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WORK-STUDY FUNDING COULD EXPIRE THIS SPRING

FEBRUARY 13, 2019 SIXTH WEEK VOL. 131, ISSUE 28

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Aiming for City Hall

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sofia garcia

High-Speed Chase Ends at UChicago Causing Campus Lockdown PAGE 2

20th Ward Aldermanic Endorsement: Anthony Driver PAGE 9

Like our Facebook page at facebook.com/chicagomaroon and follow @chicagomaroon on Instagram and Twitter to get the latest updates on campus news.

Wrestling Named UAA Champions for 17th Time in Program History

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WORK-STUDY FUNDING COULD EXPIRE THIS SPRING

High-Speed Chase Ends at U of C Causing Lockdown

BY KATIE AKIN Managing Editor

The University informed departments last fall via a memo that changes to the Chicago minimum wage and a reduction in work-study allocations could cause the University’s funding pool to expire in spring quarter.

The University would be responsible for independently funding work study positions if the funds run dry.

Each year, the Department of Education (ED) allocates workstudy funds to colleges. This money is used to pay 75 percent of the wages for certain student jobs, and the employers pay the other 25 percent of students’ paychecks. Universities are responsible for managing workstudy funds.

According to a ED spokesperson, FWS employers have the option of funding fewer students or cutting back on student workers’ hours to account for a higher minimum wage. The memo obtained by The Maroon, dated September 6, 2018, reads, “It is necessary for the University to maintain federal compliance and, in turn, continued funding.”

University spokesperson Marielle Sainvilus reiterated this in an e-mailed Tuesday statement: “We do not anticipate any work changes to the FWS program for the rest of the school year.”

Sainvilus wrote that the memo was sent to “proactively notify FWS employers of the stresses on funding this year,” allowing them to plan their budget accordingly. “Because the funding varies from year to year, the University community works together to accommodate the many changes.”

Suspects crashed into two cars on 59th Street. euirim choi

BY MAROON STAFF UChicago told the campus community to stay inside on Monday as police canvassed the local area looking for suspects involved in an armed robbery off-campus. One CPD officer told The Maroon at around 12:15 p.m. that it was safe for students to go outside. Police said they apprehended all five suspects and the University issued an all-clear message at 12:49 p.m.

At around 11:48 a.m. on Monday, a stolen black Dodge Charger believed to have been involved in the robbery of a GameStop ran a red light on the intersection of Midway Plaisance and South Woodlawn Avenue, supposedly while chased by police.

In the process, it ran into two additional cars, damaging both significantly. The driver of one of the vehicles escaped without injury but the status of the other driver is unknown. The suspects fled their Dodge Charger, and police pursued. One of the suspects was arrested immediately after the crash, according to an e-mail sent by the University after the events at around

4:25 p.m. Around 30 police officers cornered multiple suspects in the Saieh Hall of Economics, though it is unclear whether all the remaining suspects fled inside the building.

The suspects in Saieh were later apprehended at around 12:40 p.m. Police on scene said no one was hurt inside Saieh and there was no substantial property damage.

At least two classes—Econo-

metrics and Psychology Research Methods—rescheduled midterms that had been scheduled to take place during the incident, according to two students who spoke to The Maroon.

A witness interviewed in Saieh on Tuesday said 10–15 officers ran into the building and started running up and down the main stairwell looking for suspects. Officers said they were looking for three suspects from

Police evacuated students from the Saieh Hall for Economics. pete grieve

an armed robbery, the witness said. She was told by police to shelter in the basement, and officers came to search the basement while people were sheltered there, though they were focused on upper floors. She saw two people who appeared to be under 18 in handcuffs.

CPD released a statement at 1:35 p.m. on Monday to The Maroon: “An armed robbery occurred on the 1700 block of West 119th Street where multiple offenders entered and robbed a commercial business.

The offenders fled and were ultimately apprehended in the area of Woodlawn and 59th Place.

Charges are pending.” The robbery occurred around 11:23 a.m.

The University said to stand by for comment.

The GameStop is about eight miles from campus. Scanner traffic indicates there was a high speed chase on Lake Shore Drive.

Video game boxes were seen next to one of the crashed vehicles.

The GameStop was closed as of 1:45 p.m. on Monday and officers were inside.

Matthew Lee, Euirim Choi, and Pete Grieve contributed reporting.

THE CHICAGO MAROON — FEBRUARY 13, 2019

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What Do Chicago’s Aldermen Do?

A Sophia King promotional billboard on the Metra tracks overlooking 53rd Street. pete grieve

BY PRANATHI POSA News Reporter

Ahead of the upcoming city elections, The Maroon is publishing a series of explainers on the offices and issues Chicagoans will be voting on.

In the 20th Ward, nine candidates are vying for the seat of aldermen. In the Fifth Ward, two fresh-faced candidates are challenging a long-time alderman.

In the Fourth Ward, a popular incumbent who was appointed is now facing her first general election.

The city’s 50 aldermen make up City Council, the legislative body of Chicago’s city government. The aldermen who are elected in the Fourth, Fifth, and 20th wards will craft legislation affecting residents and local businesses in Hyde Park and Woodlawn, and will have the final say in how money flows through their districts, shaping major development projects around campus.

The Maroon looks into the

functions of the position and explains some of the most widely discussed issues.

Functions of the Aldermen The powers and duties of the aldermen include: Legislating: Aldermen propose and vote on legislation concerning both the whole city and certain wards. They also vote on the annual budget which is submitted by the mayor.

Improving infrastructure: Aldermen are given $1 million every year to spend on their ward’s infrastructure needs. Some aldermen have their constituents vote on what improvements they would like, while others decide on their own. For additional spending, aldermen must request money from City Council.

Sitting on committees: Aldermen are assigned by City Council (and most recently have been appointed by the mayor) to 17 committees broken down by policy. Legislation must first be approved by the committee

overseeing the policy area the legislation falls under before getting voted on by the whole City Council.

Using aldermanic privilege: Aldermen have the final say in any developments and zoning changes that occur in their wards.

The privilege is considered to be a check on development firms that have large amounts of sway over City Hall and City Council, but have at times facilitated corruption by aldermen.

Platforms: For the People or For Themselves?

The candidates in the aldermanic races have said a lot about how they will make City Council more effective and their wards better places. But with corruption, tax-increment financing reform, and a Community Benefits Agreement ordinance for the Obama Center on the table, there is a lot to be considered and understood about what exactly they are saying and promising to their future constituents.

Aldermanic Privilege The scandals involving 14th Ward Alderman Ed Burke and 25th Ward Alderman Danny Solis are only the most recent examples of a long history of corruption in City Hall. In the 20th Ward, three out of the last four aldermen have gone to prison, including the incumbent Willie Cochran.

The question of how aldermen are so easily corrupted is something that Chicagoans have been asking for decades. Some policy researchers consider aldermanic privilege to be a reason for this.

Aldermanic privilege is unwritten—the power comes from a precedent of allowing alderman to have final say over what happens in their ward. Developers often offer the opportunity to build projects in the ward for campaign contributions, resulting in a game of quid pro quo that many aldermen have participated in (and gotten caught for) over the years. This control

over development can also result in preventing the creation of necessary affordable housing units and perpetuating segregation in the city.

Many candidates have been calling for an end to aldermanic privilege. However, individuals like 32nd Ward Alderman Scott Waguespack are skeptical that the aldermen will vote on the issue once they are newly elected.

“I doubt we’ll see any votes on it. Once they see how high-handed [the city government] is, they will change their minds pretty quick,” Waguespack told Bisnow Chicago.

The privilege can serve as a check on the amount of power that the mayor and other aldermen have over each alderman’s ward. Most recently, Third Ward Alderman Pat Dowell has opposed the opening of a CTA Red Line station in her ward, fearing the station will be too disruptive for her residents.

But in other cases, like Alderman Ed Burke extorting a business owner who asked for a renovation permit, the power is abused.

Current aldermen like Waguespack and experts believe that the solution is not to try and eliminate aldermanic privilege, but instead to curb their power.

Term limits, banning outside income that may cause a conflict of interest, requiring disclosure of any conflicts, participatory budgeting that increases the amount of say other aldermen have in developments, and requiring strict compliance with the Freedom of Information Act are some of the ways through which this can be accomplished.

Of the candidates in the Fourth, Fifth and 20th Wards, Leslie Hairston of the Fifth and Kevin Bailey of the 20th are viewed with the most skepticism in respect to their political integrity.

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Aldermanic Responsibilities and Powers CONTINUED FROM PG. 3

Bailey’s family has come under fire by election judges for allegedly telling certain judges that they would not be appointed unless they became petition circulators for Bailey’s campaign. 65 percent of the current election judges in the 20th Ward were appointed by either Bailey or his mother, Maria Bailey.

Opponents of Leslie Hairston say that she has neglected the Fifth Ward in favor of pursuing the Obama Presidential Center and South Shore golf course despite constituent concerns. Opponents have also noted her 100 percent record of voting with the mayor, calling her independence as an alderman into question.

Tax-Increment Financing (TIF) Candidates have frequently talked about reforming tax-increment financing districts, but what TIF districts actually are often goes unsaid.

TIF districts are intended to spark economic development in blighted areas. The tax districts are required to be in areas deemed “blighted” by a consulting firm. Within the district, the city sets a base property tax based on current property values. The base property tax then stays the same for 23 years, and if property values increase due to economic development, then the additional revenues generated above the revenues collected by the base property tax go toward building infrastructure within the district, ideally attracting developers and inciting economic activity that feeds into itself.

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What Does Chicago’s Mayor Do?

BY PRANATHI POSA News Reporter

This is the largest mayoral election in Chicago’s recent memory, with 14 candidates vying to stand out from the pack.

The Maroon looks into the functions of the position and how some of the candidates’ widely discussed proposals match up.

Functions of the Mayor The powers and duties of mayor of Chicago include: • Submitting proposals, recommendations, ordinances, and the annual budget to City Council, for more than 50 percent support from City Council. The mayor is not a voting member of City Council.

• Enforcing city ordinances by appointing officials (below) • Appointing department commissioners or directors and members of city boards and commissions, such as the seven members of Chicago’s school board and the superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. The mayor can appoint officials to over 150 boards and commissions within the city.

• Appointing an alderman to a vacant seat.

• Serving as the presiding officer of City Council during meetings, meaning that they decide all questions of order.

• Exercising veto power on ordinances passed by City Council.

Chicago operates under a strong mayor-council system, meaning that more power is concentrated in the hands of the mayor rather than in the City Council.

The new mayor will seek to redress unpopular decisions made by outgoing Mayor Rahm Emanuel—who announced in

Mayor Rahm Emanuel speaks at a press conference last fall at UChicago Medicine. euirim choi September that he will not seek re-election. Among these acts include the 2013 closure of 50 public schools, his handling of the Laquan McDonald shooting, and the closure of half the city’s mental health facilities in 2012.

The Candidates’ Ideas: Innovative or Ineffectual?

Elected School Board In the wake of unpopular education policy enacted under Emanuel’s administration, notably the wave of closures in 2013, Chicago citizens began to call for an elected school board, and in 2015, Chicagoans overwhelmingly voted “yes” on a non-binding referendum. However, efforts to make an elected school board a reality have been continually thwarted on state and local levels.

Six candidates (Bill Daley, Gery Chico, John Kozlar, Susana Mendoza, Paul Vallas, and Garry McCarthy) support the idea of a hybrid school board, with some members appointed by the mayor and the rest elected. Both Mendoza and Chico view hybrid school boards as a way of keeping the mayor accountable for educational decisions.

Those who support a fully elected board believe it will make

the board members more accountable to city residents, rather than being swayed by the interests of the mayor. Amara Enyia, Bob Fioretti, LaShawn Ford, Jerry Joyce, Lori Lightfoot, Toni Preckwinkle, Neal Sales-Griffin, and Willie Wilson support a fully elected board.

Free City College Candidate Daley has made waves with a radical K-14 proposal, wherein City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) would merge with Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and offer free tuition for all students who graduate from a CPS high school. Though the proposal is largely considered impossible, other candidates such as Preckwinkle, Lightfoot, Enyia, Wilson, and Ford are interested in making CCC tuition-free.

Daley’s idea stems from the need for a college education to enter today’s workforce and the fact that 70 percent of CPS graduates are not college-ready. He hopes that the merger would allow more students to afford college. But doing so would require changing laws on the state and local level and would give CPS even more responsibilities to handle.

The city has already implemented the property tax–fund-

ed Star Scholarship program, which guarantees free tuition to CPS graduates with a 3.0 GPA or higher. The system has proved to be enormously effective and is the only program of its kind in the state.

However, making college free for more than 25,000 high school seniors will require additional funding. No candidate has outlined a plan for such an endeavor outside of state and federal grants.

Police Reform Chicagoans’ trust in the Chicago Police Department (CPD) has always been rocky, but the relationship has become especially strained following the shooting of Laquan McDonald by officer Jason Van Dyke. Mayoral hopefuls have proposed several plans to begin the slow process of rebuilding that trust and the integrity of the police.

One plan will have to involve the Chicago police consent decree, which is a court order that will bring about a broad overhaul to the CPD’s policies and practices. The decree mandates, among many things, that officers document each time they draw their weapons, even if they don’t shoot.

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What Does Chicago’s Mayor Do? CONTINUED FROM PG. 4

Former Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan authored the decree, which was approved last week, after the McDonald and Van Dyke case revealed the lack of sufficient training and accountability within CPD. The federal judge who approved the decree will oversee its implementation, but the next mayor’s cooperation will determine its ultimate effectiveness, especially with regard to determining civilian oversight.

Emanuel was initially skeptical of the decree, but has recently expressed his support. Mayoral candidates vary greatly in their support of the decree.

Kozlar, Fioretti, and McCarthy are opposed to the decree either in part or in full. McCarthy, who was fired from his position as police superintendent in the aftermath of the 2015 release of the McDonald video, believes that the decree scapegoats police and is solely a political move. McCarthy believes that enforcement of the decree could undermine public safety and underestimates the challenges faced by police.

On the other hand, candidates such as Lightfoot are enthusiastic proponents of the decree. In a response to the Chicago Sun-Times, Lightfoot wrote, “It is the only tool currently available to make the systemic reforms necessary.”

Three candidates have also proposed the creation of mayoral offices surrounding police reform and public safety. The offices are named differently but seem to tackle similar issues.

Preckwinkle suggested the creation of an Office of Criminal Justice focusing on gun violence, juvenile justice, and neighborhood stabilization.

Chico has proposed an Office of Violence Prevention and Reduction, which would work to reduce gang violence and implement the consent decree with 15 agencies around the city alongside non-

profit and private sector groups.

Lightfoot has spoken at length about an Office of Public Safety, which would create a “network of community-based public and private mental health and wellness assets.”

Mental Health In 2012, City Council voted in favor of a budget austerity measure proposed by Emanuel to close half of the city’s mental health facilities. All of the mayoral candidates wish to reopen mental health clinics, but propose different approaches to funding them.

Lightfoot has said that she would task her proposed Office of Public Safety with leading a committee to rebuild community-based public and private mental health facilities. McCarthy has said that he would put some of the money behind the new $95 million police academy towards reopening mental health centers as part of a long-term crime reduction and public health plan.

Preckwinkle, Lightfoot, Enyia, Wilson, and Ford have all promised to invest $25 million in mental health services.

But with only $1.4 million allotted to mental health services in the 2019 budget, a $25 million investment seems like a large leap that is dependent on the mayor’s ability to pull money from other projects.

Raising the Minimum Wage to $15/hour The state’s minimum wage is currently set at $8.25/hour, while Chicago’s currently stands at $12/hour. Though the city’s minimum will increase to $13 on July 1, some mayoral candidates say they would go a step further and raise it to $15.

Chicago can raise its minimum wage without state approval, but, with Governor J.B. Pritzker planning to push for a higher state minimum wage, critics are unsure if a $15 proposal is

as beneficial as it seems. Some argue that raising the minimum wage in Chicago before the state raises wages will leave the city at a competitive disadvantage to suburbs due to higher labor costs.

Others are concerned that small business owners could be hurt due to those higher costs.

Candidates like Daley and McCarthy are especially concerned about a raise’s effect on small business owners. Daley wants to first see the effects of the raise to $13 before proposing an additional increase.

Preckwinkle views waiting on the state to raise wages first as a needless delay, given that Chicago is “the economic engine for the state.” Preckwinkle argues that raising wages will make it significantly easier for individuals to make ends meet.

Preckwinkle’s stance has earned her the backing of labor unions like Service Employees International Union (SEIU), which represents workers in health care, public, and property services. A supporter of Preckwinkle, SEIU Healthcare Illinois President Greg Kelley released a statement saying that he believes that the increase in wages will result in more spending in city businesses, ultimately offsetting the pressure that the hike will initially cause.

One unexpected effect of minimum wage increases has been the increase in the teenage workforce, as teenage employees are excluded from the minimum wage increase in Chicago. Under state law, teens under 18 can be paid 50 cents below the state minimum wage, meaning that employers need only pay teenagers $7.75 per hour. As the cost of employing adults increases, some owners are finding a teenage workforce appealing for this reason.

2019 Mayoral Voting Guide

Enyia hugs an organizer on her campaign during a rally on campus last November. adrian mandeville

BY ELAINE CHEN AND DIMITRIY LEKSANOV News Reporter

After incumbent mayor Rahm Emanuel announced in September that he will not be running for a third term, candidates jumped into the race one after another. The number of candidates at one point totaled 17, and now, the number has been confirmed to be 14. Candidates will need over 50 percent of the vote to win, and with so many candidates in the race, there will likely be a run-off election between the top two candidates from the first round.

Emanuel was the first to break that the the Daley political dynasty—the 43-year-long era of mayoral rule by Richard J. Daley followed by his son, Richard M. Daley. The diverse group of candidates in this year’s race, from long-time politicians and the son of Richard M. Daley to first-time hopefuls in their twenties and thirties, has left open the question of whether or not Chicago will fall back into the hands of

those associated with the traditional “political machine.”

Name: Jerry Joyce Occupation: attorney and small business owner Jerry Joyce is a practicing lawyer who lives in Beverly on the southwest side of Chicago.

While this is Joyce’s first bid for mayor, his father Jeremiah Joyce—who was former 19th Ward alderman and a former state senator—was heavily involved with shaping former mayor Richard M. Daley’s political strategies. Among Joyce’s top proposals are supporting the construction of the south suburban Chicago airport, a long-discussed plan that has not seen support from governor J.B. Pritzker, and supporting the legalization of sports betting, which Pritzker has discussed.

Name: Paul Vallas Occupation: former CEO of Chicago Public Schools CONTINUED ON PG. 6

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14 Candidates Running in Historic Chicago Mayoral Race partner at Swiss hedge fund Argentiere Capital, Daley supports a two-term limit for mayor, despite his familial legacy, and has said he would ban Daley family members from lobbying or doing business with the city.

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Roseland, Chicago native Paul Vallas served as the city’s budget director from 1990 to 1993. Unlike treasurer, the budget director is not elected, but rather appointed by the mayor.

In 1995, he became the Chief Executive Officer of the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), and in 2002, he became the superintendent of Philadelphia’s school district. While with CPS, Vallas pushed for improved eye care for students, and helped to create a crisis intervention fund. Vallas has also been involved in prison education reform. Now, Vallas intends to replace the “colleges-to-careers” job training program of Chicago’s City Colleges with a more universal core curriculum. Besides schools, Vallas also emphasizes safety, and has said that he plans to hire more than 400 retired Chicago Police Department officers to return and work certain cases to strengthen the department.

Name: Willie Wilson Occupation: entrepreneur Louisiana native Willie Wilson he has done widespread entrepreneurial work throughout Chicago. In 1979, Wilson became one of the first Black owners of a McDonald’s restaurant, and has since gone on to own several chain stores throughout the city. In 1997, he founded Omar Medical Supplies, Inc., which provides medical and industrial products worldwide. Later, Wilson entered politics with his first mayoral run in 2015. After placing third with just over 10 percent of the vote, Wilson ran for president of the United States in 2016, and placed third in four Democratic primaries, including Illinois. Wilson has said he supports marijuana legalization and a citizen-owned local casino to generate revenues.

Name: Garry McCarthy Occupation: CEO of a security consulting firm, former superintendent of the Chicago Police Department

Paul Vallas participates in a question and answer session at the IOP. courtesy of institute of politics

Name: Toni Preckwinkle Occupation: Cook County Board president In late December polls, Toni Preckwinkle (A.B. ’69, M.A.T. ’77) was considered a frontrunner in the race alongside Susana Mendoza. A native Midwesterner from St. Paul, Minnesota, Preckwinkle attended both undergraduate and graduate school at UChicago. After graduation, she spent around a decade as a high school history teacher. She entered politics when she was elected 4th Ward alderman in 1991, and held that office for 19 years, and later became president of the Cook County Board.

As a former teacher, Preckwinkle said she prioritizes improving Chicago’s public education system, and plans to push for an elected school board. Preckwinkle also supports raising the minimum wage to $15/hour through incremental, 50-cent increases.

Name: Bill Daley Occupation: Managing partner at Swiss hedge fund Argentiere

Capital Bill Daley, the son of Richard M. Daley (the Daley who directly preceded Emanuel) has raised the most campaign funds out of all the candidates and was most recently endorsed by U.S. Representative Bobby Rush (D-IL).

Now stepping down as managing

After Emanuel fired Garry McCarthy from the Chicago Police Department in 2015 in the wake of revelations surrounding the Laquan McDonald shooting, McCarthy was quick to announce his candidacy, being one of the several candidates to declare a bid before Emanuel announced that he won’t seek re-election. McCarthy opposes the $95 million police academy that Emanuel has proposed, and opposes the police consent decree that will overhaul practices of the Chicago police. The decree would in effect track Chicago police officers’ actions more

carefully.

Name: Gery Chico Occupation: Partner at own law firm Chico & Nunes Chico first ran for mayor in 2011, when Emanuel first ran, and lost to Emanuel in second place. He’s served in various roles in the public sector — from Chief of Staff to Richard M. Daley to most recently the chair of the Illinois State Board of Education. Chico said he supports a hybrid school board, where some members are elected and some are appointed by the mayor. Currently, Chicago school board members are all appointed by the mayor. Among his more drastic measures, he’s also proposed getting rid of the treasurer and clerk office—a proposal he’s been advocating for since 2011.

Name: Susana Mendoza Occupation: Illinois comptroller Susana Mendoza, who was long speculated to join the race, CONTINUED ON PG. 7

Susana Mendoza spoke to students at the IOP last week. courtesy of institute of politics

THE CHICAGO MAROON — FEBRUARY 13, 2019 CONTINUED FROM PG. 6

was one of the last candidates to join. She announced her candidacy in November, just several days after she was elected to serve another term as state comptroller, in which she essentially manages the state’s finances. Other candidates have said Mendoza represents Emanuel’s third term, recalling her ardent support for Emanuel while she was city clerk. Among some of her proposals include adding community services to under-utilized and under-enrolled schools and using TIF money— which is historically intended to revitalize blighted areas—to fund childcare for low-income families.

Name: Amara Enyia Occupation: Public policy consultant Amara Enyia was born in Baltimore and grew up in University Park, Illinois. Before entering politics, she worked as a freelance writer, public policy consultant, and community activist. Enyia ran for mayor in 2015, but withdrew before the actual election. In recent months, she’s made national headlines after being endorsed by Chance the Rapper and receiving nearly $200,000 in donations from Kanye West. Enyia has focused much of her campaigning on college students. In November, she came to campus to talk about her support for a CBA for the Obama Center. She’s also strongly supported the creation of a public bank for Chicago. Recently, Enyia has been under scrutiny for reportedly underreporting her income and not paying federal taxes.

Name: La Shawn K. Ford Occupation: state representative of the 8th district LaShawn K. Ford is the representative of the 8th district, which covers parts of Southwest Chicago. He was indicted on bank fraud charges in 2012, but

federal prosecutors dropped all felony charges; Ford said that the accusations were false. Through Ford is one of the few candidates who has held elected office, he has not seen much financial support to his campaign — he has among the lowest in campaign funds. Ford supports reopening the mental health clinics that closed in 2012 and has also proposed instituting a moratorium on TIF districts.

Name: Neal Sales-Griffin Occupation: CEO of CodeNow Neal Sales-Griffin is a Hyde Park native who attended Northwestern University, where he earned degrees in education and social policy. After graduation, Sales-Griffin became the CEO of CodeNow, a non-profit organization that teaches computer programming to low-income students. Sales-Griffin’s platform has evolved since The Maroon interviewed him in May, when he prioritized making the city budget more accessible online. His newer platform priorities include increasing the minimum wage to $15/hour and creating a city office dedicated to vocational training. Sales-Griffin is the first candidate in Chicago history who is on the ballot despite not having the necessary amount of signatures.

Name: Lori Lightfoot Occupation: former chair of the Police Accountability Task Force, president of the Chicago Police Board Lori Lightfoot (J.D. ’89) is a Chicago native and an alumna of UChicago’s Law School. If she is elected, she would become not only the first Black woman, but also the first lesbian woman, to be Chicago mayor. Prior to her political career, Lightfoot served as an assistant U.S. attorney. Emanuel appointed her in 2015 to chair Chicago Police Board and then several months later to the Police Accountability Task Force, created in wake

7 of the release of the Laquan McDonald video. Fittingly, two significant points of emphasis for Lightfoot’s campaign are police accountability and violence prevention. To address these issues, Lightfoot plans to establish a new Public Safety Oversight Board to oversee the Chicago Police Department (CPD), as well as a new Gun Violence Prevention Task Force to work with the CPD. Lightfoot also believes in political accountability, and, as such, she intends to push for two-term limits on the mayor.

Name: Bob Fioretti Occupation: lawyer Bob Fioretti first ran for mayor in 2015. He lost in fourth place and endorsed Emanuel in the run-off election. He has served as alderman and committeeman of the Second Ward. He said that were he elected, he would oppose any property tax increases and real estate transfer tax increases. He has also proposed imposing a 1 percent commuter tax on suburban residents working in the city.

Name: John Kozlar Occupation: former aldermanic candidate John Kozlar (A.B. ’11), the youngest mayoral candidate, grew up on Chicago’s South Side and spent his undergraduate years at UChicago before heading to John Marshall Law School.

In his last year in college, at 21 years old, he ran for 11th Ward alderman, but lost to incumbent James Balcer. Kozlar ran again four years later, losing in a runoff to Patrick Daley-Thompson.

Aside from politics, Kozlar has worked for insurance company Aon plc as part of the profession risk solutions team. Kozlar has said that that he will vote against property tax increases, and will push for a policy that requires 60 percent of police officers working a given district to live in said district.

Aldermen—Drivers of Chicago’s Legislature CONTINUED FROM PG. 4

Residents and candidates have questioned TIF districts though, noting that there are other geographical areas and policy areas in the city that could use the additional tax revenues— especially revenues from TIF districts that have seen rapid economic development, such as the West Loop. People have also questioned how TIF funds, totally $660 million in the city, are used within their designated district—whether they’re actually used for community development or for bankrolling beautification projects such as Navy Pier renovations.

Aldermen do not have control over direct spending of TIF dollars, but they can vote on legislation surrounding TIF districts and on spending proposals that are crafted using TIF funds.

Those running in the Fourth, Fifth, and 20th Wards have heavily advocated for for TIF reform.

Jeanette Taylor of the 20th Ward race told the Chicago Sun Times that she “would support a moratorium on the creation of new TIFs, work to allocate surplus funds to schools and end the use of TIF dollars for projects in the Loop and Gold Coast.”

All of the candidates endorse the redistribution of funds toward lower-income areas in need of further development, whether or not they vote on proposed reforms—which have been stalled for the last two years—will determine the future of TIF districts.

Community Benefits Agreement for the Obama Presidential Center The Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) ordinance for the forthcoming Obama Presidential Center is a hotly contested topic in the Fifth and 20th Wards. It will appear as a referendum on

the ballot.

The CBA ordinance would legally bind the Obama Foundation, the city, and the University of Chicago to a set of requirements regarding rent control and employment opportunities intended to prevent displacement of local residents. Opponents of the CBA ordinance have insisted that activists’ proposed measures could tamp down the economic development and employment opportunities the Obama Center could bring.

Barack Obama has voiced concerns that a CBA would only allow a select number of community groups to represent the entire South Side in matters regarding the OPC. The OPC would lie in Jackson Park in the Fifth Ward. Incumbent alderman Leslie Hairston is opposed to a CBA ordinance, whereas her opponents—Gabriel Piemonte and William Calloway—are both in favor.

Hairston has long said she is working on a community stabilization plan ahead of the OPC coming into the ward.

In the 20th Ward, all of the candidates have come around to supporting the CBA. Though the OPC lies in the adjacent Fifth Ward, the 20th Ward alderman would have stakes in agreements and potential legislation surrounding the OPC because their constituents would likely feel the impacts—whether beneficial or not—of increased economic activity brought by the OPC. The CBA ordinance referendum on the ballot is non-binding, meaning City Council does not have to pass the ordinance nor even vote on it if the referendum passes, but the next 20th Ward alderman could be influential in bringing the CBA ordinance to a vote in City Council.

THE CHICAGO MAROON — FEBURARY 13, 2019

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VIEWPOINTS

The Changing Concept of the “Machine”: A Deeper Look Into Chicago’s Machine Politics The term “machine” carries little meaning in terms of describing Chicago’s political candidates today.

BY SAM JOYCE On February 26, Chicagoans will go to the polls to elect a new mayor. While the election has primarily focused on issues like education and affordable housing, another debate has occupied a prime position in media coverage of the race: which candidate has the least odious ties to “the machine.” As far as I can tell, this is a political

phenomenon unique to Chicago—the top result for “the machine” in the daily newspapers of D.C., L.A., and San Francisco all turn up articles about our city. While political machines —political organizations that used patronage networks and city services to stay in power— used to be a ubiquitous feature of urban politics across the country, it seems that today, only Chicago has retained the

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term “machine” as shorthand for a particular kind of (usually corrupt) politician.

T he m ac h i ne pr op er reached its zenith during the reign of Mayor Richard J. Daley from 1955 to 1976. Daley controlled tens of thousands of lucrative city jobs, which he dolled out to reward supporters, punish opponents, and build the power of the Cook County Democratic Party. He also forged a long-lasting and mutually beneficial alliance with many of the city’s largest labor unions, further bolstering his political power.

A series of court orders known as the Shakman decrees effectively ended this patronage system by 1983, but “machine” continued and continues to be an apt description for a certain set of politicians.

From 1983 to 1986, Chicago was embroiled in a period of political strife known as the Council Wars, which pitted progressive Mayor Harold–Washington against a conservative majority on the City Council. The leaders of that majority climbed the ranks of the Democratic Party during Daley’s time in office.

Although the machine was in decline, most of the members of the anti-Harold Washington faction belonged to that tradition and rightfully earned the “machine” label.

Harold Washington died in office, and his appointed replacement lost re-election to Richard M. Daley, Richard J. Daley’s son. While baby Daley retained the loyalty of

jacques manjarrez

the political organization his father built, over the years he would come to assemble a new coalition heavily reliant on downtown financial interests and real estate developers. Unlike the fairly non-ideological machine of Richard J. Daley’s time, which was mostly just concerned with holding on to power, these new supporters demanded economic deregulation. Richard M. Daley obliged, privatizing everything from trash collection to parking meters in a fire sale of city services.

At the same time, however, many of Richard M. Daley’s supporters in government were the same people who had composed the original machine.

His floor leader on the City

Council, for example, was Alderman Patrick O’Connor, one of the 29 Aldermen who formed the coalition against Harold Washington in the 1980s. M. Daley’s coalition more closely resembled what in other cities is just called “the establishment,” but the degree of historical continuity allows the “machine” label to persist in Chicago today.

As a result of this winding history, the concept of the political “machine” carries several connotations today. It often refers to a candidate’s ability to wield political power—mayoral candidate Toni Preckwinkle, for example, is president of the County Board and chair of the Cook County DemocratCONTINUED ON PG. 9

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ic Party, so she’s considered a “machine” candidate almost by definition. But “machine” can also refer to a more conservative approach to city politics.

In this context, Preckwinkle’s record in government suggests she is not a machine boss, but rather a progressive insurgent who gained power by taking over institutions at the expense of a conservative ruling clique.

And, of course, “machine” can also refer to more nebulous interpersonal connections, rather than political power or a particular ideology. Mayoral candidate Jerry Joyce, for in-

stance, is an attorney, but his father was a longtime political operative for Richard M. Daley, and so Joyce, too, is considered a “machine” candidate despite never being elected or appointed to any city office.

These definitions can be exaggerated and exploited so that virtually every politician can be considered part of the machine. Progressive outsider Amara Enyia? Worked as a policy analyst for Richard M. Daley for a couple years, so she’s a machine candidate. Former CPD superintendent Garry McCarthy, who only moved to Chicago in 2011? Well, his wife’s aunt is

Alderman Marge Laurino, and her family has been in power in the 39th Ward for generations, so he’s a machine candidate too. Bill Daley? He’s a Daley.

These labels don’t even have to remain consistent. In June, for instance, Chuy García was the man who Politico claimed “broke the Chicago machine,” but by December the Tribune called him “boss of a new machine.”

The legacy of the old machine still casts a shadow over contemporary politics, and the “new machine” of developers and financial interests that elected Richard M. Daley

and Rahm Emanuel is still very much alive. But the days when “machine” described a specific and unique type of municipal politics died with the patronage system. “Machine” is still a common epithet in city politics, but it rarely delivers any useful information on its own.

While the term may have once referred to a distinct, useful concept, it has since been stretched beyond any recognition.

W hen politica l repor ters covering Chicago politics describe candidates as “machine,” they’re rarely delivering useful information to

their audience. The definition of machine has changed over time, broadening the use of the term to include virtually every politician in the city. The Cook County Democratic Party and its affiliated ward organizations aren’t what they used to be—no one’s digging up votes in graveyards anymore—and the “new machine” of the Daley-Rahm years is difficult to distinguish from the generic political establishment of any other major city. While “machine” persists as a quirk of Chicago’s history, it has outlived its usefulness in political coverage.

20th Ward Aldermanic Endorsement: Anthony Driver

BY MAROON EDITORIAL BOARD In an election season packed with crowded aldermanic contests, the 20th Ward race is one of Chicago’s most hotly contested. 15 candidates are running to replace the incumbent, Willie Cochran. Cochran faces corruption charges and seems set to be the ward’s third alderman in 30 years to go to prison. The 20th Ward needs a fresh face, someone without corrupting machine ties, someone who is ready to help the neighborhood grow.

That’s why the Maroon Editorial Board endorses Anthony Driver in the race for 20th Ward alderman. We believe his policy experience, dedication to the ward, and personal drive make him the right candidate to reform the 20th Ward.

Driver sat down with us last week to discuss his platform and policy goals. We were impressed by his measured yet passionate approach to many of the ward’s pressing issues. He was especially adept at discuss-

ing the relationship between the University and the ward community. Although the University is one of the 20th Ward’s top employers, it has also driven displacement and contributed to racial disparities.

Driver acknowledges that the University provides essential services to the community, including the trauma center and research on crime, but he stresses that more oversight is needed. Driver believes the community should have a say in how major projects like the Obama Presidential Center are developed, built, and run. He plans to pursue a legally binding city ordinance requiring the Obama Foundation and the University to bargain with community groups.

Accountable policing is also at the forefront of Driver’s campaign. He supports efforts to create a citywide civilian policing accountability council.

Driver wants a similar system for the UChicago Police Department (UCPD) as well: a committee of residents, students, and faculty who would act as a check

on the police force. Additionally, Driver believes, as do we, that the UCPD should be subject to the same public reporting requirements as the Chicago Police Department (CPD).

Driver entered politics after two of his close friends were shot and killed in separate incidents; gun violence is personal to him, and ending it is one of his top priorities. His plans for a permanent gun turn-in program and for community-based anti-violence programs are ambitious but realistic. We also agree with his view that Chicago cannot simply legislate its way out of the gun violence problem.

Driver’s commitment to handson work within the community, including outreach to gang members, is admirable.

We also were struck by Driver’s commitment to represent the ward in its entirety, rather than focusing solely on Woodlawn. Driver, who grew up in Back of the Yards, says that the sections of the ward in Back of the Yards, Englewood, and Washington Park have been overlooked for years. We agree.

Although Driver is the race’s youngest candidate, he is also one of its most politically experienced. In addition to his experience in grassroots activism, he has interned at City Hall, conducted education policy re-

search, and worked as a policy consultant at the national level.

Driver is experienced, passionate, and realistic about the challenges he will face in office.

We believe he will excel as alderman.

courtesy of anthony driver

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Fifth Ward Aldermanic Endorsement: Gabriel Piemonte

BY MAROON EDITORIAL BOARD The Maroon Editorial Board endorses Gabriel Piemonte for Fifth Ward alderman over incumbent Leslie Hairston, who has served as alderman for two decades. We believe Piemonte has the passion, expertise, and community roots to make change in this long-stagnant office.

Piemonte is a former reporter and editor of the Hyde Park Herald. Since 2015, he has devoted himself to the community full-time, pursuing a series of activism and education projects. Piemonte is the cofounder of the Committee to Save Jackson Park, an activist group which sued the Chicago Park District to receive more information about Obama Presidential Center plans. He has actively supported

and campaigned for a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA), which Hairston does not support. We believe a CBA is imperative for representing the community’s needs during major periods of development. Piemonte’s involvement in this effort speaks to his tenacious, journalistic spirit and his willingness to take on major stakeholders on behalf of his community.

Piemonte has also been actively involved in community efforts to preserve a historic church building, develop gardening collectives, teach videography to high schoolers, and start a credit union.

The Fifth Ward needs a new leader who is willing to truly listen to his constituents. Piemonte has been a rock in the community for decades, and we are excited to see what he can do as alderman.

T H U R S DAY F E B R UA RY 2 1 | 7 : 3 0 P M | FREE in a concert featuring this single work. Soloists are Micah Gleason, alto, and Matthew Dean, tenor, with guest bassi profondi Mark Dietrich and Glenn Miller. James Kallembach conducts.

5850 S. Woodlawn Ave., Chicago, IL 60637

|

rockefeller.uchicago.edu

Con-fidence Artist Those who feign confidence are rewarded, while the modest unfairly fall behind.

NATALIE DENBY

When people complain about internships, they usually have an issue with the hunt to secure one. That’s understandable; the application process can feel like screaming into a judgmental, low-paying void that’s got some snide things to say about your cover letters. We don’t talk as often about what can go wrong once you’ve found one. That’s why I was surprised when a close and capable friend at a top-ranked college said she was nervous about an upcoming finance internship. She wasn’t worried about the work, exactly; she was still rattled from her last internship, because of a few of the other interns.

Her story was a familiar one. She showed up to an internship with classmates she knew well and was immediately thrown off by the sight of her overconfident guy friends in suits, acting as if their jackets and ties had somehow turned them into gangly titans of industry. Stranger than her friends’ transformation was the fact that her supervisors appeared to take their brash overconfidence as a proxy for competence. My friend, who is no P. T. Barnum–esque self-promoter, worried that her comparative modesty had been mistaken for comparative incompetence.

She felt she’d started on an uneven playing field, and that she would need to mimic the ostentatiousness she’d seen in her friends.

Still, she wondered if that behavior might not be as well received, coming from her.

Her concerns resonated with me.

Finding internships or jobs can require mastering the fine art of spin (this is for everyone who declared themselves “highly proficient” in R after their first problem set in Stat 234 or Metrics). But succeeding at them can, too—especially when you’re thrown into competition with people who appear freakishly and unjustifiably sure of themselves. Listening to my friend’s story, I was immediately reminded of a past coworker who offered repeatedly over the course of our internship to “show me the ropes,” with all the wisdom he’d acquired

by starting a day earlier. We all know those people. Ultimately, this isn’t solely about internships: Who hasn’t found themselves in an unfamiliar environment, and discovered a little too late that presenting a balanced and realistic appraisal of their skills might be a liability?

It doesn’t help that we reward people for burning their last scraps of modesty.

There are countless examples of the brash, self-declared boy genius captivating the public eye. People vested with mind-boggling confidence in their own abilities aren’t necessarily ridiculed, even when ridiculous—they’re often hailed as tech saviors (Elon Musk), glamorized on screen (Iron Man), or elected as world leaders (Trump). Sometimes, our admiration is justified: Tesla can build an innovative car; Nancy Pelosi triumphantly emerging from negotiations in a red coat was such a meme-worthy moment in large part because she’s winning the border wall fight.

But sometimes, the facade crumbles spectacularly. Think of Elizabeth Holmes’s fall from grace.

Anyone can look at that archetype and giggle. Unchecked arrogance can only get most people so far. And it’s also tempting to look at relative modesty and come to entirely wrong conclusions, like when I told my friend that if she thought someone else’s excessive confidence was holding her back, maybe she should be excessively confident too (this, obviously, is not the stuff of great advice). That sort of confidence-shaming, directed at women, is common, and the “confidence gap” between men and women in a variety of professional settings is increasingly well documented. But telling women to be more confident is misguided. Most of us understand that the reason many women don’t act as cocky has little to do with how they perceive their own abilities, and a lot to do with how confident women are treated: poorly. Studies have found that CONTINUED ON PG. 11

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self-confidence doesn’t benefit women as it does men, and that self-confident women are often regarded as less “likeable.”

So we oscillate between blaming unduly confident people for setting others back, and chiding others for not being bold enough. Neither of these approaches is particularly helpful, and both miss the fundamental problem: We have a bizarre collective fantasy that constantly playing up your skills is enough to will them into existence, and that having skills is enough to forgive constantly playing them up. This problem might only get worse in a world

shaped by reality TV, talking heads, and “personal branding,” each of which appeals to our assumption that someone who acts like he knows what he’s doing probably does know what he’s doing. This assumption distorts the way we evaluate skill, and sets back competent people including in settings that most students have to navigate. It’s high time we stopped accepting on faith that self-confidence is a reliable reflection of ability. Trust me. I definitely know what I’m talking about.

Natalie Denby is a fourth-year in the College. danli zeng

From a Former Photo Editor, Unpublish the Photo He is looking at me. And so, inescapably, I am looking at him.

This is the power that images hold over us. Words can be countered with words, written over with words, but images cannot be unseen. That is why those of us who produce, control, and disseminate images have an uncommon degree of responsibility. We do not have the right to feign ignorance.

Today, following the campus-wide lock-down, The Maroon published an article which displayed in the header photo a young Black man—a boy, really—his jeans slipping, handcuffed and held by a police officer, with Saieh Hall looming in the background. His expression is distraught.

Journalism organizations are often forced to weigh competing values and make difficult decisions. We are sometimes forced to choose between protecting an individual’s privacy and protecting a community’s right to know.

This is not one of those cases.

The Society of Professional Journalists has a widely respected set of ethical guidelines for journalists. Several of these guidelines are relevant to this situation.

Here are three: – Show compassion for those who may be affected by news coverage. Use heightened sensitivity when dealing with juve-

niles, victims of sex crimes, and sources or subjects who are inexperienced or unable to give consent.

– Avoid pandering to lurid curiosity, even if others do.

– Balance a suspect’s right to a fair trial with the public’s right to know.

Consider the implications of identifying criminal suspects before they face legal charges.

I will address the last of these first.

The costs of identifying a suspect publicly before their trial are obvious: As a nation, we promise our citizens the right to a fair trial. To reveal their face before they have had that trial condemns them unjustly in the public eye. For a young person, it has the potential to compromise their whole future. In 1996, Richard Jewell was identified by a local news outlet as a “suspect” in the bombing attack on Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park. By the time his innocence was proven, his life was effectively ruined.

In the case of major tragedies or when a suspect is not yet apprehended, journalists have to wrestle with whether the public’s right to know outweighs this concern. In our situation today, did the community have a compelling right to know? Did we, as a newspaper, have a compelling obligation to share this photo with the UChicago community? I do not

think so.

The Chicago Maroon, first and foremost, is a campus newspaper. Our audience is the UChicago community, and we seek out stories guided by that understanding. Unlike our colleagues at the South Side Weekly, we do not have a commitment to presenting stories newsworthy to the Hyde Park community as a whole—or to the South Side—or to Chicago—or to the world. Today our campus experienced a brief lockdown that ended as suddenly as it began. For us, as a college newspaper, the news lay in the fact that the lockdown was over, and classes could return to their normal schedule.

That the police caught the suspects they were after is good to know—but the identities of these suspects, and more importantly, their faces, are not relevant to our campus. There was no compelling need to know.

So much for our obligations. What about our ethics? By publishing this photo we failed to show compassion to a vulnerable person—likely a minor, arrested in a community with a long and storied history of racialized policing. Further, this photo feeds into a narrative that treats young Black men as de facto criminals.

That is not a narrative our newspaper should be responsible for perpetuating.

To publish such a photo is to see a

story, not a person. And in that, we failed another, less noble weighing of interests: that of an individual’s privacy and dignity, against a news organization’s sensationalist desire for attentions and clicks—to get the scoop, to land the story, to feel important.

In the case study of the Atlanta bombing reporting, the author points out that local newspapers “feel enormous internal pressure to ‘own’ the story—to be first with every important new development.

To be beaten by an outside news organization in your own backyard is the ultimate competitive humiliation.” To consider presenting the news as a competition or game, though, is to forsake the fundamental purpose of having a not-for-profit, independent student newspaper—to ethically serve the UChicago community’s needs, not to get clicks. When we forget those values, we might as well stop printing.

Our audience has rightly responded with outrage, as have leaders from the current photo section (who were not consulted prior to publication). Before any more damage can be done, the photo should be censored or taken down.

Zoe Kaiser is a fourth-year in the College and a former head photo editor for The Maroon.

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ARTS

Also On View: David Maljković Tackles Continuity and Form

BY ZEFF WORLEY Arts Reporter

“The topic of the exhibition is the exhibition itself,” David Maljković said in an artist talk delivered during the opening of his latest collection at the Renaissance Society.

The Croatian artist’s Also on View, curated by Karsten Lund, brings together an interconnected and referential body of works ranging from video to sculpture. A droning frequency bulges and recedes in pitch, temporarily filling the plastered white room of the Renaissance Society; selectively pixelated photographs hover briefly on a wall, constantly being replaced one after the other with each click of the projector; long-limbed figures dance and writhe within silent animations or are laser-etched onto canvas and inkjet prints.

Five sculptures occupy much of the exhibit, all presented on the floor, inviting the viewer to examine the delicate etchings or physical textures in careful detail. A wall divides the rest of the exhibit—on its left, fabric prints draped across each other rest above a black hole in the wall where a microphone has been placed; it hums into a small Roland Cube amplifier beneath it. A large inkjet print distorted by oil paint takes up much of the right side of the wall, where cartoon figures are

blurred by long, smooth brushstrokes of gray, their empty speech bubbles smeared with color.

But the viewer’s eye is most drawn to “Frustrated Painter or Something About Painting,” a large multimedia recreation of one of the artist’s earlier photographic works. Completed on site, “Frustrated Painter” depicts a hanging leather jacket with one arm extending into a white cone ending with colored quadrangles. In keeping with Maljković’s reexamination of the past, the photograph has been transformed into a large, clinging wallpaper topped with swirls of pigment. A dark, messy smear draws the viewer’s gaze to the top of the work, perhaps suggesting the viewer to imagine a figure sporting the leather jacket. Behind the wall, animations and etchings on oil-painted canvas or prints are open to an intimate viewing. Here is the greatest congregation of Maljković’s Alterity Line works, indebted to the artist’s earlier photographs. Vectorized and etched by laser cutter, simplified figures stand upon oil paint backgrounds or, elsewhere in the exhibit, are projected as animations.

In his presentation, Maljković displayed many of the works reinterpreted in Also on View from his time at the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb and the Rijksakademie in Amsterdam. A significant portion of the artist’s dis-

David Maljković, problems with predecessor, 2013-14. courtesy of the artist and metro pictures, new york.

cussion was dedicated to his fascination with futuristic concept cars and the role they have played in his sculpture work—one of these, a fiberglass mold of a Peugeot car, is on display. He talked about making use of The Renaissance Society’s small space. “For

the first time, I put the biggest number of sculptures together…that had never come together in this amount,” he said.

Also on View is on exhibition at the Renaissance Society until April 7.

Sex Education Redefines a Genre

BY LUCAS DU Arts Reporter

Coming-of-age television shows set amid high school drama and angst are a dime a dozen. From Freaks and Geeks at the turn of the millennium—a show ahead of its time in its honest and insightful conception of young adulthood—to last year’s The End of the F***ing World, which unfolds like a surreal nightmare over the course of

its eight episodes, the genre can feel exhausted. But Netflix’s Sex Education— which bills itself as a twist on the raunchy teen comedies of yore—manages to find its own niche by thoughtfully teasing apart the thing on every high schooler’s mind: sex.

The show features a motley cast, each with their own set of struggles, anxieties, and sense of place in the world. Otis (Asa Butterfield), the central character, is a socially awkward,

insecure 16-year-old content with getting through life unnoticed. Jean (Gillian Anderson), his mother, is a divorced sex therapist with quite the progressive sense of parental boundaries. And Eric (Ncuti Gatwa), Otis’s best friend and the gay son of very religious African parents, is out, proud, and flamboyant. Through a convoluted series of events, Otis is roped into starting a sex clinic at his high school

by Maeve (Emma Mackey), a smart but

unpopular girl from a broken home.

From this unlikely and slightly fanciful beginning, we are introduced to a whole host of other fleshed-out characters, warts and all.

At first, Sex Education feels as if every worn-out trope of ’80s American high school films has somehow been transplanted across the pond to a preppy English secondary school. Amid gorgeous shots of the school grounds and CONTINUED ON PG. 13

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the surrounding countryside, we are introduced to a seemingly simplistic world of varsity jacket–wearing jocks and socially inept band geeks. Maeve initially appears to be the high school burnout incarnate, complete with bubblegum-pink hair, leather jacket, and permanent scowl. The school bully, Adam (Connor Swindells), physically intimidates Eric into giving up his lunch. Students with piercings and baggy pants constantly skate through the hallways. There is even a musical number later in the show.

But this explicit aping of American high school film tropes is done so insistently that it turns into an interesting

and important thematic framework. In so clearly setting up these stereotypical portrayals of high schoolers, the show is able to break them down and interrogate their superficiality. The varsity jacket–wearing jock deals with crippling anxiety. Maeve struggles with intimacy and has trouble navigating her isolation from the wealthier, preppier students. Even Otis, the son of a sex therapist, has an almost-clinical phobia of masturbation.

Most importantly, the show takes these stereotypical characters further, perhaps, than they have ever been.

Classic American high school films like The Breakfast Club have similarly reflected on the performative superfici-

ality of adolescent stereotypes, but Sex Education dives even deeper, tackling the issues of modern teenage sexuality with incredible tact and honesty.

Sex Education, like few other shows in recent memory, makes a point to show all these moments in vivid and uncomfortable clarity.

Beyond the superficial stereotypes and somewhat fantastical aesthetic, the show is chock-full of fulfilling storylines and artfully developed characters, brought to life by some excellent performances from the cast. Eric’s character arc is particularly meaningful, charting his struggle to accept and love himself in a world that is so often homophobic. And Maeve’s friend

Aimee (Aimee Lou Wood) is wide-eyed and endearing, which makes her one of the most charismatic characters in the show.

Full of heart and unexpected bits of wisdom, Sex Education is a touching and humorous addition to the comingof-age high school genre that forays into unprecedented territory. It’s refreshing to see sex scenes that don’t seem polished and air-brushed to the point of plasticity. It’s comforting and empowering to see the most intimate insecurities of the show’s characters revealed with such humor and warmth.

Perhaps most importantly, Sex Education seems to tell us it’s all going to be OK.

Mick Jenkins’ Poetics are a Concert Downer

BY ERIC GUZMAN Arts Reporter

There is no doubt that Mick Jenkins is an exceptionally talented lyricist and rapper, but when it comes to performing, he unfortunately lacks the charisma and magnetism needed to be a stimulating entertainer. Concluding the last leg of his Pieces of a Man tour at Thalia Hall on February 2, Jenkins asked his audience at the end of his set, “Y’all have a good time under the sound of my voice?” Although an odd turn of phrase, it accurately describes the tranquil means by which Jenkins performs his music. Jenkins’s raps are soothing, relaxing—comforting even—almost as if his voice were a large blanket enveloping the audience in one warm embrace. And yet, song after placid song, the audience was driven to a weary lull from which Jenkins struggled to regain their lost energy and enthusiasm.

Basing the title of his latest album Pieces of a Man on Gil Scott-Heron’s album of the same name, Jenkins seems to be taking musical inspiration not only from Scott-Heron himself, but also from blues, jazz, and poetry in general—and it shows.

Seeing Jenkins live is like being at a smoky jazz club or an open mic. The opener “Stress Fracture” is perhaps the most emblematic of his work, combining a jazzy instrumental with brooding raps about his insecurities

and inability to be truly vulnerable. Meanwhile, songs like “Reginald” and “Grace & Mercy” are full of punchy raps, and Jenkins took great care to deliver each line with the right vitality and spirit. The live instrumentation provided by Jenkins’s band was critical in adding extra weight to Jenkins’s already powerful lyricism. Every fierce drum beat and cymbal clash strongly accentuated Jenkins’s articulation, such as on “Ghost” and “Reginald.”

It is no wonder then that Jenkins is a poet himself, with his raps acting like introspective meditations rather than upbeat club hits. Following his debut album The Healing Component, which explored the various ways in which people understand and define love, in Pieces of a Man, Jenkins turned his analytical lens onto himself. The album is a self-reflection whereby Jenkins tries to discover for himself what makes him Mick Jenkins, deconstructing his identity via his culture, career, and upbringing. On stage, Jenkins explained that, in any given interaction with a stranger, one only sees a specific piece of that person based on a first impression. These impressions are typically terrible representations of a whole personality and, as such, Jenkins rallied the audience to keep an open mind with new people.

Keeping this in mind, I’d like to believe that behind the monotonous performance I

Mick Jenkins played at Thalia Hall. adrian mandeville saw last week lies a performer of enormous talent. Jenkins is definitely a creative wonder, as evidenced by his poetic, resonant lyrics. In fact, the more I listen to the album, the more I wish I had listened to it at an open mic where there would have been a more fitting atmosphere and a more receptive audience. Numerous times throughout the night, Jenkins approached his DJ trying

to find a song that would turn up the crowd, to regenerate that same level of excitement as when he had first walked on stage. Alas, Jenkins’s raps failed to rouse or inspire as he meant for them to do, with his poetic musings being completely lost on his somnolent audience. Pieces of a Man is a terrific listen, but you might want to find it on Spotify rather than listen in person.

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SPORTS Wrestling Named UAA Champions for 17th Time in Program History

BY JOSH PARKS Sports Reporter

In a dominant display, the No. 24 UChicago wrestling team left no doubt as to their prowess on Saturday, cruising past NYU and Case Western Reserve University en route to the 17th UAA championship in program history. Winning 17 of 20 matches on the weekend, the Maroons landed seven wrestlers on the AllUAA squad and defended their UAA title in convincing fashion.

Carrying momentum from a 39–18 tune-up against Augustana on February 1, the Maroons picked up right where they left off. In the opener against NYU, Chicago captured nine of 10 matches in a long morning for the Violets, taking a commanding 22–0 lead and never looking back. Third-year Nick Carola (197 pounds) delivered the lone pin of the morning, while fellow third-year Kahlan Lee-Lermer, second-year Ben Sarasin, and fourth-year Louis DeMarco all won by major decision.

After narrowly advancing

by NYU, the Spartans of Case

Western Reserve earned the right to square off against the visiting Maroons for the UAA crown. The afternoon brought more of the same, with Chicago dismantling the Spartans by a score of 34–6, successfully defending their place at the top of the conference. Winning eight of 10 matches, the Maroons were led by pins from third-years Carola and Kyle Peisker, while second-years Sarasin and Jason Crary each delivered technical fall wins.

DeMarco, Lee-Lermer, Sarasin, Peisker, Carola, third-year Steve Bonsall, and fourth-year Patrick Mulkerin all received 2019 All-UAA honors for their performances.

Asked about the meaning of back-to-back conference titles, Mulkerin attributed the success to his fellow upperclassmen. “I think the difference these last two years has been having experienced upperclassmen,” he said.

“We’ve had to rely on freshmen and sophomores in the past, but this year we’ve had a lot of senior leadership in the room to guide our talented underclassmen. I think we’ll have a lot more titles

The UChicago wrestling team celebrates its championship victory. courtesy of uchicago athletics in the future with the core team mentality that we’ve really solidified this year, and a lot of that comes just from having big group of seniors for the first time.”

Looking ahead to the NCAA tournament, he added, “For the postseason, it really will come down to peaking when it counts.

We’ve all been wrestling well lately, and I think that’s a good

indicator going forward. Lots of guys will have an opportunity to make it to nationals this year— it’ll all come down to putting everything we’ve worked on into practice on the mat.”

While they are sure to celebrate the weekend’s hardware, the Maroons will enjoy nearly two weeks of recovery ahead of the postseason. In a season that

has been dotted with injuries, the rest period will allow the team to return to full strength before looking to add to the trophy case. While still awaiting their location assignment, Chicago will kick off their NCAA Regional at 9 a.m. on Friday, February 22.

Tennis Crushes Denison to Remain Undefeated This Season

BY MATTHEW LEE Sports Reporter

On Saturday, both the men’s and women’s tennis teams continued their strong seasons with a pair of crushing 8–1 victories over the Denison Big Red. The men’s team found success across the board, though their victory was anchored by an undefeated record in singles.

Third-year Erik Kerrigan routed his opponent in two sets, winning

them 6–0 and 6–3, respectively.

Second-year Jeremy Yuan took victory in three sets, starting off 6–4 before losing 4–6 and rebounding with a 10–8 performance. Fourth-year Charlie Pei continued the streak, winning 7–6 (7–3) and 6–1 in a row. Alejandro Rodriguez, a second-year, came out the better after three sets: 6–2, 6–7 (5–7), and 10–7.

Finally, first-years Alex Guzvha (6–2, 6–3) and Joshua Xu (6–3, 6–1) rounded out a fantastic day, each defeating their opponents

without dropping a single set.

The Maroon men also performed favorably in doubles.

The duo of third-year Tyler Raclin and Yuan crushed Denison in an 8–4 victory, as did Pei and Xu, who joined forces for an 8–3 victory. The men’s team’s sole defeat came as third-years Kerrigan and third-year Ninan Kumar failed to best the Big Red in a nail-biting 8–7 (8–6) defeat.

The women’s team was similarly undefeated in singles.

Third-year Marjorie Antohi won

in three sets: 7–6 (7–5), 5–7, and 6–3. Second-year Catherine Xu dominated with a 6–2 and a 6–4, as did first-year Eugenia Lee, who recorded a 6–1 and a 6–3. Similarly strong were first-years Nicole Semenov—resplendent with a 6–4, 6–3 victory—and Lainey Axell, awesome in her 6–1, 6–4 conquest. It was first-year Annika Pandey, however, who took the day’s greatest triumph, obliterating her opponent with a pair of 6–1 sets.

Women’s doubles also im-

pressed. The pairing of Lee and Xu narrowly fell in an 8–5 match, but Pandey and Semenov found success in an 8–3 coup over the Big Red. Antohi and Axell similarly squashed their Denison foes in an 8–3 set.

The Maroon men rank at No. 7 with a 5–0 record while the Maroon women sit at No. 10 and 4–0. Both squads hope to remain undefeated at home against Cardinal Stritch University this Saturday, February 16. Play begins at 4 p.m.

THE CHICAGO MAROON — FEBRUARY 13, 2019

15

Basketball Comes Out of Weekend With One Win, One Loss

BY THOMAS GORDON Sports Reporter

This past weekend, the UChicago men’s and women’s basketball teams continued their stretch of games away from

home with road games at Rochester and at Emory. The women’s team went into this weekend on an impressive four-game winning streak with two wins versus both Case Western and Carnegie Mellon. The Maroons had two nail-biters this weekend

with both games finishing with a margin of only three points. In their first match of the weekend against Rochester, the Maroons came out as victors with a 78–75 win. This matchup was tighter than it appeared on paper, but UChicago’s superior efficien-

Third-year Mia Farrell keeps her eye on the basket as she prepares to shoot. courtesy of uchicago athletics

SCOREBOARD SPORT

Tennis Wrestling Women’s Basketball Men’s Basketball W Track & Field

W/L W W W L W

OPPONENT

Denison UAAs Rochester Rochester North Central Invite

SCORE 8–1 36 – 3 78 – 75 63 – 57 1st of 10

UPCOMING GAMES SPORT

Swim & Dive Women’s Basketball Men’s Basketball Track & Field Tennis

OPPONENT

UAAs Brandeis Brandeis

Margaret Bradley Cardinal Stritch

DAY

Thursday Friday Friday Saturday Saturday

TIME

10 a.m.

6 p.m.

8 p.m.

11:30 a.m.

4 p.m.

cy allowed them to come away with the win as they shot 50 percent from the field. However, the second matchup against Emory was a massive game in terms of standings in the UAA. Both teams came into the game with winning records in the conference and were on winning streaks. The biggest factor was going to be the Maroons’ ability to slow down Emory’s high passing offense with them averaging nearly 17 assists a game. Although they did succeed in this mission, their shooting tanked, resulting in a disappointing 60–57 loss.

The men’s basketball team came into this weekend after a disappointing two-point loss that snapped their two-game win streak. This weekend was a massive opportunity for the Maroons to climb up the standings in the UAA. Rochester came into their matchup with the same conference record as the Maroons, 6–3. The Yel-

lowjackets learned their lesson from the last matchup and shut down UChicago’s potent threepoint attack. With the Maroons only netting 9 of 34 from the three-point line, they couldn’t overcome the cold shooting and ended up losing by six points.

The second game of the weekend was against high-flying Emory, who have won their last seven matches. However, since the last team to beat them was UChicago itself at Ratner in overtime, this was the perfect opportunity for the Maroons to end Emory’s streak. The Maroons were absolutely on fire against Emory, especially in the second half, when they scored 70 points. UChicago was able to ride this heat wave of shooting to a huge 114–107 win.

Overall, a 1–1 record for a tough weekend was a good result for the Maroon men and keeps them in the race for the UAA regular season crown.

THE CHICAGO MAROON —FEBRUARY 13, 2019

16

Track Doesn’t Slack: Invitational Shows Strong Results

BY BRINDA RAO With a slew of individual wins, the men’s and women’s track and field teams competed fiercely at the North Central Pat Heenan Invitational last Friday. The meet was held at North Central College in Naperville, IL, giving the Maroons another opportunity to test themselves. As the season progresses, runners and jumpers try to make NCAA qualifying times and jumps.

This meet saw the teams pulling through against teams at the DIII and DII levels. The women’s team won with 169.50 points and the men’s team placed third with 89 points.

The women’s team dominated events on and off the track. Second-year distance runners Emma Dyer and Sophie Elgamal placed first in the mile and 3,000-meter run, respectively. Their victories were complemented by second-place runs from first-year Kaitlyn Van Baalen and thirdyear Claire Brockway in both races. Competing on the tight turns of an indoor track is tough on the runners, especially the ones who have to run laps in the double digits. However, second-year distance runner Annika Hildebrandt proved that the Maroons are able to take on this challenge with her impressive first place run in the 5,000-meter race. The women’s 4x400 relay (first-years Meg

Fitzpatrick and Kaela Jolibois, fourth-year Emma Koether, and third-year Mary Martin) placed first. These victories were complemented by excellence in field events. Third-year Isabel Garon and second-year Sidney Lampert landed in first and second place for the pole vault while first-year Isabel Maletich placed first in long jump. The combination of strong performances in a variety of events secured the women’s team their victory.

The men’s team competed formidably against tough DII and DIII competition, placing third. The distance team ran especially strongly in the 3,000-meter run, with second-years Chase Gardner and Ryan Cutter and first-year Hen-

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 3PM Swift Hall, 3rd Floor Lecture Hall Free and open to the public. Reception to follow.

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ry Myers securing first- through third-place finishes respectively.

This victory is heightened by the strong performance of runners in the 4x400 meter relay. Third-years Tyson Miller and Elliott Paintsil, fourth-year Ben Chaimberg, and first-year Dillon O’Loughlin secured first place in the race. Off the track, third-year thrower Alexander Scott placed second in shot put, and first-year jumper John McCormick placed third in triple jump. Third-year distance runner Andrew Kates explained, “It was a very competitive meet with great facilities. North Central is one of the best teams in the country.

It was a great test for our men’s team in every event. Some of the best athletes in DIII were there.”

The combined talent of runners, throwers, and jumpers enabled the men’s team to hold their own against the intense competition at the meet.

The team reflects on this meet with high hopes for the rest of the season. First-year hurdler Cameron Edgington commented, “The team did an outstanding job. Everybody has been working hard and the coaches were proud about how the meet turned out. We’ve been getting faster and getting results. We’re all working hard. It’s the middle of winter quarter but we’re not getting bogged down.

We all have stress from school but we’re optimistic about the rest of the season and getting into spring season.”