-
tal and often replaces face to face interaction with people on a social level. As children are receiving cell phones at younger ages, this trend of being addicted to them is starting earlier. Articles, such as from the Huffington Post, suggest that children are starting to lack basic social interactions skills, like holding a conversation, due to their exposure to technology. Melissa Ortega, a child psychologist at New York’s Child Mind Institute says, “They don’t know how to handle conflict face to face because so many things happen through some sort of technology.” While the investors focused their attention on younger children, our generation does not escape the grasps of the smartphone. Addiction to cell phones has caused normal social interaction to become that much harder for people. Instead of putting down the phone and talking to one another, people are preferring to text one another while in the same room; or simply ignore the others presence. Just by walking into NEIU’s cafeteria, we can observe people on their phones sitting alone rather than engaging in conversation with fellow students.
According to Pew Research Center, smartphone usage rates are higher amongst young adults, rending our campus a sort of hub for smartphones. Probably the most common situation seen in teens and adults is a group of people sitting together—supposedly hanging out- yet all of them are on their cell phones instead of talking to one another. I’ve been in this situation and witnessed it as well. While it might be hard to self confess into being addicted to our handheld technology, Addictiontiops.net has an article “25 Signs You Are Completely Addicted To Your Phone” which might be able to help. A few signs include: you always have your phone, your battery doesn’t last the whole day, using your phone in social situations, and checking it unnecessarily and often. So what can you do if you feel addicted to your phone? You could start by leaving your phone in another room while you relax or simply turn it off. Another idea is to not use your phone as an alarm clock, as that forces you to look at your phone from the minute you wake up. While phones, especially smartphones, have provided us with plenty of benefits, it is important for us to not let them take anything away from us as well. While they hold on to their appeal, getting to know those around us and being engaged is important, not only for ourselves, but also for the generations who will follow our example. So maybe we should put our phones down more often, setting a better example, and start talking and being present in the real world.
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Opinions
When Protection Ends: Salvadorians Targeted
Nicole F. Anderson
Imagine experiencing a 7.7 magnitude earthquake and losing everything that you’ve ever known: family, friends and personal possessions. Fast forward 17 years— you have lived in the United States since 2001 and have rebuilt your life. You have family, friends and a job. Then under a new administration, you are told you and your family need to leave your life in the United States behind to “go back to where you came from.” In the beginning of this year, the Trump administration declared that El Salvador’s Temporary Protected Status was to be terminated on September 9th, 2019. This means that more than 200,000 Salvadorans are now at risk for deportation. Many Salvadorans who experienced the 7.7 magnitude earthquake, along with two more damaging earthquakes in the same month, have been told that their country had now been deemed fit enough for their return. According to the International Recovery Platform, the quake in El Salvador killed 844, injured 4,723, and destroyed 108,266 homes. Shortly after the earthquakes, the States declared El Salvador one of the several countries protected under the Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which grants protection from deportation, as well as the legal right to live and work in the United States. Throughout the Trump administration, it has been clear that he wants immigrants out and
has gone as far as calling them horrid slurs. Despite the Trump administration labeling immigrants, especially people from Latin countries, criminals, programs such as TPS allow for people to be vetted before they are allowed to stay in the U.S. To become a recipient of the Temporary Protected Status, one must start by paying for biometrics (fingerprints, photograph and signature) to be documented and must answer personal information, which will be evaluated for consideration into the program. There is even a question that asks if there has ever been any involvement with the Communist party. Those who applied for TPS also had to pay out of pocket for the authorization fees, which according to the United States Government’s Temporary Protection Status page, can range anywhere from $50 to $545 depending on your age and what you are requesting. With none of the fees being eligible to be waived and TPS needing to be renewed every 18 months, applying for the program can be a financial struggle for those who are already facing severe hardships, such as a devastating earthquake. Once applicants are accepted, they receive documentation that they are legally able to work and live in the States, obtain a driver’s license, and are allowed to apply for a credit card. This allows those who received TPS to contribute into the U.S economy. According to Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC), TPS recipients (along with
DACA recipients) have paid more than $19.9 billion towards Social Security, $11.74 billion in state and local taxes and $4.6 billion towards Medicare. The real kicker is recipients cannot utilize any of this. They cannot receive public health care, food stamps, public housing, food stamps, receive financial aid for education, social security, or receive a public defender. Ending TPS is not only going to ruin lives, but is going to financially ruin the country. According to a statistic from Immigrant Legal Resource Center, ILRC, ending TPS, and other programs such as DACA, will bring “immediate unemployment” to the 645,145 DACA recipients and roughly 27,000 TPS recipients. It would also cost American businesses at least $3.4 billion dollars in termination and replacement employee fees, not to mention the extreme reduction in the contribution to government funded aid programs. While some are arguing that TPS recipients should return and help rebuilt their home countries, sending most TPS and DACA recipients to their birth countries puts their safety at risk. El Salvador has recently been named the murder capital of the world. According to the Instituto de Medicina Legal, a Salvadoran government institution, there was, “nearly one homicide per hour there in the first three months of 2016.” As reported by the Statesman, to Joe S. Vasquez, a bishop with the city of Austin, TX,
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who also serves as the chairman of the U.S Conference of Catholic Bishop’s committee on migration stated, “El Salvador is currently not in a position to adequately handle the return of roughly 200,000 Salvadoran TPS recipients.” Ending TPS affects U.S citizens as well. More than 193,000 children are citizens of the United States but have TPS recipient parents. These children, along with the ones who came here at a young age, only know life in America and due to their ages, many will have no choice but to return to their parents’ birth country. After the announcement about the ending of TPS for recipients from El Salvador, advocacy and immigration groups expressed their disappointment and disapproval. American Gateways, one of Texas’ largest immigration legal service providers spoke out against the administration’s decision calling it “a betrayal to American values.” Many Twitter users have turned to the social media platform to express and share their feelings about the termination of TPS. Twitter user, @Carla_with_love tweeted, “I came to the US from El Salvador with my parents at the age of 3, I have been living here for 17 years under TPS. We created a home, I have a job, go to college, Now we’re being told to get out. Guess what? We’re not giving up that easy. We will fight. Yo no me voy #SaveTPS.”
Arts & Life Sex, Privacy and Culture: ‘ The Selfie Generation’
Amaris Rodriguez In recent years the world has been taken over by the selfie; a picture that someone takes of themselves. They are used on every social media platform and even have their own hashtag on Instagram, #selfiesunday. Almost everyone has fallen into the selfie trap, with front camera phones becoming the new normal. Their rise in popularity has led to criticism from those who believe that the selfie will be the downfall of the millennial generation. So great is the criticism surrounding the style of photographs that Alicia Eler, a reporter at the Star Tribune in Minneapolis, Minn., decided to devote years of research to develop “The Selfie Generation,” a book about how selfies are changing society’s ideas on different topics. Eler gave a book talk at Women and Children First bookstore (5233 N Clark St.) in Chicago on Jan. 18. The talk served, not only to promote her new book, but so also share information that was important regarding our culture use and perception of the infamous selfie. Showcasing the cover of the book, composed of multiple selfies of her friends, Eler began discussing the history of the selfie,
whose notoriety began rising in 2013. One of the topics discussed was the idea that selfies have a reputation for being a symbol of vanity. We see someone taking a selfie and we assume that they are full of themselves and obsessed with their looks. Eler raised the idea that if a woman is taking selfies of herself or looks at her pictures she is seen as vain but when the pictures are views by males, the same woman is portrayed as sexy. This topic is highly important when it comes to the value we place on selfies as a society because it represents the different values we place on male versus female opinions. Through doing research for her book, Eler discovered that even though selfies are linked mostly with millennials, the two demographics that take the most number of selfies are teenage girls and middle age men. While Eler revealed amusing facts such as the one mentioned, she also researched into a more serious topic: the use of selfies in revenge porn. We currently live in a rape culture, as Eler pointed out, which means that the act of revenge porn is often not met with the disapproval or legal actions that it merits. The idea of publicizing someone’s pictures has been a way to get revenge on them has grown over the years. The rise of revenge porn has also seen the birth of resistance, especially through women trying to regain control of their pictures and their bodies. Eler mentioned many different artistic platforms that have used female selfies as a way to regain the control, value, and, most importantly, their sense of self love. From photoshopping their own face onto revenge porn victim’s pictures to Instagram accounts where people can safely upload selfies expressing their sexuality, selfies are also showing their benefits. While discussing these powerful examples of how the selfie can be used for good, Eler also discussed how political movements have been empowered and greatly expanded through selfies. She mentioned selfies going viral using
certain hashtags such as #feministselfie in response to magazines reporting that selfies equal vanity and a cry for help. Eler also talked about how selfies and social media have been used to address other issues such as the controversial issue of allowing transgender people to use the bathrooms for the gender they identify with. While some might question why selfies have been useful with these certain movements, the answer comes down to being able to put a face and a story to these issues, making them more relatable and able to connect with the public on an emotional level. Despite the controversy around whether or not millennials are suffering and slowly “ending humanity,” Eler strongly believes that trying to censor teenagers from taking selfies is the equivalent of censoring their self-expression, which can be dangerous. Throughout her book, Eler discussed different issues surrounding the controversy of the selfie, from addressing the positive movements that have been aided by the pictures to how people can use them maliciously as a form of revenge
Eler showcased various points addressed in her book, making the audience curious and enticed with the information she provided on a topic that will continue to be popular as social media and technology continue to grow. However, at the end of the day, the number of selfies that are taken or the different ways people take selfies is completely up to them, and nothing to be ashamed about. “The Selfie Generation” is available at the following local bookstores: The Book Cellar located 4736-38 N Lincoln Ave and Roscoe Books located at 2142 W Roscoe St. Check your favorite local bookstore for complete availability.
Have you read The Selfie Generation? Write a review. Send it to NEIUArtsLifeAndEverything@ gmail.com
Amaris Rodriguez
Alicia Eler described her book at the event held at the Women and Children First bookstore in Chicago
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Finding a niche, fighting racism in media
Mariam Sohb described her career, discrimination and finding her place in the media world. |Bisma Zafar
Bisma Zafar Each semester, NEIU hosts Meet the Media Night, an event that gives students a chance to learn about opportunities on campus. The spring 2018 Meet the Media night was held on Jan. 18 in the student lounge, those in attendance included students taking intro journalism classes and members of NEIU’s Muslim Student Association. The event is a collaboration between NEIU’s four media organizations: Seeds Literary Journal, Que Ondee Sola Magazine, WZRD Chicago 88.3 FM and the NEIU Independent, and the biannual event features a guest speaker. This year’s was journalist, comedian and internet personality, Mariam Sohb. Sohn has worked at various media establishments including WBBM radio,
WBEZ, and has interviewed both President Bush and then-Senator Obama, among others. Her current focus is posting pop-culture videos on her Facebook page, which is verified and has over 757 thousand likes. Sohb described her college experience at the University of Illinois and working at the organizations on campus like writing for the newspaper and yearbook, doing broadcast journalism at the radio station, and anchoring the news at the school TV station. She described her struggles finding her niche in content production and the racism she experienced as a Muslim woman in the field, and her dreams to be one of the first Muslim women on TV. Sohb said, “I never saw anyone that looked like me on TV but I was going to be the one to break that barrier. I remember I had a classmate that asked me, ‘What are you going to do if they don’t hire you because you cover your hair and are a Muslim woman?’ I was like ‘Oh, I’ll sue them!’ Well, easier said than done.” Sohb also described the racism she experienced with her first TV station interview. She said, “It was in Naganni, Michigan... It paid 16 or 17 thousand dollars a year, and you had to sign a two year contract. If you left before then you had to pay a few thousand dollars to get out of it. I was like ‘I don’t care, I’ll do it.’ I get back home a couple days [after the interview] and I get a call and it’s the news director. He says, ‘You know, you’re too good for this place...You should be in radio, public radio. Better yet, you should be in Minnesota Public Radio. I was like ‘Is it because there’s a lot of Muslims that live out there? Interesting.’ Years later I did call this guy back because I wanted closure on this story.
Sohb MTM/ page 14
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Amy Buschemi
Umphrey’s McGee teams up with The People’s Music School Amy Buscemi The winter holidays are the perfect time to give back to community and no one does it with as much flare as Chicago’s favorite jam band, Umphrey’s McGee. Last month, the band’s dual front men, Brendan Bayliss and Jake Cinninger, hosted their 15th annual “The Brendan and Jake Holiday Show.” Proceeds from the sold-out show benefit programs that serve Chicago communities, while also providing fans with an intimate night of acoustic music from musicians that typically play with a lot of electricity. The halls of the Park West, located in Lincoln Park, were lavishly decked, complete with a couch for the guitar duo to perform on. Multiple musical instruments, including a grand piano adorned with a lit menorah, set the stage amongst a decorated Christmas tree. The show’s proceeds went to The People’s Music School, which is a nonprofit, tuition-free music education program. The school was founded in 1976 by Rita Simó, an immigrant from the Dominican Republic, where no cost music education is available to all. Simó received a scholarship to The Juilliard
School in New York City and upon her arrival in the United States, discovered that music education was only available for those fortunate enough to afford it. She then made it her life’s mission to address that inequality. The school began in a former hair salon in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood, chosen because of its diversity, with a donated piano and a sign in the window advertising, “Free Piano Lessons.” In exchange for the lessons, the parents of the potential music students would work at the budding school. “She was growing a community and wanted everyone to feel part of it,” said The People’s Music School Director of Development, Renee Davis. The school maintains these grassroots community morals today, over forty years later, even as the nonprofit has grown to serve over 600 students at four locations across Chicago. Davis said that the school’s attendance has almost doubled over the past two years, thanks to contributions such as the proceeds from the event. “The Brendan and Jake Holiday Show” is McGee/ page 14
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McGee Continued from 13 also, at its core, a grassroots community effort. The event in its early stages was a fundraiser for Keys for Kids, an organization started by Joel Cummins of Umphrey’s McGee, which focuses on raising money to purchase musical instruments for schools. The annual fundraiser has evolved in size with the band’s popularity into a large and consistently successful event that has contributed to various charitable Chicago community organizations with parallel missions. The event features a raffle with volunteers selling tickets. The annual raffles are a significant factor by which funds are raised. Raffle prizes are donated from within the Umphrey’s McGee community, with many coming from the band’s counter-culture fan base. One of the most-prestigious prizes at this year’s event was a pair of VIP passes to the band’s New Year’s Eve show in Denver, Colorado, valued at approximately $800. The prize was donated directly by a fan that was unable to go. Carly Adler, a fan and NEIU student, who has attended the annual event multiple times said, “My favorite aspects of the holiday show are that it’s 100 percent not-for-profit, everything goes to the charity for the kids and they always have the most incredible raffles. I also love how intimate the holiday show is and the way the guys get to interact with fans in ways
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they don’t always get to at bigger shows.” “Do it for the kids” is a popular slogan among annual regulars. But the biggest draw for die-hard fans is the intimate full-length set, which includes both original and cover songs and special guests joining them throughout the evening. Barry Brown, who plays a large role in organizing the annual event, said the event is a great supporter of The People’s Music School , “We like to go back to them every few years. The school fits perfectly into what our main goal is, which is to provide music and art education to the children that wouldn’t have it otherwise.” This is seemingly a match of fate, as Davis similarly said, “The guys at Umphrey’s McGee really understand what we are doing. They can almost communicate our mission as well as I can.” Davis said the efforts from Umphrey’s McGee have been different from other donors in that a relationship has been built between the organizations associated with the band and school. She said it is special to be able to bring students with her to the annual event, so they can share the experience of watching uniquely talented musicians perform live, an opportunity they might not otherwise get exposure to. Any individual or company wanting to donate a raffle prize to the 2018 fundraiser event can contact Barry Brown by email at bbjackstraw@yahoo.com. For more information about The People’s Music School, including how to donate and
This year’s show featured members of Umphrey’s McGee including Jennifer Hartswick, Joel Cummins, Brendan Bayliss and Jake Cinninger. Local musicians Kevin Kostelecky and Mike Racky also performed.|Amy Buscemi
volunteer, email Renee Davis at renee.davis@ peoplesmusicschool.org. Umphrey’s McGee is currently on tour and will be heading to: Feb 2 and Feb 3 Wings Event Center Kalamazoo, MI 8:00 P.M. Feb 15 The Anthem Washington, DC 7:30 P.M. Feb 16 NON-UM: Official After Show w/ Mungion Asheville Music Hall Asheville, NC 8:00 P.M. and 12:00 A.M. Feb 17 Asheville Music Hall Asheville, NC NON-UM: Official After Show w/ Mungion 8:00 P.M. and 12:00 A.M.
Sohb MTM Continued from 12 He told me ‘It was because you’re a Muslim woman and unfortunately the climate that we live in, I know it’s so un-American, but I couldn’t put you up there.’” This led to Sohb’s realization that while working to find a spot in TV she could continue to create her own content through her Facebook videos and encouraged students to do the same. She concluded by saying, “I’m so happy where I’m at right now and I’m not going to wait for the gatekeepers up here to allow someone like to me to be on television. One thing I always urge young people in college is that you can make videos, you can make podcasts, you don’t need fancy equipment. You don’t have to have anyone tell you when or how.”
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Tuesday, January 30, 2018
Campus Calender 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. Calendar for January 30th- February 13th, 2018 The Turn up: February 1 from 6-10 PM @ Neiu Auditorium. Student Leadership Development, in conjunction with the Northeastern Programming Board, presents: The Turn Up, featuring headliner Vic Mensa. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., and the show will begin at 7:00 p.m. The show includes a special performance by Chicago’s very own The Future Kingz. Vic Mensa is a Grammy-nominated, Chicago born rapper signed by Jay-Z’s label, Roc Nation. He opened for the Jay-Z tour, 4:44, and brought out Chance the Rapper to open with him at the United Center. Tickets can be purchased while available at Student Leadership Development located at the Pedroso Center (B-159) Student Recital Hour: February 6th from 3:05-4:05 at Neiu Recital Hall Pinoy Tabling & Bake Sale: February 6th at 11 AM @ SU 107-E. The Filipino Club will be tabling on February 6 to share with the NEIU community activities and projects the club aims to do. We will also be sharing
Filipino desserts and Valentines themed pastries at the bake sale. Robert Heitzinger Faculty Recital: February 6th from 7:30- 9 PM at NEIU Recital Hall. LLC Fall 2017 Academic recognition : February 8th at 5 PM @ Student Union. This event is to recognize those students who achieved high performance levels in academic for the Fall 2017 semester. Septura Brass Septet: February 9th at 7:30 PM @ NEIU Auditorium. Septura brings together London’s leading players to redefine brass chamber music through the uniquely expressive sound of the brass septet. By creating a canon of transcriptions, arrangements and new commissions for this brand new classical configuration, Septura aims to re-cast the brass ensemble as a serious artistic medium. Currently Ensemble in Residence at the Royal Academy of Music, London, the group is recording a series of 10 discs for Naxos Records, each focused on a particular period, genre and set of composers, creating a ‘counter-factual history’ of brass chamber music. Student Recital Hour: February 13th from 3:05-4:05 at Neiu Recital Hall Don’t see your event? Submit your event to NEIUIndependentOnline-Editor@gmail.com. Subject line: Independent Event or Campus Calendar.
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