The independent: Volume 43 Issue 4 by StudentMediaBoard

SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 2023

Student-run newspaper since 1962 Volume 43 Issue 4

WWW.NEIUINDEPENDENT.ORG

Johnson vs. Vallas: Which Mayoral Candidate Will Prevail in the Run-off? Written and Photos taken by Ananth Prabhu, Sports Editor

Brandon Johnson and Paul Vallas will face off in a runoff election for Chicago Mayor on April 4, 2023. They were the two leading candidates in the Feb. 28 mayoral election where none of the nice candidates managed to win more than half of the vote. At a televised mayoral forum at WTTW next to the NEIU main campus, Johnson said police officers are currently expected “to be social workers, therapists and marriage counselors [because] almost 40% of the calls that come through 9-1-1 are mental health crises.” Johnson believes that diverting funds from the police department would allow more resources to be given to social workers, therapists and mental health professionals who could help the civilians of Chicago and it could free up law enforcement to deal with more severe crimes, such as gun violence. Johnson said that police officers are not mental health professionals because mental health professionals are not supposed to carry guns. When asked about the 40% of 9-1-1 calls being mental health crises, an NEIU biology major, Agnetta Krechner, said she “fully supports reallocating [police] funds for more specialized programs, like the mental health”

because civilians dial 9-1-1 for noise complaints, lost animals and feeling threatened from mental issues or gun issues and “[the police] can’t be experts in everything.” An NEIU student majoring in social work, Darrion Reed, believes in prioritizing education over police “because it is very important for the youth and people in all ages and diﬀerent levels of education.” When it comes to prioritizing either educational needs or policing needs, as a Chicago resident, Reed admitted that education needs more improvement in the City of Chicago for both teachers and students rather than policing and policing alternatives, such as mental health. Vallas wants to convert all under-enrolled Chicago Public Schools into “community schools, which means they [would be] open all the time through the dinner hour, over the weekends [and] over the summer.” Vallas is planning for his proposed community school initiative to be open to the community throughout Chicago, and provide additional services such as health clinics, social services and job training programs. Vallas also believes in investing in vocational training programs to help young people acquire skills in the trades

that will make them employable in the future. According to Mac Varilla, a Chicago resident and NEIU undergraduate student, the issue of gun violence hit home for him as he lives near Logan Square and Belmont Cragin. Varilla believes that more activities for children in working-class neighborhoods would help prevent gun violence because “the disparity between top magnet schools, selective-enrollment schools and the neighborhood schools” are quite high. He also emphasized the importance of mentorship and guidance for children because when kids “are not playing basketball or sports, [they] hang out with the wrong crowd.” When it comes to voting, Krechner said, “I think it is really important for us to get representation at every level” of our political system, which includes “the smallest levels, the gateway to the larger representation that people usually care about like governor, mayor and president and like the house [of representatives]”. Reed said that he treats local, state and federal elections “on an equal playing field.” Reed would like his fellow NEIU students and Chicago residents to “think and do your research as much as you can before

you vote.” Chicago residents can vote in the upcoming run-oﬀ election for mayor of Chicago, on Tuesday, April 4, 2023. Those who still need to register can do so at your local polling place on election day. All that is needed to register is two forms of identification. At least one must show a Chicago address.

Candidates for mayor: Ja’Mal Green, Sophia King, Kam Buckner, Willie Wilson, Brandon Johnson, Paul Vallas, Lori Lightfoot and Roderick Sawyer.

Audience congregating with Brandon Johnson in the middle.

News

Staff: Editor-in-Chief Monty Stites

SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 2023

Faculty Senate Supports Independent Again Calls for Gibson’s Ousting

Managing Editor

Written and Photos taken by Scott Andrews, Writer

Jasmine Rodriguez

Production Editor Savannah Owens

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

Production Team Hannah Grajciar Jesus Robles

Writers Scott Andrews Gabriel Gurrola Josh Lasko

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 To access articles online go to www.neiuindependent.org

The NEIU Faculty Senate passed a resolution for the Board of Trustees to immediately remove President Gloria J. Gibson from office. Dr. Gibson made a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for communications between former NEIU trustee Charles Serrano and 11 individuals of the NEIU community. Included were faculty administrators and The Independent’s News Editor, Dan Maurer. The Independent consulted with the Student Press Freedom Initiative (SPFI) legal experts. Who confirmed a FOIA request on a student journalist is unlawful. However, any requests for the communications of someone who is not a journalist – which is the case here – is lawful, even if communications from or with a journalist are included. The resolution stated that President Gibson violated the values of NEIU on February 27, 2023, by making a FOIA request for emails and text messages between Serrano and Maurer. The Faculty Senate said the FOIA request “functioned to instill fear and silence all her present and future student journalist critics.” The resolution asked the NEIU Board of Trustees to take action to protect student journalists with their interactions with the university community including the president. Incorporated are the legal protections aﬀorded under current state and

federal law, and protecting freedom of the press and reporter’s privilege. Additionally the resolution urges President Gibson to apologize to Maurer, the student journalists at the Independent, and the NEIU student community. Lastly, the resolution states the Board of Trustees should act immediately to remove President Gibson from the presidency to prevent her from causing further damage. Charles Serrano, a former Board of Trustees Member, resigned effective February 1, 2023. In a statement to Craine’s Chicago Business on March 3, 2023, Serrano says he resigned midterm due to the board’s lack of strategic planning and ongoing problems with university administration. Dr. Gloria Gibson has accused Serrano of gender and racial discrimination and ethics violations after the board decided in 2022 not to renew her contract as president, as reported by WBEZ Chicago. Before the resolution passed, Dr. Gibson verbally apologized to Maurer, saying, “I offer my heartfelt apology to Dan Mauer, at no time should my personal or legal issues with the university impact a student.” The Board of Trustees announced on March 20th they are spending $100,000 on an executive search firm to find a new president for NEIU President Gibson’s contract expires on June 30, 2023.

Dr. Gibson Apologizes to Dan Mauer for the FOIA Request

SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 2023

These incidents occured on NEIU campus property between the dates of 03/12/2023 and 03/25/2023 03/12/2023 - THE NEST WELL BEING CHECK ON RESIDENT DUE TO ROOM MATES’ CONCERNS. RESIDENT WAS COOPERATIVE & AGREED TO SPEAK TO PROFFESIONAL. 03/12/2023 - THE NEST DOMESTIC DISPUTE BETWEEN ROOMMATES WITH ONE ACCUSING THE OTHER OF KICKING HER DOG. TEMPORARY HOUSING IN OTHER UNIT OFFERED 03/17/2023 - THE NEST OFFICERS RESPONDED TO REPORT OF UNAUTHORIZED MALE IN ROOM. AFTER EXTENSIVE SEARCH, SUBJECT WAS NOT LOCATED. 03/21/2023 - THE NEST RESIDENT TRANSPORTED TO HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT AFTER REPORTING HE HAD FALLEN DOWN WHILE EXITING BUILDING. 03/22/2023 - THE NEST

RESIDENT TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO HOSPITAL FOR OBSERVATION AFTER SHE REPORTED SHE WAS NOT FEELING WELL. 03/22/2023 - LECH WALESA HALL RESIDENT TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO HOSPITAL FOR OBSERVATION AFTER SHE REPORTED SHE WAS NOT FEELING WELL. 03/23/2023 - WELL-BEING CHECK AT REQUEST OF R.A, OFFICERS CONDUCTED WELL-BEING CHECK ON RESIDENT, RESIDENT WAS ESCORTED TO COUNSELING SERVICES TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE 03/25/2023 - THE NEST WELL BEING CHECK CONDUCTED ON RESIDENT AFTER PARENT NOTIFIED NEIU POLICE; STUDENT HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN A FIGHT OFF CAMPUS. *** 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 capus crime and campus security information. Any case that is considered ongoing may not be listed in the blotter. For this

news

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.

Spring Media Positions! • Arts + Life Editor • Online Editor • Writers • Photographers • Copy Editors • Illustrators • Graphic Designers • Video Editors Most of these positions are compensated with semester-based stipends. For more information please email or call Student Media Coordinator: Dennis Sagel drsagel@neiu.edu or 773-442-4664

News

SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 2023

Letters to Editor

SGA Town Hall Platform for Admin

Tylon Hudson

By: Dan Maurer, News Editor

NEIU/UWW To: Editor, NEIU Media Dept. My name is Tylon and I am a resident of the prison industrial complex at Stateville C[orrections] C[enter]. I am also [an] NEIU/UWW Student. I write, in short, and from lived experience, to share with my NEIU family the significance of mental health wellness. Mental health is at the forefront and impetus of all that we engage [in], e.g., academic endeavors, relationships, etc. We must maintain the same or suﬀer the consequences for not. In 2022, approximately 1,100 students within universities across the United States committed suicide (see Google, last checked December 2022). Additionally, notable (former) television personalities have committed suicide, e.g., Stephen “t[W]itch” Boss (Former D.J. for the Ellen show). Within our lives[,] we are subjected to adversities, including biases, whether racism, homophobia, colorism, ageism, etc. And continually being subjected to these biases can cause trauma which can be a catalyst for mental health challenges. In closing, if you are experiencing any mental health issues, I implore you to seek help from a mental health professional, dialing 988 on your phone for free mental health services, or from family or friends, etc. I wish all of you the best.

NEIU Administrators at the SGA Town Hall (left to right) Gloria Gibson, Andrea Evans, Terry Mena Photo Credits: Dan Maurer

The NEIU’s Student Government Association (SGA) held a town hall meeting with little participation from its student members. The vast majority of the meeting was given over to presentations by a number of university administrators. SGA opened the meeting with brief introductions, immediately followed by an impromptu vote on having active shooter drills at NEIU, in the wake of the Michigan State shooting. The vote was conducted as a poll of those who were then present in the Alumni Hall. It passed with only one vote against it and one abstention. After the vote, SGA gave the microphone over to NEIU President Gloria J. Gibson, and a

line-up of other members of the administration to showcase the services of their departments. SGA representatives gave no presentations of their own for the rest of the meeting. No questions were taken until the end of the presentations. The time for questions was limited. SGA said that questions that were not answered during the meeting would be answered in a targeted announcement email. Edwin Medina, the president of the SGA, said that email would go out in “two weeks, at most.” It has been over one month since the Feb. 21, 2023 meeting, and the promised targeted announcement was sent to registered students on the morning of March 28.

Sincerely, Tylon

My name is Tylon and I am a resident of the prison industrial complex at Stateville C[orections].C[center]. I am a student of NEIU[,] my studies are in public health with a concentration in the healthcare disparities within marginalized and aging communities. I have had the privilege to work with our marginalized, aging, and developmentally disable[d] communities at nursing facilities and the like. I have observed the inadequacies of health and patient care at these facilities compared to facilities that are within socioeconomically sound communities, e.g., Indian Head Park, IL. which is with a vast aﬄuent population versus [the] Englewood, Roseland areas in Chicago, IL. There are 15,061 nursing facilities in the U.S. (U.S.Health Care System, 6th ed. 2023)[.] In closing, we all will age, as our parents before us, and many people will have to depend on the services of these facilities. I [demand] health and patient care equality. I believe as Canada is demonstrating, that a centralized health care delivery system will achieve this equality. To my NEIU family, you have a voice and a vote. I encourage you to stand for a centralized healthcare delivery system, free of capitalism, etc.

SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 2023

News

SGA Candidate info President: Eryn Nelken Maggie Sabanagic Treasurer: Dharmik Chhatbar Student Trustee: Edwin Medina Senator: Maryam Shammari Jennifer Estrada Council of Club Rep: EJ Schumacher

Maggie Sabanagic

Candidate Name: Maggie Sabanagic Running for the position of President Year in school First year Past experience in leadership roles: In my experience, I have lacked long-term leadership roles. During the pandemic, I worked as a CNA in a skilled nursing facility providing basic care to the residents. One shift we had fallen short of a few nurses on the floors leading the staﬀ to scramble to pick up the slack. As several of my coworkers had started to feel anxious about the workload I gathered them and proposed it would be easier to delegate tasks to accommodate according to lost

time. Each of my coworkers did tend to patients in a triage format (according to the severity of the patient). At the end of our shift, we felt confident that each patient was well taken care of. What do you believe to be the critical issues facing NEIU students? In my opinion, I feel that one critical issue is rooted in our lack of 3rd spaces. Many of the students at NEIU commute forcing them to have to stay on campus for long hours. These conditions can lead to the deterioration of students’ mental and physical health. Introducing a 3rd space such as an area where individuals can meet and socialize without pressure. I believe enhancing student experience in higher education should not be a quick fix or an area you can only focus on for a short period of time. The regular implementation of changes will provide increased retention rates and lower dropout figures. Additionally, I feel that students lack of a formal place to bring their issues or concerns to NEIU in an accessible way. Many people have concerns but fear they won’t be handled properly. I hope to solve such issues in the best way I can. How do you plan to address these issues? In order to bring 3rd spaces to campus I would like to organize a free space on campus that is appropriate for students to congregate. I plan to address these issues by creating a way for students to voice their opinions concerning NEIU issues in a safe, comfortable and anonym[o]us way. I propose that a[n] anonymous google form be made with a few short questions where students can bring their concerns, issues or proposals to the student government. What would be your first action once in office?

My first action in oﬃce would be to provide students with knowledge of what student government is capable of changing and providing to them.

EJ Schumacher

Candidate Name: EJ Schumacher (they/them) Running for the position of Council of Clubs Representative Year in school Senior (Transfer, Second Bachelor) Past experience in leadership roles: I have held leadership roles in many diﬀerent organizations, including being co-chair of the Unity Initiative Education and Awareness Committee at the law firm I work for, Casting & Social Media Manager for PS...Burlesque performance troupe, and Head Cast Trainer at Gorilla Tango Theater. At NEIU I am current Secretary of the Green Conservation Group, Pride Alliance, & Green Fee Committee, Chair of the University Diversity Council’s Campus Pride Index working group, Senior Representative of the University Honors Program Student Advisory Board, and a Council of Clubs representative. What do you believe to be the critical issues facing NEIU students? I believe that the most prevalent issue facing NEIU students is the University’s response to the needs

of our faculty and staff. The NEIU Chapter of University Professionals of Illinois Local 4100 has been fighting for the last 8 months to receive appropriate compensation, reduce the excessive burden of their workload while simultaneously having the work they are doing recognized, and be granted the general support they so desperately need and deserve. On top of these issues, the University’s threats of cutting programs and scaling down departments will do nothing but create additional strain on our already overworked and under-supported faculty & staff. The University’s refusal to support its employees is of the highest concern to the student body, as it will lead to less availability for professors to meet with students outside of class, a reduction in courses available, a loss of diverse perspectives among those creating our curriculum, and the possibility of a strike which will immediately impede students’ education. We must work to support those who make our education possible. How do you plan to address these issues? As a student leader, I am taking steps to reduce the burdens faced by the faculty & staff I work with. In the student organizations[,] I am a member/leader of, I am promoting initiatives which [will] make us more self-sufficient & don’t require as much oversight from faculty advisors. In other University-sponsored organizations & personal initiatives, I have taken actions to drive progress rather than waiting for University employees to have the time & bandwidth to do so. I will continue to offer my time & energy in this way to support the people at NEIU who need it. What would be your first action once in office?

As a Council of Clubs Representative, I will oﬀer my services to increase the awareness of Student Leadership funding opportunities at NEIU. Despite being very active in multiple student organizations, I was completely unaware of the Council of Clubs & the funding they oﬀer until early this semester. It is my hope that I can help make the student body more aware of the availability of Council of Clubs funding, how the Council operates, and what they can do to make their student organization as successful and engaging as possible.

Edwin Medina

Candidate Name: Edwin Medina Running for the position of: Student Trustee Year in school: Grad School Past experience in leadership roles: Currently[,] I am the President of [the] Student Government Association (SGA) and President of the Continues on page 6

College of Business and Technology (CBT) Student Advisory Council (SAC). I am also a member of the

News

SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 2023

Continued from page 5. Executive Board for the College of Business and Technology. What do you believe to be the critical issues facing NEIU students? Accessibility to resources is one of the problems that NEIU students are now facing. Scholarship visibility will continue to be a concern for NEIU students. Students also endure food and housing insecurity as a result of the pandemic caused by the COVID-19 virus. Lastly, we have insufficient professionals who do not comprehend the significance of student service. How do you plan to address these issues? I often feel that spaces that could include for students [who] are overshadowed by issues brought on by NEIU personnel. It’s important that we all pull together to ensure accountability. Our emails frequently go unanswered, and we frequently retain staff who fail to appreciate that our one source of funding comes from the tuition paid by our students. It is important to me that students realize they can be the agents of change they seek. My goal is to encourage them to use their voices and take meaningful action. I want to make sure we seek out the next University President that student’s want in their corner. During my presidency, I initiated a number of discussions aimed at better meeting the needs of our student body. We need to start demanding accountability from the administration, faculty, and staff. Along with the Student Government Association, I will make sure that students know about and make use of the public comment time at Senate meetings. I’ll do what I can to raise public understanding of the problems we’re fixing. What would be your first action once in office? My first action once in office is to help the Board of Trustees understand the needs of the NEIU student body by creating public forums that are open only to students.

Candidate Name: Jennifer Estrada Running for the position of: Senator Year in school: Graduate Past experience in leadership roles: I had the opportunity to program for the first Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) event at NEIU last fall. With the support of my team, we were able to see a high number of studnents, faculty and staﬀ attend our events throughout HSI week. What do you believe to be the critical issues facing NEIU students? Some of the issues that our current students are facing are financial challenges, food insecurity, and community. As I have connected with many graduate students throughout the year, many have stated the need of financial resources to purchase food. The students I have connected with are from out of state and they have not been able to grow connections with the campus. How do you plan to address these issues? As a senator who has been part of the student life committee, I am motivated to be more intentional with the events. Many of our events may be promoted to undergraduate students however, I have seen the need to also create a community for graduate students. What would be your first action once in office? My first action in oﬃce would be planning for a year worth of intentional events and inviting graduate students to all of the events on campus.

Candidate Name: Eryn Nelken Running for the position of: President Year in school: Junior Past experience in leadership roles: I’m a Senator for Student Government Association as well as CoChair of the Green Fee Committee. I also serve on the Appointments and Promotions Committee . What do you believe to be the critical issues facing NEIU students? Getting administration oﬃces to better respond to student needs. How do you plan to address these issues? By taking to the necessary departments and seeing what everyone can do to better serve the students together. What would be your first action once in office? Talking to administrators to see how we can all work towards a better student experience.

STUDENT BODY ELECTIONS 2023-2024

make a difference. be a leader. Voting Deadline: April, Sat 8th - Fri 14th Candidate registration application must be completed by April 8th at noon. Form can be Students interested in running must attend a Candidate Training which will take place either in person or via Zoom on the following dates and will last 1 hour max

Zoom Info Meeting ID: 815 866 5649 Passcode: Goldie Camera must be turned on

Mon Mar 27th 5pm via Zoom Tues Mar 28th 3pm in person in Pedroso Center B159 Tues Mar 28th 7pm Zoom Wed Mar 29th noon in person in Pedroso Center B159 Wed Mar 29th 4:30pm via Zoom Thurs Mar 30th 3pm in person in B146

MORE INFORMATION AND ALL REGULATIONS CAN BE ATTAINED ON THE SLD WEBSITE UNDER STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION TAB

https://www.neiu.edu/university-life/student-leadership-development/student-government-association/elections

Eryn Nelken

Questions or issues please contact Veronica at v-rodriguez9@neiu.edu

Poster for SGA Candidate registration. Note: the dates for candidate training have passed.

SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 2023

News

Update on U-Pass By: Leslie Lozada, Campus Life Editor

After The Independent reported on the lack of activation for some full-time student’s CTA U-Passes, there has been an update on the U-Pass situation. Andrew Dutil, the executive director for Student Union as well as Campus Rec, said in a statement the issue had been resolved. “We are currently reviewing and

assessing the program to ensure smooth operations for future semesters,” Dutil added. At the start of the Spring 2023 semester, some NEIU fulltime students reported an issue with their U-Passes to the Independent, namely that the pass was not activated by the time classes started. While there was

a solution for said issue, which involved going to the main campus in order to get the pass activated via the Welcome Desk, it was never formally announced to the NEIU community. One of the staﬀ members that works at the front desk at El Centro, told the Independent that students were walking up to them about

the situation early on in the spring semester. They had no real answer to give the students. “[There has been]... no more problems with the CTA BUS PASS for students.” The anonymous staﬀ member said to the Independent regarding the U-Pass. “They did mention it took the main campus to figure

out what department to send the students so there was a little confusion, but they got it.” As stated in the last article regarding the U-Pass, if there is any issue with your Ventra card regarding the U-Pass, head on over to the Welcome Desk on the main campus, so that the staﬀ can reactivate it for you.

Photo by Mikaala Shackelford on Unsplash

News

SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 2023

NEIU Scraps Plans for Seized Bryn Mawr Properties, Leaves Buildings Vacant Written and Photos taken by Gabriel Gurrola, Writer

In 2014, Northeastern Illinois University sought to acquire eight properties on the 3400 block of West Bryn Mawr Avenue between Bernard Street and Kimball Avenue. These buildings were intended to become dorms for student housing. At the time, NEIU was the sole university in the state of Illinois without student housing. The quest for student housing was a component of NEIU’s Decade of Dreams initiative, which included a new science building, a childcare center, and an expansion of the performing arts building. Northeastern wanted student housing, but the block of businesses on Bryn Mawr, which included a TCF Bank, a convenience store, a hookah lounge, and the Hunan Wok, had no intentions to sell. Bill Tong, the owner of Hunan Wok, received a letter from NEIU stating they were interested in buying the building that would be used for student housing. Tong had no interest in selling the Chinese restaurant his grandfather built in the 1950s. The neighborhood was all he had ever known. For Tong, it was not just a building, it was home. Aboud Alsawi, the owner of Ugly Hookah Cafe, located at 3414 North Bryn Mawr Ave, told ABC 7 in 2014, “Now if I leave outta here, I’m not gonna be able to open another business in Chicago because I’m not gonna find a free-standing building nowhere.” A few owners were interested in selling, and so they did. But for those who were not interested, Northeastern took a more drastic approach in response to the

refusal to sell. On August 8, 2014, attorneys representing NEIU filed suit to condemn eight buildings through eminent domain. According to the National Association of Realtors, eminent domain is “the process by which the government may seize private property with proper compensation, but without the owner’s consent.” Then-NEIU President Sharon Hahs told The Independent in 2015: “Eminent domain is a legal process whereby a public entity may acquire a physical property for a public purpose. We are a public university and our purposes are public purposes.” Hahs conveniently left out “without the owner’s consent.” The filings began a 17-month court battle for ownership of the buildings, which Northeastern acquired in January 2016. Garrick Beil, a victim of Northeastern’s acquisition said in response to the settlement in 2016: “The eminent domain laws in Illinois are stacked heavily in favor of the state over the rights of property owners… Is that really the public use our founding fathers envisioned in the Constitution?” NEIU eventually fulfilled its student housing goal, establishing The Nest in 2016. The six-story building has a capacity of 440 beds and holds 110 units. The Nest was not part of the eight buildings that were seized by NEIU earlier that year. Northeastern announced plans to build five-story buildings

on both sides of Bryn Mawr without any drawings or specifics. As of 2023, those five-story buildings have not been built. One of the buildings is a Testing and Training Center with Northeastern’s logo on it. The buildings remain vacant to this day. Northeastern has scrapped its plans to build student housing on the seized Bryn Mawr properties altogether. NEIU President Gloria Gibson told the Hollywood North Park Community Organization in October 2021: “We must now alter those original plans.” In December 2020,

Northeastern hired Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), a real estate services firm, to assess feasible options for the Bryn Mawr properties and to conduct a market analysis for the seized buildings. Northeastern sought interested developers to take over the Bryn Mawr properties, as well as properties located near El Centro. Despite NEIU’s eﬀorts, which included encouraging developers to apply online, there were no applications. On April 5, 2022, JLL submitted a summary of the feasibility analysis of the Bryn Mawr buildings that stated, “Multifamily and

retail mixed-use ground lease with additional income participation. A ground lease structure will allow NEIU to maintain ownership of the land and will provide for an element of control over programming.” In other words, Northeastern will continue to own the buildings that were seized through eminent domain. Chris Childers, Executive Director of Marketing and Communications, did not respond for comment. A Decade of Dreams for Northeastern caused a lifetime of heartache and despair for owners aﬀected by this land grab

Northeastern purchased these Bryn Mawr properties through eminent domain in 2016, Photo taken by Gabriel Gurrola.

SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 2023

campus LIFE

Step Into Spring with the Return of NEIU’s Walking Wednesdays Written and Photos taken by Ananth Prabhu, Sports Editor

Last semester, NEIU launched a new initiative to promote the physical well-being of students, staﬀ and faculty on campus. Dubbed Walking Wednesdays, the program has returned for the current spring semester and will run for eight weeks, with the penultimate one scheduled for May 3, 2023. The alliterative jaunt was designed by Shireen Roshanravan last year and aims to encourage exercise and social interaction among members of the NEIU community. During the Fall 2022 semester, each of the seven Wednesdays oﬀered an

excursion to a diﬀerent part of the NEIU campus or its surrounding areas. Participants explored the neighborhoods to the north, south, east and west of campus, as well as the Campus Recreation’s track. The walks proved popular because of a high turnout rate, with many attendees enjoying the opportunity to chat with their colleagues and get some exercise in the process. At the latest Walking Wednesday, Shoshanna Vazquez, I.T. Systems Associate from University Technology Services

Helpdesk, led the group. Vazquez shared that her motivation for joining the walking group was for “health reasons,” and the most enjoyable aspect of the walk was the camaraderie among participants. This first Walking Wednesday of the Spring 2023 semester took place on March 22nd and explored the tunnel network under the buildings of the NEIU campus. This semester, the walks will continue to cover new routes and explore different areas around NEIU. Participants can expect to visit places such as the North Park

Village Nature Center and Field (Eugene) Park, both of which proved popular in the past. The Walking Wednesdays program is an excellent opportunity for the NEIU community to get some exercise, socialize and explore the local area together. Whether on campus or nearby, there is always something interesting to discover during these walks. So, grab your colleagues, take a break at noon on Wednesdays, and join the trend! The walks always begin at Lech Walesa Hall’s lobby, and nutritious snacks are provided.

Tunnels under NEIU buildings

arts & life

SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 2023

Recital Hall Presents Three Nights of Eclectic Musical Fusion: a Jazz Band, a Brass Band and a Classical 19th Century Viennese Orchestra To Take the Stage! Written and Photos taken by: Ananth Prabhu, Sports Editor

On Feb. 27, 2023, Raphael Crawford’s Quintet jazz band concluded the four-part series of NEIU’s Department of Music’s presentation of the Black Heritage Month Jazz Concert Series. The cost of attendance was free for NEIU students and community members. The final performance of the series featured five instrumentalists ranging from a grand piano, trombone, bass, drums and trumpet. The musical ensemble featured a cornucopia of talent across the musical spectrum. It was a marvelous way to spend an evening after academic studies to just relax, mellow out and enjoy some live music. Certain pieces during the hour’s performance included all five of the quintet, while other masterpieces specialized in solo instrument experiences. On March 3, 2023, the Jewel Box Concert Series invited students and members of the community to a live listening experience of Brass Roots Trio. The cost of the musical event for students and community members was $10, but NEIU students received a code to waive the cost entirely. Unlike the prior month’s jazz series, Brass Roots Trio included brass instruments and a grand piano. As the name implies, there were three members of the band. One player exclusively played the French horn, while one player stuck to the grand piano and the third musician alternated between four sizes of trumpets. The French horn man even did an opera solo for a musical piece. Most of the masterpieces during the hour featured all four of the musicians playing harmonious pieces together, but a few of the pieces included solos or duets. To top oﬀ the night, Merla’s Kitchen catered the event with Filipino home cooking and famous empanadas. For wine enthusiasts, an assortment of wines was oﬀered, such as Chardonnay and Merlot.

On March 10, 2023, Dr. Susan Tang presented Schubertiade: Susan Tang, piano and Friends. The event was free for NEIU students and community members. The classical music symphony was the most popular due to having a packed audience that night, and parents as well as their young children filled the seats of the audience. The ensemble featured classical music with six musicians. Each musician contributed to the ensemble with unique expertise, such as soprano, piano, violin, viola, cello and double bass. The classical music allowed the audience to feel as if they were living in 19th century Vienna as noblemen. Hors d’oeuvres, soda and juices were served after the performance to meet the members of the orchestra and socialize with mixed company. Experiencing cultural outings such as musical or theatrical performances are revitalizing and enriching to allow people to rejoice in the special occasion. When people listen to music without a visual display, we often forget how many people created the masterpiece or which instruments were used. Live performances always manage to keep the spirit of conscientious awareness alive. For example, watching the way in which the French horn man’s fist is in the opening of the French horn or watching the trumpeter switch between his various-sized trumpets are constant reminders that countless hours of rehearsal went into practice to complete the symphony. Listening to the harmonious sounds of instruments while watching the instrumentalists play allows the audience to appreciate the overall symphonic composition. All three nights of musical wonder brought fantastic talent to the stage. Next time, there are musical performances available to the public, it may be time for you to say ‘yes’ to attending such a masterpiece.

Brass Roots Trio

SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 2023

arts & life

Lana Del Rey’s “Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd” Album Review - It’s Personal Written and Photo Taken by Luz Analitis, Arts and Life Editor

In iconic Lana Del Rey fashion, the singer/ songwriter promoted her newest and ninth studio album “Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd” with just one billboard in Tulsa, Okla. on December 18, 2022. Tulsa just so happens to be Del Rey’s recent ex-boyfriend’s hometown, and December is coincidentally his birthday month too. Del Rey showcased the billboard on her Instagram with a post where she commented “It’s. Personal.”, just to clarify her deliberate intentions. Was this an interesting and attention grabbing marketing tactic? Yes. Was it also a petty, bad-breakup revenge tactic? Yes, and we love her for it. To add insult to injury, the album is not pointed at her ex or about revenge at all, and he is barely even referenced in it. In fact, this is actually Del Rey’s most raw, unfiltered and personal album to date. It was released on March 24, 2023. I got snuggled up in my bed that day, put some headphones on, cranked the volume up to max, and listened to the entirety of the album from track one to sixteen, which is my personal favorite way of listening to a new album. Of the sixteen tracks, fourteen are songs with two thoughtfully placed interludes. Thematically, this album is unlike any of Del Rey’s previous ones. The singer has faced criticisms throughout her 10-yearplus long career, particularly questioning the authenticity of her music and her apparent industry-manufactured persona. With time and growth, the singer/songwriter is confident and comfortable enough to now bare her innermost thoughts and personal struggles. Through lyrics and interview testimony, she makes it clear that she’s doing it not for the critics or anyone else for that matter, but she is doing it for herself. The album takes the listener along a river of Del Rey’s musings, flowing from

one thought to the next like a personal diary of music. According to a Billboard interview, Lana attests that the overarching theme of the album is “family of origin”. She heavily references her family throughout, including the recent deaths of her Uncle Dave in 2016 and her grandmother in 2021. Through harrowing yet poetic lyricism, Del Rey also reflects upon general introspections regarding mortality, legacy, afterlife, womanhood, aging as well as the past and its impact on the present and future. In my opinion, “The Grants”, “Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd”, “A&W”, “Kintsugi”, and “Fingertips” are the most intimate and intensely emotional songs on the album, some of which delve into traumatic topics/experiences. Particularly evidenced with “Fingertips”, a “super long and wordy” track Del Rey confesses with no traditional song structure, it is clear that this album does not seek to churn out a bunch of pop hits. Instrumentally, many of the lyrically-heavy songs are transcendentally accompanied by pensive melodic piano and dreamy string orchestra. Fret not though, the album is not entirely melancholic and sedate. Remnants of established “Lana-esque” sound and style are heard through songs like “Fishtail”, “Peppers”, and “Taco Truck x VB”, where California sound and trap beats mesh with classic Del Rey dream pop in such an on-brand way for her. The album also of course includes some contemplative tracks about romantic relationships like “Sweet”, “Candy Necklace”, and “Let the Light In”. In my opinion, these songs are the most reminiscent of Del Rey’s usual songwriting content and style. “Let the Light In” also has a distinct folky guitar sound that adds a satisfying variant to the album sonically.

Unsurprisingly, Del Rey’s ethereal voice, soft and delicate at some points and evocative and entrancing at others, is the vehicle for her poignantly beautiful lyrics. It is the perfect guide for the listener to traverse through such heavy sentiments with. If I had to pick a single favorite song from the album, it would have to be “A&W”. No, this song is not about the all-American rootbeer brand, but does in a way comment on “Americana” culture, specifically the ways that our society views femininity and the experiences of women. The song opens with an acknowledgement of loss of childhood innocence and lacking maternal guidance. From

there, we follow Del Rey as she ponders and examines her intense sexuality and sexual behavior. She internally struggles with deciphering whether her sexual attitudes are a product of societal expectation, past experiences, or “maybe I’m just like this”. Del Rey even makes reference to rape culture in America with this song, something she seemingly alludes to having personal experience with, which is tragically imbedded into the feminine experience for countless others as well. I could probably write an entire essay/article on this one song alone, so I’ll stop myself there and leave the rest up for your own examination.

arts & life

SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 2023

“Scream 6” Brings the Terror to NYC: Our Thoughts on the Latest Horror Requel By: Luz Analiitis, Writer

For those of you who are not huge horror fans, yes, the Scream film franchise is still going, and the newest – the sixth – installment just came out on March 10, 2023. Now speaking as the huge horror fan that I am, I keep my guard up when it comes to reboots, remakes and “requels” which are reboots and a sequel, but also like to hold onto a bit of optimism in hopes that they will surprise me. This was my mentality going in to see “Scream VI”; skeptical because “Scream” (2022) was awful, yet optimistic because the trailers were intriguing. I must say overall, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this movie, and my optimism was validated. In case you want to go see it, I will start with a completely spoiler-free review. Towards the end, I will include some spoilers, because therein lies some of my issues with the movie. “Scream VI” is a continuation from the last movie that follows the same cast of survivors introduced in “Scream” (2022) with a new Ghostface killer targeting them. Legacy characters, Gale Weathers and Kirby Reed, play big roles in the plot as well. Iconic final girl Sidney Prescott is notably absent throughout the entire movie. This is a first for the Scream franchise, as every single other movie revolves around her character. This is due to actress Neve Campbell deciding not to return because of a dispute over her salary negotiation. I definitely felt her absence in the movie, but I support her decision to stand her ground for a fair salary. The writ-

ers also did a good job of writing the story in a way that it would not even make sense if Sidney Prescott showed up anyway. The trailers and teasers for “Scream VI” initially caught my interest because they boast how this new Ghostface is something different, unlike the other Ghostfaces in the previous films. From the clips we see, he appears to be tactically trained as he skillfully wields a shotgun and the iconic Ghostface knife. He is also particularly agile and shows impressive hand-to-hand combat skills. This is new as compared to the OG “Scream” movies, especially the first three because in those the killers are typically amateur, as sometimes they are a bit clumsy with their attacks. That is not the case in this one. Ghostface is particularly brutal and methodical with each attack, and I would argue that this one has some of the most violent kills within the whole franchise. The gore/practical effects look quite realistic and the fight choreographies are visually gripping as well. Seeing this all play out on the big-screen was quite a spectacle, keeping me tensely on the edge of my seat, jaw-dropped, and anxiety-filled, as any good slasher movie should. I also appreciated that this one was different because it takes place away from the small town of Woodsboro, and we get to see Ghostface in the big leagues, New York City. This accomplishes what other classic slasher franchises, like “Friday the 13th VIII: Jason takes Manhattan”, attempted to do

in 1989. Seeing a classic slasher villain like Ghostface in an urban, heavily populated city running around causing havoc is something refreshing and exciting. I also must note that the writing and acting in this movie are much better as compared to “Scream” (2022). I felt like in the fifth movie, the “meta-type” dialogue was both written and acted out in a way that I found to be extremely annoying and honestly cringey. I will chalk that up to the fact that I think they were still trying to find their footing with how they wanted to go about rebooting the franchise, but I feel like they found it within this sixth one. The cringe-factor was toned down quite a bit and the acting felt all-around more believable. I would even say that the characters grew in likability for me due to these improvements as well. Now that all of my praises have been laid out for you, I would like to discuss the biggest aspect of the film that I disliked the most: the ending/Ghostface reveal. I felt like they had a huge opportunity to do something completely new and shocking with this reveal, but unfortunately I found it to be super disappointing. Instead of keeping with the idea that this Ghostface is something diﬀerent and has never been seen before, it turns out that the unmasking of the killers in this one is pretty predictable and similar to past reveals. I will not give the exact names and background story for the killers in “Scream VI”, but I feel the need to note that this reveal is

reminiscent of literally all of the other movies in the franchise. The killers’ motives have always either been due to familial revenge or an obsession with the fictional “Stab” movies within the Scream universe (this excludes Stu Macher because he was peer pressured and far too sensitive). In “Scream VI”, they slightly touch upon obsession with the “Stab” movies, but the main motive of the killers is, once again, familial revenge. Again, this is so disappointing because they built up a lot of expectation for a new kind of Ghostface as I described earlier, just to let us down with a “twist” ending that was far from a jaw-dropper. The mystery of who Ghostface is, is so central to the plot and is unique to the slasher franchise as a whole. Especially since this movie is also part of a rebooting of the franchise, they had the chance to come up with an ending completely fresh that could lead subsequent sequels down an innovative path. Unfortunately that is not the ending we got. I would have to say that this is the one big fault of “Scream VI” that kept it from being a 10/10 movie. My hope is that they are leading us up to something really special in the next installment of the franchise (fingers-crossed, the return of Stu Macher), but I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. All-in-all, “Scream VI” was a really fun-watch at the theater. If you are a mega-“Scream” fan or enjoyer of slasher films in general, this movie is definitely worth the watch.

SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 2023

Sports

SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 2023

Get your Heart Pumping with Spin Cycle Express: The Ultimate Cardio Workout Written and Photos taken by Ananth Prabhu, Sports Editor

NEIU’s Campus Recreation offers a weekly Spin Cycle Express class at 1 p.m. every Wednesday. The activity is about exploring and experiencing the benefits of cardiovascular fitness activities on a stationary bicycle surrounded by fellow students and community members. Participants listen to fast-paced music and follow the guidance of an experienced instructor to mimic cycling in various conditions, such as high-resistance uphill biking and low-resistance downhill biking. The fitness class helps train the participants for sprinting, climbing uphill and doing intervals. While using stationary bikes, it is supposed to feel like being on a road bicycle while simulating different terrains and intensities. The mentality of this particular group fitness class is to join the ride, feel the vibe and crush it every time! Participants have the option to set comfortable resistance levels while meeting their fitness goals and giving themselves challenges. The cardiovascular benefits are improvement of lower body strength, endurance and speed. The beauty of the fitness class is that you can grab a friend, cycle together and stay parallel to each other regardless of each other’s fitness expertise. As the resistance increases, you must embrace the burn and let the endorphins flow! A few different people at Campus Recreation have been involved in making Spin Cycle Express a possibility. Spin Cycle Express is facilitated by Mac Varilla, Aquatics Coordinator and Lead Fitness Instructor. Program Chair, Associate Professor and Interim Associate Director, Dr. James Ball, was the inspiration behind the fitness class, according to Varilla. Also, Varilla stated that Fitness and Wellness Graduate Assistant, Talli Shepherd, gave support in designing the fitness class.

It took great preparation on Varilla’s part to practice facilitating a fitness class. As a part of Varilla’s training and preparation for instructing a spin class, he attended SoulCycle fitness classes in downtown Chicago. He casually walked in, tried the class and confirmed it to be a lot of fun. Varilla desired to put his visual, kinesthetic and coaching experiences to the test while developing this new fitness class at NEIU. It is currently only once per week, but the hope for the class is to make it multiple days per week. The music selection that plays during the class is intended to be fitness-inspired and gender-neutral in order to maximize the number of students and community members to feel included. You must get your groove with the music and keep on pedaling! According to Varilla, the purpose of titling the fitness class with the word ‘express’ is that it is only 30 minutes, and participants are free to just stop by for however long they want in between attending their academic classes. The inspiration of the class was to be geared towards the busy student who struggles to find time for a workout, so Varilla created an ‘express’ class to be quick. Varilla desired to supply a respectable workout that can be done in a confined amount of time. He intended students to be able to get “in and out” and move on with their day. Varilla’s long-term goal of making fitness classes is to take his “experience, knowledge and wisdom and definitely pass it on in the form of a family business.” His love of sports definitely exists among his family members. He has two brothers capable of playing professional basketball and the youngest brother is a sports photographer and sports video coordinator

for UIC’s men’s basketball, women’s basketball and soccer. Varilla is in the midst of teaching multiple sports in a variety of fitness and movement classes. He wants to ultimately establish a legacy instructing and mediating sports classes. He is currently planning to do these activities “as an old man whether [he] is actively participating, teaching someone how to teach a class [or] designing curricula.” Varilla calls himself a “generalist” while designing fitness classes for all age brackets. He has “taught swim lessons to adjunct professors in their mid-60s in Lincolnwood.” He is a man of many hats when it comes to fitness regimens. By being a participant in Varilla’s fitness class, you would be receiving a service from a dedicated professional. In addition, Varilla is currently teaching a Striking class every Wednesday at 10 a.m. open to all students and community members at Campus Recreation. As a reader, you should definitely consider riding to the rhythm and letting the beat move you!

SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 2023

NEIU Campus Recreation Sparks a Bright Future for Intramural Sports By: Josh Lasko, Writer

NEIU’s Campus Recreation has a very dedicated, passionate and competitive basketball community. It is not hard to find when someone is playing one of the world’s most beloved sports at the time the facility is open. Campus Recreation held a 5v5 intramural basketball season that featured four action-packed games. The intramural sports program features NEIU students creating teams and participating in oﬃciated games against each other. It gives students the opportunity to meet others that have an interest in particular sports. The season’s final game on March 10th had an exciting conclusion, and it greatly demonstrated the future of intramural sports that Campus Recreation has to oﬀer. The gold team pulled away over the blue team with the victorious score of 61-54 in a nail-biting finish. Campus recreation plans on organizing other sporting events in the near future. These plans include a 4v4 soccer tournament on March 29th, a 3v3 basketball tournament on April 7th and a kickball event on April 21st. Campus Recreation plans on growing its community and providing more activities for students and community members to enjoy. After the successful basketball season, it is likely that other intramural sports can be organized provided there is a community that would participate. Campus Recreation is open to accommodate student communities while considering student requests for new activities. In addition, the facilities have never been higher quality due to the excellent employees and the copious amounts of new activities, classes and events they host. The facility coordinator, Chriz Cordero, stated that the single greatest improvement from last year was “...our new foundation that was created through motivation, dedication and

hard work [has] reinvigorated the life of the staﬀ and community.” Moreover, Cordero declared that the newfound mission and vision have “sparked a fire” of a bright future for NEIU Campus Recreation. Please feel free to join the fun because warmer weather only yields more opportunities for the facility and the student body to synchronize together.

Photos Credits: David Sok

Sports

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