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TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 2023

WWW.NEIUINDEPENDENT.ORG

Student-run newspaper since 1962 Volume 43 Issue 3

Campus Free Speech Under Threat? Faculty Speak Out Against New Policy By: Scott Andrews, Writer

Faculty are concerned an interim workplace violence policy could be used as retaliation for exercising their freedom of speech against their superiors or NEIU administration. The university is considering making its E1.99.0 Workplace Violence Interim Policy permanent. NEIU saw tempers flare on Jan. 24, 2023 protest at a Budget Town Hall meeting hosted by NEIU administrators. Some faculty and students protested solutions proposed by the administration to address the fiscal and enrollment crisis this university is currently facing. Now, many faculty fear action could be taken against them for speaking out against the administration or their superiors. This policy applies to all employees of the University, including faculty, staﬀ and student workers. It fails to specifically mention the president, executive cabinet, deans, and other administrators. Under this directive, the examples of what can constitute a violent act include, but are not limited to, “verbal threats, harassing phone calls, abusive behavior, coercion, and shouting.” Continues on page 2.

Credit: Scott Andrews

News

Staﬀ:

TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 2023 Continued from front page

Editor-in-Chief Monty Stites

Campus Free Speech Under Threat? Faculty Speak Out Against New Policy

Managing Editor Jasmine Rodriguez

Production Editor Savannah Owens

Section Editors Monty Stites Leslie Lozada Ananth Prabhu Dan Maurer Luz Analitis

Production Team Xareni Uriostegui Pedro Castillo Ishaque Syed Gabriel Glochowsky Hannah Grajciar Jesus Robles

Writers Scott Andrews Angie Ybarra Ananth Parabhu Luz Analitis Bella Cardoza

Copy Editors Jasmine Rodriguez

Mission Statement: The Independent’s mission is to gather and report on important and relevant information to the university and its surrounding communities, as well as to be a creative and critical outlet for community members to express their views and concerns and to oﬀer examples of potential solutions to ongoing problems. Contact EIC for any questions or if you have a letter to the editor: independent-eic@neiu.edu Contact Production Manager for any questions or interest in visual design: pindpnews@neiu.edu

A section of the directive specifies further what behaviors are deemed a violation of the policy. These include: - Challenging authority; insubordination. - Regularly being unreasonably argumentative to the point of causing fear to members of the campus community. - Unusual or strange behavior, such as paranoid comments, fixation on violence, or angry responses to situations. - Making threats verbally, in writing, by email, via social media, or by voice mail. - Blaming others for all problems. Some of that behavior could describe the actions of protesters at the town hall on Jan. 24. 2023. While no physical violence took place, verbal conflicts could be considered violent acts under the policy. University administration could decide to bring about disciplinary action against some of the faculty. That is what faculty like Dr. Oliva Perlow, Department Chair of Sociology, are concerned about. In an email, Dr. Perlow stated, “Without getting into the weeds on the multitude of ways in which this policy is problematic (violates ADA, Freedom of Speech, etc.), it is clear to us that this is a form of social control and an attempt to quash dissident voices. This is a public University, not a corporation or a prison.” The Independent asked for clarification from Abby Murray, the Executive Director of Human Resources at NEIU. Murray stated, “As a university, NEIU is committed to and supports free-

dom of speech wholeheartedly. This policy, if approved, protects against harassing and threatening communications; it will not interfere with communications between colleagues. This policy has been drafted to help prevent violence in the workplace with the intent to protect the university community from potential intimidation or threats where, as the draft policy states, the person fears for their safety. There are examples of unacceptable behavior in the draft policy which do not interfere with free speech.” While this is only an interim policy, it has not yet been adopted by the University. Many other educational institutions and businesses have adopted similar policies, according to Murray. The draft is similar to the Illinois Workplace Violence Prevention Act. If anyone in the NEIU community is concerned about language or examples in the draft, they are encouraged to submit changes or recommendations to Human Resources. Upon further investigation into this policy by The Independent the Equal Opportunity and Nondiscrimination Policy G.17 link on page 3 of this directive “could not be found”. A senior faculty member who wishes to remain anonymous has pointed out this link needs to be fixed. Then they can give suggestions and recommendations for the policy to be updated. Murray also stated in her email, “NEIU is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for employees to perform their jobs and students to learn.”

TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 2023

These incidents occured on NEIU campus property between the dates of 02/20/2023 and 03/02/2023. 02/20/23 BUILDING

FINE

ARTS

OFFICERS AND FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO BULDING FIRE. EQUIPMENT BEING USED AT THE TIME MAY HAVE CAUSE SPARK THAT STARTED FIRE. BUILDNG CLOSED OFF FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY FOR SAFETY AND CLEAN UP

WELL-BEING CHECK OF STUDENT AFTER BOYFRIEND HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET IN TOUCH, STUDENT LOCATED IN ROOM OKAY, SLEEPING. MADE CONTACT WITH BOYFRIEND. 02/23/23 - THE NEST STUDENT RECEIVED THREATENING/HARRASSING TEXT MESSAGES FROM EX-GIRLFRIEND OF STUDENT SHE IS CURRENTLY DATING. INCIDENT REFERRED TO DEAN’S OFFICE.

02/20/23 - THE NEST

02/24/23 - THE NEST

OFFICERS CALLED REGARDING AN INTRUDER IN ROOM , IN REALITY OCCUPANTS WERE HAVING ISSUES WITH ROOM MATES’ GUEST NON CRIMINAL ISSUES TO BE RESOLVED BY NEST STAFF

STUDENT RECEIVED THREATENING/HARRASSING TEXT MESSAGES FROM FORMER FRIEND AFTER THEY HAD A FALL OUT. MATTER ALSO REFERRED TO DEAN’S OFFICE

02/21/23 - NEIU SUBURBAN POLICE DEPARTMENT REQUESTS

02/25/23 - THE NEST POLICE RESPONDED TO REPORTS OF LOUD NOSE/ PARTYING COMING FROM

ONE OF THE RESIDENCES. ROOM WAS QUIET WHEN OFFICERS ARRIVED AND 2 OCCUPANTS WERE CLEANING UP ROOM. 02/26/23 - THE NEST POLICE CALLED TO ASSIST STUDENT BEING HARRASSED BY ROOM MATE WHILE MOVING OUT DUE TO ON GOING ISSUES BETWEEN THEM. 02/26/23 - THE NEST POLICE ASSISTED CONCERNED PARENTS WHO HAD NOT HEARD FROM DAUGHTER SINCE THE NIGHT BEFORE. STUDENT CALLED PARENTS AND NOTIFIED THEM SHE IS OKAY AND BACK ON CAMPUS. 02/27/23 - THE NEST OFFICERS, ENGINEERS AND FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO FIRE ALARM IN THE C-BUILDING. IT WAS DETERMINED BURNED FOOD IN TOASTER SET OFF ALARM.

02/27/23 - PARKING LOT-F STUDENT REPORTS FINDING MULTIPLE SCRATCHES ON CAR’S DRIVER SIDE DOOR. OFFENDER IS UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME 02/27/23 - B - BUILDING STAFF REPORTS 2 DELL COMPUTERS MISSING SINCE BEFORE COVID PANDEMIC BEGAN. UNKNOWN IF STOLEN OR RELOCATED. 02/28/23 - THE NEST STUDENT REPORTS THEFT OF REFUND CHECK ISSUED BY THE UNIVERSITY. UNKNOWN OFFENDER CASHED CHECK. 02/28/23 - EL CENTRO SECURTY GUARD REPORTS SUBJECT TRIPPED AND FELL IN PARKING LOT. FIRST AID PROVIDED BY SECURITY GUARD ON DUTY AMBULANCE REFUSED. SUBJECT LEFT ON HIS OWN.

News

03/02/23 - WTTW TV STUDIOS OFFICERS RESPONDED TO SEVERAL CALLS OF FIGHT ON THE 4TH FLOOR. SUBJECTS INVOLVED REFUSED TO SIGN COMPLAINTS. OF STUDENTS MATTER REFERRED TO DEAN’S OFFICE. *** The NEIU police blotter is requested from our campus police for every issue of NEIU Independent because this publication exercises its right to do so, courtesy of the Clery Act. The Clery Act is a federal statute requiring all higher education establishments that participate in federal financial aid programs to maintain records of campus crime and campus security information. Any case that is considered ongoing may not be listed in the blotter. For this reason, there may be updated reports published retroactively once those cases are closed. For more information about the Clery Act, visit the NEIU police department’s webpage.

News

TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 2023

Professors March for Fair Contract Written and Photos taken by Dan Maurer, News Editor

A green tide of professors marched through the halls of Northeastern Illinois University, chanting “Union power on the rise” and “No more admin tricks and lies.” On March 2, 2023, they marched a circuit from Village Square, past Building C and through the College of Business and Technology, before circling back to the Student Union. University Professionals of Illinois (UPI) Local 4100, the union representing staﬀ and faculty at NEIU, has been in negotiations with the university administration for a new contract. The current five-year contract expired in 2019 and has been rolling over ever since. In December, UPI held a teach-in in Village Square, where union members spoke with students about the negotiations and what they could mean for students. At the time, the administration had proposed increasing teacher workload without providing additional pay or benefits. That proposal is still on the table. Dr. Steve Frankel, senior instructor of biology and one of the vice presidents of the union, said the original proposal from NEIU’s administration had not included any kind of mechanism for a raise, meaning newly hired teachers would not be able to receive a raise until a new contract is negotiated in five years. He added that, throughout negotiations, UPI and the administration had yet to exchange financial proposals. UPI is currently collecting signatures for strike

cards, asking members to say that they are willing to go on strike, should the need arise. As of March 2, 2023, less than 100 cards had been signed. The professor’s march ended on the second floor of the Student Union, where they continued chanting and singing in front of the conference room where negotiations were set to take place. Professors cheered and clapped to calls of “What’s disgusting? Union busting!” and “What’s outrageous? Stagnant wages!” as well as, “What’s appalling? Bosses Stalling!” The chants went on until negotiations began at 2 p.m. During negotiations, UPI made two proposals: One regarding diversity, equity and inclusion, and another about the

disciplinary process. The administration voiced no proposals. Lasting less than an hour, the negotiations were short.

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opinion

TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 2023

Biden Touts Accomplishments, Lays Out Plans for Future in State of the Union By: Angie Ybarra, Writer

By now you have either watched or heard something about the State of the Union address. According to recent polls, Joe Biden walked into the State of the Union with a 47% approval rating. The creation of jobs from infrastructure programs, unemployment at a 50% low, the COVID-19 response put into place which assisted in lowering the death rate, as well as many other initiatives that have gone into eﬀect has only aided the United States in regaining a stronghold on the world stage. For further information on the accomplishments of this administration please visit the oﬃcial White House web page, feel free to follow this link to do so. The State of the Union lasted an hour and thirteen minutes, during which President Biden recapped his administration’s wins, which in turn are winning for the citizens of the United States of America. The president addressed the Joint Session of Congress at the State Capitol just a few short days after the anniversary of the January 6 Insurrection. We as a country have come a long way since Jan. 6, 2021, but we have a long way to go. The State of the Union was an address filled with hope, and a request by the president to “Finish the Job”. President Biden was able to secure a promise from Republicans not to touch Social Security or Medicare, even though some in this party have wished to sunset or outright end what they view as an entitlement. President Biden seemed to command the room, bringing attention to not only the accomplishments of the administration but a number of proposals in the works, such as capping the price of insulin for all Americans needing this life-saving medication, laws to give kids clean drinking water, internet connectivity for all, plans to build electric vehicle charging stations, 10 million new businesses, capping credit card late fees at $8, stricter gun laws, increased pay for teachers, ensuring all building materials are made in the United States and many other initiatives that would only position the United States in a better place in the global econo-

my. President Biden spoke of the necessity for fundamental change and offered a plan to do so. Biden extended a hand to the Republican Party but did not show weakness in doing so. Many have said, since watching the State of the Union address, that President Biden came to show he is ready for a potential second run for President in 2024. During the State of the Union address, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) took his seat as the Speaker of the House of Representatives for the first time. The road to Speaker of the House was not an easy one, it took McCarthy 15 votes to be elected as the Speaker of the House for the first time since 1923 and the longest voting process since 1859. It has been stated that McCarthy has been a staunch supporter of former President Trump. McCarthy has even been linked to upholding the false claims that the election in 2020 was stolen, but after the Insurrection outwardly condemned Trump’s action. However, McCarthy later walked back those claims and made amends with the former president. Throughout the State of the Union, President Biden introduced many individuals such as Representative Hakeem Jeffries, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives. Rep. Jeffries is the first man of color to hold this position and supported by Rep. Nancy Pelosi to replace her after she stepped down from leadership last year. Biden also introduced the parents of Tyre Nichols, who was the most recent young black man killed by police, (note that the federal law under the heading of the George Floyd Act was recently enacted). The husband of former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, who had been attacked in their home by a MAGA supporter, the Ukraine ambassador, and even rockstar and activist Bono, lead singer of the band U2 were all in attendance. Having such a diverse group in attendance shows just how many lives the Biden Administration has touched through the work that has been done, and that which is still to come. “It is clear that many who watched the State of the Union address did so for a

myriad of reasons, however, the common denominator in why people viewed the address was to get a benchmark as to who would do the best for our democracy, and that we as a nation are walking away to whatever side we think is right. The line in the sand has been drawn. We just need to see where, who and when things will fall into place and how far as a country.” This State of the Union address was one that touted that we are a “country unbowed and unbroken”, we are a country of “possibility”, and even though Democrats and Republicans do not see eye to eye, the need to work together has never been greater. President Biden said that fighting for the sake of fighting, or conflict for the sake of conflict is not worth it. Much of President Biden’s address was met with jeers from the Republican party, however to the dismay of senior members of the Republican Party many Republicans choose to call the President of the United States a liar, showing they have little to no respect for the oﬃce, or for proper etiquette in such a situation. President Biden was able to stay in control of the room and address which held the favor of those in attendance as well as the at-home viewers. Immediately following the State of the Union address was the Republican response. The party chose the newly elected Governor of Arkansas, Sarah Huckabee Sanders to give the rebuttal. Sanders is the youngest governor ever elected into oﬃce. She is also the first female to follow in her father’s footsteps and lead a state as its governor. Her father, Mike Huckabee, served as governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007. As you might recall, Sarah Huckabee Sanders served as press secretary for President Trump. Governor Sanders’s rebuttal was in stark contrast to Joe Biden’s address. Where Biden spoke of working together to “Finish the Job,” Sanders stoked the fires of division between the parties, with rhetoric such as “It is not [a] choice between right and wrong but normal and crazy”. Sanders also spoke about how this administration seeks to please only

the “Woke,” and she is also seen as taking a swipe at the transgender community with her veiled remarks. Throughout her response, the tone that was taken was a very devise one, and it should be known that Sanders’s first order of business as the Governor of Arkansas was to ban the use of the term “Latinx” statewide. This action was seen as a blatant abuse of power, and a senseless act that did nothing for the people of Arkansas who have some of the poorest communities in the country, the highest death rates due to COVID-19, and also has been touted as one of the states that’s the educational system continually fails its citizens. For more information on how Arkansas ranks in overall performance against the other states, please visit https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/arkansas All in all, President Biden’s State of the Union received rave reviews and had a positive eﬀect on his overall rating. The State of the Union address served to unite the American people for the sake of maintaining our democracy, and if the first two years of this administration have shown the country what is possible, the next two years should hopefully be just as successful. President Biden closed the State of the Union by stating that if anyone asks about the State of the Union, the answer will be “We are STRONG”. The standard “God Bless you all, and God Bless America were Biden’s closing remarks.” President Biden left the podium to a standing ovation from Democrats and honored guests, all the while the Republicans quickly exited the chamber.

TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 2023

opinion

The Case Against Upgrading Community Colleges to Universities By: Ananth Prabhu, Sports Editor

The question still remains about whether community colleges should obtain university status. The answer dives far deeper than February 7’s article of community colleges. It is a topic worthy of critical, moral and cogent debate while following several detailed intricacies along the way. Requirements beyond expanding the curriculum exist for these particular institutions of higher learning to oﬀer 4-year degrees, also known as the baccalaureate degrees. The overarching goal of the premise of university status for local community colleges is to increase greater accessibility to higher education than already exists and increase human equity for those people who are inclined to learn beyond 100- and 200-level coursework. Forty-eight community colleges exist in Illinois as of 2023. These 48 community colleges are located in a combination of 39 districts throughout the state of Illinois. Some districts have more than one community college. For instance, the City of Chicago is a district that contains seven community colleges. All 48 community colleges belong to the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB). Logically, you may consider the ICCB as a consortium that ‘checks up’ on each individual community college for standards being met, accreditation, services being oﬀered, etc. As a part of ICCB’s Mission Statement, their job is “to administer the Public Community College Act in a manner that maximizes the ability of the community colleges to serve their communities.” Any tax revenue-dependent facility requires strong evidence and critical thought to change the current legislation. The Public Community College Act, also known as 110 ILCS 805, is a piece of legislation that defines status, organizes powers and duties, allows bonds, gives tenure, permits programs and facilitates taxation and annexations for all community colleges within state borders. The Board of Higher Education Act, also known as 110 ILCS 205, is another imperative piece of legislation inclusive of all community col-

leges and state universities. Community colleges are primarily funded by local property tax bills, and the owner of an Illinois home may actually view the exact amount from his/her property taxes that supports his/her in-district community college. State university funding works diﬀerently by subsidizing the cost of education from state income tax. Thus, there are legislation and taxation hurdles for community colleges to ob tain university status. Non-legislative criteria would be another hurdle to battle to obtain university status. The oﬀered academic programs must be in a broad range and be equivalent

to do independent experimental research. However, this is currently introductory level research work just beneath the 300-level coursework. One specific example is doing up to three semesters of independent research in biology at Harper College or up to one semester of independent research at College of Lake County. Apparently, some community colleges oﬀer more opportunities than others. Not all community colleges are equal in terms of course oﬀerings. Discrepancies exist even within the same category of community colleges.

to 300- and 400-level university coursework. The coursework must be relevant to prepare students for professional degrees, such as the Masters, Doctoral, Medicine or Law. As an example of this pursuit, community colleges typically have an assortment of health careers, and this trend will need to continue by offering proper instruction for Pre-Med degrees and perhaps offering MCAT training so students can be admitted to a medical school. Another domineering non-legislative criterion is to increase the research capacity of a community college. For example, some community colleges offer opportunities

A third non-legislative criterion would be expanding infrastructure. The amplified infrastructure could include the size of the campus, larger departments, more facilities and residential halls. Every expanded department must include more advanced technology, buildings to house that technology and privileges of using that technology to advance STEM. Perhaps, there would need to be more opportunities to publish undergraduate research by using advanced STEM practices. A fourth non-legislative criterion is to meet requirements for accrediting bod-

Photo Credits: RUT MIIT on Unsplash

ies and continuously maintain that accreditation. The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is currently the accrediting body of NEIU, Harper College, College of Lake County and nearly all community colleges and state universities in Illinois. Furthermore, there are actually quite a number of specialized accreditation bodies that accredit various healthcare, education and technology programs at Harper College. According to the U.S. Department of Education at the federal level of government, the premise of accreditation allows for formulating assessment criteria and conducting peer evaluations to verify the meeting of the criteria. Furthermore, the institution must request being assessed by an accreditor, such as HLC, and the institution must meet all the criteria. A tremendous amount of work and a very lengthy process is necessary for community colleges to obtain university status. It does not seem likely to happen in the near future or in the current decade. Community colleges can certainly try to upgrade all of the criteria previously mentioned. However, it must be further debated whether there is truly a need for such a ubiquitous upgrade for many community colleges to fall in line and be elevated to university status. Only time will tell if higher education institutions will be pushed to increase accessibility to more civilians. For instance, the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic was suﬃcient to push all academic work online for at least one full academic year until vaccines were obtained. There could always be another similar or greater catastrophic event in the future which alters higher education even more. In the meantime, people should be thankful for having a University Center if they live in select districts such as the Lake County district, the Harper district or the Joliet district because University Centers are as close to community college’s university status as Illinois residents have at the moment.

campus LIFE

TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 2023

NEIU’s Pedroso Center to Celebrate National Women’s History Month By: Angie Ybarra, Writer Illustration by: Hannah Grajciar

The U.S. Congress in 1987 declared March as National Women’s History Month in perpetuity. It took some time for Congress to recognize the significance of the celebration of Women’s History Month (WHM), having taken five consecutive years of petitioning Congress to vote for March as the month before it was recognized as such in March of 1987. During the month of March, the NWH alliance is celebrating “The Women Who Tell Our Stories”. From the NWHA website, “... NWHA will encourage recognition of women, past and present, who have been active in all forms of media and storytelling including print, radio, TV, stage, screen, blogs, podcasts, and more. The timely theme honors women in every community who have devoted their lives and talents to producing art, pursuing truth, and reflecting the human condition decade after decade.” With all that is going on within the United States with regard to women’s rights, the celebration of Women’s History Month takes on even more significance. To be a woman in today’s society is a challenge like never before. Some have always lived in a land where bodily autonomy has been

a right without question. In some states, women and their allies are facing criminal charges for seeking life-saving medical assistance that goes against laws that have taken away a woman’s right to choose. NEIU has provided opportunities for the NEIU community to take part in the celebration of National Women’s History Month. Since 2012, the Angelina Pedroso Center for Diversity and Intercultural Aﬀairs on the main campus has celebrated WHM. Every year, it has grown in size and has been celebrated in many diverse and inclusive ways. The Independent interviewed a member of the organizing committee Fawn Elizabeth Pochel (they/she/kew), a Coordinator of Gender & Sexuality and Indigenous/Native American Community Relations at the Pedroso Center. In response to a question about why they were interested in Women’s History Month, Pochel responded with “White supremacy, settler colonial, and heteropatriarchal violence are endemic to our society as a result of territorial conquest and chattel slavery. For me, Women’s History Month speaks to the role of women who have cre-

ated liberatory pathways for us to resist the violence of American Exceptionalism and radically imagine a diﬀerent society.” They went on to let the Independent know that with her capacity as a coordinator, she is someone that works directly with female/ Femme students and is tasked with helping all history and heritage celebration months here at NEIU. Pochel is tasked with uplifting and learning about the history of underrepresented, marginalized, and targeted groups all in the hopes of establishing networks, and solidarity against any forms of discrimination of groups based on hate and misunderstandings. One of the upcoming events the NEIU community can be involved in is the Menstrual Hygiene Donation Drive. Anyone can bring donations to the Pedroso Center on the main campus. There will be donation boxes set up in the lobbies of Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies (CCICS) and El Centro campus. The items that are being sought are tampons, pads, and panty liners in various sizes. Menstrual cups, wipes, and any other hygiene products will also be accepted. NEIU is looking into a nonprofit to donate to at this time, said Pochel. The committee is also seeking to make a donation to an organization not yet determined that works directly with atrisk populations. Be on the lookout for additional WHM events from other members of the committee and a finalized agenda. This event is a huge step in the right direction for women and allies of women’s causes to attend and take part in, to spread awareness of the ongoing issues for women and their allies. I myself look forward to taking part in as many of the upcoming WHM events as possible and I hope to see many others in the NEIU community become involved as well.

TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 2023

campus LIFE

Disrupting Ableist Narratives: Queer and Disabled Panel Discusses Representation and Advocacy By: Leslie Lozada, Campus Life Editor

March is not only Women’s History Month, but it is also Disability Awareness Month. The “Queer and Disabled Panel” that was held via Zoom on March 2, 2023, was one of the few events during the month of March that helps to intersect those two. Created by Gee Davis, who is doing their internship in the Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies Department, with input from Dr. Laurie Fuller. Davis stated to the Independent that “having a panel discussing disability and queerness on campus could be fun and interesting.” The two panelists answered questions related to their experiences, the communities they were able to find and accessibility around the NEIU campus. They mentioned certain classes that were able to highlight queerness and disability, such as professors Francesca Morgan’s history class about sexuality in America, as well as Matilda Stubbs’ Anthropology of Disability class. One panelist mentioned the different communities for LGBTQIA+ students, such as Q-Spot, hosted at the Pedroso Center, and Pride Alliance, which meets every Thursday at LWH room 3081 from 3 - 4 p.m with online accessibility for students that are not able to attend the in-person meetings. Another panelist mentioned the History Club, which they enjoy attending and has managed to have events outside of campus, with one conference being in Wisconsin. There was some additional information regarding accessibility, not just for NEIU, but for the greater Chicagoland area. One question involved possibilities of disability clubs or groups, including physical and online accessibility for interested students, as well as having a social space for people with disabilities.

“We also deserve spaces to be happy, or sad or emotional to whatever degree, and … just exist as people, enjoying the fact that we can exist in a space with other people with disabilities,” said Fae Rose, one of the panelists and President of the Pride Alliance club. For similar events, check out the other events for Women’s History Month at NEIU, made possible with the help of Fawn Pochel, Valentina Gamboa-Turner, and Dr. Fuller.

n o i s s u c s i D

QUEER AND DISABLED @NEIU PANEL

LGBTQ+ PEOPLE CONTINUE TO BE UNDERREPRESENTED AND WHAT REPRESENTATION THERE IS OFTEN CENTERS AROUND WHITE, CISGENDER, NEUROTYPICAL, ABLE-BODIED PEOPLE. DURING THIS PANEL WE WILL HEAR FROM MEMBERS OF OUR NEIU COMMUNITY ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES BEING QUEER AND DISABLED AT XPERIE NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY. NORTHE

THURSDAY

MARCH 2ND 3:00 P.M- 4:00 P.M. LOCATION: ZOOM For m more info contact:: Fawn E. Pochel at f-pochel@neiu.edu

arts & life

TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 2023

“Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” Review: Marvel Delivers Another Fun and Action-Packed Adventure By: Bella Cardoza, Writer

This just in, Scott Lang is officially back in “Ant-man and the wasp: Quantumania”! This movie features Scott teaming up with Hope van Dyne once again, but this time, he is not alone. Hope’s parents, Hank Pym and Janet Van Dyne, from the previous Ant-man movies, team up with them as they go into the Quantum Realm so they can stop Kang the Conqueror from taking over. As they all travel back into the Quantum Realm, they are now joined by Scott’s teenage daughter, Cassie Lang, who also becomes a superhero just like her dad. She even helps them with stopping the new main antagonist who rules the Quantum Realm with an iron fist, because as of right now, the fate of the universe lies in their hands. In all honesty, I personally enjoyed this movie because it was a great way to start off phase five of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). While Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lily, Michael Douglas, and Michelle Pfeiffer did a wonderful job, newcomers Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror and Kathryn Newton as Cassie Lang were stellar in their respective roles. Since Jonathan Majors is reprising his role as Kang from Disney+ “Loki”, I could personally tell that he went all out with this version of Kang to let us know that he can not be trusted, he is a force to be reckoned with and he will even destroy everything in his path. Kathryn Newton on the other hand does a good job of channeling the adventurous and naive personality for Cassie as she follows in her father’s footsteps to become a superhero. If I were to describe this film in any way, it would be “Star Wars” meets “Quantum Leap” because the main characters go on an adventure through a different dimen-

sion and fight bad guys along the way as they learn the main lessons of trust, family, and teamwork. The cinematography did a wonderful job of capturing the futuristic feeling of the Quantum Realm along with the aliens that inhabit the alternate dimension! In my own opinion, “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” is a not to miss movie this year because it might bring you and your loved ones closer since it is surprisingly relatable. if you love the themes of trust, adventure, and family, then this movie is for you! Thank you for reading everyone. I hope you enjoyed it!

Illustration Credits: Jesus Robles

TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 2023

arts & life

“The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue”: A Captivating Story of Love, Loss, and Legacy By: Angie Ybarra, Writer

Imagine if you can, the old-world Europe of the 1700s and take in its simplicity. France, the countryside, the richness of the fields, mountains, and of course countless people have more family and friends than strangers. The beautiful and simple countryside is the backdrop for the upcoming forced wedding of Addie LaRue. However, LaRue does not wish to be a wife. LaRue is willing to seek the help of a god of the night, but she is warned by an old woman from the village to not make a deal for she will surely rue the day she did. In “The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue”, we walk alongside Addie LaRue and her escape from a loveless marriage into the hands of a dark god making a deal that would cost her the highest price of all, her soul. Her soul is in exchange for a life outside of her small world. Just the thought of this possibility gives LaRue hope, she is about to receive the life she has longed for. Willing to make a deal with this god for a life bond by not only the price of her soul but not being able to stay in the memory of others, not being able to say her name or live a life of any substance. V. E. Schwab weaves a tale of traveling alongside the ocean of time, with LaRue living diﬀerent lives throughout the decades and finding a person in her travels that remembers her but happens to have their own secrets. Over a dozen lives, LaRue had gotten more than she bargained for. Being all alone in life. Invisibility is the price of freedom, and no consistent family and friends. With the inability of being able to be remembered by the people she meets, Death can not come soon enough, or rather at all if LaRue can help it. Through this book, we learn who Addie LaRue is and what motivates her to make a deal with Luca, a god who is akin to the devil himself. Readers might find themselves rooting for LaRue and almost understanding the motivation behind this god and his deals, as they form some sort of companionship as he attempts to take her soul.

Take some time out of your study schedule and give yourself a treat. I encourage you to pick it up. I am sure you will enjoy

this twist on a classic story. Personally, I give this book four stars out of five.

Photo Credits: Greg Rakozy

arts & life

TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 2023

“The Hate U Give”: An Unforgettable Story of Resilience and Activism By: Angie Ybarra, Writer

Living in one world is hard enough, but living between two worlds is nearly impossible. “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas tells the story of living in two worlds simultaneously and trying to fit into both. Mix in the fact that the main character, Starr Carter is a young African American teenager, who is dating a rich white boy named Chris, a student-athlete at a private school on the other side of town and you have enough to set the scene on fire. The book falls under the Young Adult (YA) category, yet it deals with many issues that even an adult would find hard to deal with. The conviction of character that Starr possesses as well as her desire to be the friend she felt she should have been to Khalil. Khalil is also a main character in this wonderful story even though he only appears for a very short time. At a house party, Starr is trying to fit in when thankfully a lifelong friend appears; Khalil. Their reconnection is interrupted by gunfire. Khalil saves Starr, leading her out of the party to a quick getaway in his car. The two old friends reminisce, share a tender moment, and even play with the idea of what the future holds but that all comes to a tragic end in a split second. Starr grew up in the hood and even witnessed death at a very young age. As she and her two best friends played “Harry Potter”, magic wands, and capes completed their play; gunfire rang out taking the life of her friend Natasha and now it was Khalil’s turn. This story deals with systemic racism, life in “the Hood”, and what parents have to teach their children to do just to survive in their neighborhood. The reader is given a glimpse of what it means to be a true ally. White fragility is touched up, stereotypes are perpetuated by people that are supposed to be Starr’s friends and even

family members skirt the lines. This story is not just an outstanding look at a life that some of us can not understand but how some have to find a way to survive it and that is still not enough.

This writer suggests that you read the book before seeing the movie. The book gives specific examples of events that alter the lives of many characters which are only touched upon in the movie. I give this book

and its author a round of applause for its frankness, honesty, and sometimes heartbreaking look at the diﬀerences between black and white.

Photo by Ugur Akdemir on Unsplash

TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 2023

arts & life

Pulitzer Prize Winner Quiara Alegria Hudes’ Memoir Offers Insight into Family and Heritage By: Angie Ybarra, Writer

Trigger warnings: This book has family trauma and deals with the national health crisis, sexual content, the LGBTQIA+ community, and sanitaria. The book “My Broken Language” is an autobiography of Quiara Alegria Hudes. The weight of a family on a person’s shoulder, especially a Latinx one, can bring you to your knees. As I read this book, the more so devoured it, Alegria Hudes gives the reader a front-row seat to a life filled with the feeling of being a part of two different worlds, but not belonging to either. The book is about a great number of first-generation people whose parents immigrated to the US. Alegria Hudes describes feeling like a fake Latina and a fake “white (passing depending on your skin color)” person. The ties of family, the loss of native language just to assimilate, the guilt of those that made it off the streets, the food prepared with a secret ingredient - love, and traditions that were the lifeline to a way of life you never really knew but runs through your veins: All of these things helped mold you into the person you are today, but...there is always a but, you are almost like a double agent. Fair-skinned, with no accent, and a very skillful writer allowed you to break into the holy grail of schools, the opportunity of a lifetime, YALE. Throughout the life of Alegria Hudes, you are privileged to glimpse what this is all about—the bird’s eye view of a person living two very different lives. One life is filled with vivid colors, and rhythmic music, and steeped in tradition, while the other you faked it until you made it. Private school uniforms, hiding who you really are just to fit into this world that was not truly yours. Your world, your home life, your mother’s santeria and so much more, you hide from the rest of the world. You deny this life and

almost feel shame. Through colorful characters, Alegria Hudes recounts real-life heartbreak and loss, the start of AIDS taking the lives of loved ones, dealing with sexual encounters, coming to terms with religion, and finally figuring out her place in the world. “My Broken Language” is a page-turner, a glimpse into the life of the author and what it took to find out who she was and what stories she had to tell. This book is a beautiful tale of a life worth living, a life filled with what it is like to discover yourself in those ordinary moments that you had taken for granted. The transformation of a character in a book that happens to be the author is not limited to the pages or chapters of the book, but your own imagination gives life to them. Life is breathed into the memories. Yes, these memories are the author’s but are also much of what happens in so many others’ experiences that it was hard to recognize where her story is hers and where and when it became yours. The reader feels the author’s pain, remembers what it is like to hide who you really are so as not to be judged by others, and the impossible, almost Herculean effort it takes to keep your family from view, so they would not bring embarrassment to you and the life they wanted you to live. Yet, you are given a front-row seat to the opening night of the plays that depicted the ordinary days in the ordinary life of the author. The curtain opens with the view of a kitchen, the scent of rich spices fills the air, and the coming of self on full display is what this book oﬀers. The ordinary is turned into the extraordinary, and the moments you wish you could do over are relieved. You will not be able to put this book down. I give it a 5-star rating and would give it more if I could. Take time to

savor this book. Look upon this glimpse at her life and the soul-bearing she did. Learn

to appreciate the ordinary, because in reality, it all is quite extraordinary.

Photo by Asal Lotfi on Unsplash

arts & life

TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 2023

“Knock at the Cabin” Review: A Chilling Thriller With Twists and Turns By: Luz Analitis, Arts and Life Editor Photo taken by Luz Analitis

Have you ever read a novel before and thought to yourself, man, this would make for a great movie? That’s exactly the thought I had when I read “The Cabin at the End of the World” by Paul G. Tremblay back in 2021. I picked it up randomly from the horror section in a Barnes & Noble (something I rarely do because I do not read books as a pastime). So you can imagine my surprise when a year later, I saw a trailer for a movie adaptation of the book! Since I loved the book so much, of course, I went to see the movie during its opening weekend. For this review, I will start with a spoiler-free version of it as a stand-alone film. Then I will compare it to the book where spoilers will be included. The film “Knock at the Cabin” has a plot/story that is both intriguing and horrifying. It is part psychological-thriller, part apocalyptic and part horror-mystery. The movie centers around testing the human condition to an extreme. A family must decide whether to willingly sacrifice a member of their family to save all of humanity, or not make the sacrifice and allow the world to end. A truly horrific premise indeed, but admittedly thought-provoking as well. The visuals and cinematography were also notably gratifying. Especially in the beginning of the film, the scenery was truly captivating, reeling the viewer into the movie’s world from the start. On the other hand, there were some CGI scenes later in the film that felt a little cheesy and not entirely impressive for my taste. I must note though that the beginning half of the movie is very true to the novel. Particularly the visuals and casting of the characters. I am a very visual reader, so when I read a book, the descriptions presented paint a vivid picture in my mind. With this said, the movie did an excellent

job of portraying the imagery from the book on the big screen. As for the casting of the characters, this also should be granted high praise. Dave Bautista as the buﬀ and soft-spoken Leonard was a standout performance. His character portrayal was accurate and his acting was compelling. In a GQ interview earlier this year, Bautista explained that he does not want to just be a wrestler/movie star like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. He wants serious roles and to be a good and respected actor. After seeing his performance in this movie, he is on his way toward this goal, and I’m excited to see him in future projects. I give the rest of the cast similar praise for their accurate portrayals and exceptional performances. Overall, if you have never read the book, this movie is an excellent watch. The story will have you on the edge of your seat, second-guessing and wondering what will happen next. The actors/characters will captivate you, having you sympathize with them and tugging at your heartstrings. I also made sure to see the movie with someone who has never read the book, and he left the theater feeling blown away and thoroughly impressed. On the contrary, now speaking as someone who read “The Cabin at the End of the World” before seeing this movie adaptation, my main issues with the film lie with the intentional changes made that stray far from the novel’s material. So let’s get into… SPOILERS AHEAD!! Book Vs. Movie Adaptation Why ‘The Cabin at the End of the World’ is Better Than ‘Knock at the Cabin’ I completely understand that bookto-movie adaptations inherently can not be

exactly like the book it is based on. Things get left out due to time constraints and creative freedom is always involved with the art of filmmaking. I take issue though when changes are made to key plot points that fundamentally change the themes and messaging that made the original book material so special. This is exactly what happened with the film “Knock at the Cabin”. There are many differences, but I will only touch upon ones I felt were detrimental to the book’s meaningfulness and disappointed me the most. The beginning sequences of the film are very loyal to the novel. When the movie gets to the part where Redmond’s character is killed though, the rest of the film takes a sharp turn away from the book. First off, I picked up the book from the horror section at Barnes & Noble. Yes, the premise of both the book and movie is horrific, but what I felt made the book particularly horror-based was also its graphic descriptions and spine-tingling details. Redmond’s death in the book is especially graphic and very specific. I am a huge horror fan and I do not shy away from violence/gore-based horror. Since this was a big part of the book, I was expecting the movie to also portray this and be true to the horror genre. The movie ends up not really showing any of these deaths on-screen and in my opinion, feels way more like a thriller than a horror movie. I ended up feeling pretty disappointed since that was a big part of the appeal to me. Another aspect of the book that made it more horror-based and completely different from the film is that the novel kept things unclear to the reader. Whether the world was truly ending or not, it was never revealed and the book kept the reader second-guessing the scenario throughout the plot’s entirety. Was there really a higher power that prophesied this family to choose

between a sacrifice or destroying humanity, or was the group of intruders just a bunch of crazies forcing death and terror upon an innocent family? Both options are horrific, and the reader never gets a definite answer. This adds a layer of tension and darkness that the movie lacks because the movie chooses to confirm with certainty that the prophecy is true and the world really was going to end unless they made the sacrifice. There are also huge diﬀerences between who dies in the book and who dies in the movie. In the book, a major twist happens when the 7-year-old daughter of the family, Wen, is accidentally shot and killed. The intruders say that her death does not count because it was not a willing sacrifice and that the fathers still need to choose which one of them must die to save the world. This is an absolutely devastating part of the book, but it is also central to the themes presented in the book, which I will address later on. In the movie, Wen survives the whole ordeal. I assume her death was not included in the film because it would understandably upset audiences and may be too depressing and dark for people to handle. The book is however meant to be very dark and deals with the fact that tragedy is a part of life. Leaving out Wen’s death felt like they were trying to shield us from the tragic horrors of life, which feels patronizing and too idealistic. Meanwhile, the book faces it head-on, which I find is more honest and impactful to the reader. This also feeds into the vastly diﬀerent endings presented by the book and film. As stated, the movie ends up confirming that the intruders truly did receive visions from a higher power telling them that this specific family has been chosen to make a sacrifice to save the world and all those who inhabit it. Therefore the fathers agree to sacrifice Eric,

TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 2023 Continued from front page 14 allowing Wen and Andrew to survive and the world to be saved. Again, in the book, it is left completely ambiguous whether the world is actually ending or not. It is also not clarified if the group really received true visions from a higher being or are just deranged individuals causing death for no real reason. With Wen’s death allegedly not proving worthy enough to appease the higher power, Eric and Andrew are left to make a choice: either take their chances and not make the sacrifice in hopes that the whole scenario is a hoax, but there’s a chance the world may actually end. Or choose to sacrifice one of them and save the world, but it may turn out the whole thing was false and the sacrifice would be for nothing. They ultimately decide that even if the prophecy was true, they would not want to appease such a cruel deity anyway. They choose to honor and love Wen and themselves and stand together to face whatever is to come. Whether that be the end of the world, or grieving Wen’s death for the rest of their lives, they will do it together. The book concludes without the reader knowing which outcome will happen. My summary does not do the book’s ending justice. It is beautifully heart-wrenching due to Tremblay’s superb writing, and it wonderfully exemplifies the triumph of love even in the face of grave tragedy and fear. I definitely cried when I finished the book. Some may argue that the ambiguity of the book would leave audiences feeling unsatisfied due to the lack of closure. I would argue the opposite though. I felt at peace knowing that no matter what, Eric and Andrew would have each other, and their love will get them through whatever is to come. Due to this, I found the ending’s ambiguity to be a major strength of the book. On the other hand, the movie felt like it tied everything up too neatly. It left no interpretation up to the viewer and lacked the incredible depth and meaning that the book presented. The book makes the reader question whether tragedy happens by chance and free will, or if it is possible that there is a deity with cruelty in its nature that controls and toys with humanity. It forces the reader to question morality and examine how we make choices and sacrifices. There are many other

thought-provoking questions and issues presented to the reader, but the important thing is that they are all left open-ended for the reader to interpret and work through. In Tremblay’s own words included in the extended liner notes of the book: “My defiant hope for you is that this book ultimately becomes about the choice Eric and Andrew make and not whether or not the world is actually ending. I mean, sh*t, their world has already been definitively shattered, don’t you think? It’s about the choice: do they and do we choose fear or that most defiant of all hopes, love”? The movie unfortunately completely misses the opportunity for presenting this incredibly thought-provoking message due to the extreme changes I have mentioned in this article. All-in-all, as a standalone film, “Knock at the Cabin” is an enjoyable watch. Compared to the book “The Cabin at the End of the World” though, it lacks the depth and profoundness that the source material possesses. Unfortunately, this adds to a long list of disappointing book-to-film adaptations. I was really hoping this movie could prove to be the exception, but it fails to do so. Nonetheless, if you are a fan of horror novels with dark themes, I highly recommend reading the book. It is remarkable.

arts & life

TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 2023