Just say no
Softball
Four trends to avoid this season. Arts & Life, page 16
team
Big East Champs
The DePaul women win their first title since ‘08 Sports, page 28
Volume #98 | Issue #25 | May 12, 2014 | depauliaonline.com
Childish Gambino, Local Natives headline FEST By Stephanie Wade Contributing Writer
It’s almost that time of year again. The sun is finally out and (hopefully) here to stay, as the DePaul Activities Board (DAB) throws one of the most anticipated events at DePaul. Ending spring quarter with a bang, FEST will take place Friday, May 23 on the Quad. DAB announced the FEST lineup Wednesday at the 2014 FEST Reveal as students crowded around the Student Center Atrium. The highly awaited headliner will be Childish Gambino. The performer began as an actor, starring in the NBC comedy “Community,” but in 2013, he decided to focus on his music career and pick up where he left off — making mix tapes. Students were very excited that Childish Gambino was chosen, as the crowded Student Center Atrium erupted when he was announced as the headliner. “I’ve always been a fan of Childish Gambino,” Kate Ursu, sophomore, said. “I know he was just at the Ohio State University, and my friends said they had a great time.” One of DePaul’s Battle of the Bands winners, Bill, The Pony, will kick off the event at
By Grant Myatt News Editor
Photo courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS
Childish Gambino (Donald Glover) along with Local Natives and Washed Out will perform at this year’s FEST May 23. 5 p.m. He shared the win with Overdo$e, who will open before Adventure Club performs at After Hours. The Battle of the Bands winners were chosen based on fan votes the night of the event, FEST coordinator Carisa Marconet said. “Allowing DePaul artists and bands to open for FEST gives
students a great opportunity,” Marconet said. “We want to show that DAB supports our DePaul musicians.” American singer/songwriter Washed Out will take the stage after Bill, The Pony as the next opener. Washed Out’s style of music has been described as “chillwave,” a take on indie electronic/rock.
“I was really excited to see Washed Out on the lineup this year,” Julia Hogikyan, a sophomore who plans to pursue a career in the music business, said. “I missed him when he came to Chicago last fall, so I’m glad I get to see him now.” Local Natives will be the
See FEST, page 17
Fr. Holtschneider: lobbying for MAP funds By Nathan Weisman Asst. News Editor
DePaul President Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider, C.M., sat down across the desk from then-Senator Barack Obama. The two men were each settling into their new positions. Having just recently come to DePaul, Holtschneider and Obama had spent about the same amount of time in office. The two had never met before, and Obama, despite living in Chicago, knew very little about DePaul. “He looked at me and just started firing questions,” Holtschneider said last week. “He wanted to know why higher education cost what it did and why the cost was going up faster than inflation and why some people in some states get to go to college and why others in other states don’t get to go to college and what’s the single thing holding people back, and it was 15 minutes of a grilling like I had never had in my life.”
New Sexual assault policy in the works
Photo couresty of RICK REINHARD
Fr. Holtschneider testifying before the Congressional Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training Jan. 28. Holtschneider says the meeting was one of the hardest he has ever been in. He was meeting with Obama as part of his now-regular efforts to lobby both state and federal government on behalf of DePaul University and its students. This year, that means lobbying state legislators in
order to impress upon them the importance of the Monetary Award Program (MAP) grant, which helps low-income students in Illinois pay for higher education. It also means traveling to Washington to talk to elected officials as they start to write the language for the reauthorization of the Higher
Education Act, which covers all of the federal programs that support higher education, including the Pell Grant and the TRIO Programs. As part of this process, Holtschneider traveled to Washington in January to testify in front of Congress about the TRIO Programs. The Trio Programs, originally named because there were three of them, are specialized programs to help underrepresented populations succeed in higher education. The federal government uses the Higher Education Act and the funding it provides to regulate higher education. Because many schools rely on the money they receive from the government in order operate, universities from across the country spend time talking to elected officials about how the bill affects their schools and students.
See LOBBYING, page 4
Faculty Council shot down a new proposed policy for Sexual and Relationship Violence Wednesday, May 7 at their monthly meeting. New mandates in the Campus SaVE Act require all universities to rework their policies. DePaul’s previous policy has predominantly been in the student code of responsibility, but with the new regulations, it needs to be a university-wide policy. It was written by a cross-functional work group including representatives from academic affairs, student affairs, public safety and more. The policy was presented by Cindy Summers, interim vice president for student affairs, Marla Morgen, senior associate general counsel, and Bob Wachowski, public safety director. According to Summers at the Faculty Council meeting, the major changes in the policy include expanding the definition to add dating violence, domestic violence and stalking, which used to be in a different policy, expanded programming and training, and other procedural changes. However, since the Campus SaVE act went into effect March 7 of this year, DePaul is “technically
See POLICY, page 7
More course evals go public By Nathan Weisman Asst. News Editor
Two colleges have approved to make data from course evaluation surveys public and available to students on Campus Connect when registering for classes. The choice reflects the efforts of SGA over the past two years to convince colleges at the university to make the data public. The colleges that will be the first to make the evaluation data public on campus connect are the College of Science and Health and the School of New Learning. “Student accessible course evaluation data is good for faculty, good for students, and has already existed in other colleges at DePaul, including the College of Computing and Digital Media and the College of Law, for many years,” SGA President
See EVALS, page 7
2 | The DePaulia. May 5, 2014
First Look INSIDE THIS ISSUE
News
The DePaulia is the official student-run newspaper of DePaul University and may not necessarily reflect the views of college administrators, faculty or staff.
Arts & Life
Focus
Sports
Student creates modest fashion line
A look at James Franco's new 'Palo Alto' film
Escape the city and explore the suburbs this summer
Blue Demon bugler takes stage at racetrack
A DePaul freshman was recognized as a 2014 Global Young Entrepreneur with her fashion line, see page 5.
A review of the new movie that centers around a high school student-teacher relationship, see page 17.
A few things to do and see in these quaint suburbs as the weather gets warmer, see page 14.
A senior music student kicks off the start of the horse races at Arlington Park with her trumpet, see page 26.
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News. May 12, 2014. The DePaulia | 3
News
MAKING AN
IMPACT Blair Janis (left), a DePaul senior and DemonTHON's executive director, at the DemonTHON event at McGrath-Phillips Arena in 2013.
Final DemonTHON founder graduates, leaves her mark at DePaul By Grant Myatt News Editor
Growing up around DePaul her entire life, senior Blair Janis was never quite set on attending DePaul. Seeing friends who were a year older at Big 10 schools, she wanted a place with school spirit where the university rallied around around something that everyone cared about. But, DePaul didn’t quite have that. Sitting in the Starbucks at 1237 West during spring quarter of 2011 as a freshman, they flipped through pictures on Facebook of their friends from home. Janis and Raissa Correa, a friend from her sorority, looked at photos from Iowa University’s dance marathon when it clicked. “We could totally do this, like just us,” Janis said at the time. But looking back it was “naive, very naive,” she said. They were connected with another DePaul student, Jason Knoespel, and brought DePaul’s dance marathon, DemonTHON, to life for the first time in May 2012. Living and breathing DemonTHON for the past three years, Janis, the final founding member, gets ready for one last marathon before graduating in June. “I would say DemonTHON is the thing in my life that I’m most proud of,” Janis said. “It really challenges myself and everyone else to set the standard for everything else we do a little higher.” Correa, who graduated last year, said it’s kind of crazy that their last found member is leaving this year. “Its really just helps you see how far it’s grown,” Correa said. “The leadership will be a whole new group that started as dancers that wanted to get more involved. That’s just amazing to see that we were able to start this trend and help change people’s lives.” Serving as the External Director for the first two years, Janis is the Executive Director for this year’s event. Her planner is “filled with red” marking all her DemonTHON events and is normally seen walking around in a DemonTHON quarter zip. With such a busy schedule, Janis laughed saying, “at one point I was joking that I was taking applications for a personal assistant.” Jokes aside, Janis has been working on this year’s event since May 2013. With about five mandatory DemonTHON meetings every week, Janis is only taking two classes this quarter so that she can dedicate her time to DemonTHON and make it a priority. In their first two years, Correa said it wasn’t uncommon
for Janis to send email at 4 a.m. “Blair has done just a fantastic job in leading the group,” Correa said. “It’s really helped shaped DemonTHON and started a really great midst to the leadership to to give their 110 percent, since that’s what she did.” India Mayer, DemonTHON’s dancer relations director, said many students involved look up to Janis. “The passion she has for it is very inspiring to us,” Mayer said. “We all kind of see her as a big leader in the organization and everyone really respects her.” But with Janis leaving this year, Mayer said it is both terrifying and exciting. “She’s such a driving force, so to have that leaving, it could be really tough,” Mayer said. “She’s just not one of those people who is focused on herself. She honestly cares about it as a whole.” One of Janis’ biggest takeaways the past three years with DemonTHON have been the personal connections between students and even the children and families from the children’s hospital that attend every year. “We don’t just see the families at DemonTHON events, they’re people that blow up my Facebook page more than my friends and family do,” Janis said. “So those things won’t break when graduation comes, which is reassuring.” As a DePaul employee for 40 years and her dad, Bob Janis, vice president of facility operations, said he couldn’t be more proud. “Blair and others around her have taken the dream of DemonTHON a few years ago and turned it into a huge success that along the way has brought out the best in many DePaul students,” he said. Graduating with a degree in public policy studies and communications studies, Janis looks to work in development and fundraising in some way. She’s currently weighing her options between working and pursuing a graduate program at DePaul. Just as she set out to do her freshman year, Janis feels her mission to bring together DePaul together through DemonTHON has been a success because “we all care about the Vincentian mission and we all connect to that in so many different ways.” “She saw a gap in the DePaul community for something that really brought everyone together, and she really filled that,” Mayer said. “She helped fearlessly give us that and is a big inspiration for me.”
4 | The DePaulia. May 12, 2014 LOBBYING continued from front page In order to keep DePaul and its students in the minds of legislators, Peter Coffey, the associate vice president of Community and Government Relations, works to lead DePaul’s lobbying efforts year round. In addition to Coffey’s efforts, DePaul also employs lobbyists in both Springfield and Washington in order to make sure the institution has a voice present anytime it needs one. Coffey said that continued pressure on elected officials is particularly important to keep higher education on the minds of legislators as pressure mounts on keeping government spending down. Despite the image of lobbyists that the media portray, Coffey described lobbying as public relations for a specific audience. “It’s mostly just building relationships,” Coffey said. “That way, if a problem does occur, you already have a relationship and you don't have to build from scratch.” Coffey came to DePaul after working on Democratic campaigns, such as Barack Obama’s campaign for Senate. Although he was offered a job in Washington in Obama’s office, he didn’t want to leave Chicago and had heard about the position at DePaul. “One day I picked up my cell phone and it was Barack Obama calling me to give me a job recommendation for Peter,” Holtschneider said. “It was unbelievable.” DePaul's lobbying efforts are crucial to keeping government support for higher education around both on the state and federal level. That in turn is important to many schools that rely on the state and federal aid. “I have been at DePaul for 10 years, and every year MAP has been threatened,” Holtschneider said. “It's one of the places that, if there wasn't constant attention and pressure, it would be an easy place to cut. The state has cut homeless funding, funding to single parents, early childhood education, why? Because they can. There is not a loud outcry, people don't pay attention. I assure you people would cut MAP funding (which allows) people in lower socioeconomic (statuses to) go to college if people didn't make a bit of a cry. So it's kind of up to us to defend it so that the state keeps that commitment.” The average day of a lobbyist is chaotic to say the least. After putting together a schedule for the day full of appointments with elected officials, it doesn't take long before phone calls start coming in to reschedule.
DEPAULIA FILE PHOTO
Peter Coffey works with DePaul students in 2013 as they protest cuts to the MAP Grant in Springfield, Ill. “They say, ‘Oh, there's a vote been called,’ or ‘Oh, there's been a committee meeting called,’ or ‘Something else is happening. Could you come at four?’ and your schedule for the day is just kind of a list of suggestions,” Holtschneider said. “You basically have to be completely flexible and hope that by the end of the day you have seen the people that you wanted to see.” The meetings with representatives are brief and to the point. “You walk in, you sit in your chair, have a word or two of pleasantries and then boom — right into the conversation,” Holtschneider said. “I’ll have my agenda, but then generally Sen. Durbin or others will have their list and either use the opportunity to ask me very hard questions about what's going on in higher (education) as a chance to better understand, or they will test ideas saying, ‘This is where I am thinking of going.’”
Chicago Library robots By Associated Press The Chicago Public Library has more than just books for borrowing. It now has a fleet of 500 robots that can be checked out. The idea is to give Chicago residents of all ages a chance to dabble in the basics of computer coding. The gadgets, known as Finch Robots, were donated by Google Chicago and made the library the first in the nation to have them available for people to take home. They can be coded to move, make noises, light up and even draw. Some of the programming can be done by children as young as 8 years old. "We hope to inspire the next generation of technologists and computer scientists," Jim Lecinski, head of the Google Chicago office, said at a Saturday event announcing the program.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel said the partnership with Google will support the city's push to give residents better access to learning opportunities in the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering and math. The robots were invented by a lab at Carnegie Mellon University. They are set up for use with more than a dozen of the most commonly used computer languages. Users hook the robots up to their home computer or laptops and download instructional tutorials from the company's website. The robots will be kept at six of the library's locations. To make them more widely available, borrowers can request that they be sent to the library location of their choice. "Getting students excited about computer science at the primary and secondary school level is critical," Lecinski said.
The most effective lobbying done by DePaul though may not come from Holtschneider or Coffey, but DePaul students themselves who reach out to their representatives. “Down in Springfield, I meet with elected officials all the time, but they tell
me about their meetings with students,” Holtschneider said. “They are moved by personal stories in a way that would surprise you. They have a power that would surprise you. They are not just moved by statistics or by the theory of how you should fund education in a state.”
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News. May 12, 2014. The DePaulia | 5
Student creates unique, modest fashion line By Shannon Marks Contributing Writer
Recently, DePaul freshman Deena Kishawi was honored as one of 34 Global Young Entrepreneurs of 2014 by Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship for her clothing line “modestie,” but five years ago, Kishawi could barely construct a garment. “I would try to make dresses, but they were so horribly sewn that I could never wear them,” Kishawi, 18, said. Since then, Kishawi has taken classes in garment construction and found her personal style. “Fashion was very much a part of our everyday lives that was normal to talk about. Looking back, I guess it wasn’t,” Theresa Pham, 19, said who took fashion classes with Kishawi. “Deena was my mentor in fashion class,” freshman Paulina Soltis said, who modeled Kishawi’s line. “It makes me really proud to see where she’s gone with it, especially balancing it with her school and social life.” The original idea for “modestie” came when Kishawi, who wears the Hijab, had difficulty finding outfits for special events that were appropriate. “I wanted to make conservative clothing that’s not frumpy, and would hold its own with current trends,” Kishawi said. Initially, Kishawi’s intent was
to make clothing for the other women who wear the Hijab, but when other women began asking about her garments, she decided to expand. “There’s a limited clientele [for modestie], but a large demand,” Kishawi said. “A lot of women from different backgrounds: working women who can’t wear revealing things, orthodox Jews and other religious folk represent a new aspect of the clientele.” The 2014 collection is comprised of 20 garments and 16 looks that aim to embody the “classy” and the “classic” sides of the wardrobe. The designs combine modern fabrics with detailed embellishments. “The entire line is supposed to be timeless,” Kishawi said. “If you handed it down to your great-great-great-granddaughter, it would still work.” Aside from “modestie,” Kishawi creates custom pieces, primarily for herself, friends and family, that range from $25 to $150 for more involved garments. “It’s not something I ever imagined myself wearing, but once I tried it on, I could see myself wearing it,” Soltis, 19, said. “Everything is made really well, there’s such attention to detail.” In creating “modestie,” Kishawi learned what elements go into a quality piece of clothing. “When you’re behind the machine, when you see how backbreaking and labor-intensive it is
to make something well, you can tell when time is really put into a piece,” Kishawi said. From creating patterns, cutting the fabric, pinning and sewing, Kishawi said that to make a shirt from start to finish, it requires 10 total hours. “The moment you cut out the fabric, you can already start to see the skirt or the sleeve or the front of a shirt,” Kishawi said. Although Kishawi’s finished garments are consistently wellconstructed, achieving that level of quality is often a struggle. “At least one time per garment something is going to go wrong,” Kishawi said. “I have yet to make a perfect garment.” Despite the long hours and intensive technique, Kishawi said that finishing a difficult piece is “so satisfying to see it turn out so nice.” Apart from “modestie’s” success, Kishawi, who majors in science, is unsure of her future in fashion. “I never intended to launch a clothing line,” Kishawi said. “I make everything for myself.” Although launching another line isn’t on the horizon for Kishawi, she plans to continue sewing and creating garments. “Deena’s life revolves around fashion,” Pham said. “From my point of view, I’ve seen this coming since we were 13. She’s just one of those people that you know will do well in the world.”
Photo courtesy of THERESA PHAM
The "modestie" clothing line, designed by DePaul freshman Deena Kishawi, aims to create conservative clothing that isn't frumpy.
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6 | The DePaulia. May 12, 2014
LEARNING AS A LIVING ORGANISM DePaul professor prioritizes livelihood above all else in his classroom
By Mariah Woelfel Contributing Writer
“How many of you have written something you don’t give a shit about?” That’s the question Eric Plattner asks his Writing, Rhetoric and Discourse (WRD) students on the first day of each quarter. Almost every student raises his or her hand. “Okay. What do you call someone who writes something that they don’t believe in, but pretends to believe in it anyway?” he asks. “A phony; a liar; a hypocrite,” they typically answer. The laundry list of names is just the beginning of what Plattner deems as “breaking the mold” that many high school students are taught to fit in to. Avoiding contractions, first person and dangling modifiers aren’t as significant in Plattner’s class as they are in the high school classrooms that freshmen hail from. Instead, he emphasizes a larger picture: critical thinking, awareness and livelihood within his students’ writing and within the classroom. It might start outside of it, though. You can find Plattner on the steps outside of the Schmidt Academic Center or at the tables on the side of the Arts and Letters building. In the navy blue, worn out factory uniform that he’s worn daily for the past few years, he is not hard to miss, and he will typically be meeting with one of his approximately 46 WRD students: a conference commitment he requires them and himself to partake in on a weekly basis. “I use contract grading — I’ve rejected the traditional grading system,” he said. “One essential component of that is conferencing — embracing the process of draft, feedback and revision. And the way I handle feedback is one-on-one conferencing.” With an average of 45 students per quarter, that means approximately nine hours extra per week, an amount of time and work that his salary does not reflect. For him, it’s worth it. “If I’m going to require them to embrace their process, then I have to require myself to be available for it, and that means three hours after each day of teaching and also three hours on Fridays,” he said. “The ultimate goal is that they grow from it.” A typical 10-minute conference consists of leading questions and, at times, harsh criticism; it is the face-to-face and audio components of the feedback that allow Plattner to give his students substantial comments in a short amount of time. “Let’s say someone brings a piece of writing where their language is lacking energy or life; I’m going to pounce on that — in a humorous, fun, positive and human way — but my goal is to know why, for them to know why and for them to be aware that there’s other ways of doing it,” Plattner said. “That can happen in 10 minutes. That alone would take me 20 minutes to try to find the right way of wording that in a marginal comment.” These conferences and Plattner’s teaching style combined are not always received well by students who come to class with a clear idea about how they have been taught to write. Melanie Kulatilake, a former student of Plattner’s, said that, though there has been little resistance to Plattner’s approach in the classroom, when there is, it’s because students are not used to having professors as honest and dedicated as Plattner. “Professor Plattner will say, ‘Screw what
Photo courtesy of KATHLEEN ROONEY
DePaul Professor Eric Plattner types poems as part of the Chicago Poetry Collective's Poems While You Wait at the Buena Park Arts Expo in July 2013. your other professors tell you about how to write an essay; they should never tell you. This is your paper, not theirs,’” Kulatilake said. “Some students don’t like that.” Although students might not be used to it, conferences and contract grading are a long-lasting tradition in academia, as well as something that distinguished Plattner from other applicants 15 years ago when he first applied, according to Eileen Seifert, the director of Writing, Rhetoric and Discourse who hired Plattner in the summer of ’99. “I wouldn’t have cared what he was wearing,” Seifert said in regards to Plattner’s tradition of wearing the same outfit consistently over long periods of time (at the time of the interview, it was suit and tie). “Frankly we don’t pay people enough that they’re going to come in with Hugo Boss suits. What I thought was interesting was when he told me about his conferences with his students. I also saw his experience at the Iowa Writer’s Workshop — one thing that made him highly qualified for the position as well.” Plattner discovered his love for teaching amidst pursuing a career in journalism, where he would find himself in trying to help his classmates with revision rather than a story itself. Although he forfeited a career in the field, he said journalism was his saving grace. A self-identified “unambitious person,” Plattner spoke of the passion that the mystery of journalism brought to his life, which later transferred to writing in general. It was a class in the history of modern Africa, though, that really did him in. “Everything in my life has happened unintentionally,” he said. “How did I get my first girlfriend? I met eyes with her in a history of modern Africa class. I wasn’t brave enough to talk to her, to tell her I loved her, so I would follow her to where she would go after class. Little did I know, she would lead me to the writing center.” As an undergraduate writing tutor at Fresno State, Plattner found not only his first love, but his love for teaching, and moreover, for conferencing. “I totally fell in love with what you see me doing out there — my teaching method — and that’s where I learned it,” he said. “It
It was in that writing center where I learned that I had a closer relationship to my fellow students than their teachers did. And I thought, ‘As a teacher, I’ll never let that happen.’ Eric Plattner, DePaul Professor was in that writing center where I learned that I had a closer relationship to my fellow students than their teachers did. And I thought, ‘As a teacher, I’ll never let that happen.’” Plattner, whose mother was a 50year veteran in the field, never felt he had teaching in his blood before that moment. Growing up with a disdain for academia in general, neither Platter nor his worrisome mother had any idea where he would end up. When unwanted challenges or tasks arose, he’d avoid them at all costs, never quite “rolling up his sleeves” to “cope with the real world.” “I never coped with the real world in any other way except trying to erase or avoid it,” he said. “I don’t apologize for it in any way at all, though. I consider most of the things we are asked to do, at best, either a waste of time or, at worst, toxic waste.”Childhood experiences and outlooks like these, though, are what help him relate to unsure, insecure or fearful writers, he said. “My strengths as a teacher are that I wasn’t a good student — I understand what fear, anxiety and uncertainty are; though, I don’t want to alleviate that uncertainty,” he said. “In fact I really push my students towards what they are uncertain about, but I also want to completely alleviate them that that’s what the point is. In terms of his factory uniform, he says
it’s indicative of this exact feeling: “My whole dressing the same — that started at age 10. That was clearly a reaction to uncertainty and unpredictability and as a way to remain myself amidst an unknown, changing world,” he said. Aside from his current outfit which reads “Paul” on the left side of his chest pocket — a tribute to his late father — past outfits include: a corduroy suit with a red Cardinals T-shirt underneath, a few variations of jeans with a plaid button down and a mix of two or three different black suits and silver ties. According to Seifert, his outfit doesn’t affect his teaching style or ability whatsoever. If anything, it affects the way students view him, and at DePaul this might be a positive thing. “I think DePaul students are pretty flexible and open people. One reason he flourishes is because we have students who want something different,” Seifert said, referring to not only his appearance, but his teaching style as well. But when students ask about his outfit, Plattner said there’s a larger parallel between inquiry regarding rhetoric and inquiry regarding his appearance than one would think. “When you talk about rhetoric and awareness, you’re talking about becoming aware of language and norms in terms of words themselves, not so you can just analyze an essay and chart it out, but so that you can start reflecting on your own use of words and understanding,” he said. “If what I’m wearing manifests some interruption of that norm, then that’s good. It’s exactly where I want them to be — asking, ‘Why do you do this?’ or ‘Why do you do that?’” Ultimately, this inquiry leads to larger questions, fostering critical thinking and awareness of every decision one makes — each of which contribute to Plattner’s main goal for his students: growth. “You can be an amazing writer in the class with great ideas and lively tone,” he said. “But if you don’t fulfill any of the contract requirements, I’ll give you a C.” The average grade in Plattner’s class is a B, determined by evaluation based contract criteria including requirements such as conference attendance, reading class material and active participation including engaged reactions and listening to class discussion. According to Plattner, and inspired by contract grading pioneer Peter Elbow, these criteria are what will ultimately foster individual growth.Although Seifert speaks highly and respectfully of Plattner’s teaching methodology, she is somewhat skeptical of contract grading. “Contract grading is controversial because some people feel like you shouldn’t get a grade just for showing up,” she said. I guess I am sort of concerned, given how truly hard the world is, that maybe people need to be used to a little bit more — that just showing up is not the whole story.” Regardless of her own methodology, Seifert expressed a sense of gratitude for the contribution that Plattner has made to the WRD department and his dedication to the development of his students. “I feel really lucky that he’s at DePaul,” she said. “He really has a carefully and well-thought out philosophy of teaching. He’s interested in making students feel alive and get away from approaching learning as mechanical, follow-the-rules, teach-the-test kind of thing. He wants them to be very alert, alive, critical readers. He ultimately want them to have the experience of creating a text that actually means something to them.”
News. May 12, 2014. The DePaulia | 7 POLICY continued from front page
EVALS continued from front page Casey Clemmons said. “The College of Science and Health approving student accessible course evaluation data is a major step forward and we hope that other colleges will be more persuaded to get on board.” To convince the College of Science and Health to make the data available, SGA worked with college’s dean to develop a survey to prove student interest. The survey was sent to every student in the college, and about one-sixth of the students responded. The results of the survey were unquestionably in favor of making the data available. 62 percent of respondents said they would be extremely interested in viewing students responses to course evaluation questions when they registered for classes. In addition to helping them pick which classes to take, 52 percent of students thought the data would benefit their education. Previously, DePaul’s Faculty Council has held a strong stance against public teacher and course evaluation data. Last year, the council voted against SGA’s proposal for public evaluations at their June 5 meeting. They said the evaluations were a bad instrument and that they needed to be reworked before students should be allowed to view them publicly. A Faculty Council spokesperson did not respond when contacted for comment. This year, SGA worked with with President Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider and faculty from individual colleges to address their concerns with releasing the data.
“Fr. Holtschneider made the decision that the move to make course evaluations accessible needs to be done on a college by college basis rather than through a university wide approach via Faculty Council,” SGA Vice President Sarah Rens said. “SGA agrees that this needs to be college by college because the faculty concerns vary by college and we have pursued this route." Caroline Winsett, SGA's president last year sat on a college committee about making course evaluation data accessible. This committee was made up of faculty. We also worked with their faculty in creating the College of Science and Health survey. While sites like ratemyprofessor.com allow students to share their opinions about professors, Rens said she thought revealing course evalution data would present a more accurate depiction of how students felt about a particular course and instructor. Both the Law School and College of Computing and Digital Media have had course evaluation data public for several years but not available to view on Campus Connect. SGA is continuing to work with other colleges to also have them share their course evaluation data with students. They are currently working with the Driehaus College of Business who will be voting on the proposal by the end of this year. “We are optimistic after recent meeting that this vote will go in our favor,” Rens said.
out of compliance” according to Morgen. But according to clearact. info, institutions have until Oct. 1 to implement SaVE and make any necessary changes to their policies. “We are looking to get this on our books just as quickly as we possibly can,” Morgen said. Summers, Morgen and Carol Hughes, director of media relations at DePaul, were all unavailable or did not respond to requests for additional comment. Despite no forward movement with the university’s new policy, SGA passed two resolutions regarding sexual assault awareness at their meeting May 8. One resolution addressed student concerns for transparency and said, “we also urge the university to keeps student’s well-being and welfare central to their practices, and maintain a heightened level of transparency on this issue.” Their second resolution called for the university to implement new sexual violence guidelines. Under the Campus SaVE act, it outlines the main categories of change for universities including transparency, accountability, and education. Accountability clarifies minimum standards for disciplinary procedures. Currently DePaul doesn’t have minimums in place. At the sexual assault policy panel Thursday, April 24 Ellen Herion
Grant Myatt contributed to this story.
Fingado, assistant dean of students, said that when sexual assault or violence cases come to their office “suspension and dismissal is typically on the table.” The policy contains an expansion on training efforts, although no specific details were provided. The university currently has about 1,000 campus security authorities (CSA). Faculty are not CSAs at this time, unless they take on an additional role, such as an advisor, according to Wachowski. Other CSAs on campus include resident advisors in university dorms. All Public Safety officers received additional training for sexual assault by the Dean of Students office in 2010 and 2011, Wachowski said in an email. All sexual assault cases reported to Public Safety go through their crime prevention officer who has had “extensive training” regarding sexual violence, including participation in YMCA training, he said. Faculty discussed several concerns regarding the policy at the meeting including student support, the terms “survivor” and “consent,” the role of advisors in judicial hearings and more. The next Faculty Council meeting is Wednesday, June 4. At this time it is not known if the policy will be revised and brought back to the council for a second vote. Courtney Jacquin contributed to this story.
CAMPUS CRIME REPORT : April 30 - May 6 LOOP CAMPUS
LINCOLN PARK CAMPUS 1150 W. Fullerton 6 13
1 3
8 9 10 16
Centennial Hall
The Theatre School Clifton-Fullerton
18 19
Corcoran Hall
Lewis Center
7 17
11
12
Belden-Racine Munroe Hall
8
McCabe Hall 15
Student Center
14)
An aggravated assault report was filed for an incident that occurred at an off-campus location. Students were in the location for a class.
15)
A theft report was filed for an iPhone taken from the Atrium at the Student Center.
MAY 6 16) A smell of marijuana report was filed for a room at CliftonFullerton Hall. No drugs were found.
7) A theft report was filed for a bicycle taken from the rack at
LINCOLN PARK CAMPUS APRIL 30 1) A disturbance report was filed for a person shouting at the Fullerton Red Line stop.
2) A educational intimidation report was filed for a student writing inappropriate statements on an exam.
3) A criminal damage to property report was filed for a person throwing paint out a window at Centennial Hall.
4) An aggravated battery report was filed for a person struck in the head at an off campus location.
MAY 2 5) A theft report was filed for a person who had their unattended book bag taken from Oz Park.
6) A disturbance report was filed for a confrontation in the lobby at 1150 W. Fullerton.
Corcoran Hall.
8) A possession of cannabis report was filed for a room at Clifton-Fullerton Hall. Chicago Police took the offender into custody.
17)
A possession of cannabis report was filed for a room at Corcoran Hall. Chicago Police took the offender into custody.
LOOP CAMPUS
MAY 3 9) A possession of cannabis report was filed for a room at
APRIL 30 18) A theft report was filed for an unattended iPhone 5 taken
10) A smell of marijuana report was filed for a room at Clifton-
MAY 1 19) A criminal damage to property report was filed for graffiti at
Fullerton Hall. No drugs were found.
the Lewis Center.
MAY 4 11) A smell of marijuana report was filed for a room at Belden-
MAY 3 20) A threat report was filed for a student threatened at an off
Clifton-Fullerton Hall. Chicago Police took the offender into custody.
outside the lab at Lewis Center.
Racine Hall. No drugs were found.
campus location.
12) A possession of cannabis report was filed for a room at
MAY 5 21) A threat report was filed by a student who received the
Munroe Hall. Chicago Police took the offender into custody.
MAY 5 13) A theft report was filed for a bicycle taken from the rack at Theatre School.
threats over Facebook.
MAY 6 22) A theft report was filed for a student who had their iPhone taken from the McDonald’s.
8| The DePaulia. May 12, 2014
Africana Incognita Discussion on triumphs and travails of Black and African Studies hosted at DePaul By David Byrnes Contributing Writer
“Black people don’t want to learn any more about Shakespeare. We want to learn about our own history.” That sentiment, voiced by Rita Edozie of Michigan State University, sums up the vibe in the room at The African & Black Diaspora Studies Program’s colloquium last Friday. To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the program’s founding at DePaul, the event featured speakers from around the world. The discussions focused on the culture of black sexuality, the history of African philosophical traditions and everything in between. Yet the subject which inspired the most passionate presentations was the afternoon dialogue on the state of black and African diaspora programs at American universities. If Edozie’s claim is any indication, they face a good amount of challenges. “In the recent academic and economic climate, universities have a tendency to “downsize” or “right-size” their faculty and departments,” Hugh Jack Jr. of Notre Dame said. “And black and African studies professors often find themselves having to resist being absorbed into other departments, or even the department having to defend its right to exist.” Others’ presentations echoed this, and a few pointed out the seeming hypocrisy — perhaps even racism — of black studies programs having to defend their right to exist while other unpopular Liberal Arts
programs, like Philosophy and History, rarely do. As one Olufemi Taiwo put it, “No one ever questions if I am a “good” philosopher when I teach a course on philosophy. Only when I teach one on African [philosophy].” Still, the colloquium was not only doom and gloom. Many speakers were eager to point out how far programs, like DePaul's, have come in two decades. Sandra Jackson, head of the DePaul program and the colloquium’s main organizer, was proud as could be of both the day and major track she helped create. “At DePaul, the Center for Black Diaspora has received strong support from the college,” she said. “Faculty, students, and staff attend our events and very positively respond.” She and other speakers, particularly Erik McDuffie of University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, were also singularly enthused to point out how Midwestern cities like Chicago have historically been epicenters for African-American art and academia, and how they will likely continue to be so in the future. Even as the coasts have become the more visible in this regard, it is apparently the “Rust Belt” of Chicago, Detroit and Cleveland that remains the heart of African Diasporic politics and culture. “[This region] is one of the most important for black and African-American studies, and it is connected to the global African experience,” McDuffie said. “I only hope that scholars will remember that, and that more events like this one will continue here to encourage discussion
DAVID BYRNES | THE DEPAULIA
Rita Edozie, the director of African American and African Studies at Michigan State University, speaks at DePaul's event Friday, May 9 at the DePaul Art Museum.
DAVID BYRNES | THE DEPAULIA
The event was held in the DePaul Art Museum where they currently have an African American Quilt exhibit called "From Heart to Hand." in our field.” With as diverse and dedicated an academic base as those represented at this event, it seems very likely. As Taiwo said, “Ten years ago we were talking about
having a [meeting] like this. I think, ten years from now, we will be talking about things on a higher level than we can imagine.”
News. May 12, 2014. The DePaulia | 9
First U.S. MERS patient released from hospital By Serena Phillips Contributing Writer
An unidentified man was released Friday after being diagnosed with the first reported case of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS) in the United States. The patient is reported to be in fully recovered and removed from isolation and cleared to travel at will. The man, a health care worker who frequently travels through Saudi Arabia, landed in O'Hare Airport from London April 24 and continued his trip to Indiana by bus. The Indiana Department of Health officials reported that the man started to notice respiratory problems such as coughing, shortness of breath and a fever several days after his trip. “Even though the State Department did not issue any travel bans to/from countries such UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Oman and Kuwait, the (Center for Disease Control) recommends that if people travel to these countries and notice the above symptoms within 14 days of coming back, to visit a doctor and discuss their recent travel history," Dr. Sam Suhail, assistant professor of biological sciences at DePaul, said. The virus, which first appeared in Saudi Arabia in 2012, has been found in camels but the source is still unknown. Of the 262 confirmed cases worldwide, 93 individuals have died. “Currently, there is no cure for MERS, and no vaccination exists against MERS, so managing the symptoms is critical,” Suhail said. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) began monitoring the situation immediately after learning of the transmission of the virus into the U.S. by contacting other passengers and
personnel that the infected patient may have come in contact with during his travels, telling them to be aware of any symptoms they may experience. “The patient was not identified as sick during travel. CDC is continuing to do surveillance by working with our partners at U.S. ports of entry, including Customs and Border Protection, airlines, and Emergency Medical Service units at airports,” David Daigle, associate director of communications for the CDC, said. The CDC adds that, to take precaution in any situation, people can help protect themselves from contagious diseases by routinely washing hands, avoiding touching their eyes, nose and mouth and frequently disinfecting surfaces. Workers from Community Hospital who came into close contact with the patient have been put in temporary off-duty home isolation and are being monitored for any virus symptoms. So far, according to hospital representatives, all employees have tested negative for MERS and will be cleared to return to work after being tested a second time. “The first patient in the U.S. diagnosed with Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome is in good condition and continues to improve each day. The patient is expected to be released to home isolation soon where he will remain until cleared by the ISDH and CDC as no longer an infectious risk to the public,” representatives from Community Hospital said Thursday. “People should monitor their health if they have had close contact with someone who has fever and symptoms of respiratory illness, such as cough or shortness of breath, after recent travel to a country in or near the Arabian Peninsula,” Daigle said.
Photo courtesy of AP
A file photo by the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases shows a colorized transmission of the MERS coronavirus that emerged in 2012.
Tips for reducing risk of disease: • Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds and help young children do the same. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then throw the tissue in the trash. • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. • Avoid close contact, such as kissing, sharing cups or sharing eating utensils, with sick people. • Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces such as toys and doorknobs. Source: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
10 | The DePaulia. May 12, 2014.
Nation &World
Photo courtesy of AP
South Africans protest in solidarity against the abduction three weeks ago of hundreds of schoolgirls in Nigeria by the Muslim extremist group Boko Haram and what protesters said was the failure of the Nigerian government and international community to rescue them, during a march to the Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg, South Africa on May 8.
Search continues for kidnapped girls in Nigeria By Clare Edlund Contributing Writer
Imagine a group of terrorists ambushing a local elementary school armed with guns and forcing all schoolgirls into an unknown vehicle. You quiver at the thought of more than 200 girls abducted and vanished, especially knowing that these young girls will be deprived of their education and sold for marriage or slavery. Imagine the guilt you would feel when this same group of terrorists warned a year ago that they would do this — and your country did not take action. This is precisely the ordeal Nigeria has faced since the abduction at an all-girls boarding school in rural northeastern Nigeria. Terror group Boko Haram, whose name means “Western education is forbidden," kidnapped 276 schoolgirls on April 16 and eight more this past Wednesday. Three weeks have passed since the first abduction, but it might not be the end. Boko Haram intends to kidnap more schoolgirls, as young as nine years old, to sell them for marriage. The group stated, “God has commanded me to sell,” according to Al Jazeera. However, the search has become complicated because the Boko Haram has likely split up, leaving about two girls per terrorist. Military officials are scattered throughout Nigeria in search of these schoolgirls, but none have been found. Parents are outraged, believing that the military is giving them false hope and treating them as “fools.” “This is a tragedy of horrific proportions, which I think is why it has captured attention around the globe,” DePaul sociology professor Robyn Brown said. Brown believes this is an important human rights issue that serves as a reminder of how many human rights issues are gender issues.
President Barack Obama offered military support last Wednesday to Nigeria’s president, Goodluck Jonathon, which he accepted. The military will conduct a “coordination cell," which will go into effect immediately, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said. The coordination cell comprises military personnel with hostage and negotiation experience. Britain, China and France have also offered to help search for the girls. According to the BBC, it is believed that the girls are being held captive in forested areas that extend from Chibok to Cameroon. CNN reports suggest that the girls were separated and removed from Nigeria to neighboring countries. “[The Boko Haram’s] intentions are to create mayhem,” DePaul Islamic studies professor Animah McCloud said. “It downgrades Nigeria’s global reputation.” Boko Haram’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, issued a warning about this very incident a year ago. He said he and his fighters would kidnap and sell the girls if they were not going to live by their principles. Because of this, there is controversy surrounding the Nigerian government and whether or not it took action prior to the kidnappings. Some sources say that officials did respond to the warning, but did not wish to disclose further information. Though the Boko Haram wants to stop the growth of education for young school girls, it also has a tendency to believe that its religion is superior to all. The group has been known to attack churches, schools and police stations, and has even assassinated its own kind. “At one point they wanted to overthrow the Christian government,” McCloud said. While the world is distraught by the actions of this terrorist group, steps must be taken to stop it and find the girls. “If we knew where they were, we would stop them," McCloud said. Brown noted that social media campaigns such as #BringBackOurGirls
Graphic courtesy of MCT
and #RealMenDontBuyGirls have been powerful, yet threatening to society. “Who do they serve?" she said. "What are the intended outcomes of these campaigns?” Brown said some are concerned that these campaigns may encourage U.S. military intervention, which could have
a “destabilizing and detrimental effect in Nigeria.” “While I’m horrified and appalled that we live in a global society which atrocities like this occur," she said, "I’m also somewhat heartened that this is a society in which some spirit of social justice also prevails.”
Nation & World. May 12, 2014. The DePaulia |11
ICYMI: What's happening in world news Report: Climate change already affecting U.S.
Syria rebels surrender strongholds in Homs
When it came time to deliver a new federal report detailing what global warming is doing to America and the dire forecast for the future, President Barack Obama turned to the pros who regularly deliver the bad news about wild weather: TV meteorologists. “We want to emphasize to the public, this is not some distant problem of the future. This is a problem that is affecting Americans right now,” Obama told “Today” show weathercaster Al Roker. Climate change’s assorted harms “are expected to become increasingly disruptive across the nation throughout this century and beyond,” the National Climate Assessment concluded, emphasizing the impact of too-wild weather as well as simple warming. Still, it's not too late to prevent the worst of climate change, says the 840-page report, which the Obama administration is highlighting as it tries to jump-start oftenstalled efforts to curb heat-trapping gases. The report looks at regional and statelevel effects of global warming, compared with recent reports from the United Nations that lumped all of North America together. The report says the intensity, frequency and duration of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes have increased since the early 1980s, but it is still uncertain how much of that is from man-made warming. Winter storms have increased in frequency and intensity and have shifted northward since the 1950s, it says. Also, heavy downpours are increasing — by 71 percent in the Northeast. Heat waves, such as those in Texas in 2011 and the Midwest in 2012, are projected to intensify nationwide.
Carrying their rifles and small bags of belongings, hundreds of exhausted Syrian rebels withdrew Wednesday from their last remaining strongholds in the heart of Homs, surrendering to President Bashar Assad a bloodstained city that was once the center of the revolt against him. For Assad, it is a powerful victory ahead of presidential elections. For the rebels, the dramatic exit after two years of enduring grueling assaults and siege captures their sense of abandonment amid world reluctance to help shift the balance of power on the ground. “We ate grass and leaves until there was nothing left for us to eat,” said opposition activist Abu Yassin al-Homsi, who was preparing to leave with the rebels later Wednesday. “We kept urging the international community to lift the siege but there was no response,” he added. The exit of some 1,200 fighters and civilians marks a de-facto end of the rebellion in the war shattered city, which was one of the first places to rise up against Assad's rule, earning its nickname as “the capital of the revolution.” Gaining virtually full control of Syria's third largest city is a major win for Assad on multiple levels. Militarily, it solidifies the government hold on a swath of territory in central Syria, linking the capital Damascus with government strongholds along the coast and giving a staging ground to advance against rebel territory further north. Politically, gains on the ground boost Assad's hold on power as he seeks to add a further claim of legitimacy in presidential elections set for June 3, which Western powers and the opposition have dismissed as a farce.
Photo courtesy of AP
This 2013 file photo shows Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel in Los Angeles.
Snapchat settles FTC charges saying it deceived customers, misrepresented 'disappearing' snaps Snapchat has agreed to settle with the Federal Trade Commission over charges that it deceived customers about the disappearing nature of messages sent through its service and that it collected users’ contacts without telling them or asking permission. Snapchat is a popular mobile messaging app that lets people send photos, videos and messages that disappear in a few seconds. But the FTC said Snapchat misled users about its data collection methods and failed to tell users that others could save their messages without their knowledge. Snapchat agreed to settle without admitting or denying any wrongdoing and
the company said it has addressed many of the issues the FTC raised. As part of the settlement, Snapchat must implement a privacy program that will be monitored by an outside privacy expert for the next 20 years. The arrangement is similar to privacy settlements that Google, Facebook and Myspace have agreed to in recent years. Although Snapchat said its app notified users when a recipient takes a screenshot of a “snap” they’ve sent, the FTC said recipients with an Apple device that runs an operating system that predates iOS 7 could evade the app’s screenshot detection. Apple's iOS7 launched last summer.
Content by The Associated Press Compiled by Haley BeMiller | The DePaulia
Email's release gives new life to Benghazi controversy By Brenden Moore Staff Writer
House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) announced last week the formation of a special house committee to further investigate the September 2012 attack on the U.S. embassy in Benghazi in light of what the GOP believes is new evidence of an alleged cover-up. In a press release, the speaker stated that the administration’s alleged withholding of emails showing potentially greater White House involvement “is a flagrant violation of trust and undermines the basic principles of oversight upon which our system of government is built.” He continued, “And it forces us to ask the question: What else about Benghazi is the Obama administration still hiding from the American people?” The email in question was written by Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes, who was giving talking points to then UN ambassador Susan Rice for her Sunday television appearances after the attack
occurred. One of the goals, according to the memo, was “to underscore that these protests are rooted in an internet video, and not a broader failure in policy.” Republicans believe that this is evidence of a cover-up by the administration. However, Democrats and observers of politics and foreign policy question the timing of forming such a committee as well as the necessity of it after several different investigations turned up nothing as controversial as a cover up. “This creation of a select committee is a joke,” Professor Scott Hibbard, an expert on American foreign policy who worked on Capitol Hill for eight years, said. “It’s politically motivated, and it has less to do with American foreign policy than it does to do with the midterm elections in 2014 and the presidential election of 2016.” This is the general feeling among Democrats, who insist that the email sheds no new light on the attack. Many within the caucus have indicated a desire to
boycott the committee altogether, while some are worried that if they do not take part, Republicans will be able to criticize the administration without rebuttal. The political calculation is crucial for both parties given the midterm elections that are coming up in November. The Republicans have a decent chance at capturing the majority in the Senate and making gains in the House. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has not yet decided whether or not she will appoint members of her caucus to serve on the committee. Republicans have proposed a 7-5 split between Republicans and Democrats respectively. However, Pelosi has stated that for the committee to be truly bipartisan, it should be split evenly. “The panel should be equally divided between Democrats and Republicans as is done on the House Ethics Committee,” she said. “It should require that witnesses are called and interviewed, subpoenas are issued and information is shared on a
Photo courtesy of AP
Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, followed by House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., leaves a closed-door Republican strategy meeting at the Capitol. bipartisan basis. Only then could it be fair.” Republicans have been urging Boehner to take this step for quite some time. While there have been multiple investigations conducted, many within the party believe that the administration is being uncooperative and is withholding documents. Hibbard, however, believes that Benghazi is nothing compared to Iraq, Iran-contra or Watergate. “It’s a tragedy, it’s not a crime,” he said. “If you want a real scandal, look at why there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and why we went to war
based upon intelligence that was consciously manipulated by an office in the Pentagon. That’s a scandal.” The political ramifications for this year are very evident. However, some wonder if there will be any consequences for Hillary Clinton as she contemplates a presidential run in 2016. “I would argue that this is all short-term damage,” Hibbard said. “Obama’s foreign policy is not going to hinge on Benghazi.” “Benghazi is a footnote,” he added. “I mean in terms of where American foreign policy is going, it is so minor.”
12 | The DePaulia. May 12, 2014
Opinions Dollars, but not sense Fiscal irresponsibility abounds in SGA budget By One DePaul It has recently come to our attention that the budget for the DePaul Student Government Association (SGA) is not published for a general audience. As an elected body, the SGA should be held accountable to the student body, particularly regarding how they spend tuition dollars. Considering that the role of the SGA is to represent student interests, we were curious as to why its budget is not more easily accessible so that students can hold their representatives responsible. We obtained a recent copy of the SGA budget and we came across a few questionable purchases that could potentially be the reason for — or a consequence of — not publically releasing the budget and making it readily available. The notable lack of transparency only gets worse with a closer look at the budget. Many of the descriptions are vague, but there are a handful of purchases from Staples with no specific information beyond the vendor. They either simply offer order numbers or no description at all. One nondescript order alone totals $884 and, along with the 9 others, the total comes to over $1,200. This very well may be made up of Sharpies, Post-it notes and printer paper, but the blatant lack of specificity is what attracted our attention.
We noticed a few charges for which we couldn’t help but question why SGA funds were used to pay for them. There are three reported expenses — from the end of July, midAugust and mid-September — for $60 each and described as “Casey CTA card.” There are also two additional $40 CTA charges from Dec. 31 and one $40 Ventra charge from midJanuary. We’re not familiar with the policy, but the use of SGA funds to pay for the general public transit expenses of the student body president or of any other member of student government seems questionable. The budget also indicates that about $30 went to reimburse Casey Clemmons, the SGA president, for a birthday gift for Fr. Holtschneider. We realize that pointing out a mere $30 seems a bit nitpicky, but we couldn’t quite figure out why our student government would use its funds to pay for a birthday gift for an administrator. In addition to the questionable expenses, we couldn’t help but notice a few expenses that just seem plain wasteful. The first thing that stood out to us was the nearly $500 spent to purchase fonts for SGA computers. We fail to see how this is a necessary or beneficial way to spend tuition dollars. The money spent on the “SGA Guidebook,” one of
PHOTO COURTESY OF ONE DEPAUL
Part of a recent copy of the SGA's budget, with some of the more contentious acts of spending highlighted by members of One DePaul. the SGA’s self-proclaimed major accomplishments of the year, also seems unnecessary. The guidebook, according to the 2014 SGA Winter Quarter Newsletter and a DePaulia article from April 20, is a nearly 50-page booklet to provide “essential information” to SGA members. We were not aware that such a thing existed and upon looking into it further, we’re not entirely sure that it should at an expense of $1,679.
It seems to us that distributing a PDF version of this guidebook would be a much more economical and environmentally sustainable option. We fully acknowledge that there may be perfectly reasonable explanations for each and every one of the above expenses, and if there are, we would be happy to hear them. As students at DePaul and constituents of the SGA, we feel that we have the
right to be more aware of how our student representatives spend our tuition dollars. Hosting informational sessions to make DePaul’s budgeting process more transparent was another one of the SGA’s major accomplishments of the year. We would suggest that the SGA consider making similar sessions regarding the student government budget a major accomplishment for next year.
Compostable containers on campus a wise move By Emily Walsh Contributing Writer
It’s 11:10 a.m. and I’m starving. My 9:40 class just let out and I proceed to join the heavy flow of traffic heading straight for the Student Center. All the food lines are already packed so I choose to get a salad. That line moves pretty quickly. I have class in the Loop in 30 minutes so I plan on taking it back to my room. The salad bar presents a wondrous assortment of healthy greens, bright veggies, sources of fiber, protein, iron and all-around goodness. But in order to enjoy this emblem of healthiness and natural goodness, I have to put it in a plastic container with a Styrofoam plate lid and eat it with plastic silverware. DePaul University makes the credible claim of being an environmentally conscious university. We have things like LEED certified buildings, solar panels and green roofs. The Princeton Review’s Guide to 322 Green Colleges listed DePaul three years in a row, saying that DePaul has taken “significant strides toward becoming more environmentally sustainable through green building initiatives, conservation efforts, use of alternative energy sources
BILL MCCHESNEY | CREATIVE COMMONS
Each year non-compostable plastics take up over 25 percent of landfill space, according to the Earth Resource Foundation. and academic programs.” On DePaul’s dining webpage, there is a picture that illustrates the Balanced U wellness programming. It’s separated into four categories: eat green, build green, return green, run green. It clearly organizes the different programs that DePaul works with to be as sustainable as possible. A number of their products are sustainable and they encourage the use of washable dishes or baskets instead of Styrofoam or plastic. They also offer composting in the Student Center for leftover food. All of that is pretty great, but then why is DePaul still using plastic and Styrofoam products? It’s time to make DePaul even better than it already is. As a community,
we have the willpower and the mindset to accomplish more. We have to introduce new ideas into the mix. How can we become more sustainable in how our food is being served and how we deal with the waste afterward? If people want to-go containers, why not use something other than plastic and Styrofoam for them? They could even bring their own containers and DePaul could give them a small discount to add incentive. Companies like BioWare and ECO Products manufacture sustainable packaging products like plates and bowls out of sugarcane with lids made from 100 percent recycled contents. Sometimes it’s hard to make a
change, especially when it calls upon people to make a personal initiative. As a university, we have the power of impact. We can be the ones to set an example for other places. If DePaul implemented compostable containers, napkins and silverware into the Student Center, it would mean that anyone who goes into the Student Center for food and discards it there afterward would be benefiting the environment. According to Green Lodging News, compostable products “require less energy to produce” while showing how “committed you are to sustainability.” People would be helping out without even knowing it. There are about 4,000 students living on campus alone. If you assume that all of them eat every meal at the Student Center and use plastic with each meal, compostable products would reduce a significant amount of waste for a single day at the Student Center. Can you picture the results? The power of the individual makes an impact. Now let’s bring it to university scale.
This is only part of the full article, which can be found online at www. depauliaonline.com/opinions.
Opinions. May 12, 2014. The DePaulia | 13
America's Greek Muslims By Sanjana Karanth
A few thoughts about the new phenomenon of Islamic fraternities
Contributing Writer
Greek life: one of American colleges’ most prominent features. Fundraisers for various philanthropies are spread out on campuses nationwide, as “bigs” anxiously wait to find out who their “littles” are so new friendships can form. With the formation of brotherhoods and sisterhoods growing popular among college students, Greek life is expanding its traditional image with the relatively new trend of ethnic or multicultural fraternities and sororities. The most recent addition to the branch of ethnic Greek life is the Muslim fraternity. Select students of University of California, San Diego (UCSD) teamed up to create the United States’ very first Muslim fraternity, Alpha Lambda Mu. The fraternity chose this name because of its relation to the letters that are very much part of the Quran: Alif Laam Meem. Following UCSD’s example, multiple other colleges and universities such as University of Texas at Dallas, Cornell University and Penn State University have either started an Alpha Lambda Mu chapter or are highly considering it. According to the New York Times, the UCSD Alpha Lambda Mu initiation process was completely different than what an average Greek fraternity is used to, with the 13 pledges reciting the Quran and applying the different values of Islam to both their personal and educational lives. What does this mean for the Muslim community in America? Is this a step forward for them or possibly another way to further separate them from the rest of society? Steven Gomez, president of DePaul’s Latino fraternity
MARK BOSTER | MCT CAMPUS
Members from the Council on American-Islamic Relations listen to college students discuss bullying of Muslims. Some think that the establishment of Muslim fraternities could have a role in making Islamic expression more acceptable in mainstream society. Lambda Theta Phi, thinks it will be difficult but beneficial. “I think it’s a good thing, I mean I don’t see why it would be bad,” Gomez said. “With having these different types of organizations there’s a lot of separation; people tend to stay to themselves and with their own group. But most organizations are meant to give you a base, so that you can feel comfortable to go outside the group.” DePaul Islamic Studies research assistant Michael Ortolano is hesitant but curious about the Muslim fraternity growth. “It could offer a different dynamic in terms of how those things are thought, because popularly I think people associate frats with parties and bars and large amounts of alcohol consumption.” With the chapters of Alpha Lambda Mu trying to fit into Greek life, the big difference shows when the brothers of the Muslim fraternity must throw parties with only men, while staying sober and celibate. This follows the values of Islam, and therefore the values of Alpha Lambda Mu. Can a Muslim fraternity even come close to fitting into Greek life without following certain Greek
traditions? Will this prevent Muslim fraternities from fitting in with other fraternities because of different values? “It could change the image (of Greek life) for sure,” Gomez said. “If they are able to educate other members in the Greek community about why they do that instead of not explaining it…they will have a better understanding of who we (ethnic fraternities) are.” The UT Dallas chapter of Alpha Lambda Mu has already made strides in educating others about the values of the fraternity by creating a comedic YouTube show called Kufi Krew, so that all stereotypical and uneducated assumptions about Muslims are erased and others can become more culturally aware of what the fraternity is about. Ortolano had a different perspective, saying that Muslims creating a fraternity and joining Greek life is more of a “whitening” dilemma, and that a fraternity is unnecessary to be a proud Muslim. “There should be an absolute embrace of difference. Playing to the dominant mold of society will never allow you to take away that rule, it only ever defines it more.” Although it may not be a
CANDICE C. CUSIC | MCT CAMPUS
Students drinking at a fraternity house. Critics fear that the stereotypical dynamic of Greek life may demean the identity of Muslims or prevent them from fitting into the Greek system. popular opinion, I would agree While both Gomez and with Ortolano’s remarks on Otolano agreed that it is possible the fraternity growth. While for a Muslim fraternity to start it’s all well and good that these at DePaul, both students were Muslim students feel a sense hesitant about its effectiveness of brotherhood within this and ease. With a low number of fraternity, I think that a chapter chapters and brothers, it would in Greek life is not necessary be very difficult for the fraternity to display that. A group of to get off the ground. Another dedicated Muslim students do issue would be that it’s difficult not have to join something like to tell who is Muslim and who is Greek life in order to keep up not since one cannot necessarily with their faith; it even seems like tell from physical characteristics, the wrong organization to do so. making recruitment tough. Furthermore, the fact that so The success of Muslim many of Greek life’s traditions fraternities across America are not being followed by the is still difficult to determine Muslim fraternity would only because of its early stage, but further separate them and the growth in Greek life among narrow down opportunities for followers of Islam is a shaky issue interaction with other fraternities because of the dissimilarities in and sororities. This would create Muslim traditions and Greek life an awkward relationship between traditions. In my opinion, the them and almost isolate these male Muslim student community Muslim students more than should definitely embrace their before the fraternity was created. brotherhood, but not through With enough support and the Greek life organization. understanding from Greek life, “I think the minor position is Muslim communities and the the privileged position,” Ortolano rest of the school, this concept said, “but only if you embrace it.” could grow. However, I feel it will be highly unlikely.
Northwestern unionization struggles may affect those beyond football By Zoe Krey Staff Writer
When people think of unions, perhaps they most commonly picture workers on strike during the Industrial Revolution waving picket signs that call for better working conditions, higher minimum wages and shorter work weeks. Pivotal vocabulary words from high school history classes such as Knights of Labor and the American Federation of Labor might even ring a bell. Or one might think of teachers’ unions that often appear in the media as they advocate for higher salaries and more benefits. Or maybe how the Democratic Party is often associated with labor unions, as labor unions constitute a significant part of the Democrat’s coalition. The point here is that not many people picture touchdowns, field goals and tailgating when they think about unions — until recently. As of late, Northwestern football players voted on whether or not to
unionize. This decision comes in response to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruling that Northwestern football players have the right to unionize. The Northwestern football team’s vote on whether or not to unionize has not been released to the public yet. However, regardless of their vote, the effects of Northwestern’s struggle to unionize transcends their final decision. CNN reports, “Advocates of (unionization) argue that college athletes deserve to be treated like employees because they already receive pay in the form of scholarships, work between 20 and 50 hours per week and generate millions of dollars for their schools.” More specifically, the NCAA rakes in approximately $800 million in annual revenue. To college players, these funds are inaccessible and might as well be nonexistent. The question of what will happen to other private schools’ collegiate football teams is only the tip of the iceberg in unionization efforts. Northwestern’s efforts
could result in huge implications for not just football, but potentially basketball, baseball or other popular sports. Additionally, what about other types of students who put in long hours to benefit the university that potentially strain their current and future health? The highpressure environments of competitive places such as Ivy League schools can cause major stress, anxiety, depression, and even suicide among students. An argument could be made that the students keep the school’s academic statistics high and the institution prestigious, while putting their own mental health is at risk. According to the Northwestern football players’ argument, the revenue they bring into the school — CHRIS SWEDA | MCT CAMPUS although it can’t be seen as directly as what Northwestern quarterback Kain Colter, collegiate athletes bring in — contributes who is leading the effort for unionization. to the school’s funding. The contribution payoff is so big that giving students a This is only part of the full article, scholarship — in this case, a merit-based which can be found online at www. one — isn’t enough. But is giving them depauliaonline.com/opinions. the right to unionize too much?
The opinions in this section do not necessarily reflect those of The DePaulia staff.
14 | The DePaulia. May 12, 2014
Focus
Suburban
spraw
By Isabel Corona Contributing Writer
It’s almost summer, which means you’ll soon have plenty of free time to explore and try new things around the city. While Chicago has an abundance of events throughout the summer — ranging from music festivals to farmers markets to parades — sometimes it’s nice to escape the noise of the city and relax in a quiet town. Instead of joining the hot, sweaty crowds at busy urban festivals, head out to the suburbs for some post-finals relaxation. With so many different suburbs surrounding Chicago, it can be hard to pick which ones to visit. Here’s a list of some of Chicagoland’s gems. Some you can reach by Metra. For others, you’ll need a car. But despite the distance, they’re well worth the trip.
Aurora
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Photo courtesy of Creative Commons
All right, this town is actually more of a city, and people often disregard it in favor of its more upscale neighbor, Naperville, but Aurora can hold its own. Many of Aurora’s buildings and parks have strong historical roots. While the city isn’t as small as it used to be, in the last few years, it has been trying to revert to its quaint identity by fixing up the downtown area.
Where to go The Paramount Theatre: As part of the fixing up of downtown Aurora, the city is bringing in a bit of Broadway. This theater offers famous stage productions every season, such as the recent productions of “Les Misérables” and “Mary Poppins.” The theater was also used in the gangster film “Public Enemies.”
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Phillips Park Zoo: Not only does the park offer a variety of animals to see for free, but it also features a beautiful sunken garden full of blooming flowers in the warm weather. Next to the garden, there is a small museum featuring some of the mastodons found in the lake, which has a small island in the middle with a large-mammal-themed playground.
Photo courtesy of Creative Commons
TOP: A display from the Sycamore Pumpkin Festival. RIGHT: The Sycamore Historic District.
Blackberry Farm: From attending an 1880s-style classroom to visiting a blacksmith shop from the 1900s to watching war reenactments during Civil War Days, the farm offers many ways to revisit the past. Blackberry Farm also hosts many of the city’s biggest events, such as the annual Pumpkin Weekend.
Waukegan
Sycamore
Photo courtesy of Creative Commo
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Home of “Fahrenheit 451” author Ray Bradbury, Waukegan is often referenced in his works as Green Town. Perfect for the summer days, the city has its own beach on Lake Michigan. Jane Ferry, the executive director of Waukegan Main Street, says Waukegan is embracing the arts with an increase in art galleries.
Where to go Ray Bradbury Park: Dedicated to the late author, this park draws from his descriptions of Green Town, including an old staircase on the opposite side of the ravine, from “Dandelion Wine” and “Farewell Summer.” At night, however, the atmosphere changes. “It takes on a creepy air and you hear noises and the wind is blowing and branches are squeaking,” Ferry said.
isabel Corona | the depaulia
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TOP: The Paramount Theatre in Aurora. RIGHT: The Phillips Park Zoo in Aurora. BOTTOM: Boats along the shore of the Illinois River in Morris.
Genesee Theatre: Opened in 1927, the theater has become a historic site in the city. After being closed for more than a decade, the theater reopened and has sold out shows with some famous actors, such as Bill Cosby. The theater has since been renovated, but while many changes have been made, it still holds onto its history. According to Ferry, the place is believed to be haunted. ArtWauk: The city began an art gallery series in 2002 that grew into ArtWauk, a monthly showcasing of the work of local artists in local buildings. With about 10 locations stretched along Genesee Street, the walk is a wonderful way to show support for the local artists while also having a museum-like experience.
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Morris Photo courtesy of Creative Commons
Focus. May 12, 2014. The DePaulia | 15
Woodstock
wling
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This city houses many sites to visit that will seem familiar because the city was the primary filming location for the popular 1993 film “Groundhog Day.” One of Woodstock’s greatest assets is its rural landscape. Woodstock and McHenry County have a strong dedication to preservation and a growing list of saved structures, according to Kurt Begalka, an administrator at the McHenry County Historical Society. The quiet city of Woodstock offers a break from the technology driven Chicago. “They may not always realize it when they’re younger, but people start to realize the value of history,” Begalka said.
Where to go Woodstock Opera House: One of the locations used for “Groundhog Day,” the historic theater still holds many concerts throughout the year. The Opera House has been a staple in the city since it was built in 1889, although it used to house City Hall, the fire department and the library. Most of the building remains intact, but it has had many restorations.
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Old McHenry County Courthouse: Although the county courthouse is no longer a part of the county’s government, the building is still used. Built in 1887, it currently offers fine dining, studio spaces, a music academy and an art gallery. Erin yarnall | the depaulia
Erin yarnall | the depaulia
FAR LEFT: The Woodstock Opera House. LEFT: The Genesee Theatre in Waukegan. TOP: Ray Bradybury Park in Waukegan.
Woodstock Square: The historic square is the perfect place to shop after visiting the opera house and the old courthouse. Many festivals and fairs are held in the square throughout the year, as well as the annual Groundhog Days festival celebrating the film.
Sycamore
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The city of Sycamore has more than 200 different buildings or structures considered historically significant. In 1978 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It also has the annual Sycamore Pumpkin Festival, which began after a local displayed decorated pumpkins on his lawn. Sycamore is also one of the last cities with penny meters, making parking a breeze.
Where to go Sycamore History Museum: Visitors of this museum can attend a variety of events, such as the “Garden Story Time” in one of the many gardens or the monthly “Brown Bag Lunch” event that corresponds with a new exhibit and features lectures about the topic. They also have different rooms dedicated to different eras, from pioneer times to the Gilded Age. Midwest Museum of Natural History: Originally a Universalist Church, the structure became a museum in 2004 thanks to residents who wanted to give the old structure a facelift. Among the exhibits are a collection of taxidermy animals from all over the world and a small section of real animals in the Reptile Hallway.
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Ogilvie Station Union Station
Sycamore Historic District: Just under 100 acres, this stretch of land has almost 200 buildings from the last couple of centuries. Many of the structures include the DeKalb County Courthouse and the Sycamore Public Library. While many of the buildings’ facades have changed through the years, they have maintained their charming character.
Morris Getting to Sycamore and Morris Sycamore and Morris are on the fringes of Chicagoland. They are not accessible by Metra, but they are each worth a visit. If you don’t have your own car, don’t worry. There are other ways to get there. Zipcar For $8.25 an hour or $75 a day, DePaul students can pool together and make a day trip to either suburb.
isabel Corona | the depaulia
Relay Rides An alternative form of car rental, you can negotiate with a car owner in the Chicago area and borrow their car for the day. This way you can customize your car and price.
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Known for being home to the Grundy County Corn Festival every fall, Morris is a place to explore Illinois’s rich history. The small-town charm is the city’s main draw, according to Donna Sroczynski, the president of the Grundy County Historical Society and Museum. “New residents today are drawn to the area by the history of the charm by the downtown district,” Sroczynski said. “The traditions of education, faith, commerce and family continue to make Morris a close-knit community.”
Where to go Grundy County Historical Society and Museum: An 1890’s living room, a dry goods store, a tool shed with vintage tools and map of Grundy County genealogy are all available in this museum. There is currently a teddy bear exhibit on display to commemorate the 100th birthday of the beloved toy. Stepping foot in this museum is like stepping into a time machine. Red Cedar Pole: Believed to be the grave of Chief Nucquette, no one is really sure how this pole got to Morris. Although time and weather has worn off the etchings, the pole currently stands by the Grundy Courthouse. Morris Antique Emporium: Built in 1879, this building has three floors and two lofts full of antiques. With furniture, Civil War items and Native American artifacts, there’s something for everyone at this establishment.
16 | The DePaulia. May 12, 2014
Arts & Life
Don't Even:
By Serena Phillips Contributing Writer
Every runway season there are new trends that the “fashion world” says are cool, hip and “en vogue,” and every year, many of these acclaimed trends simply should never see the light of day. Some are just completely played out, and others are walking eyesores. By all means take fashion risks and be unique, but avoid these trends at all costs. 1. The Midi Skirt: These skirts only look good on the tall, thin, model-esque type, so if you are short, curvy or even just the average woman, good luck not looking like an Amish girl who is trying to become a fashion queen. The midi-skirt hits the middle of the calf, which tends to cut a woman’s silhouette in half instead of elongating her frame. If you do choose to wear this trend, avoid flat shoes like the plague and reach only for a heel to give the illusion of length. 2. Holographic Clothing: What’s worse than the midi skirt? A holographic midi-skirt … or a holographic anything for that matter. Fabric can make or break a piece of clothing, but holographic fabric is sure to ruin any item no matter how well it fits. This trend was big on the major fashion runways this past spring and reproduced by mass retailers like Forever21, but if you don’t want to look like a walking space cadet, then you should leave it there. 3. Transparent Rain Jacket: Another fabric choice faux-pas is
the transparent rain jacket. We get it, it’s raining. And you want your raincoat to be waterproof, obviously, but there are so many other choices than see-through plastic. Chances are you aren’t at a theme park about to embark on a thrilling ride where you’re going to get soaked and you just had to buy a disposable poncho. And let’s be real, whatever you have going on under your transparent trench isn’t so fabulous that you just MUST to let people see it even if you have your coat on. Instead, go for a classic, well-fitting, double-breasted trench coat. If you are looking for something a little more fashion forward and unique, try a mixed media coat, which brings together the ultracool vibe of leather, along with the practicality and classic look of your traditional waterproof trench. 4. Socks and Sandals: If you have a friend that tries to convince you this season that sandals and socks are ok to wear because they are on-trend, run. They are not your friend. This look should be reserved for out-of-place middleaged men on vacation at some kind of Disney resort or possibly a bad Key West all-inclusive hotel. Is it too cold to wear sandals? Ok, then don’t! There is no need to use layers on your feet unless you’re facing another polar vortex, and they make snow boots for that. Choose a season for your feet and stick to it. If it’s warm, then by all means, rock a cute sandal, but if it’s not, then please go with a closed-toe shoe.
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Photo courtesy of FOREVER 21
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Four fashion trends to avoid
Photo courtesy of SHECLICK.COM
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Arts & Life. May 12, 2014. The DePaulia | 17
Trouble in Teenland Just like your junior prom date, James Franco's 'Palo Alto' looks good, but ultimately disappoints
Photo courtesy of TRIBECA FILMS
Emma Roberts as April in the film adaptation of "Palo Alto," which began as a series of stories written by James Franco.
By Andrew Morrell Arts & Life Editor
It's been nearly 60 years since Nabokov's "Lolita" plumbed the depths of human complexity by exploring a romance between two people unequal in age but perhaps more similar in actual maturity. Thanks to cable news, modernity's crowning achievement, we now have incidences of high school student/teacher relationships vaguely etched on our conscience — we don't remember the names or faces but we can certainly recall the circumstances. In a time where teens are expected to know more about sex at an earlier age, and when traditional cultural mores are crumbling, there's certainly more to say on the matter of unequal age relationships since "Lolita." Unfortunately, despite some good acting and stellar visuals, James Franco's "Palo Alto" doesn't end up saying much at all. Perhaps this comparison to Nabokov's classic is not a fair one. "Palo Alto" follows late high-schooler April (Emma Roberts), apparently a virgin, as she gets entangled with her soccer coach, Mr. B. (Franco). The sexual tension between them is painfully, bluntly obvious from the first 10 minutes of the movie — even April's friends joke that he clearly "wants her," and sure enough, he creepily comes on, asking if she could babysit his kid. You want
to hope, at this early stage of the movie, that you are wrong about predicting exactly what is going to happen from this point forward. Sadly, the most obvious conclusions come true — she sleeps with him, they maintain a relationship, she gets jealous, some fighting, etc. etc. Unlike "Palo Alto"s droning plot, I will save you from having to read the rest of this review and just tell you now that there are no surprises in this movie, try as it might to fabricate them. But for some reason, for all the pathological gold that waits to be mined with a concept like this, the student/ teacher relationship doesn't even get the most screentime in "Palo Alto." What's given more weight is April's ellipsoidal relationship with Teddy, which turns out to be the more worthwhile plot points. Teddy, played by Jack Kilmer (Val Kilmer's son), is a wayward teen like the rest of them, who falls in and out of love at the drop of a bra. One night, though, he happens upon Emily at one of many massive parties that the movie portrays. They venture out and commit some zany teenage shenanigans, carving a heart into a tree and all that, but still remain platonic. Throughout the movie they drift to and from each other, both of them clearly showing mutual infatuation masked beneath a veneer of levelheadedness, normalcy. By the end they finally seem to
get together, though the bond seems weak, but the way they get there is hopelessly romantic. This is probably the best part of the film, yet it seemed tangential to most of the stuff that happened in between. We get other storylines too, including the fake romance between Emily and Fred — the former a shy girl who gets boys to like her by fellating them, and the latter a perhaps sociopathic kid who enjoys the power trip of having her around. Fred actually gets one of the best lines in the movie towards the end, when he remarks that after all is said and done, women just eat men alive like black widow spiders. Besides the fleeting story between Teddy and Emily, this is the closest the film gets to any real poigance. The rest is obscured by utter predictability and a very narrow narrative. The visuals make the movie more interesting than the sum of its parts, and yet still go a little off the deep end in a way that did not make me take it seriously. The DP made good use of the wide-medium shot to emphasize emotional distance between the characters, such as in the scene where Teddy and Fred cut down the tree that Teddy sentimentally carved into with Emily. At times, though, we see shots that seem from another world — someone in a bunny costume comes out of nowhere, the sex scene between Mr. B. and Emily includes uncomfortable shots of her
FEST, continued from front page middle act, following Washed Out. Local Natives performed at Lollapalooza last summer, and the band’s music sounds similar to Washed Out’s. Both have alternative and indie rock influences, though Local Natives differs in its collaborative sound from its various instruments. “I got to see Local Natives at Lollapalooza last summer, and they put on a great show,” said Hogikyan. DePaul’s Battle of the Bands second winner, Overdo$e, will open the After Hours event following FEST at 9:30 p.m. The night will close with the Canadian EDM duo Adventure Club as After Hours’ headliner. Students were just as excited about Adventure Club as they were for Childish Gambino. DePaul students and staff voted for the lineup through DAB’s survey that was open for two weeks. The winners of the
survey heavily influence DAB’s decision on the performers; however, DAB’s final decision took into account both DePaul community feedback and event feasibility, Marconet said. In addition to Childish Gambino, survey options for FEST headliner included performers and groups such as Fitz & The Tantrums and the Arctic Monkeys. Bastille and Iggy Azalea were two of the several options for FEST’s middle act, and Washed Out beat out performers like the Plain White T’s and ZZ Ward to open the event. Alternate After Hours headliner survey options included Boyz Noize and Ratatat Club. Marconet said this year’s FEST is mainly building on last year’s event. “We’ve gotten to a point where we know what we need to improve on,” she said. For example, DAB has built up their social media presence.
blinking, or something. These contrasted from the rest of the visuals, and perhaps that was the intent. But they simply didn't look good, and reminded me more of a film that is trying too hard. Maybe if the film had more substance in terms of plot this would've made more sense. But maybe this is the whole point. Perhaps Franco and Gia Coppola have duped me into thinking that "Palo Alto" could be something more than it actually is: a film about f***ed up people, a film where kids live in strife and if the adults show up they only make things worse. I wonder if the city of Palo Alto, which I assume is where this film takes place, is really like this. I also wonder, if the recent melodrama surrounding Franco's alleged attempt to meet up with an underage girl on Instagram has anything to do with this movie. That whole incident is worthy of at least another 750 words, and it's hard to speculate what was actually going on in that situation. In my opinion, it happened too close to this movie debuting for it to not have been a hoax, some kind of weird attention grab. I think it speaks volumes about the kind of world "Palo Alto" portrays, a fantasy land or parallel universe that revolves around ours, occasionally colliding and producing the kind of drama that causes your best friend's dad to hit on you, or a movie star to apologize on a talk show.
Local Natives
Childish Gambino Photo courtesy of CHILDISH GAMBINO
The DAB Facebook account is more accessible for any questions or concerns students may have. Marconet encourages anyone who would like to stay updated or involved with FEST to attend DAB general meetings. FEST is only open to current DePaul students, and tickets cost $10. Tickets will be on sale from Monday May 12 through Friday May 16 and available for purchase in the Lincoln Park Student Center and the DePaul Center in the Loop.
Photo courtesy of LOCAL NATIVES
Washed Outo
Photo courtesy of STEREOGUM.COM
18 | The DePaulia. May 12, 2014
'Gang Related' debut shows promise By Eric Domingo Contributing Writer
Chris Morgan, writer for the movies “Wanted” and “Fast Five,” has come out with a new television show on Fox called “Gang Related.” At Kerasotes Showplace Icon in Chicago, a premiere was released to eager fans that were excited for the debut. There wasn’t an empty seat in the theater, and guests were greeted by special guest RZA, “Gang Related” star and rapper. Fans screamed with excitement as RZA thanked guests for coming and reassured that the two episodes were going to be great. The first episode began with orphan Ryan Lopez (Ramon Rodriguez) being saved by Javier Acosta (Cliff Curtis), gang lord of Los Angelicos. A gang was going to take Lopez’s watch, but Acosta prevented them from doing serious damage to the boy. Acosta admired Lopez and wanted to bring him in the Los Angelicos family. After Acosta takes Lopez in, he puts Lopez on a path to become a LAPD officer. Lopez joins the army and eventually gets into the LAPD Gang Task Force. One night after Lopez finished up his shift with his partner, Officer Tanner, they find themselves at a bar where Tanner wants to play renegade cop and pursue a street tagger. Tanner chases the tagger into an empty warehouse alone and gets shot by Carlos Acosta, Javier’s son. Once Lopez reaches Tanner’s body, he finds Carlos at the scene. Lopez is unsure
how to react due to the sadness of his dead partner and anger he feels towards Carlos. Carlos reacts and shoots Lopez in the shoulder and knocks him out. After Lopez wakes in the hospital, he immediately goes to Javier to talk about what Carlos did. Javier tells Lopez it was an accident, but Lopez believes Carlos did it purposely. Eventually Lopez’s Gang Task Force finds out Carlos shot Tanner and pursues him at his house. After Lopez’s team captures Carlos, Lopez knows the gun Carlos shot Tanner with is in the house. He finds it and hides it in his bulletproof vest. Lopez starts to feel that Carlos is a threat to the Los Angelicos family and secretly plans a hit on Carlos. He uses a rival gang called the Lords to shoot Carlos in front of a strip club. The episode ends with Lopez’s loyalty being unclear. Does he protect his Los Angelicos family or is he starting to believe he really is a cop? The second episode begins with Lopez discovering Carlos is not dead. The injury of Carlos also raised anger in the Los Angelicos gang against the Lords. Javier wants to plan a full out attack on them, but Javier’s wife makes him promise not to. She doesn’t want another member of their family to be injured and encourages Javier to let it go. Lopez’s struggle really heightens as he is trying to do his job and deal with the incident with Carlos. He’s trying to protect his Los Angelicos family by preventing a war with the Lords, while also trying to
Photo courtesy of FOX
From left, Terry O'Quinn, Sung Kang, RZA and Ramon Rodriguez in FOX Television's new crime drama "Gang Related." catch the criminals who shot Carlos. He’s also trying to prevent anyone finding out he planned the hit. Eventually the shooters were caught, but not everything is solved. The Acostas find out that Carlos has no feeling from his waste down. Enraged from the news of his son, Javier breaks his promise to his wife and retaliates against the Lords. The episode ends with Javier planning a stabbing in the prison where the shooters were kept and igniting a war between the Lords and the Los Angelicos. After the premiere ended, you could
hear a dozen people saying, “That episode was great,” and “I can’t wait for that show to come out on Fox.” Hopes are extremely high as fans are anxiously awaiting the Thursday, May 22, 8 p.m. premiere on Fox. “The episode was great! There was a lot of excitement and it was put together very well,” Kate Snyder, an event attendee, said. “I really liked the episode. It was written very well, and I can’t wait for it to come out on Fox,” Nancy Babentir, another individual who attended the premiere event, said.
Sound the alarm: 'The Muslims are Coming!' A new film hopes to fight Islamophobia with comedy
By Jordan Sarti Contributing Writer
Tuesday night, directors and co-stars Negin Farsad and Dean Obeidallah screened their film “The Muslims are Coming!” at DePaul's Student Center. Though Farsad described the audience as “small but mighty,” the Q&A session afterwards brought up some interesting themes in their work. “The Muslims are Coming!” documents a campaign to combat Islamophobia with comedy. Farsad, Obeidallah and other Muslim-American comedians travelled through the South, making stops to host stand-up events and interact with locals. It was named the Audience Award Winner at Austin Film Festival 2012. Their official goal was to “present an Americanized face of Islam” and improve relations between Muslim-Americans and the rest of the country. Farsad had a commanding yet bubbly presence. She wore red plastic glasses with her short hair twisted into two club kid buns. Obeidallah presented himself in a more conventional fashion, looking every bit the lawyer he was before he turned to comedy. The film was projected onto the wall above the multi-purpose room's stage between heavy beige curtains. About 20 people attended.
Photo courtesy of SABRINA RUSH
Negin Farsad, who spoke alongside Dean Obedeallah at the screening of "The Muslims are Coming!" in the Student Center on DePaul's Lincoln Park campus May 6. The film followed the comedians from Columbus, Ga., to Salt Lake City. In Lawrenceville, Ga., they set up an “Ask a Muslim” booth and opened dialogue with passersby. In another small town, they hosted a “Bowl with a Muslim” event. They recorded all their interactions: A shopkeeper asked them what they thought of 9/11, to which they dubiously replied that it was awful. Their mission was to reduce stigma by making Islam more accessible to Christian Americans in the Deep
South. At one point, they went to the American Family Association headquarters uninvited. They recorded a conversation with general manager Dr. Buster Williams, debating interpretations of the New Testament and Quran. Their journey is broken up by commentary from celebrities such as Jon Stewart, David Cross and Rachel Maddow, among others. They discussed Sharia law, women's rights and terrorism from a light, yet socially aware,
vantage point. After the 80-minute film ended, Farsad and Obeidallah answered questions. Farsad said off-camera that Buster Williams told them that he had less of a problem with Muslims than homosexuals. “We joked about calling the film ‘The Muslims are Coming: At Least We're Not Gay,’” she said. When asked what the most ridiculous question they received was, Obeidallah said, “We had hours of unused footage, but most
people asked the same questions. I don't care what the question is, I would rather we answer it than Fox News answer it.” He went on to compare Fox News’ coverage of Muslims to anti-Semitic propaganda in Nazi Germany. An audience member asked Farsad how she dealt with criticism and “slut shaming” from the Muslim community. In the film, a group of Muslim women in hijabs walk out during her routine, presumably because of the openly sexual nature of her material. “The best thing to do for immigrant communities in general is to be really honest about your life,” Farsad said. She believes being outspoken about her choices will empower other Muslim-American women to live without shame. However, the response they've gotten from the Muslim community has been overwhelmingly positive. Obeidallah said, “Muslims are too often defined by the most conservative people. There are progressives too, like in any faith.” Farsad and Obeidallah are interested in serving as ambassadors for Muslims in America. If this documentary is any indication, they are building positive associations in the most conservative parts of the country. "The Muslims are Coming!" is available on iTunes and Netflix.
Arts & Life. May 12, 2014. The DePaulia | 19
Stoking the flame:
College night
Angel Olsen lights a fire beneath Lincoln Hall
Wednesday, May 14, 2014 6–7pm: Pizza and conversation
with The White Snake actress tanya thai McBride in the second floor lobby
7:30pm: Performance of
The White Snake
Written and directed by Mary ZiMMerMan
Use the promo code College to access your $10 tickets online at goodmantheatre.org/Whitesnake
Photo courtesy of SABRINA RUSH
Singer-songwriter Angel Olsen, who performed at Lincoln Hall May 4, touring behind her recently released album "Burn Your Fire for No Witness."
By Amanda Driscoll Business Manager
Before her set Sunday evening at Lincoln Hall, Angel Olsen sipped a beer and tapped her foot to Promised Land. The opener, reigning from Nashville, filled the sold-out show with twangy guitar riffs and an unmistakable southern drawl from frontman Joe Scala and guitarist Sean Thompson. Olsen, clad in a baseball cap and denim jacket, moved about the upstairs section of Lincoln Hall, seemingly relaxed while she talked to friends. Like their name implies, Promised Land delivered and made sure concertgoers were cheering and excited before the headliner took the stage. This past February, Olsen released the highly anticipated “Burn Your Fire for No Witness,” her first album since 2012. As Pitchfork puts it, Olsen’s latest “picks up where ‘Sweet Dreams’ left off, blossoming into a fuller, louder sound and embracing punchier song structures.” A Chicago-transplant by way of St. Louis, Olsen was chatty with the crowd at Lincoln Hall and even talked about her favorite tacos around the city between songs. Concertgoers swayed during upbeat songs and sang along with Olsen during slower numbers like “Tiniest Seed” and “Acrobat,” both from her sophomore album. Olsen played a fair mix of old and new material, and even played a threesong encore that included “Miranda” and “Creator, Destroyer.” The singer/songwriter’s latest release includes much of what you would expect: romantic, gut-punching lyrics and mesmerizing guitar picking combined with her throaty, one-of-a-kind vocal range. But the album is by no means boring or predictable. In “Burn Your Fire
for No Witness,” Olsen demonstrates maturity both vocally and instrumentally that might have been lacking in previous releases. Turntable Kitchen called her latest “spellbinding and beautifully composed,” which couldn’t be truer. For a dose of what Turntable means, consider the fourth track on the album, titled “White Fire.” Although Olsen does have a full band, this track cuts out the drums, bass and backup guitar. The result is a raw, unadulterated song that allows Olsen’s vocals and lyrical genius to shine through. “White Fire” is not only one of the heaviest songs on the album, but also includes the album’s name in the last six lines of the track. This finger-plucked solo was well received at Lincoln Hall, with a hushing of the crowd and a steadying of dancing bodies. After almost a six-build up, Olsen concluded the track with the following lines: “If you’ve still got some light in you, then go before it’s gone. Burn your fire for no witness, it’s the only way it’s done.” But Olsen’s latest isn’t all gloom and doom. Her third album includes a fair share of more upbeat tracks, including “Forgiven/Forgotten” and “Hi-Five.” Both tracks rely on a full band for bass, drums and electric guitar. In particular, “Forgiven/ Forgotten” starts with a 15-second intro of fast-paced guitar strumming combined with rhythmic, running percussion before the Olsen comes in. There’s no doubt Angel Olsen can entertain a sold-out venue, especially considering the treasure-trove of songs she has to choose from for a setlist. In case you didn’t get a chance to catch Olsen while she was at Lincoln Hall, don’t worry! She promised the crowd she’d be back in the Windy City relatively soon.
tWo great Ways for stUdents to save! Join Goodman Theatre for pizza, conversations with Goodman artists and special performances— all for just $10!
Ask Aunt Susan College night Wednesday, May 28, 2014 6–7pm: Pizza and conversation with playwright seth Bockley 7:30pm: Performance of Ask Aunt Susan Use the promo code CollegeaUnt to access your $10 tickets online at goodmantheatre.org/auntsusan
312.443.3800 | goodmantheatre.org 312.443.3820 or goodmantheatre.org/groups for groups of 10+
20 | The DePaulia. May 12, 2014
Queens of the Stone Age rule the Aragon By Olivia Cunningham
Theodore, the new replacement drummer
Contributing Writer
At the call of artists and consumers alike, there seems to be a push away from mainstream music and back to an “authentic” sound, the warmth of vinyl or the honesty of traditional instruments played at a concert. I sit in between the two, both digitized versus authentic and mainstream versus underground. I love both Sleigh Bells and Jack White, and my life might end without Beyoncé. Queens of the Stone Age (QOTSA) is straddling both sides as well, embracing the digital age and the generation that has created it, as well as paying homage to the authentic sounds and platforms that started the music industry. The fans are right with them, packing the Aragon Ballroom for QOTSA’s show May 5. The room was buzzed from the essence of their integrated sounds, as well as Cinco de Mayo booze. Joshua Homme (pronounced like “mommy”), the frontman and sole remaining original member of QOTSA, is largely to thank for achieving this balance of sound and industry. His name doesn’t always spark major recognition, but he has collaborated with Foo Fighter’s Dave Grohl, Nine Inch Nail’s Trent Reznor and Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones. Fans of his can almost always expect new music, if not under QOTSA then under one of the many of his side projects like Eagles of Death Metal with high school friend Jesse “Electric Boots” Hughes and Them Crooked Vultures with legends Grohl and Jones. The band may be synonymous with stoner rock, the genre that started Homme in his first band Kyuss in the early ‘90s, or the new “robot rock” that QOTSA founded, but his melodic roots extend from soulful Funkadelic to bluesy Tom Waits to eccentric Björk. He loves music and holds such a profound respect for it that he’s even gone on record defending its controversial evolution. Last fall, Homme critiqued a Roxwel Music interviewer for slamming the way millennials consume and conceive music saying, “These aren’t things to worry about ... I think it’s too easy to get caught up in the verbiage ... At the end of the day, how about the best stuff you got, as soon as you got, whenever you can do it?” Maybe it was this love that took over the Aragon Ballroom, or maybe just the alcohol the audience consumed in celebration of Cinco de Mayo, that generated a tangible energy between the band and the crowd. They went off. And so did the crowd that took up the entire ballroom floor and the balcony, immersed in fog and smoke from audience members and the front man alike. When the music stopped, the banter began and Homme was quick to lovingly tease his fans, making a running joke out of a humorous sign that read “Hi Dad!” “I’m gonna have a drink for my son,” Homme said. And he proceeded to retrieve his glass set on top of an amplifier, igniting the crowd into hysterics. The banter and the booze distracted Homme, and he began to play the opening rift to “3‘s & 7‘s,” the wrong song. He checked himself quickly and laughed it off, shaking his head at his bandmates before starting “I Sat By The Ocean.” The fans ate it all up. One of the biggest moments of the show was a heartfelt drum solo during “Better Living Through Chemistry” by Jon
OLIVIA CUNNINGHAM | THE DEPAULIA
California rock band Queens of the Stone Age played to a packed house at the Aragon Ballroom May 5. after the recording of “...Like Clockwork” in 2013. Homme and Mikey “Shoes” Shuman, the bass player, surrounded the drums as Theodore, in a trance that only this song can put you in, beat everyone’s heart out. An unexpected moment was the inclusion of “The Fun Machine Took a S--- and Died,” a song recorded during “Lullabies To Paralyze” in 2005 that never made the cut. Fans can only find the song online or during precious concerts in which it makes the set list, but it remains one of my favorites. It must have been a surprise for much of the crowd since the mosh pit kicked up harder than usual. Even Homme spent most of the time away from the microphone, jamming out on the other side with guitarist Troy Van Leeuwun (always sharply dressed, this time in a classic black suit/red tie combo). Homme introduced the band, paying special attention to Shuman because it was his birthday. The audience erupted and began to sing. I thought back to their concert last summer in August when Homme said the same thing. Good one, Homme. Keep it running. After 18 songs, the band went off stage for a moment before their encore. Dean Fertita, keyboardist and guitar player, held the sound together, stepping up to lead guitar during the most beloved ballad of the recent album “The Vampyre Of Time And Memory.” Homme stayed seated on keys, the mosh pit dissolved and the crowd reflected the genuine and somber tone the song evoked. The last songs, “Feel Good Hit Of The Summer” and “Song For The Dead,” got the crowd to lose whatever last strains of hearing and vocal chords it had left. They said goodbye and the crowd dispersed to the Red Line, shouting over the ringing in their ears. QOTSA returned to Aragon May 9. Happy Birthday, Mikey. Again.
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Arts & Life. May 12, 2014. The DePaulia | 21
Peter Parker misses the mark 'Amazing Spiderman 2' reviewed By Kelsey Lawson
Contributing Writer
I wish I could report that “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” lives up to its title. I really wish I could. I wanted more than anything to enjoy this sequel, because “The Amazing Spider-Man,” released in 2012, was a fun and exciting movie. But sadly, I’m here to say that the sequel doesn’t stick. The second installment in the Andrew Garfield version of the franchise follows multiple different threads that, instead of fitting together, leave the movie disjointed. First there’s Peter Parker (Garfield) and Gwen Stacy’s (Emma Stone) relationship. Then Harry Osborn (Dane DeHaan) and his inheritance of Oscorp. Throughout the movie, at least three villains are introduced – one in the final sequence – and two more are hinted at as possible villains for the next film. Throughout all of this, Peter uncovers the real reason why his parents left him. It’s a lot to cram into a two and a half hour long movie. The villains especially suffer from the amalgam of plots. Jamie Foxx’s Electro is a threatening presence throughout most of the film, yet his reason for hating Spider-Man feels silly so his actions lose their power. Harry and Peter’s friendship is never really believable to someone who is unfamiliar with their history, so when Harry turns villainous, the impact is not as large. The Rhino
(Paul Giamatti) is brought in at the end, as a way to get Peter back in action, but the effect is that it makes the movie drag on. At times, it feels like the team behind the movie (writers Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, and Jeff Pinkner and director Marc Webb) tried to throw in as much as they could and see what stuck. The result, however, is that nothing did. Part of it had to do with the cheesy, pun-filled dialogue. I could stomach the bad lines from Peter, telling myself that he’s a teenager and it’s okay if he uses puns way too much. But when the adults were saying things like, “It’s my birthday, time to light the candles,” I was taken out of the story. The puns are fun in theory but not execution. The only one worth noting is when Electro barges into a room and flips a table over. Then Harry enters with the line, “Oh how the tables have turned.” Another part was Peter and Gwen’s relationship. The first movie ends with Gwen’s father’s death, and Peter’s promise to stay away from her to protect her. Now Peter is haunted by her father, seeing him hovering in the background, judging Peter for continuing to see Gwen. So Peter ends it. She protests, saying it’s her choice and not her father’s, but Peter says the risk outweighs the benefits. They break up. Then Peter proceeds to stalk Gwen for a good portion of the movie and it’s never once acknowledged as
Photo courtesy of MARVEL STUDIOS
"The Amazing Spiderman 2," starring Andrew Garfield, opened in theatres May 2. being creepy. Despite all of this, there are redeeming moments. At one point, Peter saves a little boy from bullies. Peter talks with the boy and gives him courage and hope, which later inspires the kid to stand up for a villain in one of the most emotional parts of the movie. Aidy Bryant from “SNL” has a brief cameo as a Statue of Liberty and B.J. Novak makes an appearance as well. Andrew Garfield is also a highlight. Even with the cringe-inducing dialogue
and stalker overtones, Garfield makes Spider-Man a character worth rooting for. Superhero movies are fun and thrilling to watch. There’s something about superheroes that brings out the best in people. They’re about ordinary people who become extraordinary. At one point Peter says, “I like to think Spider-Man gives people hope.” I think it’s true. Spider-Man and other superheroes give people something to strive for. Just like superheroes give the characters in
films hope, superheroes give the viewers something to strive for. We all want to be super. I always leave the movie theatre with a smile on my face after I’ve watched a superhero movie. But once the credits rolled for “The Amazing SpiderMan 2,” I couldn’t help feeling disappointed. Normally I’ll aspire to bring the qualities that superheroes have to my own life, but I think I’ll pass on being Spider-Man.
COMEBACK QUEEN: Lily Allen crafts pristine pop By Erin Yarnall Contributing Writer
The queen of Myspace has returned to an era dominated by Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and many competing pop stars other than Lily Allen herself. While die-hard fans of Allen have been eagerly awaiting her return since the former internet queen announced her hiatus from creating music in 2009, others may have been wondering “Lily who?” “Sheezus,” Allen’s first album in five years, has answered that question. Allen has been laying low for the past five years, giving birth to two children and getting married, but came back with a bang when she released her single “Hard Out Here” in November 2013. The song contained biting social commentary, mocking those who criticized her weight after giving birth and singer Robin Thicke for his song “Blurred Lines.” It also created its own large amount of controversy; while attempting to mock modern pop videos and their objectification of black women, many critics have commented that Allen does just what she is trying to mock through her use of these dancers in the video. Allen released “Sheezus” May 6 in the United States, and while it is not the best work the British singer has ever released,
Photo courtesy of JAMIE NELSON
British pop singer Lily Allen released "Sheezus," her first album in five years. compared to 2006’s “Alright, Still” and 2009’s “It’s Not Me It’s You,” it should make her long waiting fans incredibly content. While Allen went through major changes in her life, such as her growing family, her music is still the same, with intense sarcasm and brutal honesty.
The singles “Sheezus” has produced have been reassuring for fans that the Allen who left in 2009 has returned, including “Our Time,” where she gives mothers who still have a life beyond their children an anthem, and is essentially Allen’s “We Can’t Stop.” Allen’s most recent single, “Sheezus,”
where she addresses all the current pop superstars, including Beyoncé, Rihanna and Lorde, and insists that she will be “Sheezus.” The album falls flat on songs like “L8 CMMR,” where Allen tries to be as open about her sex life with her husband like Beyoncé is in “Drunk in Love” and “Partition,” but comes short, and leaves fans wanting her signature songs that feature social commentary and sarcastic mocking. The biggest disappointment on “Sheezus” was the fact that Allen made some of her best songs on the album bonus tracks available only on the deluxe version. “Somewhere Only We Know” allows Allen to make even a song by a band as boring as Keane listenable. She originally released the song as part of the John Lewis Christmas 2013 advertisement soundtrack, but the beautiful cover was thankfully included as part of her deluxe album. Another of her bonus tracks, “Wind Your Neck In,” could have easily been featured as a standout single, with its sassy lyrics that fans have come to expect and an incredibly catchy beat. Although “Sheezus” is not a collection of Allen’s best overall work, it is a tremendous pop album, and signifies an exciting comeback for the witty British star.
22 | The DePaulia. May 12, 2014
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Arts & Life. May 12, 2014. The DePaulia | 23
You're here
for whom?
We did the homework so you don't have to. Check back each week for the scoop on bands you can't miss at Pitchfork and Lollapalooza this year.
By Kirsten Onsgard Staff Writer
DARKSIDE Darkside was a surprise addition to the festival circuit this year. The
collaborative effort of producer Nicolas Jaar and guitarist Dave Harrington, the duo’s minimal and atmospheric aesthetic makes them an odd pick for a large-scale music festival like Lollapalooza. Though their dark aura might not mesh well with a blistering and sun-soaked afternoon in Grant Park, their indie status will certainly set them up to have an intimate show. Jaar and Harrington both rose to musical fame independently, but their collaborative work first garnered widespread attention after they reworked Daft Punk’s “Random Access Memories”
under the name Daftside. The full remix suffocates Daft Punk’s expansive and shimmery album, stuffing it into an often thick production and adding dust to the shine. Darkside’s debut LP “Psychic” garnered critical acclaim across publications last year, including a coveted “Best New Music” review from Pitchfork. Jaar, who hails from a house background, plays off of Harrington’s dry and plunking guitar mantras to build sprawling and effortlessly cool soundscapes. Through long and tense builds, the duo creates a tense and sinister aura, which pair with Jaar’s sensuous cooing. Together, they have crafted a sound that is not quite dance music or rock — and
Darkside Lollapalooza sunday Photo courtesy of DARKSIDE
DEATH GRIPS Death Grips owe Chicago a few performances. Last year,
death grips pitchfork friday
the experimental hip-hop outfit bailed without warning on their Lollapalooza pre-show at Bottom Lounge. Instead, audience members were treated to staring at a suicide note projected onto a backdrop while a mix of their music played for over an hour. As tension built, attendees eventually tore apart the drum set on stage, later revealed to be merely a toy. After a few days of speculation, it was revealed that Death Grips never intended to play in Chicago that weekend. Even as a miffed attendee of the nowfamous fiasco myself — and someone who probably does not appear to be within Death Grips’ target demographic — I remain a fan. Death Grips garnered initial popularity with their 2011 mix tape “Exmilitary” and have since released three acclaimed full-lengths and gathered a cult following. Their latest LP “Government
Plates” was released in typical punkish Death Grips fashion by linking fans to a free download on their website. The album’s predecessor, “No Love Deep Web,” was also released for free, causing a split with their former label, Epic. The trio’s brand of hip-hop is monstrous and their attitude is beyond aggressive, nearly to the point of characterization. Their lyrics are hateful, violent and frightening, spit by MC Ride’s cavernous tone with an urgent angst. On stage, he is nothing less than an apathetic and hellish beast, delivering his rhymes forcefully and barely acknowledging the audience’s presence. The production, crafted by an often-hooded Andy Morin (“Flatlander”), is defined by weird and eerie noises with a heavy low end. It’s hateful hip-hop that doesn’t diss anyone in particular, but it heralds the terrors of life at full blast. Their Pitchfork performance is certain to be a riotous and sweat-soaked chaos.
Photo courtesy ofDEATH GRIPS
TWIN PEAKS Dropping out of college to become a musician is a
conservative mother’s nightmare, and yet, that’s exactly what the young members of Twin Peaks did. After just a semester of classes with the group spread out across the country, the foursome returned to their Chicago roots to revive their high school band that had just successfully completed a self-funded tour. It was a risk, sure, but their “work hard, play hard” mentality has since paid off: Their debut LP “Sunken” was picked up by Autumn Tone Records and re-released last year. Since then, they
have gone on to perform at Riot Fest and are currently on tour with Eagulls. At this point, discussing Twin Peaks’ age feels like a cliché that is hard to ignore. The members of the foursome are barely of legal age, and their music pulls from a youthful spirit while still being executed maturely. Their brand of rock reverberates around a large space, drenched in a murky lo-fi production. It’s a sound that does not just exemplify a free spirit, but also reflects the nature and sonic tendencies of the Chicago scene as a whole.
twin peaks pitchfork saturday Photo courtesy of TWIN PEAKS
24 | The DePaulia. May 12, 2014
St.Vincent’s
D e JAMZ “Spinning fresh beats since 1581”
Graphic by MAX KLEINER | The DePaulia
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Find this and all of our DeJamz playlists on depauliaonline.com and on our spotify account By Andrew Morrell Arts & Life Editor
A few weeks ago, DeJazz took you on a trip through space and time, introducing you to a plethora of jazz from its beginnings all the way to the modern age. But each of those selections represented only the tip of a very funky iceberg. This mix will explore a subset of jazz, called "fusion," because of the way it melds the free form of traditional swing or bebop, with the personality and instrumentation of rock or funk. A warning, though: once you know fusion, you won't think of
for advanced jazz drummers. He was also another of the forefathers of fusion, with a funk-inspired sound that spawned so much great material. You can hear the bass line to "Stratus" sampled on a number of old hip-hop tracks. 3. Bob James — "Nautilus" — It's unfortunate that smooth jazz has gotten such a bad rap as of late, but some early examples of it, such as this track by Bob James, speaks volumes about its potential. Another record frequently sampled, check out the mellow Rhodes timbre paired with the now-classic guitar riff. 4. Stanley Clarke — "School
music the same way again. 1. Miles Davis — "John McLaughlin" — Many consider Davis to be the father of fusion for giving the world this colossal album, "Bitches Brew." But another key innovator in the burgeoning sound was the man for which this track was named, at the time a young, promising guitarist who would soon take the world by storm. 2. Billy Cobham — "Stratus" — Billy Cobham was rare for being a drummer as well as a sonic innovator. He was the first to develop the left hand lead technique which became a go-to
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Days" — Fusion is certainly a bass-centric genre, which was a huge development for music as recently as the '70s, after the instrument had long taken a backseat to the more audible members of the band. Stanley Clarke was a true virtuoso, a quality that you see often in jazz instrumentalists. He has such control over his instrument that he can play like a lead guitar, a horn player or fill any number of other roles. "School Days" is his classic from 1976 that still sounds almost new. 5. Petite Blonde — "Two Price Hit" — A bit off the beaten path as
far as fusion is concerned, Petite Blonde is a band most notably comprised of Dennis Chambers on drums and Bill Evans on sax. They have an incredible energy on this live album recorded in 1992 in Germany. 6. Thundercat — "It Really Doesn't Matter to You" — Leading the vanguard of modern fusion is an eclectic and endless list of names and personalities. One who remains outside the jazz snob circle is Thundercat, labelmate on Flying Lotus's Brainfeeder Records. Thundercat is a master of the bass approaching Clarke levels, and shouldn't be missed.
ACROSS 1. Text, briefly 4. Atmospheric hazard 8. Nile slitherers 12. Shooter missile 13. French bread 14. Cote cooer 15. Cockpit reading (abbr.) 16. Emergency vehicle 18. Lieu 20. Child's play? 21. Arcing shots 24. Joins 28. Harem 32. Eastern attire 33. Time before 34. Auto type 36. Tangle 37. Drink for Beowulf 39. Cause to explode 41. Cove kin 43. "Vamoose!" 44. Early development 46. It's acted seriously 50. Unreasonable 55. Appliance setting 56. Important statistic 57. Rooftop fixture 58. Turning point? 59. Book section? 60. Compass doodles 61. Lacking a match
DOWN 1. Evian, et al. 2. Cheesy lunch order 3. Content fully 4. Veteran seafarers 5. The word, if you're silent 6. An eye for the poetic? 7. Joint malady 8. Old pearls of wisdom 9. Bart, to Homer 10. Pipe material 11. "Didn't I tell you?" 17. Attorney's field 19. Miss. neighbor 22. Ran in the wash 23. Coleslaw and fries 25. "Seven Years in Tibet" role 26. "Doggone it!" 27. Construction zone 28. Final Four game 29. Drawn 30. Hardly illusory 31. Hippocratic, for one 35. Ramen soup strips 38. Do a butcher's job 40. Scand. land 42. Harbor craft 45. Met attraction 47. Certain sax 48. Humor 49. Bedazzled 50. Gremlin 51. Meadow, in verse 52. Delay 53. Company perk, perhaps 54. Mandela's org.
Sports. May 12, 2014. The DePaulia | 25
Sports
Big East and Big Ten annual series set for 2015
GREG ROTHSTEIN | THE DEPAULIA AND COURTSEY OF MCT CAMPUS
DePaul has the potential to play Illinois, starting in 2015. The Big East and Big Ten conferences agreed to an annual eight-game series to start the college basketball season.
By Matt Paras Sports Editor
The last time DePaul and Illinois faced off in college basketball, the top song in the country was Elvis Presley’s “All Shook Up.” Presley’s song, released in 1957, took the nation by storm and is still a classic today. Meanwhile, in that same time frame, Illinois beat DePaul 75-70 Dec. 7, 1957. It’s been 54 years since then. Thanks to a deal between the Big East and Big Ten conferences, the possibility of that matchup could finally happen again. The two conferences announced May 5 that they will meet in the Gavitt Tipoff Games, an annual eight-game series that starts in 2015.
The series will take place at the beginning of the college basketball season. Each Big East team will be required to play a minimum of six times — four of those being in men’s basketball — over the course of the eightyear deal. Each Big Ten team will be required to participate four times. “It’s good in terms of having a big time event that signifies the season started,” DePaul head coach Oliver Purnell said. “If you look historically, college basketball really hasn’t had a big kickoff." “The Big Ten is arguably the best league in the country,” Purnell said. The eight games will take place Tuesday through Friday. Four games will take place at a Big East school, televised by Fox
Sports 1, and four at a Big Ten school, televised on ESPN or the Big Ten network. The Gavitt Tipoff Games is named after Dave Gavitt, the former Big East commissioner who was a pioneer in getting college basketball on cable. Gavitt died in 2011. “Dave was such a great innovator and contributed so much to the game; I think it’s great that there’s something in the world of college basketball that bears his names,” DePaul athletic director Jean Lenti Ponsetto said. “I think both conferences stand to benefit. I think you’re going to get a real early barometer about both conferences.” Purnell said that DePaul had been in discussions over the last few years with Big Ten teams, but the negotiations didn’t
work out for most of them. One Big Ten opponent that DePaul has scheduled over the years, Northwestern, will continue. Ponsetto said that the Northwestern-DePaul matchup will take a year off in 2014, but then will resume for the next five years. DePaul last beat Northwestern 57-56 on an exciting Billy Garrett Jr. buzzerbeater in December. Ponsetto wasn’t sure if DePaul would be selected as one of the eight teams playing in the first year of the series, but indicated that they have left open the first week of the college basketball season in case they are selected. “We’d certainly be willing to be one of the first teams in the mix,” Ponsetto said. “I think being in Chicago and having a lot of connections in terms of
rivalries and presence of teams of the Big East and the Big Ten, it would make sense that DePaul would be participating. It really depends how it plays out with everyone else’s non-conference schedule.” Besides the Illinois matchup, Ponsetto indicated that Wisconsin, Michigan, Purdue and Indiana would be just some of the games DePaul was very interested in. The Big Ten had six tournament teams last season while the Big East had four. “All the schools that are contiguous to Illinois, I think that’s a good thing,” Ponsetto said. “The opportunities are pretty endless and I think it would be real interesting to our fans.” The full slate of games will be announced later in the spring.
Women's tennis loses to Notre Dame in first round of the NCAA tournament By Ben Gartland Asst. Sports Editor
A record-breaking season for DePaul women’s tennis came to an end on Friday as they fell to Notre Dame 4-0 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Fighting Irish started off the day well by taking two out of three of the double competition, earning the first point of the afternoon. Rebeca Mitrea and Zaina Sufi posted the win for DePaul in the No. 3 doubles match. From there, the Irish took advantage of the singles matches where Monica Robinson dropped Senior Kelsey Lawson 6-2, 6-1 in the two-set win in the No. 4
singles match, then took another point when Mitrea lost 6-2, 6-2 to Julie Vrabel in the No. 6 singles match. In the No. 1 singles match, the Fighting Irish clinched the game with a 6-3, 6-3 win for Britney Sanders over Patricia Fargas. The loss also eliminated Fargas from the single's tournament. She finished the year 26-14. The Blue Demons ended the season with a 22-4 mark on the year, having experienced a 16-game winning streak and becoming Big East Champions. They will be losing one senior next year in Kelsey Lawson, but the majority of the team will be returning for the 2015 season.
GREG ROTHSTEIN | THE DEPAULIA
Kelsey Lawson returns a serve at the Big East tournament. Lawson lost 6-2, 6-1 against Notre Dame's Monica Robinson in the final match of her tennis career.
26 | Sports. May 12, 2014. The DePaulia
A Blue Demon Bugler By Matt Paras Sports Editor
Every five to 10 minutes before one of the nine horse races that take place at Arlington Park per day, the “Call to Post” is played. Its distinct armylike melody is the horseracing version of flickering the lights before a production. Instead of using it as a cue for people to take their seats, the call is used as an indication for the horses to exit a wind tunnel and take place on the track. Playing this melody is the racetrack’s bugler. With a glistening silver trumpet on hand, the bugler stands at the winner’s circle as dozens of people watch to enjoy the tune while also trying to get one last look at the horses that stroll on by for last minute bets. For 25 years at Arlington, only four previous people held this position. Having just started in May, DePaul senior Monica Benson is now the fifth. “Going into it, I didn’t know anything about horseracing or horses,” Benson said. “It’s so fun. I haven’t had a job where I have liked everyone. It’s a family atmosphere because you spend so much time together with everyone. The call is really fun.” Benson, a trumpet performance major, never envisioned herself as a bugler. After all, who does? But when she received an email from her professor saying Arlington was looking for someone to fill the position, she was intrigued. Benson was one of 12 people, she said, who tried out for the position. In addition to being able to play the trumpet, Benson
had another advantage on the other candidates — she could sing. Arlington was looking for someone who could sing the national anthem, in addition to playing the trumpet. “I thought this could be interesting because I love animals,” Benson said. “It isn’t exactly what I thought I’d be doing, but it’s really a great job. I did theater stuff in high school, so I was comfortable with singing. It combines three things that I love.” Every weekend, Benson does the same routine. She gets to the park around 11 a.m. and is there until about 7. On Fridays and Sundays, she plays the “Call to Post” for nine races and sings the anthem after the third. On Saturdays, she sings 11 races. It’s a busy workload, but she is doing a great job, according to Vice President of Arlington Park Ken Kiehn. “On her second day, she performed in front of 24,000 people,” Kiehn said. “That’s more people (than) end up at Blackhawks' games and she was nervous, but she did a great job. The fans really enjoyed it.” “With Monica being able to play the trumpet and sing, it makes it very attractive to us because it gives us a face during the day,” he said. Benson will work the current season to October, by that time she’ll have graduated. She’s applying to Northwestern’s masters program for music and if she gets in, she plans to stay in Chicago. “If I stay in the area, I’m definitely going to do it next summer,” Benson said.
Photo courtesy of ARLINGTON PARK
DePaul senior Monica Benson (above) plays "A Call to Post" at the Arlington Park (below). She is just one of five people in the last 25 years to play the bugle at Arlington.
SOFTBALL, continued from back page one out, but a fly out and a ground out from the next two batters ended the threat for the inning. The top of the sixth inning started with a leadoff double from Reed for St. John’s but the next three batters were not able to drive her in. Garcia gave it the best shot, sending a fly ball to shallow left field that, had it not been for a spectacular diving catch from Christensen, would’ve scored Reed from second. Instead, the Red Storm were kept scoreless for the sixth straight inning. After getting sent down in order in the bottom of the sixth, the Blue Demons turned their attention to the last inning. DePaul quickly dispatched of all three Red Storm hitters and the celebration began as the Blue Demons won the Big East Championship with a final score of 3-0. It was just another accomplishment of what is a remarkable season for the Blue Demons. After going 32-21
Photo courtesy of Big East Conference/DePaul Athletics
DePaul senior Kirsten Verdun poses with her Big East Most Outstanding Player trophy after the team's victory. She had 19 strikeouts and a 0.69 ERA during the tournament.
last season and 36-22 the year before, the Blue Demons sit with a 41-9 record. DePaul went 18-1 in
conference play and 14-0 at home. They also went on a 20game winning streak throughout the season. The team's streak
was snapped slightly before the Big East tournament, losing 4-1 to Butler. The Blue Demons would
rebound with three dominant performances, including the St. John's game. Following the 4-1 loss, DePaul beat Butler 13-1 on the Bulldog's homefield. On Friday in the semifinals of the Big East tournament, DePaul beat Creighton 9-1 to advance to the Big East finals. Christensen drove in three runs and also drew two walks. Christensen was voted Big East freshman of the year and has played a large role on the team this season. That season, however, isn't done. With the tournament win, DePaul earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, which starts next weekend with regionals. DePaul's opponent, as well as where they will face them, has yet to be selected. This was softball's second Big East title, previously winning it in 2008. The Big East title is DePaul's third conference title this year with women's tennis and women's basketball also taking the conference championship home.
Sports.May 12, 2014. The DePaulia | 27
Club Lacrosse ousted in the GRLC playoffs By Colin Sallee Contributer Writer
A progressive season for DePaul’s Men’s Lacrosse team was cut short Saturday in St. Louis at the hands of a familiar foe. Missouri Valley College, a conference juggernaut and regional powerhouse, didn’t need to dig deep for motivation in their 13-10 victory over DePaul during second round post-season play, considering the Blue Demons’ blemish to their undefeated record back on March 15 with an 11-10 road win. “We had only two practices outside up to that point,“ head coach Charlie Mayne said. “It was a great test to see what kind of mentality the guys would come out with. We played loose, we played hard, we communicated well, and it paid off. This time around was a bit different. “ Mayne was impressed with his team’s execution and competitive play in the contest, but felt they may have been a bit overly confident given their earlier success. “We were well prepared; we just couldn’t get over that hump. They adjusted to some things we did well in the first meeting, and we just came up a bit short.” Nevertheless, the 2014 season was yet another positive step
Photo courtesy of DEPAUL LACROSSE
DePaul Lacrosse captain Braden Nauman looks down during a match in the 2013 GLRC championship. In 2014, the team was bounced from the playoffs in the second round.
for a program that was actually referred to as “beer league” not too long ago. A 9-3 record last year would propel the Blue Demons into a 2014 season that showed real growth as a program. The national rankings would reflect this notion, being ranked 18th in the Division II coaches poll, and clinching the Northeast Division with two games still remaining. The development of sophomores Dorio Rovita and Alex Cha have been instrumental
to the culture shift over the last few years. The squad is extremely team orientated. To name a clear cut leader would be doing a disservice to the other 29 players. This selfless attitude has been instilled up and down the roster. “These past two seasons have been awesome… and the fact that we only have two years left serves as motivation to keep pushing the program and building off what the seniors have started before us,” Rovita said. “Everything we
do is for each other. We do it for the boys, so we’ll push on and get better for all the guys in the club now and in the club’s past.” Rovita’s attitude echoes that of the entire team. This group is solely committed and primed to leave its imprint on the lacrosse world. Coach Mayne realizes what he has within his program, and couldn’t be more excited. “These guys have seen the failure and have chosen to not accept it. Having younger guys go through failure to ultimately find
success gives us many reasons to be optimistic about the future.” Being a club sport can be difficult at any university. The men’s lacrosse team defines what a true team is. They just need a few sticks and a patch of grass in order to improve. That blue collar mentality is what’s raised the program to a national contender. The off-season consists of guys tossing balls off the wall for extended hours at a time, numerous leagues around the city, as well as constant conditioning — whatever it takes to improve. The motives they’ve established the last two years are as concrete as they’ve been since the team was founded in September of 2005. “Most of our guys have been through the sour days,” Mayne said. “All we’ve tried to convey the last few years is doing your best to improve every day. All it takes is a little focus from our guys — just a little extra work in order to avoid that sour feeling again. They decided to do the extra work, and then some. Once the extra work began to yield results, things started to really fall in place.” Mix in recruits from New York, Oregon and California — coupled with this hungry bunch of young men who are ready to elevate a program, and you’ve got big things on the horizon.
JOURNEY, continued from back page “As a student athlete, we have so much on our plate,” she said. “You don’t have time to miss home.” Moritz Ackerhans, a senior on the golf team from the city of Kiel in northern Germany, agrees. The first few months were most difficult, he said, but leaving home forced him to learn more about himself, a challenge he has enjoyed. Ackerhans said that an initial struggle for him stemmed from a slight language barrier. Although he spoke English well before moving to Chicago, the various accents spoken in the city made it occasionally difficult to communicate. His teammate, Adrian Halimi, said that despite also being bilingual as a child, the culture shock was a bit more apparent for him. Halimi is from Indonesia, a country with a largely Eastern culture. “Self-service is really big (in the United States),” Halimi said. “Back home, labor is really cheap so it’s normal for people in the upper class to have maids and drivers. So I guess here, you have to do everything on your own." One of the most noticeable differences for Fargas and Mitrea was not the language, but the way Americans eat. “The food was a shock,” Fargas said. The American way of eating quick, onthe-go meals was vastly different than her former Mediterranean diet. Like an international take on the infamous “freshman 15,” both laughed and said that despite being active, they initially gained weight after moving. “In Romania, most meals are cooked and families try to eat together,” Mitrea said. “Here, even after church on Sundays, we go (out to eat). You always go out. I’ve gotten used to ordering hamburgers all the time.”
Considering the cultural differences these athletes must navigate, Ardizzone said that his role as a coach sometimes extends beyond the court. “You have to be there a bit for them at the beginning,” he said. Because they do not have as much direct support from their parents, the coach occasionally has to take more of paternal role with his young, international players. “All of those little things they have to do when they get here; you don’t think about it much, but it’s a pretty major difference,” Ardizzone said. Traveling from overseas means that many of these athletes come with few personal belongings. They need standard college supplies - like dorm room decor - but often also need to open a bank account, or purchase a cell phone. Technology has certainly helped to ease the transition. In the past, his European athletes often would not speak with their parents for months. Now, they can video chat while walking to the gym. The team and athletic department as a whole have also helped to welcome and make the international students feel more comfortable. Kaufmann said that some of the American students have even traveled abroad to visit their teammates’ hometowns in Europe. But nothing beats a home-cooked meal. Ackerhans and Halimi, who have family in suburban Elgin, both return home twice a year over break. Despite the occasional homesickness, the initial culture shock and missing friends and family, these four athletes seem to have embraced the experience. “When you go to a different country, you shouldn’t compare,” Fargas said. “If you start comparing your country with (another), then you are not going to have a good time.”
Blue Demon Breakdown How many international athletes are at DePaul per sport? Men's Basketball
2
Men's Golf
7
Men's Soccer
4 Adrian Halini, golf
Men's Tennis
6
Women's Soccer
4
Women's Tennis
5 Patricia Fargas, tennis
Volleyball
3
Track and Field
5
Cross Country
1 37
Vesela Zapryanova, volleyball. Photos courtesy of DEPAUL ATHLETICS
Sports
Sports. May 12 2014. The DePaulia | 28
Softball wins Big East Championship Big East Softball's Year End Awards Player of the year Mary Connolly Pitcher of the Year
Kirsten Verdun Freshman of the year Dylan Christensen Coach of the Year Eugene Lenti Photo courtesy of DEPAUL ATHLETICS
DePaul softball celebrates their second Big East championship after a 3-0 shutout over St. John's. This was softball's first title since 2008.
By Ben Gartland Asst. Sports Editor
The new Big East has proven to be good to DePaul as the Blue Demon softball team won the school’s third tournament title with a win over St. John’s in the championship game. DePaul, the favorites to win the Big East in the preseason and the regular season, provided little drama in the tournament as they downed St. John’s 3-0 off the back of a complete game shutout from Kirsten Verdun. "It was obviously more of a pitcher's duel today and Kirsten was just a little bit better," DePaul head coach Eugene Lenti said. "It was one of her better games of the year, she had all her pitches, was changing speeds and getting ahead. It was
a masterful job on the mounds and it saved us because we weren't hitting or defending on all cyclinders." Verdun was named Most Outstanding Player for the Big East Tournament for her pitching performance over the weekend. Verdun pitched 13 innings with just one run allowed. Even more impressive, Verdun had 19 strikeouts for a 0.69 ERA from the weekend. "There's some great players in the Big East and some really good ones in this tournament, so it means a lot to be named Most Outstanding Player," Verdun said. "I don't think I could have been in this position without my team, because Most Outstanding Player always goes to the winning team. My team won the championship, I didn't
win. So it's just a tribute to the people behind me." After sending the Red Storm down in order in the top of the first inning, the Blue Demons threatened to get the scoring started early. Verdun, who was also voted Big East pitcher of the year earlier in the week, led off the inning with a single to left, followed by an Allie Braden walk. The Blue Demons would end up loading the bases but the Red Storm got out of the jam with a two-out grounder to short to end the inning. The Blue Demons finally broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the third. With two outs and runners on first and second, Morgan Maize sent a chopping groundball to second baseman Lexi Robles, who had to rush the throw to try and get
Maize out. The throw was offline and went off of first baseman Jackie Reed’s glove, allowing the two runners to score. After not getting much to work with the first time through the lineup, the Red Storm started to threaten in the top of the fourth. After a one-out single and an error on right fielder Megan Coronado, Verdun got a strikeout but then sent a wild pitch over the head of catcher Staci Bonezek, which advanced the runners to second and third. Verdun, however, was able to get Brittany Garcia out on a swinging strikeout to end the inning. In the bottom of the fourth, the first two Blue Demons to the plate got out quickly. Megan Pihl doubled to leadoff the inning but was
picked off at second by St. John’s catcher Erin Burner. Gena Lenti grounded to the pitcher for the second out, but then three straight walks loaded the bases for Dylan Christensen, who walked on four pitches to drive the run in, making it a 3-0 lead for DePaul. In the top of the fifth St. John’s took advantage of DePaul errors. Senior centerfielder Kelsey Moyer advanced to second on an errant throw from Allie Braden to first that Connolly couldn’t pick out of the dirt, then Yvonne Rericha reached on another Allie Braden throw that pulled Connolly off the bag at first. The Red Storm had runners on the corners with
See SOFTBALL, page 26
Coming to America: the journey for international athletes By Kirsten Onsgard Contributing Writer
Leaving home to go to college is a rite of passage; there’s newfound freedom and subsequent responsibility, frantic calls to mom and dad and occasional homesickness. For the students who choose to come from overseas to follow their athletic pursuits, however, this transition is coupled with both a hectic athletic schedule and culture shock. Rebeca Mitrea, a junior tennis player who hails from Arad, Romania, did not even have an opportunity to visit DePaul before committing to joining the team. “I had been here once before college,” she said. Her Spanish teammate, Patricia Fargas, then interjected, “By ‘here’, she means the United States.” Recruiting international athletes is about creating connections. Betty
Kaufmann, head coach of the men’s golf team, said that she started looking at student athletes overseas to expand her pool of potential recruits. “Everyone I went after — we were their second or third choice,” she said. “So I started building relationships with coaches over in Europe.” Mark Ardizzone, head coach of the women’s tennis team, said he spends weeks of his summer attending tournaments in Europe and elsewhere to talk with coaches and scout for players. He said that European tennis coaches often make their living by instructing their athletes. Therefore, when their students move overseas, it compromises their income, which is why Ardizzone must connect with trainers, parents and coaches to recruit the best athletes. While trust is important, Ardizzone said he has another trick up his sleeve.
“I get to recruit to a major city, that’s the biggest difference. I can walk in and say Chicago,” he said. Ardizzone often shows potential recruits’ parents photos of DePaul and the city. He also encourages his athletes to seek out their own culture while in Chicago. “The international students are so loyal to their country,” he said. “They’re so proud of where they’re from.” Fargas, junior and economics major from Barcelona, said that the possibility of living in a large American city was a major reason she decided upon DePaul. Still, she had just one official, 48-hour long opportunity to see Chicago before making her commitment. While each athlete noted that there was some homesickness during their first few weeks at DePaul, Fargas said that there was little time to dwell on it.
See JOURNEY, page 27
Photo courtesy of DEPAUL ATHLETICS
Rebeca Mitrea prepares to return a serve. She came to DePaul after living in Romania for all of her life.
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