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Vol. 37 Issue 7
A Tribe Called Red: Return to the roots
INSIDE
In-state tuition for Puerto Rican residents Page 6
Two Native dancers mix traditional dances with breakdancing as well as traditional costume and headdress with b-boy styles to symbolize a new generation of Native youth.. Photos by Robin Bridges
St. Vincent @ WXRT studios Page 11 Pro sports year in review Page 15
NEIU Celebrates NettDay8 Photo by Matthew Wozniczka
Matthew Wozniczka Nett Day took place in the Lech Walesa Hall on Nov. 15, featuring NEIU’s College of Business and Management students and Eric Garton as the special guest speaker. Established in 2010, Nett Day at NEIU ortheastern Illinois University is an event that celebrates technology, and teaches students entrepreneurial skills. Garton introduced his book
at NEIU’s Nett Day, whose main message to students was to create a working environment that values an employee’s time, talent and energy. Being the co-author of “Time, Talent, Energy” and a management consultant who has worked for Bain & and Company since 1997, Garton supports clients in merger integration, organizational design and effectiveness, growth strategy and cost transformation.
Garton told the audience that the book explains about a more effective approach on how to manage employees to improve their productivity by learning how to manage their time, talent and energy. One of the challenging issues that CEO’s of companies face is the problem of low productivity growth, according to Garton. In the future, the role of the manager and the role of the workforce is going to change.
Editorial Board
Staff Writers
Theresa Cherone Amaris Rodriguez Nicoleta Girloanta Amy Buscemi Matthew Wozniczka
So we are going to have to develop low friction environments that can inspire employees. Garton has uncovered opportunities for companies to access productivity without having to invest any money of incremental capital. Capital is no longer the scarcest resource, it’s the time, talent and energy of the workforce that is today’s scarcest resource. Companies who have tapped into those assets were able to produce
Editor-in-Chief - Robin Bridges 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
a lot of productivity. “It might be harder to create energy in a retail environment where employees are making minimum wage,” Garton said. “But even in those environments you can create a working environment that allows people to bring their whole self to work that gives them autonomy to do their job, that gives them the chance to improve
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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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A Day of Remembrance, 2016 labeled deadliest year for LGBTQ community Cecilia G. Hernandez Last year was the deadliest year on record for the LGBTQ and HIV-affected communities according to the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs’ “[LGBTQ] and HIV-Affected Hate Violence in 2016” report released on June 12. In response to this hate violence, the Angelina Pedroso Center for Diversity and Intercultural Affairs participated in the annual “Transgender Day of Remembrance” vigil on Nov. 16 to honor the victims whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence. Accompanied by NEIU’s Chamber Singers and Dr. Christopher Owen as the pianist, several of NEIU’s staff and students stepped up to the podium and read out loud over 280 reported victims’ names and their stories. Many of the victims were stabbed, burned or mutilated. “Transgender violence is real; it’s happening around our neighborhoods, it’s not something you just see on television,” Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Undocumented Student Resources Luvia Moreno said after the vigil. “I work for my students here on campus and anything that affects my students affects me directly. This is something that touches me deeply because I am surrounded by students who identify as trans.” The TDOR is an annual observance on Nov. 20 that was started by transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith in 1999. Smith wanted to honor the memory of Rita Hester, a transgender woman who educated locally in Boston, Massachusetts about transgender issues and was a “highly visible member of the transgender community,” according to GLAAD’s website. Hester was stabbed 20 times in her apart-
ment in 1998. Smith commemorated all the transgender people lost to violence since Hester’s death, and said she was “no stranger to the need to fight for [their] rights and the right to simply exist.” Senior and President of Pride Alliance Alexis Abarca, along with her gender-neutral frarority Theta Pi Sigma, decided to collaborate with Moreno in continuing Angelina Pedroso Center’s annual participation in the TDOR. “I didn’t want people to get sad,” Abarca said after seeing many people in tears during the vigil. “Don’t think of this as like a hopeless thing we can’t change forever. Use this as a way to motivate yourself to recognize what can you do to leave an impact [on communities].” Participating in the vigil held personal significance for Abarca since she was a victim of abuse and was pointed at with a gun. “When I first started my process, I generally didn’t know how to, kind of like navigate through my process, my transition into becoming who I really wanted to be,” Abarca said. In the midst of emotional turmoil, the Broadway Youth Center of Howard Brown
Health helped Abarca figure out what it meant to be a transgender woman and earn her GED. She met many other transgender people and got to listen to their stories of transitions and familial hardships. Abarca said the BYC and TDOR helped her “check her privilege.” She said she knows few transgender people who are able to say their family supported them or have a safe place to live, so she said it was a blessing that her family was accepting of her. “I feel like because these women are so oppressed and live in these situations, when they do have the ability to speak up, their voices don’t have many connections to hear it” Abarca said. Abarca said she uses that privilege to speak up about transgender issues in events like TDOR and with her Pride Alliance club at NEIU. Abarca approached her friend junior student Mon’e Anderson, who identifies as transmasculine, to be one of the speakers in the vigil. As Anderson was reading the names of the victims, Anderson felt “very emotional.” “I didn’t think it was going to hit me,” Anderson said. “I was very excited for this day because, again, as an activist, as a feminist, I think that it’s important to spread awareness.
But when I started reading the names, it hit me all at once. My heart dropped to know that people are dying because they just want to live in their truth and exist.” Hearing the names of over 280 reported victims around the world killed due to anti-transgender violence, Administrative Assistant of the Angelina Pedroso Center Michael Partipilo broke down in tears. “What touched me was not only the names, but also the cause of what happened to that person … it was extremely moving,” Partipilo said. Partipilo was asked by Moreno to assist in reading the names of the victims. As he was helping set up the event, Partipilo said he knew the TDOR would affect him because he’s an ally and identifies within the LBGTQ community. Growing up in the LGBTQ community, Partipilo said he’s been a witness and a victim to violence. “When I began reading the names, I justit was just so [overwhelming] to hear how much hate exists for the LBGTQ community, for the minority, because people may or may not be ... ignorant,” Partipilo said. “They may fear what they do not understand and it comes as a source of hate and they lash out.” The TDOR drove many people to tears, but Partipilo said he saw it as a celebration of diversity at NEIU. Instead of only focusing on the sad, Partipilo said the most important part of the vigil was to ask ourselves what we can do moving forward. “Just educating people who come to hear the amount and the level of violence,” Partipilo said. “Events like this make it worth it, make me proud to work in this department, for this university to become more open and
See Trans Page4
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Nett from page 2 their skills.,” Garton said. Garton said that autonomy is about having the ability to make your own decisions without the interference from others. It is important that there is a balance between employee autonomy with organizational needs because it will maximize the efficiency, engagement and performance within the company. NEIU’s College of Business and Management student Martin Wendelboe is a student at NEIU’s College of Business and Management said that he could see how time is being wasted while workings at Kohl’s and after reading the book, he saw how time is wasted, and He saidhow certain elements at the retailer could be improved and he also said that he finds it easy to apply the book to different types of organizations. Another COBM student Alex Keir is a student at NEIU’s College of Business and Management said that after reading the book she can see how the role of a manager should not define what an employee does for the company, but it should allow the employee to define their role within the company. NEIU COBM faculty Charelatta Gutierrez is one of the faculties at NEIU’s College of Business and Management said that the College of Business and Management assigns a book for the students to read each semester, then they have Nettday that started eight years ago, which is about technology and humanity across the disciplines where they have students and special guest speakers discussing the subject of the book.
Trans from page 3 share things.” Partipilo reiterated that the Angelina Pedroso Center and NEIU “is a safe space for everybody.” “[The Angelina Pedroso Center] is a vital piece to the university and programming like this epidimizes the necessity to continue on having it,” Partipilo said. The Angelina Pedroso Center has six collaborating, identity-based resource areas, among them is the LGBTQA student resources. Partipilo is currently serving on the committee searching to hire an assistant director of the Angelina Pedroso Center who will be specifically overseeing the LGBTQA student resources. He said he hopes the position is filled soon. After the TDOR vigil, many students and staff stayed in the Angelina Pedroso Center to talk about what they just heard. “It’s still up to the people who don’t hold those identities [of non-binary or trans] to be allies because in numbers we’re stronger,” Anderson said. “As long as we exist, we’re going to make noise and we’re going to die and we’re going to fight making noise. We will not be erased; we’re here and we’re queer.” To learn more about the resources NEIU
can offer for the LGBTQ community, visit the Angelina Pedroso Center during operating hours (Monday and Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Tuesday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.) or join Pride Alliance by contacting them at pridealliance.neiu@ gmail.com. Disclaimer: The reporter and writer of this piece is a student aide at the Angelina Pedroso Center.
Students gather in the Pedroso Center for Trans Day of Remembrance. Photo by Cecilia G. Hernandez
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Police Blotter
The following incidents occurred between the dates of November 12 to November 22 on NEIU’s main campus. Nov. 12 - The Nest: Campus police responded to a call of a guest violating the overnight policy. Eight people were escorted out and the case will be handled administratively. Nov. 12 - Library: Officers responded to a possible racist threat posted on the suggestion board. A picture was taken of it and documented. Nov. 14 - P.E. Building: An unknown offender wrote gang-related graffiti on the toilet paper dispenser. Facilities management was notified for clean-up. Nov. 16 - The Nest: Officers responded to call of unwanted guests inside a resident’s room. Three people were escorted out and told not to return, and they complied. Nov. 17 - The Nest: A resident became verbally abusive toward staff and security guards when told her overnight guest was not pre-approved. Nov. 18 - P.E. Building: A physical altercation occurred between 2 soccer teams, approximately about 20 people. No one pressed any charges. Nov. 21 - The Nest: An unknown offender stole a Gucci belt from a victim. Nov. 22 - 3800 W Bryn-Mawr Ave: Vehicles travelling on Bryn-Mawr lost control and struck some parked cars. One driver was transported to the hospital.
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NEWS NEIU to offer same in-state tuition for Puerto Rican residents Board of Directors vote to increase in-state tuition and student fees Sarahy Lopez
NEIU announced that it will charge in-state tuition to students who are residents of Puerto Rico for a two-year period, during the Board of Trustees meeting of Nov. 16. Following the disaster of Hurricane Maria in Sept., which left thousands homeless and without water and electricity, the decision was made after colleges and universities in Puerto Rico were closed down, leaving residents uncertain of when they will open again. The island’s economy will shrink by about 8% in 2018 due to the hurricane damage, according to a November forecast by the Economist Intelligence Unit. Over 27,000 jobs were also lost since October, forcing thousands to leave Puerto Rico, almost 20 percent of the island’s population. Puerto Ricans are the second largest Hispanic group in Chicago. At NEIU, 33 percent of the student population identify as Hispanic, which means about 5-6 percent identify as Puerto Rican or descent. “In talking with the former president of one of the branch campuses of the University of Puerto Rico, she suggested that she thought in terms of universities [re-opening], it would be a two-year period,” President Richard Helldobler said. “We want to give them the option that they can complete
their degree or continue their degree in the absence of their home university being functional,” Helldobler said. The two-year period will last from Jan. 1, 2018 to Dec. 31, 2019. Students who might need one or two classes to complete their degree after the two-year period might be eligible to get an extension. “There are many people from my homeland that live [in Chicago] who have become the first responders, due to the weak FEMA response,” Trustee Marvin Garcia said. “We have to support our families on the island. This is a major catastrophic situation, and it is only going to get worse.” Additionally, Puerto Rican residents do have access to Federal Financial Aid and pell grants, but would not have immediate access to MAP grants until they declare Illinois citizenship. Enrollment Management Services will dedicate a personal guide to help students through the process. To qualify for in-state tuition, students from Puerto Rico will be required to seek a residency determination from the Office of Enrollment Services. Interested students should contact Associate Director of Admissions Processing and Operations Steve Pajak at (773) 442-4013. The Board Finance Committee also recommended to the Board an overall tuition increase of 5 percent and a 1.7 percent increase in mandatory student fees, based on 10-year state
appropriation history, tuition revenues, student financial aid, enrollment trends, base credit hours. Due to the financial uncertainty of fiscal year 2019, because of the budget impasse that the university had to undergo for two years, the Board suggested the increase to meet the projected budget shortfalls. The university does not know when a fiscal year 2019 appropriation will be provided, and does not know what the appropriation will be. Increases are proposed in four student fees: student activity, student union, campus improvement, and library. An offsetting proposed decrease in the Parking Fee leads to an overall recommended student fees increase of 1.7 percent. NEIU has also begun studying an expansion of its new differential tuition structure and “plans to research the manner in which differential tuition would benefit students through the lesser assignment of tuition expense to general education and pre-major programs, lowering its ‘sticker price’ for the highly competitive new student and transfer markets while enabling appropriate funding for some selected and more expensive academic programs,” according to the president’s report. The proposed action item was voted on and accepted by the Board.
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English instructor Amanda Goldblatt selected for NEA fellowship Sarahy Lopez
WHERE
FRESH & FAST MEET
™
NEIU’s English instructor Amanda Goldblatt was selected out of 36 recipients to be awarded a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) of $25,000. The 2018 Creative Writing Fellowship encourages the production of new work and allows writers the time and means to write. The Arts Endowment has awarded more than 3,400 creative writing fellowships worth $46 million since 1967, resulting in many of the most acclaimed novels of contemporary literature such as Jeffrey Eugenides’s “Middlesex,” Oscar Hijuelos’s “The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love,” Alice Walker’s “The Color Purple,” William Kennedy’s “Ironweed” and Bobbie Ann Mason’s “In Country.” Ninety-six out of the 166 American recipients of the National Book Award, the National Book Critics Circle Award, and the Pulitzer Prize in Poetry and Fiction were previous NEA Literature Fellows, according to the NEA’s website. The application process, which is open nationally, includes a proposal and description of a project or novel that the writer is working on. Goldblatt teaches courses such as Introduction to Creative Writing, Elements of Style for Creative Writers and Creative Writing: Fiction I & II at NEIU. Her work and contributions can be found on The Southern Review, the Fanzine, Tammy, Hobart and NOON. She received a call from Mohamed Sheriff, the literature specialist and grants manager from the NEA, and was told that she was selected as the award recipient. “I was standing there in disbelief, just on the sidewalk,” Goldblatt said. “I thanked him and
got off the phone and went swimming, but I was smiling so hard that every time I went to get a breath, I was getting water in my mouth.” “Being a writer is really about taking on a lot of rejection,” she said. “There’s so much rejection that when you get a chance to be validated, it feels like a really rare thing.” “[The fellowship] was specifically awarded for a project that is an in-progress novel, something that I’ve been working on for the last year and a half,” Goldblatt said. The novel is about women, swimming, violence and gentrification based on the Northwest side of Chicago. “It’s something that’s very observation based. I’ve been doing a lot of fieldwork and notetaking,” Goldblatt said. “Being awarded this fellowship has snapped me back into a sharper focus on this project.” Goldblatt will be taking off the summer from teaching classes to work on her novel and plans to take Spanish classes. “I want to be fluent in Spanish,” she said, “I find it embarrassing that I’m not because I live in Logan Square. I want to have conversations. Many of the people I live next to, use city resources with, on transit, in the library, at the grocery store, half of the conversations are in Spanish.” “As a writer I want to be able to eavesdrop, but as a community member, I want to be able to speak and communicate and to listen,” Goldblatt said. “My own work will be enriched by that, and my life will be better if I’m able to connect to a larger amount of people daily.”
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Northeastern Illinois University English Instructor Amanda Goldblatt is one of 36 recipients nationwide to be awarded a National Endowment for the Arts. Photo courtesy of neiu.edu
2017 Nutcracker_NEIUIndepdendent
11/6/17
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2017-2018 Ruth Page Dance Series
Victor Alexander, Co-Director Dolores Lipinski Long, Co-Director
Featuring Guest Artists from Cuba’s National School of Ballet
Saturday, December 2, 2017 - 3:00pm Saturday, December 2, 2017 - 7:00pm Sunday, December 3, 2017 - 1:00pm Sunday, December 3, 2017 - 5:00pm Northeastern Illinois University Auditorium Steinberg Fine Arts Center $25 Adults/$20 Seniors and Children Under 12 $10 NEIU Faculty and Students with ID Tickets: online at neiu.edu/tickets or in person at NEIU Information Center
Info: www.ruthpage.org
“Journey to a magical land!” • The Beacon News
DNA Info Shuts Down Will neighborhoods go dark? Theresa Cherone
Founder and CEO of DNAinfo Joe Ricketts decided to shut down DNAinfo on Nov. 2, leaving many people jobless including NEIU alumna Patty Welti. Ricketts claimed DNAinfo wasn’t a profitable business, but the shutdown came suspiciously after DNAinfo and Gothamist formed a union. This cannot be a coincidence. Ricketts didn’t want to pay union dues so he decided to shut down. According to the Chicago Tribune, 115 people lost their jobs. According to the NY times, the workers of DNAinfo tried to organize earlier in the Spring but Ricketts wrote to them and said, “As long as it’s my money that’s paying for everything, I intend to be the one making the decisions about the direction of the business.” DNAinfo was a free news source, so I can partially understand that a business needs to be profitable. However the next step could have been to charge readers who wanted a physical copy like other large newspapers. I’m sure many people would’ve paid if Ricketts charged because this was the main source of local news. Maybe that’s just not something Ricketts wanted to do, or maybe he never considered this, but there is more to his decision to shut down. He didn’t want the company unionized. DNAinfo started as a monthly neighborhood news source where journalists in charge of different neighborhoods reported local news since 2009. It went live on the internet in 2012 according to the Chicago Tribune. Going live made it easier for many to follow local news as a strong following was developed. Patty Wetli was my neighborhood reporter and every story she wrote was incredible. Her articles helped me to be more aware while walking. Growing up in Lincoln Square, I didn’t read the newspaper until Wetli came into the neighborhood. I read DNAinfo because it was local and Wetli wrote clearly. The articles mostly consisted of informa-
tion about new and old businesses and real estate, along with stories about local events. Then my neighborhood changed. There was an increase in robberies, bullet holes in cars, vandalism, and a man riding on his bike assaulting women who walked alone or with children. Wetli was the first to report on these incidents, eventually larger news platforms reported, but that was after these incidents were repeated several times. Not only did Wetli make me aware at home but she was also around as NEIU was suffering from a lack of budget. She reported on rallies and was there when 180 NEIU employees were fired this past summer. Sure, television and other newspapers give information, but it’s general and the stories aren’t about local news. DNAinfo gave me a better platform. All the journalists wrote in a way that an average Joe like me understood politics in Chicago and how much was being affected by the leaders in Chicago, Illinois and the United States. One aspect of the DNAinfo shutdown I approve of is that former employees will receive “three months of paid ‘administrative leave’ at full salary, plus four weeks of severance” according to the NY Times. I am thankful employees will still have an income. While the number of layoffs may not sound very high, 115 is still more people out of work and in need of a new job. It leaves millions of people with less access to local news. Currently I am using my neighborhood Facebook page to find out what is happening locally. Chicago residents can also keep up with local news by trying chicago.everyblock.com. The information can be looked at without signing up but there is also the option to sign up and follow a neighborhood. This site has several categories: neighbor messages, crime and under the “more” tab there are additional options.It is not the same as DNAinfo, but it keeps the neighborhood aware and is a platform to ask questions and get neighbor responses.
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OpINIONS
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Male birth control: glove it or snip it?
Amaris Rodriguez
I remember listening to my doctor as she listed off all the possible birth control methods I could use, and I wondered if my boyfriend ever had these conversations with his doctor. As women, we have many different options for birth control (which is a positive thing), but rarely do we think about or discuss birth control for men besides condoms. This thought kept increasing after hearing the controversy surrounding female contraceptives and whether or not they should be covered by health insurance. Earlier this October, CNN reported that President Trump’s administration passed a rule that made it easier for employers and other organizations to opt out of providing health coverage for birth control citing religious reasons. But what about forms of contraceptives for males? While scientists are trying to develop new methods of birth control for men, at the moment the two most popular options are condoms and vasectomies. Most people know about condoms, but vasectomies are frequently less mentioned.
As female contraceptives are making headline news lately and condoms seem to not be an issue involving insurance, the topic of vasectomies should be discussed more. A vasectomy is a procedure where the small tubes in a man’s scrotum are cut off so that sperm cannot leave the body and cause a pregnancy. They are considered a more permanent form of birth control but vasectomies can be reversed. As one of the only primary forms of birth control for men, vasectomies are often quite costly but that does not seem to be a concern as most insurance plans cover partial, if not the whole cost of the procedure, depending on one’s health insurance. While female-oriented birth control, such as the pill, is being criticized by legislators and is controversial when it comes to medical health insurance coverage and access, vasectomies don’t seem to have that problem. This past June, Vermont was added to a list of several states that are working towards making the procedure covered by health insurance. As someone who believes that woman should have access to affordable birth control, it is infuriating that, while the media covers all of the controversy on whether or
not female birth control should be covered by health insurance, male “birth control” flies under the radar. While both female and male contraceptives face backlash from religious organizations that believe their use is immoral and against God’s will, vasectomies seem less controversial than the pill. I genuinely believe that one of the main reasons why vasectomies aren’t as looked down upon like other forms of contraceptives is because they are for men. However I have also found out that their stigma is lessened by the belief that they are, f o r the most part, a family decision. State Sen. Christopher Pearson of Vermont oversaw the legislation and said, “In many cases, families make this decision together, and that’s appropriate.” This contributing factor is controversial in itself. While I agree that a couple should talk about their future together and whether that will involve a biological child, I believe that birth control is a personal choice. If a woman decides that she does not want to have a child, that is a decision her partner needs to respect. Likewise, if a man decides that he wants a vasectomy, his partner should respect his wishes.
Regardless of the birth control method, both males and females decisions regarding their bodies have to be considered in order to have a healthy relationship. Recently “The Vampire Diaries” actor Ian Somerhalder came under scrutiny when the public misinterpreted a comment he made during Dr. Berlin’s “Informed Pregnancy” podcast. Viewers believed he purposely threw out his wife’s birth control pills to start a family without Nikki Reed’s consent. While that might not have been what happened, the main message is that his wife had a right to take her birth control even without his support or permission, regardless of their relationship status. That should be a main discussion point when considering birth control for both parties and one that politicians seem to never address. Vasectomies should not be praised or seen as a birth control option for the whole family, as that title gives the impression that the individual’s wants are outweighed by the approval of others. As I continue to search for a form of birth control, my only concern is how I feel about it.
Decolonizing English syllabi, more voices of color Sarahy Lopez
An anonymous petition created by undergraduate students in the Yale English Department recently asks the faculty to “decolonize” a two-semester course on major English poets that focuses on about seven white male poets: Geoffrey Chaucer, Edmund Spenser, William Shakespeare, John Donne, John Milton, Alexander Pope, William Wordsworth and T. S. Eliot. The petition seeks to change the curriculum for the pre-1800 and 1900 that would “deliberately include literatures relating to gender, race, sexuality, ableism and ethnicity.” According to the creators of the petition, it is unfair to study only white male authors in this course and instead it should shift its focus to female, queer or writers of other ethnicities. The resolution from the petition is to ultimately eliminate studies on white male authors.
As an English major and a person of color, while I do agree that there needs to be more inclusion of other voices in classes, English majors must study Shakespeare and the rest of the “classical” works because they are the standard examples of the English language study and also in theatre and playwriting. Shakespeare alone portrays some of the most complex characters in writing, such as Shylock from “Merchant of Venice” the Jewish man that is made out to be a villain but truly isn’t, or Viola from “Twelfth Night” who dresses like her dead twin brother to survive on the streets of Illyria. Alongside Shakespeare, it is also important to look into other works from women, people of color or writers from the LGBT community. During my time in middle school and throughout college, I’ve been inspired by countless of other authors and poets, enough to continue my education in English. Writers
like Sandra Cisneros have only made my life richer and my reading experience become more diverse. Bringing in voices from a variety of backgrounds enriches the lives of both scholars and writers, and allows us to view other classical texts and the world through other perspectives. This is why I think balance is important within English departments. We should not allow our major authors to take up most courses. We should leave room to let other voices sink in while still keeping the “classics.” Major author courses should start including other authors and other voices, but I do not agree with eliminating Shakespeare or Milton completely. NEIU English professor Dr. Ryan Poll said, “I think that we need to sit down with our students and get some input. I think that there’s a lot of thought of how we put our major together and our classes.”
“As a society we should never stop decolonizing ourselves, we should never think that the process of decolonization is over,” Dr. Poll said. “But I don’t think it should be an ‘either or’ but a ‘both.’ It shouldn’t be a competition.” English majors will be at a loss without the studies of Shakespeare, and other nonmale, non-white voices. Classical writers have inspired countless of other authors to write, which is why it is important to study the earlier works. This allows us to contemplate issues of today, alongside works of more contemporary authors who are female, who are queer and who are of different ethnicities. These are the voices who challenge the more famous texts and allow English majors to gain perspective on other cultures, and will ultimately drive us to become better writers and scholars.
St. Vincent visits Chicago, promotes new album Amy Buscemi
Photos courtesy St. Vincent Press photos
This past Wednesday afternoon, Anne Erin or “Annie” Clark known, best by her stage name St. Vincent, graced some very lucky contest winners with an intimate performance and a short interview at WXRT Chicago’s Blue Cross Blue Shield Performance Stage. Clark got her start as background performer for Sufjan Stevens and The Polyphonic Spree and has evolved into a prestigious performing artist of her own. She has also, in recent years, had the unique opportunity to record an album and tour with David Byrne, once the frontman of the popular 1970s revolutionary rock band The Talking Heads. Jason Thomas, a disc jockey at WXRT, hosted the event which lasted just under twenty minutes. It included a short interview
with questions that were responded to in a manner so witty by St. Vincent that they had Sarah Styer, a contest winner saying, “She’s hilarious.” Clark, dressed in a trench coat of sorts and a red beret, delivered three songs with an acoustic guitar in hand to an intimate but enthusiastic audience. Her first song, “New York,” from her recent release, “Masseducation,” was played “in lieu of a drum solo,” Clark said before beginning. “New York” delivered a message filled equally with powerful emotions, melodic diversity and strong vocals, which at times resembled those of icon Joni Mitchell. “Los Ageless” was the second song played and it was an energetic yet gut wrenching piece about love and loss. It included the lyr-
ics, “How could anybody have you and lose you and not lose their mind too?” and treated the audience to a percussive bass line which Clark played on her acoustic six string guitar. Thomas asked what band drew her into performing and Clark responded without hesitation, “Nirvana.” Her custom guitar, the cover art and title of her recent release were also conversation pieces in the short interview. Thomas then thanked her for coming and asked if she could play one more song to which she replied, “Totally, thanks for having me. I love XRT!” Clark closed her short set with “Slow Disco,” which as the title suggests is a slower tune with a beautiful melody and a chorus with striking high range notes and vocals.
After the event concluded, Thomas was asked about his involvement with the event. He said that the music director of WXRT arranged the performance and that hosting DJs for such events are chosen on a rotating basis. Thomas also said that he was able to get a job at WXRT without a degree specific in Broadcasting. Clark’s sixth album “Masseducation” hit record store shelves last month. It was pressed on pink vinyl, with the option for a limited deluxe edition which is pressed on yellow vinyl along with some other perks for loyal fans to enjoy. Clark will be back in Chicago on Friday Jan. 12, 2018 for a performance at the Chicago Theater.
Calendar of 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.
November 28: Piano studies showcase 3:05-4:05 @Recital Hall Songwriters showcase 7:30-9:30 @Auditorium November 29: Katie Samoya Junior Trumpet Recital 3:00-4:00pm @Recital Hall Jeffrey Smith senior bass recital 5:30 @Recital Hall It’s Great To Be Alive 7:30 @Auditorium
No Child 7:30 @ Stage Center Theatre December 1: No Child 7:30 @Stage center December 2: The Nutcracker 3:00 @Auditorum The Nutcracker 7:30 @Auditorium No Child 7:30 @Stage center
December 3: The Nutcracker 3:00pm @Auditorium The Nutcracker 7:30 @Auditorium December 5: Bass and precision studios showcase 3:05-4:05 @Recital Hall Night Movies 7:30 @Auditorium University Chorus & Chambers singers, Dr. Christopher Owen,
Director 7:30-9:00pm @Recital Hall December 7: Guitar Studio Showcase 3:05-4:05pm @Recital Hall NEIU Wind Ensemble, Dr. Travis Heath, Director @Auditorium No Child 7:30pm @Stage Center Theater December 8: No Child 7:30 @Stage center.
December 9: No Child 2:00pm @Stage Center Theater No Child 7:30pm @Stage Center Theater Don’t see your event? Submit your event to NEIUIndependentOnlineEditor@gmail.com. Subject line: Independent Event or Campus Calendar.
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Arts & Life
www.neiuindependent.org
Justice League doesn’t do the comics justice Hussein Khemani As a huge fan of both DC Comics and filmmaker Zack Snyder, I came into “Justice League” with high expectations. I heavily enjoyed “Man of Steel” and “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice: Ultimate Cut” in terms of its story, cinematography, score, tone and its action scenes. Justice League fails to live up to its predecessors as Warner Brothers pumps out an extremely generic superhero film that fell short of my expectations. The development of Justice League is a tale far more interesting than the film’s actual plot. The critical response from moviegoers to the theatrical cut of Batman v. Superman caused the studio to abandon their original thematic vision as Justice League is a far more light and comedic film than its predecessors. Snyder’s departure from the film, due to a family tragedy, ended up making Joss Whedon step in to complete filming and it caused the film to have tonal dissonance. Whedon, who took over in May 2017, fired the original composer for the film, Junkie XL, who scored Batman v. Superman, and hired Danny Elfman.
Days after the film’s release, Elfman stated, “I got the call from Joss very last-second”. Elfman, a well known composer, fails to make the Justice League soundtrack memorable. The re-shoots even required CGI to cover Henry Cavill’s moustache (he was filming Mission Impossible 6 at the time which required him to have a moustache) also made headlines. Finally, if you watch all the trailers for the film and then watch the film, you’ll realize a plethora of scenes have been cut. The final product is an inconsistent Avengers-esque knock off that fails to differentiate itself from generic superhero films and relies on cheap laughs to appease the audience members who were critical of Man of Steel and Batman v. Superman. The story is extremely bare-bones and forced, although it starts out somewhat strong. The opening scene is beautiful as it crafts a bleak world after the death of Superman in Batman v. Superman. Following that, we get poor exposition that is meant to get our cast of heroes together as soon as possible while trying to get the audience to care for them. Unfortunately, not enough time is dedicated to the new heroes. This results
in Flash, Cyborg and Aquaman to be presented as gimmicky shallow characters to whom presented as gimmicky shallow characters which made it difficult to form a genuine connection with.” This is quite unfortunate as that trio of characters truly have a rich mythos. This film just lazily throws them into the mix. I was surprised at how bland the action sequences were when the League actually assembles. Man of Steel and Batman v. Superman had flaws, but those flaws were definitely not in their fight choreography. The final confrontation between the team and the villain is completely unremarkable. I don’t really remember much of it other than how the League defeats him. It wasn’t a memorable fight which is truly a shame. Superman fighting Zod in Man of Steel and Batman taking down the group of thugs in Batman v. Superman was well choreographed, entertaining, and memorable. See the film for yourself and decide how you feel about it. I was extremely disappointed with Justice League. If you’re looking for a good Justice League story, it’s not here. I recommend sticking to the comics.
Your NEIU Independent wants to report everything Northeastern. We are currently looking for newshounds from both the El Centro and Carruthers locations to report on all things going on in those areas. Feel free to reach out to our staff to get you started on the path of building your writing portfolio and make some money. The first step is to reach out to the Independent Managing Editor, Rut Ortiz by submitting an email to NEIUManagingEditor@gmail.com.
www.neiuindependent.org Tuesday, November 28, 2017
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Arts & Life
It’s just a ‘Halluci Nation’
Two Native dancers mix traditional dances with breakdancing as well as traditional costume and headdress with b-boy styles to symbolize a new generation of Native youth.. Photos by Robin Bridges
Robin Bridges
Before Columbus “discovered America,” Native people lived from one end of the continent to the other. The U.S. was not the only government to force Natives into reservations. That segregation is one of the reasons there is so little representation of Native people. A Canadian DJ collective is looking to change that. The collective is known as “A Tribe Called Red,” and is made up of three DJ’s: 2oolman, DJ NDN and Bear Witness. The collective refers to themselves and their fans as Halluci Nation, thus giving their most recent album the title “We Are Halluci Nation.” The collective began performing together in 2008 at Club Babylon in Ottawa, Canada. They’ve been on tour almost nonstop since the album’s release in September 2016.
ATCR’s most recent stop in Chicago on Nov. 2 brought us something we didn’t even know we were missing: Native dancers and drums on drums on drums. DJ 2oolman and Bear Witness killed it on stage and the dancers were incredible. About 100 people moved to the deep base in the near West Side’s Bottom Lounge in early November. The show featured native dancers performing a mix of traditional dances with breakdancing. The whole experience was extremely moving and symbolic of a new Native generation. ATCR blends Dub-step with powwow drumming and singing from Native nations and artists around the world. They also mix into their music representations of Native people from the media. One of my favorite songs that isn’t on this album, “Burn Bridges
your village to the ground” features a monologue by Wednesday Addams from “Addams Family Values.” “We Are Halluci Nation” is ATCR’s third studio album. The album, along with the rest of the music, draws attention to colonial brutality. They use their tour and their music to draw attention to the crisis that Native people across North America face both on and off reservations. They do this with the Halluci Nation. The nation is a concept created by Trudell, which encourages inclusion, empathy and all nations coming together. The album features artists such as hip-hop star Yasiin Bey aka Mos Def; Colombian musician Lido Pimienta; the late Native leader, poet and musician John Trudell; drum group Black Bear; Inuk throat singer Tanya Tagaq and so many others.
The album itself centers around the Halluci Nation coming together and the story of “Charlie.” Chanie “Charlie” Wenjack ran away from his residential Indian school and was later found dead of exposure and hunger in 1966. Their music and performances tie in many aspects of Native cultures including the significance of powwows, which are a time when Natives get together and can serve many different purposes. The embodiment of Native culture by ATCR is reinforcing what the Natives have proclaimed all along, “We are not conquered people, we are still here.” ATCR’s music is available to purchase on iTunes or Spotify, or check out their videos on Youtube for the full audio and visual effect.
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Tuesday, November 28, 2017
Arts & Life
www.neiuindependent.org
Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus spreads holiday cheer
Photo courtesy of Kevin Corbett
Robin Bridges Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus started in 1983. The group of more than 150 chorus members and a small army of volunteers put together two main performances during the year and smaller performances almost weekly. Not every member performs every show, but they try to meet up as often as possible. NEIU interdisciplinary studies alumna and chorus member Khara Williams said, “It’s a family. Everyone has your back. If you have a problem, everyone is there to help you. Everyone is involved with something and they’re willing to help you out.” Williams joined CGMC this past spring season. His debut show was “B-town: From Barbershop to Boy Bands.” The group performed songs from N’Sync, New Kids On The Block and Backstreet Boys. Williams says his favorite song to perform was “Step by Step” by NKOTB. His days are packed rehearsing and performing and he said he’s doing the things he really wants to do. “I love it,” Williams said. “It’s so much fun. It was overwhelming because for me growing up I hung out with a lot of straight people. Male and female. And I really couldn’t express how I feel and how I want to be.”
He said, “Joining this chorus helps me a lot because I can see it’s okay to be yourself. Even though I never really had a problem with [discrimination and homophobia]. But being in the chorus just makes it more acceptable for me to be myself.” You don’t have to be LGBTQ to join the chorus, however the CGMC has been a visible representative for the LGBTQ community since it’s beginnings. “We’ve had a heterosexual couple meet and get married. It’s a really good place to be and they’ll welcome you with open arms,” Williams said. The CGMC blends a traditional chorus show with musical theater for an unforgettable show. The holiday show is no different. Artistic Director James T. Morehead said in a press release that “the idea for the show is a throwback to the beginnings.” The title is similar to previous titles used by CGMC from 1983 to 1996. Some suggestive song choice makes the show recommended for a PG-13 audience. “I’m grateful that they accepted me into their family, I love it.” said Williams. Tickets are $25 - $40 and vary in price by venue. To buy tickets or for more information go to: CGMC.org
CGMC event schedule “Naughty or Nice” Dec. 1 - 8 p.m. ( ASL interpreted performance) Athenaeum Theatre 2936 N. Southport Ave, Chicago Dec. 9- 8 p.m. North Shore Center 9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie Dec. 10- 3 p.m. Beverly Arts Center 2407 W. 111th St, Chicago
2017: A year in review
Patrick Casas
by game five the Warriors took home another title. It was their second NBA championship in three years and most likely it won’t be their last.
Super Bowl 51 took place at the in NRG stadium in Houston, Texas , and it was one of the best games you would have will ever seen in your lifetime . In the first three quarters of the game, the Atlanta Falcons showed complete dominance. The New England Patriots were trailing the Falcons 21 points near the end of the third quarter, but Tom Brady and his team rallied to pull off one of the greatest comebacks the world has ever seen. Brady proved once again why he is the greatest football player of all time.
During the NBA offseason, there was a huge splash in free agency. The Golden State Warriors added eight-time all-star Kevin Durant. The acquisition was well worth it, with a load of playmakers such as Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson the Warriors would be a force to reckon with in the NBA. On June 1 through June 12, the Warriors made their third straight NBA Finals appearance., also t The team facing them in the finals for the third time were the Cleveland Cavaliers led by Lebron James. Eventually, the Warriors were just overwhelming and
On June 11, the Nashville Predators put up a great fight in the Stanley Cup Finals, but after six games , they were not able to keep up with the victorious Pittsburgh Penguins. This is twice now that the Penguins have won the Stanley Cup, and it’s the second year in a row team captain Sidney Crosby has earned the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoffs MVP.
Events Approved by COC
Events Funded by Student Activity Fee for the Spring Semester 2018
Nov. 9 and 16 Meetings
Student Leadership Development
Phi Iota Alpha USHLI Conference - $3,240
Jan. 8-11 | Winter Welcome Week
Linguistics Apes Movie - $81
Senate Updates Student Government Associations wishes everyone a wonderful holiday break and Happy New Year.
Jan. 15 | MLK Service Day Jan. 16 | Student Organization and Campus Resource Fair Jan. 18 | Freshmen Meet Up Meet the Media Night
Northeastern Programming Board Dec. 4 | NPB I Love Monday Pizza will be served 1pm-4pm - Village Square Dec. 7 | Class of 2017 Celebration 7pm-10pm - El Centro Campus Late Night Breakfast 10pm-11:30pm - Cafeteria
Council of Clubs Updates
Baseball season was more exciting this year with the rise of New York Yankees rookie Aaron Judge, who brought a spark to the game by winning American League Rookie of the year. Also, the Houston Astros, won their first World Series title for their organization with the help of a loaded roster such as Carlos Beltran, Jose Aluve, and Justin Verlander. And with the championship heading for Houston, it made the city look past the devastation of Hurricane Harvey and helped keep the people of Texas strong.
STUDENT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
For further information about the above resolutions or to inquire about upcoming resolutions, please contact SGA President Ashlei Ross at a-ross8@neiu.edu. There are still open SGA positions for Senators and Council of Club Representatives. If you are interested in being in Student Government, please contact Olivia Goree at o-goree@neiu.edu To read approved Senate minutes and passed legislation visit neiu.edu/sld and check out the SGA tab. To request disability accommodations please contact Student Disability Services at (773) 442-4595 or SDS@neiu.edu at least 48 hours in advance.