The Columbia Chronicle, December 2, 2019

PAGE 3: Reform CFAC holds campaign event as election heats up

PAGES 8-9: Columbia resident assistants left confused by rehiring decisions

PAGE 6: All these ‘Drag Race’ queens want for Christmas is attention PAGE 13: Explore Chicago’s hidden holiday hot spots with our Holiday Guide Volume 55, Issue 13

December 2, 2019

ColumbiaChronicle.com

CHICAGO OUTDOES ITS-ELF FOR THE HOLIDAYS

SEE “TREE LIGHTING” » COLUMBIACHRONICLE.COM » STEVEN NUNEZ/CHRONICLE

editor’s note

This holiday season, stop shaming non-meat eaters » ALEXANDRA YETTER CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

MANAGEMENT

L

et your family’s eyerolling and lectures on protein deficiency commence: It’s the season of Tofurky and sweet potato casserole.

Between lectures across the dinner table on the validity of your arts degree and how the fake news media is the “real” reason President Donald Trump is embroiled in an impeachment inquiry, you’ll be forced to—yet again—explain why you don’t eat animal carcases.

In 2019, I’m still flabbergasted that the idea of not eating animal products is more insulting than the idea of eating slaughtered turkeys and pigs while you pet your dog who is waiting for scraps.

This holiday season, all we non-meat eaters request is to not be shamed for our decision to not eat animal products.

Our holiday suddenly becomes sitting down at a table where turkey or ham sits a few inches before us, which is hard enough for some people to stomach; or inspecting each dish on the table hoping what your family called a “vegetarian dish” wasn’t made with chicken stock; or repeatedly telling your grandmother you can’t eat the apple pie she is piling onto your plate because it is made with real butter. And then, when all is said and done, going home and feeling sick because that mashed potato casserole definitely had cow milk in it.

As reported on page 14, plant-based substitutes are no longer a niche trend.

Rather, they are becoming the new frontier in the agricultural industry as companies switch to the production of plant-based alternatives.

The oldest dairy farm on the West Coast, Giacomazzi Dairy, has shifted its focus to almonds after 125 years of being in the dairy industry, as reported Tuesday, Oct. 29 by VegNews. Farmers are even planting approximately 20% more peas, which are used in plant-based products such as Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods, while the planting of corn, soy and wheat used to feed animals for meat production has dropped by roughly 3%, VegNews reported Monday, July 8. Finally, on Tuesday, Nov. 12 the nation’s biggest dairy producer, Dean Foods, filed for bankruptcy.

The business and agricultural industries foresee the rapidly growing public demand for plant-based alternatives overtaking the demand for animal 2 THE CHRONICLE DECEMBER 2, 2019

CO-EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

Blaise Mesa Alexandra Yetter

MANAGING EDITOR

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CREATIVE DIRECTOR

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DIGITAL CONTENT & BRAND MANAGER

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REPORTERS NEWS EDITORS

products in just a few years. So, why are social stigmas taking so long to catch up?

Veganism and vegetarianism are particularly under scrutiny over the holidays when traditionalism, consumerism and generationalism are also in play.

As someone whose favorite holiday is Thanksgiving and who used to eat meat, I don’t love Thanksgiving because of the turkey. I love it because it is a chance for me to put on stretchy clothes, sit down with my family whom I rarely see as a college student, have a home-cooked meal for the first time in months and cap the night off by watching “Holiday Inn” and “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.”

I don’t love it for the tradition of carving the turkey—or, my little sister and father’s tradition of reaching inside the turkey to pull its guts out, which always made me want to vomit since before I was vegetarian. I love it for that warm, fuzzy feeling you only get during the last two months of the year.

And yes, the consumerism that has built America tells us that animal products are the centerpiece of the holidays, as aisles of rock-hard, frozen turkeys populate the grocery store with two-forone-deals. But as “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” taught me, consumerism is not what the holidays are about.

Of course, there is a generational stigma at play, too. But if my grandmother—who learned to cook food when she lived in Brussels, Belgium, and who cooks enough food to feed the U.S. Army—will make vegetarian dishes to place next to my grandfather’s turkey that he basted in 20-minute increments throughout the previous night, then anything is possible.

So, please refrain from making comments on our dinner plate. And if you’re willing to go the extra mile, we would love to share our Tofurky with you. ayetter@columbiachronicle.com

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campus

Meet the people running for CFAC Steering Committee » ColumbiaChronicle.com

Reform CFAC slate addresses concerns from union members: dues, officer compensation, transparency » ALEXANDRA YETTER CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

» JUSTIN ANDERSON/CHRONICLE

THE FIRST THING Derek Fawcett will do if he is elected president of the Columbia part-time faculty union in December is release the union’s financial books to demonstrate how much debt the union is in, how member dues are being spent and how much officers have been compensated.

“Provided that we win, that turnaround period is going to be really breathtaking, challenging and maybe a little scary,” said Fawcett, an adjunct professor in the Music Department, during a Wednesday, Nov. 20 open discussion held at 33 E. Ida B. Wells Drive.

Fawcett is part of a slate of four CFAC members who call themselves “Reform CFAC.” They are all first-time candidates running for union officer positions, including Fawcett for president; Jason Betke, an adjunct professor in the Cinema and Television Arts Department, for vice president; Christopher Thale, an adjunct professor in the Humanities, History and Social Sciences Department, for secretary; and Colleen Plumb, an adjunct

professor in the Photography Department, for treasurer.

Ballots were sent to members in good standing the week of Monday, Nov. 18 and will be tallied Dec. 9. All ballots must be sent through the U.S. Post Office as per U.S. Department of Labor guidance for the election, as reported Oct. 11 by the Chronicle.

During the Wednesday meeting, the candidates answered questions about how they would address concerns from nearly a dozen adjunct faculty who attended. One of the most contentious of these questions revolved around union finances.

Officer compensation Attendees scrutinized Diana Vallera’s salary as the current union president, pointing to public tax documents required of unions that show Vallera was compensated more than $25,000 for fiscal year 2019. In comparison, current Vice President Andrea Dymond was compensated $38 and Treasurer Susan Van Veen was not compensated.

Faculty members and candidates questioned the validity of Vallera being compensated

thousands of dollars and said if the work were delegated more to department representatives—which there are not a full slate of in many departments across the college— Vallera would not need to justify an hourly wage to that extent because others could pick up the workload.

In an interview with the current Steering Committee for a follow-up piece profiling candidates as part of the Chronicle’s ongoing CFAC coverage, Vallera said she has never heard complaints from members on this topic and that she has never hidden her salary.

“My salary ... that’s always been transparent, what I’ve made and what I’ve been able to accomplish,” Vallera said. “Compared to what labor leaders make, or certainly what I’ve been offered to make, it is significantly less. Why? Because I love the work. ... The old way of thinking was that you’d work only five hours a week as union president. If I worked five hours a week we wouldn’t have the union we have today.”

If elected, Fawcett said the Reform slate will put officer compensation to a union-wide vote so members can weigh in

on how much the officers should be paid, in addition to producing regular financial reports. They also weighed the idea of paying stipends to department representatives to incentivize them and show their work is valued, which Vallera also said she is working to implement.

Dues Candidates also discussed how to make it more financially reasonable for adjuncts to instruct at the college after union dues were increased in September as part of an affiliation vote with the Illinois Federation of Teachers, as reported Aug. 28 by the Chronicle.

Not only do the candidates want to examine why dues were increased to 2.5% of salaries, but also how the union can work with the college to improve adjuncts’ financial stability. Fawcett said he would create a commission to focus on making life as an adjunct less “punishing” by bringing “reasonable” requests to the college’s administration.

“One of the things this union should be advocating for is making it easier for us to go all in on Columbia,” Fawcett said. “This notion that, ‘Oh yeah, we all need

(From left on couch) Derek Fawcett and Christopher Thale are two of four members running on an opposition slate called Reform CFAC for the December union elections.

to teach at three different schools, that’s just kind of the nature of the beast,’ is kind of garbage. It’s the reality that we’re living in, but it’s kind of terrible. It strikes me that an organized, thoughtful, professional union like this could zero in on a few things that we can do to make it that much easier ... to invest further in our work here.”

Transparency One of the biggest criticisms from some union members is the lack of transparency from the current Steering Committee officers. To counteract that, if the Reform slate were to win, Plumb said she would want all meetings to be videocast for any members who cannot attend them in-person.

Vallera said allegations of a lack of transparency are frustrating given how far the union has come since before she took office.

She said one result of improvements in communication was the increased voter turnout rate to approximately 50% in contract approval and strike votes.

When it comes to negotiating with the college’s administration, Fawcett said he wants to be as transparent with rank-andfile as possible. This comes after emails from leadership during the most recent contract negotiations seemed “apocalyptic” while the college’s emails looked “measured” by comparison, confusing members to the reality of the negotiations, he said.

Finally, Fawcett said he will become acquainted with adjuncts in other departments to find out what membersneed.Inthefirstsixmonths, Fawcett wants to be able to say he has met with every department.

“You’ve got to be a Columbia expert. You’ve got to be a teacherto-teacher expert,” Fawcett said.

“Otherwise, how on earth, were I to be union president, would I be able to help you if I didn’t have an intimate knowledge of what you’re going through?” ayetter@columbiachronicle.com

DECEMBER 2, 2019 THE CHRONICLE 3

campus

Costs for Columbia students to go up again » PAIGE BARNES STAFF REPORTER

» FILE PHOTO

PRESIDENT AND CEO Dr. Kwang-Wu Kim announced another increase in tuition and housing rates, this time for the 2020-2021 academic year. This is the third year in a row that tuition has been capped at a 2% increase for students.

The increase was approved by the Board of Trustees, as announced Tuesday, Nov. 19 in a collegewide email.

Tuition To the dismay of some students, the 2% increase in tuition for full-time students will bring it up to $27,142. Kim said in the announcement this $532 increase is “in line with inflation.”

“The trustees and I remain committed to using your tuition dollars and our other resources wisely and responsibly to improve the quality and fully realize the value of a Columbia education,” Kim said.

President and CEO Dr. Kwang-Wu Kim announced various increases in costs for tuition, housing and the health fee for full-time students for next year.

Senior acting major Daphne Escalante said that like many students, she counts on scholarships and loans to help pay for college.

“If tuition is going to increase … scholarships and grants should be more accessible or just more pronounced,” she said.

Financial aid workshops that teach how to fill out a FASFA can help a lot because it is “scary” to not know how to fill out the proper paperwork, she said.

While registration, technology and student instructional fees will not change, the annual student health fee will go up by $30 for full-time students. This is the first time the health fee will increase in five years according to the email.

Junior animation major Julia White said she is not affected by the increase as much as some people she knows because she transferred to Columbia from a community college to save money.

She said she hopes the tuition increase goes toward keeping software and equipment up to date with industry standards.

Kim said the college is working

to add more resources on-campus, such as additional printing facilities as well as adding “front-line staff in the Counseling, Columbia Central and Career Advising offices.”

Danny Steininger, junior cinema art and science major, said he is OK with the increase as long as it benefits the students directly rather than going toward something that would only benefit the administration.

He hopes some of the money goes toward paying part-time faculty more, as he remembers when some said they were struggling to be able to continue working at the college his freshman year.

Housing Along with tuition, rates for residence halls will increase by 3% “to reflect rent increases from the residence hall property owners,” according to the announcement.

White, who lives off-campus, said students who are considering moving off-campus might be pushed to make that move due to this increase.

Anthony Diaz, a sophomore filmmaking major, said he was considering moving on-campus because he commutes more than an hour everyday from Skokie, but is reconsidering after learning about the increase. “[Commuting] gets annoying and interferes with my schedule a lot, so if [the cost] increases, then it’s going to be a lot more expensive for me,” he said.

Freshman comedy writing and performance major Noah Hall said coming from a different college, he sees where tuition is going for student resources.

However, living in The Flats, 829 S. Wabash Ave., he is frustrated with the amount of money he pays for on-campus living.

“We should be a little more careful about where we put our money instead of building all these new fancy buildings and trying to expand our campus,” he said. “Why don’t we take care of the students that we already have?” pbarnes@columbiachronicle.com

» MARI DEVEREAUX STAFF REPORTER ASSOCIATE

PROFESSOR

AND

Associate Dean for the School of Fine and Performing Arts Nathan Bakkum has been named senior associate provost for academic operations.

Bakkum will replace current Senior Associate Provost Suzanne Blum Malley, who is leaving Columbia to become the provost of Methodist University in Fayetteville, North Carolina, as reported Sunday, Nov. 3 by the Chronicle.

In a Tuesday, Nov. 19 statement, Senior Vice President and Provost Marcella David said Bakkum’s “current leadership role, as well as his broad and deep experiences will enable him to step quickly into the role.”

She said his commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion makes him “exactly the right person to be the next Senior

Associate Provost.”

Rosita M. Sands, interim dean for the School of Fine and Performing Arts, said, “Nate has been a valuable member of the Dean’s Office staff who has served admirably across the areas of his portfolio of responsibilities,” according to the statement from the provost’s office.

Bakkum, who currently works in the Music Department with a focus in music history and ethnomusicology, began teaching at Columbia in 2007. His studies have been published in the Black Music Research Journal, Jazz Perspectives and the Journal of Music History Pedagogy. He is also a performer and songwriter in the Chicago area.

Bakkum also served one year as the acting associate director of the Center for Black Music Research, as reported Monday, April 4, 2016, by the Chronicle.

He holds a Ph.D. in history and theory of music and a Master of

4 THE CHRONICLE DECEMBER 2, 2019

» COURTESY COLUMBIA COLLEGE CHICAGO

Bakkum ready to help ‘whole college move forward’ in new role Arts degree in ethnomusicology from the University of Chicago.

He also holds a Master of Music degree in double bass performance from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Bachelor of Music degree in music education from DePaul University.

Bakkum said in this new role he is excited to collaborate with other departments and initiatives such as the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Office, Information Technology and Global Education Office, among others.

“It’s about helping the whole college move forward in a coordinated way,” Bakkum said.

“Building and refining academic programs that are strong, rigorous, current and exciting. Focusing on great student experiences.”

He will begin his role as senior associate provost Jan. 2, 2020, according to the statement from the provost’s office. mdevereaux@columbiachronicle.com

Nathan Bakkum will become senior associate provost on Jan. 2, 2020.

campus

» MATEUSZ JANIK STAFF REPORTER FOR NEARLY TWO decades, Columbia’s WCRX radio station has taken on the task of replacing the stress of the last weeks of the semester with sounds of holiday music, the booming voices of broadcast celebrities and that warm feeling one gets from giving. It sponsors an event that has been known to transform the gloomiest grinch into the happiest holiday elf.

WCRX, 88.1 FM, will host its 17th annual Holly Jolly Food Drive Tuesday, Dec. 3, transforming the lobby of the 33 E. Ida B. Wells Drive building into a winter wonderland of giving.

Each year, students and other members of the Columbia community are asked to bring non-perishable food items to the event, which will be donated to the Greater Chicago Food Depository, 4100 W. Ann Lurie Place.

“Part of what we want to teach is the civic responsibility of broadcasters,” said Matthew Cunningham, faculty adviser for WCRX and assistant professor of instruction in the Communication Department.

Cunningham said the broadcast is an opportunity for students to engage with celebrities, politicians and musicians, all while being on-air.

Cheryl Morton Langston, former WCRX faculty adviser who first introduced Holly Jolly in 2002, said she kicked-off the food drive to help gain attention for the station but it later became a “fixture” at the college.

“We all had one common goal,” Langston said. “I thought it was a great way for students to learn how to work together and give back as well.”

The show will include guests such as ABC 7 food reporter, the “Hungry Hound” Steve Dolinsky; Illinois Secretary of State

Jesse White; WXRT-FM host Terri Hemmert; founding member of The Ruffians, Leah Urzendowski; and President and CEO Kwang-Wu Kim. Chicago R&B artist Carlito and pop artist Matt LeGrand will also perform during the broadcast.

Growing each year, the food drive went from donations to a yearly tradition that has raised more than $47,000, as well as three tons of non-perishable food items since its beginning.

Aside from donations, people can win prizes through a silent auction or prize wheel, with gifts donated from local businesses and organizations.

Senior music major and Public Affairs Coordinator at WCRX Ryan Pollock said the lobby of the 33 E. Ida B. Wells Drive building is the ideal location.

“It’s literally right in front of everybody’s faces,” he said.

CaSera Heining, 2017 radio alumna and producer at WGN

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Good golly, it’s the 17th annual Holly Jolly

“Flashback Fridays” host Camron Miller dons a Santa suit inside the WCRX studio.

Radio, remembers dressing up as Santa Claus when she was at the college and the amount of holiday spirit surrounding the event.

“As you get older, you get so stressed out and get so busy with the runaround of the holidays, you forget what the actual meaning of it is,” Heining said.

“I feel like Holly Jolly gives you that chance to be reminded what the true meaning of Christmas is.”

Other former students, such as Iridian Fierro, 2018 radio alumna and producer at La Ley 107.9—otherwise known as WLEY-FM—remembered how nerve-wracking inter-

viewing guests for the show was, but said Holly Jolly is a time when students “put [their] best foot forward to give back to the community.”

For others like Curtis Koch, 2017 radio alumnus and producer at WGN Radio, the broadcast comes at an ideal time, kicking-off the holidays before the end of the fall semester.

“It’s just a really fun event,” Koch said. “Students can walk by and get a glimpse of what it’s all about and see the station in action.” mjanik@columbiachronicle.com

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arts culture

Bangarra Dance Theatre brings Australian culture » ColumbiaChronicle.com

‘Drag Race’ alumni put » MIRANDA MANIER MANAGING EDITOR

THIS WINTER, DRAG queens BenDeLaCreme

that back and going, ‘You know what, Christian heteronormative society, this actually inherently belongs to us.’”

The show also shines a light on the Christmas-centric focus of the holidays which can exclude queer people but also people of other religions.

One of Monsoon’s most treasured holiday memories skirted traditional holiday elements altogether. When her family gathered together to order Chinese food and simply exist in a room together for Christmas, with no mention of religion and no exchanging of gifts, she had the best Christmas she’s ever had with her blood relatives. That feeling is what she hopes to share through their show.

A core principle of the show is that it is entirely produced by queer people, from the performers to the tech people to the tour management. As drag and queer performance become increasingly commodified, this kind of independence is important to BenDeLaCreme.

“People look at us and they see dollar signs,” she said. “And I think it’s important for us to maintain a sense of control and know that we can do this ourselves even if people who would like to profit off us would like to lead us to believe that we need them.” mmanier@columbiachronicle.com

BenDeLaCreme (above) » COURTESY MATT BAUME

and Jinkx Monsoon are challenging the traditions surrounding Christmas— from religious celebrations to family gatherings— with an over-the-top holiday variety show, including burlesque, music, comedy and, of course, plenty of drag.

This kind of collaboration did not come naturally; when the two of them were in college—BenDeLaCreme at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and Monsoon at Cornish College of the Arts—they learned how to collaborate amid the nature of art schools. For BenDeLaCreme, this meant learning how to be inspired by her collaborators, such as Monsoon, rather than envy them.

“When Jinkx and I first met, I was so dazzled by her talent that it could have gone one of two ways,” BenDeLaCreme said. “It could have descended into a place of jealousy, of ‘I want to be better than,’ but one thing that I learned in school was that you only become a better artist by surrounding yourself with artists who you truly respect. And I think that is part of what makes Jinkx and I create such solid work is that we motivate each other to work harder and to make something better.”

This pairing began 10 years ago, when the duo met in the Seattle drag scene.

Since then, both have been featured on “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” with BenDeLaCreme appearing on season six and returning for All Stars season three, and Monsoon winning season five. Now, they are launching an international tour of their holiday show “All I Want for Christmas is Attention,” which will visit cities across the United States and Europe. It will be in Chicago at Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport St., on Tuesday, Dec. 10.

A central theme in the show, BenDeLaCreme said, is the trauma that surrounds Christmas for many people. The show looks at traditional holiday values and expectations from the lenses of those who have been excluded.

For many queer people, the festive messages of homecoming and family may not always be accessible, but the over-thetop spirit of Christmas certainly is.

“Christmas is so camp,” BenDeLaCreme said, referring to a term which means to be overly theatrical. “It’s so high camp.

Everything is bright and colorful and everybody’s singing all the time. People are wearing sparkly outfits, they’re putting f-----g jewelry on trees. It’s aesthetically a very queer thing, so I think that it makes a ton of sense for queer people to be taking

» COURTESY MATT GROSS

the ‘camp’ in Christmas

Jinkx Monsoon (below)

» COURTESY MATT BAUME

» COURTESY MATT GROSS

6 THE CHRONICLE DECEMBER 2, 2019

arts & culture

Woolly Mammoth antique store: home of the strange LOCATED BET WEEN A coffee shop and an art gallery in the Andersonville neighborhood sits one of Chicago’s oddest gems: Woolly Mammoth Chicago.

The shop is co-owned by a husband and wife team who also are Columbia grad school alumni, Adam Rust, who earned his MFA in 2005, and Skye Rust, who earned her master’s in 2006 and currently works at the college as assistant director of International Admissions.

“If I had to describe it to somebody ... I would just say it’s a hybrid museum-retail place, a very curated sort of fringe antique store,” Adam Rust said.

Ne a r i n g its 1 0 -y e a r anniversary this spring, Woolly Mammoth Chicago, 1513 W. Foster Ave., has gone from a fringe antique store to a fully-formed curiosity cabinet, making itself a Chicago institution.

“It wasn’t a plan,” Adam Rust said. “It just organically happened.”

The shop has even carved out its own place within Columbia’s student culture. Stephen Asma,

professor in the Humanities, H i s t or y a nd Social Sciences Department, has included Woolly Ma m moth a s a staple teachi n g t o ol i n his f irst-yea r experience course, “Curiosity in the City: Monsters, M a r vel s a nd Museums,” for years.

Visiting the s h op a l lo w s students to get an idea of what exactly a curiosity cabinet is, as they are required to create their own for their final Woolly Mammoth Chicago, 1513 W. Foster Ave., has been a staple of Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood for the last 10 years. class project.

Archaeological Theory website.

Museum of Natural History “We rely on the regulars ... but we Curiosity cabinets f irst “Curiosity cabinets are about in New York were “literally depend on the tourists because we emerged in the 16th century as trying to show us that reality is put together” by combining get tons of tourists as well,” Adam royal and aristocratic families weirder ... than you think it is,” collections of smaller curiosity Rust said. “We’re the only kind of formed personal collections Asma said. “It’s more magical and cabinets, Asma said. game in town that’s like this.” of items considered unique strange and wondrous.”

Today, shops such as Woolly Overall, at the core of the Woolly and worldly, according to Museums such as the Field Mammoth preserve much of Mammoth is an appreciation for the Contemporary Issues in Museum and the American the wonder that can some- the unusual, but a respect for its times be lost in more curation as well. didactic presentations.

“There’s a lot of pride, and I hope That sort of appeal has that shows in our business,” Adam both drawn people in and Rust said. “I’m proud of it and I’m kept some around, creating a happy to show it off.” community of regulars around Woolly Mammoth. cforte@columbiachronicle.com

» CAMILLA FORTE/CHRONICLE

» CAMILLA FORTE PHOTOJOURNALIST

Woolly Mammoth Chicago features a large collection of oddities spanning across disciplines. From historical medical tools to misfit taxidermy, you never know what you may find walking through the store.

DECEMBER 2, 2019 THE CHRONICLE 7

feature

For RAs, parties busted and plans dashed » KNOX KERANEN STAFF REPORTER

Editor’s Note: Two former resident assistants, whom the Chronicle refers to as Jane Doe and Emma Smith, spoke to the Chronicle on the condition of anonymity.

The Chronicle has verified their identities, along with their student and employment status.

Typically, there are multiple RAs supervising residents on each dorm floor.

Graduate assistants, or GAs, oversee multiple RAs and write their mid-year evaluations. There is usually one GA position on each dorm floor. In the chain of command, GAs report to the professional staff of Residence Life, who are full-time employees at the college.

According to Kubiak, of the nine members of professional staff, there are four coordinators, and two of them live in the dorms.

Of the professional staff members, Beltran said coordinators are the most involved with RAs, but he and other former RAs said they only met with the coordinators once a month at staff meetings.

Beltran said the professional staff coordinators could not have known his record as an employee well enough because they were either recently hired or did not put forth any effort to get to know him as an employee.

“We might as well have been strangers,” Beltran said. “That is what led to people who didn’t deserve to be let go, being let go.”

In response to the criticism that professional staff coordinators—who play a

part in determining who is hired, fired or not rehired—did not know the employees well enough, Kubiak said, “No individual staff member is responsible for making a decision about any individual candidate.

All hiring decisions are made collectively through conversation and careful deliberation between all professional staff.”

Typically, RAs are upper-level students who live in dorms with duties ranging from breaking up unruly parties, mediating roommate disputes and hosting events like study sessions. At Columbia, RAs are paid a stipend of approximately $270 per month and receive free housing in whichever dorm they are assigned to, valued at an estimated $10,000 depending on the building, according to Kubiak.

In order to be an RA, students must have completed at least 30 credit hours and have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.7 and a semester GPA of at least 2.5, according to requirements posted on the Residence Life website.

Emma Smith, another RA who was not rehired, enjoyed her time as an RA from August 2017 to May 2019. But during her rehire interview for Fall 2019, she felt the dynamic between herself and the professional staff had changed.

» JUSTIN ANDERSON /CHRONICLE

» PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY MIKE RUNDLE /CHRONICLE

DIEGO BELTRAN, A junior cinema art and science major, only half-jokes about the reason he was not rehired by Residence Life to his job as a resident assistant, or RA. “I got fired because of the tone in my voice,” Beltran said, recounting feedback from a Residence Life coordinator about his rehire interview. “If they would have paid attention to what I was saying, they would have realized how enthusiastic I was, but I guess they couldn’t do that.”

Beltran said he received an exceptional mid-year evaluation from his direct supervisor, a graduate assistant, which made his not getting rehired even more puzzling.

He was one of seven RAs who were not rehired for Fall 2019. Another student

was terminated earlier this year and had just six days to arrange for new housing and move out of the dorm.

Because of their experiences, Beltran and other former RAs are concerned about what they see as unreasonably high expectations for and treatment of the student RAs responsible for supervising the approximately 2,200 students living in Columbia’s five dorms, which are overseen by Residence Life staff.

Residence Life is “dedicated to developing a supportive community, programs and services that empower and challenge residents” as well as creating opportunities for community involvement among residents, according to a description in the Residence Life Handbook.

Adam Kubiak, assistant director of community standards and programs for Residence Life, would not comment on the school’s decision not to rehire Beltran and other RAs because of the college’s policy of not commenting on personnel matters.

According to Kubiak, a total of 190 students attended recent RA information sessions, which are required for RA applicants, however there are currently just 40 RA positions at Columbia.

“Their job is living here and being here. ... I can only imagine that’s got to be really mentally draining,” said Maddy Hall, a dorm resident.

8 THE CHRONICLE DECEMBER 2, 2019

Dwight Lofts is one of five dorms where RAs live and

feature

uation process. Points are given for the bulletin boards and newsletters that RAs produce and events they plan. If they don’t accrue the required points, their job could be in jeopardy.

Maddy Hall, freshman graphic design major and a resident at the Dwight Lofts, 642 S. Clark St., said this is an unfair measuring system because most residents are either too busy or uninterested in attending dorm events.

Hall said she would not want to be an RA partly because other residents see them as an authority figure. “They don’t get to come home from work,” Hall said. “Their job is living and being here. ... I can only imagine that’s got to be really mentally draining.”

Smith said she expected to enforce dorm rules and break up the occasional party when she took the job, but she did not expect 20 to 30 hours of mediating disputes between residents during her first semester.

“We’re the first response to pretty much anything that can happen in the dorms,” Smith said. “I have had colleagues have to call 911; I’ve [witnessed] fights; I’ve had people on drugs they shouldn’t be on.”

Smith said she did not think she would be responsible for helping depressed or mentally ill students when she took the job. “If they did something to hurt themselves, it would feel like it was on me,” Smith said.

Some former RAs have reported mental health struggles due to the job’s demands.

“We do think it’s important that no first responder feel as though they are alone,” said Lee Swain, director of JED Campus, a JED Foundation program dedicated to supporting student mental health through policy change and program development. “Adult and professional supervisors should be sure to be regularly checking in on the health and wellness of their staff members and debriefing particularly stressful or highimpact cases.”

RAs are trained to assess, offer support to and refer residents to the appropriate individual during crisis incidents, said John Pelrine, dean of students, in a Wednesday, Oct. 30 email to the Chronicle. In more serious situations, they can call for assistance from their supervisors, he said.

During a two-week training before classes begin, new and d work. Forty RAs supervise the 2,200 students living on campus.

» MIKE RUNDLE /CHRONICLE

“They all of [a] sudden decided that you have to go above and beyond in your rehire interview, or else you weren’t going to get rehired,” Smith said.

For the rehire interview, returning RAs are asked to give a creative presentation outlining their achievements, strengths, areas where they improved and how they plan to continue improving, Kubiak said.

During her previous rehire interview, Smith felt the environment was more comfortable, and she even shared a cake she brought with her supervisors.

After that interview, Smith said her supervisor asked if she could use Smith’s slideshow presentation as a good example for future years. The second time around, Smith said the same supervisor was 20 minutes late to her interview and seemed uninterested.

“It’s crazy to me that I based my slideshow this year off of that slideshow because it was so exemplary and then I [did not get rehired],” Smith said.

Additionally, she said there was no sign that her job was in jeopardy when she received her mid-year performance review. When Smith asked why she was not being rehired, she said professional staff told her they did not think she was spending enough time doing her job but did not provide examples.

According to former RAs, Residence Life has a point system as part of an eval-

“We might as well have been strangers,” said Diego Beltran about his relationship with his supervisors.

returning RAs sit through presentations about gender identity, sexual assault and mental health. Then, RAs-in-training practice busting parties involving drugs and alcohol, mediating resident disputes, handling mental health crises and cases of sexual assault through staged scenario training sessions.

“Given the training that RAs receive, they are well-prepared to be front-line responders,” Pelrine said.

In a Saturday, Oct. 19 email to the Chronicle, Kubiak listed training, weekly staff meetings, biweekly one-on-one meetings and individual conversations as examples of support systems for RAs. He also mentioned campuswide support resources such as Student Relations and Counseling Services.

Christina Katehis, junior at Loyola University Chicago, said this is her first semester working as an RA, but she has already noticed that the job is causing her more stress and is a bigger time commitment than her previous job in retail.

“Before I was an RA ... I didn’t realize how much work [there is] behind the scenes that residents and other people don’t really see,” Katehis said.

Katehis said RAs at Loyola receive free housing and meals and are paid $500 at the end of each semester. Despite financial savings from free housing, having a job without a regular paycheck has prov-

en challenging for Katehis. “I don’t have any money to support myself,” she said.

When Jane Doe was terminated Sept.

24 from her position as an RA in the Dwight Lofts, she was offered a room in the University Center, 525 S. State St., and six days to move. When she asked Pelrine for an extension via email, he replied, “I don’t see a compelling reason to give you an extension on the move. ... I want to avoid prolonging your move into next week and possibly interfering with your class schedule.”

In a Wednesday Oct. 30 email to the Chronicle, Pelrine said, “An RA who is released from their position is offered alternate housing within the Residence Life system. They are expected to move promptly so that Residence Life can refill the position if it elects to do that.”

Doe chose not to continue living on campus because she did not think she could afford it, having planned her budget around free housing.

Doe started training as an RA on Aug. 9. She said she took the job to “learn how to step out of her shoes to help residents.”

Doe said she did not feel she was given the chance to improve in her job.

“I’m so involved in Columbia, and [I] want to be, but it was draining just going through this transition,” Doe said. kkeranen@columbiachronicle.com

DECEMBER 2, 2019 THE CHRONICLE 9

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Subscribe and get the latest news in your inbox » ColumbiaChronicle.com/Newsletter EDITORIAL

A

s a high school student, it’s exciting to know a college is seeking you out for admission when receiving a recruitment letter in the mail. This is especially true when that college’s acceptance rate makes you believe you could be one of a single-digit percentage of applicants who get in.

However, being met with rejection following the application process may cause confusion and disappointment to settle in.

This phenomena occurs more often than one would think, as in order to lower acceptance rates and boost exclusivity, top colleges are buying students’ SAT scores and sending recruiting materials to low-scoring students they plan to reject, according to a Tuesday, Nov. 5 Wall Street Journal article. But the public is no stranger to college scandals like these.

The College Board, the nonprofit that owns the SAT, buys into this game by allowing colleges across the country to purchase student scores and other

Sending out recruiting materials to students a college plans to reject gives those students a false sense of hope, and colleges pocket the application fees of those who apply.

The value placed on getting into an information for 47 cents each. This “elite” college or university is evident practice benefits the College Board and through the admissions scandals that participating colleges by lowering accepsurfaced earlier this year. It seems that tance rates and creating a false exclumoney can buy you into exclusivity, but sivity that only perpetuates the cycle. many students cannot afford to choose The College Board receives this infora college solely based on this factor. mation when students respond to a survey Many students are forced by financial portion of the SAT prior to taking the situations to look at the price tag first. test in which they can decide whether or Many also find a correlation between not to share their information with the exclusivity and priciness of a college College Board. And while the majority and the quality of education one might consent for their information to be shared, receive there. Ivy League colleges, there is a percentage of students who for example, are notorious for being refuse this practice. Still, high school stu- both expensive and difficult to get dents may be unaware of how their inforinto, but they are also considered the mation may be used by the College Board. top colleges in terms of education.

Colleges can purchase student inforBetween 2001 and 2017, the cost of mation from very specific demographic college at a four-year institution has subsets, including race, gender, location gone from $18,573 to $26,593, after being and range of SAT scores, according to adjusted for inflation, according to the the WSJ article. Then, they encourage National Center for Education Statistics. students from chosen demographics Columbia’s Fall 2018 acceptance rate to apply, even though the colleges was 87%, according to the NCES. The already may not plan to accept them. school’s consistently high acceptance

The case against Remington Arms Company is an avenue for gun reform

Editorial Board Members Katherine Savage News Editor Ella Watylyk Copy Editor Korrigan Agen Photojournalist Camilla Forte Photojournalist

rates over the years could be a carryover from the college’s former open-enrollment philosophy. Another factor may be the decline in enrollment in recent years, or the fact that Columbia also does not require SAT or ACT scores with applications, though they are used in assessing merit-based scholarships.

The reality is most of us cannot afford to pay these elite colleges’ rising tuitions—yet another face of exclusivity—and the percentage of people who get in does not equate to the quality of education you’ll receive there. chronicle@colum.edu

EDITORIAL

one brand over another. Remington’s alignment of its Bushmaster XM15-E2S rifle with assaults against other humans in its advertising is dangerous—in the way tobacco companies’ advertisements he federal Protection of Lawful specific weapon.“Forces of opposition, align cigarette use with traditional Commerce in Arms Act protects bow down. You are single-handedly outmasculinity or social prowess. gun companies from liability when numbered,” is the exact language used At the very least, this case calls to one of its weapons is used in a crime. But in said advertisement, attention that military-style assault this law has exceptions, namely when which the plaintiffs said weapons are being marit comes to how a gun is marketed. violates a Connecticut keted to civilians.

On Tuesday, Nov. 12, the Supreme law which bans These weapons Court denied an attempt by Remington advertisements that have their purpose Arms Company, a firearms and ammunipromote guns for in their name—to tion manufacturer, to block a lawsuit filed their ability to kill; assault—and by the survivors and families of victims of they are also going putting them in the the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School after an ad that said, hands of civilians in mass shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. “Consider your man the first place is more As Remington is the maker and marcard reissued,” » W E SL dangerous than someE Y EN RIQU keter of the AR-15-type “Bushmaster” for the way it thing any advertisement E Z /CH R O NIC LE rifle—one of the weapons the shooter idolizes toxic masculinity. could convince them to do used in the 2012 mass shooting—the Advertising is a powerful tool that once they have possession of it. lawsuit highlights the problematic companies use to spread their brand mesBut the fact remains, victims of this advertisements used to promote this sage that persuades individuals to favor tragedy must use an exception in an

T

» JENNIFER CHAVEZ/CHRONICLE

Exclusivity in the education system harms students

existing law to go after Remington. They will have to prove there is an actual correlation between the unsettling advertisements and the shooting itself, and the stakes are relatively high.

If the plaintiffs lose the case, the precedent set may create yet another de facto protection for gun companies. But, if they are successful, it can open a new arsenal of legal options for victims of gun violence, though it still may not change anything in the books regarding gun regulation.

Reform of the systems that allow civilians to acquire military-style assault weapons is desperately needed to prevent these types of tragedies from happening in the first place. Survivors and families of victims of gun violence should have an avenue to seek a form of redress for the damage done—but we first need to treat the causes of gun violence, not just the symptoms. chronicle@colum.edu

Did you catch a mistake, think we could have covered a story better or have strong beliefs about an issue that faces all of us here at Columbia?

Paige Barnes Staff Reporter Dyana Daniels Staff Reporter Mari Devereaux Staff Reporter

10 THE CHRONICLE DECEMBER 2, 2019

Knox Keranen Staff Reporter Lauren Leazenby Staff Reporter

Why not write a letter to the editor? At the bottom of Page 2, you’ll find a set of guidelines on how to do this. Let us hear from you. —The Columbia Chronicle Editorial Board

T COMMENTARY

Christmas and consumerism cannot go hand-in-hand » VALERIA MANCERA-SAAVEDRA STAFF REPORTER

he red bows on jewelry boxes, colored lights decorating store mannequins, giant Christmas trees in every corner of the mall—you have to admit, the holidays are a visually attractive time of the year.

Every year we are dragged into partaking in a capitalist society that forces us to look at the Christmas season as a time to consume rather than to simply celebrate, effectively inf luencing our financial decisions.

This is especially true on days when stores are f looded with people trying to hunt for the best deals.

Somehow it is easy for people to find happiness inside of boxes with shiny wrappings and highvalue price tags. But can that truly be referred to as happiness?

When did it become more important to spend time and money on material things rather than invest it in family and friends? And don’t get me wrong, nearly everyone enjoys receiving gifts. However, it seems at this time of year people are more attracted to showcases in department stores than what is really important: loved ones.

People like to justify the need to reward

opinions the hard work they have done throughout the year and compensate their nearest and dearest for not spending enough time with them for the same reason. But rather than benefiting us, it becomes a vicious cycle year after year—and not a good one.

Not everything has to be superficial for it to be considered a valuable gift. Many times materialistic goods become nothing more than an unnecessary item that gathers dust. The best gifts are ones you can’t get with a credit card.

During this time of year, we should all examine and weigh our priorities. Winter break may not be very long, but be sure to take advantage of it and offer time to the people who complement your life.

I am guilty of believing what came inside the box was more important than the intention with which it was given to me. I am guilty of worrying more about putting together my outfit for Christmas dinner than having made sure to write an “I love you” at the end of a Christmas card. I am guilty of spending more time in line in front of a cash register than having made a “Merry

Christmas” hug last more than five seconds. And no, I’m not proud of it.

To accept not having been the best version of yourself does not entail weakness. On the contrary, it may even be the best gift to yourself this Christmas.

Regardless of why you celebrate Christmas, whether for religion or simply tradition, you must always keep in mind the true essence of the holiday.

Let’s stop altering Christmas from tradition to consumerism, from values to the mundane and remember that quantity is never the same as quality. vmancera-saavedra@columbiachronicle.com

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See a full photo gallery of the protest of the air strike in Gaza » ColumbiaChronicle.com

Hidden holiday guide to Chicago » MARGARET SMITH COPY CHIEF

the fresh snow for just $20 is a hard-to-miss opportunity.

WHO HAVE faced countless harsh winters here in the metropolis of the Midwest may see the run-of-the-mill holiday celebrations of the city to be less than stimulating.

Christkindlmarket, the Lincoln Park’s ZooLights, the storefront windows at Macy’s—all good and grand in their own way, but one has to wonder: Isn’t there more?

In every crevice of the city comprised of more than 70 communities, curious holiday enthusiasts can find something to do—whether it be just for the afternoon or a recurring event to which they can bring family and friends over and over again.

Striving to connect you with the holiday thrills of the city, the Chronicle has compiled an offthe-beaten-path holiday guide to help you navigate Chicago this coming winter.

Caroling Cloud Gate Merging a tourist trap with a unique event can be difficult, but in Chicago there is no shortage of creativity. The Bean, or Cloud Gate as it was originally and rightfully titled, is located in the heart of The Loop, making it easily accessible to tourists and locals alike. On Fridays spanning from Nov. 29 to Dec. 20, Caroling at Cloud Gate will take place from 6 to 7 p.m. Each Friday a new choir will lead the tunes as they ring through Millennium Park.

Whether it is the cold weather chilling you or the beautiful voices, an evening like this is a must-see this winter.

CHICAGOANS

» COURTESY BUCK LEPARD

Music Box Theatre Christmas Sing-a-Long and Double Feature Coming back to the Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave., for its 36th anniversary is the Christmas Sing-a-Long and Double Feature. Taking place Dec. 12 through 14, the theatre will be showing “White Christmas” and “It’s a Wonderful Life” back-toback. If you crave the classics this time of year, a ticket to the first film is $13.50 and entrance to both is $20. Watching Bing Crosby and James Stewart be forlorn among

» JUSTIN ANDERSON/CHRONICLE

» COURTESY EVAN HANOVER

That’s Weird, Grandma: Holiday Extravaganza So maybe building a snowman with the kids isn’t cutting it.

If you and the kiddos want more excitement in the dreary days of winter, the whole family can enjoy the “That’s Weird, Grandma: Holiday Extravaganza,” presented by PlayMakers Laboratory. Hosted

at The Neo-Futurists, 5153 N. Ashland Ave., this adaptation of the series, now in its 18th season, is the public showing of a play that was written for children, by children. Through PML’s creative writing residency program in Chicago Public Schools, young creatives get the chance to craft their own stories for the stage.

And after being performed at the schools themselves, the public will get to witness the wacky sketches of young writers.

Whether you or the family are in need of some innocent humor, this extravaganza is one worth getting tickets to.

Holiday of Horror Parts of Chicago can be serene as snow falls and the lights are strung up about town. Even more serene, perhaps, are the sounds of a metal concert coming from Reggies Chicago, 2105 S. State St. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 21 for the 22nd annual Holiday of Horror concert hosted by The Chicago Metal Factory and Rebel Radio.

General admission is $20, and with acts such as Macabre and Novembers Doom, among others, the night is sure to melt back the winter blues with booming guitar riffs, screaming vocals and excited fans.

Buttcracker: A Nutcracker Burlesque Who says the holidays cannot be both naughty and nice? The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave., will be hosting “Buttcracker: A Nutcracker

Burlesque” on Thursday, Dec. 12 at 8 p.m. The event has all the holiday favorites—dancing, sword balancing, burlesque and magic—all rolled into one extravagant evening. A hot take on the original production of the Nutcracker, the Buttcracker takes its fans beyond the awe of Christmastime and into the wonder of sexual positivity.

» COURTESY CHICAGO VEGAN TEST KITCHEN

Chicago Vegan Test Kitchen Holiday Market Perhaps you’re vegan, someone on your holiday guest list is vegan or you just want to stock your pantry with cruelty-free goodies. If so, Chicago Vegan Test Kitchen’s Holiday Market may be yet another stop on your list. All sellers at this free event hosted at Emporium Arcade Bar, 2363 N. Milwaukee Ave., are local vendors and chefs that offer highquality goods. There will also be a children’s activity corner, so feel free to bring the kids along as you gather both food and goods from these vegan artisans. Despite the recurrence of the normal market, there is only one can’t-miss date for the holiday market: Sunday, Dec. 15. msmith@columbiachronicle.com

DECEMBER 2, 2019 THE CHRONICLE 13

» CAMILLA FORTE/CHRONICLE

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Plant-based proteins are ‘here to stay’ » MIRANDA MANIER MANAGING EDITOR WHEN SOPHOMORE FILMMAKING

major Haven Stohler became vegan five years ago, she had to learn how to cook her own meals.

At the time, vegan and vegetarian options in grocery stores were sparse, and Stohler struggled to find the best ways to feed herself.

Now, it’s hard to imagine ever struggling to find vegan options.

Throughout 2019, meat substitutes exploded in popularity, with Beyond Meats and Impossible Foods leading the charge as their faux-meat burgers and taco meat became available at restaurants and fast food chains across the country. These options made vegan and vegetarian diets more accessible to people who might not have otherwise considered them, said Natalie Slater, marketing manager for Upton’s Natural, a Chicago-based company that creates vegan and vegetarian products.

“I do think that once they try one of the burgers that’s out there or something like that, that they are more open to trying something that might take a little bit more work,” she said.

“So maybe they try an Impossible

Whopper at Burger King, then they buy a Beyond Burger at the grocery store. They figure out that they could eat those two things and enjoy it, so then maybe they’re like, ‘Well, let’s see what jackfruit is all about.’”

This product accessibility is opening the door for people to dabble in dietary choices that have historically seemed elitist.

When Stohler goes back home to Indiana, she just tells people she’s “plant-based,” to avoid being labeled a “crazy liberal.” At Columbia, though, she finds people to be generally accepting.

There is also a perception that veganism and vegetarianism are reserved for white people, said Nena Ramirez, event organizer for two local vegan markets— Chicago Vegan Test Kitchen and Buena Vegan Social Club—but she sees that perception begin to break down as well.

“Veganism isn’t just faux-meat and it isn’t just fancy, expensive restaurants,” Ramirez said. “In regards to marginalized communities, it’s food that we’ve grown up with. Rice and beans is vegan. Avocado is vegan. Squash is vegan.

There’s so many different things out there that are vegan that are accessible, and it’s not unattainable.”

Ramirez’s two markets sit on different sides of the city, with Chicago Vegan Test Kitchen running out of Emporium Logan Square, 2363 N. Milwaukee Ave., and Buena Vegan Social Club being held at Lo Rez Brewing, 2101 S. Carpenter St., in Pilsen.

The vendors at Buena Vegan Social Club are all black, indigenous and people of color as part of Ramirez’s efforts to help marginalized people see themselves represented at this kind of market through vendors who are cooking culturally recognizable, plant-based food.

Dan Sachs, senior instructor and director of the Corporate Education Program at DePaul, has watched the vegetarian and vegan industry evolve over the past decade following the recession, as young people in particular have started to eat out more. With an interest in social and environmental issues, such as animal

cruelty and the climate crisis, young people’s demand for vegan and vegetarian options has shifted them from off-menu, requestbased items to being integral to a restaurant’s survival, Sachs said.

Some of the spiked interest in the environmental impact of animal agriculture can be traced back to documentaries on the matter or videos of people going into slaughterhouses, Ramirez and Stohler said. Stohler even became vegan after watching the documentary “Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret,” which focused on how unsustainable the meat industry is.

“That was really eye opening, and I was really appalled by all this information that I had never been in contact with before,” Stohler said. “I didn’t feel like I could continue eating the way I was after being given that information. … I didn’t want to contribute to the deterioration of the world’s health anymore.”

Vegan and vegetarian diets are not without their own negative impacts, Ramirez said. However, she believes responses to that are beginning to crop up as well.

“We believe [eating vegetables is] cruelty free and that’s absolutely not true,” she said. “We have to also remember whoever is picking our fruit, whoever is packing those potatoes, those people mostly are immigrants. That is not cruelty free. The conditions they go through are also really terrible. So I think all of these things as they come to light are creating a movement.”

The boom of accessibility in plant-based options is still exciting to Ramirez, though, because she sees it as a win-win: The more people considering veganism and vegetarianism, the more people who might patronize small businesses such as her vendors’— and the fewer people who are eating meat.

As these diets become more accessible and increasing rates of young people adopt them, some people might think vegan and vegetarian popularity will fade—but Sachs suspects otherwise.

“It’s not as though [this] trend’s going to reverse any time soon,” he said. “There’s only going to be more call for non-animal based protein, whether that ends up being vegetarianism, or however people want to call it. I think [this] trend is here to stay.” mmanier@columbiachronicle.com

» SHANE TOLENTINO/CHRONICLE

14 THE CHRONICLE DECEMBER 2, 2019

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FEATURED PHOTO

Participants of a die-in rally, protesting the bombing by the Israeli military in Gaza that killed 16 Palestinian civilians, surround a banner at Federal Plaza, 219 S. Dearborn St., Wednesday, Nov. 20.

The Music Center at Columbia College Chicago 1014 S. Michigan Avenue

M u s i c

D e p a r t m e n t

E v e n t s

Monday December 2 Columbia College Gospel Ensemble & Gospel Rep Ensemble In Concert at Stage TWO, 618 S. Michigan Ave

7:00 pm

Tuesday December 3 Recording & Performance Ensembles in Concert

7:00 pm

Wednesday December 4 Jazz Pop Choir in Concert at the Conaway Center Songwriting 1A Recital Columbia Jazz Night New Music Ensemble in Concert at the Sherwood

12:00 pm 12:30 pm 7:00 pm 7:00 pm

Thursday December 5 Songwriting 1B Recital at the Conaway Center Student Piano & Strings Recital #8 at the Sherwood American Roots Ensemble & Hip Hop Ensemble in Concert

12:30 pm 7:00 pm 7:00 pm

Friday December 6 Vocal Techniques 2 Recital Kira Whitaker Senior Recital

1:00 pm 7:00 pm

Saturday December 7 Advanced Studio Performance

12:00 pm

DECEMBER 2, 2019 THE CHRONICLE 15

DECEMBER 4, 2019

Career Center 754 S. Wabash, 3rd Floor Wednesday November 13 - 4pm Tuesday November 19 - 12pm Wednesday November 20 - 5:30pm Monday December 2 - 4pm Wednesday December 4 - 12pm (ONLY FOR STUDENTS WITH AN APPLICATION IN PROCESS)